Willing & Fable Rowan Hall and Tracey Harrison
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- Society & Culture
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Looking for a new, inclusive take on history and mythology? Look no further than 'Willing and Fable,' a woman-run, feminist, and LGBTQ+ podcast hosted by Rowan Hall and Tracey Harrison.
Each week, Rowan and Tracey bring to light the often overlooked and underrepresented stories of men, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, challenging traditional and biased accounts of the past.
From ancient civilizations to modern times, 'Willing and Fable' offers engaging discussions, in depth research, and original stories that will inspire you to make a positive impact in your own community.
Don't miss out on this unique podcast – subscribe to 'Willing and Fable' today and join Rowan and Tracey on their journey through history, mystery, and mythology.
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Ep 125 - The Origin of Mythology
For the 125th episode, Rowan and Tracey go all the way back to the beginning and ask: what is mythology? They discuss the history and science behind storytelling, the chemical effects of religion on the brain, and whether or not trees have their own versions of folklore.
Tracey tells us an original love story about the sun and the moon, and Rowan’s tale explores an AI coming to terms with its sentience. -
Ep. 124 - Goblins - A Complicated Mythology
This week, Rowan presents the mythologies of goblins from around the world—knockers, red caps, duendes, and dokkaebi (to name a few). We also learn about the ways goblins have been used as harmful antisemitic tropes and discuss other symbols from religion and folklore that have been used to influence public perception.
Note: In this episode, we discuss the current genocide of Palestinians being perpetrated by Israel. At the time of our research, According to Aljazeera, as of January 24th, 2024, “more than 85 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced amid continued Israeli ground and air offensive that has killed more than 25,000 people, including 10,000 children.” Upon posting this episode, as of March 12, 2024, Aljazeera reports, “At least 31,045 Palestinians have been killed and 72,654 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.”
The Willing & Fable podcast stands with Palestine. For more information about where we donate and cited news sources from the episode, see the show notes. #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow -
Ep. 123 - Appalachian Overview - Witches, Aliens, and Closed Traditions
Our hosts explore a variety of folklore from the Appalachian Mountains. Tracey dives into the folklore of the Bell Witch, the Brown Mountain Lights, and the Flat Woods Monster. Rowan tells a story about the Cryptid Community Convention and discusses some of the reasons why non-indigenous people aren’t welcome to say the name of the W.
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Ep. 122 - The Greek Fates - Scissor Sisters
Continuing their conversation examining stories about the threads of fate, Rowan and Tracey discuss the Three Fates of Ancient Greek Mythology: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Tracey tells a story from the perspective of god experiencing manic love, the pair learn about marriage practices in Ancient Greece and China, and they explore reasons why stories of fated love might be especially important for young women in arranged marriages.
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Ep. 121 - Red Thread of Fate - Heartstrings & The God of Gay Men
The Red String of Fate is famous online, but where does this myth come from? Join us as we learn more about Chinese mythology, Yue Lao (the god of love and marriage), and Tu’er Shen (the patron of homosexual love between men as far back as the 17th century).
Rowan presents a gut-wrenching story about a lifetime of love, and Tracey brings the history and the tropes, so get ready for a mix of fun and feelings in this one! -
Ep. 120 - Bermuda Triangle Pt. 2 - Time Travel & T.S. Eliot
Continuing their discussion on the Bermuda Triangle, Tracey presents theories about time travel, parallel universes, the lost city of Atlantis, methane gas, and UFOs.
Rowan tells her story from the perspective of a God, exploring heaven, hell, and chronic illness. The pair also geek out about one of their favorite poets, the man, the myth, the legend: T.S. Eliot.
Customer Reviews
Glad I found the podcast!!
I’ve been diving deep into Tiamat and your episode is bomb! I love the vibe between the both of you and you’ve got a new listener! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, time for me to binge listen lol
My inner child is happy
Tracy and Rowan bring such a warm and inviting way for the listener to be a part of the fantasy that they are speaking about. Being a former child that was obsessed with mythology and fantasy, the weight of the world hasn’t allowed me to pursue this more into adulthood. However, this shows me that it is possible to scratch that itch, no matter the age. I feel like I’m with my charismatic friends who are telling me a lovely story when I listen.
All time favorite
This is my very favorite podcast. It was the saddest of days when I reached the last episode and could no longer binge listen. I have a bachelors in religion and I have always loved folk tales and frequently read some of the most old and bizarre tales. Thus it is rare that I come across a folk tale I am unaware of, however, Tracey and Rowan have, much to my surprise and delight, introduced me to multiple tales I have had yet to come across. I am impressed with the level of research, mindfulness, and creativity they bring to each tale. Furthermore, I enjoy feeling the love they clearly express for each other in every episode. I hope the episodes never end. P.S. my favorite episode was Sappho!