Fabric of Folklore
Folktales can be strange, mystical, macabre and intriguing. Join us as we explore the stories, culture and people behind the folklore. We go beyond retelling the legends, myths and fairy tales of old. We look at the story behind the lore, behind the songs and traditions to understand more about what they mean, and their importance. These stories, many originating as oral histories, inform us of what it means to be human; what it means to be an integral part of this Earth. Stories of magic and wonder bind us. They connect us through invisible strands, like the gossamer fibers of a spiders web. Folktales have the power to demonstrate how, although we live in drastically different locals, our hearts and minds beat as one human race. We are weaving the fabrics of our past and present stories, to help us better understand ourselves and to awaken us to a more compassionate and caring world community. As we explore the meaning of existence through folklore we hope to inspire future generations to lead with love and understanding.
Episodes
114 episodes
Fairy Tale Flip Ep 25 pt 2: The Fisherman and the Djinn
In Part 2 of this Fairy Tale Flip deep dive, Vanessa Rogers and Donna Fields trace the same "something sealed, something freed, someone clever enough to trick it back" story across three different cultures — a Brothers Grimm tale about a woodcu...
Fairy Tale Flip Ep 25 pt 1: The Fisherman and the Djinn
Most people have heard of the fisherman who pulls a genie out of a bottle. Very few people know what that genie actually swore to do once he got out — or why. And almost nobody knows the story behind the story: the king who married a new woman ...
The Enchanted Lake and the Ensorcelled Prince: Storytelling
The sultan followed the fisherman to the lake to find out why the fish wouldn't cook. What he found instead was a prince who was half stone, trapped in a palace at the edge of an enchanted lake — and a story underneath the story he thought he w...
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Fisherman and the Djinn (Storytelling)
What do you do when the thing you just rescued wants to kill you?That's the problem facing a poor fisherman who pulls a sealed copper jar from the sea — and makes the mistake of opening it. Out pours a djinn. Ancient. Enormous. Furious. ...
Fairy Tale Flip Ep 24: Talking Eggs
Talking eggs. A mysterious old woman in the woods. Two sisters. One choice. This Creole folktale from the American South has been hiding in plain sight — and it has a lot to say. This episode dives deep into that tension through one of the most...
Frau (Mother) Holle: A German Fairy Tale
Frau Holle (Mother Holle)What if the portal to your transformation wasn't a doorway or a wardrobe — but a well? In this Brothers Grimm classic collected in 1812, a hardworking stepdaughter drops her spindle into a well and jumps i...
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Talking Eggs: Louisiana Folktale - Storytelling
Deep in the Louisiana bayou, a kind-hearted girl named Blanche is overlooked, overworked, and underestimated — until a chance encounter with a mysterious old woman in the woods changes everything. The Talking Eggs, retold by Robert D. ...
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
Set against the breathtaking landscape of ancient Zimbabwe, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is a luminous retelling of one of the world's most beloved folktale patterns — the story of two sisters, one kind and one cruel, and a king i...
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Diamonds and Toads Fairy Tale: Storytelling
What happens when kindness is the currency that changes everything? Diamonds and Toads is a classic French fairy tale by Charles Perrault about two sisters whose words literally reveal their character — one speaks gems and flowers, the...
Moura Encantada- Storytelling
She is found at the edge of rivers, inside ancient stones, and at the mouth of caves — combing her golden hair, waiting. The Moura Encantada is one of Portugal's oldest and most haunting supernatural figures. Cursed to exist between world...
The Abduction of Persephone- Storytelling
For thousands of years we have told the story of Persephone — and for much of that time, we have softened it. Romanticized it. Made it a love story. But strip that away and what remains is one of mythology's most honest and uncomfortable examin...
The Princess of the Spring: A Brazilian Folktale- Fairytale Flip Ep:23
Forget the gods of Greece, Brazil has Giants!Join us as we explore the rich tapestry of Brazilian folklore, mythological transformation, and cultural influences from indigenous tribes, Portuguese colonization, and African heritage. In t...
Robert Browning's Poem: The Pied Piper of Hamelin- Storytelling
What happens when a town breaks a promise? In this retelling of Robert Browning's beloved poem, the town of Hamelin is overrun by rats — and a mysterious, colorfully-cloaked stranger offers to solve everything, for a price. The Pied Piper deliv...
The Princess of the Spring: A Brazilian Folktale - Storytelling
Born of the Moon Giant and the Giantess of the Great River, the Princess of the Springs rules over every river and lake in the rainforest. But when love, loss, and betrayal scatter her family across the world, this mighty princess must fi...
Fairy Tale Flip Ep: 22 The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Did you know that the Pied Piper was based on historical records? In episode 22 of Fairy Tale Flip, we dive into the mysterious tale of the Piper and his alluring music and what really happened in the medieval German town centuries ago. We look...
The Pied Piper of Hamelin Story
🎶 The Pied Piper of HamelinIn the town of Hamelin, a mysterious stranger arrives dressed in colorful clothes, carrying a silver pipe. When the town is overrun by rats, he promises to solve the problem — but what happens when the m...
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Louhi Steals the Sun, Moon and Fire- Fairy Tale Flip EP: 21
Can you imagine the fear of losing the sun every winter? Would it ever come back?In episode 21 of Fairy Tale Flip we journey into the snowy landscapes of Finnish mythology to explore the enigmatic sorceress of Louhi from the ...
Louhi Steals the Sun, Moon and Fire Story from Finland
In Finnish mythology, Louhi — the powerful and mysterious ruler of Pohjola — grows jealous of the light and comfort enjoyed by others. To assert her power and plunge the world into darkness, she steals the Sun and Moon, hiding the...
Jorōgumo: The Seductive Shapeshifting Spider of Japanese Folklore - Fairy Tale Flip Ep: 20
Beware the shape-shifting man-eater. Jorōgumo, the seductive spider woman of Japanese folklore, lures her victims with beauty before revealing her true form. In this Fairy Tale Flip episode, we dive into Japan’s religious an...
Jorōgumo, The Japanese Shapeshifting Spider Spirit, Mini Episode #4
This is one of the most famous versions of the Jorōgumo, the Japanese shapeshifting spider spirit. Part love story, part horror, it is a wonderful folktale you wont want to miss!Known for transforming into a beautiful woman to lure unsus...
Yara Ma Yha Who: Fairy Tale Flip Ep 19
Forget Dracula. Australia has its own vampire story—and it’s stranger than you think. Have you heard of the bloodsucking creature that hides in Australia’s fig trees? In episode 19 of Fairytale Flip, we dive into the Aboriginal Australian myth ...
Yara Ma Yha Who: Storytelling Mini-Episode 3
Have you heard of the vampiric predator roaming the Australian Outback in search of unsuspecting victims? In this storytelling mini-episode, I share a chilling tale from the fig groves of Australia: the story of the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who. This eerie,...
Belling the Cat, An Aesop Tale: Mini episode Storytelling Ep2
In this STORYTELLING episode of Fabric of Folklore, Vanessa Y Rogers narrates the classic Aesop's fable, 'The Belling of the Cat.' The story revolves around a group of mice trying to outsmart a stealthy cat threatening their lives. A young mous...
The Frogs who Wished for a King: Mini episode, Storytelling Ep1
In this mini storytelling episode, we share and reflect on the classic Aesop fable, "The Frogs Who Wished for a King." The story follows a community of frogs living peacefully in their pond, who become dissatisfied with their simple lives and a...
Fairy Tale Flip Ep 18 (Pt 2) : Sleeping Beauty
What hidden messages lie within the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty? In Part 2 of our deep dive, we explore the layers of meaning in this timeless story—examining the prince’s motivations, the surprising motif of cannibalism, and the moral and sp...
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