It’s the last podcast of the year, during the 12 days of Christmas—a good time to discuss 2 Christmas “witches” that seek out naughty children—and adults—to either cannibalize them or cut them open and stuff them full of straw. It’s Austria’s Frau Perc …
Tag: folklore
Episode 11Baba Yaga
I talk with Dr. Joanna Madloch about the Slavic witch Baba Yaga. Joanna grew up in Poland with traditional Slavic folklore, and we discuss the common motifs and meanings of the old witch who lives in the forest, in a house that moves, and is only found …
Episode 4Nightmares and Night Hag Syndrome
This episode explores the origins of the term “nightmare” and its connection to the feminine “demonic”, and the phenomenon of sleep paralysis (also called Night Hag Syndrome) from a mythological and psychoanalytical point of view.
Episode 1The Mother Goddess
We think of mother goddesses as being gentle and loving, but ancient mother goddess worship had a dark side. This first episode looks at ancient mother goddesses of the Near East.