Filipino Folklore: Manananggal, Aswangs, Diwata & Ancestral Magic with Anama O’Reilly

In this episode of Big Crystal Energy, Ashleigh sits down with Anama O’Reilly, co-host of The Gods Must Be Crazy podcast, for a wildly fascinating conversation about Filipino folklore, mythology, monsters, ancestral beliefs, and the supernatural stories that still feel very alive today.

After returning from a family trip through the Philippines and Japan, Ashleigh found herself deep in the rabbit hole of Filipino folklore — from eerie creatures to ancestral magic to the ways mythology lives inside culture, family, and everyday life. Anama brings humor, depth, and years of research to this conversation as she shares why she started her podcast, how Filipino folklore connects people back to their roots, and why these stories deserve to be as widely known as Greek, Norse, or Celtic mythology.

Together, Ashleigh and Anama explore the legendary manananggal, the broader meaning of aswang, the mysterious diwata, the tree-dwelling kapre, Filipino witchcraft traditions like mangkukulam and mambabarang, ancestral spirits, haunted houses, evil eye beliefs, and the cultural power of stories passed through generations.

This episode is funny, spooky, educational, and deeply magical — a perfect listen for anyone curious about folklore, mythology, ancestral traditions, Filipino culture, or the strange stories that shape the way we understand the unseen world.

Listen to Anama's podcast Cozy Kwento: A Filipino Storytelling Podcast

Follow on Instagram: @anamagirasol

Please message me with any questions or comments. 
bigcrystalenergypodcast @gmail.com