Podcasts about British Isles

At 21-years-old Jasmine Harrison became the youngest female to row solo across the Atlantic. A year later she set a record as the first woman to swim the full length of the British Isles. Currently, she's participating in the Mini Globe Race, a solo, around-the-world race for 5.8 meter mostly home-built yachts. Before starting the race, Jasmine didn't know how to sail. We crossed paths in the Marquesas where we discussed her exploits. Follow her progress on the Mini Globe website or her Instagram page.

Send us a textFinally, another Literary Aviatrix Classics episode with my guest hosts Dr. Jacque Boyd and Captain Jenny Beatty! This episode is all about Amy Johnson. We started off with her book Sky Roads to the World but, truth in advertising, we did not love this book. It's a great history of aviation exploits of the time with insightful predictions of what aviation would offer in the future, but we gleaned almost nothing about Amy herself. We were able to cobble together our impressions of her, her life, and her aviation exploits from other sources, and Jenny, fabulous book and women's aviation history nerd that she is, gives us a rundown of several additional books and places Amy in the context of other women who were flying in the British Isles around her time. Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree. Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening!-Liz Booker

Join me in a conversation with adventurous paddlers Andy Mullins and Geoff Cater. Under the banner of Midlife Kayak, Andy and Geoff share their experiences, challenges, and the unique bond of friendship forged through sea kayaking. Embark on an inspiring story that navigates from the scenic coasts of Cornwall to the thrilling waters of Ireland. This episode explores not only the thrills of paddling around the prominent British Isles but also delves into the personal growth, camaraderie, and life-changing adventures that the open waters offer. Get insights into the essence of enjoying the moment, and how adventure leaves a lasting impact both on the paddlers and those they meet along the way. Midlife Kayak

They made the chimps watch too much LiveLeak and it infected them with Rage, cut to 28 days later and the entire British Isle is fucked. That's right, we're getting our MiniDV cams out and going back to the glorious days of post-9/11 with 28 DAYS LATER. This film reinvented a genre when it came out... but how does it hold up now?Joining us are the three lads from a new screening series in Toronto: Truth and Dare. Each month Nick Armstrong, Adam Bovoletis, and Sacha Kingston-Wayne program cutting-edge documentaries that challenge the idea of what a doc needs to be. Before we talk about this weeks film we also discuss some recent stuff we've been watching: VULCANIZADORA, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, MOUNTAINHEAD, and of course the actual first film in this franchise, the Sandra Bullock comedy 28 DAYS. Adam also walks us through his 29th birthday movie marathon and we all try out Shaq-a-licious XL gummies to determine whether or not they truly taste like Shaq.Come see Ben's film CHERUB next week on June 22nd at 3pm at the Paradise Theatre and then head to the latest Truth and Dare screening TREASURED STACKS OF JODIE MACK, a retrospective of the incomparable experimental filmmaker Jodie Mack. That screening is also on June 22nd at 7pm at CineCycle, PWYC.CHERUB tickets: https://www.goelevent.com/FOFS/e/CherubTREASURED STACKS OF JODIE MACK info: https://theseventhart.org/treasured-stacks-of-jodie-mack/Follow us @thefranchisees on Instagram and Twitter and email us at thefranchiseespod@gmail.com

This week, Joe welcomes Milly Johnson and Samuel Burr to the studio to chat about their new novels.They talk about their writing habits, author mates, female friendships and the menopause amongst man other things. They also give us some great book recommendations too! THE BOOK OFF 'We All Want Impossible Things' by Catherine NewmanVS 'Persuasion' by Jane Austen And here's more on our guests books...The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers - by Samuel Burr Clayton Stumper is an enigma.He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt.Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution.When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future.Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve – and it's a secret that will change everything…Same Time Next Week - by Milly JohnsonWelcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray's Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming.Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners' hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week?Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Local Legends, the penultimate for Series 6, Martin is joined around the campfire by folklorists, academics, and Folklore Society big-wigs, Dr Owen Davies and Dr Ceri Houlbrook.They are the masterminds behind, the University of Hertfordshire's Masters degree course in Folklore Studies. It's a one of a kind qualification, and we speak about it during this chat.Outside of that, though, Ceri has written and edited several books, and her primary research interests are, and I'm quoting here, “the heritage and material culture of ritual and folklore in the British Isles, from c.1700 to the present day.” Very cool.And then there's Owen, who is a British historian who specialises in the history of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, and popular medicine. And Professor Ronald Hutton described Owen not too long ago as Britain's "foremost academic expert on the history of magic." He's a notable figure in the field, everybody, so doff your caps accordingly!You can learn more about the University of Hertfordshire MA in Folklore Studies here, and can find Herts Memories here, as mentioned by Owen during the chat.For now though, let us throw another log onto the Three Ravens campfire and listen in to a chat about the Hertfordshire giant, Jack O' Legs, the last person convicted for witchcraft in England – a trial which took place in Hertfordshire, chalk streams, haunted Prodigy Houses, and added Boggart Hole Clough for pudding, plus so much more, with two true Local Legends: Dr Ceri Holbrook and Dr Owen Davies!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britpop legends Pulp are back after 24 years. They released their 8th album, More, which was recorded over the span of three weeks, starting in November of 2024. In the Bandcamp description for the album, Jarvis Cocker writes: “We hope you enjoy the music. It was written & performed by four human beings from the North of England, aided & abetted by five other human beings from various locations in the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process. This album is dedicated to Steve Mackey. This is the best that we can do. Thanks for listening.” Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our feature story in this episode takes us to the Highlands of Scotland, where we'll meet the elusive Loch Ness Monster, AKA Nessie. We'll also learn about some other Nessie-like creatures across the world, and some different water-dwelling creatures in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and western and central Africa. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- The "Surgeon's Photograph": Stuff to Read: Nessie:  Visit Inverness: The Loch Ness Monster History Channel: The First Sighting of the Loch Ness Monster NPR: 55-year-old camera set up to track the Loch Ness monster found in Scotland The Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register The Loch Ness Centre Kelpies:  Historic UK: The Kelpie Ancient Myth in Modern Art Folklore of Scotland: Kelpies Jormungandr and the Kraken Jormungandr at World History Encyclopedia Jormungandr: The Midgard Serpent in Norse Mythology Ancient Origins: Jörmungandr: The Misunderstood Midgard Serpent of Norse Mythology Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more Ninki Nanka Gambian Folktales: The Ninki Nanka BBC: The Hunt for Gambia's Mythical Dragon CNN: Here be monsters: The search for Africa's mythical beasts Coffee and Creatures: It's Hard to Keep Things Straight With the Ninki-Nanka Mokele Mbembe Cryptid Archives: Mokole-Mbembe Sightings Of The Legendary Mokele-Mbembe "Dinosaur" Of The Congo Are Increasing. What Is Going On? How Stuff Works: Mokele-Mbembe: The Truth Behind Africa's Mythical River Monster Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode!

The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Dominic Robinson.  Dominic  Robinson is a technical deep diver who specialises in exploration and in particular ship wrecks around the British Isles and he documents his adventures on his YouTube Channel.. YouTube         https://www.youtube.com/@D33pUK Instagram       https://www.instagram.com/d33puk/# Facebook        https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574229267789 The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★ review, and tell your friends and share and like, it all makes a difference.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via our media links or email   thebigscubapodcast@gmail.com  Take a look at the  Insta3620 Store    https://store.insta360.com/ and use our affiliate link  INRAI8S We are on Instagram              @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook              @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                      www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                       https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba  Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.  

From the mist-shrouded moors of Britain to the backroads of America, massive black hounds with glowing red eyes have terrorized witnesses for centuries—but when archaeologists unearth the bones of a 200-pound, 7-foot-tall dog near the site of a legendary hellhound attack, the line between folklore and reality begins to blur in the most chilling way.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: Eerie tales of spectral Hellhounds have haunted humanity for centuries, from the misty moors of the British Isles to the dense forests of Appalachia. These colossal black dogs with glowing eyes are said to be harbingers of doom, leaving a trail of fear and mystery in their wake. Over the years, the line between folklore and reality has blurred after numerous individuals have reported their own true tales of coming face-to-face with these denizens of the underworld. (True Tales of Hellhounds: Ancient Myths To Modern Cases) *** When the criminal justice system falters, the dead may step in to rectify the errors of the living. Through eerie whispers, unsettling dreams, and ghostly apparitions, sometimes, the deceased help to ensure justice is served. (Victims Who Solved Their Own Murders From The Grave) *** On June 9th, 1979, approximately 35 riders boarded the Sydney Ghost Train ride in Australia's beloved harbor attraction Luna Park. Seven of them would not leave the train tunnel alive. (The Haunting Tragedy of the Sydney Ghost Train Fire) *** On a fateful night in 1860 New York City, John Walton was gunned down in cold blood, setting off a desperate chase through the shadowy streets. As his cousin pursued the mysterious assailant, another life was claimed, plunging the city into a gripping tale of murder, intrigue, and a relentless quest for justice. The aftermath revealed a tangled web of family secrets, betrayal, and a courtroom drama that would captivate the entire nation. (Mystery of the Distiller's Demise) *** In the late eighteenth century, terror gripped the streets of London as a mysterious figure known as "The London Monster" targeted aristocratic women with cruel precision. Over fifty attacks within two years sparked widespread panic, leading to the formation of vigilante groups and a media frenzy that captivated the city's working class. What made him a monster, you may ask? He snuck up behind women and stabbed them… in the buttocks! (London's Butt-Stabbing Monster)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:04:53.967 = Show Open00:07:54.061 = True Tales of Hellhounds, Part 100:23:48.602 = True Tales of Hellhounds, Part 200:53:27.928 = Mystery of the Distiller's Demise01:02:32.947 = London's Butt-Stabbing Monster01:09:55.039 = Victims Who Solved Their Own Murders From The Grave01:21:02.933 = The Haunting Tragedy of the Sydney Ghost Train Fire01:28:27.949 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Victims Who Solved Their Own Murders From The Grave” source: Lyra Radford at ListVerse.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckrb5d7“The Haunting Tragedy of the Sydney Ghost Train Fire” by Carolyn Cox for The-Line-Up.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y5ssbkyd (used with permission)“London's Butt-Stabbing Monster” source: Creative History Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckk95u2“Mystery of the Distiller's Demise” source: Robert Wilhelm at MurderByGaslight.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yck5vxwv“True Tales of Hellhounds: Ancient Myths to Modern Cases” source: Brent Swancer at MysteriousUniverse.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4ry86tcp=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: July 15, 2024EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/hellhounds

Welcome to the thirty-second episode of the Zoology Ramblings Podcast!The podcast has a new intro tune, a big thank you and credits to the very talented Al Middleton for the epic jingle. In this episode, Emma and Robi share news about their recent travels. Emma shares the nature highlights from her recent trip to North America and Robi shares his relaxing time in the Botswanan bush. Emma and Robi's animals of the week range from the very fluffy (Sea otter) to the very "sexy" (Onager). We then get into our first rewilding deep dive outside the British Isles exploring Project Cheetah in India. An intricate discussion into the decline of the Asiatic cheetah and the complexities of their highly political reintroduction. Robi and Emma delve into how Southeastern cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia are being used as a proxy to the lost Asiatic cheetahs. Some deem this project a failure but Emma and Robi draw out some of its successes. Robi ends with a tribute to Vincent Van Der Merwe, an inspirational South African conservationist, scientist, and National Geographic Explorer. Vincent was known for his role in cheetah conservation and reintroduction projects in Africa and Asia. About the hosts:Robi Watkinson is a Conservation Biologist and wildlife filmmaker specialising in the spatial and movement ecology of large carnivores, camera trapping survey methods, rewilding, metapopulation dynamics and conservation planning. He has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and the Institute of Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is based between Cape Town and London, and has strong interests in equitable and inclusive conservation, palaeontology and wildlife taxonomy and evolution!Emma Hodson is a Zoologist and wildlife content creator, currently working in the community and engagement team at Avon Wildlife Trust. Emma's role as a Wildlife Champions Project Officer involves supporting and upskilling people to take action for nature in their local communities. Emma has experience in remote wildlife fieldwork, and has been part of Arctic fox, macaw and cetacean research teams in Iceland, Peru and Wales respectively. She has also been involved in animal care and rehabilitation work in Costa Rica and South Africa. Emma is particularly passionate about the interface between community engagement and wildlife monitoring, and enjoys running workshops and giving talks on topics including camera trapping, beaver ecology and rewilding. Follow up links:You can watch "Rewilding A Nation" for free on WaterBear by following this link: https://www.waterbear.com/watch/rewilding-a-nationYou can follow more of our weird and wonderful wildlife adventures on instagram: @zoologyramblingspodcast & @robi_watkinson_wildlife & @emma_hodson_wildlife 

Another week, another sticky situation for the prime minister and some of his MPs - this time it's centred around his language on immigration.When Sir Keir Starmer announced his White Paper, he argued that Britain "risked becoming an island of strangers" if immigration levels were not cut.So was he intentionally evoking Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 Rivers Of Blood speech? Or was this a big mistake?Also, with the Assisted Dying Bill back in parliament this week, Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman go on a tour of the British Isles to look at how different parliaments are approaching their legislation. If MPs in Westminster vote their bill down, could it stop it in its tracks in Holyrood too?Come and join us live on Tuesday 20 May at Cadogan Hall in London, tickets available now: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/electoral-dysfunction-live/Remember you can also watch us on YouTube!

This week Shelley and I delve into fairytale combinations and tricktaking in 3 Chapters by Joe Hout from Amigo (thanks to Amigo for the review copy) and then we check out the rejuvenation of society on the British Isles in Rebirth by Dr. Reiner Knizia from Mighty Boards Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR  Check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing 3 Chapters was just released here in the US and here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4GJCDMG  

Quase um terço da população europeia deixando a vida em um pandemia de alguns anos! Separe trinta minutos do seu dia e aprenda com o professor Vítor Soares (@profvitorsoares) sobre o que foi a Peste Negra.-Se você quiser ter acesso a episódios exclusivos e quiser ajudar o História em Meia Hora a continuar de pé, clique no link: www.apoia.se/historiaemmeiahoraConheça o meu canal no YouTube, e assista o História em Dez Minutos!https://www.youtube.com/@profvitorsoaresOuça "Reinaldo Jaqueline", meu podcast de humor sobre cinema e TV:https://open.spotify.com/show/2MsTGRXkgN5k0gBBRDV4okCompre o livro "História em Meia Hora - Grandes Civilizações"!https://a.co/d/47ogz6QCompre meu primeiro livro-jogo de história do Brasil "O Porão":https://amzn.to/4a4HCO8Compre nossas camisas, moletons e muito mais coisas com temática História na Lolja!www.lolja.com.br/creators/historia-em-meia-hora/PIX e contato: historiaemmeiahora@gmail.comApresentação: Prof. Vítor Soares.Roteiro: Prof. Vítor Soares e Prof. Victor Alexandre (@profvictoralexandre)REFERÊNCIAS USADAS:- SHREWSBURY, J. F. D. A History of Bubonic Plague in the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005- NASCIMENTO, Flávia Vianna do. Sacerdotis profanus: a crítica ao clero em Decamerão de Giovanni Boccaccio. In: Semana de Historia da UFF, 2012, Niterói. Semana de História da Uff - Caderno de Resumos. Niteroi: Universidade Federal Fluminense, 2012.- PIRENNE, Henri. As cidades da Idade Média: ensaio de história econômica e social. 2. ed. Lisboa: Europa-América, 1964.- VILA-CHÃ, João J. “Renascimento, Humanismo E Filosofia: Considerações Sobre Alguns Temas E Figuras”. In: Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, vol. 58.4, 2002. Disponível em: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40337719 Acessado em: 01/03/2016- SIMONI, Karine. De peste e literatura: imagens do Decameron de Giovanni Boccaccio. Anuário de Literatura (UFSC), v. 12, p. 3, 2007. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/literatura/article/viewFile/5447/4882

The modern western calendar tells us that summer arrives in the northern hemisphere this year on June 20th – the summer solstice. It’s the longest day of the year, and the Sun stands farthest north for the year as well. In ages past, many calendars had a less direct link to the solstices and equinoxes. The seasons began not on these dates, but about halfway between them. Such dates are known as “cross-quarter” days. And in the calendars of the ancient British Isles, one of those days was commemorated on May 1st. In Ireland and Scotland it was known as Beltane; in other regions, it was May Day. The rituals of Beltane celebrated the end of the cold, dark time of year and the beginning of the longer, warmer days of summer. The centerpiece of Beltane was a village bonfire – or perhaps two bonfires. The fires themselves chased away the darkness and ushered in the light of summer. The flames and smoke were thought to have special protective powers, so villagers doused the fires in their homes, then relit them using a torch from the bonfire. They also paraded their livestock past the fires on the way to their summer fields – providing a bit of good luck for the start of the summer growing season. These rituals were part of a deep connection to the cycles of nature, and especially the Sun – which warms and lights the summer no matter when the season kicks off. Tomorrow: different clocks for different flocks. Script by Damond Benningfield

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin is joined by folk musician, editor of Facts & Fiction magazine, and author of books including Derbyshire Folk Tales, Pete Castle.If you're part of the storytelling world then you will likely know of Pete already. Likewise, if you are an English folk musician, as, after a career spanning almost 50 years, including the release of literally dozens of albums, Pete is a bit of a national treasure in both fields.Like a true, traditional bard or raconteur, as part of his musical performances, Pete weaves stories and folky anecdotes into his sets. And as if this wasn't all enough to chat about already, there is also his writing!Pete's books including Derbyshire Folk Tales, Nottinghamshire Folk Tales, Where Dragons Soar: Animal Folk Tales of the British Isles, and Folk Tales of Song and Dance - on top of which he is also the long-time editor of Facts & Fiction, the world's only storytelling magazine.To learn more about Pete and his work, do visit his website at petecastle.co.uk, and otherwise gather in close around the Three Ravens campfire for a chat about the Derby Ram, the English folk music scene from the late 70s onwards, rival groups of lead miners going to war with one another, Little Red Hairy Men, and so much more!We really hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Monday with the first instalment of our Lang's Fairy Tales project!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ronald Hutton is a professor of history at Bristol University. He is a leading authority on ancient and medieval paganism and magic, the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and on global context of witchcraft beliefs. He is the author of seventeen books, including The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present, and his recent book, Queens of the Wild: Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe: An Investigation.Ronald frequently appears as an expert on Paganism and witchcraft on British television and radio programs too numerous to name (though one of Pam's personal favorites is when he pops up in the hilarious docu-parody series, Cunk on Britain). His work has been trailblazing in the realms of academia and religion, as well as in shaping a more humane geo-political response to the very real witch hunting that still happens across the globe. Ronald was recently awarded the title Commander of the British Empire, an honor bestowed to those who have made a highly distinguished contribution in their field – as he certainly has.On this episode, Ronald discusses his pioneering work that helped establish the field of Pagan Studies, the boons and banes of his academic view of magical history, and the ever-evolving figure of the witch.Pam also talks about spiritual lineages, and answers a listener question about what the cards are saying regarding these tumultuous times.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you're at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are The Stormcloud Oracle, BetterHelp, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and TU·ET·AL soapWe also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam's monthly online rituals, and more! That's patreon.com/witchwave

How much information can you extract from a burnt fragment of human bone? Quite a lot, it turns out - not only about the individual, but also their broader lives and communities; and these are the stories unearthed by Jacqueline McKinley, a Principal Osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology.During her career, Jackie has analysed thousands of ancient burial sites across the British Isles, bringing to life the old traditions around death via often cremated human remains. She's also assisted criminal investigators with forensic analysis, and contributed to some of the UK's best-loved archaeological TV shows. And one thing she's absolutely clear about: far from being macabre, osteoarchaeology is more about the living, than the dead...In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Jackie talks about the stories we can derive from skeletal remains, how western attitudes to death have gone through a major recent shift, and why she's kept some of her late father's bones.Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor

What's that? A new Fresh Grave and it's been recorded by *GASP* Ian?!? That's right kiddies, time for your OTHER favorite horror podcaster to take the reins on a solo episode! Though to be fair, it isn't exactly a solo venture, because our brother-in-pod and co-conspirator Paul Waller actually had the inspiration to put this baby together.  So get comfy, and listen to the most luscious voice that the British Isles have to offer, as we go through an AMA style interview that really gets into the nitty gritty of what makes Ian the sick bastard that he is. Enjoy! Have any questions or comments for us? Send us a message to our social media pages or email us directly at webelongdeadpod@gmail.com. And if you liked the music you heard on this or any other episode, check out the We Belong Dead Tunes playlist on Spotify!

Live from the Grand Teton Music Festival takes a trip to the British Isles with this week's program of works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Ralph Vaughan Williams.This episode features:Grand Teton Music Festival OrchestraSamuel Coleridge-TaylorBallade in A minor, Op. 33Christian Reif, conductorRalph Vaughan WilliamsSymphony No. 5 in D MajorSir Donald Runnicles, conductorLive from the Grand Teton Music Festival is hosted by Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles and GTMF General Manager Jeff Counts. Episodes premiere on Wednesdays at 8 PM MT on Wyoming Public Radio and are available the next day wherever you get your podcasts.The Grand Teton Music Festival, founded in 1962, unites over 250 celebrated orchestral musicians led by Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles in Jackson Hole, Wyoming each summer. Stay connected for the latest Festival updates: Instagram Facebook Email List GTMF Website

Forests hold stories—ancient memories woven into their roots, whispered through their leaves, and carried on the wind. In this special gathering, Katherine Parker invites us into a deeper relationship with the Forest as both a place and a presence.We begin by exploring the connection between Forests and ancestral memory, touching on how these living landscapes hold the echoes of those who came before. Katherine then shares a Forest story, offering a glimpse into the mythic consciousness that has long honored the wisdom of trees.From there, we turn to practice—ways to attune to the intelligence and consciousness of the Forest, to listen rather than simply observe, and to experience the Forest not as separate from us, but as a part of who we are.This session is an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to remember. Join us as we step into the stillness and presence of the Forest together.Katherine Parker, PhD is a Wilderness Rites of Passage Guide and recovering psychologist. She wanders the liminal space between mythology, psychology, and animism, looking for ancestral connections. Kat is an oral storyteller in the tradition of the British Isles and created the podcast Celtic Medicine Stories. She writes “Adventures in the Otherworld, the Science and Mythology of the non-ordinary” on Substack. You can learn more about her work at https://ancestralconnection.earthSupport the show

My guest today is Chris Fitch, author of the upcoming book Wild Cities: Discovering New Ways of Living in the Modern Urban Jungle. In this episode we discuss case studies of cities around the world that embrace wilder nature.We go beyond the usual case studies like Singapore to explore lesser known examples like:Tallinn, Estonia - the city with pollinator corridors Tokyo, Japan - mini forests in a hyper-dense cityFlagstaff, USA - the Dark Skies cityWellington, New Zealand - a hotspot for native birds+ many othersPre-order the book Wild Cities here - out on 10 April 2025More about Chris Fitch here.*Correction: At 44:10, Chris says that Sydney harbour has more marine species than the British Isles or Mediterranean. He actually meant fish species rather than all marine life. It's also more accurate to say that the biodiversity in Sydney harbour is equivalent to the Mediterranean. - - - https://greenurbanist.org/ Consulting: Book a Discovery Call to discuss your project Course: Urban Sustainability Career Kickstart Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter The Green Urbanist podcast is hosted by Ross O'Ceallaigh. Register for the Webinar (25 April): Nature-based Masterplanning

Tamsin is a multi-instrumentalist and composer with roots in the traditional dance tunes of the British Isles. Her debut solo album FREY (2022) established her as a rising star on the folk scene, with The Guardian praising her "beautiful, filmic compositions for accordion, harp, whistle and voice”. In this work Tamsin explores themes of limbo, pain, healing and acceptance, reflecting on the microcosm of her personal experience of chronic illness alongside wider themes of societal disconnection and environmental grief. Her forthcoming record The Meeting Tree celebrates connection, nature and the joy of sharing tunes with friends. Tamsin's critically-acclaimed collaboration with Egyptian oud player Tarek Elazhary explores the parallels and celebrates the idiosyncrasies of Egyptian Maqam music and English folk traditions. Their friendship and resulting duo album So Far We Have Come is a testament to the unifying power of music, and won them a place in The Guardian's Top Ten Folk Albums of 2023, as well as a nomination for Best Group at the Songlines Music Awards. A versatile composer-performer, Tamsin also contributes to chamber-folk quintet Hedera and festival-favourite Mediterranean fusion band Solana. As a Musician in Residence at UHBW NHS Trust, she channels her musical passion into healing and connection, writing new music on lever harp and playing for patients on wards including the ICU. This episode was recorded in Tamsin's studio in Bristol and it includes performances recorded especially for the podcast. Luke and Tamsin also discuss her work as a musician in residence and her cross-cultural musical collaborations. Tamsin's website, which includes details of recodings and forthcoming live dates, is here.

Thanks to Alyx and Richard from NC for their suggestions this week! Let's learn about rabbits! Further reading: Why your pet rabbit is more docile than its wild relative FOUND: Small enigmatic rabbit with black tail lost to science for more than 120 years rediscovered hopping around mountain range in Mexico The Omiltemi cottontail rabbit, as caught on a camera trap [photo taken from second article linked above]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to talk about bunnies, and also learn about how a wild animal differs from its domesticated counterpart. Thanks to Alyx for suggesting this excellent topic. Thanks also to Richard from NC who alerted me to a rediscovered rabbit we'll discuss too. Thanks for all the well wishes in the last few weeks about my surgery. It went just fine and all I have now is a cool-looking new scar, although I was seriously hoarse for about a week. It's pretty weather here in East Tennessee and officially it's spring in the northern hemisphere, so let's talk about some springtime bunnies! Collectively rabbits and hares are called leporids after their family, Leporidae. Leporids are famous for hopping instead of walking, and they're able to do so because their hind legs are longer than their front legs and have specialized ankle joints. Ancestors of leporids developed this ankle as much as 53 million years ago, but their legs were much shorter so they probably ran instead of hopped. Hares have longer legs than rabbits and can run faster as a result, but both rabbits and hares are known for their ability to bound at high speeds. When a rabbit or hare runs, it pushes off from the ground with the tips of its long hind toes, and its toes are connected with webbed skin so they can't spread apart. If the toes did spread apart, they would be more likely to get injured. Rabbits and hares also don't have paw pads like dogs and cats do. The bottom of its foot is covered with dense, coarse fur that protects the toes from injury. Its long claws help it get a good purchase on the ground so its feet won't slip. Leporids eat plants, including grass, weeds, twigs, and bark. Animals that eat grass and other tough plants have specialized digestive systems so they can extract as many nutrients from the plants as possible. Many animals swallow the plants, digest them for a while, then bring up cuds of plants and water to chew more thoroughly. Rabbits and hares don't chew their cud in that way, but they do have a system that allows them to twice-digest the plants they eat. After a leporid eats some plants, the plant pieces go into the stomach, naturally, and then travel into the first part of the large intestine, called the cecum. The cecum separates the softer parts of the plants from the harder, less digestible parts. The hard parts are compressed into hard pellets that the rabbit poops out. But the soft parts of the plants, which are most nutritious, develop into softer pellets. These are called cecotropes, and as soon as the rabbit poops out the cecotropes, it immediately eats them again. This allows the digestive system to get a second round to extract more nutrients from the plants. Hares aren't domesticated, but rabbits have probably been domesticated many times in different places over the last several thousand years, first for food and fur, and then as pets. The domesticated rabbit we have today is descended from the European rabbit, also called the cony. If other species of rabbit were ever domesticated, we don't have record of it. The rabbit has also been introduced into the wild in places it has no business to be, like Australia, where it's an invasive species. You know where else the European rabbit has been introduced? The British Isles. It's native to mainland Europe, not England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and smaller islands nearby. Historians think the rabbit was introduced to England soon after the year 1066,

The story that originally inspired The Local Mythstorian project and a tale quite unlike anything else in the British Isles! The Headless Horseman of the Staffordshire Moorlands is one of the best known pieces of folklore in the region, but where did it come from? Tracing the story of the horseman back through 650 years of local history, via Victorian ghost sightings and Arthurian literature, we uncover the shocking true story of medieval murder that lies at the heart of the spectre's inspiration.Mythstoric Journeys, the hardback anthology collection from Eli, is available here!Visit thelocalmythstorian.com

This week we are delving into the world of early Victorian pseudo-medicine with a man who can literally be described as 'a bit of a character.'Born into obscurity near Manchester (possibly), young John Smith (at least we assume that was his name) dreamed of becoming famous throughout the British Isles and beyond.To this end he reinvented himself as 'Baron Spolasco', a doctor who could cure absolutely anything, provided you had the cash.So join us as we cover a life of flim-flammery of the highest order. With manslaughter cases, shipwrecks and children of questionable origin thrown in for good measure......as long as we can get Ollie's equipment sorted out. Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textTogether, Sky Kelsey and Marty Smith serve as founding members of the traditional Irish band The Safehouse. Kelsey and Smith have been the consistent leading members of the group and have played together for many years.During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, they honed their sound as a duo for the first time. Kelsey and his then-girlfriend (now-wife) stayed with Smith for a few months, and they locked in completely on finding a sound together.Since then, they've switched between performing with a band lineup in The Safehouse and as a duo group. Both projects focus on playing traditional Irish music.Smith grew up in Wyoming while Kelsey grew up in Alaska. Neither environment is known for its vibrant Irish music scene. However, both individuals found Irish music in their communities.In particular, Kelsey embraced the music developed in southern Ireland's County Clare. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a native County Clare band, The Ceili Bandits, brought much of the county's traditional music to Alaska. Completely captivated by Clare music, he embraced Ireland's oral tradition. He started learning fiddle from age twelve under the mentorship of James Kelly, who Kelsey cites as his biggest influence. By the time Kelsey was old enough to gig in bars, Clare music had been well established in his community, so he completely embraced the music and started learning music from across Ireland.Meanwhile, growing up with folk music, Smith has performed in countless groups even outside of The Safehouse. These groups include Avourneen, their spinoff duo Smithstein, and Coisir.Smith started by playing dance tunes from the British Isles on the hammered dulcimer, and he now primarily focuses on playing the Irish bouzouki and singing. He's been mentored by bouzouki teachers such as Andy Irvine, Aaron Jones, and Roger Landes. Thank you for listening to The Mountain-Ear Podcast, featuring the news and culture from peak to peak!If you want to be featured in the podcast, contact the host at media@themountainear.com!SUBSCRIBE ONLINE and use the coupon code PODCAST for A 10% DISCOUNT for ALL NEW SUBSCRIBERS! Subscribe at https://www.themtnear.com/subscribe!You can find us online by visiting https://www.themtnear.com!Find us on Facebook @mtnear!Share this podcast around!! Scroll near the bottom of our website's homepage or visit the podcast's main hub at https://themtnearpodcast.buzzsprout.com!You can contact our editor at info@themountainear.com!Thank you for listening!

Exciting news: GTI is headed back to Europe! Not only do we run tours to Germany and Switzerland, but now also England and Scotland! The British Isles are steeped in 1800 years of Christian history from Bible times to our times. Pastor Adam Richardson brings his passion for church history, thorough education, and experience living and studying in England to bear in leading this incredible tour. We will follow the ancient path of our faith from 2nd-century believers under Roman occupation in Britannia to the late Middle Ages to the English Reformation and beyond, studying not only the astonishing architecture but the people who lived out the Gospel and passed it down to us today. Join us October 7-16, 2025 to understand the history of the Word and the People of the Word, and to invest in your own spiritual life. This trip is limited to 20 participants, so register today! https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-england-scotland-2025 

In this episode of Battleground '45 Saul and Patrick look at the Nazi Occupation of The Channel Islands, the only part of British territory occupied by the Germans in World War Two. Together they examine the complexities of this occupation, the treatment of the locals, the collaboration and resistance that arose, and the lasting questions it raises about wartime choices. They also look at few instances the war came ashore on the otherwise peaceful islands, with commando raids and the remarkable story of double agent Eddie Chapman. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The DEFRA Secretary told Farming Today the Government will be looking into ways to prevent cheap imports of crops grown in countries which allow the use of chemicals that aren't authorised for use in the UK. But how easy will that be? We ask a trade expert.There's been a flying trade for beef and sheep this spring. The price for what's called ‘dead weight' cattle is at its highest ever according to the ADHD, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and they say sheep prices are historically high too. So what's behind these high prices? Are they likely to last? And will we be paying more for meat in the shops?And we visit a bulb business on a smallholding in Wales where, for almost 40 years, they've been sourcing and supplying a wide range of bulbs, both native to the British Isles, and from different parts of the world.Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

5/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024  by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 magine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1899 NORWAY

6/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024  by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 magine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1898

7/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024  by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 magine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1898

8/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024  by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 magine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1777 SAINT CUTHBERT AT LINDISFARNE

3/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024 by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 I a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 2016 LINDISFARNE                                       

4/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024 by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 Imagine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1777 CUTHBERT ZLINDISFARNE

2/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024 by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 Imagine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate.

1/8: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Hardcover – August 29, 2024 by  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Embers-Hands-Eleanor-Barraclough/dp/1788166744 Imagine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country. Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of the other people who inhabited the medieval Nordic world-not only Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia- a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones. It's also a history of humans on an extraordinarily global stage, spanning the centuries from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. 1777 LINDISFARNE

//The Wire//2300Z February 20, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: THOUGHT CRIMES REMAIN CONCERNING THROUGHOUT EUROPE. KASH PATEL CONFIRMED AS FBI DIRECTOR. TWO JUVENILES ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED SCHOOL ATTACK PLOT IN TEXAS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Scotland: This morning a 74-year-old woman was arrested for speech and thought crimes. Rose Docherty (a well known, pro-life advocate) was arrested for demonstrating via standing on a sidewalk outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, a very large medical complex that houses abortion facilities. At the time of her arrest she was holding a sign that read "Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want".-HomeFront-Texas: Two juveniles were arrested for an alleged plot to attack a school in Houston. The two unidentified girls, aged 15 and 16, allegedly posted the details of the plot on social media.Washington D.C. - In Congress, Kash Patel was confirmed as the next Director of the FBI this afternoon. This morning Senator Mitch McConnell announced that he will be stepping down from his seat in the Senate. AC: This is not an immediate resignation, but rather an announcement that he will not seek reelection next year.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The arrest of Rose Docherty was made under the so-called "buffer zone" laws, which have recently gained scrutiny after being denounced by American Vice President JD Vance. Regardless of the recent media coverage, the policing of thought crimes and the persecution of Christianity throughout Scotland, the British Isles, and almost all of western Europe has remained a little-discussed (yet exceptionally grave) concern for many years. Silent Christian prayer, even including praying inside one's own home, has been relentlessly targeted by authorities, drawing the ire of those who have been subjected to public Islamic calls for prayer, which have included the participation of hundreds of official government officials and buildings. As pointed out by American diplomats (such as JD Vance), this double standard is a very large societal problem that is impacting civilization itself throughout Europe.Regarding the alleged threats in Texas, neither of the two girls were attendees of the school which was threatened (Memorial High School), both were students at neighboring schools. While inter-school rivalries are extremely common throughout the nation, in this case authorities state that the undisclosed attack details were specific and credible enough to warrant the arrests. However, the FBI is the lead agency in charge of this investigation, which has caused doubts due to the FBI's long and very questionable history pertaining to these types of events.Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground//END REPORT//

On episode #74 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 1/30/25 – 2/12/25. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Puscast! Links for this episode Viral Global Impact of mass vaccination campaigns on circulating type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks (JID) Co-infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza A/B among patients with COVID-19 (BMC Infectious Diseases) Oseltamivir reduces 30-Day mortality in older adults with Influenza (OFID) Bacterial Predicting benefit from adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids in community-acquired pneumonia (LANCET Respiratory Medicine) Rethinking antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis (CID) Determining the optimal antibiotic duration for skin and soft tissue infections (Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases) The stealth and potentially fatal nature of Kingella kingae outbreaks in daycare facilities (OFID) Piperacillin/tazobactam vs. cefepime or carbapenems for the treatment of bloodstream infections due to bacteria producing chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamase (Infection) Is systemic dissemination of BCG following neonatal vaccination required for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis? (JID) Risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection following use of fluoroquinolones: a retrospective multinational network cohort study (eClinical Medicine) Fungal The Last of US Season 2 (YouTube) Developing mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine effective for cryptococcosisin a murine model (Vaccines) The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including a new zombie species on orb-weaving cave spiders (Metainae: Tetragnathidae) (Fungal Systematics and Evolution) Sensitivity of Coccidioides serologic tests among culture-proven coccidioidomycosis patients with hematological malignancy compared to a matched immunocompetent cohort (Medical Mycology) Parasitic New WHO guidelines for treating rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis: expanded indications for fexinidazole and pentamidine (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) Miscellaneous Remote practice of infectious diseases through telemedicine (OFID) Telemedicine offers solutions for the rural disparities in infectious disease (ID) care delivery (OFID) Music is by Ronald Jenkees Information on this podcast should not be considered as medical advice.

In this bonus episode, we're going through the new summer 2026 Disney Cruise itineraries that were released earlier this week. Disney Cruise Line will be visiting places like Alaska (with two ships!), the Mediterranean, Norway, the Caribbean, and the British Isles! Lots to unpack and I've invited my friend, CT, to help me sort it all out. New bookings open next week based on your Castaway Club status: Monday 2/10: Pearl Tuesday 2/11: Platinum Wednesday 2/12: Gold Thursday 2/13: Silver and DVC Monday 2/17: General booking If you'd like to work with me, send me an email at wes@mickeyworldtravel.com!

If you just can’t wait for spring, you might want to use one of the calendar markers of long-ago Europe and the British Isles. In their traditions, early February marked the end of winter and the start of spring. The days were getting longer and warmer, with the promise of even more sunlight to come. Early February falls roughly half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Such midpoints are known as cross-quarter days. That means they cross between the quarter days – the solstices and equinoxes. Early Christians celebrated February 2nd as Candlemas. It was the 40th day of Christmas. People brought their candles to church to have them blessed for the whole year. In Ireland and Scotland, the February celebration came on the 1st. It was known as Imbolc. The name may indicate the start of lambing season, although it could have other meanings as well. One of the traditions of Imbolc concerned the weather. If the day was sunny and cold, it meant winter would maintain its icy grip until the equinox, about six weeks away. But if the day was warm and cloudy, then winter was just about over. Some people relied on badgers or other animals to come out of their dens to check out the conditions. That tradition was carried to the United States by immigrants. And it’s still with us today as Groundhog Day – a modern celebration of a cross-quarter day – one that marked the beginning of spring. Script by Damond Benningfield

Today I talked to Peter Harmsen about his book Fury and Ice: Greenland, the United States and Germany in World War II (Casemate, 2024). The wartime interest in Greenland was a direct result of its vital strategic position--if you wanted to predict the weather in Europe, you had to have men in place on the vast, frozen island. The most celebrated example of Greenland's crucial contribution to Allied meteorological services is the correct weather forecast in June 1944 leading to the decision to launch the invasion of Normandy. In addition, both before and after D-Day a stream of weather reports from Greenland was essential for the Allied ability to carry out the bombing offensive against Germany. The Germans were aware of the value of Greenland from a meteorological point of view, and they repeatedly attempted to establish semi-permanent weather stations along the sparsely populated east coast of the island. This resulted in an epic cat-and-mouse game, in which US Coast Guard personnel assisted by a celebrated sledge patrol manned by Scandinavian adventurers struggled to locate and eliminate German bases before they could make any difference. It's a story seldom told, but the fact remains that Greenland was the only part of the North American continent in which German troops maintained a presence throughout almost the entirety of the war. At the same time, the US entry into the war triggered an enormous American effort to hastily establish the necessary infrastructure in the form of harbors and air bases that enabled Greenland to form a vital link in the effort to send men and supplies across the North Atlantic in the face of stern opposition from the German Navy. While Allied ships were passing through Greenland waters in massive numbers, planes were plying the so-called Snowball Route from Greenland over Iceland to the British Isles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this week's Podcast: It's a windy old start to the Winter period with yet another storm blowing across the British Isles, battering coastlines and blowing over trees. Hopefully, we've all done enough to keep ourselves and our hives safe and secure. Hi, I'm Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 329 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.Glass Quilts for BeehivesContact Me at The Norfolk Honey CompanyJoin Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access HereStewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click HereTwitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our FeedInstagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great PhotographsSign Up for my email updates by visiting my website hereSupport the show

Chapter 1 What's Wild Woods by Richard Nairn"Wild Woods" by Richard Nairn is a compelling exploration of the natural beauty and ecological significance of woodlands in the UK. The book intricately details the various species of flora and fauna found within these forests, highlighting their interconnectedness and the importance of biodiversity. Nairn's vivid prose transports readers into the heart of the woods, where he shares personal anecdotes of his time spent in nature, reflecting on the tranquility and solace it provides. The narrative not only champions the ecological value of woodlands but also emphasizes the necessity of conservation efforts to protect these vital ecosystems from threats like deforestation and urban expansion. With stunning illustrations and a wealth of information, "Wild Woods" is a celebration of nature's wonders and a call to action for environmental stewardship.Chapter 2 Wild Woods by Richard Nairn Summary"Wild Woods" by Richard Nairn is a detailed exploration of the natural woodland environments in the British Isles, focusing on their ecology, history, and the impact of human activity on these vital ecosystems. Nairn, a naturalist and author, emphasizes the importance of preserving natural woodlands as habitats for diverse species while chronicling the intricate relationships among trees, wildlife, and the changing landscape.In the book, Nairn combines personal anecdotes with scientific observations, inviting readers into the beauty and complexity of woodlands. He discusses the various types of forests, from ancient woodlands to those that have been recently planted, and describes how different species of trees interact with their surroundings and each other.The author also touches on the cultural significance of woodlands and their role in human history, from ancient times to the present day. He reflects on the human tendency to manipulate and exploit natural resources, raising awareness about the consequences of deforestation and habitat loss. Nairn's narrative is enriched with vivid imagery and an appreciation for the natural world, making it not only informative but also evocative. His desire to foster a deeper understanding of woodlands encourages readers to reconnect with nature and advocate for the protection of these essential ecosystems. Overall, "Wild Woods" serves as both a celebration of the beauty of British woodlands and a call to action for conservation efforts.Chapter 3 Wild Woods AuthorRichard Nairn is a British author and nature writer known for his works that explore the relationship between humans and the natural environment. One of his notable books is "Wild Woods," which was released in 2016. The book delves into the beauty and ecology of woodlands, highlighting the importance of trees and forests in sustaining life.Aside from "Wild Woods," Richard Nairn has authored several other books that focus on nature, landscape, and environmental issues. Some of his other works include:"The Wild Places of Scotland" This book serves as a guide to some of the most beautiful and untouched locations in Scotland, encouraging readers to appreciate and protect natural spaces."Tree of Life" A work that discusses the significance of trees in our ecosystem and culture."Winter's Pioneers: A Guide to the Scottish Highlands" This book offers an insight into the robust ecosystems of the Scottish Highlands during winter.As for determining the best edition of Richard Nairn's books, it's often subjective and depends on the reader's interests. However, his exploration of woodlands in "Wild Woods" has been particularly well-received for its detailed observations and beautiful descriptions, making it one of his standout works. Collectors may want to look for special editions or hardcover printings of his titles for better value.Chapter 4 Wild Woods Meaning & ThemeWild Woods...

He came from a noble Northumbrian family in Britain, and was tonsured a monk in 653 at Lerins in Gaul. In 669 he was made Abbot of the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. He traveled to Rome in 671 to be instructed in monastic practice according to the Rule of Saint Benedict (of Nursia). Returning to Northumbria he established two new monasteries, the first to follow St Benedict's Rule in the British Isles. He went to Rome once again in 678-679, this time bringing back the archcantor of St Peter's, who taught the monks of St Benedict's monasteries the chant and liturgical practices used in Rome.   Under the holy abbot's guidance, these monasteries became flourishing centers of Christian worship, scholarship and art. The Venerable Bede (May 26) was one of his disciples. Saint Benedict reposed in peace in 689 or 690, having greatly strengthened the Church and the Christian faith in Britain.

From an island nation born from fire and ice in the frosty North Atlantic to an ancient land in the British Isles... the old ways that pre-date Christianity are rife with terrifying creatures that dominated the nightmares of good and bad, young and old alike when the calendar turned to late December... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part two of our week of ghosts is all about one spirit – this time, a poltergeist. People have been arguing over this one since the 1660s, including some prominent skeptics and supporters.   Research: Aldridge, Alfred Owen. “Franklin and the Ghostly Drummer of Tedworth.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 4, 1950, pp. 559–67. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1917046 “Ballygally Castle Hotel and it's Ghost Room.” Ballygally Castle Hotel. https://www.ballygallycastlehotel.com/ballygally-castle-hotel-and-its-ghost-room/ Belanger, Jeff. “World's Most Haunted Places.” Rosen Publishing Group. 2009. "A blow at modern Sadducism in some philosophical considerations about witchcraft. To which is added, the relation of the fam'd disturbance by the drummer, in the house of Mr. John Mompesson, with some reflections on drollery and atheisme. / By a member of the Royal Society.." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A70179.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Briggs, Stacia. “The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” Norfolk Folklore Society. Dec. 3, 2023. https://www.norfolkfolkloresociety.co.uk/post/the-brown-lady-ghost-of-raynham-hall Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Joseph Glanvill". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Glanvill “The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” UK Paranormal Society. https://ukparanormalsociety.org/encyclopedia/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall/ “The day a Country Life photographer captured an image of a ghost, a picture that's become one of the most famous ‘spirit photography' images of all time.” Country Life. Oct. 31, 2022. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/the-day-a-country-life-photographer-captured-an-image-of-a-ghost-234642 Dorney, John. “The Plantation of Ulster: A Brief Overview.” The Irish Story. June 2, 2024. https://www.theirishstory.com/2024/06/02/the-plantation-of-ulster-a-brief-overview/ Hunter, Michael (2005) New light on the ‘Drummer of Tedworth': conflicting narratives of witchcraft in Restoration England. London: Birkbeck ePrints. http://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/archive/00000250 Mackay, Charles. Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.” London. 1852. Accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24518/24518-h/24518-h.htm Mantell, Rowan and Siofra Connor. “Weird Norfolk: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” Eastern Daily Press. August 4, 2018. Miles, Abraham. "Wonder of wonders being a true relation of the strange and invisible beating of a drum, at the house of John Mompesson, Esquire, at Tidcomb, in the county of Wilt-shire ... : to the tune of Bragandary / by Abraham Miles." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A50850.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. “On Wednesday Night died at his Seat … “The Derby Mercury. June 29, 1738. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394517191/?match=1&terms=Raynham%20Hall “Settlers, Sieges and Spirits: The Story of Ballygally Castle.” Ballygally Castle Hotel. https://www.ballygallycastlehotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/heritage-leaflet_ballygally-web.pdf Smith, Edd. “The Vast History of Raynham Hall.” BBC. May 20, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8058000/8058145.stm Spirit, L. “THE BROWN LADY OF RAYNHAM HALL: The World's Most Infamous Ghost.” Norfolk Record Office Blog. July 31, 2024. https://norfolkrecordofficeblog.org/2024/07/31/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall-the-worlds-most-infamous-ghost/ Spirit, L. “THE BROWN LADY OF RAYNHAM HALL: The World's Most Infamous Ghost (continued).” Norfolk Record Office Blog. August 14, 2024. https://norfolkrecordofficeblog.org/2024/08/14/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall-the-worlds-most-infamous-ghost-continued/ Wade, Mike. “Ultimate proof that ghosts exist, or maybe it's just dust on the lens.” The Times. March 27, 2009. https://www.thetimes.com/article/ultimate-proof-that-ghosts-exist-or-maybe-its-just-dust-on-the-lens-5xt5v03kk8k Webster, John. “The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft.” 1677. 2024 eBook accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/72654/pg72654-images.html “What was the Plantation of Ulster?” BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2bgsrd Wright, Dudley. “The Epworth Phenomena, To which are appended certain Psychic Experiences recorded by John Wesley in the pages of his Journal .” Accessed online: https://mail.gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301311.txt  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part one of our Halloween finale on British Isles ghosts features two very classic ghost tales: the brown lady of Raynham Hall and the ghosts of of Ballygally Castle.  Research: Aldridge, Alfred Owen. “Franklin and the Ghostly Drummer of Tedworth.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 4, 1950, pp. 559–67. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1917046 “Ballygally Castle Hotel and it's Ghost Room.” Ballygally Castle Hotel. https://www.ballygallycastlehotel.com/ballygally-castle-hotel-and-its-ghost-room/ Belanger, Jeff. “World's Most Haunted Places.” Rosen Publishing Group. 2009. "A blow at modern Sadducism in some philosophical considerations about witchcraft. To which is added, the relation of the fam'd disturbance by the drummer, in the house of Mr. John Mompesson, with some reflections on drollery and atheisme. / By a member of the Royal Society.." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A70179.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Briggs, Stacia. “The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” Norfolk Folklore Society. Dec. 3, 2023. https://www.norfolkfolkloresociety.co.uk/post/the-brown-lady-ghost-of-raynham-hall Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Joseph Glanvill". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Glanvill “The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” UK Paranormal Society. https://ukparanormalsociety.org/encyclopedia/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall/ “The day a Country Life photographer captured an image of a ghost, a picture that's become one of the most famous ‘spirit photography' images of all time.” Country Life. Oct. 31, 2022. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/the-day-a-country-life-photographer-captured-an-image-of-a-ghost-234642 Dorney, John. “The Plantation of Ulster: A Brief Overview.” The Irish Story. June 2, 2024. https://www.theirishstory.com/2024/06/02/the-plantation-of-ulster-a-brief-overview/ Hunter, Michael (2005) New light on the ‘Drummer of Tedworth': conflicting narratives of witchcraft in Restoration England. London: Birkbeck ePrints. http://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/archive/00000250 Mackay, Charles. Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.” London. 1852. Accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24518/24518-h/24518-h.htm Mantell, Rowan and Siofra Connor. “Weird Norfolk: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall.” Eastern Daily Press. August 4, 2018. Miles, Abraham. "Wonder of wonders being a true relation of the strange and invisible beating of a drum, at the house of John Mompesson, Esquire, at Tidcomb, in the county of Wilt-shire ... : to the tune of Bragandary / by Abraham Miles." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A50850.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. “On Wednesday Night died at his Seat … “The Derby Mercury. June 29, 1738. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394517191/?match=1&terms=Raynham%20Hall “Settlers, Sieges and Spirits: The Story of Ballygally Castle.” Ballygally Castle Hotel. https://www.ballygallycastlehotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/heritage-leaflet_ballygally-web.pdf Smith, Edd. “The Vast History of Raynham Hall.” BBC. May 20, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8058000/8058145.stm Spirit, L. “THE BROWN LADY OF RAYNHAM HALL: The World's Most Infamous Ghost.” Norfolk Record Office Blog. July 31, 2024. https://norfolkrecordofficeblog.org/2024/07/31/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall-the-worlds-most-infamous-ghost/ Spirit, L. “THE BROWN LADY OF RAYNHAM HALL: The World's Most Infamous Ghost (continued).” Norfolk Record Office Blog. August 14, 2024. https://norfolkrecordofficeblog.org/2024/08/14/the-brown-lady-of-raynham-hall-the-worlds-most-infamous-ghost-continued/ Wade, Mike. “Ultimate proof that ghosts exist, or maybe it's just dust on the lens.” The Times. March 27, 2009. https://www.thetimes.com/article/ultimate-proof-that-ghosts-exist-or-maybe-its-just-dust-on-the-lens-5xt5v03kk8k Webster, John. “The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft.” 1677. 2024 eBook accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/72654/pg72654-images.html “What was the Plantation of Ulster?” BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2bgsrd Wright, Dudley. “The Epworth Phenomena, To which are appended certain Psychic Experiences recorded by John Wesley in the pages of his Journal .” Accessed online: https://mail.gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301311.txt      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.