Fabled Collective

We all grew up hearing the story of Rapunzel, the beautiful young maiden with long, golden hair, locked away in a tower until her prince came along. But the roots of the story, as with most fairy tales, are darker and even a bit bizarre. Was Rapunzel inspired by something historical? And what is the story really trying to say?
 
Perhaps, Rapunzel isn’t the innocent princess we once imagined her to be…

Promo: Nothing Ever Happens in Ca...

In this episode, Josiah Coughran, host of The Darwin Awards Podcast, shares an experience he had in the Yucatan.

Find Josiah and his podcast here:
The Darwin Awards Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-darwin-awards/id1496912347
Their YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtchcnCiY1yPnehGvoqGxhw
Their Website: Thedarwinawards.buzzsprout.com

Music: Kevin MacLeod and Epidemic Sound (paid licenses).

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Our homes are the places we learn, rest, grow, and love. It's protection from the outside world. It's our solace and our peace. It's where we create magnificent meals and share them with our families. It's where we fill the walls with inspirational quotes, books that inspire us, mementos from our travels… Our homes tell our stories.

And sometimes that story is a haunting one…

Music by Kevin MacLeod and Epidemic Sound ...

The old Glenn Dale Hospital served as a tuberculosis sanatorium during the 1930s-1950s. In this episode, author JL Gillham shares her experience visiting there as a teen. Today, the hospital is still fascinating historians and paranormal investigators.

Follow JL Gillham:
Website, Facebook, Instagram

Books mentioned in the episode:
(affiliate links)
Princess Claus and the Great Escape by JL Gillham
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N...

Tales of witchcraft have been the source of entertainment for centuries, but when the tales jump into reality, a new type of wickedness emerges. Such was the case in the Scottish witch trials. The witches of Fife serve as a reminder that the stories we watch for entertainment on television have a dark, and deeply painful past.

What’s even more mysterious than the history itself is the stories these women spun surrounding their suppo...

Nellie Bly, known for her book Ten Days in a Madhouse, was born in 1864 just outside of Pittsburgh. She would become a true suffragette and leader in women's voices. Nellie grew up living a typical life of domestic womanhood like many in those days, but she had a voice that needed to be heard. In 1885, she wrote to the Pittsburg Dispatch, going against an article that said the only purpose for women was to clean house and take ...

Small town living in the South is full of history and haunts. These dying southern towns fill the country roads in the southeast, speckling the path from big city to big city. They're the heart of the southern people, where so many reside. The small city of Eufaula, AL, is an excellent example of days long ago, with a picturesque Antebellum landscape. And it's here… in these quaint, quiet settings that you just may have a t...

"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."

The popular quote from C.S. Lewis is often used but rarely explored. Reading fairy tales as adults allow us to shift our perspective, opens up our minds to other possibilities, and connects us with our most authentic self.

Perhaps no other story has been retold more than Cinderella. Her rags to riches fable is appealing for its surface moral, but when we dig...

During times of uncertainty and stress, many of us seek solace in nature. We’ll go on more walks, take hikes through forests and mountains, or seek out our favorite lake or beach. But there’s something lurking in the shadows there—something mysterious and haunting. What is it about nature that attracts us when we need to escape or need to find peace? 

Come. 

Follow me, deep into the woods.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (paid license) and Epi...

The horrors of murder permeate the very ground they touch. Their stories linger in the soil, in the atmosphere, and their whispers often repeated for centuries.
 
Why is that murder and mystery long-live, while goodness and grace are sweet but too-soon forgotten? Could it be that our innate longing for justice, for balance, outweighs most? Or does the thrill of adrenaline, pulsing through our veins, when we hear the stories give us s...

It’s the day of romance. You can almost smell the roses and taste the milk chocolate. But beyond all the modern adornments, Valentine’s Day has a murky and dark past. Full of strange rituals, quirky superstitions, and fascinating lore, this episode will put a new spin on the day of love.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (paid license) and Epidemic Sound.

Show Notes ➤ https://www.fabledcollective.com/listen/vday

Don't be a stranger.
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I often ask my friends what their favorite fairy tale is. It gives me an idea of their personality. Because I have a lot of friends who love books, Beauty and the Beast is probably the most popular answer. Who can resist the sweet, intelligent charms of Belle?
 
At our core, we all want someone who can love us past our looks and our sometimes rough nature. We want someone who sees the Beast within but isn't afraid.

Music by Kevin ...

The most tragic events are often the ones that are the most remembered. Such is the case of the 1897 Paris tragedy. The Bazar de la Charité would be the end of many of France's most wealthiest women. Thirty terrifying minutes would change everything.

Death at a charity bazaar makes one remember the phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished." This horrible accident reminds us that tragedy isn't a respecter of persons. We&...

"I will do something by-and-by. Don't care what, teach, sew, act, write, anything to help the family, and I'll be rich and famous and happy before I die, see if I won't." – These are the words of young Louisa May Alcott, a determined woman who sought to pull her family from poverty in a time when women rarely did such a thing. Much like her literary counterpart, Jo March, Louisa was a rebel with a fundamental ca...

While some prefer their cozy warm drinks, nights by the fire and sweet romance movies on television, others of us enjoy a deep dive into folklore. We want to know what is hiding in the shadows of the holiday season. We want to know the secrets. 

We’re about to venture outside the traditional box—wrapped in lovely paper with bright, big bows—of Christmas. Warning: There will be devils.

Music:
“The Christmas Thieves”by Leimoti.
“A Winter...

Deep in the rolling hills of North Carolina, sits a stately manor that rivals the castles of Europe. Built by a true visionary, the Biltmore Estate is a breathtaking place. And just beyond its borders, the town of Asheville has some secrets to share.

Let’s step back in time and visit America’s version of Downton Abbey and its neighboring town. There will be grandeur, and there just may be a few ghosts.

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The South has its beauty with dripping Spanish moss, massive oaks, thick woods, and vibrant green vegetation. Along with the remnants of abandoned mansions and decaying buildings—forgotten and buried in a time long ago—the South has more than a few skeletons in its closet. And its secrets keep crawling out of the grave, refusing to stay buried. 

After a recent trip to Atlanta and its hauntingly beautiful Historic Oakland Cemetery, I...

What makes a witch a witch? In colonial times, it didn't take much for one to be accused of witchcraft. Such was the case of Moll Dyer, a woman accused of witchcraft in colonial Maryland. She lost her life because of superstition. This is a cautionary tale that's been remembered for over 320 years. 

And for good reason…

Promo: Southern Gothic

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Her birth took a life. Her life birthed a nightmare. And her greatest loves died way too soon.

Most of us have read and watched the various versions of Frankenstein. The image of the nameless monster created by a mad scientist is at the center of horror culture. But what inspired such a horrific and grisly tale?

Mary Shelley’s life was its own gothic tragedy—full of loss, pain, and even a few monsters.

You can find the transcript, my ...