70: Werewolves: Legends, Lore, and Lycanthropy

Insomniacs: The Podcast

For Episode 70, we’re diving into a story that’s been sitting on our list since the beginning—one steeped in folklore, history, and just the right amount of horror. This week, we’re talking about werewolves!

From ancient Greek myths to medieval witch trials and even modern pop culture, werewolves have captured imaginations (and caused some serious panic) for centuries. We’ll explore how the legend of humans transforming into wolves began, spanning 4,000 years from The Epic of Gilgamesh to the werewolf trials of medieval Europe. Along the way, we’ll dig into fascinating traits attributed to werewolves—like their strength, speed, and the eerie idea of running on three legs.

But the lore doesn’t stop there. We’ll discuss the gruesome "werewolf murders," cultural variations on the myth (looking at you, werehyenas and skinwalkers), and even medical explanations that might have given rise to these terrifying tales. Plus, we’ll look at how werewolves have become staples in books, movies, and even video games—shoutout to Teen Wolf and Skyrim!

Join us for a howl of an episode as we uncover the history, science, and enduring fascination with these legendary creatures. Don’t worry, we’ll keep the silver bullets handy!
And as always, stay spooky. Stay safe. And sweet dreams!
Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-werewolf-legend
https://www.historiamag.com/the-history-of-werewolves/
https://www.nicholaspwilliams.com/blog/werewolf-lore-origins
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Werewolf
https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/werewolf.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf
https://www.livescience.com/24412-werewolves.html
https://www.thetravel.com/where-did-werewolves-come-from/
https://www.britannica.com/art/werewolf

To Stay Up To Date On Future Episodes:
Instagram: InsomniacsThePodcast
Facebook: Insomniacs: The Podcast Discussion Group
Tik Tok: Insomniacs.Pod