Myths and Legends

The story of Eglė the Queen of Serpents, from Lithuanian folklore, about a young woman who is faced with an impossible choice: witness the destruction of her family...or marry a snake.  The creature is a wet, inebriated chicken named skrat who will either make you rich or burn down your house or both of those things. -- Music: "Delamine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tiny Bottles" by Blue Dot Sessions "Do...

We return to the Robin Hood stories with a (mostly) standalone episode. Robin Hood and his merry men are throwing a dinner party! With food and wine! And robbery!  The creature is a shirtless Jaguar man who can end the world anytime he feels like.  --  Music: "Pat-a-Pan Whistles and Drums" by Craig S. Elliott "The Gall" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "Andante in e minor" by Matthew...

The story of an ancient Indian king who goes on a fetch quest through an evil-looking cemetery and listens to the worst podcasts of all time...hosted by a ghoul he has slung over his shoulder, and if he doesn't pay attention, he could die. The creature is a crow-grasshopper who will make you vomit (if it doesn't kill you with its flatulence) Fictional: https://www.fictional.fm/subscribe   --  "Nig...

Join Bulat the Brave Companion and Ivan Tsarevich (no, not that one) as they get a magical new horse, escape magical prison, and get in some magical fights.  The creature is the shōkera, the slimy guy looking in your window right now.  --  Music: "Kaleidoscope" by Podington Bear "Exploring the Cave Mix Full" by Bobby Cole "Vanagon" by Podington Bear "Setting Pace" by Blue Dot Sessions "Kalsted" by...

Branch two of the Mabinogion has the kings of Great Britain and Ireland (Bran and Matholwch, respectively) just wanting to bro out, but their nobles and family members will do anything to keep that from happening. Also, why is there never a sundae bar in the wine cellar? Episode post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14215/181b-mabinogion-with-friends-like-these/   --  Music: "Last Winter" by Zac Nelso...

King Pwyell just wants to go hunting in the dark forest alone. What's the worst that can happen? Huh? Forced to live for a year away from his people at the demand of an otherworldly king? Yeah, ok, that's kind of bad.  It's the first branch of the Mabinogion, the original source for a few of the stories we've told on this podcast, like the very first story from this podcast, that of Yvain and the...

The story from Azorean folklore about a sorcerer who turned his life around. He became a priest, helped his people flee, and then faced a choice when his old life came hunting for him. The creature is a dirty dish towel named the Shirouneri. Like most towels it's actively trying to show you just how much it hates you. Show post (and disclaimer): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14203/180-azorean-folklo...

A classic quest from Slavic legend with princesses, dragons, wizards, dragons fighting wizards, and princesses fighting wizards fighting dragons. The creature is Shamir, the little craftsman who is up for employee of the millennium. -- Post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14197/179-slavic-legends-grateful-dead/   --  Music: "Solemn Oath" by Podington Bear "Setting Out on a Quest" by Bobby Cole "The F...

An episode about the Tanuki, the notorious raccoon-dog trickster from Japan with giant...well...you'll see. The creature is the Tote Road Shagamaw, and a ManBearMoose who is really good at headstands. Like, it can walk a quarter mile doing a headstand. Show post, with all those pictures (and the disclaimer): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14180/178-tanuki-changes/ --  Music: “Lina my Queen” by Blue D...

The Greeks finally find a way into Troy and while, yes, it's exactly the way you think they get in, there are so many ridiculous side quests on the way, including a cameo from one of Greek myth's most famous hero. The creature is nice unicorn who will play music for you and definitely won't eat you the moment your guard is down. Want more? We did two member episodes with about four additional stor...

Achilles is back and it's god vs. god, Greek vs. Trojan, Achilles vs. Hector in the most epic battle of the Trojan War. The creature this week, the Seto taishō, will absolutely come after you with a sharpened spoon. His weakness? Light kicks. Episode post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14155/177c-trojan-war-when-i-am-gone/ -- Music: “Watercool Quiet” by Blue Dot Sessions “Thunder Comes” by Will Van...

The episode starts with Menelaus sparking the biggest battle of the war so far and ends with an even bigger battle. A lot happens as the Trojan War, with the absence of Achilles, takes its darkest turn yet. The creature is Amabie! A mermaid with great hair who just wants to help you out. Episode post (with Amabie links): https://www.mythpodcast.com/14149/177b-trojan-war-storm-of-spears/   --  Musi...

“Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.” We're here. The culmination of a dozen episodes and twice as many stories has led to this. Achilles. Helen. Agamemnon. Menelaus. Hector. Odysseus. There's a reason these names are still with us after thousands of years. This is the story of the Trojan War. The creature is pretty much the opposite...

Three stories this week from the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen about people that are matchless. The first is the tale of the emperor and his new clothes, where an emperor who needs a new coat every hour gets an offer he can't refuse.  The second is about a boy who wants to marry the daughter of a monarch and all the cool gadgets and racially insensitive cosplaying he'll do to wi...

Thor’s daughter is getting married to a dwarf, and Thor is the last person to find out about it. Also he punted a dwarf onto a burning ship for fun at his brother’s funeral, so things might get awkward. The creature is the Segbin, and it’s a smelly goat that bites. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t want to eat you. It wants to kill you, but it doesn’t want to eat you. The The post on mythpodcast.com...

The story of Sir Isumbras, a knight from the high Middle Ages, includes talking birds, epic battles, unicorns, and a quest for redemption where the redemption includes the knight's participation in the crusades...  The creature is the sealah (pronounced SHE-la), a genie that just wants to go out dancing and get dinner...and by that it means it wants you to dance for it before turning you into its...

Fortune favors the bold. Or people willing to put up with a decade of junk. Or the best liars. On this episode, there are two stories: one from Tunisia, and the other from Italy, about people who take their fate into their own hands to varying, oftentimes disastrous results.  The creature is a sad sea goat who just wants to be with all of his other sad sea goats but, because the Greek gods are the...

The story of the master thief, from Norwegian folklore, which will have you wondering what the difference is between a master thief and someone who exploits the laziness and ignorance of strangers in incredibly basic ways for their own gain. Also, being a good parent apparently means abandoning your kid in the forest?  The creature this week is the skolopendra, and it…might just be real.  —  Music...

Three stories of love from India. The first is what happens when a prostitute and a thief try to build a life together.  The second is what happens when a barber gets to ask a king for anything.  The third is about a man who saves a mouse...and what happens when that mouse wants to get married.  The creature is the man of your dreams...if your dreams happen to include a man who is a snake-wolf-dra...

This week, we continue the story of Grettir. Last week he was driven by an intense, mysterious tendency toward self-destruction. This week, he’ll still have that…but he’s been cursed by a draugr to always be unlucky. And it shows. A lot. He’ll start this week’s episode on his way home to start a new life and he’ll end it…we’ll, you’ll see.  The creature is the Turban snail demon, and it’s why, if...

This week, we’re back in the Icelandic sagas with the story of Grettir the strong, who, whether it’s by berserkers crashing his Christmas party, bears stealing his clothes, or his own obscene insult poetry, just can’t catch a break.  Speaking of breaks, you should really break up if you find yourself dating the creature this week.  --  Music: “Stack me up” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lakkalia” by Blue D...

A story from the famous Middle Eastern collection of folklore entitled 1001 Nights where, three friends go on a road trip to get so many bottles full of evil genies. There's no such thing as too many side quests when their travels lead them to the legendary City of Brass, one of the greatest cities in the world...one that shut itself off from the world years ago.  The creature is a little guy with...

How to win friends and influence people and also get beat up a lot in the 12th century. We've talked about Robin's origins, but who are all these other guys? Today we learn some outlaw recruiting strategies (mainly just getting whacked in the ribs with a stick and giving piggyback rides) and meet all the other important members of Robin's crew.  The creature is just a pleasant and fashionable coat...

This week, it is the insane original story behind the popular holiday ballet. In this story for children, we'll get some contradictory lessons for the kids. Getting into a van with a stranger offering candy? Bad. Getting into a silver carriage with a man offering a whole magical world full of candy? Awesome (not really - seriously, kids don't do that).  In a podcast full of problematic and wildly...

Two (originally children's) tales that underscore the shocking brutality of the world in which these stories were told. The first one is that of three roommates: a sausage, a bird, and a mouse, who decide to mix things up for once. The second is the Robber Bridegroom, a story where a woman has to marry a man who horrifies her...and the lengths she'll go to in order to get out of it.  The creature...