In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore elder abuse, as seen in stories, folklore and actual life.  We'll start our exploration with a practice found in Japanese stories called ubasute or "abandoning the old woman."&...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore the Chinese folktale, “The Old Woman and the Tiger.”  The story is retold by Mary Hemingway who grew up in northern China.  In this story, we’ll see a different side of th...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the Grimm tale “Frau Trude.”   It’s a short didactic story that allows for many surprising interpretations. Whether she be a witch or a crone, there’s a lot of cackling and cracklin...

In this episode the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock explores the relationship of the crone within the maiden, mother, and crone trilogy.  She tells the Greek myth of "Demeter and Persephone" and shares a lesser known variation in which Hecate p...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, meets again with Master Hypnotherapist, Linda Bennett.  Together they discuss the Norwegian folktale, "Tatterhood," and expl...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore a little known Norwegian folktale, "Tatterhood."  It's a story in which an unexpected, young girl goes on a hero's journey.  She has quite a surprising role to play in a v...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will discuss archetypes with renowned hypnotherapist Linda Bennett.  Together, we’ll identify common archetypes and discover how they can be identified in both life and stories.Cove...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will focus on the Shadow side of the Christmas holiday. Not all folklore surrounding this time is happy and gay; some of the characters are birthed from our deepest nightmares.  This time, ...

 In this episode, the storyteller Kathy Shimpock, will continue our discussion of the Russian folktale "Go I Know Not Whither and Fetch I Know Not What." In doing so, we'll learn a bit more about Baba Yaga, the Slavic character who's part ...

In this episode, the storyteller Kathy Shimpock, will read the Russian tale, “Go I Know Not Whither, Fetch I Know Not What.”  It’s a story with two crones: one the wise crone and the other the infamous Baba Yaga.  Perhaps she’s a wise...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will read the story of “Old Rinkrank.”  It’s a Grimm Brother’s tale with a surprising ending.  We’ll discuss the innocent persecuted heroine and how her journey differs from the tradit...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will read the literary fairy tale, "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds."  It's a story written by the Swedish author Harald Ostenson in the early 20th century.  We'll identify the...

In this episode, we’ll look at three stories in which an old woman meets and outwits the devil.  The first is “Devil’s Bridge,” a Welsh legend.  The second, “The Devil and His Grandmother,” is a German folktale recorded by the Brother...

In the last "Wise Crone Cottage Podcast,"  storyteller, Kathy Shimpock shared the Grimm fairy tale "The Girl Without Hands."  This is a continuation of that discussion. This time we'll focus on the earlier 1812 version of the story. W...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore the Grimm tale, "The Girl Who Lost Her Hands."  It's a story that packs a punch and leaves listeners quaking in the dust.  Well, maybe that's a bit extreme.   You can...

 In this episode, we’ll be exploring the folklore around the "nisse," a Norwegian house spirit, found throughout Scandinavia (by different names).  I’ll read the story  “Round the Yule Log,” by P. Chr. Asbjornsen which includes s...

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the Cailleach, the Celtic goddess of winter. She’s found in both mythology and folktales in Ireland and Scotland. She sometimes appears as the sovereignty goddess.  I’ll read the Irish myth, “The Adventu...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will tell you the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.  Her version is one you may not have heard before, for it tells this story from the eyes of Ariadne.  In doing so, we’ll disco...

In this episode we'll reflect on two stories that demand retelling. In each tale (from "Star Wars" to King Arthur), we'll see how the story is poised to continue through the intervention of a single storyteller.  In the sharing of the stor...

In this episode we’ll explore the Irish folktale “The Witches Excursion.” It was recorded by Patrick Kennedy in the book Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts published in 1866. Like the Grimm tale, “Frau Holle,” here is another story ...

In these very dark days, when the world has gone awry, a story comes out of the darkness.  In this episode, we're entering a haunting tale with storyteller, Kathy Shimpock.  It is a dire tale rarely told to children.  Over time, ...

In this episode, we're in the world of Irish fairies with the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock.   Our story is called "The Brewery of Eggs."  It's a changeling legend in which the wise old woman saves the day by bringing the right baby h...

In this episode, we’ll meet Medusa with the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock.  Some call Medusa a Gorgon, others a cursed beauty.  Maligned in popular media, controversy has followed Medusa wherever she goes. In her first recorded intervie...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the stories that must be told and what happens when we try to forget them.  We'll look at three tales from India. Each one addresses stories that are untold, the need to find a will...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, explores La Befana, a crone character from Italian folklore.  Befana appears on January 5th to give gifts to children.  I'll share with you my story that consolidates many of the tales...