The first of two episodes featuring interviews recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival in Derby in February 2026.

In this first part, host Mark Norman meets four presenters from the festival to discuss their particular areas of interest. You will hear:

DAN WEBBER discussing queer readings of Dracula and theatrical adaptations of ghost stories

TRACY FAHEY on Irish ghosts and the idea of ghost estates

ANTHONY KERRIGAN talking about fairy folklore and its links to abduction cases

RICHARD FARREN BARBER answering the question 'What mkaes an effective ghost?'

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In this episode, recorded on location, host Mark Norman meets members of the Turning Tides Project to talk about their Arts Council funded project AND 'OTHER' STORIES which presents the work of a group of artists with and without 'learning disability' and 'autism' labels.

And 'Other' Stories reworks fairy tales and folktales in different ways to challenge our ideas about disability. It invites you to:

• Consider the human tendency to exclude and create "Other".
• Look for ways we can value our rich heritage of traditional stories in a way that respects everyone, as equal.
• Immerse yourself in multi-sensory approaches to storytelling.
• Experience an approach to presenting information that gives everyone equal access to that information.

Mark discusses the project with facilitators Abi and Jane from Turning Tides, along with two of the participants.

A very special feature length episode of The Folklore Podcast, with a panel consisting of the cream of those people associated with the classic children's title THE BOX OF DELIGHTS.

Podcast host Mark Norman discusses the enduring love for Box in all its forms with an amazing line-up of guests, consisting of:

PHIL ERRINGTON - John Masefield expert and author of 'Opening the Box of Delights'

PIERS TORDAY - Children's author and playwright responsible for adapting the Box of Delights for the stage, including the RSC production

CHRIS CHAPMAN - BBC documentary maker and director of 'Time and Tide: Making the Box of Delights' for the BluRay edition

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