Two (originally children's) tales that underscore the shocking brutality of the world in which these stories were told. The first one is that of three roommates: a sausage, a bird, and a mouse, who decide to mix things up for once. The second is the Robber Bridegroom, a story where a woman has to marry a man who horrifies her...and the lengths she'll go to in order to get out of it. The creature is the Roperite, a vengeful, narcissistic bird who just can't get over the Roadrunner's good luck. --...
Dec 18, 2019•38 min
The story of a weaving contest between a goddess and a woman challenging the cruelty and tyranny of the Olympians leads us into three more stories: Pandora's box; the great flood of the ancient Greek world; and the love story of Idas and Marpessa, two people who saw the gods taking whatever and whoever they wanted, and said "no." The creature this week is the rolling calf. It's neither rolling nor a calf. Discuss. -- Music: “Dense” by Podington Bear “At Our Best Alone” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cons...
Dec 11, 2019•41 min
A short supplemental that finishes the story of Lady White Snake...because there wasn't enough story left for a full episode. There's still a full Myths and Legends episode coming out on Wednesday! The Myths and Legends store: http://www.mythpodcast.com/store Music: "Louver" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 09, 2019•11 min
Xu Xian is dead. He discovered the truth about his wife and he died. I mean, yeah, he's dead...but he's also unwittingly married to a 1700 year old magical demon snake on a redemption arc, so...you know...something might happen. Seriously, though, this is a packed episode. There are magical (if not wholly unexpected) resurrections, crustacean armies, Doctor Strange ripoffs, and that's just in the first half. The creature this time is the suppon no yūrei, and probably a good idea to give up eatin...
Dec 04, 2019•32 min
The legend of the White Snake is one of the four great folktales of China. Today, we start that with an act of kindness, demons lurking in the places we can’t look, and a (misguided?) monk hoping to bring justice. When the creature this week has time off, it prefers crashing funerals and projectile vomiting on strangers. Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
Nov 27, 2019•35 min
There's a surprising amount to the story of Hansel and Gretel. There's your average fairy tale weirdness, like load-bearing cake and aquatic duck Uber, but there's an unexpected humanity in the story that I think is overlooked. I hope you like it. The creature is punyaiama, from India, and she's the reason you can't get drunk in your own home. -- "Re:Joyce" by Podington Bear "Running on Empty" by Podington Bear "Tarnish" by Podington Bear "Warbled Reflection" by Podington Bear "The Snowgarden" b...
Nov 20, 2019•35 min
The story of the 47 Ronin is a historical tale where a powerful daimyo is shamed and killed by a greedy official…the only issue? The victim had dozens of loyal samurai, and they’re not about to forget what happened to the man they served. The creature is Pricolici, from Romania, a were-dog that is anything but man’s best friend. -- “Bell Solo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cicle Vascule” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cover Letter” by Blue Dot Sessions “Doubled” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vik Fenceta Lan” by Blue Dot...
Nov 13, 2019•38 min
Two stories from Japanese folklore today dealing with the consequences of our actions. The first has a woman chasing a dumpling across her floor…and into a mysterious, far-away land. The second is what happens when a horrible tragedy brings two people together…only to have their fates tear them apart. The creature is the Peluda, a vicious turtle dragon (not Bowser, though) who’s mad about not being allowed on Noah’s ark. He’s working out his emotions in…less than healthy ways (by killing everyth...
Nov 06, 2019•33 min
There's something in the forest in 16th century Scotland. It's been there for years. Anyone who sees it doesn't live to tell about it, and it moves seamlessly between land and sea, leaving nothing but body parts in its wake. With a body count in the thousands, it's a legendary historical horror story that's supposedly true. The creature is a goblin spider. It's a goblin who's also a spider...or, is it? We'll see that things aren't always what they seem on an extended creature of the week. -- Mus...
Oct 30, 2019•37 min
The story of Rip Van Winkle is more than just a guy taking a long, alcohol-induced nap. It's a story about a changing time and a man struggling to keep up. It's a story about lost love and and a second chance. It's a story about one of the most insufferable fictional protagonists that you didn't know you hated: Rip Van Winkle. The creature is the Polong, from Malaysian folklore, the little one-inch tall woman who will cut a hole in your side and just run around inside you, messing all sorts of t...
Oct 23, 2019•32 min
This week, we’re back on the boat to the Trojan War where Agamemnon has a problem. I mean, he always has a lot of problems, but this one involves a bunch of warriors with nothing to do but wait for the winds to pick up, and they're not going to pick up until Agamemnon does what needs to be done. The creature this week is pollo maligno, the evil chicken. He's honestly perfect for this segment. -- Music: “Triana” by Blue Dot Sessions “Matamoscas” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vela Vela” by Blue Dot Sessio...
Oct 16, 2019•32 min
Jack the giant killer is back, and he’s less Jack the giant killer than Jack the let’s-just-sit-here-and-let-the-giants-die-from-their-own-unforced-errors guy. That’s way less catchy, though. The creature (pixui) is a constipated robber with daddy issues. -- Music: “Popism” by Blue Dot Sessions “The Gall” by Podington Bear “Mello D” by Podington Bear “Flatlands 4th” by Blue Dot Sessions “Twosome” by Podington Bear “Scallat” by Podington Bear “Rope Swing” by Podington Bear “Indian Paintbrush” by ...
Oct 09, 2019•34 min
Two stories, one from Italy, one from England. In the one from italy, Costanza is born which would usually be pretty great...except her parents are already in retirement and have given everything away to her older sisters, so she sets out on her own in the wild medieval world. The second story is Molly Whuppie, whose parents have left her and her two sisters in the forest to die. Then things get worse. The creature this week is hoop snake, a snake that's a hoop and also really confused as to why...
Oct 02, 2019•38 min
Two stories of terrible parents. One decides to get rich by strapping a gemstone to an infant's head, and the other let her son do whatever he wanted until the day came when she needed him to do one little thing: babysit a chicken. It did not go well. The creature is the phooka, from Ireland, and it will fly you to the moon...but not in the charming Sinatra way, but in the literal way where you suffocate. -- Music: “Wonder Happens” by Podington Bear “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “High...
Sep 25, 2019•39 min
Hrolf Kraki must avenge his father by confronting his step-father...and brother-in-law. Don't worry, though, the weirdness of last week gets ironed out when we enter more familiar territory for the Viking legends. Our wonderful one-eyed wanderer makes an appearance, kings battle kings, and berserkers battle trolls, draugr, other berserkers, random bystanders, and, well, just about everyone. The creature this week is Penny Dragon, a dragon that will leave you pennies and maybe also burn down your...
Sep 18, 2019•36 min
We’re back in the Norse Sagas with witches, trolls, Norns, magic, elves, and this one-eyed wanderer who definitely isn’t named Odin but have you heard about how awesome Odin is? No? We’ll he’s happy to tell you. This is the saga of Hrolf Kraki and his twelve legendary berserkers. The creature is the reason you should actually follow that strange creature into the dark forest (free all-you-can-eat shrimp!) — Music: “Keo Keo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Convoy Lines” by Blue Dot Sessions “Degradation” b...
Sep 11, 2019•38 min
A boy is born, fated to be one who brings strife. Two sons seek to outrun a family curse. A wife is spared the grisly fates of her husband and son...only if she will marry the one who committed the atrocities. A daughter is saved from certain death...by judgy ducks. These are the stories of the names that would go down in legend: Odysseus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Clytemnestra, and Penelope, and their lives before the event that would make them all famous: the Trojan War. The creature this week is a...
Sep 04, 2019•38 min
Things are going well for King Arthur for once. He’s in complete control over the island of Great Britain, he’s got a bunch of awesome knights, and dragon attacks are down. What could go wrong? King Arthur should know to never ever ask that question, because twelve men from the definitely not defunct and/or fictional Roman Empire are here to show him exactly what can go wrong. The creature this time is orphan bird, because when you can turn a bird that abandons her children into an religious all...
Aug 28, 2019•32 min
Faust decides that if he's going to have these powers, he's really going to enjoy them so, in no particular order, he gives himself: A Doctor Strange cloak Telekinesis A demon common law wife and baby A get-out-of-debt plan that involves humorously tearing off his own limbs And grapes. In the winter. Crazy, right? Seriously, though, we take the somewhat more grounded story of last week...and then completely go off the rails while Faust (and the writer of the chapbook...mostly the writer of the c...
Aug 21, 2019•38 min
The story of Faust and his infamous deal is one that has survived for hundreds of years. Beginning as whispers in Germany in the 1500s, it grew to plays and, most famously, a play by the German writer Goethe, largely considered to be one of the greatest works of German literature. The story has been done and redone, and the phase Faustian bargain is still in use to this day. In today's episode, we're getting back to the very beginning - to the legends behind the masterpieces, and the story of a ...
Aug 14, 2019•32 min
From the end of the world to the underworld and Armageddon itself, Kalevipoeg does way too many things. The creature will throw acres of caustic feces in your direction. Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
Aug 07, 2019•33 min
From the Estonian epic, the Kalevipoeg, comes the story of, well, Kalevipoeg, the son of a giant who battles sorcerers who are trying to get with his mom and throws rocks the size of Volkswagens to win the kingship, all while trying to carve out a place in the world for his people and his homeland. The creature this week is an annoying piggyback ride from a stranger in the dark forest and why you should go along with that. - -- Music: “Light Filtering Canopy” by Chad Crouch “The Pond” by Chad Cr...
Jul 31, 2019•29 min
Why you absolutely should take the biggest peach you can find in the supermarket and sing to it. It might just hatch a baby! Unfortunately your fairy tale baby will do what fairy tale babies do: grow up and hear that call to adventure, going out to seek their fortune, taking no more than a plucky attitude and an angry dog to battle the evils of the world. The creature this time is Batman...if Batman was a literal bat who turned into an old man. — Music “Adventure” by Chad Crouch “Coin Op” by Cha...
Jul 17, 2019•39 min
The monkey king has done it all: he was immortal, he had allied with all the mythological creatures he could find, and he controlled an army 40,000 strong...but heaven didn't care about any of that. They were coming for him, whether or not it was legal, and there was nothing he could do to stop them. The creature this week is a big, angry, hairy unicorn with a...weird surprise. -- Music: “Cicle Desert” by Blue Dot Sessions “Wide Eyes” by Chad Crouch “Illustrated Novel” by Chad Crouch “Pythagoras...
Jul 10, 2019•38 min
Sun Wukong, the (Handsome) Monkey King, is both an actual monkey and an actual king…and presumably handsome according to whatever standard that is judged. One of the most famous anti-heroes of Chinese literature, we start his story, and the story of the extremely famous “Journey to the West” at the beginning, with the story of the monkey’s rock mom on the Flower-Fruit mountain. The creature this week is the ningyo, the human fish. It’s neither human nor a fish, but it is a tired introvert who ju...
Jul 03, 2019•36 min
A dark story gets darker as Antigone battles an authoritarian state in the form of her uncle Creon. -- All music by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
Jun 26, 2019•31 min
When we last left the Oedipus family, they all found out they were more related than they ever thought possible. It's somehow about to get even worse. -- Music: "An Unknown Visitor" by Blue Dot Sessions "Daisy" by Chad Crouch "Lilac" by Chad Crouch "Seafoam" by Chad Crouch "Trailrunner" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dasher" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
Jun 19, 2019•36 min
The story of Tatterhood is unlike any I've ever read on the podcast, and it's so excellent. The problem? I can't really say much without ruining the story. So check it out, you won't be disappointed. The creature is the tomcod, a catfish that's actually a catfish. It's a lot more off-putting than you'd think. -- "Wavy Glass” by Podington Bear “Fantasy and Denouement” by Podington Bear “Go to Sleep” by Podington Bear “Sandcastle” by Chad Crouch “Rice” by Chad Crouch “Periwinkle” by Chad Crouch “L...
Jun 12, 2019•34 min
We're back on the road to the Trojan War, with the story of Achilles. Starting from when his father interrupted the ritual to make him immortal, we'll follow him as he goes to that epic Greek daycare run by Chiron and watch as his mother tries to keep him away from the war that is beginning to consume the Greek world. -- Music: "Clouds at the Gap" by Blue Dot Sessions "Adventure" by Podington Bear "Um Pepino" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tillis County" by Blue Dot Sessions "Falcon Hood" by Podington Be...
Jun 05, 2019•41 min
King Olaf has a new guest...named Guest. Guest has a story, an impossible story of gods, giants, and heroes from a time long past. If it's true, it could change everything King Olaf thought he knew about himself, his people, and his history. If it's not true, well, at least it's still a good story. -- Music: "Campfire Rounds" by Blue Dot Sessions "Watercool Quiet" by Blue Dot Sessions "At All Ends" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership...
May 29, 2019•35 min
