Traditional fairy tales aren’t exactly suitable for kids. Women vomit spiders. Children get eaten. There’s even murder! Every Wednesday, we take you through the twists and turns of the dark origins of your favorite pieces of folklore. To listen to the full Tales catalog for free, be sure to subscribe on Spotify! Tales is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
Latest episodes
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41 min
Season of the Witch: The Magic Wand
Young Katie can't wait to be an adult. So when a witch with a magic wand helps her dreams come true, Katie never wants to go back home... until she learns the witch's cannibalistic…
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42 min
Buttercup
This Norwegian folktale follows a young boy caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with a witch. And while his situation vaguely resembles other “home alone” tales, this one has…
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38 min
The Woman Who Loved a Serpent
This Passamaquoddy tale follows a boy who tries to find a home with his mother's tribe — but instead, discovers an evil disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi…
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46 min
The Augean Stables
This Greek saga follows Hercules on one of his infamous Labors. Instead of battling a violent, mythical beast, however, he faced a challenge that tested his cleverness… and his sto…
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38 min
Death of the Seven Dwarfs
This Swiss fairy tale takes a look at the dark things that can happen at a remote forest cottage... and reminds us that not all good Samaritans are rewarded for their deeds. Learn…
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42 min
Red Buffalo Woman
This traditional West African folk tale chronicles the life of Oya, a shape-shifting deity who must make a difficult choice between family and her secret life as a wild animal. Lea…
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46 min
One Good Turn Deserves Another Pt. 2
In the dramatic conclusion of Prince Milorad's tale, our hero fights back against his traitorous servant by drawing on his own unique strengths. Learn more about your ad choices. V…
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45 min
One Good Turn Deserves Another Pt. 1
In this Serbian folk tale, a sensitive prince helps a prisoner in need, but ends up banished from his father's kingdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a…
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46 min
The Boy Who Became a Goblin
He didn’t think goblins were real until he was kidnapped by them. This Swedish fairy tale follows a young troublemaker who discovers the goblins have a more sinister plan for him t…
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50 min
Scheherazade & Her Stories Pt. 2
As Scheherazade's wild tales come to end, we learn what becomes of her once she finally runs out of stories to tell her murderous husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p…
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49 min
Scheherazade & Her Stories Pt. 1
The frame story of The Arabian Nights, the tale of Scheherazade tells us how a woman saved a kingdom with only her wits... and 1001 days of patience. Learn more about your ad choic…
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47 min
The Blue Light
In this Brothers Grimm classic, a war veteran discovers a magical light that grants wishes, and learns that you should be careful what you wish for. Learn more about your ad choice…
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47 min
The Vampire Cat of Nabéshima
In this Japanese folktale, a shapeshifting demon in the form of a cat terrorizes a prince — until a devoted soldier steps forward to protect him. Learn more about your ad choices.…
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50 min
Solstice Special: Neptune and Delphinus
In this early Greek tale, we learn the genesis of the constellation Delphinus. A tricky dolphin helps Neptune, the God of the Sea, track down the love of his life. As a sign of tha…
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50 min
Solstice Special: Ursa Major
A violent encounter with the god Jupiter and his wife Juno leads to her first transformation, and sets her on a collision path with a very special hunter. For more celestial storie…
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14 min
Introducing: International Infamy
Ashley Flowers explores 15 of the world’s worst crimes in the new Spotify Original from Parcast, International Infamy. The first episode takes you to Mexico and the true story of J…
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45 min
The Boy with the Golden Stars
This Romanian fairy tale follows a wicked stepmother who tries to get rid of two magical princes. But buried secrets always have a way of coming to light. Learn more about your ad…
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59 sec
Welcome Trailer!
The Frog Prince. Sleeping Beauty. Beauty and the Beast.You think you know these stories, but do you really? Every Wednesday, Tales presents the original versions of fairy tales, no…