Tales of Bedlam
Welcome to "Tales of Bedlam," where timeless fairy tales come alive with historical context and personal insight! Join our husband-and-wife hosting team as we peel back the layers of your favorite fairy tales to reveal the fascinating historical realities that shaped these enduring stories. In each episode, we reimagine classic tales with historical accuracy, share our personal connections to these stories, and sprinkle in plenty of humor along the way. From the dark origins of Grimm's fairy tales to the cultural significance of folklore across different societies, "Tales of Bedlam" offers a fresh perspective on stories you thought you knew. Whether you're a folklore enthusiast, history buff, or enjoy thoughtful storytelling with a dash of whimsy, subscribe to our channel for weekly entertaining and enlightening episodes. Join our growing community where the magic of fairy tales meets the reality of history! Subscribe now and become part of our storytelling journey through the realms of Bedlam.
Episodes
Join hosts Micah and Andrea as they dive into Charles Perrault's 17th-century version of Sleeping Beauty, a tale far more twisted than the Disney adaptation you know. In this episode, our hosts explore the often-overlooked second half of the classic fairy tale, where the story takes several dark turns after the princess awakens.
Discover the shocking revelations: the prince's secret marriage, the bi...
In this gripping episode of Tales of Bedlam, hosts Micah and Andrea dive into Sun, Moon, and Talia, a haunting 17th-century Italian version of Sleeping Beauty by Giambattista Basile. With dark themes including non-consensual acts, cannibalism, and revenge, this early fairy tale is far removed from the Disney classic. Listen as Micah and Andrea react in real-time to the shocking twists, unsettling humor, and complex mo...
In this special "5 Minute History" episode of Tales of Bedlam, host Micah takes you on a whirlwind journey through six centuries of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.
This episode uncovers how the story transformed over time, from its unsettling origins in the 1300s oral tale Troy and Zeladine to the shocking events in Sun, Moon, and Talia and finally to the more sanitized and romanticized versions by Perrault,...
In this episode of Tales of Bedlam, your hosts Micah (Knob Twister) and Dustin (Sofa Sitter) dive into Lambikin, a lesser-known Indian folktale collected by Joseph Jacobs in 1910. Don’t let the cute name fool you—this story of a baby lamb's wild journey to Granny’s house and back takes a hilariously dark turn. Along the way, Lambikin evades a host of hungry predators by promising to fatten up first. But when his ...
In the grand finale of The Girl Who Pretended to Be a Boy, the Tales of Bedlam crew (Knob Twister, Sofa Sitter, Dr. Know-All, and Mr. Death Hades) return with the conclusion of this fantastical, funny, and fiercely weird folk tale. Ilion faces magical horses, a rage-fueled genius, and a creepy emperor obsessed with horse milk baths.
This episode is a chaotic blend of sharp wit, bizarre folklore logic, and the ever-grow...
Buckle up for the outrageous second part of “The Girl Who Pretended to Be a Boy,” where dragons are fought, flowers are tested, and identity is anything but straightforward.
In true Tales of Bedlam fashion, Micah (Knob Twister), Dustin (Sofa Sitter), Dr. Knowall, and the ever-creepy Mr. Death Hades tear through a fairy tale full of sexist tests, magical horses with Netflix passwords, and genius-level absurdity. Will ou...
In Part One of The Girl Who Pretended to Be a Boy, Tales of Bedlam dives into a classic Romanian fairy tale filled with royal dilemmas, magical disguises, and a surprisingly dramatic wolf. Adapted from Andrew Lang’s Violet Fairy Book (yes, violet—not violent), this episode brings the old story to life with lively banter, irreverent humor, and special guest appearances from Mr. Death, Hades, and Dr. Know-It-All.
Join Mi...
The Tales of Bedlam crew picks up where Part One left off in this laugh-out-loud finale of Bremen Town Musicians. Our unlikely heroes—an aging donkey, a down-on-his-luck dog, a cynical cat, and a paranoid rooster—embark on a bizarre quest through the woods and stumble upon a suspiciously well-lit robber’s den.
Expect unexpected breaking news updates, mockery of fairy tale logic, and absurdly serious debates over pictur...
In this uproarious episode of Tales of Bedlam, Micah and Dustin dive headfirst into the classic Grimm Brothers tale, The Bremen Town Musicians Part One. But this isn’t your average fairy tale reading—expect unpredictable twists, commentary full of wit, and a breaking-news subplot involving rogue donkey-led musical gangs.
This first part introduces the gang of aging animals in search of a better life—and maybe a music c...
In this wild and witty episode of Tales of Bedlam, your hosts Sofa Sitter and Knob Twister dissect the strange and magical Native American tale “Witch Wife’s Fate.” Meet White Corn, a witchy wife with owl eyes and suspicious cooking habits, and Red Flower, her food-starved husband who stumbles into a bizarre world of naked witches, giant red roosters, and mystical rainbow transformations.
This story, originally collect...
In this episode of Tales of Bedlam, hosts Micah and Dustin unravel the strange and cautionary tale of The Bad Little Girl of Acoma, a Native American folktale transcribed by Elizabeth Willis DeHuff. What begins with a wayward turkey quickly spirals into something far more bizarre—and darkly hilarious—as a disobedient little girl hurls herself (and a poor turkey) into watery doom.
Expect the usual Bedlam banter, histori...
In this Halloween special of Tales of Bedlam, we dive into the disturbingly delightful world of Struwwelpeter (Shockheaded Peter)—the infamous 1845 German children’s book written and illustrated by Heinrich Hoffmann. Host Knob Twister (Micah) and Sofa Sitter (Dustin) bring their signature blend of humor, commentary, and horror as they read and riff through several cautionary tales from the book.
From thumb-sucking boys...
What happens when a dead mother refuses to stop parenting? In this dark and twisted Russian fairy tale, Tales of Bedlam takes you through the haunting legend of “The Dead Mother”—a tale of love, loss, and… undead lactation? With their signature blend of dry wit and ridiculous banter, Dustin and Micah unpack the bizarre story of a baby visited nightly by its buried mother, mysterious midnight feedings, and the ultimate...
In this Halloween spooktacular episode of Tales of Bedlam, your hosts Knob Twister and Sofa Sitter unravel one of the strangest tales ever penned—"The Young Slave." Collected by Italian poet Giambattista Basile, this fairy tale delivers immaculate conception via a swallowed rose leaf, a curse born of clumsiness, and a tragic death sealed inside seven magical crystal caskets.
But wait—there’s more! Our hosts g...
This Halloween, Tales of Bedlam digs up one of the Grimm Brothers’ most disturbing stories—so twisted it was removed from their original 1812 collection. “How Some Children Played at Slaughtering” isn’t your average bedtime story.
Join Micah, Dustin, and special guest Mr. Death Hades as they navigate this grim (and gruesome) two-part tale filled with unsettling children’s play, brutal consequences, and more death than ...
In this Halloween special from Tales of Bedlam, Micah and Dustin dive into the grotesque and grimly hilarious Italian tale of The Flayed Old Woman. This twisted story kicks off the podcast’s October spooktacular—a month of unsettling fairy tales sure to make your skin crawl…literally.
An aging woman desperate for love, a delusional king, a sticky syrup makeover, and a magical twist involving mean-spirited fairies—this ...
In this haunting episode of Tales of Bedlam, host Knob Twister (Micah) and guest Andrea dive into the eerie world of Slavic folklore through the poem “The Rusalka” by the legendary Alexander Pushkin.
Unlike the friendly mermaids of Disney fame, the Rusalka is a seductive and vengeful spirit born from tragedy—often luring men to their watery graves.
Enjoy a dramatic reading of the poem, followed by three original stanzas...
In this hilariously twisted retelling of the Polish fairy tale Carried Away by the Wind, Tales of Bedlam dives into the darkly magical world of Slavic folklore. When a vengeful magician curses a peasant to be swept through the skies for seven years, things take a turn for the bizarre—complete with knife rituals, mid-air proposals, and a surprise appearance by the legendary witch Baba Yaga.
Micah (Knob Twister) and Dust...
In this hilariously twisted episode of Tales of Bedlam, your hosts Micah and Dustin dive headfirst into Slavic folklore with The Demon’s Dance, a Polish tale packed with chaos, demons, and questionable life choices. When a whirlwind reveals itself to be a dancing demon, a bold peasant sees an opportunity to get rich by sacrificing his soul for gold, bacon, and a keg of brandy. Sounds fair, right?
Along the way, Micah a...
In this wildly entertaining episode of Tales of Bedlam, hosts Dustin (Sofa Sitter) and Micah (Knob Twister) unravel the twisted and comical Slavic folktale, "The Bad Wife." What starts as a story of a notoriously disobedient and contrary woman quickly plunges—literally—into the bizarre. When her husband discovers a bottomless pit, the tale takes a hilariously dark turn as the wife ends up tormenting even the...
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