Feminist Folklore

The final episode of Feminist Folklore is a two-fer. Rachael, and Carlea both share stories of women's enduring supernatural rage: the Banshee, and the Furies. Rachael, Carlea, and Aaron also discuss what the show has meant to them. Thank you, Femlore listeners, for joining us on this wonderful, if sometimes problematic, journey. Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music: "Dead From The Beginning, Alive Till The End" and "Clusticus the Mistaken" performed by...

A woman's work is never done! Especially when she has to take a vow of silence and make shirts for six years straight to free her brothers from an evil spell. Sounds like a Project Runway challenge from hell! Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music: "Schubert's Sonata in B Flat, D. 960 - II. Andante sostenuto" Performed by David H. Porter (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_H_Porter/) . Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on...

This week, Rachael shares a classic tale from our back catalog, with all new discussion. It's The Little Mermaid, the tale of a spunky sea lass who just wants to be where the people are. Or does she want a soul? This story may not be quite what you remembered, if you're most familiar with a certain animated children's film. Audio engineering by Aaron Crossland. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter @femlorepod and on Instagram @feministfolklorepodcast. You...

This week, Carlea shares a story about a woman who

This week, Carlea and Rachael lead with a sad announcement, but there's still a story to share: Medusa. This classic monster's backstory is more disturbing than you might remember, and she's more sympathetic villain than you might expect. Actually, she's less villain than she is victim. But she does have some very rad hair. Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music by Premiumbeats.com. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter...

This week, Rachael shares an early version of Cinderella you may not have heard of. Actually, Cinderella is a version of this story. It's got all the toxic beauty standards and challenging family dynamics you know and love, in a completely different context! Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music by Premiumbeats.com. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter @femlorepod and on Instagram @feministfolklorepodcast. You can also...

This week, Carlea shares a version of "The Three Bears" that may not be quite as familiar as the tried-and-true story. What if the person who stole from the bears wasn't a cute, little blonde girl? Is this story a cautionary tale about privilege, or a takedown of the right to property? Or both? Or neither??? Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music by Premiumbeats.com. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter @femlorepod and on...

This week, Rachael shares a story about a humble man in search of a wife, and the fabulous mouse who must prove herself worthy of his affections. If you like dubious criteria for selecting a spouse or deadly stakes for finding love, this one's for you! Content Warning: Death Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music by Premiumbeats.com. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter @femlorepod and on Instagram @feministfolklorepodcast....

This week, Carlea shares a story you know and love: Snow White! It's got all the murderous jealousy and necrophilia you remember, plus child brides and poison hair accessories. Ahh, a true classic! Thanks, patriarchal beauty standards! Content Warning: Attempted murder, attempted cannibalism, child marriage, torture Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music by Soundsnap. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on Twitter @femlorepod and on...

This week, Rachael shares a version of a classic story that’s so much worse than you remember it. That’s right, it’s “Sun, Moon, and Talia””, now with more 100% rape, infidelity, and cannibalism than the “Sleeping Beauty” you know! Content Warning: Rape, cannibalism Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story Music: “Rhapsody No. 2 in G Minor (Brahms)” performed by Nico De Napoli (freemusicpublicdomain.com (http://freemusicpublicdomain.com/) ); Licensed under Creative...

You won't believe what story she tells the sultan next! This week, in honor of the upcoming release of Disney's Aladdin, Carlea shares another story from One Thousand and One Nights: Scheherazade. You know, the one where a woman marries a misogynistic mass murderer and tells him stories until he doesn't hate women anymore? Seems like a solid plan . . . Content Warning: Infidelity, spousal abuse, and murder Audio engineering, editing, and story music provided by Aaron Crossland. Don't forget...

This week, in honor of the upcoming release of Disney's _Aladdin_, Rachael shares a story from _The Thousand and One Nights:_ "The Three Apples." It's often called one of the first whodunit mysteries, and it should come as no surprise to fans of true crime that it's full of problematic treatment of women! Content Warning: Murder, gore, spousal abuse Audio engineering, editing, and story music provided by Aaron Crossland. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You can follow us on...

Out now, Earth Break is the latest scripted series from Skylark Media. Jenny Slate stars as Lynn Gellert, the last person left on Earth. Her constant and only companion is the voice recorder she managed to salvage from her mother's house. As symptoms of a strange illness seem to set in, Lynn comes to terms with her mortality, only to realize that she's not sick, she's pregnant. Lynn is not a survivalist, or even good at camping, but somehow she has to find what it takes to confront a...

This week, Carlea shares the myth of Persephone and Demeter, an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons. Because, as everyone knows, winter is caused by the abduction and forced marriage of a goddess by the king of hell. Aren't you glad it's spring? Content Warning: Kidnapping, incest, and forced marriage Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. Story music: “Soundtrack” by Komiku, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! You...

This week, Rachael shares a story from Norse myth about the death of Thor's brother Baldr, their mother Frigg's deadly oversharing, and, of course, everyone's favorite trickster, Loki. Oh, and let's not forget, the queen of the Medium Place underworld, Hel! And if you're familiar with her mainly as Cate Blanchett from the Marvel movie, you're in for a surprise! Turns out the original Hel wore way less eyeliner, way more corpse legs! Content Warning: Murder Audio engineering and editing...

This week, Rachael shares a story that may sound familiar to fans of La Llorona: The Woman in White. She’s a tanner’s daughter, he’s a knight pretending to be someone else so he can hook up with her . . . This can't end well! And as we all know, when a woman wronged seeks justice, she must be a monster, right? Content Warning: Violence against children, discussion of rape Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland. You can listen to his band, F. LaRocque, at...

Move over King Arthur, Morgan Le Fay is the baddest bitch in town! This week, Carlea shares a much-requested story, Morgan Le Fay, and it sure is a doozy. Sure Morgan is murderous and deceitful, but she's also an ambitious lady trying to get what she deserves, so we kind of love her. After all, who doesn't love a female character who says to hell with likability and goes for the crown? Content Warning: violence, murder, and deception Audio engineering and editing provided by Aaron Crossland....

Feminist Folklore is taking a quick break this week! But Rachael and special guest Aaron (!!!) have something to tell you anyway: We're looking for feedback on the show, so please take a moment to fill out a quick survey and help shape Femlore's future: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/76RWF6P We'll be back next week with some exciting changes to our show format, and one of our top-requested stories to share! Audio engineering provided by Aaron Crossland. You can listen to his band, F....

This week, Rachael shares a story about a fiancé who's not what he seems, and the intrepid young woman who exposes his lies. We love a story about a brave woman who's not afraid to stand up to the shady men in her life! Content Warning: Violence against women and murder Audio engineering provided by Aaron Crossland. You can listen to his band, F. LaRocque, at https://flarocque.bandcamp.com. Story music: “Variatio 25 a 2 Clav.” by Kimiko Ishizaka,...

This week, Carlea shares a myth from China about the goddess of silk worms, who has a more upsetting origin story than you might expect. It definitely involves way more dead horses than anticipated (only one, but that's still too many!). Content Warning: This episode involves discussion of violence against women and against animals. Audio engineering provided by Aaron Crossland. You can listen to his band, F. LaRocque, at https://flarocque.bandcamp.com. Story music: “Relent” by Kevin...