Lexicons Unbound
From medieval monsters to modern memes, Lexicons Unbound traces the folklore in your everyday digital journey. Hosted by two narrative explorers with a day job in education, we talk about how legends shape our lives—online and off.
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Faith, Folklore and the Lessons They Left Us
In Faith, Folklore, and the Lessons They Left Us , Melanie reflects on the legacy of women healers often labeled “Granny Witches,” weaving personal memories of her grandmother with the broader folklore of women’s faith, care,...
The Witch Next Door
This October, Lexicons Unbound steps into the world of witches—not as broomstick caricatures, but as figures of power, resistance, and folklore. From Ozark “granny witches” to pop culture icons like Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ Eglantine Price and Bewitched’s Samantha, Melanie and Molly trace how the …
Trust the Bear
Folklore, Fear, and the Viral “Man vs. Bear” Debate What do fairy tales, survival instincts, and a viral social media debate have in common? In this episode of Lexicons Unbound, we unpack the question that took over timelines: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? We ex…
Welcome to our Podcast
This short intro episode is your invitation into our world—a podcast where folklore meets your algorithm. We’re Melanie (writer, performer, and digital folklore translator) and Molly (researcher and professor specializing in storytelling and culture), two educators and lifelong story nerds who c…
Lexicons Unbound - Coming Soon
What do TikTok hauntings, monster memes, and bedtime stories have in common? They’re all part of the folklore that lives in our feeds. This is just the beginning—subscribe now and join us for stories that surprise, unsettle, ...
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Recent Blog Posts
Glowing Tombstones: Folklore Under a Texas Moon
Growing up in a small North Texas town in the early ’80s you had to make your own fun, and local urban legends were favorite source materials. One long ago October, our youth group gathered for the annual Halloween party, but this particular y…
The Wyrd Masquerade: Witches, Masks, and the Power of Disguise
When we think of costumes, we often picture a performance of some kind or a Halloween party, but in folklore, costume is rarely just surface decoration. Following a #WyrdWednesday prompt on BlueSky, we step into the world of witches and masquerade, …
What IS Folklore?
Suyash Dwivedi (CC License via Wikimedia) It’s the end of another long day, and you’re scrolling (doomscrolling?) through social media when you come across another viral post, a life hack, or a story making the round…