Welcome to our very first blog post for the new podcast, "Wyrd Wessex"! My name's Andy, and I'm here with Craig. We started this podcast because we're fascinated by the paranormal, folklore, UFOs, and all things that are just generally, well, weird.
You might have noticed our spelling of "weird" is a little different—W-Y-R-D. That's because it's a nod to our love of Anglo-Saxon history. "Wyrd" is an old word that meant fate or personal destiny. For us, embracing this kind of weirdness is our destiny!
What Got Us Started on the Wyrd Path
So, what got us into this stuff? For Craig, it all started with 90s television like The X-Files and Unsolved Mysteries. For me, it was a bit earlier. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Ghostbusters and gravestones. I even wanted to be a vicar when I grew up, not because I was religious, but because I heard you got to live next to a graveyard! That interest in history and mythology really reawakened that weird part of me.
We both come from a background of historical interest, and I'm even a storyteller for my job, working at historical events and schools. It keeps me immersed in the world of folklore, which is a huge part of what we're about.
Mulder and Scully...or Two Scullys?
When we started this podcast, I thought Craig would be the Mulder to my Scully. I mean, he's even got an "I Want to Believe" poster! But it turns out, we're both Scullys. We're both skeptics at heart, even though we've had some experiences that have made us scratch our heads.
Speaking of which, we’ve both had some pretty spooky encounters. Craig's daughter, for example, once pointed across a dark room and said there was a "shadow with a hat standing over there." Later, she saw the same shadow out the window watching them from the car. Talk about creepy! Craig also told a story about a "ghost mouse" they heard scurrying around their tent while camping, with no physical evidence left behind.
I've had my share of weirdness too. My earliest memory is from when I was four, and I told my parents about a man dressed in funny old clothes with a waistcoat and hat who sat in my rocking chair and smiled at me. More recently, I had a crazy experience after my great-grandmother, Ivy, passed away. I woke up one morning and saw her reflection standing in my bedroom curtains, just smiling at me. It wasn't malicious, but it definitely freaked me out.
Why Folklore Matters for History
This all leads us to a core belief of our podcast: you can't have a real understanding of history without also understanding the folklore that went with it. Some historical groups turn their nose up at folklore, but they're missing the point.
Folklore is a glimpse into the minds of people from the past. It tells us what they were scared of, what made them laugh, and what made them lock their doors at night. Whether it's Viking sagas with magic swords or the curse on the New Forest, these stories were an integral part of people's everyday lives.
And it's still happening today! We see it in modern-day creepypastas and urban legends. It's all a part of our ongoing story.
What's Coming Up Next?
Each episode of Wyrd Wessex will also feature a "Wyrd News" section where we discuss a strange story from today's headlines. We’ll also be heading out to different locations to explore some of these mysteries firsthand.
So, stick around! We're excited to have you on this journey with us into the wyrd.