The Fairy Tellers

#7 Pele and the Formation of the Hawaiian Islands (and other Geomythology Tales)

Katrina and Geoff discuss geomythology! Join us as we retell the story of the formation of the Hawaiian islands by the volcano goddess Pele and why actual geologists are obsessed with her tears and hair, the dueling volcanoes that lead to the formation of Crater Lake in the northwestern United States, and the heartbreaking story of an impact crater created by a fallen baby star in the Australian Outback.

#6 Monsters from Around the World

Katrina and Geoff discuss monsters from around the world and discover that the true monster was us all along.

CW: 10 minute discussion of cannibalism. Brief mention of rape.

#5 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Katrina retells "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving, a single author story that has ascended to "folklore" status in the eyes of many Americans. We discuss the possible folklore origins for Irving's headless horseman, including the story of the Dullahan, quite possibly the most terrifying creature that Geoff has ever heard of, and why we think shared stories are so important.

#4 Momotaro or the Story of the Son of a Peach

Katrina and Geoff retell Momotaro or the Story of the Son of a Peach, a Japanese fairy tale about a young boy who comes into the world by way of, you guessed it, a giant peach. He grows big and strong, befriends wild animals, and takes on an island full of demons. We discuss the fascinating reasons so many Japanese fairy tales were translated into English in the early 1900's and why reading different versions by insiders and outsiders of a culture can give different perspectives on the same tale.

#3 Aesop's Fables

Katrina and Geoff retell eight of Aesop's famous fables. We discuss how these nearly 3000 year old stories function in a modern context. What exactly is so relatable about talking animals?

#2 Cinderella

Katrina and Geoff retell two versions of an obscure little tale called Cinderella. We discuss the similarities in this tale type and what the differences can tell us about what the storytellers valued.

*We had a complication with the sound quality and would plead for mercy since this is our second episode and we're still learning.*

#1 Introduction to The Fairy Tellers Podcast

Katrina and Geoff discuss terminology! What exactly is the difference between a fairy tale and a folktale? What are fables? Myths? Legends? Tune in and find out.

*Note: In this episode we briefly cover the history of Aesop's Fables and I want listeners to know that it is a very brief run down and doesn't entirely cover the mystery of the author "Aesop". Folklorists might be concerned by the simplified history presented.