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Hey folks, Aaron here. Welcome back to another edition of Deeper Lore, a bonus episode designed to serve as a topical guide to the most recent episode of Lore. If ever wondered where you can find more episodes on the topic that you just heard about that is the purpose of Deeper Lore. In this short bonus episode, I will dig into our vast 10 year archive and point out some old episodes that fit well with this week's newest. The hope is that you can keep the spooky feeling going well into the weekend, putting a handful of episodes into a new, more powerful context. So let's get started, shall we? This week for episode 297, Bloody, we cover a really tough topic, but one that's important to discuss. Discuss the evil folklore of blood libel. It's one of those few examples where folklore turns lies into popular beliefs that can have dangerous real world implications. And the results have been tragic. But it's not the first time we've discussed the darker side of folk beliefs. So here are three older episodes that will pair up nicely with this week's new one. First up, episode 11 black stockings. Not only is this classic a fan favorite, but it was also turned into an episode in the first season of the Lore TV show on Amazon. And you can understand why. It shows how a super common belief in changelings led to some very tragic murders in Ireland over the centuries. This is one you'll want to listen to this week. Next download episode 83 carried away this one tackles another cultural misconception by exploring the folklore and dangers of bigotry toward the Romani peoples of Europe. It's a prejudice that embedded itself in our language and in a variety of superstitious tropes, making this episode a a must listen and finally, there's episode 113, word of mouth Sometimes folklore can drive a society to do horrible things to each other, and sometimes it can convince an entire culture to do weird things to themselves. This episode is one of my favorites, and it leans hard into the world of folk belief, folklore theory, and our incorrect assumptions about how the world around us behaves. It also features one of my favorite terms ever medicinal cannibalism. So yeah, check that out. And there you go. Follow up this week's brand new episode with a trip into the past. Episodes 1183 and 113 are waiting for you in this podcast feed. You can scroll through your app to find them, or you can tap on their direct links in the description for this episode. And until next time, stay spooky.
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Host: Aaron Mahnke
Date: January 15, 2026
This special "Deeper Lore" bonus episode serves as a curated guide, connecting the latest Lore episode (#297: "Bloody")—which investigates the dangerous folklore of blood libel—with three past episodes that delve into similarly dark and consequential folk beliefs. Aaron Mahnke provides an insightful journey through the history of superstition, prejudice, and the real-world tragedies spawned by myth and rumor, aiming to help listeners deepen their understanding and continue the immersive, unsettling mood for which Lore is known.
| Timestamp | Segment | Content Summary | |-----------|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:54 | Deeper Lore intro & purpose | Why bonus episodes exist; connecting past and present | | 01:19 | Summary of "Bloody" (Ep. 297) | Blood libel and the dangers of weaponized folklore | | 01:38 | Episode 11: "Black Stockings" | Changeling folklore, tragic murders in Ireland | | 01:59 | Episode 83: "Carried Away" | Folklore-fueled bigotry, Romani prejudice in Europe | | 02:20 | Episode 113: "Word of Mouth" | Folklore theory, "medicinal cannibalism," cultural myths | | 02:54 | How to find episodes & closing | Accessing past episodes, signature spooky sign-off |
Aaron Mahnke maintains a thoughtful, eerie, and educational tone—balancing the gravity of tragic historical consequences with a respect for listeners’ curiosity about the macabre.
For anyone seeking further chills, these recommendations will guide you into the darker corners of history, reminding you: Sometimes the truth really is more frightening than fiction.