Myths and Legends

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 peacock dog, and only gets stranger, but it explores themes of loyalty, fealty, and power, even if a leader is not deserving. The creature this week is the Jackalope, from Wyoming, and you can only hunt them one day a year. Unfortunately, that day doesn't exist. -- Music: "Softly Villainous" by Blue Dot Sessions "De Facto" by Chad Crouch "Common Merganser" by Chad Crouch "Gadwell" by Chad Crouch "Investigation" by Chad Crouch "An Oddly Formal Dance" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tessalit" by Blue Dot Sessions "Drch" by Blue Dot Sessions "As Nihilism Gives Way to Existentialism" by NihiloreSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 planned. The creature this week is hook girl! Don't bug hook girl, or hook girl will bug you...and by "bug you" I mean "tear you to tiny pieces." -- Music: "Building the Sled" by Blue Dot Sessions "Flashing Runner" by Blue Dot Sessions "Awaiting an Arrival" by Blue Dot Sessions "Bauxite" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan" by Chris Zabriskie "Masonry" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 more things than you could.-- Music: "Alphabet Soup" by Podington Bear "Thin Passage" by Blue Dot Sessions "Readers do you Read?" by Chris Zabriskie "Vik Fenceta Lan" by Blue Dot Sessions "Another Version of You" by Chris Zabriskie "Vik Fenceta" by Blue Dot Sessions "NirvanaVEVO" by Chris ZabriskieSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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...only it can't actually walk...and moreso bounces everywhere...and hates messy rooms. -- Music: "Traffic" by Kai Engel "Somnolence" by Kai Engel "Delirium" by Kai Engel "Nothing (Bonus Track)" by Kai Engel "Mare" by Kai EngelSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 completely out of control at a party and tells all the Aesir exactly what he thinks of them. The creature of the week is the invunche, a very sad, hairy, contorted baby-- Music: "Catching Feathers" by Ketsa "Midnight" by Ketsa "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear "Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie "Walking Shoes" by Blue Dot Sessions "House of Grendel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Thom Yorke at Home" by Podington Bear "Hard Sell" by KetsaSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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? The creature is the, impundulu environmentally-conscience bird who only uses alternative fuels for its tiny plane. Unfortunately, the alternative fuel is human blood. --- Theseus episodes: 17A: https://www.mythpodcast.com/3329/17a-theseus-its-dangerous-to-go-alone/ 17B: https://www.mythpodcast.com/3339/17b-icarus-and-daedalus-a-portrait-of-the-artificer-as-a-young-man/ 17C: https://www.mythpodcast.com/3390/17c-theseus-i-volunteer-as-tribute/46A-D (Argonauts): https://www.mythpodcast.com/4228/46a-argonauts-assembly-required/ 76 (Atalanta): https://www.mythpodcast.com/12714/76-greek-myths-lioness/ 93A: https://www.mythpodcast.com/12938/93a-amazons-wonder-women/ 93B: https://www.mythpodcast.com/12945/93b-theseus-love-and-war/ --- Music: "A Rush of Clear Water" by Blue Dot Sessions "Baroque" by Blue Dot Sessions "Curio" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dirty Wallpaper" by Blue Dot Sessions "Myrian" by Blue Dot Sessions "Celadon" by Podington Bear "Tweetstorm Gathering" by Podington Bear "Telltale" by Podington Bear "SuzyB" by Blue Dot Sessions "John Stockton Slow Drag" by Chris Zabriskie "There's Probably No Time" by Chris Zabriskie "Trap" by JahzzarSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 is barely any help at all. The creature this time is the ilomba, from Zambia, and it's a terrible reason to collect your fingernail clippings. -- The Stephen King Quote: https://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/2017/08/how-did-stephen-king-to-the-dark-tower-come-through-robert-brownings-childe-roland/ --Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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. -- Music: "Raven" by Chad Crouch "CGI Snake" by Chris Zabriskie "We Always Thought the Future would be Kind of Fun" by Chris Zabriskie "Nuthatch" by Blue Dot Sessions "Petaluma" by Blue Dot Sessions "Releasing the Sculpture" by Podington Bear "Nocturne" by Podington Bear "New Skin" by Podington Bear "Cloudbank" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 change all of their lives forever. The creature of the week is a mythpodcat! She just loves to dance! And set you on fire! -- Music: "Red-winged Blackbird" by Chad Crouch "Clear and Present" by Ketsa "Divider" by Chris Zabriskie "Lope and Shimmer" by Podington Bear "That Kid in the Fourth Grade Who Really Liked the Denver Broncos" by Chris Zabriskie "Retrograde" by Podington Bear "Minor Islands" by Podington Bear "Bell Solo" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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, will involve angelic post-it notes, ships with ejector seats, attacking giants, and, the most unbelievable thing of all (to some of our characters): multi-colored wood. We'll see how the Grail comes to Britain and that the end of Joseph's quest is just the beginning. -- "Svela Tal" by Blue Dot Sessions "Degradation" by Podington Bear "All the Ways" by Podington Bear "All the Colors in the World" by Podington Bear "Mr. Mole and Son" by Blue Dot Sessions "Flashing Runner" by Blue Dot Sessions "It's Always too late to Start Over" by Chris Zabriskie "Osprey" by Chad CrouchSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 legendary status. We'll see how it moved from Jerusalem to a far-flung province on the edge of the world, and we'll meet the people tasked with protecting it, whose great, great, great, great grandchildren will become the heroes of the Arthurian legends. This is a Grail story unlike any you've ever heard. This is where it all begins. -- Music: "Double-crested Cormorant" by Chad Crouch "Cicle Vascule" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cicle Veroni" by Blue Dot Sessions "Toil" by Podington Bear "Cylinder Six" by Chris Zabriskie "Plaid Shapes" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Things We Save" by Podington Bear "Trillium" by Podington BearSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 elephant whose also a rat sometimes. No big deal. Now move along and let him murder in peace. -- Music: "Running on Empty" by Podington Bear "Sylvestor" by Blue Dot Sessions "Midday" by Blue Dot Sessions "Black Cosmos Ring" by Podington Bear "The Nightmare" by Podington Bear "Studie I" by Jahzzar "Betrayal" by Lee Rosevere "Support Me in This Moment That I'm About to Lose Hope" by NihiloreSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 into his sitting around time. Unfortunately, he might not have a choice. The people are getting angry, and that leads to a journey west, farther than anyone in his kingdom has ever gone, to unearth an ancient secret. -- The article I referenced: https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/survival-of-the-richest-9ef6cddd0cc1 -- Music: "Parade" by Nctrnm "Building the Sled" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slow Line Stomp" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vulcan Street" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cylinder Three" by Chris ZabriskieSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 promises to a kid that's just an hour old. It might end with them playing dominos with your horses and taking half of your kingdom's worth of gold. The creature this week is the hili, from Lesotho, Africa. If you've never seen Big Bird's toilet...well...that's because it's you-- Music: “Flutterbee” by Podington Bear “Nearly Nowhere” by Ketsa “Kestrel” by Chad Crouch “Rambling” by Ketsa “Worlds Edge” by Ketsa “Flashing Runner” by Blue Dot Sessions “Algea Trio” by Blue Dot Sessions “Traffic” by Kai Engel “Daedalus” by Kai Engel “Cold War Echo” by Kai Engel “Haunted Past” by KetsaSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 not wrong, either. The only people who know his face are either very trusted or very dead. Still, the more he pushes, the more the state of California pushes back, until one man is finally commissioned with a bill from the California legislature to hunt him down for good. -- Music: Opener” by Blue Dot Sessions “Moon Bicycle Theme” by Blue Dot Sessions “Dropped Ticket” by Blue Dot Sessions “Sopor” by Kai Engel “Scraper” by Blue Dot Sessions “Wistful” by Blue Dot Sessions “Insatiable Toad” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vibrant Canopy” by Blue Dot Sessions “Comatose” by Kai Engel “Silent Flock” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 the rules and live by the laws, but everything keeps getting taken from him over and over again. Tired of living underfoot in a land that used to be his homeland, Joaquin decides to stand up and take his place as one of the legendary bandits of the old west. The creature this week is the headless mule. Like, a firebreathing one that moves around, not just a dead mule. -- Music: “Something Elated” by Broke For Free “Bald Eagle” by Chad Crouch “Global Warming” by Kai Engel “Emmit Sprak” by Blue Dot Sessions “Roll On” by Ketsa “Pied-billed Grebe” by Chad Crouch “Maree” by Kai Engel “We Drive 3 Days” by Blue Dot Sessions “Masked” by Ketsa “Meekness” by Kai Engel “Residual Anxieties” by Ketsa “Life in Letters” by Ketsa “Sad Moments” by Ketsa “Dangerous Swing” by Blue Dot Sessions “Wandering” by Steve Combs

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 evil creatures without any way to defeat them whatsoever, then this week's creature might be for you. -- The book by Wilt Idema: https://bardic.link/Pieuc -- Music: "Mindset" by Ketsa "Calming Storms" by Ketsa "Management" by Ketsa "Our Digital Compass" by Blue Dot Sessions "Rate Sheet" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tolls Folly" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tumblehome" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slate Tracker" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lonely Stairwell" by Blue Dot Sessions "Morning Colorwheel" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 parents rejoice, but only for a moment. There is something different about the child, and there are rumors that the monster has been reborn once again and, after his battle with the one destined to fight him through the ages, the world will never be the same. -- That roach: https://bardic.link/b9fiF -- Music: "Good Evening Melancholy" by Ketsa "Plague" by Kai Engel "Slum Canto" by Kai Engel "Tiptoe Treadline" by Blue Dot Sessions "Arctic Draba" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sal's Piano Solo" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 and the fateful decision they made one day that would change everything. It's the story of a demon that, reborn across generations and millennia, battles heroes that are born for the fight. The creature this week is an angry bird who is less about wrecking towers and more about exsanguinating the corpses of his enemies. --Music: "Silent Dreams" by Ketsa "Moon Love" by Ketsa "Our Names Engraved" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sanctuary" by Podington Bear "Seventh Hill" by Podington Bear "Ervira" by Blue Dot Sessions "4 Point Path" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 who doesn't like him back. Nope. Not at all. Ok, it totally is. But don't tell his mom. The creature this week is a homicidal sea monster baby, because sure. --- Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 the body with the murder weapon in hand. Also a lot of other stuff happens. Like, way too much stuff, like deep-fried puppets, snail butlers, and sleazy millionaires. And that's just in the first half of the episode. The creature this week is a gentleman who is so polite as to bow at every opportunity...but not so polite that he won't take every opportunity to fart out of his three anuses (still not joking). --- Music: "Le Monstre" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Caterpillar Brigade" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Go To Sleep" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Stages of Awakening" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Blossoming" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Lamb and Wolf" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Bell Club" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Paper Boat" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Coopers Hawk" by Chad Crouch/Podington Bear "Svela Tal" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 buddy in this episode, starting with him coming back from the dead. The creature this week is the Hai Ho Shang, a vicious merman from Chinese mythology who absolutely has some opinions on your dancing. -- Music: "Slow Dial" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lakeside Path" by Blue Dot Sessions "Arbinac" by Blue Dot Sessions "Taoudella" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plaque" by Blue Dot Sessions "Our Names Engraved" by Blue Dot Sessions "New Skin" by Chad Crouch "Red-tailed Hawk" by Chad CrouchSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 make Pinocchio, had to chew on an old man's wig? Or that the original story had a shockingly brutal end, even for an 1800s children's tale? Check it out. This story is wild. The creature this time is a giant grasshopper who wants to have your kids over for dinner. And no, he's not being playfully ambiguous with that wording. He's going to eat your children and there's nothing you can do to stop him because he's a twelve foot tall grasshopper. -- Music: "Anna's Hummingbird" by Chad Crouch "Great Egret" by Chad Crouch "Single Player" by Chad Crouch "Staggering" by Chad Crouch "Frogs in Tuxes" by Podington Bear "Climbing the Mountain" by Podington Bear "Little Black Cloud" by Podington Bear "Puzzler" by Podington BearSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 moms want her to marry their sons and, somehow, the story gets stranger from there. In true Hans Christian Andersen fashion, this fairy tale for children about a girl being born from a flower and trying to find love contains kidnapping, death threats, crushing nihilism, and sleazy moles. Childhood was different back in the 1800s. The creature are shrimp fries! But you have to act now or they'll be gone...oh, wait...no. My bad. They died 200 years ago. --- Music: "Buzzy Minuet" by Chad Crouch "De Facto" by Chad Crouch "Platformer" by Chad Crouch "Drawing Mazes" by Chad Crouch "Idle Ways" by Blue Dot Sessions "Uncertain Ground" by Blue Dot Sessions "Velda Tallow" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sal's Piano Solo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Arbic Tallow" by Blue Dot Sessions "Button" by Chad CrouchSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 mythology as we follow a spectacularly bad ancient Norse hero. The creature this time is a way to get superpowers...if you ever wanted to be a bitter, stinky, homicidal muppet. -- "Orange Juicier" by Podington Bear "Holding Steady" by Podington Bear "So We Go" by Blue Dot Sessions "Closet Interlude" by Blue Dot Sessions "Bristlecone" by Podington Bear "Shade Ways" by Podington Bear "Telltale" by Podington Bear "We Make a Good Team" by Podington Bear "House Finch" by Chad Crouch "Journies" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 trust no one, or to never go anywhere ever because the wind or even the dawn could be out to get you. The creature of the week is a fairy cow by the name of Fuwch Gyfeiliorn which I have the good sense to not even begin to attempt to say. -- Music: "Bombadore" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Records" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slow Line Stomp" by Blue Dot Sessions "Rate Sheet" by Blue Dot Sessions "Setting Pace" by Blue Dot Sessions "Jog to the Water" by Blue Dot Sessions "Minor Islands" by Blue Dot Sessions "Crumbling Dock" by Blue Dot Sessions "Waves of Intensity" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 becoming indigestion for a giant, a raven's canker sore, and exploring all the thrilling intricacies of a cow's digestive system. The creature this week is a fish that's more manly than I'll ever be. --- Music: "Le Monstre" by Podington Bear "Pives and Flarinet" by Podington Bear "Elephants on Parade" by Podington Bear "Releaseing the Sculpture" by Podington Bear "Two Boys and a Girl" by Podington Bear "Airliner" by Podington Bear "New Skin" by Podington Bear "Denouement" by Podington Bear "Waiting for the Moment that Never Comes" by Lee Rosevere "You're Enough" by Lee Rosevere Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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, letting him know that the danger is far from over. On the creature of the week, if you can't take the heat, get out of the desert. Or stay in the desert and be like the Funeral Mountain Terrashot. SMusic: "Just need a walk under the lights of the boulevard" by Bisou de l'enfant sauvage "After midnight kiss" by Bisou de l'enfant sauvage "Ocean Ending" by Soft and Furious "The Coil Winds" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lost in Russia" by TRG Banks "Alchemical" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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, and it was originally an episode on the Myths and Legends member feed. It's a story of two wives in a stupidity arms race over who has the worse husband. The creature is the reason why the owl is such a shady bird that never comes out during the day. Thanks again for your vote. If you liked this episode and want more like it, there are now 31+ other episodes on the member feed. Go to support.mythpodcast.com for more info. All music this week by Podington BearSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membershipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 justice, so they have to make justice - a silent guardian to watch over their community, one to keep the wolves at bay. But is he too late to help guard the innocents against the sinister machinations of one man? --- Music: "An Opus in Bb" by Blue Dot Sessions "A Simple Shroud" by Blue Dot Sessions "Beeth" by Blue Dot Sessions "Andelo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Toothless Slope" by Blue Dot Sessions "Valantis" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 story of Sundiata, the first emperor of Mali, concludes. The creature of the week is the grey man of Ben MacDhui, a...grey man. Who lives on the mountain of Ben MacDhui. And also he's naked because why not? --- Music: "Fantasy and Denoument" by Podington Bear "In" by Podington Bear "Elipse" by Blue Dot Sessions "Waves" by Blue Dot Sessions "Endeavour" by Jahzzar "Ruins" by Jahzzar "We Drive 3 Days" by Blue Dot Sessions "Thin Passage" by Blue Dot Sessions "Pacing" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

A new shadow rises to the north of Mali and an evil sorcerer king (and connoisseur of severed heads) will rise, but not before Djata, Sogolon, and others are forced into exile by the ruthless queen mother. It's part 2 of the story of Sundiata: an epic of old Mali. The creature this week is a good-guy African dragon who, in a refreshing twist, is the victim of all of his interactions with humans.-- Music: "Somnolence" by Kai Engel "Delirium" by Kai Engel "Oneiri" by Kai Engel "Little Black Cloud" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plum" by Podington Bear "Taoudella" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 Mean Girls was set in 12th century Africa. But really, it's a fantastic tale of love, loss, and perseverance and I hope you like it. The creature today has a surprise for you! It's her mule legs! Also she's going to eat you! --- Music: "Alum Drum Solo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Gaena" by Blue Dot Sessions "Gale" by Blue Dot Sessions "Daedalus" by Kai Engel "Low Jack" by Podington Bear "Ringtail" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lonely Stairwell" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Reynard, having received a pardon from the Lion who was a King, is up to his old tricks. Like, immediately. He bit the head off the rabbit that was accompanying him on a holy pilgrimmage before he even left the kingdom. Of course, the ground is shrinking beneath Reynard, and it won't be long before the fox who needs to deceive to survive runs into the king's justice and the king will only fall for the same lies so many times. --Music "When we set out" by Podington Bear "Bit Rio" by Podington Bear "Massive Attack" by Podington Bear "Puppy" by Podington Bear "Bell Solo" by Podington Bear "Mystery Coat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Noe Noe" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 talking, run, because there's no way you're going to come out the other end in one piece. The creature this week is an angry muddy ghost dad. -- Music: "Bad Cut" by Podington Bear "LA" by Podington Bear "Reddit" by Podington Bear "Roscoe" by Podington Bear "Curious Process" by Podington Bear "Operatives" by Podington Bear "Cicle Vascule" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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. He vowed on the day he left to kill Horus, feast on his flesh, and reclaim the throne for himself. The boy Pharoah, Horus, watched Set and his followers go, and knew he had to be ready. The war was coming. The creature this time is the vegetable man, and, no worries, he's not going to make you eat your vegetables. As a (possible?) vegetable himself, he's way more interested in eating you. --- Music: "Twilight Grandeur" by Podington Bear "Pythagoras" by Podington Bear "Graduation" by Podington Bear "Blammo" by Podington Bear "Bare Shoulders" by Podington Bear "Strange Dog Walk" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dangerous Swing" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 story of the bronze ring, as collected by Scottish writer Andrew Lang. The creature this time just wants to pop on by your hut for a beer and maybe turn you into an undying goblin. Because he likes you so much. - --- Music: "Cicle Ariel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Nuthatch" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Molerat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lime Beat" by Podington Bear "Lamb" by Podington Bear "Two Faces" by Podington Bear "Soldier's Story" by Podington Bear "Smack" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 less than holy. The angry, bitter bird people on the creature of the week will be the death of chairs as we know them. --- "Little Strut Surprise" by Podington Bear "K2" by Podington Bear "Gentle Marimbas" by Podington Bear "Chrysalis" by Podington Bear "B7 Bomber" by Podington Bear "Cicle Gerano" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cobalt Blue" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 speaking to an evil-looking witch in the dark forest and it actually working out. It's the story of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Tinderbox". Our second story is from Vietnam, and a poor family, a smart child, an evil moneylender, and a fly conspire to cause some legal difficulties. -- Music: "Down and Around" by Podington Bear "Holding Hands" by Podington Bear "Lens Flare" by Podington Bear "Solemn Oath" by Podington Bear "Storm Passing" by Podington Bear "Scalloped" by Blue Dot Sessions "Wahre" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slider" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 Vengeance Dragons eating dogs eating stags Death choirs Elderly women looking for a good time Church decorations Way too much more Also, were you wondering what happened to Arthur's incestuous offspring, Mordred? Neither was anyone else! But he's back just in time for something horrible to happen. The creature this time is the cuero, a nice looking blanket to keep sand off you on the beach and also maybe your skin as well. --Music: "Lick Stick" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dark Water" by Podington Bear "Nocturne Op 27 No 1" by Podington Bear "Rain on Glass" by Podington Bear "Pxl Cray" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plataz" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fence Lardha" by Blue Dot Sessions "Bivly" by Blue Dot Sessions "Mad Scientist" by Fog Lake "Connect the Dots" by StatusqSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 of a yearlong quest filled with morbid church decorations, dragon diets consisting solely of puppies, and sad, creepy knights. Basically your standard Arthurian legend. The creature of the week is a fearsome critter who loves your scent...especially if that scent is rum... --Music: "Blue Highway" by Podington Bear "Ice Pack" by Podington Bear "In My Head" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "In the Back Room" by Blue Dot Sessions "Peacoat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Borough" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 to take them to prison. The creature this week is the cockatrice, and if you see a frog keeping eggs warm, that is just a completely normal and ok thing that won't end up destroying you and everyone you love. --- Music: "Cicle Clavis Textile" by Blue Dot Sessions "In Paler Skies" by Blue Dot Sessions "Gullwing Sailor" Blue Dot Sessions "KeoKeo" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Caspian Sea" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fenceta" by Blue Dot Sessions "Waltz for Zacaria" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membershipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, intelligent, and ruthless when it comes to going after her goals. And her story doesn't end there. Her name ends up associated with one of the most famous Apache warriors in American history and his fight against the United States. The creature this time is what happens when you reaaaaaaally want to grow wings and pull your own head off (I mean, more than we all want to do all the time)Music: "El Tajo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Drch" by Blue Dot Sessions "Meekness" Kai Engel "Harbor" by Kai Engel "La Costilla" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tolls Folly" by Blue Dot Sessions "Villano" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membershipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 really a hero. He's a lazy teenager who's kind of stupid. It's ok, though, because he keeps running into a kind ogre who repeatedly feeds him and saves his life...and he repays her kindness by robbing her blind. The second story is that of Jack the Giant Killer, which I just recently learned is a different Jack. His story loops in with King Arthur's too, and it's just a lot of fun...if waking up in matted, greasy giant hair is your idea of fun. The creature this week is a giant pig monster from Greek mythology! Which giant pig monster? Well, that's the fun (hint: there are too many giant pig monsters in Greek mythology). -- Music: "Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie "Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie "Cicle Ariel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lanky" by Blue Dot Sessions "March on Gumdrop Field" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plum King" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Gall" by Podington Bear "Villano" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 the completely real story of a totally legitimately born snow child and what do you mean you don't think he's real? Of course he's real? Well, whatever. You can't prove otherwise so what are you going to do about it? The creature this week is one that likes to make his home (and his toilet!) out of cinnamon. -- Music: "Cicle Gerano" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cicle Veroni" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lord Weasel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Intermezzo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Paper Feather" by Blue Dot Sessions "Peacetime" by Blue Dot Sessions "This is Our Home" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 deal with as we wrap up the first part of his story and see how he comes to terms with his father's complicated legacy. The creature is the best at what it does, and what it does isn't very nice. Because it involves sneaking into your house at night and stalking you with its beady little insect eyes and razor-sharp claws. --- Music: "So it Goes" by Podington Bear "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear "Gale" by Blue Dot Sessions "Circle DR Valga" by Blue Dot Sessions "Circle Vascule" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lochley Fells" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lumber Down" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 it doesn't really mean "Cool guy named Finn" but, loosely, "Fair one who is the son of Cumhaill" but, you know, details. Really, really stupid joking aside, today's story is awesome. It's parts tense human drama, revenge tale, and fantasy epic. It has young people trying to avenge their parents, giant monster fights, and, of course, a very smart fish. It's a two-parter, and it's been one of my favorite stories so far on this podcast. The creature this week is a fire monster who likes to play with his food. Unfortunately, that involves flinging flaming heads at grieving families. -- Music: "Cab Ride" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cicle Deserrat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Down by the Bank" by Blue Dot Sessions "Invernen" by Blue Dot Sessions "Headway" by Kai Engel "Slum Canto" by Kai Engel "Evermore" by Kai Engel "Cold War Echo" by Kai EngelSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 part one of "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells. If you're not already subscribed, this is a chance to check out the new show, and if you are, we'll see you next week with a new Myths and Legends! --- Subscribe to Fictional: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.fictional.fm/ Spotify: http://spotify.fictional.fm Stitcher: http://stitcher.fictional.fm/ Google Play: http://google.fictional.fm/ via the site: https://fictional.fm Copy and paste our RSS feed anywhere you get your podcasts: http://fictional.libsyn.com/rss --- Here are the original shownotes for this episode: "The Time Machine" is a book written by the father of science fiction, H.G. Wells. This is a book so famous that it actually coined the phrase "time machine" to refer to a machine that travels through time. It is a short but sprawling book, flinging mankind into the farthest future where we see how the consequences of our actions today can affect the world for millennia. It still holds up, too. It's a little more plot- and concept-heavy than today's novels, but it's a fascinating story full of interesting twists. The villain this time is neither fascinating nor full of twists. He's a one-note idiot obsessed with returning to a past that never was. ----- Music: “Cylinder Three” by Chris Zabriskie Additional music by Breakmaster CylinderSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membershipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 forget her Christmas gift. Then she turns into a demon of the night with glowing red eyes. The other is the nisse, a gnome will merely beat you senseless for forgetting his gift. Basically just remember to get gifts for all the mythological creatures on your list. Music: "Anxiety" by Kai Engel "Floret" by Kai Engel "Delicant" by Podington Bear "Morels" by Podington Bear "Sorrento" by Podington Bear "Steps" by Podington Bear "Storm Passing" by Podington BearSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

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 outmatched and, let's face it, outwitted Theseus do? How does this whole segment only take up 1/3 of the episode? We'll see on this week's thrilling conclusion to...last week's story. The creature this week is why you don't want to go to that fun worm dance party on the beach. I know. We ruin everything. -- music: "After Midnight" by Kai Engel "Delirium" by Kai Engel "Silence" by Kai Engel "Visum" by Kai Engel "Oecumene Sleeps" by Kai Engel "Crying Earth" by Kai Engel "Dancing on the Edge" by Kai Engel "Vik Fence Haflak" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fence Sahder" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership