Pathways with Joseph Campbell

This episode of Pathways, the final full episode of Season 4, features a lecture recorded in 1985 in Southwest Germany. In it, Joseph Campbell explores the significance of mythological images and reflects on some of the major themes that shaped his life and work. He also shares personal stories about how and why he became so passionate about mythology. Dr. Bradley Olson introduces the episode and...

This lecture, recorded at the Esalen Institute in 1981, features Joseph Campbell delving into Jung’s concepts of the Anima and Animus, the shadow in psychology, and the role of myth in helping us navigate unexpected life challenges. Note: This recording is a recently discovered continuation of the lecture featured in the January 2023 bonus episode, Transparent to the Transcendent: A Brief Introduc...

This episode of Pathways with Joseph Campbell , titled "The Harmony and Discord of Religions," was recorded at Brandeis University in 1958. At the time, Joseph Campbell was 54 years old and nearing the completion of Primitive Mythology , the first volume of his Masks of God series. In this lecture, Campbell offers an affirmative defense of comparative methodologies, exploring both the commonalitie...

This bonus episode, titled The Birth of the Savior , was recorded in 1962 at WNET, a PBS member station in Newark, New Jersey, serving the New York City area. In this lecture, Joseph Campbell examines the mythology of the "savior" across cultures, with a particular focus on the image of the Christ child. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph C...

In this episode, recorded in 1974, Joseph Campbell explores the relationship between humans and their gods. The lecture was given just two years after Campbell's retirement from Sarah Lawrence College and five years after the publication of the final volume in his Masks of God series. Host Bradley Olson introduces the lecture and provides commentary at the conclusion. Pathways with Joseph Campbell...

This bonus episode contains a short lecture that Campbell gave at Westerbee Ranch in Sonoma in 1987 on the "Symbology of the Tarot".  It is a "slide" lecture meaning that Campbell was speaking to a curated set of slides, which he often did. Even though we cannot see the slides, his discussion and interpretation of the Tarot deck is worth a listen. This lecture was recorded in the same year as Camp...

In this episode of Pathways, Joseph Campbell speaks at the Cooper Union in New York City in December 1967. He explores the "mythology of love" - from eros to agape and beyond. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the lecture and gives commentary at the end. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Ex...

In this bonus episode recorded in 1957 at The Cooper Union in New York, Joseph Campbell speaks about the similarities and differences in "Eastern" and "Western" mythologies and ways of thinking. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, Joanna Gardner. Editing and audio servi...

In this episode Campbell speaks to the relationship of mythology to psychology. He goes through the four functions of myth and emphasizes the fourth function - the psychological. He focuses on why this psychological function is so important in our contemporary world. The lecture was recorded at the Houston Jung Center in 1972. Host Brad Olson introduces the lecture and offers a commentary at the e...

In this bonus episode, Campbell answers questions following his 1971 lecture, "Primitive Rites & Traditions", at Esalen Institute. He first speaks about the differences between male and female rites in various times and places and then gives an overview of his interpretation of the meaning of the "Virgin Birth". Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the...

In Episode 34, "Primitive Rites & Traditions", Joseph Campbell speaks at the Esalen Institute in 1971. During the lecture, he interacts with participants about the importance and significance of rites and traditions in early mythologies. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the lecture, and offers commentary at the end.  Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of t...

In this bonus episode, Campbell discusses his "favorite definition of mythology". He also speaks to the four functions of myth, how a moral order relates to mythology, and finally retells the myth of the Tiger and the Goat. There is no information as to where or when it was recorded. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. I...

In this episode entitled "Interpretation of Symbolic Form" which was recorded around 1970, Joseph Campbell delves into the meaning of symbolic forms and narrative. In the lecture, he explores how symbolic forms point to the human capacity for the transcendent experience. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the episode and gives commentary after the lecture.   Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by...

In this bonus lecture to  Episode 32: "Mythologies of Quest and Illumination", Campbell discusses the mythology of the Buddha, and gives a comparison of the Buddha's "Tree of Illumination" to the Bible's "Tree of Immortal Life".  Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, Joan...

In this episode entitled, "Mythologies of Quest and Illumination", Campbell discusses the four functions of myth, love, and discovering one's own authentic life. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the episode and gives commentary after the lecture. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive...

In this bonus Q&A episode, Campbell answers questions about the nature of freedom, the origins of religion, following one's bliss, living out of one's center, and aesthetic arrest. It is taken from the Q&A session after his lecture, "The Psychological Basis of Freedom", recorded at Bennett College in North Carolina in 1970. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a produc...

Welcome to the fourth season of Pathways with Joseph Campbell! This episode entitled, "The Psychological Basis of Freedom", was recorded at Bennett College in North Carolina in 1970. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the episode and gives commentary after the lecture. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Ty...

In this bonus episode of Pathways,  Joseph Campbell answers questions from his lecture on the symbolism of Christianity, Buddhism, European Paganism, and the Arthurian Romances.   Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, Joanna Gardner. Editing and audio services by Tristan...

In this episode of Pathways (the final full episode of season 3), Joseph Campbell speaks about similarities in the symbolism of Christianity, Buddhism, European Paganism, and the Arthurian Romances. Host, Bradley Olson introduces the episode and gives commentary after the lecture. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It i...

This bonus episode of Pathways is the audio from a slideshow presentation that followed the lecture that he gave at Skowhegan on July 27th 1987. The lecture was podcast Episode 27: Artists, Poets, & Writers. Even though we cannot see the slides that professor Campbell is showing, his rich description is able to guide us through the presentation. This was one of the last public presentations that C...

In this episode of Pathways entitled, "Literary Wizardry - A Discussion with Joseph Campbell, recorded on December 15th 1970, Joseph Campbell holds a discussion session with students after his address to the student body of Sarah Lawrence College on the work of Thomas Mann. Host Bradley Olson gives an introduction and commentary after the lecture. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Ol...

In this Bonus episode recorded at the Jung Institute in 1982, Joseph Campbell discusses elementary and ethnic ideas as two different interpretations of myth using the work of Freud, Jung, and Thomas Mann. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, John Bucher.  Audio and editi...

In this episode of Pathways entitled, "Erotic Irony & Mythic Form",  Joseph Campbell gives an address to the student body of Sarah Lawrence College about mythology and the work of Thomas Mann. It was recorded on December 15th 1970. Host Bradley Olson gives an introduction and commentary after the lecture. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph...

In this bonus episode, Bradley Olson sits down with JCF's, Stephen Gerringer to discuss JCF's newest addition to the Collected Works, Myth and Meaning: Conversations on Mythology and Life. The book encompasses a wide-ranging collection of insights from legendary mythologist Joseph Campbell, sourced from rare and previously unpublished interviews, compiled and edited by Gerringer. Throughout the bo...

This episode entitled, "Artists, Poets, & Writers", was recorded at Skowhegan on July 27th 1987. This was one of the last public lectures that Campbell gave before his death in October of the same year. The talk encompasses a discussion of myth, writing, and art. Host Bradley Olson offers an introduction and commentary at the end. Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a...