Alright HoneyBees, prepare 2 vessels of beer (no we will NOT elaborate on that) and get ready for this ghostly episode!

Did you know that there is an ancient Babylonian tablet laying out step-by-step instructions on how to exorcise a ghost?! You're about to learn all about it! The tablet included a 5 step process on how to get a ghost out of your home and on to where they belong, and just wait until you hear step 5....

THAT'S NOT ALL! In this episode we also read you Pliny the Elder's letters to a trusted friend in which he begs him to answer one simple question: do you think ghosts are real? Pliny goes on to describe, what historians believe to be, the first documented haunted house, as well as other ancient Roman ghost encounters he had heard of. So yes. we may leave you thinking about the Roman Empire with this one, but someone should really check on Coco and her haunted rock situation...

Stay tuned for a special FreshCup where Betsy tells us a PERSONAL GHOST STORY!

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Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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Well... we promise spooky folktales, and good lord do we deliver. Proceed with caution, honeybees!

Story 1: The Baba Yaga: VOICE ACTING ALERT! Gabby shows UP for you with the voices in this episode. You'll hear her voice various humans with varying intentions, as well as at least 2 animals... and a door? The Baba Yaga is a witch-type character in Slavic folklore who likes to eat her nieces, not pay her staff, and neglect her pets. So sit at your loom and turn up the volume for this one.

Story 2: The Juniper Tree: TRIGGER WARNING!!!! Oh wow. This is the most messed up thing we've ever read on this podcast. Proceed with caution; trigger warnings for child abuse, general violence, cannibalism, and horrific singing. Here is a sickening tale of an ill-fated "red and white boy" (WHAT DOES THAT MEAANNN?!?!?) his EVIL stepmother, his absent yet caring father, and his traumatized little half-sister. This story rambles on and on... and I guess there's a juniper tree in there somewhere too. Grimm's can do the rest of the story telling for this one, we're tapping out.

Lonely Orphan Girl, Snark Queen | Nellie Bly

In this episode, you'll get to know Pinky-Pie Nellie Bly – a BOSS BITCH investigative journalist, kicking ass and taking names all over the world. Listen in terror with us as we discuss Nellie's stay in a Victorian-Era mental asylum. Marvel at her record-breaking circumnavigation of the globe. Wonder at her ability to PACK LIGHT (understatement of the year). Listen in general disbelief as this woman's life story unfolds like a fantasy novel - almost too crazy to be true! We've got all that juicy gossip, AND MORE!

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In our Fresh Cup we'll hear some creative one-liner insults that made us wonder... What is YOUR best go-to insult? Tell us in the comments on our social media!

Minda ya business, this is New Orleans baby. In this highly anticipated episode, we get some POV action and take you to 1800's New Orleans to visit Marie Laveau in her home.

While we learn about this absolutely incredible woman, we also get a survey of the atmosphere of New Orleans at this time, learn the actual ins and outs of the religion of Vodou, and explore Congo Square.

The legends and truths of this inspirational woman very much live on today, because much like the city of New Orleans, Marie Laveau isn't going ANYWHERE. Vive la Reine!

Who ordered 3 piping hot folktales?!?!

Tale 1: The Leopard Woman - First of all, "specist" IS a word... so. There's that. In this episode, a man clammers up a tree, which is SO embarrassing, but on the flip side, his wife can do a pretty cool party trick.

Tale 2: The Three Billy Goats Gruff - Did you guys know this was Viking tale?!? Please brace yourselves for the absolute professional voice acting in this one. And we will tell you, the moral is this: know your bridges, and know their trolls.

Tale 3: "Should he bite me?" - There's not really a short answer to that question. BUT, if you liked the voices in the last story, then just know: that was merely a warmup. This is a story that comes full circle. Just like, literally 360 degrees.

Enjoy.

Join our Patreon for extra content!

You can purchase Spill the Mead merchandise https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpilltheMeadPodcast/

Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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Find Madi @myladygervais on Instagram

Find Gabby @so_dym_gabulous on Instagram and @pokemonhoe on TikTok

“From the devil they came, to the devil they will go.” – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

As far as origin stories go, we'd say the Counts of Anjou have arguably the best (sorry Batman).

From a lower Nobel family in 10th century France to a 300 year long dynasty in England, the Angevin Counts were notorious for their tempers, red hair and military prowess, so where did it all come from?

The legend has then Count of Anjou, Geoffrey Greymantle (c.938-987) marrying a mysterious women named Melusine of unknown origins of unbelievable beauty but who was less than enthusiastic in her dealings with the church. Was she a witch? A demon? Or worse….having an affair?!

The descendants of Geoffrey and Melusine would go on to spread the story of their demonic past and gleefully spread fear around court but was it all just hot air? Or did the Angevin court have reason to fear? There’s only one way to find out, give the episode a listen and let us know what you think!

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You can purchase Spill the Mead merchandise SpilltheMeadPodcast - Etsy

Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

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Ding-dong, class is IN SESSION! In this episode, Madi takes us on a little survey on the cryptic and mysterious origins of these staples to the occult. We look at where the oldest tarot deck came from, and the MASHcore games played with them. We learn that tea leaf reading is called "tasseomancy" and we love that almost as much as the Victorians did. THEN we dive into the REALLY FREAKING FASCINATING (and ancient) origins of palm reading and leave you with a call to action to support your female palmists!

It's the first folktales episode of season 3, and our new Folktale cohost, Gabby comes in HARD with an origin story of the Nez Perce tribe. In this story, we meet a coyote who tests the suction power of a monster's mighty maw under the direct supervision of his arms dealer fox friend, Then Madi wraps it up with a story from the Māori culture that features an oozing (or shooting depending on the day) love triangle with a problematic (likely Libra) volcano in the center of it all. Shout out to Walla Walla, Washington and all who live there. Neither of these folktales are set there, and we've never been there... we're just sure it's great.

Join our Patreon for extra content!

You can purchase Spill the Mead merchandise on Etsy

Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

Find us on Instagram, and Facebook @spillthemeadpodcast

Find Madi @myladygervais on Instagram

Find Gabby @so_dym_gabulous on Instagram and @pokemonhoe on TikTok