Bone and Sickle
Latest Episodes
Inside the Hollow Earth
Borrowed from fairy lore, thenotion of a hollow earth peopled by superior beings became a theme of literary fantasies as early as the 17th century and went on to influence fringe theories of the eart
The Dark Art of Ventriloquism
While the dummies may be inherently creepy, they were not the source of ventriloquisms dark reputation in earlier times. This originates with the understanding that the voice heard, when no mouth se
The Mesmerist
Our understanding of hypnotism, once known as mesmerism, has radically evolved over the centuries. This episode looks at where it all began, examining thefascinating (and rather weird) story of t
Banshees (Rebroadcast)
Banshees are spirits of Irish folklore, who warn of impending deaths. Originally considered fairies, theirIrish name,bean sdhe,means woman of the mounds, those mounds (sdhe) being theancient
Glass-Coffin Girls
The story of Snow White, as told by the Brothers Grimm, is only one of many narratives involving girls who have fallen into a deathlike state and are displayed in a glass coffins. In this episode, we
Audio Fix on Episode 125
A few listeners commented that Mrs. Karswells dialogue was muffled at points in Sorcery Schools of Spain. That episode is now updated with a corrected version. Thanks for letting us know.
Sorcery Schools of Spain
For centuries, Spain was said to be the home of secret, underground sorcery schools, Toledo being the first city with this reputation and later Salamanca. The notoriety of the latter was more endurin
A Christmas Ghost Story VI
Tonight we bring you our sixth annual Christmas ghost story, a tradition particularly beloved in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. First published in 1908, and set in the days before Christmas, the tal
Christmas Superstitions
The Christmas season is rich in superstitions. The whole period from the beginning of Advent, through the day itself, and especially throughout the twelve days (and nights!) between Christmas and Janu
The Monster of Glamis
The Monster of Glamis was a Victorian legend involving a Scottish castle, a secret chamber, and a monstrous aristocrat hidden from the worlda perfect story for Bone and Sickles return to its old for