Welcome back to The Freakin’ Shack and to our very first episode of 2026!

To launch the new year, we dive into one of the darkest fairy tales ever told: Hansel & Gretel.

But be warned — the origins are grim in every sense. This episode explores:

It’s eerie, it’s fascinating, and it’s definitely one of the bleakest journeys we’ve taken in the Shack — but told with our usual warmth, humour, and just a sprinkle of spooky chaos.

Mort, meanwhile, communicates his outrage through silent dramatic gestures.. He insists his voice will return “when the world is ready once more for my brilliance.” We can’t wait.

How You Can Support the Show

Kick off the new year by helping The Freakin’ Shack grow!

Every little bit helps our tiny Shack in the woods reach new listeners — and it greatly annoys Mort when people love us more than him.

© Copyright

All stories, characters (including Mortimer Witherblight), narration, and original creative content in The Freakin’ Shack are the intellectual property of the creators.

This week, we swing the twinkly light on the true roots of The Shoemaker and the Elves — a tale far darker than its cosy reputation — before retelling the story itself and asking why so many Christmas classics begin with hardship, fear, and a touch of magic.

We then crack open The Nutcracker, exploring its surprisingly eerie beginnings, its journey through darker themes, and how it eventually transformed into the bright, glittering Christmas ballet we know today.

Along the way, we discuss a fascinating ghost sighting reportedly caught on camera over on the Château de Montmagner YouTube channel — proof, perhaps, that the festive season doesn’t discourage the paranormal… it merely decorates it.

@ChateauDeMontmagner  

YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/LtwME3DRTag?si=27KVjZMLIkiwNrrC  

And of course, Mortimer is with us, revealing his favourite thing about Christmas — an explanation that somehow involves sparkly balls and absolutely no dignity.

Pour a drink, pull up a chair, and join us in the Shack for a Christmas episode that’s cosy, curious, and just a little bit creepy.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support The Freakin’ Shack by:

Your support keeps the fire lit, the stories flowing, and the baubles… shimmering.

All stories, words, festive ramblings, ghostly observations, and questionable bauble discussions in this Christmas edition of The Freakin’ Shack belong to The Freakin’ Shack (unless we say otherwise).

Please don’t copy, reproduce, rewrap, or sneak them into your own stocking without permission — even if you promise to put a bow on it.

You’re very welcome to share the episode, spread the word, and recommend the Shack far and wide… just don’t lift the content itself. Santa is watching. Probably. 

Thank you for supporting independent creators and helping keep the Shack warm, weird, and wonderfully festive.

This week at The Freakin’ Shack, Mortimer Witherblight our resident ghost host is sounding distinctly croaky — though he insists ghosts can’t catch colds… merely “an unfortunate case of the chills!” Between spectral sniffles and our laughter, the team explore the timeless magic of the number three.

From the darker origins of The Three Little Pigs, to the troll-troubled Billy Goats Gruff, to the surprising early versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, we look at why trios keep appearing in folklore — and why stories built around “three” feel so satisfying and use the Goldilocks principle of being - ‘Just Right’ 

 How You Can Support the Show

If you enjoy our spooky storytelling, chaotic giggles, and the occasional complaining ghost, you can help the Shack grow by doing these few things:

[email protected]

Your support genuinely helps us reach more listeners — and it absolutely delights Mort (although he’ll never admit it).

© Copyright

All content in The Freakin’ Shack podcast — including original stories, characters (such as Mortimer Witherblight), dialogue, and original creative material — is the intellectual property of the creators.

In this second dive into the world of childhood rhymes, we wander even deeper into the shadows behind the songs we grew up singing. This week we chat about the grim origins of Three Blind Mice, the mysteries of Lucy Locket, the plague-tinged whispers in Ring a Roses, and the very strange history behind London Bridge — including why it kept “falling down”… or being sold to the highest bidder.

Of course, it wouldn’t be The Freakin’ Shack without utter hilarity when Petrina attempts to discuss curtsies and gentlemanly bows.. The discussion quickly spirals into an unfortunate mention of “bow - movements”… as you can imagine,  from that moment onward, the episode never quite recovers.

Expect conversation, information, laughter, folklore and Mort's deep disappointment in humanity.

Pull up a chair,  here in the Shack — things are about to get delightfully ridiculous.

Help the Shack grow by:

Every share helps more people find our cosy Shack.

The Freakin’ Shack Podcast

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited.

In this first episode of our new season, we swing the light on the nostalgic rhymes we all thought were oh so innocent. From the “choppy, choppy” ending of Oranges & Lemons, to the suspicious little tumble in Jack and Jill, to the surprising truth lurking behind    Baa Baa Black Sheep—these childhood favourites carry stories far darker than the playground ever let on.

Join us in the Shack as we explore forgotten histories, curious theories, and the uneasy moments when nostalgia meets nightmare. Expect laughter, a little confusion with Steph’s notes… (not a surprise), a few atmospheric chills, and of course, Mort chiming in with his withering commentary.

How to Support Us at The Shack

If you enjoy the episode, you can help the Shack grow by:

© Copyright & Credits

The Freakin’ Shack Podcast

Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of this audio or any associated content is prohibited without written permission.

Music, sound effects, and images are used under appropriate licenses or original and created for the show.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Shack After Dark — our cosy, unfiltered, relaxed corner of The Freakin’ Shack!

In this late-night fireside chat, Petrina and Steph settle in with their favourite brew and talk about the books they’re reading. What is it that Steph manages to loose so many of? and what are our funniest sayings..?

We also wander into jam-making adventures, chutney triumphs, and the joys (and chaos) of having kilos of fruit in your freezer. All with our usual mix of laughter and the unmistakable Freakin’ Shack vibe.

Swing the light, settle in, and join us for a little after-hours magic.

If you enjoy the show and want to support what we’re building:

• Follow us on your favourite podcast app

Every little bit keeps The Shack glowing.

© The Freakin’ Shack Podcast.

All sound, and editing completed by The Shack team.

“Guardian of the Roots” An original Fairy Story

Step into the enchanted world of The Guardian of the Roots, where ancient forests remember every footstep, the earth hums with ancient magic, and the smallest acts of courage can change the destiny of an entire woodland.

This is a story of hope, healing, and belonging… told within the gentle glow and warmth of the fire.. and just a touch of our signature magic.

Curl up, get cosy, and let's listen to the forest's tale.

HOW YOU CAN HELP / SUPPORT US

If you enjoyed this story and want to help our little magical corner of the podcast world grow, here’s how you can support us:

*Follow / Subscribe on your podcast app

*Send us your thoughts, stories, or spooky encounters

* Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes silliness, and Mort’s questionable life advice

Your support means so much to us.

You help keep the light swinging & the fire burning.

The Freakin’ Shack Podcast — Cursed Objects Series

In this episode of The Freakin’ Shack, we dive headfirst into the tangled world of religion, ritual, and the power of belief — and how those forces have shaped some of history’s most mysterious and cursed objects.

From relics worshipped and feared to rituals meant to bless or bind, we explore the fine line between faith and fanaticism, morality and manipulation, and how human hands can twist the sacred into the strange.

It’s a thoughtful — and at times cheeky — exploration of how religion and power, devotion and destruction often walk hand in hand. Expect laughter, open-minded debate, and a dreaming dog who occasionally woofs us back to reality.

Because here in The Freakin’ Shack, we believe in curiosity, compassion, and one simple rule…

Find The Freakin’ Shack on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you get your spooky storytelling fix.

Get Involved:

Have a story, theory, or haunting object of your own?

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