On this week's episode of Local Legends Eleanor is chatting with anthropologist and author of The Folklore of The Tanat Valley, Dr Jack Hunter, all about Montgomeryshire.

In addition to being an academic, teacher and very prolific writer, Jack has a fascinating variety of research interests. He’s explored spirit possession and shamanism, he’s a research fellow for the Parapsychology Foundation, and he’s involved in the Fairy Investigation Society too. Jack takes an immersive approach to research, fully involving himself in experiences in order to study them. That includes, in the course of his PhD at the University of Bristol, an ethnographic study of contemporary trance and physical mediumship.

We talked about Spiritualism, and seances - and yes, a fair bit of ectoplasm too!

Jack is currently a tutor with the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, and on the University of Wales MAs in Ecology and Spirituality and Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. As if all that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he also tutors on Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology at the Alef Trust.

We had a great chat about the history and stories about an often overlooked part of Wales. Find out more about Jack at jack-hunter.yourwebsitespace.com. 

We really hope you enjoy this episode, and we will speak to you again on Monday as well for our next County Episode, all about the historic county of Merionethshire!

The Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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