Myths, Games & Meaning

Medusa has been a monster, a warning, a victim, and a symbol. In this episode, Dr Dani Shalet is joined by Dr Gina Bevan , whose work explores pop culture, gender, queer narratives, and ancient myth. Together they trace Medusa’s shifting meanings across myth and modernity, exploring fear, seduction, repression, and the power of the gaze. Their conversation also considers how Medusa has become a fi...

In this episode, I’m joined by Samantha Béart for a lively conversation on performance, storytelling, and the myth of Karlach. This one is particularly special to me, as Sam was one of my very first interviews and has been incredibly supportive along the way. We talk about how characters like Karlach become mythic in their own right, and why some game characters feel so powerful to play.  From Ath...

This episode is a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been listening, supporting, and sharing this podcast. I’m endlessly grateful for every guest who has offered their time and stories, and for every listener who has stayed with me, even through the quieter moments. Life and work have been a little overwhelming lately, which led to an unplanned pause. But this space, and the people who fill it,...

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Nanci Santos as we return to the complicated, and often affectionate, relationship between myth, archaeology, and video games. We revisit Apotheon, one of Nanci’s favourite titles, and talk about why its bold visual style and mythic approach work so well, even without strict historical realism. From there, the conversation turns to Assassin’s Creed...

After a short hiatus, Dani returns to the mic and is joined by special guest and friend Nanci Santos for a conversation about ancient adventures, fandom joy, and the role video games played in keeping people connected to the ancient world during lockdown. When Covid shut everything down, exploration didn’t stop. It just changed shape. Dani and Nanci talk about how games became a practical and imag...

Welcome back to Myths, Games & Meaning. This episode took a little longer to land than usual after I lost my voice with a chest infection, but I’m really glad to be back, especially for Part Two of my conversation with Earl Baylon, actor, geek, gamer, and the voice of Jonah in Tomb Raider. In this second part, we go fully nerdy. We chat about Lara Croft, The Lord of the Rings, the Valar, archa...

In this special two-part conversation, Dr. Dani Shalet sits down with her friend, actor and voice talent Earl Baylon (Jonah from Tomb Raider). In Part 1, they dive headfirst into their shared love of gaming, geek culture, and myth. From Return to Moria and Baldur’s Gate 3 romances, to Dragonlance nostalgia, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and why fandom still makes us laugh, this episode celebra...

In the very first episode of Myths, Games & Meaning, Dr. Dani Shalet is joined by Dr. Chris Deacy and Dr. Paul March-Russell to explore the enduring power of myth in our lives.  Using Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz as a guide, they unpack the hero’s journey as a recurring narrative structure and consider how myth continues to shape culture, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves. T...

In this episode of Myths, Games & Meaning, Dr. Dani Shalet is joined by Dr. Chris Deacy and Dr. Paul March-Russell to explore myth, authority, and the hero’s journey through The Wizard of Oz. Continuing our journey with Dorothy, we move from the trials of the Poppy Field to the shining promise of the Emerald City, and finally to the Wizard’s unmasking as “just a man.” Along the way, we examine...