Castuner

Bone and Sickle

Al Ridenour

BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from historical texts. Narratives are given dramatic readings by “Mrs. Karswell” (Sarah Chavez) backed by richly produced soundscapes blending original music, sound design and effects. The source books, though real enough, are said to be pulled from an imaginary library on Ridenour’s imaginary estate situated somewhere in the neighborhood of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey. Each episode begins with our hosts briefly discussing goings-on in this world before diving into the topic to be explored. Occasional alternate-format episodes are devoted to readings of classic horror stories or curious texts of antiquarian interest. Ridenour is the author of “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas” (2016) and “A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marv

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Episodes

167 episodes

  1. The White, Old Maid: a Story for Halloween 42:25
  2. Benandanti versus Witches 46:04
  3. Born with a Veil 38:37
  4. The Dog-Head Saint 40:21
  5. Robert the Devil: Medieval Legend, Gothic Opera 45:34
  6. Trolls in Medieval Literature 46:10
  7. Trolls (Pt. 1) 49:19
  8. Rhymes for Those Who Can Neither Read Nor Run 37:06
  9. A Christmas Ghost Story, VIII 38:20
  10. Christmas is Carnival: Carols and Calendars 27:18
  11. A Werewolf in Court 21:54
  12. Horror, Fact, Fiction, and a Revelation 19:28
  13. Halloween Fortune-Telling Party 37:13
  14. Mr. Ridenour’s Haunted Basement
  15. Update: GO LOOK AT THE GRAVE! 4:07
  16. Urban Legend
  17. Pumpkins, Turnips, and Spooklights 51:36
  18. St. George, the Dragon, and More 49:16
  19. International Folk-Horror Film Round-Up 53:36
  20. The Fates 49:48
  21. Rolling Hells and Land-Ships 33:35
  22. Happy May Day!
  23. The Unknown Carnival 24:43
  24. The Sin-Eater 45:20
  25. Mélusine, the Serpent Fairy 55:51
  26. Announcement: Show Delay 0:29
  27. A Christmas Ghost Story VII 33:20
  28. La Befana, the Witch of Twelfth Night
  29. Vlad the Impaler 54:42
  30. Devil Boards 34:36
  31. Missing Intro for Episode 133 5:15
  32. Spirit Boards 38:37
  33. Announcement Trick-or-Treat By Mail
  34. “Young Goodman Brown” 45:10
  35. Subterranean Sages and Russian Mystics 1:04:59
  36. Inside the Hollow Earth 1:01:00
  37. The Dark Art of Ventriloquism 51:58
  38. The Mesmerist 51:35
  39. Banshees (Rebroadcast) 37:39
  40. Glass-Coffin Girls 52:11
  41. Audio Fix on Episode 125 0:38
  42. Sorcery Schools of Spain 51:18
  43. A Christmas Ghost Story VI 38:33
  44. Christmas Superstitions 25:40
  45. The Monster of Glamis 44:10
  46. An Old-Fashioned Halloween Party 41:00
  47. The Spook House 20:03
  48. Ghouls 28:27
  49. Announcement: Listener Trick-or-Treat 4:55
  50. Six Witches 28:29