Myths and Legends

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 help them in their time of need. The creature is the Kanbari nyūdō, that creepy hairy guy watching you go to the bathroom on New Year's Eve. -- The disclaimer: https://myths.link/276 -- Music: All music by...

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. The creature is the Lioumere, and you'll see that clowns aren't just for children's birthday parties! They're also for doing dental work on dangerous ogresses. -- The strange, sad life of Bernarr Macfadde...

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're in for a bad time unless you talk to a witch. The creatures are the Devil's Dandy Dogs! They're not dandy, not the devil's, and they're barely dogs! -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/274 Newts! The new P...

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 gold strolling through Sherwood forest might be an obvious trap. The creature is why you don't want to eat a big meal and then go into battle. -- Links! Scoundrel! Check out the story of Sarah Wilson: https:...

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 their armpit fruit. -- Mitos y Leyendas: https://myths.link/mitos Best of the Worst, another show we have that's basically creature of the week but with comic book villains: https://myths.link/botw Fictional is back,...

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 subscribe today on your favorite podcast platform to catch all the episodes every week. Available now! To listen directly on Apple Podcasts:  https://play.sonoropodcast.com/LFm7oyx7   Nextpod.com   Support the show: https:...

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 with sticky hands, but in the murdery way and not the stealy way or ice creamy way. -- Sonoro and Nextpod (that's us!) present Mitos y Leyendas. It's this podcast, now in Spanish! Listen to the trailer and first TW...

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 definitely serious story about how the rule of the Olympians was usurped by something you see every day. The creature is the Kickle Snifter! The reason why you should wash your beard! Or don't because who doesn't en...

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 invincible bear monster your ghost grandpa warned you about. — Scoundrel: All new this week! https://myths.link/scoundrel Fictional: All new tomorrow! https://fictional.fm/subscribe — Sponsors: BOMBAS: Suuuuper comfortable...

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 doing so. The second is about why you shouldn't go to the bathroom alone at night: Norse toilet zombies. The creature is the Mimick Dog, a dog that will mimic you and maybe put on plays. -- Sherlock Holmes on F...

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 now Czech Republic and Slovakia, called "Prince Bayaya." Coming to a garden near you, the creature is the Jidra, from Medieval Europe. You might think you're a fantastic gardener, what with growing a plant...

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 also where we wrap up the framing narrative, and we see if Scheherazade's gambit, of keeping herself alive by telling her husband stories every night for the past 989 days, finally pays off. The creature i...

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 to shower (because she will literally gouge out your eyes). -- Scoundrel! New episode of Scoundrel this week. Check it out: https://myths.link/scoundrel New episodes of Best of the Worst out, too. Th...

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, from Brazil, a vampire mermaid who isn't thrilled to be a vampire mermaid but hey, it was the best her fish friends could do for her a the time. -- Best of the Worst! Check out our (other other) new pod...

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 on, and why you should remember where you put stuff before getting the authorities involved. The creature is a cow's stomach with bone melting eyes! Who hates it when evil barons are evil! -- New Scoundre...

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... On the second, we'll see why moths and other nighttime bugs go toward the light, and on the third, a lovelorn samurai meets a woman from his past he thought was long gone. The creature just wants you to c...

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 involves a rabbi, a murderous sorcerer, and a magic battle dinner party. The creature is what happens when you stay too long as a vampire. You turn into what's basically an angry George Costanza with seven g...

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, it might be a good idea to just look at Heidrek's life, and do the opposite. The creature is the Kaibaan, and he's that guy hanging out with his guitar on the quad trying to meet girls. You can spot hi...

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 it's usually the villains who are the most interesting: Their flaws, their quirks, the voids in their hearts that force them to do the unthinkable. These are the characters that fascinate us, that pull us...

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'll love it. Please check it out here: https://myths.link/scoundrel -- This story has a little bit of everything: genies, sorcerers, insecure kings, true love (with two practice marriages beforehand that th...

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 light kidnapping. On the second the pastorage servant just wants to kiss that dead guy and does not care who knows it. The creature is stuck between two dimensions, and they're going to take out their an...

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 is a sleazy alligator man who's looking for love* in all the wrong places** -- Links: Cereal Killer: https://myths.link/cerealkiller Store: https://shop.bardic.fm Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/me...

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 idea. The creature is the reason why you don't want pigeons to pity you. -- Sponsors: Check out Vanished, the new Wondery show! Bombas: Get 20% off any purchase by going to http://bombas.com/legends Grove:...

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 world's first selfie resulted in kind of more death than you'd think. The creature his a demon from Japan...who's working through a bad breakup. -- Sponsors: Honey: Get the browser extension and start s...

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 jail, but it's still inspiring? The creature this week is the Gohonga, a creature that will take your child, educate them, and return them as a forty-year-old -- Links: The earbags: https://myths.link/earb...