About Once Upon a Podcast
Once Upon a Podcast is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves fairy tales, myths, and folklore (or just a good story!). In each episode, we take a deep dive into classic tales, explore their often twisted origins, and uncover the dark, macabre themes lurking beneath the surface. Joe, Matthew, and Emma explore why these stories were written the way they were, what they reveal about the time they came from, and how they continue to shape our world today. A perfect blend of casual conversation, humor, and a dash of history that will leave you with new insights (and probably a few laughs) every week.
Expect story dissection, folklore chaos, and the occasional severed foot
The Hosts
Joe Nay
Joe is the one responsible for dragging two hilarious geniuses into Once Upon a Podcast. A history and tech nerd who tripped into fairy tales not too long ago, and he's in way too deep—especially into the rare, dusty stories that still whisper through time (hello, Donkeyskin!). His favorite tellers? Giambattista Basile and Seumas MacManus. His idea of small talk? "What's your favorite fairy tale?" He can't help connecting fairy tales to everything, and couldn't stop even if you asked nicely.
Matthew Christensen
Our resident polyglot, writer, and fairy tale enthusiast. Matthew has a degree in English and a professional background in foreign languages. He uses these to identify universal patterns in storytelling. Matthew loves fairy tales because they're all at once instructive, inspiring, and good-stupid-fun. Whether it's a murderous wolf or a magic ring, Matthew explores why stories endure and what they say about culture and our shared history.
Emma Porter
Emma is an actor, artist, and all-around lover of stories in all forms. She's thrilled to dive deep into fairy tales and put her BFA to good use (well, ANY use). As an avid reader of pretty much anything she can get her hands on - yes, including lots of fan fiction - she is happy to have people to talk to about themes, motifs, and the bizarre yet wonderful gems to be found in classic fairy tales.
Find her on instagram @itsme.emmap
Lore Behind the Show
Once one falls headfirst into fairy tales, one realizes they aren't just bedtime stories—they're history, whispered through time and across languages. Stories passed from voice to voice by the everyday people who lived them. These tales grew, changed, and carried the fears, hopes, and humor of real lives, like how Little Red Riding Hood echoes centuries-old warnings we still give children today.
But when one goes searching for the strange, rare, and long-forgotten tales, it can feel… quiet. These stories were meant to be told, not read alone. And so, one builds the show he wishes existed; one that revives the oral tradition, embraces its beautiful mess, and digs deep into the meaning beneath the magic.
A year later, Joe, Matthew, and Emma began something, and Once Upon a Podcast found its voices.
📖 "He would wish that this world might hear of the wonderful happenings with our ears, and see them with our eyes" —Seumas MacManus, Donegal Fairy Stories
Join the Community
We have a growing community of fairy-tale-loving listeners, nerds, and lore hoarders.
🧚 Join us in Once Upon a Discord
Talk theories, share your favorite tales, and get early access to weird lore and behind-the-scenes chaos
Join Discord ServerContact the Hosts
Use the form below to send us a message — whether it's a question, story suggestion, or eldritch fairy warning.