60A-Beowulf: I'm Kind of a Big Deal
You know the story of Beowulf. I don't need to do this. But really, there's mead. There's Grendel. There are mead-fueled fights with Grendel. It's just a fun, (kind of) light re-telling of the classic story, minus all the yelling, Angelina Jolie, and eye explosions of the 2007 movie. The creature this week is why you have that perpetual sun burn. And vampire fingers. ---------------------------...
33m Feb 08, 2017
33m
59-Greek Myths: The Violence of Our Ancestors
Many connected stories from Greek mythology. We'll start with story of Hades and Persephone, and learn why she's always hanging around the underworld (hint: it's not because she wants to). Then, I'll tell the story of the curse of the house of Atreus, starting with Tantalus and his questionable food choices. It's a long, dark episode, so get ready. The creature is the Nakki, from Finland, who j...
45m Feb 01, 2017
45m
58-Native American Folklore: Monster
The first story today is from the Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet people, about all the things that can go wrong when creating the animals and why you shouldn't drink gross monster waste water. The second story is from Cree fokllore, about Monster Skunk farting everyone to death because this is a serious podcast that takes itself very seriously. The creature is evil. Literally, she is the ...
31m Jan 25, 2017
31m
57-Japanese Fairy Tales: Faithful
This week, there are two stories from Japanese folklore.  The first has to do with  a butterfly that just won't give up trying to land on the face of a dying man. The second is of a monk-in-training who just doesn't want to stop partying. The creature is Hedley Cow, and she will give you hope that that the relationship with your crush might work out...but will leave you standing alone in the sw...
34m Jan 18, 2017
34m
56-Nepali Folklore: Hope You Guess My Name
A story of a young woman from Nepal who has a (sadly) common problem for folklore, but a very uncommon solution. Also she eats goat vomit. She probably doesn't enjoy it, though. The creature this time is the Habetrot, and she'll make you want to wear stone glasses...and them promptly throw them down in horror and run away. The Myths and Legends store is now up! Check it out at http://www.mythpo...
33m Jan 11, 2017
33m
55-Grimm: My (Bird) Heart Will Go On
This story from the Grimm brothers has giants, witches, magical animal organs, enchanted produce, and a helpful (and maybe a little homicidal) cloud buddy who just wants to aid you in finding the next steps on the journey that is life. This story is bizarre and wonderful and a testament to the endurance of love and the continuing admonishment to avoid entering spooky castles in dark folklore fo...
31m Jan 04, 2017
31m
54C-Gilgamesh: Dust
The end of the saga of Gilgamesh...and possibly the end of Gilgamesh, but not if the demi-god has anything to say about it. After a tragic loss, Gilgamesh goes on a quest to defeat mankind's greatest enemy - death itself, and he learns the secrets of our destructive past. The creature this week slathers his naked body in mud and twigs. Hows that for juxtaposition? Sponsors: Loot Crate! Check ou...
45m Dec 28, 2016
45m
54B-Gilgamesh: Huge
Gilgamesh and his new best friend are heading out on an adventure to fight a firebreathing giant named "Hugeness the Terrible." Also there's a giant deadly bull fight, talk of zombies, some tiny shoes, and light hand-holding. If those things don't make you want to listen to this episode I can't think of anything else that would. The creature this week is splinter cat, the enemy of arboretums ev...
34m Dec 21, 2016
34m
54A-Gilgamesh: Did We Just Become Best Friends?
The Epic of Gilgamesh is amazing. It is quite possibly the oldest epic we have, and though it only exists in fragments, it tells a surprisingly human story. There are questions of life and death, such as what it all means and why are we here? It delves into the issues of what it means to be a human rather than just a beast, what it means to be a good ruler, and what it means to leave a legacy. ...
31m Dec 14, 2016
31m
53-African Folklore: Crocodile Tears
The story of a dragon slayer from South Africa has, of course, dragons, but it also has giant towers, underwater villages, and a frog who is just trying to have a nice dinner with his family without all the insults, thank you very much. The creature this week is the world-famous Leprechaun. You should definitely not let him hold your baby. MVMT watches are awesome: http://www.MVMTwatches.com/my...
37m Dec 07, 2016
37m
52-Greek Mythology: An Eternal Flame
Two love stories from Greek mythology...because those go so well. The first is the story of Narcissus and Echo, which was doomed from the moment one jumped out of the bushes at the other for a non-consensual hug. The second story is of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus takes the (non-death) early retirement option from his heroics and just when he thought he was out...they pull him back in. DO NOT ...
40m Nov 30, 2016
40m
51-Loki: Them Apples
Three stories of Loki, the infamous trickster from Norse mythology. Most of his hijinks are light-hearted, and end with him getting his comeuppance, but it comes in the form of being a bridesmaid at Thor's wedding or (as in this episode) an extremely uncomfortable game of tug-of-war. What happens when a trick gets taken too far? What is the final act that turns friends into enemies and creates ...
36m Nov 23, 2016
36m
50-Dracula: Bad Blood
Dracula isn't a creature from myths, legends, or folklore. The fictional vampire is a product of Bram Stoker. The name, though, stretches back centuries to a prince who ruled the kingdom called Wallachia, which borders the land with which he's most famously associated: Transylvania. We'll be talking all about the pseudo-legendary exploits of the real bloody tyrant, the bizarre rules surrounding...
39m Nov 16, 2016
39m
49-Russian Folklore: I Pity the Fool
The unexpected story of a fool, an epic quest, and a flying ship. Also, why you should respect your elders, especially if they want to give you a lot of free bread and vodka. The creature is the Lake Worth Monster, from Texas in the US. It is either a monstrous man-goat-fish...or a teenager who likes ice cream. NEW SHOW!! We are super-proud of Career Day, so please check it out and subscribe on...
39m Nov 09, 2016
39m
48-Snow White: Killer Queen
The original stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White, despite their Disney adaptations and being fairy tales largely told to children, are incredibly violent and gruesome. They have murder, kidnapping, and, of course, hot dance moves. Bluebeard is, unsurprisingly, a man with a beard that is blue. What is surprising is what you'll find in his basement. The creature is from West Africa a...
38m Nov 02, 2016
38m
47-Urban Legends: In the Dark
For this Halloween episode, we are doing something different. Instead of diving into the stories of the past, I’m telling stories of the present. Urban legends are a more modern version of folklore where, instead of telling stories of hydras and butter cats, we tell stories of things that might just exist. In these, people are the true monsters, and the most mundane of situations can be strange...
30m Oct 26, 2016
30m
46D-Jason and the Argonauts: Scorned
The end of the story of Jason, Medea, and the Argonauts. Things have been pretty easy for Jason. Medea solved all of his problems before he even knew he had them on the Argo, and her fairly violent murder-by-proxy of Pelias secured Iolcus for Jason's father. It would probably be a very bad idea to cheat on Medea, right? Hard times are about to catch up with Jason. The creature of the week is th...
39m Oct 19, 2016
39m
46C-Jason and the Argonauts: The Long Way Home
It finally comes time to fight the dragon, (hopefully) survive the return journey home, and have the showdown with Pelias. This is a big episode. If you've made it this far in the series, though, it probably doesn't matter what I write here, because you are either into the Argonaut story or not. Really, though, it is a cool episode and there are about three twist murders, a wedding, and a king ...
42m Oct 12, 2016
42m
46B-Jason and the Argonauts: MacGuffin
The quest for the golden fleece begins for the legendary heroes packed aboard the Argo. We find them making all haste for Colchis...except for all the times they stop to feast...and drink too much...and meet beautiful women...and get in unnecessary boxing matches. We also meet the princess Medea; catch up with Cupid (Eros), a hot-shot toddler who plays by his own rules; and Theseus will remembe...
45m Oct 05, 2016
45m
46A-Jason and the Argonauts: Some Assembly Required
The beginning of the story of Jason and his legendary Argonauts doesn't start with Jason, but with Zeus being...well, Zeus, and kidnapping an unsuspecting woman. There is a dragon, a giant bronze robot, and court intrigue, leading to some familiar names coming back to help Jason travel to a faraway land and obtain the golden fleece. Those names include Hercules, Theseus, Laertes (father of Odys...
41m Sep 28, 2016
41m
45-Rumpelstiltskin: Let's Make a Deal
Three stories of people making deals. The first is from Japanese folklore, and it's about making the most of what you have...even when what you have is a dirty piece of straw and a fly friend. The second story is about a man who made a deal with the devil...and all the stupid (maybe brilliant?) decisions he made after that deal. The third story is that of Rumpelstiltskin, a weird little imp tha...
43m Sep 21, 2016
43m
44-Saint George: Here Be Dragons
Three and a half stories of monsters of the ancient world. We meet vile beasts that lurk in the forests, the murky deep, and the wide, desolate places of the world. We meet the baby, the Thor, and the saints that slay them. We meet bears that can be bribed with cake. Folklore is weird. The creature is a little blue person. I know it's a struggle to not play in barley fields after school. It's a...
42m Sep 14, 2016
42m
43-Slavic Folklore: The Wasteland
A story of a super-powered Russian hero fighting the evil, also super-powered villain known as Nightingale the Robber. Nightingale can fly, kill with a scream, and lives in the shadows of his forest. The journey will take our hero from home, through multiple stays with Baba Yaga(s), and finally into a confrontation with the legendary bandit on a quest to become the man he never thought he could...
41m Sep 07, 2016
41m
42-Chinese Folklore (Cinderella): You Only Live Thrice
This week, it's two of the earliest Cinderella stories, one of which is the earliest written version of this type of story, pre-dating European versions by 1000 years. It has evil step-mothers, murderous step-sisters, and helpful cows who will vomit up your work and call you stupid. Trying to grow a beard and keep your five-year-old from having dreadlocks? Then you do not want this week's creat...
36m Aug 31, 2016
36m
41C-Lancelot: It's Complicated
It's the conclusion of the Lancelot story, and we'll immediately pick up after last week's fairly cheap cliffhanger ending. He'll finally see the end of his quest... Either by plummeting to the choppy waters below...or by the lions on the other side of the sword...or the castle full of people who want to kill him on the other side of the lions. The creature is the Tannarak, who just wants to da...
53m Aug 24, 2016
53m
41B-Lancelot: Promises to Keep
Things get weird on Lancelot's journey to become a knight of the Round Table...if Merlin trying to pick up a twelve-year-old last week wasn't strange enough. This week has ancient prophecies, a dangerous quest, a father and son stalker duo, kind of too much hair-smelling, and a sleazy innkeeper. Arthur has a particularly bad month, where his two closest friends turn in their resignations. The c...
40m Aug 17, 2016
40m
41A-Lancelot: The Stolen Child
We're back in the time of King Arthur, picking up right about where we stopped off last time (though you don't need to have heard last time to listen today). We'll be talking about the story of Lancelot - where this incredibly important character came from and why he's know as Lancelot of the Lake (spoiler alert, he grew up in a lake). Merlin gets weird, and we catch up with a certain lion-befr...
39m Aug 10, 2016
39m
40-West African Folklore: Cold-blooded
Five stories of a very savvy, completely unscrupulous turtle from Nigeria. He's a trickster we've met before, but he has an entire episode of semi-murderous turtle hijinks. Even though turtles are cute and seemingly harmless, they should not be trusted under any circumstances ever. You should also avoid going into business with them, when possible. The creature this week is the hyosube, from Ja...
40m Aug 03, 2016
40m
39-Odin: In the Land of the Blind
Born in ice and fire, Norse mythology starts violently...and strangely. There's a blood ocean, a giant primeval cow, and some light grandpa murder. Thor and Loki take two kids on a field trip to Jotunheim, where, like any family vacation, Thor gets in a drinking contest and wrestles an old lady. Then, Odin travels to the far reaches of the void for wisdom and learns that he must pay a terrible ...
42m Jul 27, 2016
42m
38B-Korean Literature: Master of Two Worlds
The Conclusion of the "Story of Hong Gildong" takes us from the household drama of last episode to a story that spans the entirety of the Korean peninsula, with Gildong earning his title of the Korean Robin Hood. It then moves beyond Korea to mythical lands, where Gildong battles demons and becomes a doctor. Or pretends to be a doctor. I mean, it's a frontier setting in the 1600s, let's not spl...
48m Jul 13, 2016
48m
38A-Korean Literature: Crossing the Threshold
Hong Gildong has been called the Korean Robin Hood, but really oversimplifies the story. It is both an awesome adventure tale with dragons, magic, assassins, demons, bandits, and betrayal, and a complex human drama, where one young man must find and understand his place in the world. It's both action-packed, and heartbreaking. The titular character, Gildong, was born a second-class citizen, and...
37m Jul 06, 2016
37m
37-Hercules: The Best at What He Does
Hercules is as terrible as he is awesome. There are sea monsters, centaurs, people being thrown off of things, Hydra poison, and Hercules making ridiculous choices. Basically, it's everything you could want from a Hercules episode. Oh, and he dies, because apparently he can do that. The creature this time is the Mamagwasewug, and he just wants to borrow a smoke off you...or he'll burn your hous...
45m Jun 29, 2016
45m
36B-Pocahontas: Between Two Streams
An abbreviated history of Pocahontas and John Smith, this episode looks at the conflict largely from the Powhatan side. This isn't the Disney version. It is gritty, dark, violent, and, if Mattaponi oral history is to be trusted, fairly disturbing. Still, it tells the story of a clash of worlds, and one woman who stood in the middle to bring a brief peace. The creature this week lives in lime tr...
1hr 1m Jun 22, 2016
1hr 1m
36A-Pocahontas: The Empire Business
The story of Pocahontas and John Smith has turned from compelling historical story of a brave woman who united two warring nations, to a melodramatic, oversimplified love story. In reality, Pocahontas likely never view Smith as more than a friend, since she was 11 when they first met. But they won't meet quite yet. We need to talk about the world they both inhabit, and the nations that will col...
50m Jun 15, 2016
50m
35-Beauty and the Beast: Prisoners
This is not the Beauty and the Beast you've heard. It's not even the story the one you've heard is based on. That one is a super-pared-down version of an 18th century French novella. The original contains way too much description about fairy politics and power structures, 18th century Pandora, and an idea for a "Downton Abbey" reboot...with monkeys. The creature of the week is Papa Bois, from T...
51m Jun 08, 2016
51m
34-Greek Mythology: Uphill Battle
Two stories from Greek Mythology: first, it's the story of Sisyphus, who you might know from his interminable, crushing labor, but who actually really deserved that punishment because of how horrible he was. The second story is of good-guy-Bellerophon, Sisyphus's grandson, who is constantly having that football pulled out from under him just as he is about to kick it. The creature is an 80-foot...
44m Jun 01, 2016
44m
33-Ali Baba: Inheritance
As you've probably come to expect, the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, perhaps the second most famous story from One Thousand and One Nights, is much more violent than modern adaptations would have us believe. Medieval Persia was a dangerous place, and you needed to have your wits, a lot of luck, and apparently an extremely loyal, wily slave girl to survive. The creature this week is t...
43m May 18, 2016
43m
32-Tricksters: Wager
Three stories of tricksters. We have Coyote from Native American mythology giving great gifts and racing a turtle. There's also Anansi the spider-man from West African folklore, who is trying to buy the stories of the world. We also catch up with our old friend Loki from Norse mythology, who just wants to give Thor's wife an impromptu, un-asked-for haircut. The creature of the week is an emacia...
41m May 11, 2016
41m
31B-Viking Sagas: Face-off
The conclusion of the Saga of Arrow-Odd, a man who is destined to live 300 years, yet cursed to be killed by his favorite horse. He's watched his friends and brothers die in his struggle with his adversary, the evil half-troll Ogmund, but this battle is destined to stretch over centuries, into a world that looks completely different to both of them. The creatures this week hang out in pantries,...
58m May 04, 2016
58m
31A-Viking Sagas: Odd Man Out
The saga of the legendary Viking Arrow-Odd contains trolls, ogres, giants, magic arrows, and a sorceress getting smacked in the nose. The mistakes of one Viking's past...or just a Viking being a Viking, haunt him. There's a dangerous Viking teddy bear, and if an angry, famed warrior offers to show you his arrows up close, do not take him up on that offer. On the creature of the week, you'll see...
44m Apr 27, 2016
44m
30-Latin American Folklore: Unbreakable
A story from Chilean folklore about the smartest woman in the world, her talking shoe, and a prince that deserved a slap on the face. The creatures this week are the abatwa, from South Africa, and you'll learn why ants are the best roommates ever. Say hi on Facebook? Support the podcast Find the show on iTunes Music: "Puzzle Pieces" by Lee Rosevere "a long night" by bbatv "Play Pelagic" by Litt...
37m Apr 20, 2016
37m
29-Grimm: Upward Mobility
Two stories from the Grimm brothers, both of which have people going up, but in different ways. The first is the story of Rapunzel, and the second is about a small tailor who uses one success to face giants, a rampaging boar, and a unicorn when seeking the hand of the princess. The only problem? His greatest achievement may be based on a lie, and he's either the world's smoothest con man or com...
48m Apr 13, 2016
48m
28-Prometheus: Adamantine
The much-requested story of Prometheus, a Titan who was cursed by Zeus to have his liver pecked out every day for defying the Olympian and bringing fire to the earth. We'll also talk about the Titanomachy, the very literal clash of the Titans at the very beginning of Greek mythology, where Zeus comes to power and we all learn that any policy that involves crazy paranoia is basically the only on...
41m Apr 06, 2016
41m
27C-King Arthur: The Errant Knight
Old foes resurface as Balin, the fugitive knight, flees from King Arthur's court. He'll find himself on a perilous (and, at times, ridiculous) quest, where he'll inadvertently put the events in motion that will start the quest for the Holy Grail. Oh, and Arthur gets the Round Table and gets married. The creature this week is the little naked person buried just below the ground who will scream h...
52m Apr 05, 2016
52m
27B-King Arthur: Mayday
When we left king Arthur, the monstrous Questing Beast was lumbering toward him. We'll learn all about that beast and the line of kings cursed to hunt it. Then, Merlin shows up with a chilling plan to solve the problem of the child that is destined to grow up to destroy Arthur. We'll also meet Balin, a disgraced knight who just got out of jail and meets with an unexpected quest for redemption.....
43m Mar 23, 2016
43m
27A-King Arthur: The Violence Inherent in the System
The story of the legendary King Arthur, from just after when he pulled the sword from the stone.Though he's in his late-teens or early-twenties, he is not at all taken seriously by his barons or petty kings, who revolt almost immediately. Less than one year into his reign, he is hiding behind the walls of a castle waiting for the best moment to escape, all while Merlin stands atop the wall shoo...
39m Mar 16, 2016
39m
26-Japanese Fairy Tales: Wisdom
This week: two folktales from Japan. One is about a humble, happy stone cutter who becomes a power-mad, bitter stone cutter. The other is about, surprise surprise, supernatural occurrences at a Buddhist temple in a remote mountain region. The creature of the week is...or are...the blue men of the Minch. They are blue, men, and very, very good at writing poetry. Become a member? Say hi on Twitte...
36m Mar 09, 2016
36m
25-Dragons: This is Where You Get to Make it Right
The story of a famous dragon from the folklore of north east England is filled with knights, curses, and, of course, the need to kill your favorite childhood dog. The story of the Lambton Worm is a quest for redemption where many people die because of a young man who just wants to yell cuss words at children and throw his trash in a well. The creature of the week is the butter cat. That should ...
32m Mar 02, 2016
32m
24-Thor: Whosoever Holds this Hammer
Norse mythology, like all mythology, is strange. Thor's hammer is gone. It was stolen...or he just left it somewhere and forgot about it. To get it back, though, he's going to have to do something more difficult than fighting legions of giants. He's going to need to get married. And there's the origin of poetry, which contains way more men formed from spit than you'd expect for the origin of po...
29m Feb 24, 2016
29m
23-Cupid and Psyche: Burned
In this famous story from Greek Mythology, we'll meet Cupid (not a baby), as he accidentally nicks himself with his own arrow. In a podcast episode that is  like the movie "Mean Girls" with a trip to the Greek underworld, you'll see why it is against the law to harbor someone who's prettier than a goddess. The creature of the week is a forest creature that operates on a very annoying wood chip ...
37m Feb 17, 2016
37m