Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

The gods are back to give advice, with advice dealing with angsty teenagers from a teacher of gods, to learning to become fluent in fae speak to get out of uncomfortable conversations. Just in time for the holidays! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of arranged marriage, abuse, burning, ableism, pregnancy, misogyny, apocalypse, climate change, and  racism....

Sometimes you just gotta go off about Paul Bunyan and timber. We’re joined by Leah Lemm, who shares with us growing up with Paul Bunyan stories, how he became a villain in her eyes, and how to honor history without making things up.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, ecoterrorism, deforestation, violence against Indigenous people, man...

It’s Girl Boss Time-- We mean, Athena Time. We talk about some cool birds that we like, how Meryl Streep is channeling Athena in most of the movies she’s in, and how weaving is cooler than war, anyway. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, birth, head injuries, fratricide, pregnancy, infidelity, child death, child endangerment, negging, starvation,...

This is it. This is the one. Potentially the spookiest story we’ve ever told on this show. In fact it is the ONLY story of this episode. That’s how good it is. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Presenting: The Shuddering of Creekside Mushrooms.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of corrupt law enforcement, racism, dangerous working conditions, disappear...

We’re talking demons, haunted houses, and horror tropes as we watch 2013’s The Conjuring. And asking the important question: How long would YOU live in this haunted a house? Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, misogyny, mental health/mental illness, violence against women, animal death, possession, suicide, murder, child endangerment, drowning, child de...

This week, author Maggie Tokuda-Hall joins us to talk about all things murder and magic. From the exploration of gender, to werewolves as a metaphor for trauma, and everything in between, this interview has it all!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, body image, drug use, blood, imperialism, fascism, racism, gender dysphoria, homophobia, transphobi...

We’re back visiting the Olympian gods and this time it’s finance bro Apollo. We talk about all the women (and men!) Apollo has wronged, and of course, celebrate SoupFest 2021. You’re welcome, Apollo.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, intoxication, misogyny, sexual assault, pregnancy, war, death, disease/plague, kidnapping, slavery, fighti...

We’re going on a haunted date through the forest. Because you don’t really know your partner until you see how polite they are to a terrifying German bone man. But bonus points if they’re ghost hunting grandmas.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of infections, underage drinking, college finals, child abduction, child endangerment, sexual assault, transpho...

Hold on a second, we’re channeling the gods to answer your questions about creativity, religion, bachelorette parties, body image and more. Don’t worry, your cool wine Aunt Inanna is here to help. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of human sacrifice, war, abusive relationships, death, dismemberment, murder, grief, religious experiences, body image issues, ablei...

There’s something magical about the magic of home, and Sarah Hollowell wrote a whole book about it. We talk about spending time in the elementary school forest, being raised nerdy, and writing books for your high school self.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of gore, abuse, child endangerment, queerphobia, mental illness, racism, fatphobia, bugs, and ang...

Introducing our newest segment: It’s All Greek to Me - Finally Fulfilling the Promise of Spirits Podcast, by Spirits Podcast. And of course we’re starting off with Julia’s favorite goddess from when she first picked up Edith Hamilton’s Mythology: Artemis!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual harassment and assault, murder, death, pregnancy, birth,...

Children in dangerous situations, children being scared by pickles, the kids are creepy but alright! The new urban legends episode features many holes, and NONE of them are good.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of missing persons, child endangerment, religious persecution, car accidents, death, animal death/entrails, nuclear meltdown/Chernobyl, sex, and...

It’s movie night and we’ve watched the stunning film, The Green Knight. We talk classic fairy tale tropes, Arthurian canon, Latin funeral hymns, letting Dev Patel sleep, and what exactly the problems with chivalry are.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, murder, beheading/decapitation, violence against women, animal violence, bunk psychology, b...

We’re joined by author and professor Veronica Schanoes, who leads us through a forest of  the feminism of Alice in Wonderland, taking moralizing out of the fairy tales, and tackling forgiveness.  Stories Based on Jewish Folklore and Magic , on Electric Literature.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of bodily harm, antisemitism, gun violence, murd...

Lay your head down, close your eyes, and drift off to dreamland as we talk about the mythological stories and figures that inhabit your dreams! Also, dream interpretation via...puns? More information from We R Native .  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of medical complications, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, drug use, sex, violence, death, feces/excremen...

There’s something very special about this episode. We answer questions like “why can’t capitalism be a ghost?”, “are ghosts part of your college orientation?” and “have you ever tried to carbon date a ghost?”. And of course, a ghost train.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of capitalism, abusive job situations, child death, sex, sexual assault/flashers, s...

Robots, androids, AI - the staples of our science fiction media actually have very historical and mythological inspiration! Join us as we discuss the 1973 movie, Westworld, and explore the origins of our robot interest.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, murder, violence, gun violence, existential crisis, divorce, sex, religious persecution, assa...

We’re joined by author and storyteller, Owl Goingback. He tells us all about things like befriending the Creature from the Black Lagoon, hoping to see Sasquatch, and his personal experiences as the caretaker of the most haunted cemetery in Florida. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, torture, hauntings, body horror, animal attacks, lynching, child death...

In the past, we’ve talked about bird husbands and seal wives, but today we’re diving deep into Animal Spouses with the Japanese folk tale, the Crane Wife! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal endangerment/death, abusive relationships, arranged/forced marriages, illness, urination, pregnancy, childbirth, blinding, rape, sexual assault, child abandonment,...

This episode is full of creepy shenanigans, don’t worry. We talk viral Tiktok ghosts, respecting funeral directors and undertakers, and what was definitely a Hot Topic teen ghost.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of teeth, surgery, cadavers, imprisonment, capital punishment, fire, death, ableism, funeral homes, death of family members, bodily functions,...

The gods have given more advice, and we’re sharing it with you. We trick imposter syndrome with a trickster, making new houses and apartments into a home, and tackling to-do lists.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, urination, relationships, patriarchal expectations, mental health, queerphobia, death, battle, and sacrifice.  Guest Dr. Moiya M...

We chat with award-winning science fiction author Becky Chambers! We define space opera, talk about building big worlds without confusing your audience, and creating “cozy science fiction”. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, imperialism, military, environmental disaster, climate change, and ableism.   Guest Becky Chambers is a science f...

Ahoy! Is that the return of Sinbad the Sailor? It is! We’re judging the luckiest/unluckiest man in folklore this week, as well as talking about the economics of coconuts and monkeys.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of xenophobia, drug use, natural disaster, drowning, cannibalism, death, murder, violence against women, illness, being buried alive, starva...

Would you eat the cursed Cheez-its? It’s important that we know if you would. Also, we talk about being trained by a ghost on how to be a good adult, and rate some theatre ghosts. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, divorce, fire, religious persecution, illness, organized religion, blasphemy, gore, explosions, racism, and murder.  Housekeeping - Re...

Here comes the podcast, with its myths like always. We’re covering the origins of the classic, Beauty and the Beast, and decide that if we try, we can all be disembodied himbos.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of Stockholm syndrome, family abuse, death, imprisonment, institutionalization, illness, misogyny, infertility, birth, marriage, spousal murder,...