Tales From The Enchanted Forest

Thor Vs Utgard-Loki: The Norse Olympics

With the 2026 Winter Olympics in full swing, let's take you on a journey to the Norse Olympics in the Land of the Giants! Thor and Loki make their way to Utgard where King Utgard-Loki challenges them to feats in order for them to stay. But, not all is as it seems...
Collected from Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda and "Folklore and Legends of Scandinavia" edited by Charles Tibbitts. 
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Heer and Ranjha: Punjabi Folklore

Ever wondered where the "Heer and Ranjha" verse in Bachna Ae Haseeno's “Jogi Mahi” come from? Or who the Ranjha from the movie Sheershah's hit song is about? Well, we went down the rabbit hole so you don't have to! Join us as we tell the tragic tale of Heer and her lover, Ranjha that is sadly still applicable to life today. 
We used many versions in our retelling with the main text being from Waris Shah with English translations by Charles Frederick Usborne and Umer Munir. Also, Muhammad Sheeraz’s translation of the urdu version by Shafi Aqueel from his book Folk Tales of Pakistan and R.C Temple's Legends of the Punjab. 
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King Frost and the Snow Maiden: A Russian Folktale

Based on the snow conditions, it looks like King Frost has passed by, so why not tell a story to keep him at bay? For the first episode in the new year, we have a Fox short as Sparrow gathers more tales for the rest of 2026. 
Our story today has the classic trope of "Kind and Unkind Girls" as taken from Edith Martha Almedingen’s retelling of Russian folktales based on the works of Aleksandr Nikolaevich Afanasev. Sometimes, it's nice to just see good rewarded and bad punished. Oh, and there's a Fairy Queen. 
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Tales from the Box Office: The Swan Princess

It's time to say farewell to another year and as everyone settles into the internight days before the real start of 2026, we have a light hearted episode today on the Swan Princess movie! By now, you must be sick of Christmas classics and hallmark shows full of snow and Santa, so join Fox and Sparrow for a look back on one of Sparrow's favourite tales based on the ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 
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The Ghost Deacon of Myrká: Icelandic Christmas Story

It's only 8 days until Christmas which means its time for a Christmas ghost story! Join us as we tell the harrowing tale of the The Deacon of Dark River also known as The Deacon of Myrká. Unlike Scrooge, this Christmas ghost had an unfortunate death and wanted to drag his poor lover down into hell with him. Spooky festive cheer to all those who celebrate and those who don't! This story comes to us from Jón Árnason's translated version in Icelandic Legends. 
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When Tawhaki Met the Sky Fairy: Maori Fairy Tales

It's almost like When Harry Met Sally, except Tawhaki literally climbs through the sky to get his girl. Straight from Edith Howes’ 1913 book titled, Maoriland Fairy Tales, we bring you a fairy story from New Zealand all about how having great upper body strength and carpentry skills can win you magic and love. 
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Wizards and Witches at Pengersick Castle: Cornish Tale II

Welcome back to part two of our wild haunted ride at Pengersick Castle in Cornwall! Last time we left off with pirates and revenge and this time we'll pick up with Lord-Enchanter Pengersec and the Witch of Fraddam! He's less of a boy wizard and more of a reclusive-locked-up-in-his-tower-summoning-spirits type of wizard, but still makes for a great legend! 
We are continuing using Robert Hunt’s Popular Romances of the West of England which tells three stories based on ‘How Pengerswick became a Sorcerer,""The Lord of Pengerswick an Enchanter” and “The Witch of Fraddam and Pengerswick" as well as William Bottrell’s "Legends of Pengersec" from his Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall.
So settle in for Wizards and Witches at Pengersick Castle! Part two of our series on Pengersick castle. Be sure to listen to part one: Murder and Magic at Pengersick Castle! 
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Murder and Magic at Pengersick Castle: Cornish Tale I

Strange things are afoot at Pengersick Castle in Cornwall and they include (but are not limited to) murder, vengeful spirits, pirates, enchanters, witches, love potions, civil war and generational trauma! That's right, we are going to dive deep into the stories of Lord Pengersec using Robert Hunt’s Popular Romances of the West of England which tells three stories based on ‘How Pengerswick became a Sorcerer,""The Lord of Pengerswick an Enchanter” and “The Witch of Fraddam and Pengerswick" as well as William Bottrell’s "Legends of Pengersec" from his Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall.
So settle in for Murder and Magic at Pengersick Castle, Part One! 
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Jikininki: The Japanese Flesh Eater

A monk comes across an odd priest and an even odder town. You see, on the first night after a death, the entire village empties out for fear of the flesh eater. Curious, the Monk chooses to stay and that night, he beholds a frightening sound...then a frightening shape...then- what happens next? Well, you'll have to listen or read the 1998 book, Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by Lafcadio Hearn to find out more!
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Katabasis: Orpheus and Eurydice

R.F Kuang's Katabasis has reignited the discourse around journeying into the underworld as a storytelling device. We've covered many stories in the past with the theme of Katabasis (namely Inanna and Persephone), so why not deep dive into the various versions of Orpheus' myth especially with Supergiant Games' Hades II coming out! Join us as we trace Orpheus and Eurydice's story from Pindar to Virgil and Ovid all the way to Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hadestown as we ask the age old question- why did Orpheus turn? 
Show notes for this episode can be found on our website at: https://talesfromtheenchantedforest.com/2025/09/24/katabasis-the-myth-of-orpheus/
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Katcha And The Devil: A Czech Folk Tale

Sometimes when you find the Shadow-Daddy of your dreams, you won't care that you're dancing with the Devil. Instead, you'll hold him tight until he needs to find a way to get rid of you! Join Fox and Sparrow as they share a tale that frightens even the devil himself! It is the tale of Katcha and the Devil by Czech writer Božena Němcová from her collection Národní báchorky a powěsti (Folk Stories and Legends) with English translations from the book Czechoslovak Fairy Tales by Parker Filmore.
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Firemakers: An Australian Tale

What one single creation probably changed the course of human evolution? If you're thinking tools then you're close but we're thinking FIRE! If you're looking for a tutorial on how to make a fire in Australia then this is not the episode for you! However, if you are searching for a tale on how Bootoolgah, the crane, and Goonur, the kangaroo rat, created fire and then hid it away from everyone else- then you're in the right place! 
Today’s Australian folktale comes to us from the 1896 book, Australian Legendary Tales: folklore of the Noongahburrahs as told to the Piccaninnies, by K. Langloh Parker.
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The Salty Goose Girl: A Grimm Tale

Combining the stories of the "Goose Girl" and "Love like Salt," we have the tale of the Goose Girl at the Well from the Brothers Grimm! The moral lessons of this tale?
1. Sometimes helping a wild old lady do a meaningless task that feels like torture is worth the hassle.
2. Telling your father you love him like salt can lead to immediate exile...who knew Kings could be so salty? 
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Tales From The Box Office: K-Pop Demon Hunters

Welcome back to our special "Box Office" episodes where we look at the folklore behind the fiction. Today we deep dive into the mythology and monsters behind "K-Pop Demon Hunters" using interviews from co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.
We might not be covering tales of your idols, but we're still golden because we'll be discussing demon-hunting Shamans, the tale of Princess Bari, Jeoseung saja, Dokkaebi and Gwishin. 
Show notes for K-Pop Demon Hunters monsters and mythology can be found on our website at: Tales From the Enchanted Forest 
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Who's That Animal: Fables and Tales

If you love playing "Who's that Pokemon" then this is the fable game for you! Join Fox as she tries to guess the animals in each tale Sparrow has collected! Sometimes with a furry clue and sometimes without- Sparrow shares 6 short tales from all around the world including tricksters and revenge! 
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The Princess-Knight and the Princess: A Romanian Tale II

This story is adapted from Petre Inspirescu's "Ileana Simziana" or "liane of the Golden Tresses" and is the final part of the story so be sure to check out part one: "The Princess who would be a Prince." 
Last episode the young Princess set off on her quest to save her Empire and her family by pretending to be a Prince. After passing her father's tests and proving her courage, she arrives at the palace and quickly becomes entangled in a quest to free the beautiful Princess Iliane of the Golden Tresses. Fall in love with wave-jumping witches, gender defying curses and oddly enough- security guard nuns. 
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The Princess who would be a Prince: A Romanian Tale I

When the ailing ruler of the last nation to stand tall against a conquering nation finally surrenders, only one thing stands in the way of his people's peace- the Empire demands a prince as a hostage. Having only daughters, he tests their courage until his youngest proves her valour, courage and strength. So, she sets off to become the Princess who would be a Prince. This story is adapted from Petre Inspirescu. This is part one, so stay tuned for part two! 
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The Betrothed of Destiny: An Armenian Adventure

The Prince of the West runs off for seven years to win the hand of the Princess of the East, but when things go sideways, she has to rely on her own skills and wit to survive! Joining her are 40 beautiful maidens as they don disguises, blades and even crowns to survive. The Betrothed of Destiny comes from The Golden Maiden and other folk tales and fairy stories told in Armenia by A.G. Seklemian (1898). 
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The May Queen: The Welsh Mabinogion

It is May which means a whole host of things from Bealtaine to the emergence of the Oak King and Holly King, the Green Man, Persephone, the May Queen and other figures associated with rebirth and fertility. So, in honour of these celebrations and folk figures, we turn to the Welsh Mabinogion, a collection of stories from the 12th-13th centuries. Our first story is the abduction of Creiddylad and our second is the creation of the flower queen, Blodeuwedd. 
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How the Tiger Got its Stripes: Brazilian Folktale

Today we head back to Brazil and our animal folktales straight from Fairy Tales from Brazil: how and why tales from Brazilian folk-lore by folklorist Elsie Spicer Eells. This explanatory tale takes us to a capitalist Tiger and his just punishment for exploiting his sole worker- the rabbit. 
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