logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
1 h

Actual Trolls: Not the Ones Online

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Trolls! These mythical creatures are -- nowadays -- beloved. Most folks think of trolls as creatures of myth, up there with the minotaur, the kraken, the selkie. And yet. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the history of troll folklore, ultimately separating fact from fiction and posing a fascinating question: What if troll legends are an oral remnant of early encounters with a previous thing almost-yet-not-quite-human?

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Strange News: Waymo, Epstein, Freedom Dollars and More
Robot exorcists. Waymo door gigs. Freedom dollars, Jeffrey Epstein, and more. Tune in as the guys explore this week's strange news.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 27
Oh, DOGE!
Despite being neither an official government department nor, arguably, all that efficient, Elon Musks's "Department of Government Efficiency" has made a lot of waves over its short life span. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the origin of DOGE... and why so many p ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 27
CLASSIC: Natural Disaster and Revolution
The history of human civilization is, in many ways, a history of conflict. Empires rise and fall, countries come and go, and humanity soldiers on. Yet multiple investigations have found a troubling correlation -- it seems not all revolutions are the result of social instability o ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
Der Troll
Der Troll – Der Troll ist eine Figur in Geschichten. Ihm bereitet es Freude, anderen zu schaden. Auch der menschliche Troll ist da nicht anders. 
1m 23s
Mar 2024
Mermaids: Myth, Mystery and Legend
Dive into the history and mythology of mermaids. Explore ancient tales and modern interpretations of these half-human, half-fish beings, tracing their roots across civilizations. Join us on a mesmerizing journey through the depths of human imagination and storytelling. 📖  Full ... Show More
11m 1s
Dec 2020
Me and my trolls
Internet trolls are harassing and bullying people like never before. That’s according to research carried out in the UK which found abuse rising as the world spends more and more time online thanks to the Covid pandemic. But who are the people behind these often anonymous attacks ... Show More
26m 28s
May 2022
Fear and Legends from Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage
We're in the middle of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. While many people are celebrating the beautiful culture, we're sinking our teeth into the community's spooky folklore. With thousands of years of tradition, superstition and myths, there are so many horror ... Show More
27m 8s
Jul 2015
5A-Slavic Folklore: Tried and Died
In this story of a dangerous magician from Russian folklore, you'll learn that you should maybe believe your spouse if she says you definitely don't want to know what's behind that door in the dungeon. It's the bizarre, sad, and kind of hilarious story of Koschei the Deathless, a ... Show More
36m 55s
Aug 2025
[LE BESTIAIRE] Le Démon du Devonshire : les sabots du diable
Les cryptides sont des créations curieuses de la nature dont aucune étude scientifique n’est capable de prouver l’existence. Pourtant, pour certaines personnes, ces curiosités, voire ces monstruosités qui peuplent la terre sont bien réelles. Il suffit de se référer aux nombreux t ... Show More
14m 7s
Oct 2021
Selects: What is folklore?
<p>What is folklore? Turns out it's just about anything you can think of that's shared by more than two people. Art, literature, stories, dance, music, traditions, even those family heirlooms qualify. Turns out folklore is pretty neat. Learn all about it in this classic episode.< ... Show More
42m 17s
Oct 2021
The Truth About Hansel and Gretel
Was the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel - the story of a woodcutter’s children abandoned in the woods and left at the mercy of a witch - in fact, early true crime? A hit book - The Truth About Hansel and Gretel - said that historical records pointed to the story being based on fa ... Show More
36m 48s