WELCOME TO 2025, HONEYBEES!

We are SO on theme for Folktales today, we have two for you, both about New Years Day!

1.) Bad Little Goblin's New Year: no this one is not about Gabby, and don't fall for it if she asks you. No no, this story is about a little nuisance who goes from choking baby birds for fun, to pranking with a purpose. The character arc here is REAL. CHHHSSSSHHHHHHHH!!! (that was the sound of a cymbal)

2.} The Sisters & The Elves: listen HoneyBees, there are 2 types of people in this world. Those who choose to dance with the elves, and those who dare utter the name of God in their presence, thus acquiring all the loot. Choose your own adventure, just please don't dance too hard, break a thigh, and lose your mind... don't embarrass us like that. Come on.

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Ned Kelly = Chaotic Good.

If you're a 1800's Australian police officer, maybe go ahead and avoid this episode, as we come for your incompetence pretty hard... but we promise you it's nowhere NEAR as hard as Ned comes for the Ausie po-po and squattocracy as a whole.

In this thrilling conclusion, we talk about the horse stealing ring, the birth of the "Kelly Gang", the politest heists in human history, and an EPIC last stand from our hero.

This episode will grab you by the balls and have you drinking with your hostages.

Long Live Ned Kelly!

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Let's go to Australia in the late 1800's, shall we? It's a ruthless world of livestock stealing, prison sentences, and bushrangers. And it's where we find the hero of our story: Ned Kelly.

In this pro-Ned telling of his life, we begin at... well, the beginning. We set the scene of Ned's life by looking at where his parents came from, and the general struggles of life in Australia at the time.

More specifically, we talk about things like shiny green sashes, sub-par-stakeouts, rat-uncle-Jack, and a Harry Power who isn't too good at ranging bush in the beginning (just stick with him, he'll surprise you).

**Also the show Madi was talking about is called "Banished" and it was a BBC show on Hulu!

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Well, well... here's two folktales that both very much deal with animals for you, sweet HoneyBees.

Story 1.) Hans the Hedgehog. With a name like that... what can go wrong? Well for starters, TW for child abuse because of the Grimm's of it all, but other than that, this one really can't be predicted (though that did NOT stop us from trying!) Only main takeaway from this one is this: what size were ya'll picturing Hans??

Story 2.) Bougoodoogahdah. Our first ever folktale from Australia! And you guys... it's got DINGOES! Like, a totally reasonable amount of dingoes. Like. Between 2 - 400 dingoes. This Aboriginal folktale has its fair share of brutality (which Gabby is like, in super agreeance with) and ends with a tiny bird that brings rain. So. Put that in your pouch and bounce it, mates.

Well HoneyBees, you officially have all of the same information we do, so it's time to decide: who is your Robin?

In this episode, the legend himself, and real-life-actual-English-person, Chris Riley straight up gives us a list of names containing real-life people who could potentially be Robin Hood.

Is it 1. Robert Hood, the tenant farmer, who in the beginning seemed so farfetched until the BOMB Chris drops in the last 10 minutes?

Or 2. Robert Hod, the outlaw/fugitive of vague origins??

OR EVEN POSSIBILY 3. Robert Fitz Odo (or however you want to spell it because spelling didn't exist) the KNIGHT!??

No matter which one you choose, the correct answer is D, Chris Riley, because all evidence really points to him being the actual Robin Hood.

Anyways, Let us know which one you choose, and why its Chris Riley, on social media!

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While we all know the tale of the Yeoman archer who defied Prince John, did he actually exist? From Sherwood Forest to Robin Hood’s Bay, the North of England is full of claims to his story but with so many places claiming Robin as their own, how can we be sure who the real ‘man in tights’ was?

The earliest mentions appear in 1377 but the details don’t always match the legend. Did he rob the rich to give to the poor? Maybe not! Was he King Richard’s contemporary? That may not be the case.

Listen to our latest episode and let us know what you think. Was Robin a real crusading archer? Or simply a story told one night around a campfire?

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Ok, Folktales XXX delivereth unto us some of the best gd folktales we’ve heard this season!

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Story 1: Little Saddle S|ut

Yes. This is the name of this story. Here it is AS PROMISED!

This Greek version of Cinderella is unlike ANY Cinderella story you’ve ever heard, we promise. From murder, a little dash of cannibalism, an unobservant male love interest, and absent parents (for the most part) this fairy tale has it alllllll!

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Story 2: The Lenape Tribe Creation Myth

Listen. We LOVE an indigenous creation tale, and the Lenape people have a BEAUTIFUL one! Thank you SO MUCH to listener Ky for this absolutely beautiful recommendation!

Also, PLEASE go easy on us, we had absolutely no clue that muskrats were Phelpian-level athletes….

Did you??!

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Please please please don’t eat your mothers, but DO leave us a 5 star review if you’re enjoying the pod!

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Hey HoneyBees, quick question: have you ever found a rock in nature and you just HAVE to take it home with you? Yep, us too. This is a story about repeated stone snatching throughout the past 1500 years. And not just any stone, THE STONE OF DESTINY. Are you ready for this one? It’s a wild ride.

Listen to find out the incredible history of the coronation stone, a cultural icon whose origins are rooted in legend, and a relic continually used for crowning Scottish and British royals since the year 498…

Stay with us for a FreshCup with Betsy, featuring a girl who is doing SO MUCH BETTER right now, and we hope she's lsitening!

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Alright HoneyBees, prepare 2 vessels of beer (no we will NOT elaborate on that) and get ready for this ghostly episode!

Did you know that there is an ancient Babylonian tablet laying out step-by-step instructions on how to exorcise a ghost?! You're about to learn all about it! The tablet included a 5 step process on how to get a ghost out of your home and on to where they belong, and just wait until you hear step 5....

THAT'S NOT ALL! In this episode we also read you Pliny the Elder's letters to a trusted friend in which he begs him to answer one simple question: do you think ghosts are real? Pliny goes on to describe, what historians believe to be, the first documented haunted house, as well as other ancient Roman ghost encounters he had heard of. So yes. we may leave you thinking about the Roman Empire with this one, but someone should really check on Coco and her haunted rock situation...

Stay tuned for a special FreshCup where Betsy tells us a PERSONAL GHOST STORY!

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Well... we promise spooky folktales, and good lord do we deliver. Proceed with caution, honeybees!

Story 1: The Baba Yaga: VOICE ACTING ALERT! Gabby shows UP for you with the voices in this episode. You'll hear her voice various humans with varying intentions, as well as at least 2 animals... and a door? The Baba Yaga is a witch-type character in Slavic folklore who likes to eat her nieces, not pay her staff, and neglect her pets. So sit at your loom and turn up the volume for this one.

Story 2: The Juniper Tree: TRIGGER WARNING!!!! Oh wow. This is the most messed up thing we've ever read on this podcast. Proceed with caution; trigger warnings for child abuse, general violence, cannibalism, and horrific singing. Here is a sickening tale of an ill-fated "red and white boy" (WHAT DOES THAT MEAANNN?!?!?) his EVIL stepmother, his absent yet caring father, and his traumatized little half-sister. This story rambles on and on... and I guess there's a juniper tree in there somewhere too. Grimm's can do the rest of the story telling for this one, we're tapping out.