Fab Figmentals

In today’s episode, we’ll be looking at Huli Jing, Chinese nine-tailed foxes. According to mythology, these creatures are fox spirits that are capable of shapeshifting. There’s a belief that— under the right circumstances— all things are capable of taking on a human form, and Huli Jing are no different. They go around searing for human skulls, and if they find one that fits just right, it will allow them to transform into a beautiful woman.

This week’s story is called “Miss Lien-Hsiang,” and it’s by Songling Pu.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald. 

Additional music: "Temple of Hangzhou" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com. 

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There’s been a delay with the upcoming episode, but— not to fear!— it’s in the works. The next episode will be released next Wednesday, January 27th. Apologies for the delay, and I appreciate your support!

The Sugar Plum Fairy is a funny character. Despite being one of the primary figures in The Nutcracker, we don’t get to know much about her. What’s her deal? What’s her connection to sugar plums? What does she want? None of these questions are answered, really. So, for this episode, I’m going to give our favorite Christmas candy queen the spotlight and investigate her backstory.

This week’s story is called “The Land of Sweets,” and it’s by Niall Cooper.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald. 

Additional music: "Christmas Fairy" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com. 

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals 

Today, we’ll be looking at mermaids. You’ve probably heard plenty of stories about them, and I’m certain I don’t need to paint you a picture of their human-top, fish-bottom bodies. But if you’re like me, and you grew up with Disney or Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale-take on these famous creatures, you might only know part of the story. Not all mermaids are stunning sea-dwellers with a heart of gold.

This week’s story is called “The Mermaid and the Boy,” and it’s from Andrew Lang’s The Brown Fairy Book.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald. 

Additional music: "Waterside Harmony" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com. 

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals 

I’ve long been fascinated by mesmerism, and in today’s show, I’m going to focus on those who are on the receiving end of this practice. I’m talking of somnolites, the fancy name for those in a state of hypnotic sleep. 

This week’s story is called “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” and it was written by Edgar Allan Poe.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald. 

Additional music: "Dark Shadows" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com. 

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

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This week we’re going to look at a famous Japanese folktale: Momotarō, the story of the “peach boy.”

This week’s story is called "The Peach's Son,” and it was first published in a book called Myths and Legends of Japan, by F. Hadland Davis.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald. 

Additional music: "Call of the Mountains" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

“Momotarō’s Song” was recorded by Kaihsu Tai in 2016.

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com. 

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

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Here in the states, we talk a lot about the witch trials in Salem, but Scotland has a vast and dark history with witches, too. Today, we’re going to zero in on the folklore and history of witches in Scotland, known as bana-bhuidseach.

Niall Cooper joins the show to read an excerpt from Robert Burns’ “Tam O’Shanter.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Learn more about the Central European witch trials, check out this video by Eventful Globe.

Additional music: "Gothic Horror" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

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It’s been months and months since our last episode, but we’re back. And today, in honor of Halloween (and our show being resurrected from the dead), we’ll be looking at zombies.

Today’s episode features an excerpt from William Seabrook’s The Magic Island.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Nightmare" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

In Iceland, you won’t find much talk of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas. Instead, the holidays are ruled by a child-eating giantess named Gryla, her 13 sons - trolls collectively known as the Yule Lads - and their bloodthirsty feline, the Yule Cat.

Today’s episode features an original story written by Niall Cooper.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Christmas Emotion" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

This week we’re feeling the holiday spirit here at Figmentals headquarters. In honor of the upcoming holidays, today’s episode is going to be Christmas-themed. But we’re not going to be talking smiling, rosy-cheeked bringers of yuletide cheer. Oh, no. Instead, today we’re going to take a look at the darker side of the season. So, let’s venture into Christmas’ creepy underbelly— and meet Krampus.

Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon figure who’s covered in dark fur. He has cloven hooves and giant horns, and his long red tongue dangles, sagging from the side of his fanged mouth. But before you catch a glimpse of him, you’re likely to hear him coming: he carries chains that he clanks and thrashes around for dramatic effect. He also carries a stick, called a ruten, that he uses to swat naughty children. Perhaps most terrifyingly, however, is the sack he carries on his back. He uses this to collect the naughty children so he can cart them away. But to where? Some say he takes them home to eat. Others say they’re going straight to hell.

Today’s episode features an original poem written by Lindsey Morse.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Christmas Wonder" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals