Podcasts by Myths and Legends

291-Japanese Folklore: The Monsters from 2022-10-12T03:30

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 decapitat...

290-Indian Folklore: Hiss and Make Up from 2022-10-05T03:30

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 it...

289-Viking Sagas: Half the Man from 2022-09-28T03:30

The story of Half's Heroes, from the Icelandic Sagas. 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...

288-Viking Sagas: The Pillage People from 2022-09-21T04:09:59

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 we...

287-Korean Legends: Sob Story from 2022-09-14T03:30

This week, it's the story of Stupid Ondal and the Princess Pyeonggang, where we see that it's Pyeonggang's birthday, and she can cry if she wants to. Oh, it's the next birthday, and she's still ...

286-Japanese folklore: Cat Dad from 2022-09-07T03:30

Tokutarō is not going to be tricked by fox monsters. He's just not.

Also, a dad has a big problem with the new pet cat.

Two stories from Japan about things not being what they s...

285-Romanian Folklore: Grin and Bear It from 2022-08-31T03:30

The story of Harap Alb (Povestea lui Harap Alb) from Romanian folklore has it all. Like, it really does try to jam as many fairy tale tropes in as possible, but it actually works. It's ...

284-Grimm: To the Point from 2022-08-24T03:30

I mean, if you style your beard to a point so that it looks like an enormous bird's beak, you can't really fault an insult comedy pro princess for taking some shots at it. It's "King Thrushbeard...

283B-Indian Folklore: To the Victor from 2022-08-17T03:30

We see if Victor can come out on top using the power of stories…for murder?

The creature is a tiny fish with fingers and teeth!

—

Disclaimer/mermaid: Listen

283A-Indian Folklore: King of the Jungle from 2022-08-10T04:11:41

What happens when a lion and his prey become best friends? Or when a monkey starts messing around on a worksite? Or a weaver pretends to be a god to woo a princess? The Panchatantra happens. An ...

282-Gawain: All Knight Long from 2022-08-03T04:01

King Arthur and his best knight, Sir Gawain, have to answer the age-old question: what do women want? Oh, and if King Arthur doesn't find the definitive answer within a year, he'll be executed. ...

281-Grimm: Beyond the Grave from 2022-07-27T03:30

Two stories from the Grimm brothers with people going beyond death. On the first, it's a prince and princess who find love...after they swear a terrible and toxic oath to one another. On the sec...

280-Korean Folklore: Family Matters from 2022-07-20T03:30

Three stories from Korean folklore about family with terrible frog sons, angry imps beating guys with sticks until their arms get tired, and a mayor who just doesn't know when to quit.

T...

279-Norse Sagas: Prince Ali from 2022-07-13T03:30

The story of Spotted Ali, from the Icelandic sagas, has werewolves, ogre battles, and witch curses. It also has parents doing the right thing (and then the wrong thing for way too much cash), en...

278-Oscar Wilde: Skyrockets in Flight from 2022-07-06T03:35

Two literary fairy tales from Irish writer Oscar Wilde. On the first, we'll see that even fireworks need spa days. Is that what wallowing in the mud with animals is? Probably, right?

On ...

277-1001 Nights: Kiss the Cook from 2022-06-29T03:30

The story of the cook and the warlock, from 1001 Nights, where you see how a hot tub can change your entire life's course.

The creature is the Murghi-i-adami, a buff peacock with a lot t...

276-Swiss Horror: Along Came a Spider from 2022-06-22T05:15:11

An adaptation of a Swiss horror novella "The Black Spider" by author Jeremias Gotthelf (AKA Albert Bitzius), about a town with a knight problem, so they make a deal with a very suspicious man to...

275-Tibetan Folklore: Free Bird from 2022-06-15T04:03:06

A prince, chased by seven evil wizard roommates, seeks help from a hermit. This leads him on a journey of discovery that entails ghosts, mythological creature kidnapping, and many, many blisters...

274-European Folklore: Murky from 2022-06-08T09:30

Two stories from Eastern Europe where we see why mythological water monsters aren't a great way to discipline your kids. On the second, if a wizard is mumbling something outside your house, you'...

273-Robin Hood: The Good Thief from 2022-06-01T03:30

You would think, if you're the most wanted person in Britain, you would probably want to lie low for a little while and think that the all-too-happy-to-get-kidnapped abbot with the big bags of g...

272-Egyptian Folklore: Imposter from 2022-05-25T03:30

The story of a young man who decided that he would do anything to live the life of his dreams...but how far is too far?

The creature is the Minata-Karaia, basically ents who snack on the...

New Podcast: Myths and Legends, now in Spanish! from 2022-05-23T08:00

Sonoro and Nextpod (that’s Jason and Carissa Weiser!) present Mitos y Leyendas. The acclaimed podcast about mythology and worldwide folklore, now in Spanish. 

Listen, learn, and subscrib...

271-Korean folklore: A Friend in Need from 2022-05-18T03:30

Three stories of people helping people from Korea, including helpful monsters, deadly Pictionary, and why you should shove strangers down hills.

The creature is the Glashtin, a creature ...

270-Greek Myths: Cloud Cuckoo Land from 2022-05-11T04:00

This week, Olympus will fall. The reign of the Greek gods will come to an ignoble end to an enemy that has been lurking in the shadows the whole time. Hear how it all goes down in this definitel...

269-Hans Christian Andersen: What We Do With the Shadows from 2022-05-04T03:30

A story from Hans Christian Andersen about becoming your best self…after that self completely separates from you and leaves you as merely a shadow.

The creature this time is the invincib...

268-Viking Legends: Hride or Die from 2022-04-27T03:30

Two stories from Norse myth. The first is about how you should just be you, even if people think you're a fool for doing so...actually, kind of especially if people think you are a fool for doin...

267-Dragons: The Horse and his Boy from 2022-04-20T03:30

A story of believing in yourself and finding your own way in the world...by imitating Pokemon and Hodor and wearing flashy suits from your best friend's stone safehouse. From a story from what's no...

266-1001 Nights: Good Night and Good Luck from 2022-04-13T03:30

A story from One Thousand and One Nights of an incompetent dude, a genie that's more than happy to be used for evil, and how the best legal outcome is one that involves free honey cakes. This is al...

265-Monkey King: Out of Your Gourd from 2022-04-06T03:30

A super-powered monkey from Chinese folklore meets more than he bargained for: a sloshing hollow gourd full of pus. The creature is the Mikaribaba (箕借り婆) from Japanese folklore, a great reason not...

264-Korean folklore: On the Mountainside from 2022-03-30T03:30

Five stories from Korean folklore all woven together to tell a grand narrative of the lives of normal people (and animals...and trees) on a mountainside in medieval Korea. The creature is the Iara...

263-Celtic Folklore: You Can't Take it With You from 2022-03-23T03:30

Three stories of things worth more than gold from Slavic, Celtic, and Chinese folklore. Also, why you shouldn't eat gold (it will literally kill you), why you should dig into that road cake early o...

262-Japanese Folklore: Fatal Attraction from 2022-03-16T03:30

Three stories from Japan about love gone wrong. On the first, the fairest youth in all the land is set to marry the daughter of a rich noble. The problem? His father kind of oversold his looks... O...

261-Jewish Folklore: Mirror, Mirror from 2022-03-09T04:30

Two stories of King David's magic mirror. One actually involves a folklore version of the Biblical king facing off against an enemy from his past...and maybe turning into a balloon? The second invo...

260-Norse Sagas: Norse Code from 2022-03-02T04:30

Heidrek the wise...was not actually all that wise. He took ownership of a cursed sword for one. He also got in a riddle battle with Odin, which is never a good idea. In fact, if you want to be wise...

WE HAVE A NEW PODCAST! SCOUNDREL: HISTORY'S FORGOTTEN VILLAINS IS AVAILABLE NOW! from 2022-02-23T11:00

From Jason and Carissa Weiser, the hosts of Myths and Legends, comes Scoundrel: History's Forgotten Villains. History consists of heroes and villains (and, I suppose everything in between)... but i...

259-Egyptian Folklore: Butter from 2022-02-23T04:30

NEW SHOW NEW SHOW! We have a new show out. We've partnered with Kast media to make a history podcast called Scoundrel: History's Forgotten Villains. Carissa and I host it and we really think you'l...

258-Icelandic Legends: Welcome Back, Cotter from 2022-02-16T04:30

Two stories from Iceland. On the first, Signy has a shot at the good life. Unfortunately, that shot involves camping out in a cave with giants, tone deaf swans, and magic flying beds. Oh, and some...

257-Chinese Folklore: Love Me, Love Me from 2022-02-09T04:30

It's (almost) Valentine's Day, and we have two stories from Chinese folklore about love, loss, and marrying all sorts of things you shouldn't be marrying, like ghosts and livestock! The creature i...

256-Indian Folklore: Tiger Mom from 2022-02-02T04:30

A story from India that's like a more awesome version of two different Grimm fairy tales. A woman is promised in marriage to a stranger and we learn that, yeah, that's actually a pretty terrible id...

255-Chinese Folklore: Picture Me This from 2022-01-26T04:30

A story from China where we see a young man embark on a dangerous journey for love that definitely isn't a knock-off version of "The Journey to the West" and/or "The Hobbit". Then, we learn how the...

254-Spanish Folklore: Ready or Not from 2022-01-19T04:30

A story from Spanish folklore of three brothers, a crafting competition, a smelly Trojan parrot, and a lesson that it's never too late to start on the Hero's Journey. I mean, you might end up in ja...

253B-Monkey King: The Good Guys from 2022-01-12T04:30

Monkey has been fired. Sandy has been captured. Pigsy is fleeing in terror, and the monk is about to be cut to pieces by a room full of angry guys. Things are not going well. The creature is a buf...

253-Monkey King: Severance from 2022-01-05T04:30

We're back on the road on the Journey to the West and our heroes are starving. The solution? Some murders, some personnel changes, and human buns. The creature is a devil fish, a not-so-friendly b...

252-Greek folklore: Name that Tune from 2021-12-29T04:30

Fighting your own fate: it's a theme nearly as old as human civilization. We'll hear two stories of people who both lament their fate...and see that they are profoundly bad at doing anything about ...

251-Icelandic Legends: Ghosts of Christmas Past from 2021-12-22T04:30

Two stories of Christmas in Iceland. So that apparently means wizards and zombies? The creature is the Cuegle! It's like a walking great white shark with terrible self-esteem-- Sponsors:June's Jo...

250-Grimm: Fauxsicians from 2021-12-15T04:30

Two stories of absolutely real and definitely not fake doctors! The first is a Grimm tale where a guy goes to medical school and opens a practice! Never mind that his medical school is just a white...

249-Italian Folklore: Unbearable from 2021-12-08T04:30

Two stories from Giambattista Basile, Neapolitan writer, of angry sisters, busted Mario pipes, and she-bears that are only mad if you try to force them into marriage. The creature is the wiffenpoo...

248-Sorcerer's Apprentice: The Magic Words from 2021-12-01T04:30

Two stories of sorcerer's apprentices. The first picks the wrong major at wizard school. The second finds a creative way into school...by becoming a dangerous sorcerer's BFF. The creatures are the...

247-Argentinian Folklore: Beast Tartare, Can't Go Far from 2021-11-24T04:30

This week, it's the story from Argentina about Senorita Maldonado. We'll learn that sometimes the beasts of the woods might be better than your cruel, micromanaging boss. The creature is a shapesh...

246-Slavic Legends: The Queen's Gambit from 2021-11-17T04:30

The legendary story of Olga of Kiev, a 10th century queen who's always four steps ahead of her enemies. For the creature of the week, when you're the dogai, you always have a sleeping bag handy. B...

245-Pirates: Pretty Pretty Pirate from 2021-11-10T04:30

The story of a pirate princess from Jewish/Polish folklore, we'll see how many fiancees is too many fiancees (the answer, of course, is however many try to marry you at sword-point), and that you r...

244-Georgian Folklore: Here Fishy Fishy from 2021-11-03T03:30

A story from Georgian folklore about a king who needs a cure for his condition, the prince who decided that cure was going to be his new pet, and all the problems that come from an animal blood eye...

243B-King Arthur: Double Trouble from 2021-10-27T03:30

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'r...

243A-King Arthur: Doppel-Gwen-er from 2021-10-20T03:30

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 ...

242-Albanian Folklore: Two Roads from 2021-10-13T03:30

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 transfor...

241-African Folklore: Hippopotamaster from 2021-10-06T03:30

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 oven...

240B-German Fairy Tales: Heart of Stone from 2021-09-29T03:30

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 d...

240A-German Fairy Tales: Man of Glass from 2021-09-22T03:30

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 f...

239-Grimm: Give them a Hand from 2021-09-15T03:30

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. T...

238-Indian Folklore: Blue Raja from 2021-09-08T03:30

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 tur...

NIGHTY NIGHT WITH RABIA CHAUDRY IS AVAILABLE NOW! from 2021-09-07T13:00:13

Nighty Night is a horror anthology series where famed attorney, author and podcaster Rabia Chaudry delivers bone-chilling bedtime stories that will be sure to keep you wide awake all night long. Th...

237B-Odyssey Finale: To Strive, to Seek, to Find, and not to Yield from 2021-09-01T03:32:25

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....

237A-Odyssey Finale: The Shape of Things to Come from 2021-08-25T03:30

Odysseus finally landed on Ithaca, but, with 120 angry, armed men in his house who want his wife and life, can he survive his homecoming? The creatures are Black Annis and Gentle Annis. Black Anni...

236-French Fairy Tale: Piece of Cake from 2021-08-18T03:30

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 ow...

235-Korean Folklore: Ghost Story from 2021-08-11T03:30

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...

234-Scandinavian Folklore: Trolling from 2021-08-04T03:30

This week, there are two stories from the north. On the first, a young Danish man is doing the hero's journey thing...but it's not going well, and that leads to him taking a job working for an actu...

233C-King Arthur: Not Dead Yet from 2021-07-28T03:30

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 m...

233B-King Arthur: 'Tis But a Scratch from 2021-07-21T03:30

We catch up with the strange knight in the white armor, the boy who doesn't know his own past, as he travels the realm, and we witness him come up against the cursed fortress known as the Dolorous ...

233A-King Arthur: The Boy with No Name from 2021-07-14T03:30

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 ep...

232-Robin Hood: Public Enemy from 2021-07-07T03:30

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 c...

231-Irish Folklore: Challenge Accepted from 2021-06-30T03:30

Two stories from Ireland. On the first, Finn McCool, a giant Irish here, isn't scared! He totally isn't! He's just speed walking away from that guy he's been threatening for weeks who finally showe...

230-Grimm: A Hairy Situation from 2021-06-23T03:30

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...

229-Monkey King: Forbidden Fruit from 2021-06-16T04:11:02

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 th...

THE OPPORTUNIST SEASON TWO IS AVAILABLE NOW! from 2021-06-16T00:00

Robert Courtney was an upstanding Kansas City pharmacist and family man who was deeply devoted to his church. Courtney owned and operated two pharmacies and was perceived as an innovative businessm...

228-Italian Folklore: Full Circle from 2021-06-09T03:30

Two stories from the Italian writer Giovanni Francesco Straparola, who earns the title of one of the earliest fairy tale writers, putting tales down to paper in the 1500s. On the first, you'll lear...

227-Greek/Roman Mythology: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Olympus from 2021-06-02T03:45

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 toge...

226-European Folklore: Failing Upward from 2021-05-26T03:30

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. T...

225-Egyptian Folklore: Kitchen Nightmare from 2021-05-19T03:30

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 whe...

224-African Folklore: It's the Great Pumpkin, Kiali from 2021-05-12T03:30

This week, it's a story from Africa (more specifically the Nilamba people in northern Tanzania) about a hunt for a murderer that goes off the rails very quickly with talking animals...and giant, sa...

223B-Samurai Legends: Dinner Party from 2021-05-05T03:30

There's a killer on the loose in Kyoto. Young women are disappearing from the streets, never to be heard from again. Minamoto no Raikō, the legendary samurai, knows that it isn't merely a serial ki...

223A-Samurai Legends: The Devil went down to Kyoto from 2021-04-28T03:30

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 ...

222B-Norse Legends: It Takes a Pillage from 2021-04-21T04:52

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 wedd...

222A-Norse Legends: The Land of the Ice and Snow from 2021-04-14T03:30

We’re back in the nine worlds of Norse myth where two Viking blood brothers are looking for princesses that have been kidnapped by legendary monsters. Their journey will take them beyond their worl...

221-Chinese/Scottish folklore: The Great Beyond from 2021-04-07T03:30

This week, there are two stories about death and what comes next, from China and Scotland. On the first, a lonely fisherman meets an odd man down by the river with a strange plan for his life. On t...

220B-Odyssey: Lonely Island from 2021-03-31T03:30

We're back in the Odyssey where Menelaus comes home, Telemachus leaves it, and Odysseus? Odysseus has been stuck in the same place for seven long years. The creatures this week are the Agogwe, tin...

220A-Odyssey: The Castaways from 2021-03-24T03:30

Three men grappling with the legacy, or curse, of their fathers. Menelaus loses everything and finds a life, but will his past come hunting for him? Telemachus lives each day in the shadow of the a...

219-Italian folklore: Unhand Me from 2021-03-17T03:30

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. ...

218-Monkey King: Enter Sandman from 2021-03-10T04:30

We resume our journey to the west right where we left off: the Tang monk has been kidnapped by demons, and it's up to Sun Wukong and Pigsy to save him...if they aren't too busy making tiny monkey b...

217-Mabinogion: Bringing Home the Bacon from 2021-03-03T04:30

We’re back in the Mabinogion, where we’ll learn about the perils of bacon - and it’s not the cholesterol, but the magical wizard war that the first pigs ever brought to the world. Then, we’ll see w...

216-Baba Yaga: Which Witch? from 2021-02-24T04:30

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...

215-Scandinavian Legends: Madness from 2021-02-17T04:30

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 f...

THE OPPORTUNIST IS AVAILABLE NOW from 2021-02-16T12:00

The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister simply by being opportunistic. How does an everyday person turn into a thief, a cult leader, or a scammer? Instead of portrayi...

214-Japanese Folklore: Take Your Lumps from 2021-02-10T04:30

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 man has a pet that his wife is not thrilled about, so sh...

213-Reynard: What Does the Fox Say? from 2021-02-03T04:45

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...

212-Armenian Folklore: Witchy Woman from 2021-01-27T04:30

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 a...

211-Aeneid: Troy Story from 2021-01-20T04:30

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...

210-Russian Legends: Dragons, Dragons Everywhere from 2021-01-13T04:30

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 ...

209C-Viking Legends: Black Widow from 2021-01-06T04:30

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 th...

209B-Viking Legends: Time and Tide from 2020-12-30T05:15:22

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 co...

209A-Viking Legends: Bloodlines from 2020-12-23T04:30

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 ...

208-Maui: Big Tuna from 2020-12-16T04:30

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 t...

207-Monkey King: Girls Before Swine from 2020-12-09T04:30

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 tre...

206-Mabinogion: The Blip from 2020-12-02T04:30

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 y...

205B-Odyssey: The Widening Gyre from 2020-11-25T04:30

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, eyeles...

205A-Odyssey: Man of Constant Sorrow from 2020-11-18T04:30

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 h...

204-Russian Folklore: Get in the Bag from 2020-11-11T04:30

We're back in Russian folklore for a fun story about a soldier with some biscuits who fights demons, heaven, and yes, death itself. The creature is the valravn and I just can't get over how cool t...

203-Grimm: Out of the Woods from 2020-11-04T04:30

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 myst...

202-Greek Myths: Dead Poets Society from 2020-10-28T03:30

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-t...

201-1001 Nights: In the Wind from 2020-10-21T03:30

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 s...

200-Irish Legends: The Things We Do for Love from 2020-10-14T03:30

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 i...

199-Japanese folklore: Moonlight from 2020-10-07T03:30

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 glow...

198-Robin Hood: On the Road Again from 2020-09-30T05:11:24

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 f...

197-Viking Legends: VFFs from 2020-09-23T03:30

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 transfo...

196-Reynard the Fox: Chaotic Good from 2020-09-16T03:30

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 ...

195-Greek Myths: Stranger Danger from 2020-09-09T03:30

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 doe...

194-Mulan: The Warrior from 2020-09-02T03:30

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 secr...

193B-Monkey King: Pilgrim's Progress from 2020-08-26T03:59

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 g...

193A-Monkey King: Golden Cicada from 2020-08-19T04:54:29

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 ...

192-Grimm: Brave Traveler from 2020-08-12T04:36:19

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 ...

191-Norse Legends: See How they Fly from 2020-08-05T03:59

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 sk...

190-Chinese Folklore: Fierce from 2020-07-29T03:59

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 mig...

189C-Nibelungenlied: I Know It Was You from 2020-07-22T04:46:35

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 to...

189B-Nibelungenlied: Heinous from 2020-07-15T03:59

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 en...

189A-Medieval Legends: Cheater Cheater from 2020-07-08T04:07:07

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,...

188-The Flea: Forever Home from 2020-07-01T03:59

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 ju...

187-Greek Myths: The End to All Our Pain from 2020-06-24T05:27:43

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...

186-Grimm: Don't Be Weird from 2020-06-17T03:59

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 i...

185-Queen of Serpents: With This Hiss I Thee Wed from 2020-06-10T03:59

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...

184-Robin Hood: Check, Please! from 2020-06-03T03:59

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...

183-Indian folklore: Revenant from 2020-05-27T03:59

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 ...

182-Slavic folklore: The Brave Companions from 2020-05-20T04:25:58

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 g...

181B-Mabinogion: With Friends Like These from 2020-05-13T04:24

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...

181A-Welsh Legends: Otherworld from 2020-05-06T04:45:07

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,...

180-Azorean Folklore: Power from 2020-04-29T03:59

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...

179-Slavic legends: Grateful Dead from 2020-04-22T03:59

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...

178-Tanuki: Changes from 2020-04-15T03:59

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 headstan...

177D-Trojan War: Horsin' Around from 2020-04-08T03:59

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 m...

177C-Trojan War: When I am Gone from 2020-04-01T04:26:39

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 ...

177B-Trojan War: Storm of Spears from 2020-03-25T03:59

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 ...

177A-Trojan War: Rage from 2020-03-18T03:59

“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. Ach...

176-The Emperor's New Clothes: Matchless from 2020-03-11T04:57:20

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 nee...

175-Thor: Surprises from 2020-03-04T07:43:09

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 awk...

174-Medieval Knights: Take Your Time from 2020-02-26T05:03:14

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...

173-Tunisian Folklore: Fortune from 2020-02-19T07:53:01

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 t...

172-Norwegian Folklore: Adventure! from 2020-02-12T04:59

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 ...

171-Indian Folklore: Love and Marriage from 2020-02-05T04:59

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...

170B-Norse Sagas: On a Long Enough Timeline from 2020-01-29T04:59

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...

170A-Norse Sagas: Good for Nothing from 2020-01-22T06:08:04

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 insul...

169-1001 Nights: A Bottle of Djinn from 2020-01-15T04:59

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 ma...

168-Robin Hood: Team of Rivals from 2020-01-08T04:59

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 s...

167-Nutcracker: Cracked from 2019-12-24T15:00

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 offer...

166-Grimm Brothers: The Dark Forest from 2019-12-18T04:59

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...

165-Greek Myths: A Tangled Web from 2019-12-11T04:59

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 Gre...

Supplemental: Lady White Snake Conclusion from 2019-12-09T19:22:25

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!...

164B-Lady White Snake: Enlighten Me from 2019-12-04T04:59

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...

164A-Chinese Legends: Here I Go Again from 2019-11-27T04:59

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 t...

163-Hansel and Gretel: Crumble from 2019-11-20T04:59

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 sto...

162-47 Ronin: Wanderers from 2019-11-13T04:59

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 for...

161-Japanese folklore: Karma from 2019-11-06T04:59

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 ...

160-Halloween Special: Lurking from 2019-10-30T03:59

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 ...

159-Rip Van Winkle: Bad Dad from 2019-10-23T03:59

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 se...

158-Agamemnon: Fate Proceeds from 2019-10-16T03:59

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...

157-Jack the Giant Killer: Giant Problems from 2019-10-09T03:59

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 c...

156-Italian Folklore: Clever Girl from 2019-10-02T03:59

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 a...

155-Fairy Tales: The Pearl from 2019-09-25T03:59

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 on...

154B-Viking Legends: The Army of the Dead from 2019-09-18T03:59

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...

154A-Viking Legends: Family Business from 2019-09-11T03:59

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 happ...

153-Odysseus: The Angry One from 2019-09-04T03:59

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...

152-King Arthur: When in Rome from 2019-08-28T03:59

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? Kin...

151B-Faust: The Bad Place from 2019-08-21T03:59

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 b...

151A-Faust: A Man of Wealth and Taste from 2019-08-14T03:59

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 wri...

150B-European Epics: Where the Shadows Lie from 2019-08-07T03:59

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. -- Sponsors: This episode i...

150A-European Epics: King Me from 2019-07-31T03:59

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...

149-Japanese Fairy Tales: Son of a Peach from 2019-07-17T03:59

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: gr...

148B-Monkey King: Leaps and Bounds from 2019-07-10T03:59

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...

148A-Monkey King: Good Little Monkey from 2019-07-03T03:59

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 Chin...

147B-Antigone: Authority from 2019-06-26T03:59

A dark story gets darker as Antigone battles an authoritarian state in the form of her uncle Creon. -- Sponsors: Go to https://SimpliSafe.com/LEGENDS to check out an awesome home security system Le...

147A-Oedipus: Team Spear It from 2019-06-19T03:59

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. Sponsor: If there is something interfering ...

146-Scandinavian Folklore: Twinning from 2019-06-12T03:59

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 disappointe...

145-Achilles: The Age of Heroes from 2019-06-05T03:59

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 dayca...

144-Viking Legends: The Old Gods and the New from 2019-05-29T03:59

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...

143-Japanese Folktales: Crabby from 2019-05-22T03:59

The story this week is the reason you don’t make enemies with a decapod who’s friends with a bee, a pile of dung, a mortar and a chestnut. The other is the reason why you should buy a waterbottle f...

142B-Rome: Politics from 2019-05-15T03:59

Romulus and Remus are finally striking out on their own, and what could go wrong with two seventeen year olds starting their own city when they are accompanied by a band of outlaws and they have to...

142A-Rome: Glory from 2019-05-08T03:59

If you're remotely familiar with the legendary history of Rome, you might know about two babies suckling a she-wolf....and that's about it. Really, though it's a story of intrigue and murder, betra...

141C-Robin Hood: On Brand from 2019-05-01T03:59

When we left off last week, Robin Hood was stabbed in the side by an assassin who deceived him, and he was bleeding out all while his camp was being swarmed by the Sheriff of Nottingham's men, his ...

141B-Robin Hood: The Hunted from 2019-04-24T03:59

This week, it’s a continuation of our Robin Hood tale, and this time, the Sheriff of Nottingham is on his final nerve. With his reputation on the line, failure is not an option…despite his unimpres...

141A-Robin Hood: Merry from 2019-04-17T03:59

Robin Hood is a name that has echoed through the ages as a noble outlaw - one who takes from the rich and gives to the poor and who, with his bow and arrow and merry men, makes the powerful, cruel ...

140-La Llorona: No Way Out from 2019-04-10T03:59

If you hear her weeping, it might already be too late. A life fraught with loss and betrayal creates a tragic and dangerous being that's trapped between life and death, salvation and destruction. S...

139B-Irish Legends: Evitable from 2019-04-03T03:59

Where we left off, Cú Chulainn was getting dung smeared in his face by a stronger, magical king. None of that matters, because Cú Chulainn won. Of course he did. He's Cú Chulainn. Today's story pic...

139A-Irish Legends: The Hound from 2019-03-27T03:59

Swan hunting, demon horde fighting, and marriage counseling: we’re back in the stories of Cú Chulainn, the hound of Ulster, after he won the war. He’s at a party, celebrating, but then his wife hin...

138-Knights of the Round Table: Carl from 2019-03-20T03:59

Gawain, Kay, and Bishop Baldwin are road tripping, but it's starting to rain. Kay won't camp out in the rain, so that only leaves one option: Carl's house. The knights are in for one of the strange...

137-Italian folklore: Tailor-made from 2019-03-13T03:59

Young Dionigi is an apprentice to the master tailor, Maestro Lattantio. It’s a good job and, frankly, the best one he could get. The problem? He wants a better one. He wants to be a wizard. His bos...

136-Pecos Bill: To the Moon and Back from 2019-03-06T04:59

It’s the long awaited, frequently requested return of Pecos Bill, and we’ll see the aftermath of the incident with the twister, watch him pitch the devil as an investor in his new startup, and fall...

135C-Tristan and Isolde: Homecoming from 2019-02-27T04:59

The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found Tristan and Isolde. They were renegades who had it made, but they were caught red-handed...mainly because of the blood...when Tristan and Isolde f...

135B-Tristan and Isolde: Secrets from 2019-02-20T04:59

Tristan and Isolde have a problem: they can't get enough of each other. After they inadvertently drank the love potion, they couldn't control their love...and it is looming like a snare, one that w...

135A-Tristan and Isolde: Matchmaker from 2019-02-13T04:59

I don't want to spoil anything for someone who doesn't know this story, but this three-parter has everything: sneering villains, valiant heroes, monster fights, love, loss, betrayal, and someone sh...

134-Grimm: Thirsty from 2019-02-06T06:11:08

For once, the king is dead and the queen is alive, and she's going to make sure her daughter avoids the dangers that many princesses have to face. Or, she tries. The creature is a balding, adorable...

133-Filipino folklore: Monkey Business from 2019-01-23T04:59

This week, it's a fable from the Philippines with a monkey, a turtle, and Game of Thrones level violence and retribution when something is stolen (don't worry, though. We don't get graphic with it)...

132B-Trojan War: Some Foolish Thing from 2019-01-16T05:04:25

This is the episode. This is the episode where Helen of Sparta becomes Helen of Troy, and an event happens that launches 1000 ships toward the city in the east. This is where it all begins. The cre...

132A-Trojan War: The Wars to Come from 2019-01-09T06:43:02

In this prelude to the Trojan War, we learn the origin of the most famous Greek hero, and maybe the most reviled Trojan prince. Also, you shouldn't let Hera plan your wedding because a bitter decad...

131B-Greek Mythology: All in the Family from 2019-01-02T05:55:24

Last week, Hera hid that she was pregnant. This week, we learn who the father isn’t, and see the births of two more important figures from Greek mythology. Also, if you’re going for the whole total...

131A-Greek Mythology: Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal from 2018-12-26T05:29:05

The origin stories of the Olympians. The creatures this week are the Yule Lads, their mom, stepdad, and murderous cat. -- Sponsors: Check out Bird Box on Netflix! Casper: Ready for a good night of ...

130C-Jungle Book: An Old War from 2018-12-19T04:59

Mowgli is hiding among the humans to stay safe from Shere Khan after burning and shaming the tiger at the showdown at Council Rock. The problem? The tiger knows where Mowgli is, and he is coming fo...

130B-Jungle Book: The Strength of the Pack from 2018-12-12T04:59

We catch up with Mowgli after he’s been tossed in a pit of cobras while his friends fight countless vicious monkeys outside. We’ll also see what Shere Khan has been up to for the past seven years…a...

130A-Jungle Book: Welcome to the Jungle from 2018-12-05T04:59

A boy is lost. A tiger hunts. The wolf pack takes on a new cub. The story of the Jungle Book begins -- Sponsors: Audible! Audible is my favorite way to listen to audiobooks. Go to http://www.audibl...

129B-Persian mythology: Champions from 2018-11-28T05:44:11

Rostam embarks on his quest to free his king, taken captive in the land of the demons, where he'll not only have to free his stupid, stupid ruler and end the war, but embark on seven labors which w...

129A-Persian Mythology: The Mammoth that Rides from 2018-11-21T04:59

The story of Rostam from the Shahnameh, an important book in Iranian Mythology. It starts out in a weird place, with a strange little Benjamin Button-type baby being raised by a mythological peacoc...

128-Irish folklore: Give Him the Finger from 2018-11-14T04:59

A fairy tale from Ireland with a genre savvy queen who has one request for her husband: don't let his surely evil next wife get anywhere near her three sons. Of course, things don't really go as pl...

127-Finnish Mythology: The Boy who Lived from 2018-11-07T04:59

A story from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, about revenge, letting go, and moving on. Also why you shouldn't mess with babies that can whisper threats at three months old and survive way ...

126-Wendigo: Hunger from 2018-10-31T03:59

On our annual Halloween episode, it's stories of a monstrous creature who stalks the north woods...and how they might be sitting right next to you. The creature is a vampire that's super scary...on...

125-Norse Mythology: Bound from 2018-10-24T03:59

We're back in Norse Mythology. It's set before Ragnarok (obviously), and it's a story we never got to of Freyja, Odin, Loki, and four dwarves. Freyja makes a lot of new friends, and Loki gets compl...

124-Greek Mythology: The Fall from 2018-10-17T03:59

Theseus has had a long and storied life, but now he faces his greatest challenge: after you've accomplished everything you set out to do and your name will live on for generations, what comes next?...

123-Dark Tower: Directions from 2018-10-10T03:59

A game turns dark as a child disappears. Her brothers must follow her into a land that's like a mirror image of our own to get her back from the king who lives in the dark tower. Oh and also Merlin...

122-Indian Folklore: Let it Be from 2018-10-03T03:59

A king fighting against fate. A young man surviving the impossible. A hermit reading the future from his toilet. This week, it's the long road to becoming who you were always meant to be. -- Sponso...

121-Grimm Brothers: King of the Mountain from 2018-09-26T03:59

A man loses everything except for his children and his field, but it's while he's in that field with his children that he receives a visit from a mythological creature...and makes a deal that will ...

120B-Holy Grail: Beyond the Sea from 2018-09-19T03:59

Seven people have been informed that they will be pivotal in the quest for the greatest holy object that has ever existed: the Holy Grail. First, they have to get it to England. That, of course, wi...

120A-Holy Grail: Only the Penitent Man Will Pass from 2018-09-12T03:59

The Holy Grail: The greatest legendary item of all time and the focal point of the Arthurian legends. This is its origin. Beginning as the humble cup of a crucified savior, the Grail will take on l...

119-Sleeping Beauty: Rude Awakening from 2018-09-05T03:59

It's the first written version of Sleeping Beauty, put down to paper in the 1600s by the Neapolitan writer Giambattista Basile. And it's horrifying.   The creature is elephant rat. It's an elephan...

118-Jewish Folklore: The Eyrie from 2018-08-29T03:59

The king is annoyed. All of these people want to make him work. It's just...not fair. Sure, they're starving and about to riot in the streets, but actually showing up to work is really going to cut...

117-Romanian Folklore: What did it Cost? from 2018-08-22T03:59

This week, it's the fairy tale "Youth without Age and Life without Death", from Romania, a tale of love, loss, impossible quests, and acheiving your dreams. Also, why you shouldn't make idle promis...

116B-Mexican Legends: Outlaw Country from 2018-08-15T03:59

Joaquin is out of control. He is riding through town, doubling the rewards on his own wanted posters. He has cowed or killed anyone who has tried to stop him, and he thinks he is untouchable. He's ...

116A-Mexican Legends: Alta California from 2018-08-08T03:59

It's 1850. The gold rush in the wild west, and Joaquin Murrieta seeks a better life in the US state of California, only recently taken from Mexico in the Mexican-American War. He tries to play by t...

115-Chinese Folklore: Another Brick in the Wall from 2018-08-01T03:59

The story of Meng Jiangnu and the Great Wall is one of the four great folktales of China. It's the story of love, tyranny, and standing up for what is right, no matter the cost. If you like your ev...

114B-Indian Stories: Heavy from 2018-07-25T03:59

The world has been quiet for centuries, but everyone knows that they will return. The demon kings. An ancient evil destined to be reborn a third and final time. Then, one day, a child is born. The ...

114A-Indian Stories: Calamity from 2018-07-18T03:59

Three lifetimes, two guardians, one objective: get back home. In our long overdue first foray into stories from India, it's the story of Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers to Vishnu's celestial abode...

113-Armenian folklore: Occupational Hazard from 2018-07-11T04:40:51

The prince is having a bad day...because the prince is having a great day. His life is just too easy. Too awesome. He is suffering from too much luxury. It's definitely not because he's into a girl...

112C-Pinocchio: Whale Jail from 2018-06-27T03:59

It's the end for Pinocchio. We left him last week the lead suspect in a murder investigation (no, I'm not joking), and we'll catch up to him on the beach, facing the authorities as he stands over t...

112B-Pinocchio: Nosey from 2018-06-20T03:59

I wouldn't really call Pinocchio ill-fated. That implies that it's undeserved, and it's definitely not. The little guy lies like it's a second language. Regardless, a lot happens to our little budd...

112A-Pinocchio: No Strings Attached from 2018-06-13T03:59

Prison. Assassins. Marionette dance parties. The original story of Pinocchio has it all. Of course, you know of Pinocchio and Geppetto, but did you know that Geppetto, in order to get the wood to m...

111-Thumbelina: Sweet Summer Child from 2018-06-06T03:54:49

Thumbelina's life is already difficult. She lives in early modern Denmark and is no bigger than her mom's thumb. Oh, and also, everyone wants to marry her. And by everyone, I mean everyone. Frog mo...

110-Viking Myths: Alone from 2018-05-30T03:59

Odin. Jotunheim. Shin Tinder. We're (basically) back in Norse mythology with the legendary story of Hadingus, a Viking king that hates being king. We'll visit nearly half of the worlds in Norse myt...

109-Athens: Home from 2018-05-23T05:27:10

The city of Athens is one of the most famous of the ancient world and its royal family was plagued with, well, weirdness. Between the dragon kings and the bird people, you either had to be sure to ...

108-Tom Thumb: Thumbs Up from 2018-05-16T03:59

Tom Thumb is the story of a guy named Tom...who is as big as his dad's thumb. A practical joke by a wizard, Tom went on to become Sir Thomas Thumb, the greatest knight in the realm, but not before ...

107B-Golem: To Dust You Shall Return from 2018-05-09T03:59

It's quiet. Too quiet. It has been years since the last blood libel and the Jewish community in Prague is starting to relax. Then, the Maharal receives a sign from God a few days before Passover, l...

Bonus-U.S. Folklore: Gaslighting from 2018-05-05T22:26:39

As a way to say thank for voting for Myths and Legends for the Webbys (and for being the reason why we won!), we wanted to share an additional story this week. It's from the southern United States,...

107A-Golem: Guardian from 2018-05-02T03:59

In 16th century Prague, a people are under attack. Accused of an unspeakable crime they didn't commit, they have no recourse: even the rulers of the city have turned against them. They can't find j...

106C-African Legends: Who Tells Your Story from 2018-04-25T04:58:32

The king returns to his homeland after nearly a decade of exile. An evil sorcerer king is at the apex of his power. Owls deliver insults and dating is difficult no matter who you are. The epic stor...

106B-African Legends: Bad Move from 2018-04-18T03:59

The Webbys! You have until 11:59pm PST on 4/19 to vote, so if you haven't voted, please go to http://vote.mythpodcast.com and vote for Myths and Legends. Thank you so much. --- A new shadow rises t...

106A-African Legends: Long Live the King from 2018-04-11T03:59

The epic of Sundiata, the founder of the Mali empire, has everything - magical old women, evil magician kings, nice magician kings, and helpful buffaloes. The first part is like Mean Girls...if Mea...

105B-Reynard: Ferocious Mr. Fox from 2018-04-04T03:59

!*!*! We've been nominated for a Webby! If you get a chance, it would be amazing if you'd vote for Myths and Legends: http://wbby.co/pod-writ Thanks! !*!*! Reynard, having received a pardon from th...

105A-Reynard: Fox on the Run from 2018-03-28T03:59

Despite cute talking animals, the world in the stories of Reynard the fox is a rough place. The fox might not be the biggest or toughest animal in the kingdom, but he is the smartest. Once he gets ...

104-Egyptian Mythology: The First Avenger from 2018-03-21T03:59

Horus's uncle Set murdered his father, and because his mother was shrewd, he gained the throne and the murderer was exiled to the South. There was just one problem: Set wasn't going to go quietly. ...

103-Middle Eastern Folklore: Shipshape from 2018-03-14T03:59

A story about a king and his garden...that somehow turns into a story with genies, witches, boats full of male models, guys getting boiled alive, angry kitties, and secret agent mice. It's the stor...

102-Charlemagne: Honor Among Thieves from 2018-03-07T04:59

Charlemagne is the Holy Roman Emperor, and as a Holy Roman Emperor in a legend, it's not surprising that he'd get a command directly from God. What is surprising, however, is that the command is le...

101-Fairy Tales: Three Dog Night from 2018-02-28T04:59

What do you do if an obvious witch stops you on the road and asks a favor? Keep walking, right? Well, for the first time in possibly the entirety of this podcast, here's an example of someone speak...

100B-Knights of the Round Table: Family Reunion from 2018-02-21T04:59

Things get weird this week. The knights continue their quests through the Country of Strange Adventure, and the side-quests becomes the main quest as the knights get involved with: Bad breakups ...

100A-Knights of the Round Table: Buddy System from 2018-02-14T04:59

Yvain and Gawain are just two best friends taking a fun trip together. Nevermind that they've been exiled from Camelot forever, making it a mandatory best friends vacation. It sparks the beginning ...

99-William Tell: One Shot from 2018-02-07T04:59

The story of William Tell is so much more than an arrow and an apple. It's the story of a reluctant hero, a tyrannical ruler, and why you shouldn't let your prisoners drive the vehicle you're using...

98-Native American History: Runner in the Night from 2018-01-31T04:59

As I was reading the story of Gouyen, I couldn't believe it was a true story - the lengths and the danger this woman went to in order to bring her husband's killer to justice. She's brave, intellig...

97-Jack and the Beanstalk: Sleeping Giant from 2018-01-24T04:59

I feel pretty confident saying that this episode is the most fun you'll have listening to a story about child murder and cannibalism. Jack of Jack and the beanstalk fame is a hero who's...not reall...

96-Russian Folklore: Cold as Ice from 2018-01-17T04:59

Two vastly different stories of children made from snow. The first is one where the king is called on to solve some dating issues...but then discovers something far colder is at play. The second is...

95B-Irish Legends: Finn the Human from 2018-01-10T04:59

A giant otherworldly monster that shoots fire from its mouth. The treacherous chief that killed his father. A super-smart fish dinner. These are just some of the things that Finn MacCool has to dea...

95A-Irish legends: Wanted from 2018-01-03T04:59

If I could have just re-named myself in grade school, it probably would have been Finn MacCool. I mean, yeah, that's only an English transcription and it's actually spelled Fionn mac Cumhaill and i...

Bonus-The Time Machine: Inspector Spacetime from 2017-12-29T23:54:03

Since Myths and Legends is off this week, I thought I would run an episode from our other show, Fictional. It's a podcast where we adapt and retell stories from all over fiction. Today's episode is...

94-Norse Legends: A Very Viking Christmas from 2017-12-20T04:59

The story of a few violent, zombie-filled Christmases from Norse legend. There are two creatures this week! The first is the gloso! A friendly little piggy who will stop by to say hi. Except if you...

93B-Theseus: Love and War from 2017-12-13T04:59

The Amazons are at the gates, and they want what they came for: the sister of the queen that was kidnapped by Theseus...but does Antiope, the Amazon, want to return? What will the horribly outmatch...

93A-Amazons: Wonder Women from 2017-12-06T04:59

There is a monster that's worse than all other monsters. He's (literally) the father of monsters. His donkey-head scrapes the stars and his hands are a hundred snake heads. He was born for one sing...

92-Greek Myths: Gigantic from 2017-11-29T04:59

There is someone that isn't happy that the family of Zeus and Hera is sitting on Olympus. Well, there are many people that aren't happy about it. Actually most people except for Zeus and his family...

91-Greek Myths: Fatherhood from 2017-11-22T04:59

Two stories of just terrible, terrible fathers from Greek mythology. The first is really only in the story for a few minutes, but helps to bring about two giants that could end his reign. The secon...

90-Viking Legends: Mighty from 2017-11-15T04:59

The land of giants. Jotunheim. The realm of the monstrous "other" from Norse myth. Thorstein grew up being told it was only a legend, and he probably thought as much...until he walked into it. This...

89-Maui: The Mauiest Maui from 2017-11-08T04:59

Maui. Trickster. Demigod. Sometimes-fish. Abandoned at birth but in the possession of great power, the story of Maui is the story of an underdog that came to help the human race in immeasurable way...

88-Ragnarok: Doom from 2017-11-01T03:59

The Day of the Wolf. The Doom of the Gods. The end of all things. It has many names, but one word encapsulates it all: Ragnarok. It's what Odin has been dreading and fighting. It's what Loki has be...

87-Werewolves: The Lost from 2017-10-25T03:54:23

Werewolves are people that turn into wolves. Or they don't. Maybe they just wear a fancy wolf belt. Or maybe part of a wolf skin. Or maybe they just like to think they're a wolf. Or maybe they're j...

86-Grimm: Clever from 2017-10-18T03:59

Clever Hans is clever. He knows the best way to store needles and knives and how to carry a goat in your pockets on long walks through the country. He's even getting married to Gretel, and we'll se...

85B-Slavic Folklore: Hold on to Your Hat from 2017-10-11T03:59

The conclusion to the dwarf with the long beard, a story about a dwarf. And a long beard. And entering the ear canals of magic horses for fun and profit. We'll see the epic struggle between brother...

85A-Slavic Folklore: For the Right Reasons from 2017-10-04T03:59

Today's story comes from Slavic folklore and it was so much fun. It's surprisingly complex and full of magic, love, and a sleazy little kidnapper who just can't catch a break. Did you know cotton b...

84-Famous Fairy Tales: Rule of Three from 2017-09-27T03:59

Threes are everywhere in folklore, and today we look at stories where they feature the most prominently: The three bears, the three little pigs, and Cinderella. The tales told and adapted for child...

83-Tale of Tales: Skin Deep from 2017-09-20T03:59

The "Tale of Tales" is a very famous, moderately deranged collection of folklore from 16th century Italy. It's by the author Giambattista Basile, a storyteller who traveled the Mediterranean region...

82B-Arabian Nights: Show Me What You Got from 2017-09-13T03:59

We have to go deeper. Well, for Scheherazade to survive, she always has to have another level of story to go to - she always has to have another layer of protection, to keep the king interested or ...

82A-Arabian Nights: I'll Most Likely Kill You in the Morning from 2017-09-06T03:59

(Have you checked out Fictional? Check out Fictional! There are three episodes waiting for you. Go to https://fictional.fm for more info.) The collection known as "Arabian Nights" actually has an o...

81-Trolls: Breakups from 2017-08-30T04:50:33

An episode with a story from Scandinavia about trolls. Not the internet kind. No, these are the less annoying ones that will murder you in the forest.  Two creatures this week! And they are dogs! A...

80B-Perseus: I'm Set Free from 2017-08-23T03:59

**Have you subscribed to Fictional yet? You'll love it! Two episodes are waiting for you at http://apple.fictional.fm, http://google.fictional.fm, http://stitcher.fictional.fm, or wherever you get ...

80A-Medusa: Golden Child from 2017-08-16T03:59

Hey! Have you subscribed to Fictional? Go subscribe to Fictional! You'll love it, and it will be an amazingly huge help to us. Thank you!! You can find it at: http://apple.fictional.fm for Apple Po...

79-Odin: The War to Begin all Wars from 2017-08-09T03:59

We're back in the cold, unforgiving north, at the very beginning of Odin's reign. We'll see him meet a new friend while being completely unsuspicious in giant land, a threat come from another world...

78-Egyptian Mythology: The Master Namer from 2017-08-02T03:59

Starting at the beginning of the universe and going to the beginning of the epic and mildly disturbing battles between Set and his nephew Horus, Egyptian mythology is epic, funny, interesting, and ...

77-Romanian Folklore: Mrs. Piggy from 2017-07-26T03:59

The story of a dark (well, dark-ish. Actually, kind of not even that. You'll see.) prophecy, a kingdom overrun by monsters (again, kind of), and one woman's globe spanning quest to do what's right ...

76-Greek Myths: Lioness from 2017-07-19T03:59

The story of Atalanta is one of the woman who just couldn't be stopped...and of a world that had a big, big problem with that. Giant monster fights, meddling gods, and well-known heroes make an app...

75-Pecos Bill: Rider on the Storm from 2017-07-12T03:59

The story of Pecos Bill is that of a true American Hero...who spends half the story naked and who legitimately thinks he is actually a coyote. But don't tell him that. He's cool and won't hurt you,...

74-Japanese Folklore: Do You Really Want to Live Forever? from 2017-07-05T03:59

The story of Sentaro the millionaire* is about a man with a dream. Well, not really a dream, but a deep, abiding fear of death. Soon, he becomes so obsessed with avoiding the inevitable that it lea...

73-Japanese Folklore: I will find you from 2017-06-28T03:59

A young woman's father is taken, and she decided to go to the edges of the known world to get him back, to a faraway island harboring a dark and terrible secret. The creature this week is skunk ape...

72-Kelpie: Party Horse from 2017-06-21T03:59

A sea horse (but not that type of sea horse) that haunts the coasts of Scotland, the kelpie is a legendary cryptid that represents the dangerous unknown of the water...as well as new guys stopping ...

71C-Sinbad: There and Back and There and Back Again from 2017-06-14T03:59

If you've ever wondered about giving that strange old man a piggy-back ride in the woods, the philosophical nuances of way too much grave robbing, or how many people are necessary to take down a fo...

71B-Sinbad: Snake Eyes from 2017-06-07T03:59

Whether it's deadly literary references, sticky cows, or extremely inappropriate eulogies, the stories of Sinbad have it all...as long as by "it all" you're looking for a story of how a rich (and, ...

71A-Sinbad the Sailor: Venture from 2017-05-31T03:59

Sinbad (no, not that Sinbad) is probably the 3rd most famous story from a collection titled "One Thousand and One Nights". It's a story of loss, hardship, and redemption...and then partying so hard...

70-Ugly Duckling: Fowl Play from 2017-05-24T03:59

It seems like with a lot of fairy tales someone looked at the original, thought that there was absolutely no way they could tell that to a child, and re-wrote it to get rid of the shocking violence...

69-Midas: You Got the Touch from 2017-05-17T03:59

Don't, under any circumstances, trust the Midas touch. The king of unforced errors, Midas is a well-known figure in mythology mainly because of horrible decision making and lack of foresight. They ...

68B-Morgan le Fay: Her Majesty from 2017-05-10T03:59

Wrapping up this two-part series on Morgan le Fay, we'll see her devious schemes within schemes come to fruition with one aim in mind: killing King Arthur and seizing the throne for herself. The cr...

68A-Morgan Le Fay: Get Thee to a Nunnery from 2017-05-03T03:59

Sorceress. Confidant. Traitor. Sister. All of those words describe Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur's half-sister. She is by far the most complex character I've come across in the Arthurian legends, but ...

67B-Gawain and the Green Knight: Head On from 2017-04-26T03:59

I wanted to name this episode "it's not easy being green," but it really is. The Green Knight had his head chopped off last episode...but still carried it out of the most uncomfortable Christmas di...

67A-Gawain: To the Dogs from 2017-04-19T03:59

You probably had to read the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in high school. I know I did, and it's a great story. There are beheadings, green guys, confusing interactions with ladies. It ...

66-Paul Bunyan: Truth in Advertising from 2017-04-12T03:59

You know how to make your stories completely resistant to any ridicule from a future podcaster? Make them as ridiculous as possible. The stories of Paul Bunyan arose from the camps of lumberjacks i...

65-Oedipus: Motherboy from 2017-04-05T03:59

The story of Oedipus is fun until it isn't. I've met people with varying degrees of familiarity with the story. Some are familiar only with the central premise of the story, while others' knowledge...

64-Frog Prince: Warts and All from 2017-03-22T03:59

The story of the frog prince is well known - a beautiful princess meets a frog, kisses him, and he turns out to be a prince. Except, in the earliest version, it doesn't go like that at all. I won't...

63-Puss in Boots: These Boots from 2017-03-15T03:59

The story of Puss is Boots is that of a cat who wears boots and talks. The character of the cat has somehow gone on to be voiced by Antonio Banderas, take part in a one really successful franchise,...

62-Thor: Hammer Time from 2017-03-08T04:59

Quite possibly the last episode on Norse mythology before we start on the epic showdown that is Ragnarok, this story has Thor earning a ridiculous facial feature and wetting himself in terror. Also...

61-Solomon: One Ring from 2017-03-01T04:59

According to folklore, King Solomon had a ring. Given to him by God, it allowed him control demons...but it also had some other powers unknown to Solomon, powers that make it essential for fighting...

60C-Beowulf: Unknowable but Certain from 2017-02-22T04:59

There has been a menace sleeping in Beowulf's homeland since he was born. It has lived for centuries, and it is strong and dangerous, while Beowulf has lived for only eighty years, and is weakening...

60B-Beowulf: The Depths from 2017-02-15T04:59

It's round two for everyone's favorite (only?) Geatish hero, as he bravely takes on...his former adversary's mother. Really, it's way more interesting than it sounds. Also she's not Angelina Jolie,...

60A-Beowulf: I'm Kind of a Big Deal from 2017-02-08T05:57:42

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 clas...

59-Greek Myths: The Violence of Our Ancestors from 2017-02-01T05:28:11

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'...

58-Native American Folklore: Monster from 2017-01-25T04:59

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...

57-Japanese Fairy Tales: Faithful from 2017-01-18T04:59

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-trainin...

56-Nepali Folklore: Hope You Guess My Name from 2017-01-11T05:03:33

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 t...

55-Grimm: My (Bird) Heart Will Go On from 2017-01-04T04:59

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 n...

54C-Gilgamesh: Dust from 2016-12-28T04:59

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 greate...

54B-Gilgamesh: Huge from 2016-12-21T04:59

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 sh...

54A-Gilgamesh: Did We Just Become Best Friends? from 2016-12-14T05:18:47

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, s...

53-African Folklore: Crocodile Tears from 2016-12-07T00:46:20

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 withou...

52-Greek Mythology: An Eternal Flame from 2016-11-30T05:07:57

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-...

51-Loki: Them Apples from 2016-11-23T04:59

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 a...

50-Dracula: Bad Blood from 2016-11-16T04:59

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 Wal...

49-Russian Folklore: I Pity the Fool from 2016-11-09T04:59

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 La...

48-Snow White: Killer Queen from 2016-11-02T03:59

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...

47-Urban Legends: In the Dark from 2016-10-26T03:59

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...

46D-Jason and the Argonauts: Scorned from 2016-10-19T03:59

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...

46C-Jason and the Argonauts: The Long Way Home from 2016-10-12T03:59

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, i...

46B-Jason and the Argonauts: MacGuffin from 2016-10-05T04:11:16

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....

46A-Jason and the Argonauts: Some Assembly Required from 2016-09-28T03:59

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 r...

45-Rumpelstiltskin: Let's Make a Deal from 2016-09-21T03:59

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 ...

44-Saint George: Here Be Dragons from 2016-09-14T03:59

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 ...

43-Slavic Folklore: The Wasteland from 2016-09-07T02:49:28

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 fores...

42-Chinese Folklore (Cinderella): You Only Live Thrice from 2016-08-31T03:59

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, mur...

41C-Lancelot: It's Complicated from 2016-08-24T04:46:48

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 cho...

41B-Lancelot: Promises to Keep from 2016-08-17T03:59

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 dan...

41A-Lancelot: The Stolen Child from 2016-08-10T03:59

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 Lan...

40-West African Folklore: Cold-blooded from 2016-08-03T03:59

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 ...

39-Odin: In the Land of the Blind from 2016-07-27T04:14:58

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 Jo...

38B-Korean Literature: Master of Two Worlds from 2016-07-13T04:49:31

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 Kor...

38A-Korean Literature: Crossing the Threshold from 2016-07-06T04:12:21

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 co...

37-Hercules: The Best at What He Does from 2016-06-29T03:59

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 c...

36B-Pocahontas: Between Two Streams from 2016-06-22T05:24:21

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...

36A-Pocahontas: The Empire Business from 2016-06-15T03:59

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, Pocahon...

35-Beauty and the Beast: Prisoners from 2016-06-08T04:57:32

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 c...

34-Greek Mythology: Uphill Battle from 2016-06-01T03:59

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 horrib...

33-Ali Baba: Inheritance from 2016-05-18T05:53:14

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 w...

32-Tricksters: Wager from 2016-05-11T03:59

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 bu...

31B-Viking Sagas: Face-off from 2016-05-04T03:59

The conclusion of the Saga of Arrow-Odd, a man who is destined to live 300 years, yet cursed to be killed by his favoritehorse. He's watched his friends and brothers die in his struggle with his ad...

31A-Viking Sagas: Odd Man Out from 2016-04-27T03:59

The saga of the legendary Viking Arrow-Odd contains trolls, ogres, giants, magic arrows, and a sorceress getting smacked in thenose. The mistakes of one Viking's past...or just a Viking being a Vik...

30-Latin American Folklore: Unbreakable from 2016-04-20T03:59

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 ...

29-Grimm: Upward Mobility from 2016-04-13T03:59

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 fa...

28-Prometheus: Adamantine from 2016-04-06T03:59

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 Tita...

27C-King Arthur: The Errant Knight from 2016-04-05T18:40:08

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 mot...

27B-King Arthur: Mayday from 2016-03-23T04:13:07

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...

27A-King Arthur: The Violence Inherent in the System from 2016-03-16T04:51:52

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 pe...

26-Japanese Fairy Tales: Wisdom from 2016-03-09T04:59

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 Bud...

25-Dragons: This is Where You Get to Make it Right from 2016-03-02T05:47:34

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...

24-Thor: Whosoever Holds this Hammer from 2016-02-24T04:59:37

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 ...

23-Cupid and Psyche: Burned from 2016-02-17T04:59:32

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 ...

22C-Irish Legends: The Spoils of War from 2016-02-10T04:59:40

A double-sized episode with the whole epic and slightly-ridiculous story of a cattle raid that ended up taking way longer than it should have. It involves a young man hulking out numerous times, se...

22B-Irish Legends: You Wouldn’t Like Me When I’m Angry from 2016-02-03T04:59:26

Queen Medb, King Ailil, and Fergus make their way into Ulster while the army is crippled by feeling as if they are going into labor. Only one man, barely out of childhood himself, can stand against...

22A-Irish Legends (The Tain): Red Ledger from 2016-01-27T04:59:29

Starting an epic string of legends from Celtic folkore. We're back in the time of kings, princesses, and intrigue. You'll see how you can steal a kingdom with fancy accounting, curse a nation becau...

21-Frozen/The Snow Queen: Fearful Symmetry from 2016-01-20T04:59:09

It's the original story of the Snow Queen, more commonly known as the source material for the hyper-popular Disney movie named "Frozen". The original, though, is incredibly different, and contains ...

20-Korean Folklore: Prayers from 2016-01-13T04:59:50

This week, it's a horror story from Korean folklore. A little girl gets lost in the forest, and then a strange problem begins tearing her family apart. Then, on the creature of the week, you'll see...

19-Native American Folklore: Skeletons from 2016-01-06T04:59:07

The first episode of much-requested Native American folklore has giants, ghosts, anthropomorphic coyotes, jilted lovers, and the reason for why the tick got so flat. Because you've always wondered ...

18-St. Nick: Rusty Chains and Candy Canes from 2015-12-23T05:45:01

The story behind the transition from Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus is one that includes murder, priest-punching, and ominous, demonic-looking companions. This episode looks at the legends behind an...

17C-Theseus: I Volunteer as Tribute from 2015-12-16T04:45:52

The final chapter in the story of Theseus, the Minotaur, and all the other people that have gotten swept up in this drama spanning decades. We'll learn exactly what the Delphic Oracle meant by her ...

17B-Icarus and Daedalus: A Portrait of the Artificer as a Young Man from 2015-12-09T04:45:05

The story of Daedalus and Icarus is much more than just Icarus flying too close to the sun. Daedalus, the inventor, is directly responsible for the labyrinth and the Minotaur. He's a man whose will...

17A-Theseus: It’s Dangerous to go Alone! from 2015-12-02T04:45:52

We have all heard the story of Theseus fighting that monstrous half-bull, half-man beast known as the Minotaur, but the original story starts years earlier. It involves tensions between two kingdom...

16-Russian Fairy Tales: She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from 2015-11-18T04:45:09

The story of a young woman, her magic doll, and a witch who may be the most terrifying - or the most ridiculous - person you've ever seen. You'll also see that you should definitely not trust a gif...

15-Slavic Folklore: Bad Wolf from 2015-11-11T04:45:25

In this Russian Fairy Tale from the same collections as the stories of Koschei the Deathless, we find a prince who goes on a quest for the firebird. This leads us into a Russian nesting quest situa...

13B-Ragnar Lodbrok: Why’d it have to be Snakes? from 2015-11-04T04:45:31

The end of the saga of this legendary king has Viking battles, magic cows, and a long con to take over England. Ragnar's poor planning when it comes to cementing his legacy blows up in his face, an...

14-Doppelgangers: Do not Go Gentle into that Good Night from 2015-10-28T04:45:23

People throughout history, before they died, have seen something...strange. They have seen ghostly doubles haunting their steps, foretelling their doom. These things are called doppelgängers, and w...

13A-Ragnar Lodbrok: The Beggar King from 2015-10-21T04:45:31

The tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, legendary Viking king and main character of the History Channel series "Vikings" and the many women in his life you absolutely do not want to mess with. It contains Viki...

12-Pig-faced Women: Citation Needed from 2015-10-14T04:45:03

For over 200 years in western Europe, there was a pervasive belief among large portions of the population that the upper classes in society were hiding something - women horribly cursed with the he...

11-Japanese Fairy Tales: Key Details (Urashima Taro, The Boy Who Drew Cats) from 2015-10-07T04:45:23

These are two stories from Japanese fairy tales. I don't want to ruin them, so I can't say too much, but they are amazing. One is about a boy who draws pictures of cats, much to the detriment of hi...

10B-Hercules: Labor Intensive from 2015-09-30T04:45:53

Finishing up the twelve labors, Hercules fights way, way too many things: a giant boar, a giant bull, vicious birds, man-eating horses, the three-headed hell hound Cerberus, and more, all as penanc...

10A-Hercules: Going into Labor from 2015-09-23T04:45:18

The story of Hercules is one part gritty, serious tragedy and two parts over-the-top monster fights. This week, in the origin story of one of the greatest mythological heroes of the western world, ...

9-Dogs and Wolves: Generations (Fenrir, The Black Dog, Dog King of Denmark, Gelert) from 2015-09-16T04:45

Instead of one long story, this week I'm telling four stories about canines from folklore from all around the world. We'll go back to the Norse gods and goddesses where Loki will make more poor cho...

8-Merlin: Call of the Wyllt from 2015-09-09T04:45:03

A short supplemental on one of the inspirations for Merlin, a man named Myrddin the Wyllt,  a Welsh warrior bard who went insane after seeing his friends die on the battlefield and ran off to a lif...

7-Little Mermaid: Cry with the Saints from 2015-09-02T04:45:22

The real story of the Little Mermaid is way more violent and grim than the Disney version, and does not have a happy ending. It's the story of a teenage mermaid who falls in love with a human and m...

6C-King Arthur: How I Met Your Mother from 2015-08-26T04:45:50

Wrapping up this current run of King Arthur episodes, we find a kingdom in shambles. We'll see the final(ish..for now at least) battle between the Saxons and the Britons, and then the rule of King ...

6B-Merlin: What’s Red, White, and Fighting All Over from 2015-08-19T04:45:01

This is where we meet Merlin, a son of a demon who uses his evil powers for good. But he's not yet the bearded sorcerer we all kind of know and love. No, he first enters our story as a serious seve...

6A-King Arthur Prologue: The Once and Really Only that One Time King from 2015-08-12T04:45:04

The King Arthur legends don't actually start with Arthur, but with several years of war, intrigue, and betrayal among the Britons, and a slippery earl by the name of Vortigern not-so-subtly enginee...

5B-Slavic Folklore: The First Horcrux from 2015-08-05T04:45:07

As it turns out, Koschei the Deathless is very, very hard to kill, a fact one could probably guess from his name. This episode explores his tragic origins, as well as the ludicrously complex way he...

5A-Slavic Folklore: Tried and Died from 2015-07-29T04:45

In this story of a dangerous magician from Russian folklore, you'll learn that you should maybe believe your spouse if she says you definitely don't want to know what's behind that door in the dung...

4-Mulan: A Likely Hero from 2015-07-22T04:45

The story of Mulan, the woman who took her aging father's place in the army, does not mean what you think it means. The original character is almost completely awesome and very different from many ...

3E-Vikings: The Debt is Paid from 2015-07-15T04:45:28

The final chapter of the Saga of the Volsungs follows Sigurd as he finds that navigating relationships with the in-laws is way, way more hazardous than fighting a dragon. He finds the famliy he nev...

3D-Vikings: Blood of the Dragon from 2015-07-01T04:45:02

Part four and the penultimate episode in the Saga of the Volsungs, the story of a legendary Norse family finds Sigurd riding with his Vikings in an attempt to reclaim his father's kingdom. Then, th...

3C-Vikings: Renewed shall be Blade that was Broken from 2015-06-24T04:45:47

You can clearly see J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration in this episode, what with that cursed ring finally making an appearance, a legendary sword reforged, and a selfish psychopath of a dragon sitting a...

3B-Vikings: All that Hate’s Gonna Burn You Up from 2015-06-18T14:52:23

The Saga of the Volsungs continues, with a princess held captive by the man who killed her father, and her brother roaming the forest waging a covert guerrilla war...or just robbing people for the ...

3A-Vikings: The Norse and the Furious, Bredi’s Drift from 2015-06-03T04:45:53

Swords, dragons, werewolves, Vikings, betrayal, and revenge are all hallmarks of the thrilling, yet little known, Saga of the Volsungs, the story of an ill-fated medieval Nordic family. One of J.R....

2B-Aladdin: A Whole New World of Problems from 2015-05-27T04:45:21

In the conclusion of the original Aladdin story, there's the meteoric rise of Aladdin, who is definitely not using magic to do any of this. Really. Will people just stop asking him that, already? I...

2A-Aladdin: The Magician’s Nephew from 2015-05-20T04:45:06

The story of a poor man who finds a being of unlimited power, and not only uses it to put food on the table, but goes a little farther to take over the kingdom and become the richest man alive. It'...

1C-Knights of the Round Table: The Lion Knight Rises from 2015-05-13T04:45:47

In this episode, you'll see that you should definitely interfere if you see two apex predators fighting to the death in the wilderness. We'll finish the story of Yvain, a knight of King Arthur's co...

1B-Knights of the Round Table: You’re So Yvain from 2015-05-06T17:05:31

This week, we're continuing the story of Yvain, a knight of King Arthur's court who we left in a very bad spot. He'll find an ally within the castle walls, get a magic ring, and try to find a way t...

1A-Knights of the Round Table: Yvainglory from 2015-04-30T08:04:51

This week on the Myths and Legends podcast, I’ll introduce the show and discuss what it’ll be about. Then, we’ll start right in on the story of Yvain, a knight of King Arthur's court who'll show th...

Myths and Legends Trailer from 2015-04-27T16:00

A little bit about what to expect when you listen to Myths and Legends.   Subscribe using your favorite podcast app: http://apple.mythpodcast.com http://spotify.mythpodcast.com http://stitcher.myth...