333: Arabian folklore, part 1: Resolve
The epic story of Fatima, Dhat Al-Himma, the warrior woman, princess, mystic begins with the misadventures of her family line where they learn the perils of bad poetry, why you shouldn't marry genies, and it might be a bad thing to constantly rob your enemies when your bank account gets a little low.
41m Sep 06, 2023
41m
332: Japanese folklore: Frog and Slug are Friends
You've heard of rock, paper, scissors, but have you heard of slug, frog, snake? That old man you're trying to rob who lives in the mountains by himself has. Hope you like everything being covered in slime.
44m Aug 30, 2023
44m
331: English Folklore: Bad Habits
Two stories from English folklore about the secrets we keep. The first is the story of the Monk of Leicester, Dan Hew, a man who has a few verses of poetry he wants to yell at the married women of the village. All the married women. Humphrey Kynaston likes to party and has made it his life's goal to spend all his dad's money, a goal he'll be able to check off his todo list sooner than he think...
43m Aug 23, 2023
43m
330: Jewish Folklore: The Gilded Cage
Two stories from Yiddish folklore of taking a chance, making a change, going for a ride on a giant bird's wings, yelling at a classroom full of kids, and marrying a demon. Not necessarily in that order.
44m Aug 16, 2023
44m
329: Danish Folklore: Out of the Box
What would you do if you could have anything you could imagine, but it would cost you everything you have? That's not a choice Hans made, but one he was stuck with when his dad made a terrible deal for a wishing box. The creature is why you should help out that unfortunate stranger with their laundry (but not really)
45m Aug 09, 2023
45m
328: Monkey King: Bullish
We're back in the story of the Monkey King with the Journey to the West, and we'll see Sun Wukong finally meet his match: a buffalo with a headband.
41m Jul 25, 2023
41m
327-French Fairy Tales: Sister, Sister
The story of Finette Cendron is like a greatest hits of fairy tales. A tale of betrayal, sisters, ogres, bad poetry, and haircuts, we see three sisters brave the wilds and everything the fairy tale world can throw at them, to make things right.
43m Jul 19, 2023
43m
326-1001 Nights: Enough
A story with magic carpets, genies, fairies, and a man who can wrap his mustache around his head, we learn the value of communication, understanding, and not having people murdered.
44m Jul 12, 2023
44m
325-Greek Myths: The Power of Love
Aphrodite is looking for love in all the wrong places.
44m Jul 05, 2023
44m
324-Samurai Legends: Violent Ends
Two young men: a wildman determined to collect 1000 swords from defeated samurai, and a displaced son of a clan leader, who had spent his childhood on the run. Together, these two would find their place in the world, and change it in the process.
49m Jun 28, 2023
49m
323-Knights of the Round Table: Ladies' Knight
The story of Erec and Enide from Arthurian Legend is a good illustration of why you should try to work out your problems as a couple with empathy, understanding, and communication...and not through a deadly quest filled with pointless, brutal combat.
51m Jun 21, 2023
51m
322-Norwegian Folklore: Ask Dad
Two Norwegian tales of asking dad. All seven of them. Who live in the same house. Or might not have a house to go back to, depending on the story.
35m Jun 14, 2023
35m
321B-Viking Legends: The Peacemaker
On his quest to help princess Ingigerd, Hrolf has become enslaved by the wily William, a con man who wants to be a prince. This episode, they'll come face-to-face with ghost kings, giant walruses, mythological dwarves, and the evil wizard that took down an entire kingdom.
59m Jun 07, 2023
59m
321A-Viking Legends: Mostly Harmless
This week, it's the Saga of Göngu-Hrolf, from Icelandic folklore. It starts with a king getting one, solitary, five-foot-long, apparently super attractive hair wrapped in a scarf...and only gets better from there.
39m May 31, 2023
39m
320B-Popol Vuh: The Boys
The hero twins will rise...and then fall. The underworld calls, and the monsters of their past comes back to haunt them.
43m May 24, 2023
43m
320A-Popol Vuh: Origin Story
In the beginning, the gods apparently had an undo button. And angry tortilla griddles that took out the first humans. Today, it's the beginning of the beginning in the Popol Vuh.
38m May 17, 2023
38m
319-Indian folklore: Tricks and Illusions
Subramanya has learned something terrible about two people who are practically siblings to him. Can he use his deep wisdom to beat the life that's laid out before them?
43m May 10, 2023
43m
318-Greek Mythology: Sad Lad
Who is the smith god of Olympus? Why is he married to Aphrodite, and why can't he catch a break? This week, it's all about Hephaestus and his journey of self discovery where he (hopefully) doesn't fall off a mountain. Again.
47m May 03, 2023
47m
317-Monkey King: Make it Rain
We're back in the story of the Monkey King, and monkey finds a noble new calling: freeing enslaved monks.
44m Apr 26, 2023
44m
316-French Fairy Tales: Right Meow
It's the story of "The White Cat" by Madame d'Aulnoy, and in addition to questionable parenting, there are quests, dwarves that are just doing their job, evil fairies, and cat ballet.
44m Apr 19, 2023
44m
315-Korean folklore: Mountain Magic
A story from Korean folklore about friendship, kindness, moving on, and why magicians are terrible actors.
39m Apr 12, 2023
39m
314-Greek Myth: Baby Steps
The story from Greek mythology of how Hermes became an Olympian by killing a turtle and eating some barbecue.
37m Apr 05, 2023
37m
313B-1001 Nights: Night Shift
We wrap of the stories of the dervishes (and the mysterious visitors to the party who are DEFINITELY NOT the caliph and Jafar) and then the hostess and her sisters find the tables have turned...because, yes of course, they have been threatening the life of their ruler, but more because...why were they beating those dogs and weeping??
43m Mar 29, 2023
43m
313A-1001 Nights: Party Down
A party no one can speak of under threat of death. Genie fights, wizard battles, and grocery shopping. Yes, we're back in One Thousand and One Nights.
36m Mar 22, 2023
36m
312-Norwegian Folklore: Let's Dance
A Norwegian tale about why you should pay your employees a living wage (or at least not beat them and try to have them executed), or else you could end up in a never-ending dance party.
40m Mar 15, 2023
40m
311-Samurai: Lost and Found
A Ronin (a masterless samurai) goes on a quest to find a stolen sword and restore the honor of his family's name, but, when it comes to pushing the limits of what is right in order to see his mission through, how far is too far?
52m Mar 08, 2023
52m
310-Norse Sagas: The Maiden King
The story of Sigrgarthr and the Maiden King, from Icelandic folklore has Viking male models, ruthless princesses, people shoving metal down their pants to make unbeatable weapons, dragons, trolls, witches, and monsters.
46m Mar 01, 2023
46m
309-Scandinavian Folklore: The Enemy of my Enemy
This week, there are three stories of people bargaining: with the devil, with that angry lady who owns too many cats, and with...rocks, and we'll see that the person you need...might be the one you least suspect.
39m Feb 22, 2023
39m
308-Tricksters: Food Chain
Stories of tricksters from the folklore of the Hopi, Northern Pueblo, and Algonquin people.
41m Feb 15, 2023
41m
307-Dragons: Pie Hard
The story of why, no matter how good of an idea it sounds like after a few drinks, you shouldn't steal church bells and drop them into a nearby pond. You might awaken an ancient evil. Because of course you will.
35m Feb 08, 2023
35m
306-Latin American Folklore: Payback
Two stories from Latin America folklore about people (and animals?) getting payback. The first is a story about why you shouldn't bite strangers. The second is about a man who can make the dead rise...but for a small fee will make sure that they stop.
36m Feb 01, 2023
36m
305-Turkish Folklore: Angry Bird
The story of the Bird of Sorrow, from Turkish folklore, has love, loss, gratitude, people messing up coffeehouses, genie girlfriends, and elaborate pranks involving not being able to take off your pants.
36m Jan 25, 2023
36m
304-Celtic Folklore: Among Us
Two stories from Celtic folklore of the things that lurk among us
38m Jan 18, 2023
38m
303-Japanese Folklore: Rice and Means
Two stories from Japan about samurai (and wannabe samurai) following their dreams. Too bad it takes fights with giant creatures and a little bit of murder to do so.
42m Jan 11, 2023
42m
302-Jewish Folklore: Losing Hares
This week, we learn where you shouldn't kiss a rabbit (it's exactly where you think), and how a dance party can save a city.
35m Jan 04, 2023
35m
301-Japanese Folklore: After Sundown
The story of a family and the monsters that are coming for them - monsters that they might know better than they realize.
19m Dec 28, 2022
19m
300-Norse Christmas: A Slaying Song Tonight
An abbot spends Christmas surrounded by outlaws in the dark forest, so he can listen to mysterious, otherworldly music. A farm has a fun Christmas tradition where employees end up dead on Christmas morning. It must be the holidays in Swedish and Icelandic folklore. The creature is draugr of the sea, Norse sea zombies, who are going to get in the way of your holiday mead run. -- Like ad-free ...
44m Dec 21, 2022
44m
299-Korean Folklore: Long Con
The spies are coming. Governor Sim has gone too far and earned the attention of the king, who's sending people to see what's going on in Sim's district. The only thing? Sim is four steps ahead of the king and those spies don't know what they're walking into. The creature is Western Europe's first vampire! And why you want to avoid mixing sorcery with your home improvement projects! -- Links!...
43m Dec 14, 2022
43m
298-Finnish Folklore: Footsteps in the Dark
A home improvement project 800 years in the making that includes way too many wolves, rat parts, and beards. It's the story of the Tomten of Åbo Castle, from Finnish folklore. The creatures are women with varying degrees of faces from British folklore. The one thing they have in common? Drunk, possibly concussed guys are the only people that have seen them. -- Åbo/Turku Castle tour Youtube v...
46m Dec 07, 2022
46m
297-Monkey King: Up in Smoke
Monkey learns that the monster who kidnapped his master is the son of an old friend. This should go well. Everyone knows kids love it when adults yell at them.
48m Nov 30, 2022
48m
296B-Roman/Greek myths: Should I Bray or Should I Go?
Lucius has been turned into a donkey after using the wrong body lotion. Then, he was kidnapped by bandits. Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Lucius. The creature is the Korori (虎狼狸), who offers a new way to feel better after you get sick. -- Links! Shop: https://shop.bardic.fm Disclaimer: https://myths.link/296b Source one for creature of the week: https://yokai.com/korouri/ ...
47m Nov 23, 2022
47m
296A-Greek Myths: To Bewitch or Not to Bewitch
Lucius’s lifelong dream, as of ten minutes ago, is learning how to do sorcery. Luckily, he’s not only in a city crawling with witches who are slicing bits off people’s faces to do their magic and bringing wineskins to life, but his hostess is a sorceress herself, and all he has to do is catch her in the act. The creature is the Lizard Man, lover of sinking his claws into cars…and his teeth int...
40m Nov 16, 2022
40m
295-1001 Nights: What's in the Box?
The story of a merchant gets lost ducking out early from a funeral and who ends up sleeping in a graveyard…and that’s somehow the least scary thing that happens to him that year. The creature is the Sirin, and they’ll only sing for you if you’re super happy and harmonious. So, kind of never. — Disclaimer: https://myths.link/295 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Come say hi o...
41m Nov 09, 2022
41m
294-West African Folklore: Spirited Away
The story of Moremi Ajasoro from modern-day Nigeria has love, loss, and, of course, evil forest monsters. The creature is the Van Meter Visitor, a dinosaur that was apparently stinking up the Old West. -- The newspaper article for the creature and the disclaimer: https://myths.link/294
39m Nov 02, 2022
39m
293-Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Things
Two stories, two small things making enormous problems. We have "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Red Shoes". For two stories about young women learning and growing, they contain kind of a lot of dismemberment. The creature is Striga! And she's the reason to put on that extra loaf of garlic bread and leave pig bones all over church. -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/293 Fictional! https://...
40m Oct 26, 2022
40m
292-Germanic Legends: Dwarf Fortress
Magic swords, Viking legends, dwarves, ice queens, and enchanted rose gardens, this story of Dietrich of Bern and the Dwarf King Laurin has a bit of everything. The creature this week is the Samodivi, the reason why you should be going out to the club each night. -- Scoundrel! New episode of Scoundrel out about Black Bart, the Gentleman Outlaw. Check it out at https://myths.link/scoundrel --...
54m Oct 19, 2022
54m
291-Japanese Folklore: The Monsters
Three stories of monsters from Japan. We have a tanuki, the monsters that lurk in the civilized places, and monsters that might be under your home right now. The creature is a decapitated man who loves hugs. -- Scoundrel! https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Indeed: Start hiring now at http://Indeed.com/LEGENDS SimpliSafe: Get a free indoor security camera plus 20% off with Interact...
46m Oct 12, 2022
46m
290-Indian Folklore: Hiss and Make Up
A story from Kashmir folklore about love, marriage, and murder. Kind of a lot of all those things, actually. The creature is a Jaculus, the snake that will kill you with kindness. And its sharp javelin head. -- New Scoundrel out today! https://myths.link/scoundrel Pickle Bath Salt: https://myths.link/picklebathsalt -- Sponsors: Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase at http://Bombas.com...
38m Oct 05, 2022
38m
289-Viking Sagas: Half the Man
If you don't like being burned alive...and also do absolutely nothing to avoid the completely avoidable fate of being burned alive...can you even call yourself a man?
38m Sep 28, 2022
38m
288-Viking Sagas: The Pillage People
The Saga of Half and His Heroes from Icelandic folklore starts with Odin spitting in a family's ale and only gets stranger from there. The creatures are the Ellyllon, the flower glove wearing, grocery-store-visting, fungus eaters. -- Links! Scoundrel! https://myths.link/scoundrel That comic book villain podcast we have: https://www.nextpod.com/botw The shocking potato thing: https://myths...
38m Sep 21, 2022
38m