243B-King Arthur: Double Trouble
Arthur has been kidnapped. Guinevere's evil twin is at large. The kingdom is thrown into chaos. Their hope rests with a bunch of knights putting others first and doing the right thing. Yeah, they're pretty much doomed. The creature is a soft-bodied, vampire hunter with crazy black hair. Finally, a Halloween costume I can pull off. -- Sponsors: Zocdoc: Go to http://zocdoc.com/myths and downl...
41m Oct 27, 2021
41m
243A-King Arthur: Doppel-Gwen-er
The story of Queen Guinevere as she goes from princess, to queen, to convict. The creature is the Ciguapa, from Haitian and Dominican folklore, and you'll see that if you're asking which monsters to follow into the dark forest, you're kind of already making questionable decisions. -- Sponsors: [Gravely voice] Check out The Sandman: Act Two on Audible by going to http://audible.com/dreaming ...
39m Oct 20, 2021
39m
242-Albanian Folklore: Two Roads
The story of Zjermi, Handa, the dragon Kuchedra, and about a hundred naked armpit angels from Albania. When it comes to the creature this week, look, we all need our "me" time, just don't transform your children into sleepy foxes to get it. -- Sponsors: Headspace: Get one month free of their entire meditation library at http://headspace.com/legends! Bombas: Get 20% off your first order at ...
42m Oct 13, 2021
42m
241-African Folklore: Hippopotamaster
In a story from the folklore of the Sorko people who lived along the Niger river in West Africa, a hippo is causing all sorts of trouble. I mean, hippos are dangerous, but ones that can sprout ovens on their back and shoot fire streams like some kind of final-evolution Pokemon mean this village needs a hero. The creature is Babamik! She's a deranged murderer who had it all...until her daughter...
41m Oct 06, 2021
41m
240B-German Fairy Tales: Heart of Stone
The conclusion of "A Heart of Stone" by Wilhelm Hauff, where we see what happens when Peter Munk, out of options after threatening the Little Glass Man, turns to the devil to help himself through dire circumstances. The creature, the okuri-inu (送り犬) is a dog that might help you out when you need it most...because when it comes to killing you, this dog has dibs. -- Links: Disclaimer and sour...
43m Sep 29, 2021
43m
240A-German Fairy Tales: Man of Glass
A German fairy tale about striving, falling short, and then seeking help from dangerous mythological creatures to help you pick up the slack. The creature is Azrail, the giant who is terrible at fighting. -- Sponsors: Butcherbox: Get free ground beef for life! Sign up at http://butcherbox.com/myths and get two pounds of ground beef free in every order for the life of your membership. Grubh...
36m Sep 22, 2021
36m
239-Grimm: Give them a Hand
Three stories from the Grimm brothers of people helping someone out. Sometimes that goes well. Other times you end up with an indescribable urge to bury your nose in filth and hunt for truffles. The creatures are three generations of sleazy Irish water creatures on a redemption arc. -- Post/disclaimer: https://myths.link/239 Shakespeare bandages: https://myths.link/insult-bandages Twitter:...
44m Sep 15, 2021
44m
238-Indian Folklore: Blue Raja
A story from India about what happens when a murder cult who turns intruders into dogs moves in across the river and why you should get as far away as possible...because of the murder cult that turns people into dogs. The creature is Bolster the giant! He has fun festivals celebrating him (dying)! -- Sponsors: Simplisafe! Save 20% off your Simplisafe system and get your first month free whe...
44m Sep 08, 2021
44m
237B-Odyssey Finale: To Strive, to Seek, to Find, and not to Yield
Odysseus confronts the suitors, and our long journey comes to its end. The creatures (Bakwas and Dzunukwa) just want to make you a roommate in their strange, invisible house. Or kill you. Or both. -- Sponsors: Halo Collar: Go to http://shophalocollar.com/myths to save 20% on your Halo Collar! Grubhub: Check it out! Order through the Grubhub app or online at http://grubhub.com Butcherbox: ...
44m Sep 01, 2021
44m
237A-Odyssey Finale: The Shape of Things to Come
Odysseys finally landed on Ithaca, but, with 120 angry, armed men in his house who want his wife and life, can he survive his homecoming?
37m Aug 25, 2021
37m
236-French Fairy Tale: Piece of Cake
This week, we're in French fairy tales with queen who prepared her daughter for the world a little too well, and to the queen's despair she doesn't want to marry, choosing to rely instead on her own strength and judgement. Oh, and also there are griffin fights, dragons, sphinxes, giant turkey chariots, evil fairies, and cat-riding mythological dwarves. It's a big week. The creature is a toad f...
44m Aug 18, 2021
44m
235-Korean Folklore: Ghost Story
Three stories from Korean folklore! On the first, a boy loves collecting stories, but no one really taught him proper story care, so they went the way of so many carnival goldfish. On the second, a young man protests his unfair (and kind of murdery) working conditions...by turning his boss's lunchbox into a toilet. On the third, there are people, there are cows, and no one can tell the two apar...
44m Aug 11, 2021
44m
234-Scandinavian Folklore: Trolling
Trolls and Mermen! We're in Denmark and Iceland for two fun folktales.
45m Aug 04, 2021
45m
233C-King Arthur: Not Dead Yet
We finish up our current run of King Arthur episodes with the most evil castle in the land having fallen...maybe. Some knights will learn that the threat might not be so far removed, and Lancelot meets the dastardly commander of the Dolorous Guard...who might actually be pretty terrible at his job of being terrible. The creature is the Yech, a tiny shapeshifting cat in a top hat! Who wants to ...
37m Jul 28, 2021
37m
233B-King Arthur: 'Tis But a Scratch
The white knight, the boy with no name, goes up against the murderous Dolorous Guard.
43m Jul 21, 2021
43m
233A-King Arthur: The Boy with No Name
We're back in the world of King Arthur! It's been too long, and if you haven't heard our King Arthur stories (or it's been a while) then this is the perfect place to jump in. A beginner-friendly episode that kind of resets our timeline. I'm so excited to be getting back into the stories of Arthur and his knights because there are so many good ones still left to tell. The creature is the hairy,...
41m Jul 14, 2021
41m
232-Robin Hood: Public Enemy
Robin decides that, you know what he needs? To walk directly into the home of his greatest enemies. Nothing bad can come from this. Nothing bad at all. The creature is the Wolpertinger, a German chimera who might help you solve some problems...but at the expense of your soul. -- Links: Tortilla blanket: https://myths.link/tortillas Twitter: https://myths.link/twitter Store: https://myths....
47m Jul 07, 2021
47m
231-Irish Folklore: Challenge Accepted
Two stories from Ireland: a giant in a onesie and a leprechaun getting tricked for once.
35m Jun 30, 2021
35m
230-Grimm: A Hairy Situation
A story from the Brothers Grimm about an evil king and a bad penny of a kid who's apparently unkillable. Oh, and prophesied to marry his daughter. The creature is a squirrel who wants to surprise you and shove psychotropic substances up your nose. -- Links! Left-handed candle: https://myths.link/lefties Twitter: https://myths.link/twitter Store: https://myths.link/store Membership: https...
34m Jun 23, 2021
34m
229-Monkey King: Forbidden Fruit
We're back in the story of the Monkey King and the Journey to the West. After picking up Sandy, the sand monster and final member of their party, the guys haven't seen a soul for two months. All that will change with a mysterious stop in the forest. The creature is the Wilser dragon, where the only thing more dangerous than fighting it...is killing it. -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: http://simpli...
46m Jun 16, 2021
46m
228-Italian Folklore: Full Circle
Two tales from Straparola, where we'll see someone beat con men at their own game, and three scoundrels who try to win...by losing.
41m Jun 09, 2021
41m
227-Greek/Roman Mythology: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Olympus
Two stories from Greek/Roman mythology this week with the (not remotely) love story of Apollo and Daphne as well as the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, where we'll see that a wall can bring people together as well as keep them apart. The creature is the Bakru, from Suriname, a mythological creature in the form of a child that stopped on the way to becoming a real boy and you can also hire him to b...
35m Jun 02, 2021
35m
226-European Folklore: Failing Upward
This week, it's the story of Fortunatus, the man who, bet you could never guess from his name, was given an inexhaustible fortune, and how things kind of went off the rails for him and his kids. The creature is Babi, from Egyptian mythology, who's as dedicated to your love life as he is to cracking you open like a coconut and feasting on your innards. -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: http://simplis...
45m May 26, 2021
45m
225-Egyptian Folklore: Kitchen Nightmare
The Egyptian folktale of a young woman who's not messing around. After fleeing her home, she only sees one way to live free: become a monster that haunts the wild. The creature is what happens when a jaguar and a human have a happy marriage...and a very unhappy mother-in-law. -- Sponsors: Check out Best Fiends on the App Store or Google Play by going to http://bestfiends.com Daily Harvest:...
34m May 19, 2021
34m
224-African Folklore: It's the Great Pumpkin, Kiali
A story from Africa about a hunt for a murderer that goes off the rails very quickly with talking animals...and giant, sad pumpkins.
32m May 12, 2021
32m
223B-Samurai Legends: Dinner Party
Four samurai warriors do some arts and crafts and go to a demon dinner party.
50m May 05, 2021
50m
223A-Samurai Legends: The Devil went down to Kyoto
Three connected stories of samurai from medieval Japan. On the first, Kintaro, a buff eight-year-old, discovers his destiny. On the second, Watanabe no Tsuna, a samurai warrior in his prime fights a demon that's been terrorizing a gate in Kyoto, and on the third he's recruited by Minamoto no Raiko to follow a magical floating skull to a dilapidated haunted house. All these lead into next week, ...
40m Apr 28, 2021
40m
222B-Norse Legends: It Takes a Pillage
A packed episode with Thor, Odin, mythological dwarves, sword arms, and Valhalla, all ending up with a beautiful double wedding...which ends somehow worse than the last time we visited a giant wedding on this podcast. We're finishing up the saga of Egil and Asmund. The creature this time is little mucus boy, and if you're a villain, you don't want to get caught monologuing around this sticky, ...
45m Apr 21, 2021
45m
222A-Norse Legends: The Land of the Ice and Snow
Thor! Jotunheim! Giants! Draugr! We're back in Norse Mythology with an epic Viking tale.
40m Apr 14, 2021
40m
221-Chinese/Scottish folklore: The Great Beyond
Two stories about death and what comes next, from China and Scotland
36m Apr 07, 2021
36m
220B-Odyssey: Lonely Island
Odysseus is finally going home.
42m Mar 31, 2021
42m
220A-Odyssey: The Castaways
Getting back into the Odyssey with the stories of Telemachus, Menelaus, and Orestes.
36m Mar 24, 2021
36m
219-Italian folklore: Unhand Me
A story from the Pentamerone with a title so spoiler-y that I can't even say it here, but it's a fun, mildly horrifying tale of a relationship that just doesn't work out. And is also really gross. The creatures this week are the little devil and angel on your shoulder, except one of them is a burly wildman and the other is a snake with a human head. Store: https://myths.link/store Membership...
33m Mar 17, 2021
33m
218-Monkey King: Enter Sandman
The journey to the west continues!
35m Mar 10, 2021
35m
217-Mabinogion: Bringing Home the Bacon
The fourth and final branch of the Mabinogion
38m Mar 03, 2021
38m
216-Baba Yaga: Which Witch?
Two stories from Russia. On the first, we catch up with the famous witch, Baba Yaga, as we follow yet another young person who has been sent on an errand/to be eaten at the evil witch's walking hut. The second one is about a dragon slayer, Dobrynya, as he makes a wrong turn down in the city and keeps falling in love with a woman who wants nothing at all to do with him. The creature is a tiny l...
33m Feb 24, 2021
33m
215-Scandinavian Legends: Madness
The story that inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet, the tale of Amleth, the prince of Denmark. A ton of death, some cryptic non-riddles, and copious amounts of poop smearing serve as the starting point for one of the greatest works in the English language. The creature this week is a sad little bird from Hebrew folklore who just can't catch a break. Store: https://myths.link/store Membership: http...
35m Feb 17, 2021
35m
214-Japanese Folklore: Take Your Lumps
Two short stories from Japan. On the first, an old man is in a tree surrounded by demons and faced with a desperate choice. On the second, a farmer finally catches a notorious trickster who has been stealing his lunch, but tricksters gonna trick.
33m Feb 10, 2021
33m
213-Reynard: What Does the Fox Say?
We continue the saga of Reynard where the the classic trickster tries to do good in a world turned against him...and, by his actions, reveals a sinister truth about the world in which the story was written. The creature is hatred! Who just wants love...and to not be turned into a jellyfish. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/213 The membership: https://mythpodcast.com/membership The store: http...
38m Feb 03, 2021
38m
212-Armenian Folklore: Witchy Woman
An awesome story about a young king who wants to do the impossible! And the ill-advised! And, frankly, makes a kind of stupid choice to go into the murder forest that took the lives of his father and six consecutive brothers. Inside, a deeper, darker secret lurks, one that brings fairies, witches, sorcery, and...love? The creature is a tall hairy man who takes issue with your dating choices.....
37m Jan 27, 2021
37m
211-Aeneid: Troy Story
The Aeneid, by Virgil, is one of the great world epics. Inspired by, and modeled after, the Odyssey, it's the story of Aeneas's journey from burning Troy to found the Roman empire, and all bleeding ground, sad Cyclopes, and bellybutton-wolves he encounters along the way. The creature is the Camazotz, from Mayan mythology, and it's like Batman, only if a Batman was an actual bat and not only di...
42m Jan 20, 2021
42m
210-Russian Legends: Dragons, Dragons Everywhere
The story of Dobrynya the dragon slayer from Russian folklore is the tale of a young man finding his heroic destiny, from magical hats to skinny dipping and dancing with baby dragons. Sorry, did I say dancing *with* baby dragons? I meant dancing *on* baby dragons. The creature is the lavellan a plague-ridden mouse! Because we need more of that right now! The store: https://myths.link/store T...
35m Jan 13, 2021
35m
209C-Viking Legends: Black Widow
Kjartan and Gudrun were always meant to be together, but when the former gets waylaid in a foreign kingdom with a beautiful princess, the latter needs to make other plans. Of course, she accepts the proposal of their mutual best friend, sparking a love triangle that could prove deadly. The creature is a good dog! Who has to die! The store: https://myths.link/store The membership: https://www...
47m Jan 06, 2021
47m
209B-Viking Legends: Time and Tide
Our winter Norse saga continues, with our protagonists celebrating Christmas in Norway...and also learning what Christmas is when the king basically puts a sword to their necks and tells them to convert or die. We’ll also follow Gudrun on marriages 1 and 2, the first ending with a problematic wardrobe malfunction and the second with a meddling of (possible) sorcerers. The creature is the Tomt...
44m Dec 30, 2020
44m
209A-Viking Legends: Bloodlines
A Norse saga in the truest sense of the word, this story follows one family through changing times of the Middle Ages. There are cursed swords, Viking love triangles, and why throwing stinky socks at a person whose only desire is to punch you in the face is a terrible idea. The creature is the Yule goat, who hasn't been burned down yet! Maybe! The Yule goat's twitter: https://myths.link/goat ...
43m Dec 23, 2020
43m
208-Maui: Big Tuna
What do you do after you hook the sun, dredge up islands for humanity, and bring fire to the world? How about settle down with a nice goddess, have some kids, and enjoy the simple life. Nevermind that your new spouse's evil ex is on the way...and he's a vicious, monstrous eel. You have nothing to worry about! You're Maui! You have a...fishhook? Ok maybe you do have something to worry about. Th...
38m Dec 16, 2020
38m
207-Monkey King: Girls Before Swine
We're back in the tale of the Journey to the West, where we'll catch up with the pious monk, Xangzang, the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, and the incognito dragon horse, Yulong as they continue their trek to India. This week, they stop off on what they think is a side-quest - helping an old man whose daughter was kidnapped by a pig monster - but they might get more than they bargained for...and make ...
43m Dec 09, 2020
43m
206-Mabinogion: The Blip
We're back in the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh folklore, where we'll see what happens when the apocalypse comes and goes. The good news is that you survived! Yay! The bad news is that, since your servants have all disappeared, you'll now have to make your own bed. Bummer. The creature this week is the Afanc, which is also from Wales, with a great reason why you don't want that angry lizar...
37m Dec 02, 2020
37m
205B-Odyssey: The Widening Gyre
We're back, finishing up this leg of our journey in a packed episode with a witch, pigmen, more giants, Scylla, Charybdis, Hades, Tiresias, and, of course Hercules. The creature is an evil, eyeless monster from South Africa and the reason you'll want to carry a 2-ton boulder with you everywhere you go. -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: our listeners get 10% off your first month at http://betterhelp....
52m Nov 25, 2020
52m
205A-Odyssey: Man of Constant Sorrow
With monsters, witches, sirens, and cyclopes, the Odyssey is one of the landmarks of world literature and a classic for the ages. This is the start of Odysseus's long journey home from a war that he didn't want to join in the first place. The creature is a big monster with one small request: all the water in the world forever. Chipfingers: https://myths.link/chipfingers -- Sponsors: Simpli...
42m Nov 18, 2020
42m