Don't Witch About Me!

Series 2 Episode 3 - Rhiannon, Kigva, Manawydan and Pryderi

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 07:00:33 GMT

The third branch of the Mabinogion. Pryderi offers his mum as a gift to cheer up his friend. Thousands of people vanish into thin air and nobody's particularly concerned. Revenge is wreaked on the wrong people.

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Bonus Episode - What is the Mabinogion?

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:00:17 GMT

A short bonus episode with some background information about 'The Mabinogion', the oldest collection of Welsh prose texts and the source for all the fascinating stories this series.

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Series 2 Episode 2 - Branwen Part 2

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:00:50 GMT

Series 2 Episode 2 is part 2 of the story of Branwen, the 2nd story in the Mabinogion. All the 2s!! In this episode, we rejoin Branwen as she struggles to escape from her cruel husband, with the help of her giant brother Bran.

My source for this episode was the Penguin Classics edition of 'The Mabinogion', translated by Jeffrey Ganz.

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Series 2 Episode 1 - Branwen

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:00:53 GMT

Inexplicable giants! A magic cauldron! A female character who has to pay the price for men's behaviour! It's the second branch of the Mabinogion: Branwen, Daughter of Llyr.

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Series 1 Episode 10 - Witchy Hauntings

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 06:00:08 GMT

It's spooky season!! So here are two supposed ghost stories, featuring so-called witches.

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Series 1 Episode 9 - Etheldreda of Ely

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 06:00:20 GMT

Inspired by a recent visit to Ely, the story of St Etheldreda, her ability to advocate for her own bodily autonomy and her miracles. Sources are all said at the end of the episode because I think listing them here deleted my last episode!

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RERELEASE: Series 1 Episode 8: King James, 'Macbeth' and Doideag

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 12:03:38 GMT

This episode seemed to 'publish' but then vanished from all streaming platforms with no explanation! So let's try again... I've deleted all the sources in case it was one of the sources which was the problem which I appreciate is not great...

In this episode, we explore James I's (James VI of Scotland) beliefs about witches and their deadly consequences, as well as the influence on Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. Also, find out all about Doideag - the witch who saved us from the Spanish Armada.

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Series 1 Episode 7 - Sulis

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:00:37 GMT

A Celtic goddess, combining with a Roman deity? Pigs showing the way to medicine? Ancient curses? Sulis has it all!

Sources for this episode:

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Series 1 Episode 6 - The Lady of Llyn Y Fan Fach

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 06:00:18 GMT

Join me as I find out about the Lady of Llyn Y Fan Fach and her husband - the OG star-crossed lovers?

Sources for this episode are:

'Warriors, Witches, Women' by Kate Hodges
https://folkrealmstudies.weebly.com/-welsh-legends-the-lady-of-llyn-y-fan-fach.html
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr/features/lady-of-the-lake
https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/folklore-welsh-lakes-legend-legacy-lady-llyn-y-fan-fach/
https://otherworldlyoracle.com/welsh-goddesses-gods/
Google Maps (for the Myddfai - Llyn Y Fan Fach distance)
Wikipedia
forvo.com for pronunciation guides

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Series 1 Episode 5 - Albina and the Origin of Albion

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 06:00:58 GMT

The first people to populate Britain? A tale of murder, adventure, demons, giants and war...

Sources for this episode:

'Storyland' by Amy Jeffs
'Mythology of the British Isles' by Geoffrey Ashe
'Folklore Thursday' https://folklorethursday.com/
'Under the Influence!' https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/the-legend-of-gogmagog-and-the-giants-of-albion/
inthemedievalmiddle.com
Museum of Cambridge
'Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!' podcast

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Series 1 Episode 4 - Rhiannon Part 2

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 06:00:26 GMT

This episode continues the story of Rhiannon, a fairy goddess from Welsh folklore. Featuring vanishing horses, mysterious happenings and fast-aging children...

Sources for this episode:

'The Mabinogion', Penguin Classics edition, translated by Jeffrey Gantz
'Warriors, Witches, Women' by Kate Hodges
'Mythology of the British Isles' by Geoffrey Ashe

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Series 1 Episode 3 - Rhiannon

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 06:00:53 GMT

In this episode, we meet Rhiannon, the fairy queen/goddess of the Welsh Mabinogion.

Sources for this episode are:

The Mabinogion, published by Penguin Classics, translated by Jeffrey Gantz
'Warriors, Witches, Women: Mythology's Fiercest Females' by Kate Hodges
forvo.com for Welsh pronunciation

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Series 1 Episode 2 - Morgan Le Fay: Evil Witch or Benevolent Healer?

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT

A whistle-stop tour of the origins of Morgan Le Fay, and why she changes from a benevolent healer to an antagonist.

Sources for this episode:

‘Vita Merlini’, translated by John Jay Parry.
‘Arthurian Romances’ by Chretien de Troyes, translated by William W Kibler.
‘Warriors, Witches, Women: Mythology’s Fiercest Females’ by Kate Hodges.
‘Morgan Le Fay: Magic, Mysticism and Misogyny’ by Josephine Smiley.

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Series 1 Episode 1 - Selkies: The Seal Women of Folklore

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:00:29 GMT

In this first episode, we dive (pun intended) into the magical tale of 'selkies': supernatural beings who can take the form of seals or people. I tell four folk-tales, all around the theme of selkies, and explain some of the origins around these stories.

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