Myths and Legends

The story of Yaroslav is one of growing up and figuring out who you are...so you can stop accidentally killing people with your deadly high-fives. The creature is the Pombrero, a sleazy, muscly little hobbit who might already be in your house. --- Sponsors: Can you crack the case? Download June’s Journey for free today on iOS and Android! https://www.wooga.com/games/junes-journey This episode of M...

Two stories from Chinese folklore about broken things. A broken pot, a broken future, and how things can come together to heal. And why you shouldn't go to work drunk or else you might have to arrest a tiger. The creature is the tooth tyrant, the Odontotyrannos, and it's not an angry dentist. Links: Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: https://myths.link/liftinjimmy --- Sponsors: Ready for a more comfortable ni...

Two stories from English folklore about perspective, and how you can't get something for nothing, but you can absolutely get nothing for something. The creature is an outlandish, bizarre, and strange creature known as an "ostrich." Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar: https://myths.link/vinegar The Bogey Beast: https://myths.link/bogeysonyourtail Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Sponsors: Shopi...

The saga of Fergus mac Léti is, apparently, the first time leprechauns make their appearance in folklore. It's also the first time leprechauns try to kill a guy, get stuck in porridge, and offer some magical menswear. The creature this time is the Oyaleroweck, who's thriving in the absence of knights in Canada. We actually merged two stories of Fergus. Here's one translation of the overarching nar...

Munachar and Manachar are two friends out for a fun day of berry picking, but when one commits the only unforgivable sin of hogging all the berries, the only response is swift, murder-y justice. Time to recruit some accomplices The creature is the nain, and it will help you know if you're making terrible life choices (and also encourage you to learn a foreign language!) --- Munachar and Manachar:...

Back in the Journey to the West where Monkey and the gang are actually having an easy time of it and WHY IS IT SO HOT? The creature is Muirbech who is not a sea bee, and while it should get in trouble for false advertising it is already in jail until Judgement Day? --- Sponsors: Make a healthy choice today and try Field of Greens. Get 15% off your first order plus free rush shipping with promo cod...

A lost prince, a magic TARDIS barrel, and a talking dog take us to Jötunheim and back in the story of Prince Ring from Icelandic folklore. The creature is mouse deer who just wants to dance and hopefully not kill anyone. --- Links: Ring source: https://myths.link/princering Glitter drink why would you do this: https://myths.link/glitter Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponso...

A story from 1001 Nights about how to get rid of that annoying babysitter and what to do if your husbands keep getting killed (the answer is, apparently, to keep getting married). The creature is the sea monk, neither a monk nor a sea creature, but a horrifying Cthulhu mash-up. Creature pictures: https://myths.link/356 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: Thrive Market...

The stories of the creation from Roman/Greek mythology, the first werewolf, and Pygmalion, and also some Ares stuff because this is his week I guess. The creature, the Bonnacon (or, as cultured people say, Bo-nacho), has fiery diarrhea. Insert spicy food/White Castle joke here. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/355 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Inflatable cow for some reason: htt...

Two stories about finding people who like you for you. Not because you wear a rice bowl on your head. Or because you spend way too much time looking in the mirror. It's the stories of the Black Rice Bowl and the Mirror from Kyoto, from Japanese folklore. The creatures are real life magpies, chaos birds. Praying mantis eggs: "Each Egg Pod Contains 20-500 Babies!" https://myths.link/mantis Membershi...

The story of a storyteller who can't think of a story to tell, and how a stranger solves that problem by getting him fired and taking him on wacky adventures with too many beheadings. The creature is the Lou Carcolh. Brace yourself, snail links are coming. Snails : I don't know if this is a good price for snails: https://myths.link/snails No idea why I find this video of a snail eating a cucumber...

How do you ensure your children grow up to be good people? You work with a fairy to design jewelry that stabs them, of course! The creature this week is Lamia! She will pull out her own eyeballs and eat your children, but she also has a budding career in the movies? Sad duck lamp: https://myths.link/sadduck Source for today: https://myths.link/pd Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership...

A mother and son are surviving at the end of the world, while monsters prowl the wasteland all around. And now, one of them wants to leave. The creature is the Kudan (件), a human-faced bovine who wants you to have its poster up in your home. A lot of posters, actually.  Source: https://myths.link/georgie Lion bites: https://myths.link/lionbites Disclaimer: https://myths.link/351 --- Sponsors: Bom...

Three(ish) stories from the Korean peninsula about ghosts and goblins. Kind of. Some are actual ghosts and goblins (도깨비). Some are the ghosts of happier times and the lives we thought we wanted. Some goblins literally beat us up when they cheat at board games. There's a lot to learn this week. The creature is the Kting Voar, a creature that definitely does not exist, but not for lack of being e...

We're back in the stories of the Monkey King on the Journey to the West and we'll see that not everyone who is mean to you is a demon. They might be a murderous bandit! Also, try to make friends that can tell the difference between you and your evil doppelgänger. The creature is the Kongamato, a (maybe?) actual dinosaur. It is truly terrible and annoying and bad, but only slightly murdery! --- Spo...

Two myths and a lie! Two stories this week are tales from world folklore. One is a tale created by us for this episode. Check out the poll in our Instagram stories ( https://instagram.com/mythsandlegends ) or vote on the site if you're not on Instagram ( https://myths.link/348 ) to let us know which one you think is the lie! -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: This episode of Myths and Legends is sponsored b...

The story of Ketil Trout is about growing up and learning to be your own person. It's a coming-of-age tale with giant fights, dragon slaying, and outlaw who know way to many trout facts. The creature, Nure-onna, is that woman down by the beach who is not-so-secretly also a quarter-mile-long snake. Links! Doorstop buddy: https://myths.link/doorstopbuddy Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membe...

Tales of everyone's favorite Olympian in charge of warfare, wisdom (& crafts!): Athena. Well, everyone's favorite except for anyone who has been led to a grisly adventurer fate by her. Or been turned into a monster by her. Or has adopted a snake from her. Or... The creature is Hyena Man! He's way worse than the DC Comics supervillain that shares his name because he will literally eat children....

The story of Culhwch and Olwen is that of a thousand quests and why it's probably ok to name your baby after the place they were born...but maybe not if they were born in a literal pigsty. The creature this week is the Hydrus, who is not the Lernian Hydra, of Heracles fame, but it does get a second act as a Biblical metaphor. Culhwch and Olwen: https://myths.link/fetchquests Membership: https://ww...

The story of Mirza, from Armenian folklore, and why it pays to be a heavy sleeper. Also, if you find your incredibly angry, stinky uncle chained up in a closet...it's probably best to leave him there. If you can. The creature this week is Big Bird! If Big Bird ate corpses... The story of Mirza: https://myths.link/mirza Bacon Bandages: https://myths.link/baconbandages --- Music: "Bossa Boa" by Blue...

A knight learns that generosity for those in need is good. Generosity to the point where you're in a worse spot than those you're helping? Maybe it's time to make a budget. Also, why you should follow that very, very stinky man in the woods. The creature is the Hobyah! Despite their fun sounding name, they're horrible. Their victims, sadly, are not much better. --- Amadas: https://myths.link/amada...

Lord Long Legs is a spider daimyo with ruthless mantis samurai. Sazaye has an impenetrable shell that will always keep him safe. An eel grilling couple discovers a secret in their midst. Three stories collide on this week's episode.  The creature is why hydration might actually be hazardous to your health. --- Sponsors: Uncommon Goods: Whoever you’re shopping for, Uncommon Goods knows exactly what...

What happens when you mix chastity, violence, and absolutely zero private baths? The history of the Olympian Artemis...and a whole lot of problems. The creature this week is the Heinzelmännchen, the little naked men who live in your walls. Nic Cage spoons: https://myths.link/spooons Disclaimer: https://myths.link/341 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: Indeed! Join mor...

A Halloween story about the specter bridegroom. A bridegroom. Who's also a specter...and the bride who's actually really ok with that. The creature is a little piggy with soul. Your soul, to be exact. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/340 Banana injector: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CPSCLSW Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsor: Masterclass! Learn from the best to become you...

The story of Frithiof and Ingeborg is rife with evil trolls, good trolls, sea witches, land witches, and how to move on when the tragedy of the past has changed you (into an actual troll). The creatures this week are Havman and Havfrue, Danish mer-people who might mer-der you or just give you a nice mer-ssage to relax. Mer. Sources: https://myths.link/339 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/me...