Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

EP11 The art of storytelling with Owen Staton; or, the eerie Welsh folk tale of Rhys and Meinir and other ghost stories

Storytellers have the magical ability to whisk us away to distant times and places, and that's exactly what special guest Owen Staton does in this episode of the GHOSTS & FOLKLORE podcast.
In conversation with MARK REES (author Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.), they talk about ghost stories and eerie Welsh folk tales from the past and present. Some of these stories have been dusted off and handed down through the centuries, while others are far more recent and, in some cases, real.
From supernatural happenings in the home to the tragic love story of Rhys and Meinir in Nant Gwrtheyrn, pull up a chair by the fireplace and join the pair as they discuss paranormal activity, modern-day ghost hunting, uncanny encounters and the continued fascination with telling tales and in haunted Wales.
 

EP10 The Ghosts of Gwrych Castle: Paranormal activity has long been reported at the haunted Welsh castle where ”I‘m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!” is filmed - Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

What can the cast and crew of TV show "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" expect to find when they film inside a haunted Welsh castle?
Strange supernatural sights have been reported by a diverse cast of witnesses, from a title-winning boxer to the castle's duty manager, and include an undead butler and even a phantom horse.
Join MARK REES (author of Ghosts of Wales/ Paranormal Wales etc.) as he investigates paranormal activity at Gwrych Castle, a wonderful - if occasionally creepy - castle where a woman in white watches from the windows, a woman in red walks the grounds, and many more creepy sightings have been reported.
What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?
In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.
By combining his unique research and insights from many books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a fascinating look at the country's countless curious subjects.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion and the skulled-headed Christmas favourite herself, the Mari Lwyd.
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales podcast

EP09 Fairy dogs, the magical origins of the Welsh Corgi, a wizard's friendly familiar, and other curious tales of canine folklore on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

Did you know that fairies used to ride corgis into battle? And that the name corgi is derived from Welsh folklore? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales) for an uplifting journey in search of positive dog lore from across 'haunted Wales', with tales of the fairy folk rewarding those who show kindness to their pets, a wizard's friendly familiar which helped lonely travellers at night, and ghostly four-legged omens which can predict if a dying person is heading to the good place or the bad.

EP08 The Ghost of Dylan Thomas, and his many haunts in Wales and the world

Does the ghost of Dylan Thomas visit his old haunts? Has he gone gently in that good night, or does his spirit rage, rage, against the dying of the light? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales) as he investigates reports that the great Welsh poet is still active today, and that during his lifetime he was a believer in an afterlife and claimed to have seen a ghost himself. This is an epic journey which starts in Laugharne, takes in Swansea and Carmarthen, the English capital London, and even New York.

EP07 The Dog of Darkness; or, Gwyllgi, the Welsh Hound of Hell which stalks the streets of haunted Wales

Have you heard about the "dog of darkness" which stalks the haunted lanes at night? This "hound of hell" has patrolled the Welsh roads of centuries, and bears many similarities with other four-legged paranormal creatures seen across Britain and Ireland. But what exactly is the Gwyllgi, how dangerous is it, and what does it have to do with Dylan Thomas? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales) as he reveals its secret supernatural origin, from long-lost folklore to terrifying recent accounts.

EP06 The Real-life Ghost-hunting Scooby-Doo Dog and the Victorian Paranormal Hoaxers

Did you know... a real-life Scooby-Doo dog once caught a ghost in a Welsh village? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales) as he explores the crimes of the paranormal hoaxers, the dastardly villains who impersonated ghosts in the Victorian era, and the clever people - and pets - who busted them in three long-lost stories from the archives. For more weird and wonderful tales of the paranormal, supernatural, folklore, myths and legends, follow Mark on Twitter/Facebook/Insta: @reviewwales

EP05 The Legend of Gelert, the Heroic Hound of Beddgelert: the real story behind the Welsh folk tale

Is there any truth to Wales' most famous folk tale? Did a dog named Gelert really fight with a gigantic wolf for the life of the Prince of Wales' son and heir? Join MARK REES (Ghosts of Wales/ Curious Wales) as he goes in search of the secret origins of the tragic tale, in which a heroic hound pays the ultimate price for being man's best friend. It's a journey which begins with a piece of folklore, and takes some unexpected twists through Wild Wales, Welsh culture, and even the French Revolution.

EP04 The Ghostly Women in White: Two real-life ghost stories of a woman in white haunting either side of the Severn Bridge - a swearing spook in England, and a phantom in disguise in Wales

Do some ghosts really swear at people? And do other ghosts dress up in the clothing of the clergy?
Join MARK REES as he investigates the supernatural secrets of two eerie real-life tales of a 'woman in white' haunting on both sides of the Severn Bridge.
In Wales she left 'superstitious' residents in the Vale of Glamorgan too terrified to walk about after dark, while in England two ghostbusters claim a 'potty-mouthed' spirit was effing and blinding at them at a 'most haunted' beauty spot.
What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?
In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.
By combining his unique research and insights from many books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a fascinating look at countless curious subjects.
New episodes are uploaded every Thursday, and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion and the skulled-headed Christmas favourite herself, the Mari Lwyd.
Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:
Mark Rees homepage
Mark Rees on social media
Books by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales podcast

EP03 Swansea's "Most Haunted" Home; or, A Ghost to Rival Hamlet's Father: A real-life Victorian ghost story from haunted Wales on the Ghosts of Wales podcast

Did a ghost really help the police discover a buried skull? In this real-life ghost story MARK REES, author of "Ghosts of Wales", investigates the facts surrounding a Victorian spectre which haunted Swansea's 'most haunted' home. Not only did the spook have the whole city talking, but the police paid a visit when things took an unexpected turn. In a real-life scene which sounds like a work of Gothic fiction, there was a full moon in the sky when that ghost revealed its true purpose... which is revealed on the Ghosts of Wales podcast!

EP02 The Curse of the Swansea Devil: a real-life "haunted" statue steeped in the folklore of Wales

Can a statue really be cursed? And can it really destroy a church? The Swansea Devil is a "cursed" Victorian work of art which, if the legend is true, was responsible for burning down a Welsh church. It then disappeared without a trace, only to reappear a long way from home... Join MARK REES, author of "Ghosts of Wales", as he goes in search of the truth behind one of Wales' most infamous sculptures. Hit subscribe for more tales of the paranormal, supernatural, folklore, myths and legends!