Boo-Foons Mystery Investigators

Boo-Foons Mystery Investigators Podcast Official Website.

Tag: #British Folklore

  • The Boo-Foons & Oddtrots: The Mystery of the Green Children of Woolpit

    Episode 28

    This week, the Boo-Foons team up with John from Oddtrots for a delightfully strange expedition to Suffolk, where one of England’s most enduring mysteries first took root: the Green Children of Woolpit. According to 12th‑century accounts, two children with green-tinted skin appeared near the village, speaking an unknown language and refusing all food except broad beans. Over time, their colour reportedly faded, and the surviving child claimed they came from a twilight world called St Martin’s Land, where the sun never fully shone.

    In true Boo-Foons fashion, Steve, Dan, and John dive into the legend with equal parts curiosity and chaos, sampling broad beans, scanning the countryside for wolves (a nod to Woolpit’s historic wolf pits), and attempting to decode the children’s mysterious language. It’s folklore meets field trip, with plenty of laughs woven through the history, theories, and wonderfully weird details that make this centuries-old tale so irresistible.

    If you love your mysteries with a side of education and a generous helping of Boo-Foonery, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

  • All Aboard the Boo-Foon Train!

    Episode 27

    What begins as a simple journey across Scotland’s Tay Bridge quickly spirals into a transcontinental paranormal adventure. Steve and Dan, your intrepid Boo-Foons investigators, climb aboard a seemingly ordinary steam train, only to discover it’s anything but.

    As the wheels turn and the whistle blows, the train slips through time and space, chugging into misty landscapes, haunted stations, and folklore-laced railways from around the world. Each carriage holds a clue, each country a ghostly tale, and every stop brings them closer to uncovering the truth behind the spectral locomotives that refuse to rest.

    From the eerie echoes of Victorian platforms to the poetic ramblings of Britain’s most questionable bard (yes, he’s onboard too), this is no ordinary rail ride. It’s a Boo-Foon express, unpredictable, unearthly, and utterly unforgettable.

    So grab your ghost-hunting gear, pack a questionable poem, and join the Boo-Foons as they lay tracks across the paranormal map. The train is leaving the station… and it’s not stopping for logic.

  • Greenhouse Mystery: The Curious Case of the Mandrake

    Greenhouse Mystery: The Curious Case of the Mandrake

    Episode 24

    Steve and Dan find themselves face-to-face with a botanical enigma, the legend of the mandrake.

    What Is a Mandrake?

    Mandrake (genus Mandragora) is a plant steeped in folklore and mysticism. Native to the Mediterranean region, its roots often resemble human figures, which has fueled centuries of superstition. Historically, mandrakes were believed to scream when uprooted, a cry so deadly it could kill anyone who heard it.

    Folklore and Myth

    • Medieval Legends: In medieval Europe, mandrakes were thought to grow beneath gallows, nourished by the bodily fluids of hanged men.
    • Protective Talismans: People carried mandrake roots as charms to ward off evil or bring good fortune.
    • Magical Uses: Mandrakes appeared in potions, spells, and rituals, often associated with witchcraft and alchemy.

    Biological Facts

    • Species: The most well-known species is Mandragora officinarum.
    • Appearance: Mandrakes have thick, often bifurcated roots that resemble human limbs, and dark green leaves with bell-shaped flowers.
    • Habitat: They thrive in dry, rocky soils and bloom in spring.

    Toxicity and Medicinal Use

    Mandrakes contain alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which can be highly toxic. Historically, they were used as anesthetics and sedatives, but improper use could lead to hallucinations, coma, or death. Today, mandrake is rarely used medicinally due to its dangerous properties.

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    (images: Wikimedia)

    Final Thoughts

    Whether feared or revered, the mandrake remains one of nature’s most enigmatic plants. Its legacy spans centuries, bridging the gap between botany and legend. For the Boo-Foons, it’s just another day in the greenhouse.

  • The Boo-Foons and the Three‑Headed Giant of Bonny Scotland

    Scotland has given the world many wonders: bagpipes, tartan, deep‑fried everything… and now, thanks to the Boo-Foons, one more addition to the list, a rumoured three‑headed giant lurking somewhere in the Highlands. Naturally, Steve and Dan packed their bags, grabbed their microphones, and set off on a quest that absolutely nobody asked for but everyone will enjoy.

    What followed was a journey filled with riddles, ruined castles, suspiciously tall vegetation, and a man named Jack who may or may not have been entirely trustworthy.

  • Boo-Foons in Wales: Fairy Cattle & Cow Pat Chao

    The Boo-Foons are back on the road, this time hoofing it through the misty hills of Wales in search of fairy cattle and folklore mischief. Join Steve and Dan as they tiptoe through enchanted pastures, dodge flying cow pats, sidestep suspicious witches, and wrangle tales from the otherworldly herd.


    Expect moo-ving mysteries, udder nonsense, and a few dairy-fresh punchlines as the Boo-Foons milk every last drop of weirdness from this whimsical Welsh adventure.


    Listen now and graze on the magic.

  • Boo-Foons Investigate a Ghostly Portrait

    Henrietta Nelson

    This week, the Boo-Foons head to East Anglia in search of spectral brushstrokes and paranormal panache. What starts as a simple visit to a haunted painting quickly spirals into a full-blown mystery involving a woman with an outrageous love of oversized hats, a ghost that refuses to stay put, and a collection of supernatural oddities that would make any museum curator faint.

    The real Henrietta portrait

    Join Steve and Dan as they tiptoe through creaky corridors, decode ghostly gossip, and try not to get cursed by a Victorian fashionista with a flair for the dramatic. Expect laughs, lore, and a few unexpected chills.

    Is the painting truly haunted—or is something else lurking behind the frame?

    Tune in to find out, and don’t forget your hat. You’ll need it

  • Hitchin Ghost Hunt Special

    The Boo-Foons are back on the trail of the paranormal, and this time, they’re heading to Hitchin! Join Steve and Dan as they team up with a fearless crew of ghost hunters for a spine-tingling night at the historic British School’s Museum. From creaking floorboards to unexplained whispers, the gang dives deep into the eerie atmosphere of one of Hertfordshire’s most haunted locations.

    In this very special episode, we recount the strange happenings, share behind-the-scenes banter, and reflect on the chilling moments that had us questioning reality. Expect laughs, gasps, and a few goosebumps as the Boo-Foons blend folklore, fun, and fright in classic style.

    A massive thank you to our ghost-hunting dream team Cliff (N64LIFEpodcast, Under Consoletation Podcast) Dan (Dan Does), John (Oddtrots), Seb, and Skor, for joining us on this unforgettable adventure. Your energy, insights, and bravery made the night one for the books.

    And of course, thank you to Paul and Sanja for making this possible (Paul and Sanja).

    Paul and Sanja’s video of the night on YouTube: We Smuggled a Ghost into a Victorian School

  • Boo-Foons Haunted Pub Crawl special: Spirits, Stories & Stumbles Across the Southwest

    Grab your pint and hold onto your EMF meter, this feature-length episode is a wild ride through the haunted watering holes of Cornwall and Devon. Steve and Dan hit the road (and the barstools) in search of ghostly tales, spectral sightings, and the kind of pub banter only the Boo-Foons could attract.

    From creaky floorboards to cursed cellars, each stop reveals a new layer of folklore and local legend. Whether it’s the beer glass throwing phantom, to a peek-a-boo ghost girl in a fireplace, the Boo-Foons are on a mission to uncover the truth, or at least get close enough before the next round.

    Expect:

    • Slurred ghost-hunting logic after pint #4
    • Interviews with charming locals who know their spirits (A heartfelt shoutout to Jim and Les, whose stories chilled our bones and warmed our hearts).
    • Dan trying to walk in a straight line while Steve gets angry at a famous “haunted” pub.

    This isn’t just a pub crawl, it’s a paranormal pilgrimage. Tune in for laughs, lore, and a few questionable decisions. Cheers to haunted history and hiccuping through the horror!

  • Boo-Foons Mysteries, Episode 5: The Horrors of 50 Berkeley Square

    Pack your ghost-hunting goggles and hop on the spectral express, the Boo-Foons are heading to London!

    In Episode 5 of Boo-Foons Mysteries, Steve and Dan throw themselves (and possibly their sanity) into the eerie legend of 50 Berkeley Square, a house so haunted, even ghosts think twice before showing up.

    The Spookiest Address in Mayfair?

    Tucked away in the posh streets of Mayfair, 50 Berkeley Square looks innocent enough… until the screaming starts. This episode dives deep into the chilling tales of this Victorian townhouse from phantom presences to a strange, ghoulish creature that allegedly drives people mad with fear.

    If you’re wondering, “Can a house be so haunted it scares other ghosts?”, the Boo-Foons are here to investigate.

    From Victorian crimes to unexplained deaths, this episode dives into the rich, dark history of the house once dubbed “the most haunted in London.”

    Floating Figures and Foul Play

    Expect classic Boo-Foons banter, questionable ghost-hunting tactics, and the kind of history lesson your teachers definitely didn’t offer in school. Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, there’s something deliciously creepy in this episode for everyone.

    So grab your headphones, light a candle (maybe not near the curtains), and get ready to meet the strange and terrifying tenants of 50 Berkeley Square.

    Listen Now on boo-foons.co.uk or wherever you get your podcasts!

    New to the Boo-Foons? Catch up on past episodes and join Steve and Dan as they unearth mysteries, myths, and mildly terrifying tea-time tales from across the UK and beyond.