Lore
Lore is a bi-weekly podcast (now also a TV show and book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.
151
Episode 71: Silver Lining
We’ve conquered much of our world, but even with all of our great cities and urban sprawl, there are still shadows on the edge. And it’s in the shadows that the greatest threats still exist—creatures from our darkest nightmares that threaten our...
28 min
152
Trick or Treat 2017 - Set 1
The first Trick or Treat Halloween special of 2017 features two tales. The first, A Bridge Too Far, walks us through a winter train ride that went horribly wrong over a century ago. The second story reminds us that life is a lot more complex than...
17 min
153
Episode 70: Familiar
There’s a fine line between rationality and madness, but it’s not as easy to avoid as you might think. Throughout history, our world has played host to people who have taken their superstitions too far, but it was the chaos of the English Civil...
28 min
154
Episode 69: Wide Open
The sky is full of mystery. It’s big, expansive, and—despite a century of powered human flight—outside our realm of control. Which is why, for centuries, humans have expected things to come down from the sky and harm us. It might sound crazy...
27 min
155
Episode 68: The Tainted Well
The older the country, the deeper the roots of its folklore have grown—roots that are fed by darkness, fear, and pain. And few countries hold such a variety of frightening tales, both old and modern, as the lovely Emerald Isle. But not everything...
27 min
156
Episode 67: The Red Coats
There are some locations that seem to draw humans closer. Places that are away from the bustle of everyday life, that almost seem part of our soul. We go there for solitaire, or for rest, or recreation. Sometimes, though, we don’t return. * * * This...
26 min
157
Episode 66: Where There’s Smoke
Fire is a dangerous tool. Used properly, it can transform a society, but if it isn’t respected, it can burn that society to the ground. Which is why we are obsessed with controlling it—and completely, utterly afraid of it. * * * This episode of...
24 min
158
Episode 65: Doing Tricks
There are very few bits of folklore that haven’t spread around the globe over the past few centuries. Yet every now and then, something fresh and distinct pops up. But just because it’s relatively new doesn’t mean it’s safe. * * * This episode...
25 min
159
Episode 64: Behind Closed Doors
The bigger the city, the easier it is to miss the little details. Stories of loss, tragedy, and horrifying events have a way of vanishing beneath the bustle of everyday life. And no place is better at hiding away its dark secrets than the Big Apple. *...
24 min
160
Episode 63: Homecoming
Folklore and popular culture are filled with a type of event that seems both unusual and logical: time and time again, criminals return to the source. But as one man proved a century ago, it’s not always easy to go home. * * * This episode of...
26 min
161
Episode 62: Desperate Measures
Folklore and medicine often go hand in hand. In fact, for a long time they were the very same thing. But folklore has a way of leading people to tragic actions—all in the name of getting better. * * * This episode of Lore was sponsored by: Loot...
24 min
162
Episode 61: Labor Pains
You can tell a lot about a culture by the things it creates. Tools, exploration, weapons; all of it speaks to the priorities and character of that society. But if that’s true, then what are we supposed to assume about the mind behind one of...
26 min
163
Episode 60: If Walls Could Talk
Humans have an innate desire to fix what’s broken, and that’s a good thing. We’re not the best at it, though, and we often fail—sometimes horribly. And few examples are as powerful as the world of mental health. * * * This episode of Lore was...
23 min
164
Episode 59: A Deep Fear
H.P. Lovecraft said it best: “…the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. And no other place in the world is as unknown to us as the ocean. It’s dark, it’s deep, it’s full of questions—and maybe something else. * * *...
24 min
165
Episode 58: The Devil’s Beat
Human culture has a different expression no matter where you go. Despite that variety, though, we do share one common thread: music. And while it has typically been a source of joy, there have been moments when music has brought something else: fear,...
23 min
166
Episode 57: Quarantine
Nearly four centuries ago, a wave of sickness spread through a community in the French countryside. It wasn’t a traditional disease they were fighting, though. This plague had a more sinister source. * * * This episode of Lore was...
24 min
167
Episode 56: Going Viral
Fear has a way of spreading. It’s contagious, moving from person to person. Given enough time, fear can consume an entire community. Sometimes, though, there’s good reason to be afraid. * * * This episode of Lore was sponsored by:...
23 min
168
Episode 55: A Way Inside
Folklore is more than just a collection of stories; it’s the soul of a culture or location. Without them, our world has less texture and beauty. And like the stories themselves, some places have spirits that creep in and take up residence. *...
26 min
169
Episode 54: Teacher’s Pet
The more crowded our world becomes, the more frequently we are confronted with our commonality. Our interests, our passions…even our appearance. But just how similar can we get? Well, that’s the stuff of folklore. * * * This episode...
25 min
170
Episode 53: Trees and Shadows
Our connection to animals is ancient, intimate, and complex. Humans have worshiped them, sacrificed them, lived with them, and been buried with them. But folklore from all over the world hints at a darker connection, and it just might be true. ...
24 min
171
Episode 52: Negative Consequences
History is full of criminals. They come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some are cheerful, some are dark. Some, however, steal more than money or precious belongings. To be caught in their web means paying the ultimate price. * * * ...
25 min
172
Episode 51: Within the Walls
We crave safety. We build rules and systems and even physical barriers in order to create a sense of security. But darkness has a way of creeping in, no matter how powerful the walls might be. * * * This episode of Lore was sponsored by:...
26 min
173
Episode 50: Mary, Mary
The Spiritualist movement placed a large focus on reaching beyond the veil, which made us the outsiders pressing into a foreign realm. In the late 1800’s, however, that realm pressed back, and what a wonder it turned out to be. * * * ...
28 min
174
Episode 49: Seeing Double
It’s often said that our real identity is the person we are in private, away from the public eye. Over two centuries ago, however, one person gave life to that idea, and in the process, gave birth to an entirely new thing to fear. * * * This episode...
23 min
175
Episode 48: Downriver
Tragedy is never something we plan for. It sneaks up on us like a bandit in the night, and takes away our sense of security and purpose. But throughout history, there have been places so plagued by tragedy that those who live near them consider these...
23 min