The Dark Enchantment of “The Young Slave”: Basile’s Forgotten Fairy Tale
This haunting tale from the 1600s predates many of our beloved fairy tales—and may have secretly inspired them.
Dark Fairy Tales
Sleeping Beauty in the Wood
A witty, modern retelling of Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, complete with commentary, humor, and magical mayhem from Tales of Bedlam.
Struwwelpeter – Dark Children’s Cautionary Tales
Few works in children’s literature provoke such a mixture of fascination, discomfort, and cultural debate as Heinrich Hoffmann’s “Struwwelpeter.”
The Witch Wife’s Fate
Join Tales of Bedlam for a bizarre, hilarious dive into Native American folklore with the darkly magical tale of the witch wife and her owl-eyed adventures.
The Young Slave
What if swallowing a rose leaf could change your life forever? Join us for a spine-chilling special on Tales of Bedlam, where your hosts, Knob Twister and Sofa Sitter, unravel the bizarre and eerie story of “The Young Slave” by Gian Battista Basile.
How Some Children Played at Slaughtering
Dive into one of the Grimm Brothers’ most disturbing banned tales in this spooky Tales of Bedlam Halloween special. Not for the faint of heart!
The Rusalka Poem
Can a mystical creature’s song lead you to your doom? In this episode, Andrea joins Knob Twister as a special guest to explore the shadowy depths of Slavic folklore.
The Farmer and the Badger
A hilarious and dark retelling of the Japanese folktale The Farmer and the Badger. Join Tales of Bedlam for twisted humor, shapeshifting badgers, and unexpected soup.
The Children with One Eye
Discover the darkly comedic tale of “The Children with One Eye” in this unique fairy tale podcast episode filled with laughter, folklore, and fiery consequences.
The Star Money
A random tale picked by Siri leads to a Grimm story of giving, karma, and falling stars. The Bedlam boys ask—does generosity really pay off?