Lore is a documentary podcast on topics such as folklore, legends, and historical events, often with a focus on the macabre. Each episode examines historical events or ancient/urban legends that show the dark side of human nature, and is presented in a style that has been compared to a campfire experience. The series was created in 2015 by Aaron Mahnke as a marketing experiment[1] and received the iTunes "Best of 2015" Award.[2] The podcast was also given the award for the "Best History Podcast" by the Academy of Podcasters in July 2016.[3] At the end of 2016, the podcast was included in the top lists by The Atlantic[4] and Entertainment Weekly.[5] As of October 2017, the series has 5 million monthly listeners.[1]
| Lore | |
|---|---|
 Lore podcast logo | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Aaron Mahnke |
| Genre |
|
| Updates | Biweekly |
| Length | 17–44 minutes |
| Production | |
| Production | Aaron Mahnke |
| No. of episodes | 250 |
| Publication | |
| Provider | Grim & Mild Entertainment |
| Related | |
| Adaptations | Lore (TV series) |
The podcast airs on a bi-weekly basis, and is usually released on a Monday. The podcast is recorded in a studio in Mahnke's home office.[1] Mahnke's voice in the podcast is described as "coolly mesmeric".[1]
Content
editEach podcast episode features various stories bound together by a common theme. Mahnke spends an average of 20 hours a week researching the folkloric tales and has stated, "All of the material is from documented stories or historical events. Some are ancient and some are modern, but they are all factual in the sense that people reported these things and believed they were true."[6]
Awards
edit| Award | Date | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Pods Awards | 2017 | Best Society & Culture Podcast | Runner-up | [7] |
| Shorty Awards | 2017 | Podcasts | Finalist | [8] |
| Academy of Podcasters | 2016 | Best History Podcast | Won | [3] |
| 2017 | Finalist | [9] | ||
| iTunes | 2015 | Best of 2015 | Won | [2] |
| iHeartRadio Podcast Awards | 2020 | Best History Podcast | Nominated | [10] |
| 2022 | Nominated | [11] |
TV adaptation
editLore has been adapted for television with the help of Gale Anne Hurd of the hit television series The Walking Dead.[12] Glen Morgan of The X-Files was announced as the showrunner, and the show was made in partnership with Valhalla Entertainment and Propagate Content.[13] The series aired on Amazon Video[14] followed the podcast's anthology format, with each episode featuring a new story and Mahnke remaining the narrator.[1][13] The show premiered on 13 October 2017,[15] and aired for two seasons before being cancelled in 2019.[16]
The show has been praised by The Economist as "good viewing" that manages "to shock and surprise"; however, adding that "it falls short as a television show in its own right."[1] In another review, The Verge said, "the show is able to turn the inherent creepiness of Mahnke's podcast into original stories that are even more unnerving and resonant."[17]
Book adaptations
editAaron Mahnke has authored a trilogy of books based on the Lore podcast.[18]
- Mahnke, Aaron; Corley, M. S. (2017). The world of Lore: monstrous creatures. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-5247-9796-6. OCLC 992182706.
- Mahnke, Aaron (2018). The world of Lore: Wicked mortals. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-5247-9799-7. OCLC 1059143085.
- Mahnke, Aaron (2018). The world of Lore: dreadful places. Random House Worlds. ISBN 978-1-5247-9802-4. OCLC 1047580684.
Related podcasts
editTwice weekly, Mahnke also narrates a short podcast about weird events called Cabinet of Curiosities.[19] He has a longform podcast called Unobscured which covers one subject per season, its first four seasons focusing on the Salem witch trials, Spiritualism, Jack the Ripper, and Grigori Rasputin.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f C.B. (12 October 2017). "The rise of the podcast adaptation". The Economist. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ a b Kelley, Seth (9 December 2015). "Apple's iTunes Best of 2015 list for podcasts includes a ton of LA-based favorites". Time Out Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Academy of Podcasters, 2016 Winners". 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016.
- ^ McQuade, Laura Jane Standley and Eric. "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ Everett, Cristina (20 December 2016). "The 10 Best Podcasts of 2016". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ Locker, Melissa (1 November 2015). "Aaron Mahnke's Lore: 'history podcast' uncovers the dark side of human nature". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Discover Pods Awards. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Lore – The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "2017 Finalist". Academy of Podcasters. Podcast Movement. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019.
- ^ "2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners". iHeart. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: See The Full List of Winners". iHeart. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman Team for Horror Anthology Based on 'Lore' Podcast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b Patten, Dominic (6 October 2016). "Amazon Picks Up 'Lore' Horror Podcast With EPs Gale Anne Hurd & Ben Silverman". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Holloway, Daniel (6 October 2016). "Amazon Orders 'Lore' Series From Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ Eric McAdams (29 August 2017). "Watch the Trailer for Lore, Amazon's Creepy New Show". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ White, Peter (27 July 2019). "'Lore' & 'Forever' Cancelled By Amazon – TCA". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Bishop, Bryan (13 October 2017). "Lore proves podcasts can inspire disturbingly effective TV". The Verge. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke. Del Rey, $28 (320p) ISBN 978-1-5247-9796-6". PublishersWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Cabinet of Curiosities". Grim and Mild. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Unobscured". Grim and Mild. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.