(Sort of) The Story

Send us Fan Mail Ahoy! For our last Off Topic episode of the season, Max is going to take us through the history of the man, the myth, the pirate Blackbeard!  NOTE: This is a historical account of the pirate known as Blackbeard, and not a recap of the amazing show "Our Flag Means Death". We do our best not to include major spoilers for the show, but we do strongly encourage everyone to w...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and happy October! On this VERY giddy episode of the pod, Max is going to tell us a classic American ghost story, and Janey is going to drop a new Louisiana cryptid! Happy spooky season, ya'll! Janey's Sources - The Grunch Haunted Bayou and Other Cajun Ghost Stories by J.J. Reneaux   "The Grunch" Cryptid Wiki   Max's Sources - The Legend of Sleepy Ho...

Send us Fan Mail The 1904 Olympic Marathon has been described as many things-- "unbelievable", "crazy", "racist"... This week, Janey is going to dive headfirst into the wild stories that make us question everything we know to be true about marathon running (for example-- how much rat poison is too much rat poison while running 25 miles?) We'll find out together!...

Send us Fan Mail TW: 22:17 - 24:37  Brief descriptions of violent and disturbing acts This week, Max is going Off Topic to kick us into spooky season with the story of Elizabeth Bathory. Was she the most prolific serial killer in the history of the world? Did she really bathe in blood to preserve her youth and beauty? Is this perhaps a sexist ploy for men to take power? Who knows? (We think we do....

Send us Fan Mail Great Scott! It's a new episode! This week Janey is going to tell us all about two golden children who should spend less time together, and Max is going to tell us all about a beast that has an insatiable appetite (for girls!) Janey's Sources - The Gold-Children The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm   Full Free Story   Max's Sources - The Seven-Headed Monst...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Janey is going to bring us on the emotional rollercoaster that is "things we've jettisoned into space". From puppies to light sabers to Elon Musk's fragile male ego, we've truly tried it all (and Janey has THOUGHTS). Sources:  “Eight of the Strangest Things We’ve Sent to Space” by Lee Cavendish  on Space.com   “The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the S...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Max is going to tell us all the true history of the Bavarian Illuminati, and how what started as a bunch of rich white guys arguing about nothing somehow resulted in a bunch of people accusing Taylor Swift of being a lizard person. Enjoy! Sources “Illuminati” on Wikipedia  “The New World Order conspiracy: Illuminati” on Wikipedia  “9 questions about the Illuminati you w...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Max is going to tell us a story that can hopefully serve as a reminder that JUST because he's from Florida and wears a gold suit does NOT mean you should marry him. (Run. You're welcome.) And also Janey is going to tell us a story about a seal that only makes her blood run a little cold. Otherwise, it's pretty heartwarming. Enjoy!   Janey's Sources -...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Off Topic-Season to everyone who celebrates! We're starting this season off with a bang, as Janey discusses Alex Bale's " Magic School Bus Doppleganger Theory", and posits a theory of her own that leaves us both wondering-- how deep does the rabbit hole go? Sources: Alex Bale’s “Magic School Bus: Doppleganger Theory” Youtube Video   Gabriella Geisinger’s...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to our Book Club! This month Max and I read "Mountains Made of Glass" by Scarlett St. Clair, and illustrated by Lauren Boyle. This book has everything-- fairytales, folktales, mythology, sex... and also, Scarlett and Lauren are here! Enjoy!  “If you can f*ck a door, you can f*ck a Peep.” – Max Higgins BUY THE BOOK Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St....

Send us Fan Mail Hello to all you Pit-Heads out there! On today's accidental Native-themed episode, Janey's going to talk about a strong boy who just wants a wife, and Max is going to tell us an Iroquois tale of witches! Enjoy! Janey's Sources - The Beluga-Skin Bedaarka "The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales" , retold by James Bruchac and Joseph B...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back for another exciting episode of "Janey makes us cry!"  This week, Max is going to tell us a story about Patricia Arquette from Holes (and her good-for-nothing ghost husband), and Janey is going to tell us yet another Scandinavian tale where the moral is "leave those giants alone!" Enjoy! Janey's Sources - The Dwarf’s Banquet “Viking Folk and F...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back! This week we're diving in with a story about a young woman who the police should probably question regarding the untimely deaths of her family, and Max is going to tell us about a man who is NOT tripping too hard on edibles. (Wink!) Enjoy! Janey's Sources - Vasilissa the Fair "The Second Virago Book of Fairy Tales" by Angela Carter  Max's Sou...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Max will tell us a dragon story where the dragons maybe aren't dragons, and at least one character does NOT have to be there! And Janey is going to tell us a story about a girl learning the most important lesson of all-- men ain't sh*t! Enjoy! Janey's Sources - The Four Gifts The Virago Book of Witches , edited by Shah...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome BACK! We're jumping in after a month-long break to tell you two insane tales of heroism! This week, Janey is retelling Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Geese", and Max is going to tell us about a terrible wife who just can't seem to stop harkin' down eggs (this isn't canon but we like to use our imaginations...) In other news...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to our last episode before our summer break! This week, Max is going to tell us about a terrible man who gets TERRIBLE advice and has an undeservedly good time, and Janey tells us a story about a bad ass grandma who gives her granddaughter the best gift of all: revenge. See you all in July! Janey's Sources - Grandmother's Skull “The Serpent Slayer and O...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to a VERY unhinged, late-night episode of (Sort of) the Story. Today we're talking about Robert Kennedy's brain worm, the fact that everyone seems to have forgotten that Armie Hammer is a cannibal, and ALSO we'll tell each other a couple of stories. It's a wild ride (thanks for taking it with us!)  Janey's Sources - The Princess in the Ch...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome, all you Draiglin' Hogneys. We know you're too busy draiglin away your days to read a silly little intro like this, so we'll keep it short and sweet-- this week Max is going to tell us about a Hogney that is a little more Draiglin' than the average hog, and Janey is going to tell us a story about a man who is DEFINITELY not falling in love wit...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Janey is going to tell us about a sarcastic little cat who doesn't have time for the prince's sh*t today, and Max is going to tell us the origin of Tom Thumb. Did you know King Arthur is a key player in Tom Thumb's life? Because we sure didn't! Enjoy! Janey's Sources - The Little White Cat “Irish Folk and Fairy Tales” edited by J.K. Jackso...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to part 2 of our Shakespeare episode! Today Max is going to tell us all about Macbeth (and afterward she's going to tell us all why we're cursed now!) Please don't listen to this episode in a theater! Max's Sources - Macbeth Full free text of Macbeth   "The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?" from Penguin Publishing   Wi...

Send us Fan Mail TW: Very graphic eyeball stuff at 59:20 Hello! In honor of Janey's birthday (which she shares with the Bard himself), we're telling more Shakespeare stories! This week, Janey is going to make us all weepy with the gut-wrenching story of King Lear, and aging king in the throws of dementia. Because these plays are so long, we had to split the episode into two, so stick aro...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, Max tells a story about a little baby woman who friend-zones a bird, and Janey is going to tell us three stories about a girl who goes on a world-tour to solve crimes and collect Daddies. Enjoy! Janey's Sources - Tales of a Parrot "World Tales" collected by Idries Shah   Full Free Text   Wikipedia article on the Tuti-Nama   "Tuti Na...

Send us Fan Mail TW for Max’s story: Cannibalism, Infanticide, and upsetting eyeball stuff On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us a silly-goofy little Italian love story, quickly followed by a horrifying tale about a man who is Big Stupid but loves his moms. Enjoy! Janey’s Sources - Filo d’Oro and Filomena Italian Folktales , selected and retold by Italo Calvino   Max’s Sources - The S...

Send us Fan Mail Janey’s Sources - The Headless Dwarf The Violet Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang   Full free text   Max’s Sources - The Washerwoman and The Count Full free text of “Tales of the Amber Sea” by Irina Zheleznova   Full free text of “The Washerwoman and the Count”   Bonus: WATCH " Superpower(less) " on Youtube! Support the show Check out our books (and support local booksto...

Send us Fan Mail Hello and welcome to just another episode of the podcast! Today we're delving into a fan-favorite (or is that just us?) and saying goodbye to an old friend. Shout outs to these superstars: Jennifer Haining Brycen Raymond Barbara Higgins Jordan Boyle and our amazing friend, Conor Support the show Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate...