Hi Little Village,
We’re kicking off December’s podcast season with the Celtic deity who commands winter itself. Her history and folklore run so deep that narrowing down anecdotes for this episode was a challenge in the best way.
I've also layered in a few more sound effects to the story portion, so I highly recommend headphones! Hope you enjoy listening cozied up somewhere as we ease closer to the darkest night of the year.
Sending love,
Jess
Episode Show Notes:
The first frost isn’t just a shift in weather — it’s the moment the Cailleach rises. Mountain-shaper. Storm-bringer. Guardian of the wild herds.
This week on Wild Kin, we travel into the heart of her mythology:
how the winter crone shaped the landscape, why she appears at the turning of the season, and what her ancient stories reveal about aging, power, and the wisdom found in darkness.
You’ll hear a fireside tale of a hunter, a herd of deer, and the winter queen who watches them all — followed by an exploration of the Cailleach’s origins, her Neolithic echoes, her transformation under Christianity, and her place in the modern world.
