What The Folklore?

By What the Folklore

What's What The Folklore? about?

A comedy podcast that exposes the absurd side of folklore. Each week we read a story, fix plotholes and create new ones, and invent unintended connections between tales.

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What The Folklore? episodes:

04.09.2024
Strangeknife Diaries
Looks like them anime boys are at it again!
03.26.2024
Episode 408: A Mysterious Fellow with a Slight Cherry Scent
This week on WTFolklore, we read "Nani Daughter of Nani", A Palestinian story who's title omits a FASCINATING detail about said character. You'll have to listen in to find out for yourself.
03.19.2024
Episode 407: The Think-About-What-You've-Dungeon
This week we read "The Enchanted Ring". No, not that one, the other one, from Russia. This obviously means we had to infuse it with some timely, seasonal holiday flair of our own.
03.12.2024
Episode 406: Middle-Manager-Slash-King Tiger
This week we read "The Tiger King's Gift". No, not that one, the other one, from India. We actually meet a trinity of animal kings, so we encourage you to tag yourself among them.
03.05.2024
Episode 405: A Blackbelt in Royalty
This week we read The Bird Catcher, from Serbia. It features either the very best or the very worst agent of Project Birdfall. We'll let you decide which. CONTENT WARNING: Infrequent, but repeated mentions of domestic violence.
02.27.2024
Episode 404: Waiting Room Simulator 2024
This week we read "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep", another banger from Hans Christian Andersen. It doesn't do much to disrupt it's own status quo by the end, but boy are there some twists along the way.
02.20.2024
Episode 403: Knitting...Sinisterly
This week WTFolklore reads "The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower", a Japanese story that demonstrates the perils of being TOO nice to someone, and the perils of being TOO stupid for niceness to...
02.13.2024
Episode 402: My Horse is Dead and the Toilet's Clogged
This week we read "The Flower Queen's Daughter", which transitions naturally from a PSA about egg consumption protocols to a Ye Olde retelling of Scott Pilgrim.
02.06.2024
Episode 401: THE MEGASUS
This week WTFolklore reads two tales of similar structure, "The Apples of Pregnancy" and "The Three Princesses and the Unclean Spirit". Turns out when you get your boys from apples, they ain't normal boys no more. But they ARE very...
01.23.2024
Episode 400: WTFolklore, Now on LaserDisc!
We have arrived at what is definitely our 400th episode (excluding a bunch of additional recordings that simply don't count). Such a momentous occasion requires a momentous surprise. Thanks to (lil') Geri for joining us!
01.16.2024
Episode 399: Fresh Ghost Meat
This week we read "The Plague Omen", a Polish tale that, on one hand, is about 4 years too late, but on the other, probably wouldn't have changed much if we're honest.
01.09.2024
Episode 398: Piss Soup is Not the Way to Repay a Favor
WTFolklore kicks off 2024 by reading "Tsuru no Ongaeshi" and several of it's variants, giving you a veritable zodiac wheel of animal wives to choose from!
12.19.2023
Episode 397: Tips on How to Defeat a Child
Rounding out the year 2023, we read the two wintery tales, "The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds" and "The Yule Buck and the Girl", to jam-pack as much WTFolklore in as we can before the holidays. You'll also learn...
12.12.2023
Episode 396: Cream of Water Soup
This week on WTFolklore we read the Brazillian tale, "Why the Sea Moans", which is obviously a well-known phenomenon and not just a made up excuse to tell another bizarre Cinderella-like.
11.21.2023
Episode 395: Hallmark Movie Event Horizon
This week on WTFolklore after some brief forays into the worlds of toilets and Hallmark movies, which ARE different, we read "The Cat that Walked by Himself", certainly for the first time ever. We learn some uncomfortable truths about the...
11.14.2023
Episode 394: The Constellation of Meats
This week on WTFolklore we read The Fairies of the Waterfall, which inadvertently helps to clue us in on the diabolical modern-day machinations of the Fae.
10.31.2023
Episode 393: New and Unforeseen Miseries
We've made it to the spookiest day of the year! Enjoy our retelling of "The Blacksmith's Stool: The Story of a Man Who Found That Death was Necessary"
10.24.2023
Episode 392: A Vibrant Picture of a Life in Shambles
This week for Spooklore, we learn about "Herne the Hunter", a man so baller in life that it was inevitable he'd be just as baller in death.
10.17.2023
Episode 391: Innocent Until Proven Vampire
This week for Spooklore, we tell the tale of "The Loss of Jacob Hurd", though in reality the tale is less about Jacob, and more about his own son's ghost-vengeance on his hassle of a father.
10.10.2023
Episode 390: Whale Jail
This week for Spooklore, we eventually get around to telling a Polish folktale, "The Demon's Dance", but first we ask that you Descend into a societal horror with us. Thanks to Theo for joining us again!
10.03.2023
Episode 389: Ancient Chinese Sharknado
Kicking off Spooklore once more is the return of the Journey West. Certainly not as body-horror-y as last year's entry, but still enough Halloween flavor to whet the appetite.
09.26.2023
Episode 388: Filthy John's Big Thinkers Vol. 2
This week on WTFolklore, we read "The Riddle". That's something of a misnomer, as no riddles appear whatsoever. But there are plenty of personal anecdotes to be had.
09.12.2023
Episode 387: Ms. Fieldmouse's Wiki Battleground
This week WTFolklore reads Forest Bride: The Story of a Little Mouse Who Was a Princess, which very succinctly sums up what you should expect to hear about. In addition to more single-panel Facebook Comic Strip Audiobooks, of course.
09.05.2023
Episode 386: That Bird is My Dad
This week on WTFolklore is the follow-up story to last week, titled "How Ball Carrier Finished His Task", and, listen, we MAY have been a little overzealous in our endorsement of a certain witch last week...
08.29.2023
Episode 385: The Empty Void of Human Creativity
This week on WTFolklore, we read the Unattributed Native American tale, "The Ball Carrier and the Bad One", which features a confusing training montage, distressingly terrible plans, and a shocking sequel hook
08.15.2023
Episode 384: There’s Witch in my Soul
This week WTFolklore reads the Icelandic tale, "The Witch in the Stone Boat", after a brief return from a beloved segment.
08.08.2023
Episode 383: Everything You Say Confuses Me (Prince Tity, Part 2)
This week WTFolklore concludes reading "Prince Tity", and end up attending the most rancid-vibes party we've ever heard of.
08.01.2023
Episode 382: A Series of Fake Dads (Prince Tity, Part 1)
This week WTFolklore begins reading "Prince Tity", a French tale (not "that" France though), and meet a character we've been dreaming of our whole lives.
07.25.2023
Episode 381: A Fun Way to Dunk on Rats
This week WTFolklore reads "How the Brazilian Beetles Got their Gorgeous Coats". That may seem like a very straightforward title to you at first glance, but as our episode title suggests, something deeper lurks below the surface of this tale.
07.11.2023
Episode 380: Frogs are a Gateway to Frankenstein
This week WTFolklore reads The Magic Swan-Geese, or as it's more commonly known these days, Jim Henson's Labyrinth starring David Bowie.
07.04.2023
Episode 379: Johnny Hotdogseed
This week on WTFolklore, we celebrate Independence Day the only way we know how...by reading a story from Japan instead. Join us for "The Cats' Elopement".
06.27.2023
Episode 378: Ibuprofen for the Soul (The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville, Part 2)
Concluding Pride Month 2023, we finish reading "The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville", from Charles Perrault.
06.20.2023
Episode 377: Go To Your Scream Shack (The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville, Part 1)
Continuing Pride Month 2023, we begin reading The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville, from Charles Perrault.
06.06.2023
Episode 376: More Witches 2024
HEY! YOU! CARMAN'S DOING A KICKSTARTER! CHECK IT OUT! To commemorate the beginning of Pride Month 2023, we read The Nobleman's Daughter Who Became a Soldier, a Lithuanian tale provided to us through the great efforts of our discord community.
05.30.2023
Episode 375: 1-800-FISH (The Tree That Reached the Sky Part II)
HEY! YOU! CARMAN'S DOING A KICKSTARTER! CHECK IT OUT! This week on WTFolklore we miraculously continue reading The Tree That Reached the Sky. The scope of this tree expands exponentially, like a Big Bang.
05.23.2023
Episode 374: The Most Gatsby Dragon (The Tree That Reached the Sky Part I)
This week on WTFolklore we begin reading "The Tree That Reached the Sky". Though, in a way, we also conclude reading "The Tree That Reached the Sky", even though next week, we're going to continue reading "The Tree That Reached...
05.16.2023
Episode 373: God Help You If You Skipped Part 1 (The Punishment of Gangana Part 2)
HEY! YOU! CARMAN'S DOING A KICKSTARTER! CHECK IT OUT! After an almost definitely unhelpful recap of Part 1, we conclude our trek into "The Punishment of Gangana". Hopefully this time you walk away with useful knowledge, like the difference between a...
05.09.2023
Episode 372: Now This is Podcasting (The Punishment of Gangana Part 1)
After discussing our various franchising options (again), We begin reading "The Punishment of Gangana" this week. We do our best to follow along, but it proves to be deceptively simple, and entirely interested in the minutiae of a number of...
05.02.2023
Episode 371: Sounds are Not Always for You
This week on WTFolklore, after a brief update on the state of mini-golf and pizza in this country, we read "Yallery Brown", which is less of a cautionary tale and more of a general PSA to be on the lookout...
04.18.2023
Episode 370: The Stickiest Husband
HEY! YOU! CARMAN'S DOING A KICKSTARTER! CHECK IT OUT! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carmanda/dramatis-personae-the-characters-of-carmanda This week on WTFolklore we read Herr Lazarus and the Draken, which sounds SUSPICIOUSLY familiar to another tale we read many, many years ago...
04.11.2023
Episode 369: The Patron Saint of Food Network
This week on WTFolklore we read Lutung Kasarung, the tale of a woman so committed to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory that she does it like, four or five times in a row. Also, there's a very humble,...
03.28.2023
Episode 368: Bring Me Your Hungriest, Thirstiest Boy
This week on WTFolklore we read The Flaming Horse: The Story of a Country Where The Sun Never Shines, which is ACTUALLY the story of a man who loves two things most in life: Books and Murder.
03.21.2023
Episode 367: The Franz Ferdinand of Birds (Princess Nobody Part 2)
This week on WTFolklore we conclude reading Princess Nobody, Andrew Lang's fanfic about some of Richard Doyle's paintings AND A Midsummer Night's Dream, apparently. We also stumble on the potential catalyst for all the strife between birds and fairies...
03.14.2023
Episode 366: Something as Trivial as a Ghost-Giant War (Princess Nobody Part 1)
This week on WTFolklore we begin reading "Princess Nobody", Andrew Lang's fanfic about some of Richard Doyle's paintings. It also has some serious Kingdom Hearts energy.
03.07.2023
Episode 365: Dutch Goku
Wow! 365 Episodes! You've got one for every day of the year now! This week on WTFolklore we read "The Boy Who Wanted More Cheese", which is frankly a reasonable position to have.
02.28.2023
Episode 364: So Much For Nuance
This week on WTFolklore, after a little bit of education on the storied profession of Butling, we read The Disobedient Son, which continues OUR storied tradition of misnomers.
02.21.2023
Episode 363: The Time is Sweden, the Space is Sweden
This week on WTFolklore, we read "The Barrel Bung", A Swedish tale about jump scares and glory holes, and we peppered in a light dusting of Satanic Panic at the end, for flavor.
02.14.2023
Episode 362: Don't Look a Kiss-Horse in the Mouth
This week on WTFolklore, we read Hans Christian Andersen's "The Swineherd", which may or may not even feature a swine herd in it...
02.07.2023
Episode 361: Chekhov's Hidden Spatula
This week on WTFolklore, we read "The Legend of Leech", which is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it titular detail.
01.31.2023
Episode 360: A Glass Shovel and a 6PM Deadline
This week on WTFolklore, we read "The Two Kings' Children", Another Grimm tale. Gotta be honest, the boys REALLY phoned it in on this one. We'd have been better off if the prophecy in the beginning actually came true...

What's What The Folklore? about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

What The Folklore? episodes:

Strangeknife Diaries

Episode 408: A Mysterious Fellow with a Slight Cherry Scent

Episode 407: The Think-About-What-You've-Dungeon

Episode 406: Middle-Manager-Slash-King Tiger

Episode 405: A Blackbelt in Royalty

Episode 404: Waiting Room Simulator 2024

Episode 403: Knitting...Sinisterly

Episode 402: My Horse is Dead and the Toilet's Clogged

Episode 401: THE MEGASUS

Episode 400: WTFolklore, Now on LaserDisc!

Episode 399: Fresh Ghost Meat

Episode 398: Piss Soup is Not the Way to Repay a Favor

Episode 397: Tips on How to Defeat a Child

Episode 396: Cream of Water Soup

Episode 395: Hallmark Movie Event Horizon

Episode 394: The Constellation of Meats

Episode 393: New and Unforeseen Miseries

Episode 392: A Vibrant Picture of a Life in Shambles

Episode 391: Innocent Until Proven Vampire

Episode 390: Whale Jail

Episode 389: Ancient Chinese Sharknado

Episode 388: Filthy John's Big Thinkers Vol. 2

Episode 387: Ms. Fieldmouse's Wiki Battleground

Episode 386: That Bird is My Dad

Episode 385: The Empty Void of Human Creativity

Episode 384: There’s Witch in my Soul

Episode 383: Everything You Say Confuses Me (Prince Tity, Part 2)

Episode 382: A Series of Fake Dads (Prince Tity, Part 1)

Episode 381: A Fun Way to Dunk on Rats

Episode 380: Frogs are a Gateway to Frankenstein

Episode 379: Johnny Hotdogseed

Episode 378: Ibuprofen for the Soul (The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville, Part 2)

Episode 377: Go To Your Scream Shack (The Story of the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville, Part 1)

Episode 376: More Witches 2024

Episode 375: 1-800-FISH (The Tree That Reached the Sky Part II)

Episode 374: The Most Gatsby Dragon (The Tree That Reached the Sky Part I)

Episode 373: God Help You If You Skipped Part 1 (The Punishment of Gangana Part 2)

Episode 372: Now This is Podcasting (The Punishment of Gangana Part 1)

Episode 371: Sounds are Not Always for You

Episode 370: The Stickiest Husband

Episode 369: The Patron Saint of Food Network

Episode 368: Bring Me Your Hungriest, Thirstiest Boy

Episode 367: The Franz Ferdinand of Birds (Princess Nobody Part 2)

Episode 366: Something as Trivial as a Ghost-Giant War (Princess Nobody Part 1)

Episode 365: Dutch Goku

Episode 364: So Much For Nuance

Episode 363: The Time is Sweden, the Space is Sweden

Episode 362: Don't Look a Kiss-Horse in the Mouth

Episode 361: Chekhov's Hidden Spatula

Episode 360: A Glass Shovel and a 6PM Deadline