Overview of Deeper Lore: 294 (34, 112, & 117)
This bonus episode of Deeper Lore (hosted by Aaron Mahnke) is a short guide linking the new Lore episode 294, "Upon Reflection" — which looks at mirror folklore and the Bloody Mary ritual — to three older episodes that pair well thematically. The host explains the purpose of Deeper Lore (to connect newer episodes with related older ones using a keyword system) and recommends three past episodes for listeners who want deeper context.
Key topics in this episode
- Purpose of Deeper Lore: a topical guide to connect new Lore episodes with older, related ones.
- New episode highlighted: Episode 294, "Upon Reflection" — focuses on mirror folklore and the Bloody Mary ritual.
- Three older, recommended episodes that complement Episode 294.
Recommended related episodes (with short summaries)
- Episode 34 — All the Lovely Ladies
- Focus: Historical background behind the "evil queen" archetype, centering on the legends (and realities) around Elizabeth Báthory. Good for listeners interested in real-world figures who inspired monstrous female characters in folklore.
- Episode 112 — Facets
- Focus: Variants of the Weeping Woman / Woman in White motif (including La Llorona). Useful for understanding a major category of female ghost stories and their cultural variations.
- Episode 117 — Bones
- Focus: An episode framed around castles that includes a significant female ghost figure whose image has become embedded in modern popular culture. Pairs well for listeners tracing how certain ghostly women recur across stories and settings.
Main takeaways
- Lore episodes often interconnect; listening to related older episodes enhances context and depth for new stories.
- Mirror-themed folklore (like Bloody Mary) sits naturally alongside other female ghost traditions (evil queens, weeping women, castle ghosts).
- Deeper Lore serves as a curated shortcut — the host points listeners to three specific past episodes to deepen understanding of the themes in Episode 294.
Action items / How to follow up
- Listen to the new episode 294, "Upon Reflection," first for the mirror/Bloody Mary stories.
- Then listen to Episodes 34, 112, and 117 to explore historical and folkloric parallels.
- Find the older episodes by scrolling the podcast feed in your app or by using the direct links provided in the Deeper Lore episode description.
Quick note
Deeper Lore is brief and meant as a navigational aid — it doesn't retell the full stories but points you to which past episodes will enrich your understanding of the themes in the new episode.