The Easter Hare of European folklore—today's Easter Bunny—emerges from pagan traditions celebrating spring renewal, fertility, and rebirth. However, this mythical figure has a darker side. In this episode, we take a look at how the legend blends the joyful with the supernatural, with the hare carrying both blessings and a basket full of witchy deeds.

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Resources:

https://mythosanthology.com/puc

https://medium.com/@arras.healing/the-hare-and-the-goddess-the-story-of-a-sacred-animal-5bf8f3c24597

https://thedruidscauldron.net/category/course-sacred-figures

https://www.thefield.co.uk/country-house/hare-mythology-why-we-are-all-mad-for-hares-21624

https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/ancient-roots-of-easter-bunny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar

https://storytellingdb.com/monsters-slavic-mythology

https://www.transceltic.com/pan-celtic/importance-of-hare-celtic-belief-and-our-duty-protect-all-wildlife

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshchei

The Dullahan is one of Ireland’s most chilling figures—a relentless, headless rider who gallops through the night carrying his severed head under his arm, calling out the names of the doomed. Join me as we uncover the origins of this spooky folktale.

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leedawnabooks@gmail.com

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ALLi - https://allianceindependentauthors.org/?affid=10208

Resources:

https://archive.org/details/fairylegendstrad00crokrich

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/39752/39752-h/39752-h.htm

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33887/33887-h/33887-h.htm

https://dorisvsutherland.com/2020/06/19/the-history-of-the-dullahan-in-irish-folklore

https://dorisvsutherland.com/2020/06/23/more-on-the-dullahan-in-irish-folklore

https://irishmyths.com/2021/09/22/headless-horseman-history

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/how-tales-of-the-headless-horseman-came-from-celtic-mythology-1.4060086

https://theghostinmymachine.com/2025/10/13/encyclopaedia-of-the-impossible-the-dullahan-the-headless-horseman-of-ireland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dullahan

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Dullahan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_coach

Pronunciations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVy7_yFWwVU

https://forvo.com/word/dullahan

https://www.howtopronounce.com/dullahan.

Morgan le Fay is a timeless enigma born on the pages of Arthurian lore. Yet before she was the modern legend’s evil sorceress, Morgan was a benevolent, shapeshifting healer. Join me on this brisk walk through the mists of Avalon and decide for yourself if Morgan is merely a lovesick character or the embodiment of a real-life enchantress whose pure-hearted magic makes her the perfect subject for this year’s Valentine episode.

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leedawnabooks@gmail.com

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Episode resources:

Mary Jones Celtic Texts – Vita Merlini

John Jay Parry translation – public domain – The Vita Merlini

Sacred Texts Archive version: Vita Merlini

Hero of Camelot, English translation – Erec et Enide

Poetry in Translation – Érec and Enide

Mary Jones – Vulgate/Lancelot-Grail Cycle

Norris J. Lacy's English Translation/Boydell and Brewer – Lancelot-Grail 10 Volumes

Project Gutenberg – public domain: Volume I and Volume II

Le Morte Darthur Norton Critical Edition or Amazon version

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_le_Fay

"The Infamous Sorceress Morgan le Fay of Arthurian Legend" by The Collector (Sep 11, 2025)

Ancient Origins – Morgan le Fay

Morgan le Fay – Medieval Sources and Modern Novels by Miriam Tosadori (2021 Thesis, University of Padua)

Before “bacon fixes everything” was a meme - a lifelong politician, a boy scout, and a German spy almost ruined the most perfect food on earth. Tune in to find out how the Hippo Bill of 1910 got into the weeds and sank to the bottom of a Louisiana swamp.

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leedawnabooks@gmail.com

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Episode resources:

American Hippopotamus by Jon Mooallem

Smithsonian Magazine – “The Plan to Import Hippopotamuses to the U.S.”

Hippopotamidae - Wikipedia

Hippopotamus amphibius (Hippopotamus)

American Hippo bill - Wikipedia

The Crazy, Ingenious Plan to Bring Hippopotamus Ranching to America | WIRED

7 Problematic Invasive Species in Hawaii (Pictures) - Wildlife Informer

The infamous Elizabeth Bathory is a Hungarian Noblewoman holding a Guinness World Record as the most prolific female serial killer in history. But was she a cold-blooded killer? Or a wealthy widow caught in the crosshairs of a war-torn country? Join me as I attempt to unravel fact from fiction in this two-part dive into the workings of the Kingdom of Hungary and the makings of a Blood Countess.

Resources:

História hradu - Čachtický hrad

Countess Bathory's case - Elizabeth Báthory: The Blood Countess

The Bloody Countess? | Notes on Hungarian History

Elizabeth Bathory | Biography, Husband, Castle, & Facts | Britannica

Elizabeth Báthory - Wikipedia

Countess Elizabeth Bathory - The Blood Countess — Clandestine Entry — Crime Library

bledsaw.pdf

Béla IV of Hungary - Wikipedia

Palatine of Hungary - Wikipedia

Konrad III Rudy - Wikipedia

Voivode of Transylvania - Wikipedia

Deutsche Biographie - Nádasdy, Pál

Pál (Nádasdy) Nádasdy de Nádasd et Fogaras-Föld (abt.1597-1633) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Contact me: leedawnabooks@gmail.com

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In this episode we head straight into the heart of an urban legend that has crossed continents and haunted sleepovers for generations, unnerving even the bravest amongst us. You know her name, but where did the legend of Bloody Mary begin? Is it rooted in history, superstition, or something darker? Dim the lights, gather your courage, and join me as we attempt to get to the bottom of the shivers and screams.

Resources:

Bloody Mary (folklore) - Wikipedia

Who Is Bloody Mary? The Truth Behind The Creepy Urban Legend

Where did the legend of Bloody Mary come from? | HowStuffWorks

Mary I of England - Wikipedia

Contact me: leedawnabooks@gmail.com

Postal Mail: PO Box 824, Aurora, NC 27806

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