TRIGGER WARNING ON ALL THIS! It's a scary one... well, except for the absolute DELIGHT of a story at the very end. Get there.

Tale 1(ish): SKINWALKER TALES. Yes, that is right. Gabby found us a collection of modern day Skinwalker stories, which is reeeaaally just some modern-day folktales if you really think about it. She begins by giving a run down on just what a Skinwalker is, and then we go through a few CHILLING sightings of these creatures. We also learn a lot about Native American Culture along the way!

Tale 2: Grimm's the Rober Bridegroom. In this story, a young maiden travels to visit her (wealthy) groom-to-be's house for the first time. She followed a trail of ashes into the dark forest only to stumble upon the most BRUTAL scene and get a glimpse into her own fate. With the help of a new friend (and her entire family eventually) they escape and bring this man to justice... literally.

Tale 3: How Corn Came into the World. *PLEASE IGNORE THE OUTDATED LANGUAGE IN THIS ONE!!!! This is the sweetest story, which we need to be ok after this episode. It tells of the sweetest young man, and his journey to help feed his people for generations to come. Through a test of strength, he leaves us with a golden sweet story to end on.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

The modern vampire is depicted as sophisticated, sexy, dangerously charming - a masterful seductive force of superhuman strength, thirsty for blood.

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But did you know vampires didn’t start out this way? From ancient soul-sucking succubi to hopping spirits that drained your life force, to grotesque plague spreaders and dead men walking, the vampire legend has evolved from the truly disgusting to the downright sparkling.

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Come with Madi and Coco as they trace the vampire myths and legends back through time. Learn a little bit about Bram Stoker and his affinity for the occult, and the random travel guide that inspired the classic novel Dracula. Compare and contrast the real life Vlad the Impaler with the fictional character Bram created. Discover how scientific developments shifted the myth of the vampire into the sexy creature we now love AND fear.

Also rehash some 90’s childhood movie trauma with us because what even were those frogs in Thumbelina all about, you guys?!

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Follow that up with a Happy Ending with Betsy… which is arguably darker than the episode content as she discusses a real life monster.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

Not many names invoke as much fear and/or dread as Vlad the Impaler - and this guy had TWO super sick nicknames. Why is a lame title like “The Handsome” when you could terrify people with “The Impaler”?

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But how exactly does one earn such a name? Well unfortunately Coco is going to tell you in very specific detail EXACTLY how this particular Wallachian prince did, and a whole lot of other things about a guy who led a fascinating and terrible life.

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From the palaces of the Ottoman Empire, to the forests of Transylvania - from biological and psychological warfare, to feasts with unhappy endings - from the fall of Constantinople to Isabel and Ferdinand, and everything in between, this one has it all!

Get ready to be horrified by the life story of a man who became a terror in his own lifetime, and a monster inspiring countless other legends after - the one and only Vlad Dracul.

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Follow that up with a Happy Ending with Betsy… you might need it after this one!

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

This is an episode of paranoia, jealousy, desperation, and self-fulfilling-God-given-prophecy. This is the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor. What could have led the first king of Israel to the decision to visit a necromancer (that he himself banished)? Was it a mistake or a sin? Where is the line? Don't ask Saul, he has no idea.

Stay tuned for a VERY happy ending with Betsy, where we share our joy over our friend's wedding we attended over the weekend!

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

Well, our girl did it. She became part of that power couple, and they joined forces, had lots of babies, and lived happily ever after: the end.

Nope. It’s so much more than that. We’re talking her new husband and ex-husband meeting face to face, her sons starting a literal rebellion against their father the king, and being a prisoner for literal years… the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine is not for the weak.

She is the true Medieval Queen, and the legacy she leaves behind is loud. Long Live Queen Eleanor.

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

Well HoneyBees, it's time. After literal YEARS of waiting, Chris Riley is FINALLY giving us the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Blessed day.

In part one, we discuss the origins of Eleanor (the name and the woman) and her life through her first marriage. So you know, just becoming the queen of France, the Crusade, the pirate kidnapping, and the INSANE rumors started about this women.

And this is just the first half of her life.

We also get a Happy Ending with Betsy where we go over the scary movies coming out this spooky season!

The Madams of the Wild West were some of the richest people in the entire country. In this episode, we explore what life would have been like for "soiled doves" of the gold rush era.

The west was lawless and DANGEROUS. These women were brave, intelligent, and just as hard (no pun intended) as the men. We not only look at what life would have been like for the Good-Time-Girl in the Old West, but the legacy they left behind. The biggest cities in the Western USA today were funded by the charities, fines, fees, and good wills of these Madams.

These women lived extraordinary lives in a treacherous time, and their stories should be told, not hidden from history.

Come one, come all... Come big, come small... Just come, come for Folktales.

Three absolute BANGERS for this week from all over the world, AND WITH A NEW FORMAT. So listen up!

Story 1: The Knight of Fishes - Spain

Listen, don't get attached to the cobbler in the beginning, but DO get ready for an EPIC tale featuring 2 hot twins (hiiiiii....) What do you name your fish-knight? We went with Lance Bass, but if you've got something equal or better, write us and we'll send you a sticker! Anyways, this one is long and strong, and you're going to love it... it... it...

Story 2: The Big Turtles War Party - the Skidi Pawnee

HoneyBees, you're in for a treat because this is the tale of the tiniest war that ever raged in the modern-day Nebraskan region. Turtle is on the War Path and he's choosing his team... Will he go with the coyote, fox, hawk, or rabbit? Or the flint knife, hairbrush, and awl? The choice is obvious, but the punchline is not. This is one of our all-time favorites.

Story 3: Cutting the Elephants Hips - Uganda

Ok... well, it wouldn't be Folktales if we didn't f- your world a little bit. This story is as dark as it sounds, and features THE MOST SINISTER CHARACTER ever encountered in Folktales, or possibly any Spill the Mead episode honestly... DONT. TRUST. ANYONE.