Bone and Sickle, hosted by Al Ridenour with dramatic readings by Sarah Chavez as Mrs. Karswell, explores historical folklore and horror through stories drawn from historical texts. The show has 165 episodes, released roughly every 23 days, with typical episodes of 30 to 60 minutes. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, implying a rate of $40 to $200 per episode.
Engaged, literate horror-folklore audience with a highly rated, long-running show
- 292 Apple Podcasts ratings with a 4.8 average across 165 episodes.
- Episodes run 30 to 60 minutes with high-end soundscapes and original music.
- Listeners respond to scholarly, carefully researched seasonal and historical topics.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, solo monologue, co-hosted banter, dramatic reading
- Tone
- erudite, macabre
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 35 to 50 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
The website lists a Support page, a Store with the author's books and merchandise, and Patreon-style support is implied by the Support link, with no sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Episodes such as 'Robert the Devil' and 'Trolls in Medieval Literature' cover grotesque and violent folklore, so the show is not fully family friendly, though the content is historical and literary rather than graphic.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.boneandsickle.com |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1375785636 |
| Spotify | open.spotify.com/show/3ieOeQJEmQDd3SjKh4A3vC?si=… |
| RSS feed | www.boneandsickle.com/feed/podcast/ |
| YouTube | www.youtube.com/@boneandsickle360 |
Benchmark score: 8 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Born with a Veil | 2026-08-15 | 39 min |
| The Dog-Head Saint | 2026-07-05 | 40 min |
| Robert the Devil: Medieval Legend, Gothic Opera | 2026-06-06 | 46 min |
| Trolls in Medieval Literature | 2026-04-27 | 46 min |
| Trolls (Pt. 1) | 2026-03-07 | 49 min |
| Rhymes for Those Who Can Neither Read Nor Run | 2026-01-31 | 37 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 65 days ago, a new one about every 23 days.
BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from historical texts. Narratives are given dramatic readings by “Mrs. Karswell” (Sarah Chavez) backed by richly produced soundscapes blending original…
About Bone and Sickle
Bone and Sickle is a history and folklore podcast hosted by Al Ridenour, a writer and researcher, with dramatic readings by Sarah Chavez as Mrs. Karswell, according to the show's website. It explores folklore and horror through stories drawn from historical texts, with original music and sound design. The show has released 165 episodes, roughly once or twice a month, with episodes of 30 to 60 minutes.
The show holds a 4.8 average from 292 ratings on Apple Podcasts. Listener size is an estimate only, placed at about 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode, based on the Apple rating count and show age. No sponsors appear in the feed or recent episodes; the website sells books and merchandise and offers a support page.
At an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll would run about $40 to $200 per episode. Brands in publishing, seasonal horror products, and arts and culture are the most natural fits for this audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Bone and Sickle can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Bone and Sickle
How much does Bone and Sickle charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at about $40 to $200 per episode. Rates are estimates derived from listener size, not a published price.
What is Bone and Sickle about?
Bone and Sickle explores historical folklore and horror, with stories drawn from historical texts, dramatic readings, and original soundscapes. Episodes typically run 30 to 60 minutes.
How do I contact Bone and Sickle about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80, and boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
Similar creators
Podcast and other creators in folklore, ranked by score.
| Creator | Niches | Est. downloads | Median views | Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Morbid Curiosity Podcastpodcast | true crimehistory | 5k | – | $40–200 | 16 |
| religionfolklore | 15k | – | $90–620 | 11 | |
Urban Legendspodcast | urban legendsfolklore | 5k | – | $40–200 | 11 |