Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This is Pub Songs & Stories by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. All songs are used with permission of the artists and copyright holders.
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Sep 28, 2026 · 25:04
Sally Brown sails in from Balscadden Bay. Those characters died... again.. in song. And Malloy gets his story told. Pub Songs & Stories tries something new: video. Music from…
Sep 15, 2026 · 41:14
A question about AI music. A debate over CDs, vinyl, and album pins. And a sci-fi drinking song that carries you home. Pub Songs & Stories returns with the tales behind the…
Jun 9, 2026 · 25:08
A solo bard on the Renaissance stage. A band called May Will Bloom joining the revelry. And the Georgia Renaissance Festival, alive with Celtic folk magic. Music from Marc Gunn,…
May 12, 2026 · 38:37
The old songs were written for a world that was supposed to last forever. One woman found a way to make music matter right now. And Thorin Oakenshield gets a proper farewell.…
Apr 2, 2026 · 50:39
A month without a voice. A question about Firefly Drinking Songs. And a highwayman riding the moor. Pub Songs & Stories returns with stories to tell, from the Celtic folk…
Mar 10, 2026 · 54:53
Irish Millie is wasted. The Brobdingnagian Bards are in love… with alcohol. And the Gothard Sisters will send you down the road with a smile. Every song has a story worth…
Feb 3, 2026 · 36:23
What do Irish rebel songs and Star Trek have in common? This week on Pub Songs & Stories, we raise a glass to courage, truth, and the songs that refuse to obey. From the Easter…
Nov 18, 2025 · 1:09:28
Geek-rock musician Mikey Mason joins me to talk about writing songs on schedule, his New Music Monday ritual, and how to stay creative every single week. Music by Caliceltic, May…
Nov 4, 2025 · 35:36
Over 3,000 stones rise from the fields of Carnac. They stand silent, waiting, like the trees of Fangorn Forest, patient and alive beneath their stillness. In this episode of…
Oct 21, 2025 · 24:55
The sea around Skellig Michael never rests. Waves slam the cliffs like a heartbeat, and mist rises from the rocks like breath from some sleeping giant. Eight miles off the Kerry…
Oct 7, 2025 · 34:50
The Quiraing is not a gentle place. Stone spires jut skyward, cliffs crumble toward the sea, and paths twist like they're still being carved by giants. It's a landscape that…
Sep 22, 2025 · 27:47
Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where songs remember what history forgets. I'm your bard, and today, we climb a legendary cliff—where myth and memory blur. To Tintagel. Some say King…
Sep 9, 2025 · 21:29
The Calf of Man, just off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. There's a decayed building there. And on its wall hangs a strange thing. A life preserver—round, red and white,…
Aug 26, 2025 · 26:52
Quest & Chorus is a six-part series where I share songs, stories, and places along with a game to make the adventure even more fun. This is the first episode in your quest. A…
Jul 1, 2025 · 28:39
Wanna hear a Harry Potter inspired cat song? Plus learn some facts about whether you should declaw your cat. Celebrate Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers' 20th anniversary with…
Jun 24, 2025 · 25:40
Make sure your cat is drinking water. Cats love to pounce. It's another 20th anniversary celebration of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers as I share the story behind "Lord of…
Jun 10, 2025 · 27:18
What happens when a kitty passes from this life to the next? It's filled with milk and catnip and all the luxuries a cat could possibly enjoy. Hear the story of "Catnipping…
Jun 3, 2025 · 25:00
Can cats become zombies, outside of Stephen King's Pet Sematary? Apparently, it happens in songs too. I'll share the story behind "Furagone's Wake" and another Cat Lovers Podcast…
May 31, 2025 · 28:19
We're celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. I'll share a story about "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling". You'll find out how about how my first…
May 28, 2025 · 27:32
2025 is the 20 year anniversary of the release of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. We're resharing the Cat Lovers Podcast along with stories about the song that launched that…
Apr 8, 2025 · 47:14
The Celtic Spring Challenge is underway. I will tell you all about it. I'm heading back to Texas for Sherwood Forest Faire. Buy local and buy sustainable. Music from Tami Curtis,…
Mar 12, 2025 · 40:41
St Patrick's Day is a week away. Listen to a fun concert of St Patrick's Day music. Irish songs with my own unique twist. This is Folk Songs & Stories #297 WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS…
Mar 4, 2025 · 29:24
St. Patrick's Day is almost here. So it's time to definitively answer the old question. Is it Saint Paddy's day or Saint Patty's day? Plus, I'll give you 17 amazing Celtic bands…
Feb 18, 2025 · 32:28
Today, you'll learn about 17 things you can see and do in Wicklow, Ireland. Plus you'll hear music from Eimear Arkins, The Ciderhouse Rebellion and Kyle Carey. This is Folk Songs…
Feb 4, 2025 · 36:14
Today, you'll learn about 17 things to see and do in Wexford, Ireland. Just in time for my Celtic Invasion of Wexford that happens in June. I share one of the best ways to make…
Jan 14, 2025 · 31:46
Today, I'm talking about… 9 Celtic Folk bands you want to watch in 2025. We also talk about simple actions we can take to combat climate change and improve our local community.…
Dec 23, 2024 · 1:12:57
Here's a holiday gift. It's a live concert from Dragon Con 2024. This is Pub Songs & Stories #292 0:09 - Marc Gunn & Mikey Mason "Hero of Christmas" from Browncoat Christmas 2:26…
Nov 19, 2024 · 33:56
Can album pins save the music business? I'll tell you what they're all about, why all musicians should be selling them, and how to get started with them. This is Pub Songs &…
Nov 5, 2024 · 33:18
So you want to go to the Isle of Man? Can you spend a full week there and find enough to do? I'll share with you 17 things you will enjoy on the Isle of Man. Plus, you'll get…
Jul 9, 2024 · 1:35:34
Is there an Irish birthday song? There is now. It's by Marc Gunn with the song "Happy Birthday From Ireland". Cedric of the Bedlam Bards hypnotizes with wit and charm. Then he…
Jul 2, 2024 · 1:14:05
True love lost at sea. I share the story behind "Buttercup's Lament" inspired by Princess Bride. You'll learn why you should watch out for wild boar in Italy, see what happens…
Jun 25, 2024 · 41:14
Have you ever read Lord of the Rings and noticed that each time the hobbits meet a new race along the road, it's the OLDEST RACE EVER?! I wrote a song about that bragging. There…
Jun 18, 2024 · 1:02:32
The modern image of the leprechaun is very different from the leprechaun of Irish legends. But times change and not everyone adapts as easily. That doesn't mean we shouldn't…
Jun 11, 2024 · 54:45
Vince Conaway shares his top 3 places to see in Italy along with some travel tips, and stories of busking in Italy. Music from Vince Conaway, Brobdingnagian Bards, and Ironwood.…
Apr 30, 2024 · 1:35:56
We're taking a journey today as I share the story of how I found myself playing Sci Fi Drinking Songs at science fiction conventions around the nation. This is Pub Songs &…
Mar 19, 2024 · 33:54
Pain is hard to deal with. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. You can get through it with maybe a little help from Doctor Who. We talk about my song Redemption. You can learn all…
Mar 12, 2024 · 27:50
Everything changes. But what do you do when your career, your life, your joy, comes to an end because everything must change. We're talking about the life of a scallop diver in…
Mar 5, 2024 · 31:21
Do you ever get nervous or anxious? Sometimes the toughest thing to do, to overcome your fear, is to just take those first steps forward. Come Adventure With Me is the title…
Feb 27, 2024 · 22:59
"If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing – and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Zoe's…
Feb 20, 2024 · 18:22
Is it all a game that we all fall into? Saffron certainly thinks so in "Our Mrs Reynolds from the TV show Firefly. Hear the story behind my song "Spiderwebs". We're also making…
Feb 13, 2024 · 26:40
Let's get Naked! Or at least I'll share a story of one of my songs inspired by an episode of Firefly. Plus, The Haar are featured on this week's show. This is Pub Songs & Stories…
Feb 6, 2024 · 28:50
They don't kill you in the normal sense of the word. Rather they feed off the life that might've been. My song, Blink is a parable about missing out on the best things in life.…
Nov 15, 2023 · 36:03
Imagine a holiday market for nerds and geeks. I talk with one of the creators of Nerdy Noel and share my own Nerdy Wonderland story. Plus, I have a new album on Kickstarter. It's…
Oct 19, 2023 · 23:21
Who was the red-headed queen of Ireland? Why did she assault the harpers of old? Author Rie Sheridan Rose tells the story behind her song "Soul of A Harper". New Star Trek…
Sep 18, 2023 · 41:28
Did I go drinking with hobbits this year? You bet I did. Hear all my stories escapades from Dragon Con 2023. Learn what new musical pin is in my store and how I'm keeping them…
Aug 28, 2023 · 33:14
Dragon Con weekend is back. There's Firefly, hobbits, Brobdingnagian Bards, musical pins and madness. Music from Marc Gunn, Wakefire, Brobdingnagian Bards, Mikey Mason. This is…
Aug 14, 2023 · 1:23:16
This pub is not a real Irish pub, but it's the most-authentic Irish pub that is not in Ireland. Enjoy music from Kinnfolk and Fire in the Glen. Learn when Coffee with The…
Jul 24, 2023 · 6:19
Greetings Gunn Runners, The Fall 2023 season of Pub Songs & Stories will be back on Mon Aug 14 at 6 PM Eastern. So mark your calendar and of course subscribe if you haven't done…
May 10, 2023 · 39:33
The first Friday of May is no pants day. Learn about the origins of this hilarious holiday, and if it was actually invented by a Scotsman in Glasgow in the early 1800s. I talk…
Apr 4, 2023 · 40:06
My goal is to get someone to share what I make. Highlight a new theme each week. Your mom is calling! Or is it? It might be a scammer. But I can help you protect yourself. Can we…
Mar 27, 2023 · 24:21
What happens when a traditional Irish song is rewritten about zombies? And I have CDs!!!! If you didn't say, "You have Cds…", you'll find out why it's important. It's kind of…
Mar 14, 2023 · 1:02:01
St Patrick's Day isn't just about drinking. But I will tell you the story of how I learned to write drinking songs so you can write your own… just sing along a little more…
Mar 3, 2023 · 1:10:54
The departure of the Irish from Ireland in the 1800s had some tragic consequences. Jamie Haeuser's songs "Men of New Basin Canal" and "Bridget's Prayer" dig into that. So we're…
Feb 14, 2023 · 45:02
Happy Valentine's Day! I have a love song story to share with you from my newest CD, Selcouth. Find how my next album, Come Adventure With Me, is progressing. I added another…
Jan 31, 2023 · 42:41
The itinerary for my Celtic Invasion of Westport, Ireland is now online. Find out what my Firefly song, "Blue Sun", has to do with Monopoly and Walmart. Get an Atlanta Food…
Jan 17, 2023 · 38:27
Was Robert Burns a Vulcan? Learn more about one of the most-famous songs by the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Get ready for the pub that's not really a pub. Catch a bus at a…
Jan 3, 2023 · 50:15
There are demons beneath your bed that are gonna eat you up this year. I am unofficially performing at GaFilk this weekend in Atlanta. And I count down the Best Celtic Bands of…
Dec 5, 2022 · 50:56
Little Lego Loki, Wizard Rock and more stories from The Blibbering Humdingers and Hawthorn and Holly. This is Pub Songs & Stories show #261. 0:13 - "A Man's A Man For A' That"…
Nov 14, 2022 · 38:05
Why do cats knock stuff off tables? I think I figured out the answer. I share it with my story and song about the Mingulay Cat Song. It's Pub Songs & Stories #260. Marc Gunn…
Oct 24, 2022 · 23:48
A Celtic Halloween ghost story. Can Death stop Johnny from grabbing a drink after a hard day at work? It's Pub Songs & Stories #259. WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES 0:10 - " Black…
Oct 3, 2022 · 31:15
Where are we going on the next Celtic Invasion Vacation? Listen and also enjoy some music related to the invasion. Plus, you'll learn what you can expect to experience when you…
Sep 5, 2022 · 13:57
West Side Story meets the TV show Firefly. We're digging into fake gallantry, a duel with swords, and fighting back against those who feel the need to control others. It's all on…
Aug 1, 2022 · 17:51
Do you have song lyrics that you wrote that could be set to music? Send them to me. Kelly and Mitchell did. Their song "Lads in the Shire" is on my new CD, Selcouth. We will tell…
Jun 20, 2022 · 50:38
Live podcast from Conjuration 2021. You will learn how I became a podcaster, how I moved from Renaissance festival musician to science fiction conventions. You'll find out what…
May 2, 2022 · 11:37
Are you like Bilbo Baggins? Do you love a good adventure? Will shaking up your life help you to find happiness? Subscribe to Pub Songs & Stories #254 to find out. WHO'S PLAYING…
Apr 18, 2022 · 11:27
Living literally or metaphorically in a war is a terrible way to live. How do you keep going forward when your friends are dying all around you? Come Adventure with me and my new…
Mar 28, 2022 · 48:08
The rock walls of Ireland make for a harrowing driving experience. Is it calamity or comedy? Do musicians love song requests or not? How to stand out with good food. The Lost…
Mar 13, 2022 · 1:00:03
Happy St Patrick's Day with an extra long episode. Jon Pilatzke shares some stories about the late Paddy Maloney of The Chieftains. The Muckers wrote a song on a Flogging Molly…
Feb 28, 2022 · 42:33
Liesel Wilson rediscovers her heritage with Welsh tunes and a story. This might just be the Golden Age of Celtic Music. If you could name your own beer, how would you pick the…
Feb 14, 2022 · 39:05
Eamonn Flynn shares a story about what he missed from home during the pandemic. Is streaming music good or bad? What does "buy local" mean anyway? How treating people with…
Jan 31, 2022 · 33:13
Get inspired by the famous Isle of Mist with a story by Duncan McLauchlan. You will learn the secret of why cats knock things over. Discover which two Celtic artists were added…
Jan 17, 2022 · 36:56
We're gonna countdown the Top 20 Celtic Bands and Musicians of 2021 in this first episode of the year. Learn about the Bright Side of Everything, the first official single from…
Dec 14, 2021 · 29:15
What's Yuletide? What's the difference between Yuletide and Christmas? What is Celtic Christmas music? Plus, hobbits show up in my latest Christmas single. It's all on Pub Songs…
Dec 7, 2021 · 23:41
Loreena McKennitt shares the story about how Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott" became a song on her 1991 album The Visit. Classic poetry and books are often used…
Nov 16, 2021 · 28:31
How a musician saved the lives of hundreds of people on a sinking cruise ship. A story of bravery, leadership, and extreme cowardice. Is Wild Mountain Thyme an Scottish song or…
Nov 9, 2021 · 26:02
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer play music for Contra Dances. Find out why there aren't more songs sung at such dances. What is the D song? Marc Gunn shares how a New Orleans jam session…
Oct 27, 2021 · 20:23
Jim McKenna shares a lament for Irish famine victims and his relatives. Bugs Bunny gets chased by Witch Hazel in a song by Marc Gunn. It's Pub Songs & Stories #242. WHO'S PLAYING…
Oct 18, 2021 · 21:17
Murphy's Law happens to the best of us including most musicians, but the Homespun Ceilidh Band turned a bunch of funny stories inspired by the Law into a fun song. Marc Gunn…
Oct 11, 2021 · 21:19
Be careful when visiting the Fairy Forts of Ireland. You could become a permanent resident, imprisoned by the fae. Some folk find it difficult to express themselves. A lot like…
Oct 4, 2021 · 13:35
Leo of Brazil psychedelic Irish band Harmundi shares how an improvisational set of tunes turned into their brand new single. Marc Gunn infuses a traditional Irish song with a…
Sep 20, 2021 · 1:15:57
I share my concerns and happy surprise with a successful Dragon Con. Plus, you'll get a live, end-of-con concert courtesy of the Digital Media Track. There are some traditional…
Sep 13, 2021 · 13:19
Empty Hats share how they rewrote a traditional, off color song about magicians for a modern age. Marc Gunn shares a song about the son of a werewolf from Harry Potter. WHO'S…
Aug 30, 2021 · 14:01
Before you fill up a jug with whiskey, make sure you clean it out first. That's the lesson from Band O'Brothers. Or is it? And curiosity just might kill you when you are out in…
Aug 23, 2021 · 17:46
Who was the original Braveheart and how Tuatha Dea is reclaiming that title from William Wallace? Plus, we sing a tribute to Robert the Bruce with one of Robert Burns'…
Aug 16, 2021 · 36:26
Matt & Shannon Heaton share how a beautiful tune blossomed from a pile of dirt. Elizabeth Sutherland was inspired by the selkie of Scotland. I share the story behind my own song…
Jul 12, 2021 · 41:09
How an old Irish warning about drinking too late made its way into a fun Irish song. Tartanic teaches you how bagpipe tunes are named. And if your actions are cruel and…
Jun 14, 2021 · 35:46
Was the harp banned by Queen Elizabeth? Hear the origins of the song Soul of a Harper by Rie Sheridan Rose. Songwriting as a parent offers its own special joys, songs about the…
May 17, 2021 · 37:38
Star of the County Down and how a great melody found its way into an obscure hymn. Troosers vs trousers and a double meaning in a great mashup of songs. Welcome to Pub Songs &…
May 3, 2021 · 33:28
Many Irish Americans were refugees. Hear how an Irish band is giving back to help refugees displaced from their native lands. How a little eavesdropping on a conversation led to…
Apr 19, 2021 · 33:26
From sea shanties to Renaissance festivals. A Scottish song gets a New Orleans makeover. Jesse Ferguson imagines the sailors that were part of the fur trade in Canada. Heather…
Apr 5, 2021 · 32:21
What is Tartan Day. Why I love the kilt. Song failure in a filk circle. The fake history of No Pants Day. And Kyf Brewer shares a Tartan Day catastrophe on a golf course. Welcome…
Mar 15, 2021 · 29:51
You get a St Patrick's Day Concert for 2021 today on Pub Songs & Stories podcast. Welcome to Pub Songs & Stories, the Virtual Public House for Celtic culture through music. I am…
Mar 5, 2021 · 32:13
We are sharing St Patrick's Day stories like St Patrick probably never drank green beer. No really. A deeper look at my Selcouth song "Breathing". A love story from na Skylark.…
Feb 15, 2021 · 38:31
We're counting down the top 10 Celtic bands you want to listen to for St Patrick's Day 2021. Plus music from We Banjo 3, Lissa Schneckenburger, Screaming Orphans. Welcome to the…
Feb 2, 2021 · 26:06
Let me sing for you a countdown of the Top 5 Irish drinking songs today on Pub Songs Podcast. Welcome to the Pub Songs Podcast, the Virtual Public House for Celtic Geek culture.…
Jan 21, 2021 · 40:25
We're celebrating the National Poet of Scotland, the great Robert Burns for Burns' Day. Why this Scottish-American wears a kilt. The secret behind how No Pants Day was formed.…
Jan 5, 2021 · 34:22
St Patrick's Day comes early. Kilkelly, Ireland as a single. Johnny Jump Up as a folk song and as a Celtic rock song by Tuatha de Danann. Find out how you can get a FREE St…
Dec 15, 2020 · 29:57
Celtic Christmas music. The return of the Celtic Christmas Podcast and playlists. Holiday interview with graphic artist Miranda Nelson. And the hardest songs to record. Welcome…
Dec 1, 2020 · 26:44
The comical history of Rosin the Bow. My failure as a podcaster. What on Middle-earth is a "smial"? A Doctor Whovian Spotlight on Matt Hughes. Welcome to the Pub Songs Podcast,…
Nov 17, 2020 · 36:33
The bothies of Scotland, the true nature of Celtic Heartstrings, genetic counseling and an interview with Mikey Mason about our new single, "Hero of Christmas." It's all on the…
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Your podcast? Get the Podli badge for your site
