A Tisket-Tasket Podcast

Mar 28 2024
A Tisket-Tasket Podcast artwork

Have you ever wondered why we sing about such weird things to our children? Songs about babies falling out of trees? Mice running up clocks? An egg falling off a wall? English nursery rhymes can seem so strange today. Join language scholar Gina as she explores the historical and cultural meanings behind some of the most popular nursery rhymes. Each episode delves into the origins and significance of the world's most popular nursery stories. 

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Season 2 Bonus Content - Four Functions of Folklore Discussion & Review of 1954 Bascom Article

Mar 28 2024 30 mins  
🎙️ Dive deep into the fascinating world of folklore with host Gina in this episode of "A Tisket-Tasket Podcast." Gina reviews an insightful article by renowned folklorist William Bascom on the functions of folklore, exploring its social context, cultural significance, and educational value. With a passion for nursery rhymes and folklore, Gina provides engaging commentary on Ba

Season 2, Episode 8: Five Little Ducks

Mar 04 2024 8 mins  
🎙️ Dive into the enchanting world of nursery rhymes with A Tisket-Tasket podcast hosted by Gina! 🦆 In this episode, Gina explores the delightful rhyme "Five Little Ducks," taking you through its history, origins, and the fascinating story behind its creation by Canadian singer and lyricist Raffi. Uncover the magic of this nursery rhyme that engages children with finger play

Season 2: Episode 7: 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Feb 26 2024 30 mins  
In this podcast episode, Gina delves into the intriguing history of the nursery rhyme "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." While exploring various versions of the rhyme, she highlights its cautionary theme for parents and children. Gina uncovers potential historical connections, suggesting similarities with an Austrian song and an African American folk song, "Shortening Bread.

Season 2: Episode 6 - Steve Roud Interview Part 2

Feb 19 2024 25 mins  
Dive into the enchanting world of folk songs and nursery rhymes in the latest episode of A Tisket-Tasket Podcast with your host Gina! In an engaging conversation with renowned folklorist Steve Roud, creator of the Roud Folk Song Index, Gina explores the intricacies of cataloging and understanding the historical roots of these timeless tunes. Gain insights into the meticulous proces

Season 2: Episode 5 - Interview with Steve Roud Part 1

Feb 12 2024 39 mins  
In this fascinating "A Tisket-Tasket" episode, renowned folklorist and historian Steve Roud engages in a captivating conversation with host Gina about his extensive work on folk songs, nursery rhymes, and the intricacies of folklore. With a career spanning decades, Roud shares insights into the process of creating the Folk Song Index, a comprehensive database of over 360,000 entrie

Season 2: Episode 4 - Hush Little Baby

Feb 05 2024 26 mins  
Embark on a musical journey through time with the latest episode of "A Tisket-Tasket Podcast," where host Gina unravels the captivating history of the beloved nursery rhyme, "Hush Little Baby." From surprising origins to diverse interpretations, this episode explores the rich tapestry of cultural influences that have shaped this timeless lullaby. Join the conversation by sharing yo

Season 2: Epsiode 3 - Bye Baby Bunting

Jan 29 2024 18 mins  
Embark on an enchanting journey through nursery rhyme history with Gina, the charismatic host of the "A Tisket-Tasket" podcast, in this captivating episode dedicated to the classic lullaby "Bye Baby Bunting." Unveiling the rhyme's origins, historical presence, and surprising twists, Gina takes listeners on a delightful exploration that goes beyond the familiar lyrics. From tracing

Season 2, Episode 2: Monday's Child

Jan 08 2024 13 mins  
In this episode of the A Tisket-Tasket podcast, host Gina delves into the history and significance of the nursery rhyme "Monday's Child." Exploring its origins and superstitious elements, Gina discusses how the rhyme, collected by John Orchard Halliwell in 1838, serves as both an educational tool for children to learn the days of the week and a predictor of a child's fortune based

Season 2, Episode 1: A New Year's Introduction

Jan 01 2024 7 mins  
Gina, the host of the "A Tisket-Tasket" podcast, kicks off Season 2 with an introduction episode. Despite battling bronchitis, she recaps the highlights of the past year, including episodes on nursery rhyme origins, historical facts, and themed months like horror stories in October and holiday carols in December. Gina shares her plans for 2024, teasing upcoming themes like babies,

Episode 45: Auld Lang Syne

Dec 25 2023 15 mins  
In the final episode of A Tisket-Tasket podcast for 2023, host Gina explores the history and cultural significance of the traditional New Year's song, "Auld Lang Syne." Starting the podcast as a means to cope with anxiety and depression related to chronic health issues, Gina reflects on 45 episodes and a conference presentation throughout the year. Delving into the origins of the s