Stories of Yore
by Natalie Sia
Exploring folktales, myths and legends from South East Asia – and beyond.
Come and join me, Natalie Sia, (around the imaginary campfire) as we discover stories that have passed the test of time, from various cultures.
Podcast episodes
Ep 8: The Chinese widow – Kinabalu's tragic love story
Today's story takes us to Sabah, Malaysia. More specifically, to Mount Kinabalu. A popular climbing destination, Mount Kinabalu is home to an amazing array of wildlife and... you guessed it, folklore. So join me as we learn about one of the most famous stories behind its name: the Chinese widow. And it all starts with a prince who fell in love with a local village maiden... Credits: Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay Music by lvymusic from Pixabay Music by NaturesEye from Pixabay Don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating! storiesofyore.com
Ep 7: The story of Songkran
A boy who understands birds. A challenging riddle. And a god who beheaded himself. Here's the legend behind Thailand's Songkran Festival. Plus, the symbolism of water (which sort of explains the whole water fight fiesta, too!). I hope you enjoy this episode. And I'd love to hear about your favourite folktale/legend! Tell me all about it via hello [at] nataliesia [dot] com. Also, Stories of Yore now has a website! Check it out at storiesofyore.com. Credits: Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay Music by Keyframe_Audio from Pixabay Music by SergeQuadrado from Pixabay
Ep 6: The legend behind the Sisters' Islands
The Sisters' Islands in Singapore are known for their beautiful beaches and diverse marine life. But according to this legend, the islands hadn't always been there – and there's a reason why locals named them so... Join me, Natalie Sia, as we explore the tragic tale behind the Sisters' Islands. Credits: Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay Music by StudioKolomna from Pixabay
Ep 5: The legend of Mahsuri
Beautiful beaches. Stunning landscapes. White blood. And a curse for seven generations. Today's story takes us to Pulau Langkawi in Malaysia, and we learn about Mahsuri – the beautiful young woman behind the island's legendary curse. Credits: Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay Music by PatrizioYoga from Pixabay Music by FreeGroove from Pixabay Music by SergeQuadrado from Pixabay
Ep 4: Chinese New Year legends and folktales
Gong Xi Fa Cai! It's Chinese New Year in January 2023 – so let's dive straight in to the traditions and legends of the festival. The three folktales explored in this episode: The legend of Monster Nian The story behind Bai Ti Gong The story behind red packets Credits: Music by Music by SergeQuadrado from Pixabay Music by M-Dewala from Pixabay Music by kaazoom from Pixabay.