203-Grimm: Out of the Woods
Two stories from the Grimm brothers! On the first, a wolf wants to eat some kids, and is annoyed that he needs to do the smallest amount of effort to do so. On the second, a woman travels to a mysterious land, talks to some bread, and finds her strength. The creature is a lonely monster with an awesome blue bonnet and flowing blonde hair...but you can't take a look at them because he's so ugly...
37m Nov 04, 2020
37m
202-Greek Myths: Dead Poets Society
This week it is the very very spooky* Halloween episode about a terrifying** trek through the Greek underworld. It's definitely not a lighthearted romp where a Greek god makes a podcast, trick-or-treats as Hercules, and emcees a poetry competition. Nope. Not at all. The creatures this week are bogeymen! I don't know why it's pronounced like that they don't boogie but they do eat children. Mem...
41m Oct 28, 2020
41m
201-1001 Nights: In the Wind
We're back in the stories of 1001 nights, where Scheherazade has to tell bedtime stories to save her life. On the first, a man ruins a wedding reception and can't show his face in town again. The second starts with a murder, and then only gets darker. This week's item, the ridiculous umbrella hat: https://myths.link/umbrella -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: get 10 percent off your first month at ht...
35m Oct 21, 2020
35m
200-Irish Legends: The Things We Do for Love
Returning to Irish legends, we tackle the wooing of Etain, a love story that goes up against witches turning people into puddles and flies, multiple angry spouses, and death itself. The creature is a dangerous blanket! Don't sit on blankets with teeth! -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Check out http://simplisafe.com/legends to get a free HD camera with your order. -- Music: “Balti” by Blue Dot S...
48m Oct 14, 2020
48m
199-Japanese folklore: Moonlight
A story from Japanese folklore of Princess Moonlight, from Japanese folklore, where a bamboo cutter finds one of those magical heaven babies in a bamboo stalk (you know, those extremely common glowing children found in plants) and it changes his life, and the whole empire, forever. The creature this week is a dangerous Greek fox because the ancient Greek city of Thebes can't catch a break ever...
40m Oct 07, 2020
40m
198-Robin Hood: On the Road Again
Robin Hood is back on the road and ready to make some quick cash, so of course, he's going to go undercover as a beggar an infiltrate a secret society. Meanwhile Little John poured himself into a friar costume to hit on strangers. The creature is an iron-toothed rat who will eat your books. -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Check out http://simplisafe.com/legends to get a free HD camera with your or...
39m Sep 30, 2020
39m
197-Viking Legends: VFFs
After a ball game goes wrong in the worst possible way, Viking best friends go on a quest to clear their names. A quest that involves poison vultures, evil priestess witches, kings that can transform into dragons, and stuffed animal cows. The creature is the teakettler! A creature that just wants to be left alone and if you keep hassling it, it will get really steamed...in that it will shoot a...
50m Sep 23, 2020
50m
196-Reynard the Fox: Chaotic Good
A reboot, of sorts, of Reynard the Fox, everyone's favorite brutal, amoral trickster. I found a much older, much more nuanced version of the fox's stories. Today, we meet his father, get an origin story, and see him trying to make things right in a society run by predators...or is he working a long con to eat all the animals in his charge? With Reynard, we never really know. The creature this ...
39m Sep 16, 2020
39m
195-Greek Myths: Stranger Danger
Dionysus was the god of wine from Greek myths and the last Olympian to earn a place on Mount Olympus. His story starts with him being born from Zeus's thigh...and then somehow gets stranger. He does make a lot of really fun, dangerously intense fans among the humans, though. The creature is the Tenjoname! He's a helpful ghost who will clean your ceilings with his filthy tongue! Check out the ...
44m Sep 09, 2020
44m
194-Mulan: The Warrior
A completely new version of the Mulan legend, sourced from a story from the late middle ages, so even if you think you know the Mulan story, this version has twists and turns that make her big secret, that she's a woman pretending to be a man, the least of her worries. The creature is the Manticore! It's terrifying, but not for the reasons that it should be terrifying! The episode post (and h...
47m Sep 02, 2020
47m
193B-Monkey King: Pilgrim's Progress
We're on the road with the monk, Xuanzang, and Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as they start their Journey to the West... that is, if Sun Wukong is coming back from taking off in a huff (he is). Once he gets back, the trip won't be without problems, though, like river dragons, murderous monks, and bear ogre birthday parties. -- Sponsors: We think it's the best in home security. Give it a shot with f...
43m Aug 26, 2020
43m
193A-Monkey King: Golden Cicada
We return to the stories of the Monkey King and pick up at the end of his long imprisonment under a mountain, for trying to overthrow everyone and everything. Meanwhile, a messenger from heaven is on the move, looking for a pilgrim to make a dangerous journey that will bring them into contact with demons, monsters, and companions to help him along the way...who might just be more dangerous tha...
49m Aug 19, 2020
49m
192-Grimm: Brave Traveler
An off-the-wall story from the Grimm Brothers about a young man who knew no fear...and why that was a massive problem for him. The creature is a man who you don't want to high five. Mainly because he has eyeballs on his palms. Also mainly because he'll drink your bones with a straw. -- Disclaimer: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14487/192-grimm-brave-traveler/ (https://www.mythpodcast.com/14487/19...
42m Aug 12, 2020
42m
191-Norse Legends: See How they Fly
In this episode from Norse legends, we'll see that the worst breakups involve Thor breaking up the couple with his hammer and we'll see that even though Odin can shapeshift, that doesn't mean he skips the conditioner. It's the Saga of King Gautrek, a story spanning generations of Viking warriors and their bizarre and dangerous interactions with the gods, giants, elves, and everything in betwee...
44m Aug 05, 2020
44m
190-Chinese Folklore: Fierce
In one story, a dragon is rampaging around the countryside unless he gets his favorite meal: teenage girls. In the other, a young woman trapped in an impossible situation meets a new friend who might just be able to save her: a parrot with a secret. Two stories with two very different heroines who share one defining characteristic: their unbreakable will to survive. On the creature of the week...
45m Jul 29, 2020
45m
189C-Nibelungenlied: I Know It Was You
In the third and final part of our series on the Nibelungenlied, the hero of the story, Siegfried, is dead and his wife, the princess, has a score to settle. The creature this week is the strong toad, a super cool toad who can read your mind, but he's so nice and definitely not making me write this right now. -- Music: "Prayer" by Enzo Orefice "Plasticity" by Blue Dot Sessions "Clockwork by Mi...
42m Jul 22, 2020
42m
189B-Nibelungenlied: Heinous
We pick up right where we left off last week: Gunther has tricked his way into marrying Brunhild, and Brunhild decided to give him a minor test of strength on their wedding night. He failed, and ended up naked and hog-tied, yelling out for help while dangling upside down from the rafters. The creature is the Tsurube-otoshi (釣瓶落とし), from Japan, who will go head-to-head with you in the forest. B...
35m Jul 15, 2020
35m
189A-Medieval Legends: Cheater Cheater
The story starts out with one prince slaying a dragon and getting rich. It starts there. The wild ride of the Nibelungenlied has echoes of one of our most beloved stories, the Saga of the Volsungs, with it's over-the-top characters, the ridiculous situations, the betrayals, and, yes, dragon fights. The creature is a dragon cat with poison breath. -- Music: "Order of Entrance" by Blue Dot Sessi...
36m Jul 08, 2020
36m
188-The Flea: Forever Home
Two stories from the bawdy, funny, and oftentimes deeply unsettling 17th century fairytale author Giambattista Basile, both of which have to do with pets. The first pet is a rooster, whose owner just can't bring himself to kill it. No judgement there. The second pet is a flea...the size of a lamb. The creature this week is a cat that's either evil and smells like a skunk dog, a hero who defeat...
41m Jul 01, 2020
41m
187-Greek Myths: The End to All Our Pain
Agamemnon is coming home from the Trojan War. He has no idea what's waiting for him. There are over fifty bonus episodes on the Myths and Legends bonus feed! Check out that and weekly ad-free shows at https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Check out the store at https://shop.bardic.fm Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mythsandlegends Find the episode post and the disclaimer at htt...
37m Jun 24, 2020
37m
186-Grimm: Don't Be Weird
A story from the Grimm brothers about three down-on-their-luck soldiers who get everything they could ever dream of and then do their absolutely best to lose it. The extended creature of the week is a fearsome critter from Colorado - a land whale called the Slide Rock Bolter who exclusively eats tourists who care about the environment. The Myths and Legends store is up! Check it out at http://...
36m Jun 17, 2020
36m
185-Queen of Serpents: With This Hiss I Thee Wed
The story of Eglė the Queen of Serpents, from Lithuanian folklore, about a young woman who is faced with an impossible choice: witness the destruction of her family...or marry a snake. The creature is a wet, inebriated chicken named skrat who will either make you rich or burn down your house or both of those things. -- Music: "Delamine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tiny Bottles" by Blue Dot Sessions ...
36m Jun 10, 2020
36m
184-Robin Hood: Check, Please!
We return to the Robin Hood stories with a (mostly) standalone episode. Robin Hood and his merry men are throwing a dinner party! With food and wine! And robbery! The creature is a shirtless Jaguar man who can end the world anytime he feels like. -- Music: "Pat-a-Pan Whistles and Drums" by Craig S. Elliott "The Gall" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "Andante in e minor" by Matthe...
34m Jun 03, 2020
34m
183-Indian folklore: Revenant
The story of an ancient Indian king who goes on a fetch quest through an evil-looking cemetery and listens to the worst podcasts of all time...hosted by a ghoul he has slung over his shoulder, and if he doesn't pay attention, he could die. The creature is a crow-grasshopper who will make you vomit (if it doesn't kill you with its flatulence) Fictional: https://www.fictional.fm/subscribe -- "...
46m May 27, 2020
46m
182-Slavic folklore: The Brave Companions
Join Bulat the Brave Companion and Ivan Tsarevich (no, not that one) as they get a magical new horse, escape magical prison, and get in some magical fights. The creature is the shōkera, the slimy guy looking in your window right now. -- Music: "Kaleidoscope" by Podington Bear "Exploring the Cave Mix Full" by Bobby Cole "Vanagon" by Podington Bear "Setting Pace" by Blue Dot Sessions "Kalsted" ...
36m May 20, 2020
36m
181B-Mabinogion: With Friends Like These
Branch two of the Mabinogion has the kings of Great Britain and Ireland (Bran and Matholwch, respectively) just wanting to bro out, but their nobles and family members will do anything to keep that from happening. Also, why is there never a sundae bar in the wine cellar? Episode post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14215/181b-mabinogion-with-friends-like-these/ -- Music: "Last Winter" by Zac Nel...
37m May 13, 2020
37m
181A-Welsh Legends: Otherworld
King Pwyell just wants to go hunting in the dark forest alone. What's the worst that can happen? Huh? Forced to live for a year away from his people at the demand of an otherworldly king? Yeah, ok, that's kind of bad. It's the first branch of the Mabinogion, the original source for a few of the stories we've told on this podcast, like the very first story from this podcast, that of Yvain and t...
40m May 06, 2020
40m
180-Azorean Folklore: Power
The story from Azorean folklore about a sorcerer who turned his life around. He became a priest, helped his people flee, and then faced a choice when his old life came hunting for him. The creature is a dirty dish towel named the Shirouneri. Like most towels it's actively trying to show you just how much it hates you. Show post (and disclaimer): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14203/180-azorean-f...
39m Apr 29, 2020
39m
179-Slavic legends: Grateful Dead
A classic quest from Slavic legend with princesses, dragons, wizards, dragons fighting wizards, and princesses fighting wizards fighting dragons. The creature is Shamir, the little craftsman who is up for employee of the millennium. -- Post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14197/179-slavic-legends-grateful-dead/ -- Music: "Solemn Oath" by Podington Bear "Setting Out on a Quest" by Bobby Cole "T...
35m Apr 22, 2020
35m
178-Tanuki: Changes
An episode about the Tanuki, the notorious raccoon-dog trickster from Japan with giant...well...you'll see. The creature is the Tote Road Shagamaw, and a ManBearMoose who is really good at headstands. Like, it can walk a quarter mile doing a headstand. Show post, with all those pictures (and the disclaimer): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14180/178-tanuki-changes/ (https://www.mythpodcast.com/1...
45m Apr 15, 2020
45m
177D-Trojan War: Horsin' Around
The Greeks finally find a way into Troy and while, yes, it's exactly the way you think they get in, there are so many ridiculous side quests on the way, including a cameo from one of Greek myth's most famous hero. The creature is nice unicorn who will play music for you and definitely won't eat you the moment your guard is down. Want more? We did two member episodes with about four additional...
1hr 1m Apr 08, 2020
1hr 1m
177C-Trojan War: When I am Gone
Achilles is back and it's god vs. god, Greek vs. Trojan, Achilles vs. Hector in the most epic battle of the Trojan War. The creature this week, the Seto taishō, will absolutely come after you with a sharpened spoon. His weakness? Light kicks. Episode post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14155/177c-trojan-war-when-i-am-gone/ (https://www.mythpodcast.com/14155/177c-trojan-war-when-i-am-gone/%20) -...
53m Apr 01, 2020
53m
177B-Trojan War: Storm of Spears
The episode starts with Menelaus sparking the biggest battle of the war so far and ends with an even bigger battle. A lot happens as the Trojan War, with the absence of Achilles, takes its darkest turn yet. The creature is Amabie! A mermaid with great hair who just wants to help you out. Episode post (with Amabie links): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14149/177b-trojan-war-storm-of-spears/ -- Mu...
47m Mar 25, 2020
47m
177A-Trojan War: Rage
“Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.” We're here. The culmination of a dozen episodes and twice as many stories has led to this. Achilles. Helen. Agamemnon. Menelaus. Hector. Odysseus. There's a reason these names are still with us after thousands of years. This is the story of the Trojan War. The creature is pretty much the oppo...
49m Mar 18, 2020
49m
176-The Emperor's New Clothes: Matchless
Three stories this week from the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen about people that are matchless. The first is the tale of the emperor and his new clothes, where an emperor who needs a new coat every hour gets an offer he can't refuse. The second is about a boy who wants to marry the daughter of a monarch and all the cool gadgets and racially insensitive cosplaying he'll do to...
38m Mar 11, 2020
38m
175-Thor: Surprises
Thor’s daughter is getting married to a dwarf, and Thor is the last person to find out about it. Also he punted a dwarf onto a burning ship for fun at his brother’s funeral, so things might get awkward. The creature is the Segbin, and it’s a smelly goat that bites. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t want to eat you. It wants to kill you, but it doesn’t want to eat you. The The post on mythpodcast...
49m Mar 04, 2020
49m
174-Medieval Knights: Take Your Time
The story of Sir Isumbras, a knight from the high Middle Ages, includes talking birds, epic battles, unicorns, and a quest for redemption where the redemption includes the knight's participation in the crusades... The creature is the sealah (pronounced SHE-la), a genie that just wants to go out dancing and get dinner...and by that it means it wants you to dance for it before turning you into i...
35m Feb 26, 2020
35m
173-Tunisian Folklore: Fortune
Fortune favors the bold. Or people willing to put up with a decade of junk. Or the best liars. On this episode, there are two stories: one from Tunisia, and the other from Italy, about people who take their fate into their own hands to varying, oftentimes disastrous results. The creature is a sad sea goat who just wants to be with all of his other sad sea goats but, because the Greek gods are ...
38m Feb 19, 2020
38m
172-Norwegian Folklore: Adventure!
The story of the master thief, from Norwegian folklore, which will have you wondering what the difference is between a master thief and someone who exploits the laziness and ignorance of strangers in incredibly basic ways for their own gain. Also, being a good parent apparently means abandoning your kid in the forest? The creature this week is the skolopendra, and it…might just be real. — Mu...
36m Feb 12, 2020
36m
171-Indian Folklore: Love and Marriage
Three stories of love from India. The first is what happens when a prostitute and a thief try to build a life together. The second is what happens when a barber gets to ask a king for anything. The third is about a man who saves a mouse...and what happens when that mouse wants to get married. The creature is the man of your dreams...if your dreams happen to include a man who is a snake-wolf-...
34m Feb 05, 2020
34m
170B-Norse Sagas: On a Long Enough Timeline
This week, we continue the story of Grettir. Last week he was driven by an intense, mysterious tendency toward self-destruction. This week, he’ll still have that…but he’s been cursed by a draugr to always be unlucky. And it shows. A lot. He’ll start this week’s episode on his way home to start a new life and he’ll end it…we’ll, you’ll see. The creature is the Turban snail demon, and it’s why, ...
46m Jan 29, 2020
46m
170A-Norse Sagas: Good for Nothing
This week, we’re back in the Icelandic sagas with the story of Grettir the strong, who, whether it’s by berserkers crashing his Christmas party, bears stealing his clothes, or his own obscene insult poetry, just can’t catch a break. Speaking of breaks, you should really break up if you find yourself dating the creature this week. -- Music: “Stack me up” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lakkalia” by Blu...
41m Jan 22, 2020
41m
169-1001 Nights: A Bottle of Djinn
A story from the famous Middle Eastern collection of folklore entitled 1001 Nights where, three friends go on a road trip to get so many bottles full of evil genies. There's no such thing as too many side quests when their travels lead them to the legendary City of Brass, one of the greatest cities in the world...one that shut itself off from the world years ago. The creature is a little guy w...
41m Jan 15, 2020
41m
168-Robin Hood: Team of Rivals
How to win friends and influence people and also get beat up a lot in the 12th century. We've talked about Robin's origins, but who are all these other guys? Today we learn some outlaw recruiting strategies (mainly just getting whacked in the ribs with a stick and giving piggyback rides) and meet all the other important members of Robin's crew. The creature is just a pleasant and fashionable c...
38m Jan 08, 2020
38m
167-Nutcracker: Cracked
This week, it is the insane original story behind the popular holiday ballet. In this story for children, we'll get some contradictory lessons for the kids. Getting into a van with a stranger offering candy? Bad. Getting into a silver carriage with a man offering a whole magical world full of candy? Awesome (not really - seriously, kids don't do that). In a podcast full of problematic and wild...
46m Dec 24, 2019
46m
166-Grimm Brothers: The Dark Forest
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 creatu...
38m Dec 18, 2019
38m
165-Greek Myths: A Tangled Web
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...
41m Dec 11, 2019
41m
Supplemental: Lady White Snake Conclusion
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 (https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership) S...
11m Dec 09, 2019
11m
164B-Lady White Snake: Enlighten Me
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 t...
32m Dec 04, 2019
32m
164A-Chinese Legends: Here I Go Again
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 (https://www.m...
35m Nov 27, 2019
35m