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Grimm ReadingGrimmflix: The Princess BrideThis is the full episode of our latest Grimmflix - a special Patreon series where we review grimmesque movies. We enjoyed it and wanted to share with everyone.
In this episode of Grimmflix, we review the 1987 cult classic movie, The Princess Bride.
Will Adam love it? Was it worth the wait? We share our thoughts on the movie before awarding our Grimms.
We then explore the making of the film and share some behind-the-scenes stories, thanks to Cary Elwes' memoir, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.
2025-04-061h 01
Grimm ReadingThe Poor Miller's Boy And His CatAdam's Christmas comes early as we find ourselves in an enchanted cat castle in this week's Grimm story.
When an old miller challenges his apprentices to find the best horse, one befriends a cat who promises to help. But is she more than she seems?
After the story, we find ourselves in early-modern Paris where we meet fairy tale behemoth Madame D'Aulnouy. We hear of her extraordinary life as well as a short version of her related story, The White Cat.
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2024-11-2457 min
Family Business AudiocastEpisode 8: Academic Insights on Family Enterprise Innovation with Professor Matt HughesR. Adam Smith welcomes Professor Matt Hughes, Schultz Distinguished Professor of Family Business and Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Leicester. Drawing from both academic research and practical insights, Matt discusses how family enterprise systems balance tradition with innovation. He explores the crucial role of corporate governance in unlocking entrepreneurial potential, the challenges of next-generation integration, and why emotional attachment can lead family firms to overestimate their financial performance. Matt also addresses philanthropic initiatives as mechanisms for engaging younger generations and cautions against rapid pivots that can trigger what he terms "entrepreneurial entropy."
2023-09-2137 min
Grimm ReadingVasilisa The Beautiful (Halloween Special 2022 ft. Baba Yaga)Welcome to our first ever Halloween special! Join us round the fire as we read the famous Russian fairy tale Vasilisa The Beautiful. We then have a full Baba Yaga takeover where we do a deep dive on the intriguing witch of slavic folklore.
Creepy pork-eating dolls, evil step mothers, colourful horesmen - things get spooky in the castle with this curious story, a mix of Cinderella and Hansel And Gretel with added Baba Yaga, what’s not to love?
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2022-10-301h 19
Grimm Reading81. Frederick And CatherineThings are going well for a newly married couple until a dog steals a sausage. Before you know it the house is a wreck and some thieves have stolen all their gold.
So Frederick and Catherine set out to track down the thieves and mayhem ensues as we enjoy a generous helping of hilarious misunderstandings, before it all ends with a pastor running for his life.
After the story, we try to make sense of this bizarre little story, a close cousin of an old Grimm Reading classic Clever Elsie. And finally we talk about id...
2022-10-1653 min
Grimm Reading80. The Valiant Little TailorWelcome to series 5 of Grimm Reading! We kick things off with The Valiant Little Tailor, story number 20 in the Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
When a little tailor takes down a swarm of flies ruining his jam on toast, he can’t believe his own bravery. His studio is now too small for a man like him, so he embroiders a commemorative girdle and sets off into the world to make his name.
Several vanquished giants, dehorned unicorns, pious boars, redundant soldiers and squeezed cheeses later, the tailor is set to marry a princess. But she has othe...
2022-10-021h 10
Grimm ReadingSeries 4 Wrap-Up (ft. Red Riding Hood Extras)We tie a bow on the latest series as we reveal the winning and losing Grimm stories from the season. Who gave out the most points? How many 9s did we give? What does it take to become the worst ever story? Discover all in 'Story Stats', where we please everyone by bringing out the spreadsheets and crunching some numbers.
After that, we share a piece of 'Bonus Audio' from Little Red Riding Hood - in the main episode we learnt about the development of the story, but what does it mean? Matt shares four theories about...
2022-06-121h 13
Grimm Reading79. Little Red Riding HoodIt’s the series four finale so it’s time for a big bad story - join us round the fire for a rendition of the one, the only, Little Red Riding Hood (aka Little Red Cap)!
A young girl heads out from home to her grandmother’s - but en route she meets a wolf in the deep of the woods. After engaging in some polite small talk, the wolf weaves a dastardly plan to capture girl and granny alike. Will it end in delicious victory for the wolf? Or will Little Red Cap emerge triumphant in the...
2022-05-221h 05
Grimm Reading78. Little Brother And Little Sister
Have you ever been so thirsty you’d risk turning into a tiger? Can you die from an overly hot bath? Is there a dark side of the moon? Discover the answers to all this and more in our latest episode on the Brothers Grimm story Little Brother and Little Sister.
When an evil witchy step-mother turns her step-son into a fawn, he and his sister move into a cottage together. But when the fawn boy is chased down by the king's huntsmen, the king decides to marry his sister and it looks like we're due a happily ever after. But...
2022-05-0854 min
Grimm Reading77. The Fox And The GeeseThis time we read the final story from the first volume of the Grimms' fairy tales: The Fox and the Geese. A tale in which our trusty cunning fox may have taken on more than he bargained for...
After the story things get mega foxy as we hear two other stories - that's right, two! - where things don't turn up entirely roses for Reynard: "The Hare And The Fox" by Ludwig Bechstein, and "Beasts In A Pit" collected by Alexander Afanasyev.
And that's not all!
We also take the time to reintroduce...
2022-04-2452 min
Grimm Reading76. Frau TrudeThis time we read the shocking tale of Frau Trude. A young girl is enamoured with her neighbour Mrs. Trude. But her parents absolutely forbid her to go on a visit. Naturally, the young girl ignores her parents and before long we've got heads literally on fire among other bizarre happenings.
Will the girl escape or has curiosity killed the cat? Join us round the fire as we try to decipher this strange, dark little story. Our musings lead us once again face-to-face with Baba Yaga, before settling in for a brief history of witches and witchcraft...
2022-04-1047 min
Grimm ReadingAn Interview With Dr Jamie Tehrani On The Origins Of Fairy TalesIn this episode, we talk with Dr Jamie Tehrani of Durham University about his research into the origins of fairy tales.
In his 2016 paper, co-authored with Sara Graça da Silva, they took phylogenetic modeling techniques - borrowed from the world of evolutionary biology where they're used to trace genetic lineages - and put them to work tracing the origins of folk tales.
The results seemed to prove that many fairy tale narratives can indeed be traced back several thousand years. But how exactly do these methods work? And can they really prove the existence o...
2022-04-0356 min
Grimm Reading75. The Golden BirdJoin the king's youngest son on an adventure of a lifetime, as he seeks the mystical golden bird that's been pinching his dad's apples. Helped by a patient, omnipotent fox, the prince gets more than he bargained for when he deceives his way into a princess's bathing house.
Will he ever find the golden bird? And will his older brothers' jealously drive them to do the unthinkable? Find out in this week's story: The Golden Bird!
Dastardly deception, desperate decapitation, and omnipotent foxes - this story is a truly a grimm reading epic. After we've...
2022-03-201h 00
Grimm Reading74. The Twelve Huntsmen
Twelve hunters, three lovers, and one sexist lion - join us for the Brothers Grimm story The Twelve Huntsmen!
A prince and princess are happily engaged. But when the prince’s dying father makes him promise to marry another, the princess is cast aside. Unperturbed, the princess gathers together twelve doppelgangers and gets the team employed as her ex's huntsmen. But when a magical sexist lion threatens to reveal her identity, she finds herself facing two impossible challenges.
Will the game be up? And what does the new bride think of all these shenanigans? Find out (or...
2022-03-0654 min
MMA RoastedMatt Hughes, Chas Skelly and Devon Clark | MMA Roasted #710On this episode of The MMA Roasted Podcast, Adam talks to MMA legend Matt Hughes! Adam also takes calls from recently retired Chas Skelly and current MMA fighter Devon Clark. You do NOT want to miss this one! Watch Adam Hunter's special here: https://ufcfightpass.com/video/190358/adam-hunter-throwing-punches Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0iEP3iLaCrBZf95GVITbwn?si=N-Oawu88RuqpkApjGk-6Lg Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mma-roasted/id696336619 Listen on Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/mmaroasted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
2022-02-251h 22
Grimm Reading73. The Six SwansWhen a king is forced to marry a witch’s daughter, his new bride turns her seven step sons into swans. Now it’s up to their only sister to undo the curse. But when her new husband condemns her to death for baby eating, it looks like all might be lost.
In fan favourite The Six Swans, we find magical yarn, star flowers, and a strip tease up a tree (no joke).
It’s the final installment in 'The Maiden Who Rescues Her Brothers' trilogy and after reading the story we discuss its place in the...
2022-02-2053 min
Grimm Reading72. Brother LustigIn Brother Lustig, a discharged soldier is bankrupted by Saint Peter. The two then team up to start a venture bringing the dead back to life. But when Lustig eats an undercooked lamb's heart, St. Peter decides to go his own way. Will this mismatched pair ever make up? And how will St Peter keep Brother Lustig on the straight and narrow?
Find out in this epic buddy road caper, filled with haunted castles, undead princesses, and magical knapsacks.
After the tale, we try to unpick this piece of moral philosophical genius and discover how t...
2022-02-081h 12
Grimm Reading71. The Summer And Winter Garden (Beauty And The Beast)A surprise story this time - the Grimms' version of Beauty And The Beast!
Called ‘The Summer And Winter Garden’, join us on a breathtaking journey of kidnapping, heartache, and love against the odds.
In the deep of winter, a father’s most beautiful daughter asks him to bring back a rose from his work trip. When he takes a rose belonging to a hideous beast, the monster demands the man’s daughter in marriage - to which he agrees. Can the daughter escape this fate? Or will she perhaps see another side to this supposed beast?
A powerf...
2022-01-231h 22
Grimm ReadingChristmas Special 2021It's once more time to the annual Grimm Reading Christmas party! Get cosy round the fire for another dose of festive joy, complete with presents, pies, crackers, alcohol-free mulled wine and more!
We get two stories this year. Firstly, a radical choice with the unseasonal story The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen. Soon followed by the decidedly Dickensian tale The Story of a Cat by Mary De Morgan.
Merry Christmas everyone! For more festive mayhem, join us over on Grimm Fables for another Andersen story. Otherwise, thanks so much for listening and we'll...
2021-12-201h 43
Grimm Reading70. The Little PeasantIn a village full of rich peasants, one little peasant alone remains destitute. But through a series of cunning and devious tricks, this little guy is going to turn the tables on everyone in quite spectacular fashion. Join us for The Little Peasant by the Brothers Grimm, where we meet a fatally gullible Shepard, a soothsaying squeezable raven and - shocker - a nice miller!
After the story we uncover other tales that use similar motifs of trickery, including in works by legendary fairy tale authors Straparola, Basile (of course), and even Hans Christian Andersen.
2021-11-281h 04
Grimm Reading69. The Good BargainIn The Good Bargain, a peasant loses all his money and possessions to some animals. Angered, he goes to the king for justice. But instead of helping him, the king has other ideas.
This 'humorous' tale is the first one we've come across that is anti-Semitic. So, once we've finally deciphered the convoluted story, we then explore antisemitism in the Grimm's collection, putting the Grimm brothers on trial. We also look into how the Nazis co-opted the Grimms to spread propaganda in Nazi Germany.
Finally, we play a clip from a chat Matt had with Ra...
2021-11-141h 15
Grimm Reading68. The Three FeathersIn The Three Feathers, an old king tests his three sons to see who will inherit the kingdom after his death. When the youngest brother emerges triumphant - thanks to an overweight toad - the older brothers demand satisfaction, and plot a jump to the death to settle the succession once and for all.
Join us on the final adventure of The Simpleton Trilogy, where we find magical turnips, a popcorn-munching monarch, and a secret underground world.
After the story we discuss fatalism, pub names, and take a deep-dive into the taboo world of animal-human...
2021-10-3152 min
Grimm Reading67. Our Lady‘s ChildWe’re back for series 4! We open the series with a poor family starving to death and the Virgin Mary abducting their daughter. Years later, the Virgin goes off on a work trip and forbids the girl from opening a certain door. When the inevitable happens, the child is banished from heaven and things get weirder from there.
Join us once more round the fire for “Our Lady’s Child” (aka “Mary’s Child”), where we meet an unlikely assortment of characters including the 12 Apostles, James Bond, Cousin Itt, and Nelly Furtado.
After the tale, we discuss Pan...
2021-10-1758 minGrimm ReadingPatreon Special Ft. The Tortoise And The HareAnother mini-special before the new series. This time we shamelessly plug our Patreon!
We explain how you can support the podcast through our Patreon platform, then we announce some exciting new things we've got coming up for our patrons - including a Q&A episode and the release of The Pied-Piper.
We then play a clip from our patron-only podcast Grimm Fables, before finally giving some patron shout-outs.
Check out our patreon.
Buy our episode The Pied-Piper at payhip.com (available from 26th September 2021)
And do give a listen to...
2021-09-1935 minGrimm ReadingSeries 3 Wrap-Up (plus Snow White and the trojan war deleted scene)Greetings from a grim meadow! Massive constitutional changes are afoot in this special episode as we share our roundup of the winners and losers of series 3 for the first time for non-Patrons.
We then share a piece of deleted audio from our Little Snow White recording - the incredible connection between Snow White and the siege of Troy.
Finally we're pleased to announce our new Grimm Reading Spotify playlists:
Series 1 Grimm Reading Soundtrack
Series 2 Grimm Reading Soundtrack
Series 3 Grimm Reading Soundtrack
And please do check out the excellent Stories From...
2021-09-0543 min
Grimm Reading66. Snow WhiteIt’s the series 3 finale so it’s time for a big one - settle in for an epic adventure as we read Little Snow White!
Filicide, attempted cannibalism, talking mirrors, seven little helpers, a very poisonous apple - it’s the story you know and love but even more unpleasant and violent.
Chatting with her mirror, a queen learns that her step-daughter has grown more beautiful than she is. So she decides to kill her and eat the girl's heart. But Little Snow White escapes and finds shelter in a strange cottage, home to seven unex...
2021-06-131h 13Grimm Reading65. Hans Married
In Hans Married, Hans’s uncle decides to take matters into his own hands and get his nephew a wife. With his cunning, fool-proof method for securing a bride, Hans miraculously gets engaged to a rich peasant’s daughter. How does he do it? And will it all end happily ever after? Find out in the final installment of the Hans Saga, our penultimate episode of Series 3.
It’s a quick, punchy story this week so we also read out lots of listeners messages, and take the opportunity to choose the opening stories of Series 4 and finally launch a new Patron Stor...
2021-05-3054 min
Grimm Reading64. Clever HansHans is back! In his first starring role since the pilot episode, we follow Hans as he attempts to woo Gretel by demanding presents from her. Will Hans get the girl of his dreams? Or will it all end with some livestock losing their eyes? And how is this story related to quantum physics? Find out all this and more, as we slip into a the nightmare groundhog day that is Clever Hans by the Brothers Grimm.
After the story, we try and piece together the shaky Grimm Reading cinematic universe, hear a 15th century version of...
2021-05-2353 min
Grimm ReadingAn Interview With Jack ZipesWelcome to Extra Grimm, where we delve a little deeper into the world of the Brothers Grimm for the curious.
In this episode, we talk to Brothers Grimm expert Jack Zipes. The conversation centers around a particular folk tale type, that of ATU 325 “The Magician And His Apprentice”.
The interview starts with Jack recalling how his journey into this tale type all started with wondering why the Harry Potter series has achieved such phenomenal success. Eventually, he concluded that it’s because it’s really a gigantic version of “The Magician And His Apprentice.” From this bombshe...
2021-05-091h 04
Grimm Reading63. The Fisherman And His WifeWhile out on his daily rounds, a poor fisherman nets an enchanted fish prince. When his wife hears how he let the fish go, she demands he return and ask the fish to give them a cottage. Things then escalate fast, as the fisherman's wife gets a taste for the property market and chases a career in politics.
Will they be content with their lot, or will greed see them fall to their ruin? Find out all this and more in the absolutely massive tale, The Fisherman and His Wife.
After the story we discuss i...
2021-04-251h 05
Grimm Reading62. The Three Sons of FortuneAs a penniless woodcutter’s health fades, he leaves his three sons the only things he has in the world - a cat and scythe and a cock. To find fortune, he instructs them to seek out a country in which these things are unknown. One by one the sons head out into the wide world with their gifts. But, when the final son finds himself on an island plagued by mice and rats, the inhabitants get more than they bargained for.
Will they make their fortune? And can you use a cannon for everything? Find out al...
2021-04-1150 min
Grimm Reading61. Fundevogel (a.k.a. Fledgling)When the family cook plots to kill a foundling boy, his adoptive sister comes to the rescue and the two take flight, shapeshifting their way out of danger. The cook deploys her henchmen to hunt them down but when they fail, she waddles after them herself for a final showdown. Who will emerge victorious? Find out in this week’s tale, Fundevogel (aka Fledgling)!
After the story, we talk similarities to other tales, shapeshifting Jesus news, and then squeeze in an extra Russian fairy tale where at long last we have the pleasure of welcoming Baba Yaga to...
2021-03-2850 min
Grimm Reading60. The GodfatherTalking dead fingers, aggressive domestic appliances, and a devil under a duvet - prepare yourself for the madness that is the Brothers Grimm's "The Godfather".
In this utterly bizarre story we have essentially a mashup of two Grimm stories we've heard before, namely - Godfather Death and The Strange Feast. Is this hybrid version better than the originals or a step too far?
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Hear Matt's recital of The Godfather Theme.
Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye K...
2021-03-1436 min
Grimm Reading59. The Wonderful MusicianFinding himself alone in a forest, a musician decides to play his fiddle and entice a human friend. Before long, several animals approach and ask for music lessons. On gaining their trust, the musician cruelly entraps them and wanders on. Eventually the animals escape and together plot revenge.
Will they have their justice? And where exactly does this musician get off? Find out in this week’s episode, The Wonderful Musician (aka The Strange Musician).
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Theme music: Bicycle Wal...
2021-02-2841 min
Grimm Reading58. Clever GretelIn Clever Gretel, a free-wheeling cook throws a party for herself at her master's expense. After she’s eaten all his chicken and drunk all his wine, Gretel’s master returns home ready for dinner… But our clever heroine plays those above her like a fiddle, and easily gets herself out of trouble.
Join us as we try to dissect the mayhem and enjoy a story from The One Thousand and One Nights (aka The Arabian Nights).
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Theme music...
2021-02-1440 min
Grimm Reading57. The Twelve BrothersWhen the King decides to celebrate the birth of his daughter by sentencing his twelve sons to death, the boys flee to live a feral life in the woods where they vow to kill any maiden they meet.
A decade later, the Princess vows the rescue her brothers and she heads out into the forest. But things take a turn for the worse when she accidentally turns them all into birds and a foreign king carries her off to another land...
Will she ever rescue her brothers? Why does she have a golden star on he...
2021-02-0644 min
Grimm Reading56. Puss In BootsHappy Grimm new year! We’re kicking things off with a surprise story – the one and only Puss in Boots.
When the family cat suddenly demands a pair of boots, a poor young miller spends his last few coins granting the cat's wish. A idiotic whim or the investment of a lifetime? Join us on the classic adventure of Puss in Boots, where we see our furry hero outsmarting, outwitting and outdressing everyone who comes in his path!
We then hear about the many guises of puss in boots from the global oral folk tradition, befor...
2021-01-1755 min
Grimm ReadingChristmas Special 2020Join us for the third annual Grimm Reading Christmas Party! We've got gifts, port, cracker jokes and festive fare for all, before Adam reads us the truly epic Irish fairy tale 'The Christmas Cuckoo'. And finally, we reveal the winner of our competition and some plans for next year.
Thank you so much to everyone for listening, messaging, and supporting us in various ways - especially our wonderful patrons. And thanks to Pook Press for collaborating with us for the 2020 competition.
You can join us for more Christmas fun in the fable stable podcast, otherwise...
2020-12-201h 42
Grimm Reading55. Mother HolleA magic well, a prickly spindle, talking bread, and snowy beds - this week’s tale is our latest patron story poll winner, Mother Holle (Frau Holle)!
An evil step-mother and wicked step-sister force a young maiden into a parallel universe. When she reaches an enchanting cottage, she finds a scary old lady waiting. Will she pass the test of Mother Holle? And what will her nasty family do if she returns?
After this festive tale, we hear from German listeners about what Mother Holle means to them to today, and we trace Holle’s orig...
2020-11-2948 min
Grimm Reading54. Jorinda And Joringel
In Jorinda and Joringel, young love is cruelly interrupted when an evil witch kidnaps Jorinda, forcing Joringel into a lonely shepherding career. But will a prophetic dream provide him with the means to rescue his beloved from the witch's castle, or is Jorinda doomed forever?
Join us as we tumble down rabbit holes, exploring ancient myths, sad birds, and vampires.
Our competition is still in full swing too! Let us know which story you think deserves a different score and you could win some awesome prizes!
Story leaderboard: https://grimmreading.podbean.com/p/2020-competition-story-scores/
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2020-11-2248 min
Grimm Reading53. Fitcher's BirdIn Fitcher's Bird (aka Fowler's Fowl), we join an evil wizard as he kidnaps pretty girls, takes them to his fancy pad, and puts them to the test. But this sick sorcerer get's more than he bargained for with our plucky, clucky, and crafty heroine.
We talk serial killing folklore, egg metaphors, and finally dip our toes into the creepy world of the infamous Bluebeard!
This episode is certified Grimm and may not be suitable for all listeners.
Our competition is still in full swing too! Let us know which story you think d...
2020-10-3149 min
Grimm ReadingThe Extraordinary Lives Of The Brothers Grimm – A Brothers Grimm BiographyA long time in the making, we are delighted to present our super special biography of the Brothers Grimm!
From humble beginnings to super professor stardom, we follow the brothers as they traipse across Germany in a tumultuous time of war and instability. Please don your history hats and settle by the fire as we embark on our biggest adventure yet, somehow starting in ancient Rome and landing squarely in 21st century.
Chapter index:
Once Upon a Time (04:08)
University and the Magic Horn (14:24)
Occupation and Fairy Tales (19:16)
German Liberation (28:43)
Peace and Publishing (36:15)
Gottingen and Exi...
2020-10-181h 13
Grimm Reading52. King ThrushbeardAfter a princess insults her suitors, her angry father forces her marry a singing fiddler and she's plunged into a life of poverty. But will their new crockery start-up save them from hunger and plight? And how many plot holes can a story have before it stops making sense?
Find out in our latest tale King Thrushbeard, where we learn why princesses need to do what they're told, which bird has the most crooked beak, and what exactly Shakespeare and Henry VIII have to do with it all.
Our competition is still in full swing...
2020-10-0446 min
Grimm Reading51. The Frog King, Or Iron Henry (aka The Frog Prince)We’re back for series 3! When a petulant princess loses her golden ball, an overly friendly frog comes to the rescue. But when he tries to hop in her bed the princess has other ideas.
Another classic story brought to you by Grimm Reading, but this is not the tale you think you know! Who is iron Henry? Why isn’t he the frog prince? And where is that famous froggy kiss? Discover the answers to all this and more, in our opening episode The Frog King.
We’ve also launched a competition!
Here’s our sto...
2020-09-2750 min
Grimm Reading50. The Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)
Evil curses, dangerous spinning, long lie-ins, and daring princes – in our series two finale we tackle one of fiction’s most enduring stories: The Sleeping Beauty (or Briar Rose).
A spurned wise woman puts a castle to sleep for a hundred years. Many princes have tried to breach its wall of thorns but none have ever succeeded. Has the time finally come for the right man to lift the curse?
We discuss prudish victorians, fatalism, and creepy frogs, before finally venturing on an epic journey to trace the evolution of Sleeping Beauty from viking Iceland to Wa...
2020-06-1459 min
Grimm Reading49. Thousandfurs
Taboos abound in this week's episode, Thousandfurs, where things take a decidedly dark turn. On her deathbed, a queen makes an ill-judged demand of her husband, and he decides to marry his own daughter. Escaping into the woods, the princess is captured and put to work in a castle kitchen. But she sees the chance of salvation when the king of this castle throws an elaborate festival...
After the story, we look into sparkly dresses and Germanic spinning courtship rituals, before turning our attention to the elephant in the room - incest, and it's place in folklore an...
2020-06-041h 00Grimm ReadingAn Interview With Maria TatarWelcome to Extra Grimm, where we delve deeper into the world of the Brothers Grimm for the curious.
In this episode, we chat to fairy tale expert Maria Tatar about all things Grimm. Maria is a Harvard professor specialising in folklore, myth and germanic literature, and she's the author of several books on fairy tales including her new book "The Fairest of Them All: Snow White and 21 Tales of Mothers and Daughters".
Topics covered include such classics as sexism in fairy tales, how to read these stories to children, the monogenesis vs. polygenesis debate, why t...
2020-05-1737 min
Grimm Reading48. The Three LanguagesIn The Three Languages, a Swiss boy narrowly escapes execution at the hands of his father. With nothing but an expanded linguist repertoire, he sets out to make his way in the world. Will he survive an angry pack of spectral dogs? And will he heed the call of a frog’s prophecy?
After the story, things get intellectually rigorous as Adam is presented with three theories as to what’s going on: an historical interpretation of the tale, a Romantic interpretation, and a psychological one.
Finally we pick the next stories we’ll be readin...
2020-05-0350 min
Grimm Reading47. The Gold ChildrenA magical fish, a boy dressed as a bear, and a nosy father in law all make an appearance in this week’s episode: The Gold Children.
After the story, discover how this largely unknown tale is connected to a tale from the Neapolitan Pentamarone, as well as to a German marketing agency and a heavy metal band.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other Music: Schubert's Violin Sonata in A major Op. 162 performed by...
2020-04-1935 min
Grimm Reading46. The Water NixieWhen two clumsy children fall down a well, a Water Nixie forces them to do unpleasant chores for her. Will they ever get out? And how will a hairbrush and slippery mirror come to their aid? Find out in the shortest story we’ve ever read: The Water Nixie.
After the tale, we present a mental-somersault of a theory on what the story could mean, before being taken on a journey by Jacob Grimm into the history of Nix and Nixies.
We then read out correspondence on sexism in fairy tales and our story Sweetheart Ro...
2020-04-0527 min
Grimm Reading45. The Dog And The SparrowIn The Dog And The Sparrow, a callous waggoner gets his comeuppance after he destroys a blossoming friendship between a dog and a sparrow.
Learn why you should never mess with sparrows, how bad deeds don't go unpunished, and where Alfred Hitchcock got inspiration for his masterpiece 'The Birds'.
We also hear what Shakespeare, the bible, and Chaucer have to say about these common little birds, and finish with the incredible Japanese story 'The Tongue-Cut Sparrow'.
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Th...
2020-03-2240 minGrimm Reading44. The Thief And His MasterIn The Thief and His Master, an unholy priest prank leads one boy on an unforgettable journey where he learns the dual arts of thievery and shapeshifting. However, things turn south when his master doesn't receive his desired pay.
After the Story, we discuss thievery in fairy tales and explore two related stories: the original Venetian version by Straparola and the myth of the Welsh witch Ceridwen.
Finally we choose the next three stories and reveal the winning tale from our Patreon poll!
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2020-03-0840 min
Grimm Reading43. The Wedding Of Mrs FoxIn Jacob Grimm's official favourite story, a jealous fox puts his wife to the test by playing dead. But will any of her new suitors hold a candle to her late husband's attributes? As their family cat servant tries to control the ensuing mayhem, we get an impromptu crash course in butter beer and bread milk making.
Find out how this strange story taps into a world of suppression in occupied Napoleonic Germany, why it doesn't pay to indulge your jealousy, and what someone called Wooden Johannes has to do with it all.
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2020-02-2337 min
Grimm Reading42. Gambling HanselIn Gambling Hansel, an anti-hero with a chronic gambling addiction has dangerous run ins with Luficier, God, St. Peter, and our old friend Death.
In what we’re calling 'Hansel and Gretel Part II', Hansel threatens to destabilize heaven itself with the aid of loaded dice, a troupe of demons, and a magical tree. Will he win his battle against celestial deities? Or will his dark-side prove his downfall.
After the story, we interrogate the surprising conclusions of a linguistic paper on emotional text analysis, before checking back in with Death and hearing the world’s ol...
2020-02-0932 min
Grimm Reading41. The Death Of The Little Hen (The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet Part 3: How Partlet died and was buried, and how Chanitcleer died of grief)
In our final adventure of the cock and hen trilogy, things go south fast for the incurable rascals and Chanticleer is soon faced with a life without Partlet. Can he ever move on? And will the beasts of the forest ever make it to the funeral?
Meet some old friends, find out the true meaning behind the trilogy, and discover what two murderous chickens have to do with The 12 days of Christmas, in this week's episode: The Death of the Little Hen.
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2020-01-2637 min
Grimm Reading40. The Devil With The Three Golden HairsDespite the machinations of an evil king, a prophecy sees a cocky luck child marry the princess. But his happily ever after is cut short when he is forced to embark on an epic quest that will take him to the very depths of hell, and into the dress of the devil’s grandma…
In our first ever Patron chosen story, we embark on one of our biggest adventures yet, where we meet confused city guards, soft-hearted robbers and even some good millers.
We then try to pick apart this extremely dense tale and find ours...
2020-01-1254 min
Grimm ReadingChristmas Special 2019Join us for the second annual Grimm Reading Christmas Party! We get into the festive spirit once more with port, mince pies and crackers! We also exchange gifts, enjoy an epic Christmas story, and have a bit of a round up of the year's scores.
Thank you once again to everyone who has messaged us, supported us on Patreon and social media, and listened to the podcast throughout the year - it's been a really fun one and we're both excited for the year to come!
Keep it Grimm.
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2019-12-221h 03
Grimm Reading39. The Seven RavensIn this week’s episode, a young girl embarks on a psychedelic quest to rescue her brothers. after their father accidentally turns them into ravens.
Glass mountains, dwarf butlers and helpful stars all make an appearance in the strange, gothic tale The Seven Ravens.
We discuss the significance of the motifs, learn about ravens in folklore, and contemplate a popular socio-historical approach to the meaning of the story.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
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2019-12-1537 min
Grimm Reading38. Sweetheart Roland
After escaping her murderous witchy step-mother, a girl and her sweetheart take flight on a magical journey of heartbreak and betrayal.
In this week’s epic, lovelorn story, meet a lonely Shepard, a house-keeping flower, talking drops of blood, a complicated couple, and some pushy village girls.
After the tale, we discuss the thorny issue of sexism in fairy tales, consider the peculiar Hansel and Gretel connection, and recount the incredible french story Hop o’ My Thumb.
This episode is Certified Grimm and may not be suitable for all listeners.
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2019-12-0142 min
Grimm Reading37. Mr Korbes (The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet Part 2: How Chanticleer and Partlet Went to Visit Mr. Korbes)
The cock and hen continue their mischievous adventure, this time with some new friends and a souped-up carriage. In part two of The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet, the motley crew pay a visit to the unfortunate Mr. Korbes where things escalate quickly.
After the story, we look into the history of Chanticleer and his dealings with Reynard the Fox, Geoffrey Chaucer, US mountain ranges, the French national rugby team, and of course Shakespeare.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko...
2019-11-1738 min
Grimm Reading36. The Elves (and the Shoemaker)A poor cobbler, an illiterate sweeper and a distraught mother all have run ins with some cheeky elves – it’s finally time for the festive tale 'The Elves and the Shoemaker'!
After the story, we discuss the history of elves from the Anglo-Saxons to Queen Elizabeth, Iceland and Victorian Christmas, as well as belief in changelings and the surprisingly early theory of relativity.
Finally, we choose the next batch of stories we’ll be reading and reveal the results of our first Patreon listener story poll!
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2019-11-0347 min
Grimm Reading35. The Three SpinnersA passing queen hears a daughter being beaten, she intervenes and whisks her off to the royal palace. Setting her a spinning challenge, the girl loses all hope before three mysterious women come to her aid...
In the three spinners, a lazy girl has the chance to escape poverty, will she find her way out of a life of spinning?
After the story, we discuss the importance of spinning through history and the surprising incarnations of the three spinners through time.
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2019-10-2037 min
Grimm Reading34. The Pack of Ragamuffins (The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet Part 1: How They Went to the Mountain to Eat Nuts)After a vicious duck attack, a cock and a hen find shelter at an inn. But the host is unsure about this unscrupulous bunch, and after first refusing them entry, he eventually lets them in. Will they prove his prejudices wrong?
Find out why you should always judge a book by its cover, and why you should never put an egg shell near a fire, in this week’s story: The Pack of Ragamuffins.
The sound quality isn't great during the story but rest assured, it gets better after the first few minutes. It won't ha...
2019-10-0638 min
Grimm Reading33. The Golden GooseWith the help of a sticky golden goose, Dummling, the youngest of three brothers, inadvertently woos an overly serious princess and proves he’s not so dumb after all.
This week, discover how kindness always pays, why you should never cross small magical grey men, and what Venetian skater shoes have to do with German folklore.
We’re back from our summer break with a new series and a Patreon to go with it! Find out more info on how you can support the podcast and what goodies you can claim here: https://www.patreon.com/g...
2019-09-2930 min
Grimm Reading32. RapunzelFor our first series finale we finish off with Rapunzel, the famous story of a well coiffured heroine trapped in a tower.
We find many surprises in what may be thought of as the most childish of the Grimm’s tales, including silk ladders, salad addiction, barren deserts, and a villain with more depth than first meets the eye.
After the story we discuss the more adult themes of the tale, why witches get such a bad rep, a Lithuanian long hair festival, and how it can all be traced back to 17th century Naples....
2019-05-2847 min
Grimm Reading31. The Hare's BrideIn The Hare’s Bride, a young maiden minding her cabbages gets whisked off to an unexpected wedding under a rainbow.
In desperately trying to unpick the meaning of the story, we discuss ‘animal bridegrooms’ in folklore, beauty and the beast, and blade runner.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other music: Johannes Brahms's 16 Waltzes, Op. 39, #2 - Performed by Martha Goldstein// Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata no. 15 in d major, op. 28 'pastorale' - iv. rondo. allegro, ma non troppo - Perform...
2019-05-1218 min
Grimm Reading30. The Juniper TreeDecapitation, magical singing birds, and human black puddings – it can only be the long-awaited story 'The Juniper Tree'.
After we read the story, we discover what Björk, the bible, and a painter named Philipp have to do with it all.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other music: Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring" by Corey Cerovsek, (violin) & Paavali Jumppanen (piano) // Chopin's Opus 10, No. 7, Twelve Grand Etudes C Major performed by Martha Goldstein
2019-04-2847 min
Grimm Reading29. The RiddleIn ‘The Riddle’, a princess pits her wits against a wandering king’s son. But who will win? And where does a gang of murders, a witch, a hungry raven, golden syrup and Batman fit into all this?
After the story, we go on a riddling journey through time from the Queen of Sheba to Turandot.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other music: Johannes Brahms's 16 Waltzes, Op. 39, #4 Performed by Martha Goldstein // Ludwig Van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major...
2019-04-1439 min
Grimm Reading28. The Fox And The Cat (The Fox Quadrilogy Part. IV)After three stories of carnage and mayhem, has the fox finally met his match?
In the final episode of The Fox Quadrilogy the fox boasts to a friendly cat of his skills, but perhaps the cat knows something the fox doesn't.
An Greek proverb unlocks the key message behind the entire Quadrilogy, sending us on a journey from medieval France to ancient India.
And we pick the next four stories we'll be reading and we read out some listener messages.
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2019-03-3127 min
Grimm Reading27. Thumbling As JourneymanIn this episode our old friend Thumbling is back with more wacky adventures! In Thumbling as Journeyman (AKA Thumbling’s Travels) our hero joins a gang of thieves on a heist job before trying his luck as a barman.
After the story, we deep-dive into the fascinating world of different thumbling stories, exploring the mysterious roots of this tale type from Tom Thumb in the UK to The Inch-High Samurai in Japan.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
...
2019-03-1845 min
Grimm Reading26. The Wishing-Table, The Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the SackTricked by a lying goat, a tailor kicks out his three sons. After acquiring magical gifts, they head back home to their father, but a dastardly inn-keeper has other plans…
In "The Wishing-table, The Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack" we meet a table with no appearance, a gold-depositing donkey, and a time-keeping cudgel.
The story then leads us to investigate a potentially out of business London ice cream parlour and the grisly French fairy tale ‘Donkey Skin’.
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Theme music: Bicycl...
2019-03-0348 min
Grimm ReadingThe Strange Feast + The History Of The Erased Stories + Competition ResultsWelcome to a special episode where we reveal the winner of our book competition and read out some of our listener’s messages and votes.
Afterwards, we treat ourselves to one of the “hands down freakiest” of the Brothers Grimm tales: The Strange Feast.
This leads us on nicely to exploring why the brothers erased many of their stories and uncovering the history behind the deleted tales.
And finally, we give our review of the 2005 Brothers Grimm movie!
Thank you so much to everyone who got involved in the competition. If we did...
2019-02-2439 min
Grimm Reading25. The Straw, The Coal And The BeanThree unlikely kitchen survivors set off on an adventure. But will they overcome their first challenge, a very small stream?
In 'The Straw, The Coal And The Bean' we learn why you shouldn’t mock the misfortune of others and uncover the truth behind that biggest of mysteries - how beans got a black seam.
The competition is now closed! Thanks to everyone who entered and sent us such lovely messages, the winner will be announced in the next episode!
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2019-02-1725 min
Grimm Reading24. The Wolf and the Man + The Wolf and the Fox (The Fox Quadrilogy Part. I & II)It’s a double whammy of foxy fun as we read parts two and three of The Fox Quadrilogy: The Wolf And The Man & The Wolf And The Fox.
Afterwards, we delve into the spicy world of the Kitsune: the shapeshifting nine-tailed fox of Japanese folklore.
Join us by the fire as we try to answer The Riddle of the Sphinx, finally discover what a cudgel is, and Adam chooses the next four stories we’ll be exploring on Grimm Reading.
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2019-02-0337 min
Grimm Reading23. The Queen BeeOn an adventure with his brothers, an insignificant dwarf rescues some animals before stumbling upon a mysterious castle. In return, they help him unlock the bedroom door of identical triplet princesses. But will he pass the three deadly challenges and deliver the castle from enchantment?
In ‘The Queen Bee’ we meet a rampaging unicorn, hear how a Greek man became a lion’s pet, and we learn why kindness always triumphs.
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other music: Brahms's 16 Waltze...
2019-01-2038 min
Grimm Reading22. Hansel And GretelWitches and breadcrumbs, giant ducks and gingerbread houses. This week we explore one of the most famous fairy tales of all time: Hansel and Gretel.
After our surprise Christmas episode, we thought why stop the fun there? We're kicking off 2019 with a bona fide classic!
We discover how this story was used in a U.S supreme court ruling, learn how it all started with a terrible famine, and we dissect various highfalutin analyses of this uber famous story.
Happy new year everyone!
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2019-01-0155 min
Grimm ReadingChristmas Special 2018
Join us at Castle Grimm for our first ever Grimm Reading Christmas party! In this special festive episode we indulge in some yuletide treats including port, mince pies, and maybe even the odd Christmas fairy tale...
Thank you so much to everyone who's been listening to us, sending messages and writing kind reviews. We hope you enjoy this special episode!
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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko
Other music: Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy performed by Kevin Macleod // H...
2018-12-251h 06
Grimm Reading21. The Singing BoneA tale of familial betrayal, divine justice and rampaging boars. Thanks to a magical horn, a body has been discovered under the bridge (downtown), but what is the story behind this tragedy? And how will the truth ever come to light?
’The Singing Bone’ sees a forensic team, led by a maverick King, uncover the truth behind a brutal murder.
In this episode, the haunting, powerful story of justice and peace leads us on a journey across Europe and on to America where stories and ballads of singing body parts have become a staple of the...
2018-12-0931 min
Grimm Reading20. The Three Snake-Leaves
Viking vampires, Cretan honey murderers and dyscalculic snakes - yes, Grimm Reading is back!
War, death and infidelity feature in a rollercoaster of an adventure this week, as a young hero fights for his life (and his wife) with the help of magical foliage in ‘The Three Snake-Leaves.’
We go deep into the history of this story type and have a few addendums to confess to as well. This leads us nicely onto discussing a debate raging at the heart of the study of folklore - are fairy tales the true voice of the people or ju...
2018-11-2844 min
Grimm Reading19. The PinkA magical gift destroys a family, but perhaps out of the ashes something beautiful will bloom.
In this week's episode we read 'The Pink': a tale of deception, love, justice, health and safety breaches and fire-breathing poodles.
There's also an extra special treat in the form of 'The Myrtle', a related story by the titanic Neapolitan fairy tale writer Giambattista Basile. Seduction, murder and high drama - it's quite the roller coaster.
And finally, we pick the next four stories we'll be giving the Grimm Reading treatment.
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2018-10-1441 min
Grimm Reading18. The Fox And His Cousin (The Fox Quadrilogy Part.III)
A kindly wolf invites cousin fox to be her child’s godfather to teach it some valuable foxy skills. But the dastardly fox has other intentions and leads the wolf through the worst day of her life…
In part 3 of The Fox Quadrilogy - the epic story of the rise and fall of the Reynard the fox- discover how peasants wash and why you should never get a barn and stable confused.
We reflect on some shocking fox behaviour and trace the idea of the trickster fox from Aesop through to medieval France and Geoffrey Chaucer...
2018-09-3016 min
Grimm Reading17. The White SnakeSneakily gorging on some delectable white snake gives one servant extraordinary powers and sets him on the journey of a lifetime.
With the help of new faunistic friends, the servant tackles a series of perilous challenges to win the heart of a fair princess.
We hunt down other stories featuring white snakes in Europe to try to discover what it all means and why everyone is chowing down on yummy albino serpents.
Over in Botswana, Matt outlines his outlandish pagan snake theory and in China we learn why you should never go into...
2018-09-1633 min
Grimm Reading16. The Robber BridegroomShakespeare, Dickens, cannabalistic serial killers and talking birds all make an appearance in this week's twisted episode 'The Robber Bridegroom' as voted for by our wonderful listeners!
Yet another miller has promised his daughter away to a mysterious, handsome suitor. But our bride is filled with horror at the thought of him and only after much cajoling does she reluctantly agrees to visit his house in the deep dark woods.
Standing on the threshold of the forest, a trail of ash leads the way to the lonely house and our heroine begins a terrifying escapade...
2018-09-0341 min
Grimm ReadingThe Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index of Folktales + Listener Poll ResultsA triple whammy of Grimm fun this week as we reveal the results of our listener poll, dip our toes in the academic world of folklore and perhaps even read a couple of stories...
You've been voting and we've been counting; It's been a head to head between Elves & the Shoemaker, Rapunzel and The Robber Bridegroom - but which will emege victorious?
After revealing the results, we then dive into the Aarne Thompson Uther Classification of Folktales, exploring how folktales are categorised and the hidden history of folklore from across the world.
And...
2018-08-2839 min
Grimm Reading15. The Knapsack, The Hat And The HornThree poor brothers hit the forest to seek their fortune, but can earthly riches mend a broken heart?
A magical wishing cloth gives one brother the power to offer a selection of meats which help him rob his way to power and world domination. But his ascension is threatened when a beautiful, brave and judgemental Princess discovers his secret.
We go on an adventure filled with magic, war, love, loss and dirty charcoal burners.
We also recount a bizarre Danish version of the tale and finally we choose the next three stories we’ll be exploring on Grimm Reading.
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2018-08-2040 min
Grimm Reading14. Godfather DeathAn unusual choice for Godfather changes the fate of one man's life forever, or does it? Things get fatalistic, subversive and skeletal in this week's episode: 'Godfather Death'.
We explore the meaning of the story, alternative versions, folk medicine recipies and briefly examine the history of the personification of death in western culture.
And of course we finally meet Death himself, the latest and most withered character in the franchise. And just maybe, we have our first big scoring divergence...
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2018-08-1229 min
Grimm Reading13. The Story Of The Youth Who Went Forth To Learn What Fear Was“If I could but shudder!”
With nothing more than his good looks and a fifty dollar donation, a banished youth goes on an adventure to learn the art of fear in ‘The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth To Learn What Fear Was'.
Facing demonic cats, maniacal old men and an evening of bowling with skeletons, can our hero survive three nights in a haunted castle and win the princess?
We explore what it means to feel fear and uncover a bad case of ichthyophobia, in undoubtedly the most gruesome and also most f...
2018-08-0547 min
Grimm Reading12. RumpelstiltskinThis week on Grimm Reading we read, review and explore one of the best known Brothers Grimm stories: Rumpelstiltskin.
Yet another miller has accidentally promised his daughter away. This time to a greedy king who mistakenly believes she can spin straw into gold. Can our maiden find a way to achieve the impossible? And will... Ah, you know the story.
We explore the origins of the famous little man, assess popular interpretations, make a few of our own and take a look at other versions of the tale from across the world. Well, Britain mostly.
And finally, we choose the next...
2018-07-2240 min
Grimm Reading11. Clever ElsieEat, sleep or work?
A simple deliberation leaves Elsie in the throes of a physco-philosophical breakdown on this week's episode 'Clever Elsie'.
Hans needs a wife and goes a-wooing, but there's one condition - she's got to be clever. Will Elsie be enough? And just what exactly is a fowler's net?
On Grimm Reading this week, we learn all this and more as we explore one of the least known tales and discover our new favourite American golfer.
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2018-07-1526 min
Grimm Reading10. Cat and Mouse in PartnershipIn 'Cat and Mouse in Partnership', sheer force of love sees a cat and mouse overcome their natural differences and set up house together.
But winter is coming, and the mouse is growing suspicious at the unreasonable amount of christening invitations the cat's receiving...
In this story, learn why all people are innately greedy, selfish and just nasty. Or perhaps maybe it's just a few cats.
We also explore other tales of the (spoiler) 'partner steals keg of butter' narrative type from Norway, Scotland and America. The latter of which explains, most importantly of...
2018-07-0124 min
Grimm Reading9. The Louse And The Flea
In this week’s tale 'The Louse and the Flea’ we’ve unexpectedly unearthed the most intense story on Grimm Reading so far.
BFFs little Louse and little Flea are happily living together making artisanal craft ale in egg shells when tragedy strikes. Things escalate quickly as the neighbours hear of their terrible misfortune.
Buckle up and prepare for a wild ride as we learn the principles of chaos theory, the importance of empathy and why you ought to rein it in when in mourning.
We briefly introduce the all important Aarne-Thompson-Uther fairytale classif...
2018-06-2423 min
Grimm Reading8. The Bremen Town MusiciansThis week on Grimm Reading we meet Germany's finest animal supergroup: 'The Bremen Town Musicians'.
Fearing for his life, a lute playing donkey escapes his owner and hits the road to Bremen. On route he forms a band with a hound, a cat and a cock, and plans for a string of tour dates begin to form.
Getting closer to Bremen they spy a cottage and head over to investigate. But little do our musicians know, it's occupied by a gang of nasty robbers...
This cult favourite Grimm tale has inspired artists and...
2018-06-1726 min
Grimm Reading7. The Wolf And The Seven Little KidsThis week on Grimm Reading we meet our first Big Bad Wolf in 'The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids'.
A mother goat inexplicably leaves her seven kids all alone at home. Can her peculiarly specific survival advice keep the wolf from the door, literally?
Find out what bakers get up to with left over dough, an unexpected use for chalk and learn why miller's are so cowardly.
We also discuss the similarities with this story and it's cousin across the channel, The Three Little Pigs, and in a final twist we consider w...
2018-06-1029 min
Grimm Reading6. How Six Men Got On In The WorldIn this week's tale the Brother's Grimm meets Marvel in the epic caper 'How Six Men Got On In The World'.
Despite his superb behaviour, upon returning from war, a budding Art Historian gets mistreated by the realm. On his way to find the king and justice he meets an unlikely band of rogues, each with a unique special ability...
Discover the ultimate origin story in an early imagining of the Marvel cinematic Universe and the very first iteration of Avengers Assemble, complete with an epic final battle!
Things also take a distinctly mar...
2018-06-0324 minGrimm Reading5. The Girl Without HandsThings get pious in this episode of Grimm Reading. The devil makes his debut and a father gives the ultimate lesson in bad parenting.
In the Girl Without Hands a god-fearing heroine finds herself married to royalty, but a pesky war calls away her husband and the devil seizes his chance to make mischief. Can the power of prayer and extreme fasting prevail in the face of evil?
This episode is 'Certified Grimm' for extreme cruelty and excessive violence and may not be suitable for children or the faint of heart.
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2018-05-2737 min
Grimm Reading4. The Three Little Men in the WoodElves, Princesses, Kings, evil stepmothers, magic, defenestration and strawberries – we are finally in full-on fairytale territory!
The daughter of a man with serious boot problems gets on the wrong side of her stepmother and finds herself picking strawberries in winter in a paper frock. But deep in the woods three peculiar little gentlemen come to her aid with three generous gifts...
Find out why it pays to be beautiful and also the best way to rinse yarn as things get fantastical and trippy in this week's Grimm Reading: the Three Little Men in the Wood....
2018-05-2034 min
Grimm Reading3. Thumbling (not Tom Thumb)This week we follow the adventures of adrenaline junkie Thumbling as he meets some disreputable types, briefly falls into a life of crime, and has some unfortunate dealings with hungry animals.
Hang about, is this not the Tom Thumb we know and love? We explain the difference between Tom Thumb and Thumbling and other little man European legends, and even recount the story of Tom Thumb himself.
And finally we pick the next three stories we'll be exploring.
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Theme music: Bicycle...
2018-05-1700 min
Grimm ReadingHistory, Evolution and Translations of the Brothers Grimm Fairy TalesA special episode this week, as we explore the history and evolution of the works of the Brothers Grimm, as well as delving into the confusing world of the various English translations of this frightfully delightful collection of fairy tales.
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2018-05-0620 min
Grimm Reading2. The Mouse, the Bird and the SausageDomestic bliss has been established in a certain household where everyone has just the right job. What could possibly go wrong?
Things get moralistic in this episode of Grimm Reading as we dive into the fable of The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage. Some good old fashioned values and questionable gender politics inform the story line and we definitively learn to not let sausages go into the woods alone.
We also unveil the 'Certified Grimm' rating system, whereby in future episodes we'll be able to warn listeners of any potentially offensive or unsuitable material.
...
2018-04-2915 min
Grimm Reading1. Hans in Luck & Old Sultan (Pilot)Welcome to the first ever episode of Grimm Reading! We kick off proceedings with two Brothers Grimm tales: Hans in Luck and Old Sultan.
When is a pig a trifle? And just exactly what is a clock? We learn this and so much more as we join the imperturbable Hans on his journey home to his mother.
In our second story we join Sultan, the shepherd's toothless old dog, as he does his level best to avoid being permanently retired with the help of a wily cat.
This is the start of a...
2018-04-2237 min