Best Rob Kirkup Podcasts (2025)

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Local Legends #46: Rob Kirkup 1:11:50

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14d ago1:11:50

1:11:50

For our second Local Legends interview of Haunting Season 2025, Eleanor chats to author, paranormal historian, ghost-hunter and the host of the outstanding How Haunted? podcast, Rob Kirkup! Rob’s from the north east of England, and has been leading paranormal investigations for over twenty years, which has involved him spending many nights in total…

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Local Legends #48: Tony Walker 1:27:31

10h ago1:27:31

1:27:31

For our final Local Legends interview of Haunting Season 2025, Eleanor speaks with Tony Walker, author and host of the Classic Ghost Stories podcast. We are huge fans of Tony's work, from his narrations of well-known ghost stories and lesser read hidden gems to his own original fiction. Though as we discuss during this conversation, Tony's interest…

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Halloween 2025 - Monster Month: The Mothman and the Other Cryptids of West Virginia 1:37:45

1d ago1:37:45

1:37:45

Halloween is here... Over the past few weeks, we’ve scoured the misty shores of Loch Ness, tracked elusive footprints through Pacific Northwest forests, and followed blood-curdling tales from the deserts of the Americas. From Nessie to Bigfoot to the Chupacabra, we’ve crossed continents chasing the creatures that stalk our imaginations. But tonight…

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The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde 1:14:32

1d ago1:14:32

1:14:32

To wish everyone a very happy Halloween, we warmly present a reading of Oscar Wilde's classic ghost story, The Canterville Ghost. After a month of celebrating more sincere ghost stories and quite dense, spooky topics, we thought it might be time for a little levity - and this story is an important one: written in 1887, it called time on the Victori…

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HUN #61 - Sawney Bean: The Butcher of Ballantrae 19:42

1d ago19:42

19:42

In honour of Halloween, we bring you a horror-fuelled tale steeped in crime, legend, and gore - one that’ll have you up to your neck in blood-curdling chills. Set sail with us in spooktacular style to the rugged coast of southwest Scotland, where Victoria awaits to unravel the grisly legend of the infamous cannibalistic killer… Sawney Bean. Beware …

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61. Games With Ghosts 1:23:40

3d ago1:23:40

1:23:40

It's Halloween again, and you know what that means! Yes, it means nobody on the podcast aside from Alex will nominate anything even remotely spooky on our spooky special episode. Other things happen: Steve bails on yet another pod but almost makes up for it with a delicious pun in his phoned-in entry Simon hears a ghost (that didn't come out in the…

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Magus #5: Aleister Crowley 1:21:26

2d ago1:21:26

1:21:26

On this month's Haunting Season-themed episode of Magus we're digging into the gory life story of "The Beast" himself, Aleister Crowley! One of the most infamous occult figures of the 20th century, we explore how Crowley's singular life unfolded - his religious childhood, early penchant for sadism, his academic failures, and his interests in the ar…

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Bonus Episode 24 - York Guildhall (Lost Audio Special) 3:28:34

5d ago3:28:34

3:28:34

Originally released for Patreons in August 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 24th Patreon bonus podcast you join me at a magnificent building we visited back in episode 21 of the podcast, but we're doing something a little bit special. In April I found a hard drive containing audio from four investigations that I conducted in …

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Haunting Season 2025 #4: Wraiths of Helmand 2:15:22

5d ago2:15:22

2:15:22

It's already the final week of Haunting Season 2025, so we proudly present our last 'Trilogy of Terror' for this year! The episode features our two last winning short stories in this year's Ghost Story Writing Competition, along with another diverse selection of things which terrify our listeners. 'Up At The Cross Roads By Tants Farm' by Holly Barr…

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Local Legends #47: Dr Marion Gibson 57:49

7d ago57:49

57:49

For our third Local Legends interview of Haunting Season 2025, Martin chats about spooky stuff with the author of Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials, Dr Marion Gibson. Marion is currently Professor of Renaissance and Magical Literatures at the University of Exeter, and if you are unfamiliar with her work then she is the author of books including Th…

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Ep 120 - The Yeti, Bigfoot and Other Hairy Monsters 1:29:02

9d ago1:29:02

1:29:02

In episode 120 we go in search of towering, hairy beasts that are said to stalk the wilderness. From the snow-covered slopes of the Himalayas to the dense forests of North America, reports of upright, ape-like creatures have refused to die, no matter how much science tries to bury them. In this episode, we’re taking on the heavyweights of cryptid f…

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Forgotten Melodies #6: Murder Ballads 1:25:15

9d ago1:25:15

1:25:15

It's Haunting Season, so for this month's Forgotten Melodies bonus episode we're exploring the bloody broadsides of Murder Ballads. As ever, the episode features new arrangements of three traditional Murder Ballads: Edward, The Bonny Bows and The Cruel Ship's Carpenter, and Martin, Ben and Eleanor talk about the history of the murder ballad and of …

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60. Bonus Inductions Special #6 + QUIZ! 1:32:41

11d ago1:32:41

1:32:41

This is an absolutely mad episode. Loads of fun was had, and we're sure you'll have fun too. Alex does maths. Steve does sailors (again). Rob really wants to stroke a dog. Simon celebrates a birthday. We also induct four previous poll losers directly into the Hall of Fame, set up all the categories for the next 9 episodes, and answer an email from …

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Haunting Season 2025 #3: Connect With Me 3:04:54

12d ago3:04:54

3:04:54

We enter the third week of Three Ravens Haunting Season 2025 with our third 'Trilogy of Terror'! Our two winning entries for this week, both submitted for our annual Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition, are quite different in tone. "Forgotten" by Felix Woidtke is a dark tale of America's abandoned places with a real bite, while Alexa Hardi…

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Ep 119 - Monster Month: The Loch Ness Monster and Other Soggy Beasts 1:31:18

16d ago1:31:18

1:31:18

In episode 119 we continue Monster Month in style by going in search of one of the true behemoths in the world of cryptozoology. This time we’re heading to the Scottish Highlands to look at one of the world’s most famous mysteries. For decades, people have claimed to see something strange lurking in Loch Ness. From blurry photographs to sonar scans…

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Three Ravens Bestiary #19: Zombies and Revenants 1:10:35

16d ago1:10:35

1:10:35

For this week's Haunting Season-themed Bonus Episode we're chatting all about the mythology of Zombies and Revenants! To start off with, which is which? Because one dates from Medieval times, and the other comes from a word invented by an English poet in 1819. And if we look further back, to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and Scyt…

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October Patreon Teaser - In Search of the Durham Puma Part 1 & 2 18:03

20d ago18:03

18:03

In this 38th and 39th Patreon specials, Monster Month continues as in this enormous two part special - both episodes of which will be released this month - I do something a bit different as I go in search of a big cat seen across County Durham more than 200 times since the 1990s. It was most recently seen just this summer by a man who described see…

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Haunting Season 2025 #2: Sundowners 1:54:54

19d ago1:54:54

1:54:54

Three Ravens Haunting Season continues today with the second of our four 'Trilogies of Terror' across the month of October! We begin, in tried and tested style, with two winning tales from our annual Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition. The first of these, "The Old Way Stone" by Alex Effinger, feels almost like a late Victorian classic, se…

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LIVE @ Gloucester History Festival 2025! 1:17:01

20d ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Roll on another month and another Three Ravens Live Show release - and of not just one but two performances recorded at Gloucester History Festival at the end of September 2025! As we explain in the episode, first comes our Forgotten Melodies Live show, performed on Sunday 21st September in the Great Hall at Gloucester's Blackfriars as part of Witc…

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Local Legends #45: Dr Susan Owens 1:12:57

21d ago1:12:57

1:12:57

For our Local Legends interview this week, the first of Haunting Season 2025, we've spoken to the celebrated author of 'The Ghost: A Cultural History' Susan Owens! Recorded at Susan's home in Suffolk, this ranging chat includes discussions of the ghost that haunted the old V&A Museum's stores of paintings, Susan's all-time favourite ghost story, an…

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Ep 118 - Monster Month: Cryptids from Across the Globe 1:25:26

23d ago1:25:26

1:25:26

In episode 118 we’re picking up where last week’s episode left off, as we look at some of the strangest, scariest, and in some cases most plausible monsters to be found outside of the British isles. We will travel to the most far flung corners of the globes in search of these curious creatures that take the form of gigantic killer worms, dinosaurs,…

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Magic and Medicines #19: Voodoo 1:33:02

23d ago1:33:02

1:33:02

This month's Magic and Medicines Bonus Episode definitely has Haunting Season associations, as we're talking all about Voodoo! Although, being up front, "Voodoo" is but a tiny subset of a vast number of syncretic religious and cultural practices dating back to Africa 6,000 years ago - 'syncretic' meaning something which merges different beliefs int…

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Bonus Episode - Ghostlore with Dr Icy Sedgwick 41:45

26d ago41:45

41:45

By Rob Kirkup

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Haunting Season 2025 #1: Uncle Wilf 1:50:49

26d ago1:50:49

1:50:49

Three Ravens Haunting Season is now officially risen from the grave, hungry for coziness and chilling tales of terror! As in previous years we begin this Monday episode with two winning tales from our annual Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition. The first of these, "Cold" by Susanne Okulitch, offers up a cool bit of class discussion set aga…

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Local Legends #44: Chris Baglin 1:27:59

29d ago1:27:59

1:27:59

Martin is joined around the campfire by storyteller, magician and puppeteer Chris Baglin. Chris performs as 'Professor Llusern' and 'Cyfarwydd Cymru', with the second being his bardic name, meaning 'the storyteller of Wales'. Chris performs at castles, heritage centres and fetes across north Wales and beyond, and for the past several years he has b…

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59. Sega Games 2:01:22

29d ago2:01:22

2:01:22

This should be right in our wheelhouse, eh? Well, to make sure we definitely hit our nominations out of the park, we enlisted Sega Mania Magazine creator, Tim Hugall, as a special guest! Because he's so good at making our words into amazing pages, we let Tim nominate three Sega games, with the rest of us voting one directly into the Hall of Fame. T…

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Ep 117 - Monster Month: What is a Cryptid? 56:02

30d ago56:02

56:02

October is here, welcome to Monster Month..... Episode 117 is the first of five extended episodes, building to a monstrous Halloween Spooktacular, we’re diving headfirst into the shadows in search of the strangest and scariest creatures ever whispered about. We’re going cryptid crazy—tracking the towering Yeti, peering into the depths of Loch Ness,…

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Three Ravens Guide to Halloween 1:18:06

1M ago1:18:06

1:18:06

Ah - smell that wisp of wood smoke in the air? Feel that strange sensation as the hairs rise on the back of your neck? See that ancient spectre stood in your path, pointing at you while mumbling things that you can't hear? It can only mean one thing: it's the month of Halloween, October, and therefore it's also Three Ravens Haunting Season! To kick…

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Bonus Episode - Haunted Milton Keynes with Dr Steph Lay 36:11

1M ago36:11

36:11

In this bonus episode, to celebrate the arrival of October, we’re heading somewhere which isn’t considered by many, if any, as one of the scariest places on the planet. But you join me in conversation with someone looking to change that. She is a horror writer, photographer and parapsychologist who’s lived in Milton Keynes since 2002 and is underta…

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October Update: What Are You Afraid Of? 51:59

1M ago51:59

51:59

Three Ravens Series 7 may be underway, but it's now October, meaning it's Three Ravens Haunting Season! This episode offers a bit of an update from us about Three Ravens goings-on, including the plan for the month ahead, after which we've included sections of last month's Patreon Exclusive episodes. First comes the initial 25 minutes or so of Marti…

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Series 7 Episode 2: Denbighshire 2:20:44

1M ago2:20:44

2:20:44

For our second County Episode of Series 7, we're off to North Wales to talk about the history and folklore of Denbighshire! In terms of the county's history, there's a lot - and it's absolutely fascinating. From the centuries when it was a domain controlled by the Marcher Lords to the recent severing of Wrexham away from Denbighshire to rebel princ…

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Local Legends #43: Milly Jackdaw 1:08:57

1M ago1:08:57

1:08:57

In Series 7's first episode of Local Legends, Eleanor is joined around the campfire by storyteller, theatre maker and ecologist Milly Jackdaw. Milly's fascinating career has seen her telling stories on the banks of wild lakes, at festivals and in theatres, and in some of the places most connected to the stories themselves. With a background in thea…

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Bonus Episode 23 - The Edinburgh Dungeon (Lost Audio Special) 3:07:59

1M ago3:07:59

3:07:59

Originally released for Patreon supporters in July 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 23rd Patreon bonus podcast we're doing something a little bit special. In April I found a hard drive containing audio from four investigations that I conducted in 2011 and 2012. Dozens of hours of audio that I lost around a decade ago, and I t…

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Forgotten Melodies #5: Harvest Songs 1:24:01

1M ago1:24:01

1:24:01

Grab your scythe, your nut-brown bowl, and keep an eye on the Farmer's Daughter, as on this month's Forgotten Melodies bonus episode we're talking all about Harvest Songs - in particular, We Gets Up In The Morn, John Barleycorn, and The Barley and the Rye! As ever, the episode contains new takes on all three of these songs from Eleanor and Ben, who…

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HUN #60 - The Haunting of Willington Mill 34:10

1M ago34:10

34:10

Today, we journey to the north east of England to uncover the hidden horrors of a haunted mill. Willington Mill - one of Europe's first steam-powered flour mills - once stood as a beacon of ingenuity. But its industrial prowess wasn't its only claim to fame. For decades, the mill was plagued by unsettling forces - whispers, footsteps, and chilling …

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Series 7 Episode 1: Cardiganshire 2:22:56

1M ago2:22:56

2:22:56

The long-heralded first County Episode of Three Ravens Series 7 is finally here and is a bumper-length installment all about the historic county of Cardiganshire on the west coast of Wales! Unable to resist discussing a local saint, Eleanor begins by introducing us to Carantoc, a dragon-slaying local hero who lost a special altar, apparently. Thoug…

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Dog Days: Questions and Answers Episode! 1:41:56

1M ago1:41:56

1:41:56

The dust has now had some time to settle, and with Dog Days finished we thought it was high time to have a chat about the project. Using questions supplied by listeners from across social media and the Three Ravens Patreon, this episode sees us talking completely off the cuff about our inspirations, the practical challenges of releasing the series,…

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Ep 116 - Haunted Dolls with Fiona Dodwell 45:15

1M ago45:15

45:15

In episode 116 we’re revisiting what some might consider the scariest aspect of the paranormal – haunted dolls. Those, supposedly innocent, inanimate, companions of young children the world over, which may well be, in some cases, vessels for the dead. I am joined by Fiona Dodwell to discuss her new book - A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls: From …

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58. Shoot 'Em Ups 1:26:04

1M ago1:26:04

1:26:04

It's time to put up or shmup up, as we're nominating shoot 'em ups for the Hall of Fame. We decided to include games from the sub genres of horizontal and veritcal-scrolling shooters, twin stick shooters and run and gun games. When you've heard the pod, go to @vg_hof on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote for the game you want in the HOF! Thanks t…

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Three Ravens Bestiary #18: Djinns and Genies 1:15:05

1M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

After a bit of a blip, we're now back with an episode all about the mythology of Djinns and Genies from prehistory through to today! Part of our Three Ravens Bestiary Bonus Series, we begin with our Western conception of 'the genie' - a pantomime creature, memorably played by Robin Williams in the 90's Disney movie, filtered through a century of fa…

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A Spooky Season Announcement 4:59

2M ago4:59

4:59

October is coming and this is going to be the biggest, scariest, most content-filled episode of the podcast to date. Listeners will get EIGHT episodes - Five Monster Month specials, two spooky conversations, and a three-hour-long ghost hunt. Patreon supporters will get two extra bonus episodes too. If you want to make sure you don't miss out on thi…

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Romney Marsh Ghost Tour 1:53:24

2M ago1:53:24

1:53:24

Proof of life, everyone: Eleanor is home from the hospital, and here, talking on this episode! As you may have gathered, the last week has been a bit of a whirlwind, but now Eleanor has been discharged we are working hard on making her fully fit and well. To fill the gap, we duly present another Patreon Exclusive episode from the back catalogue - o…

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September Patreon Teaser - Royalty Theatre Part 2 9:00

2M ago9:00

9:00

In the 37th Patreon bonus podcast you rejoin me and fellow Newcastle-based folklore podcaster Icy Sedgwick at a building in Sunderland which dates back to the 1800s and was formerly a hospital during World War 1 providing care and treatment for the wounded and today is a theatre. But what would Icy and I experience, alongside our team of Ghost Nort…

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The Ghosts of Glasshayes House 2:12:12

2M ago2:12:12

2:12:12

Hullo everybody - Martin here! Just a quick message to say, this is obviously not the episode we were hoping to release today. This was meant to be Series 7 Episode 1, the opening salvo of our journey through the 13 historic counties of Wales! Unfortunately, Eleanor has had to be hospitalised, so we're a bit on the back foot. They're not quite sure…

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A Brief History of Wales 1:28:07

2M ago1:28:07

1:28:07

In an act of gross hubris, we proudly present our first episode of Three Ravens Series 7: A Brief History of Wales! Based on a silly amount of research, this episode tracks through the story of how the country of Wales became 'Wales' - from the nation's very first settlers who wandered west through England through to the Stone Age tradition of crom…

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Ep 115 - Rufford Old Hall 1:08:10

2M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

In episode 115 we find ourselves in Lancashire at a building dating back to the early 16th century that was a location that a listener requested that I cover, and what a location it is. Considered by some to be one of the most haunted places in the county, and some would even consider it amongst the most active places in all of Britain. But is this…

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Magic and Medicines #18: Enochian and Angelic Magic 1:15:16

2M ago1:15:16

1:15:16

Our first new Magic and Medicines Bonus Episode in ages is out today, and all about Enochian and Angelic Magic! If you happened to listen to our series "Dog Days" then you will have encountered several allusions to this topic, but, so that we can all start on a level pegging, we begin this episode at the beginning of this particular magical traditi…

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September Update: Reap What You Sow! 59:33

2M ago59:33

59:33

Ahead of the launch of Three Ravens Series 7, today's episode is a bit of an update from us about Three Ravens goings-on, containing sections of last month's Patreon Exclusive episodes! First comes the initial 25 minutes or so of Eleanor's new Spenser & Associates story 'The Shadow of the Hell Bitch' which is followed by the opening section of our …

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Dog Days: Chapter 30 - The Fates Bound Fast In Iron Chains 41:03

2M ago41:03

41:03

The sweltering, heady Dog Days of summer are over and the rain comes down for days. With new scars and his eyes open to a world of magic, Kit is safe and well. Until Tom Watson asks him for just the tiniest favour... Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mond…

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Dog Days: Chapter 29 - The Sweet Fruition of an Earthly Crown 43:20

2M ago43:20

43:20

In the penultimate chapter of Dog Days, Kit stumbles through London as the rain falls, letting his feet lead the way. Where they take him is of some surprise. And what he is to do there is something for which he is not prepared. Though he has always wished for riches. Forever after, he shall be careful what he wishes for... Three Ravens is an Engli…