Hans Christian Andersen didn’t just write fairy tales — he became one.

In this episode, we step away from individual stories to talk about the strange, brilliant, deeply complicated man behind The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. From poverty and relentless ambition to self-mythologizing autobiographies, impossible romances, and a life that reads like one of his own tragedies, Andersen may be the most fascinating figure in fairy-tale history.

This is not a tidy hero’s journey. It’s a story about obsession, creativity, loneliness, and the kind of determination that refuses to be told “no.”

This week Joe, Matthew, and Emma dive into Tom Tit Tot: Joseph Jacobs’ delightfully unhinged English version of Rumpelstiltskin. We talk pies (too many), imps (also too many), flax (never enough), and kings who really need to chill out about domestic textile production.

We compare it to Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin, break down its 19th-century dialect, explain why kobolds ruined the mining industry, and debate the morality of eating five hand pies in one sitting.

If you enjoy a good “guess my name or I steal you” story, this one’s a classic.

This week, Joe and Matthew dig into one of the Grimms’ smallest, but strangest, tales: The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean. From the chaos of a kitchen fire to an exploding bean and a tailor with great aim, it’s a story that’s equal parts absurd and oddly insightful. We explore its fable roots, the lost 1548 source text, and even how the Grimms’ students kept its spark alive centuries later. Also: bean breath, Cartoon Network songs, and survivorship bias.

A humble worker, a mountain spirit, and a chain of wishes that goes way too far. In this episode, Joe and Matthew break down The Stonecutter, a Japanese folktale that might actually have Dutch roots.

It’s a story of ambition and discontent, where one man wishes his way from stonecutter to everything from a prince to a cloud, only to discover that happiness doesn’t come from power, it comes from perspective.

Along the way, we trace how Andrew Lang’s Crimson Fairy Book spread the tale worldwide, talk about its connection to The Fisherman and His Wife (ATU 555), and yes — detour briefly into a folktale called The Bullock’s Balls. You’ve been warned.

Joe, Emma, and Matthew discuss The Forest Bride from Mighty Mikko: Finnish Fairy Tales Retold by Parker Fillmore (1922). The trio explores the tale’s origins, parallels to The White Cat (Madame d’Aulnoy, 1698), and what makes Fillmore’s storytelling so distinct from his playful narration to his gentle, "certified non-toxic" characters. Expect tangents on Nordic bread culture, animated mice, and why this might just be the most wholesome love story involving a rodent ever told.

This is our first-ever Read Aloud episode, a new series from Once Upon a Podcast that brings you full, unabridged fairy tales told the old-fashioned way: out loud.

Today’s tale is an Irish whirlwind: talking bulls, magical ear-napkins, fire-breathing giants, a secret identity, and a dragon that gets exactly what’s coming to it. Billy Beg and His Bull is told here by Danny Oaks and originally comes from Irish collector Seumas MacManus.

Let us know — do you like this kind of storytelling? Want more tales like this? Would you want them on another "extra" platform like Patreon?

Your feedback helps us shape the future of this new series. And as always, thanks for listening!

Narrated by: Danny Oaks (Plotfather Publishing)

The tragic conclusion of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, is here. Joe, Matthew, and Emma wade through sea witches, knife-blade footsteps, heartbreak, and Andersen’s unexpected ending. Along the way, they dig into the Little Mermaid’s impossible choices, the prince’s questionable treatment of her, and the strange “daughters of the air” twist that closes the tale. Is this one of Andersen’s greatest stories—or his most brutal?

Hans Christian Andersen’s The Traveling Companion is one of his strangest early fairy tales (if you can even call it that): a road trip, a horror story, and a Sunday-school parable packed into one, we break down its bizarre mash-up of goblins, puppets, riddles, and skeleton gardens, and debate whether Andersen was telling a Christian allegory, a comedy, or just having fun throwing every motif at the wall. We had so much fun in this episode so we hope you enjoy!

Audio/music credits:

"Ashton Manor" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We begin Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid; a fairy tale of longing, mortality, and sacrifice that looks very different from the singing crabs and bright seashells you might expect. Along the way, we explore Andersen’s inspirations, the statue in Copenhagen, mermaid symbolism, and the spiritual readings of the tale. This is Part One of our two-part dive into one of Andersen’s most enduring stories.

Hans Christian Andersen's The Naughty Boy (1835) isn't your typical fairy tale, it's Cupid gone mischievous. We unpack this strange little story published alongside Thumbelina, trace Cupid's origins from Greek Eros to Victorian matchmaker in a diaper, and explore how Andersen may have written his own struggles with love right into the tale. Along the way, we have some laughs, discuss Andersen's continuous self-inserts, and dig into why Cupid’s arrows might sting more than they charm.

Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina isn’t borrowed from folklore; it’s one of his true originals. In this episode, we explore its strange journey: kidnapped by toads, mocked by beetles, nearly married to a mole, and finally crowned queen of the flowers. Along the way, we ask what Andersen really meant about beauty, virtue, and kindness (and whether he slipped a bit of himself into this tale). No need for a bird to tell the tale, we've got it, and we'll also take a look at Thumbelina’s film adaptations (yes, Don Bluth and Barbie).

What do you get when you cross a princess on a hunger strike, a wholesome farm boy, and the most stubborn Tsar ever to shout "Wow wow"? Parker Fillmore’s The Laughing Prince delivers one of the most delightfully absurd and heartfelt tales we’ve read. Joe and Matthew dive into this whimsical Yugoslav folk tale, unpacking its layers of humor, feminism, and the magic of joy for joy’s sake. Plus: the origin story of "freaking Jakov," the charm of Stefan, and why laughter might just be a super power all on its own.

Hold onto your horns! This week, we tackle Billy Beg and the Bull, an Irish folktale where talking animals, head-chopping giants, and a magic belt collide in a story that's part Cinderella, part fever dream. Joe and Matthew break down the chaotic charm of Seumas MacManus’s tale and the storytelling legacy he left behind. Spoiler: The bull might be a vampire.

The bed is stacked high, the pea is tiny, and the logic? Completely missing. In this short episode, Joe and Matthew dive into Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, a literary fairy tale that’s as iconic as it is absurd. From royal imposters to overly sensitive sock seams, we unpack why this weird little story has stuck around for nearly 200 years and what it might argue about class, logic, and magical bruises.

The Emperor has no clothes… but boy, does he have confidence. In this episode, Joe, Matthew, and (introducing!) Emma break down Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, from its literary origins to its place in everyday language and pop culture. Along the way for this fairy tale, we unpack pride, status, and why sometimes the biggest swindle is the one we play along with ourselves.

In this episode of Once Upon a Podcast, we dive into Hans Christian Andersen's first published fairy tale, The Tinderbox. Join us as we break down this bizarre tale of soldiers, witches, giant-eyed dogs, questionable morals, and the surprising lack of actual fire-starting. We explore the literary origins, dark undertones, and some unintended comedy of a fairy tale where the real magic might just be a villain getting away with everything.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm: folklore collectors, German cultural rebels, and possibly the most committed set of desk buddies in history. In this episode, we dive into the real story behind the Brothers Grimm—their fairy tale obsession, their awkward meeting with Hans Christian Andersen, and why Jacob thought he might've been happier studying botany (but instead rewrote the rules of language).

Is Hans the luckiest man alive... or the most gullible? In this episode, we dive into the Brothers Grimm story Hans in Luck, a tale of bad trades, questionable life choices, and maybe—just maybe—the secret to true happiness (hint: it involves getting rid of literally everything you own). We break down the story, debate whether Hans reached Nirvana or just lost his mind, and share some fun history behind this odd little fairy tale.

As always, for questions, comments, or to tell us how much gold you’d trade for a cow, email us at joe.onceuponapodcast@gmail.com

What do you get when you have a devil, a miller, and an apple tree? That's right! A girl without hands. This tale by the Brothers Grimm is a classic that you need to hear. And if it's one you know, you'll still want to listen to know the real name of a poor soul named "Filled-with-Grief" we're sure.

Thank you for listening!

To tell us how your Tuesday is going, or for comments or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at joe.onceuponapodcast@gmail.com

What you've all been waiting for is finally here. The world-renowned story of the talking, wish-granting fish is in for your enjoyment. Oh, you haven't heard of it before? Well, you're going to love this fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm.

Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te!

For that joke no one has laughed at yet, or comments and suggestions, you can email us at joe.onceuponapodcast@gmail.com