Myths and Legends

Viking is a Viking. His dad was either not very creative when it came to naming him, or had a very specific plan for his life. In his story we meet evil giants, awesome mythological dwarf dads, and the only Viking ball game that doesn't turn deadly...during the ball game. It kind of does immediately afterward, though. The creature is Hogboy! It's a barrow-wight, and it's actually way more terrifyi...

For the god of healing, Apollo sure does a lot of the exact opposite. Born to a mother on the run from a giant snake, Apollo's life only gets more chaotic and destructive from there. The creature is Half-Chick! He might be only half a chicken, but he's 100% enema. Yes, you just read that correctly. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/337 --- Sponsor: Need to hire? You need Indeed! Start hiring now at h...

Xuanzang, the monk leading the Monkey King, Pigsy, and Sandy on their journey to the west doesn't want to get married. The city full of women who want to marry him don't really care. The creature is the Guyascutus, a deadly alligator. Imagine that. What an oddity. --- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/336 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Nose Flute: https://myths.link/noseflute ---...

Two stories from Indian folklore where we learn that you should always know your exact weight in mangos...because it might help you outrun those eight guys trying to murder you. Also, being a parent is difficult, especially when your clever ideas to punish your kids just make them more awesome. The creature is the Gulon, from Sweden. It'll turn you into farts. Membership! https://www.mythpodcast.c...

The story of Fatima is a long one with many twists and turns. There are genies, evil wizards, massive battles, and a world-wide trek to make sure evil pays for its crimes, but at the center is Fatima, a woman who won't back down no matter the opposition, and who always stands for what she knows is right. The creature is a hairy naked man (another one!) but you actually might want to make this one...

The epic story of Fatima, Dhat Al-Himma, the warrior woman, princess, mystic begins with the misadventures of her family line where they learn the perils of bad poetry, why you shouldn't marry genies, and it might be a bad thing to constantly rob your enemies when your bank account gets a little low. The creature is Grootslang, a snake with diamond eyes that maybe has an elephant best friend. ---...

Slug, frog, snake, shoot! You've heard of rock, paper, scissors, but have you heard of slug, frog, snake? That old man you're trying to rob who lives in the mountains by himself has. Hope you like everything being covered in slime. Apparently these characters were reimagined for the manga/anime Naruto , but I haven't seen Naruto , so please don't sue me, people who own Naruto . The creature is Jas...

Two stories from English folklore about the secrets we keep. The first is the story of the Monk of Leicester, Dan Hew, a man who has a few verses of poetry he wants to yell at the married women of the village. All the married women. Humphrey Kynaston likes to party and has made it his life's goal to spend all his dad's money, a goal he'll be able to check off his todo list sooner than he thinks be...

Two stories from Yiddish folklore of taking a chance, making a change, going for a ride on a giant bird's wings, yelling at a classroom full of kids, and marrying a demon. Not necessarily in that order. The creature is the Piskie, from Cornwall. It's hopefully wearing clothing! Links! Grass sandals: https://myths.link/grassflop Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsor: Peace...

What would you do if you could have anything you could imagine, but it would cost you everything you have?  That's not a choice Hans made, but one he was stuck with when his dad made a terrible deal for a wishing box. The creature is why you should help out that unfortunate stranger with their laundry (but not really) --- Links : Washerwoman book bit: https://myths.link/washerwoman That condiment...

We're back in the story of the Monkey King with the Journey to the West, and we'll see Sun Wukong finally meet his match: a buffalo with a headband. The creature of the week is the yamachichi, a creepy dude who loves morning breath. And also killing you. --- Links! The Yamachichi: https://yokai.com/yamachichi/ The Journey to the West: https://myths.link/journey Membership: https://www.mythpodcast....

The story of Finette Cendron is like a greatest hits of fairy tales. A tale of betrayal, sisters, ogres, bad poetry, and haircuts, we see three sisters brave the wilds and everything the fairy tale world can throw at them, to make things right. The creature is Cutty Soams! He'll cut your soams...if he's not a secret Scooby-Doo villain. --- Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Catpaw:...

Three brothers. One cousin...who they want to marry. It starts in a weird place this week. Three brothers are sent on a quest: the brother who brought back the strangest, coolest item would get to marry her. A story with magic carpets, genies, fairies, and a man who can wrap his mustache around his head, we learn the value of communication, understanding, and not having people murdered. The creatu...

Aphrodite is looking for love in all the wrong places. It's the story of where she came from, her side of her doomed marriage with Hephaestus, and how the love of her very, very long life was a tree baby. The creature is Buffardello, a small, bearded fairy from Italy with many, many weird hobbies. --- Links: The Buffardello's Wikipedia page, translated from Italian: https://myths.link/buffardello...

Two young men: a wildman determined to collect 1000 swords from defeated samurai, and a displaced son of a clan leader, who had spent his childhood on the run. Together, these two would find their place in the world, and change it in the process.  The creatures are the Keltémas and Kazna Peri, and they just might help you get rich...or lead you out into a snowstorm straight from the bath.  --  The...

The story of Erec and Enide from Arthurian Legend is a good illustration of why you should try to work out your problems as a couple with empathy, understanding, and communication...and not through a deadly quest filled with pointless, brutal combat. The creatures are the Elephant Men, the strange visitors you get when you're drinking whiskey with friends down by the river. * * * Disclaimer: https...

Just ask dad Two Norwegian tales of asking dad. All seven of them. Who live in the same house. Or might not have a house to go back to, depending on the story.  The creature is the orc! It is both different from the Lord of the Rings orc and very currently a problem!   * * *  Storage Soles: https://myths.link/storagesoles Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership   Billy B's version of th...

On his quest to help princess Ingigerd, Hrolf has become enslaved by the wily William, a con man who wants to be a prince. This episode, they'll come face-to-face with ghost kings, giant walruses, mythological dwarves, and the evil wizard that took down an entire kingdom. The creature is Biron (びろ～ん)! He's a little gross and weird! -- Biron:  https://yokai.com/biron/ Disclaimer: https://myths....

This week, it's the Saga of Göngu-Hrolf, from Icelandic folklore. It starts with a king getting one, solitary, five-foot-long, apparently super attractive hair wrapped in a scarf...and only gets better from there. There are evil wizards belching (yes, belching) fire and poison, somber Vikings getting conned, and a deadly honeypot zombie trap for any heroes who might try to be heroes. It's a fun on...

The hero twins will rise... ...and then fall. The underworld calls, and the monsters of their past comes back to haunt them.  The creature is the Obda, from Mari folklore. Yet another hairy naked man who lives in the forest. Who want to tickle you.   Membership : https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Alligator (warning, skinned alligator) : https://myths.link/alligator   * * *  Sponsor:  Canva :...

In the beginning, the gods apparently had an undo button. And angry tortilla griddles that took out the first humans. Today, it's the beginning of the beginning in the Popol Vuh. We'll meet a macaw who thinks he's the son, a metal band lineup of underworld beings, and see the birth of the hero twins, who are destined to go up against the batman*  *not that batman  The creature is the Snallygaster,...

Can you beat fate? Subramanya has learned something terrible about two people who are practically siblings to him. Can he use his deep wisdom to beat the life that's laid out before them? The creature is maneki-neko, the waving cat, and we'll see how cats can be very lucky...if they can be bothered to help you in the first place. -- Links! Disclaimer: https://myths.link/319 Source: https://myths.l...

Hephaestus has his day Who is the smith god of Olympus? Why is he married to Aphrodite, and why can't he catch a break? This week, it's all about Hephaestus and his journey of self discovery where he (hopefully) doesn't fall off a mountain. Again. The creature is the Sea Hare. It's a hare that lives in the sea and also is relentlessly vicious. * * * Links That disclaimer: https://myths.link/318 Me...

We're back in the story of the Monkey King, and monkey finds a noble new calling: freeing enslaved monks. Does this noble calling include the ignoble murdering of his enemies and/or tricking them into drinking his urine? Yes. Yes it does.  The creature is the Stcemqestcint, the stinky naked man watching you in the forest.   * * * Extended cut and other membership stuff: https://www.mythpodcast.com...

What happens when you see something you can't live without? A thing you desire so strongly that you can't stop thinking about it. Do you give up everything to try to get it?  Maybe? But if what you're willing to give up is your child and the thing you desire is fruit from the garden...maybe rethink your priorities. It's the story of "The White Cat" by Madame d'Aulnoy, and in addition to questionab...