PODCAST: A deep dive into Scottish folklore

This week's Earth to Humans podcast episode has to be one of my favourites ever as I got the opportunity to discuss one of the most interesting topics ever (IMO) - folklore.

Nov 01, 2023

Hannah Mulvany

Wildlife Biologist/Communications Specialist, Song & Dance Communications

PODCAST: A deep dive into Scottish folklore

Liked by Thirza Loffeld

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As I've travelled the world, I've always been fascinated as to how these ancient stories and traditions can be found everywhere, how they connect people to the landscape they live in and how beliefs in the supernatural can still affect behaviour today.

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One of my favourite characters that was discussed in this week's episode was the baobhan sith, who we made a special request for this week’s artwork by Jasmine Hortop to be centred on. Baobhan sith are said to be extremely attractive women who hate all creatures apart from deer, therefore they hate deer hunters the most. As the story goes, they’ll enchant deer hunters with their beauty before…we ruin the episode for you so you’ll have to listen and find out! Already planning my Halloween costume for next year!

We discuss the origins of Halloween, many hundred year old traditions, how folklore is impacting environmental decisions being made today, and LOTS of spooky stories.
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Hannah Mulvany

Wildlife Biologist/Communications Specialist, Song & Dance Communications

I started my conservation career as a researcher/author for the Arkive online natural world encyclopedia, before managing the Wildscreen Exchange project which gives 350+ organisations across the world access to free photographs and videos for their communications. From working on this project, I developed a keen interest in conservation communications and began researching impact and technique.

I also ran the public section of the Wildscreen Festival, Witness the Wild, which is an event programme that includes a travelling bicycle-powered wildlife film cinema, the world's largest recycled and recyclable photography exhibition, and a nature-themed street art gallery. Since then, I have been running my own conservation communications business, Song and Dance Communications, but split my time 50/50 between this and field work, which mostly centres around ecosystem restoration and short-term contracts in the ecotourism industry. I also produce a seldom updated blog, which I hope to spend more time on at some point in the not-too-distant future!