Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

You probably know that Guillermo del Toro was inspired by The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but do you know what inspired that? We’re here to discuss the origin of our favorite Gill-Men, the party where that would lead to the Creature, and a couple of other Fishmen that might have laid the groundwork.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of gun violence, e...

It’s Urban Legends time! We share your family ghost stories, visit a very beautiful/creepy mannequin in Mexico, and learn the reason why The Devil refuses to visit Wales.  Learn more about Devil’s Bridge Falls at devilsbridgefalls.co.uk , and check out photos of La Pascualita and the obituary Amanda quoted at spiritspodcast.com/your-urban-legends-35 Content Warning: This episode contains conv...

We’re looking for redemption as we play, once again, FACT OR FICTION with Chuck Games aka Eric Silver. Have Amanda and Julia learned anything from doing Spirits for so long? Don’t worry, whoever wins gets all of their bad feelings taken away!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of inappropriate game show hosts, depression, gender essentialism, dieting/eatin...

Sometimes we take advantage of the beers in our fridge and the booze on our shelves. Thanks to future brewmaster Katrina Pfieffer, we got to learn not only the science behind brewing, but also the history and mythology of the process!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of college/school, food waste/spoilage, gendered work, Christopher Columbus, war/battle,...

The Godzilla and Kaiju movies are inextricably linked to a lot of difficult topics, but we have cocktails in hand and we feel ready to talk about them. Learn about the history of the Big Monster movies, the funny 70s franchises, and how Godzilla can teach us all a lesson about how to better talk about environmentalism. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of nucle...

Time to put down the Switch, stop playing Animal Crossing, and listen to some urban legends. We’ve got squatters rights for ghosts, toddlers toddling, and the spookiness of corroborating evidence. Beat that, turnip prices!     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of natural disasters, child death, panic attacks, blood, accidental cannibalism, d...

It’s another game of Creepy or Cool? And because we played in Texas, our two teams have to determine whether a series of GIANTS are either big ol’ creeps or the coolest things we’ve ever seen.  Play along at home !  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes), drug use, drowning/shipwrecks, fire/burning,...

Supernatural is one of the longest running Monster of the Week shows on TV, and with that much content, we need an expert. Thankfully, Supernatural’s own Meghan Fitzmartin joins us to talk about the cosmology built over 15 seasons, what it’s like writing for television, and finishing something you love. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of hell/demons/damnation...

We’re suggesting a new title for Jason and the Argonauts —really, it should be Medea and the Himbos. This week’s movie is the 1963 edition of Jason and the Argonauts, followed by a deep dive into the original Greek telling (thanks, Edith Hamilton!). Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment/murder (there’s a lot of this), drowning, starvation, dea...

We’re asking a lot of questions during this Urban Legends episode. Would you adopt a ghost kid? Which is scarier, corporeal or incorporeal? And can you predict the weather with PopTarts? Tune in to hear those age old questions and more! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of train crashes, robbery, potential child endangerment, and hurricanes/blizzards/storms.&nb...

Sure, we talk about mythology all the time, but what if we talked about mythology AND architecture AND science? So we’re diving deep on gargoyles to find out how they went from architectural necessities to living creatures in folklore! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of age-inappropriate crushes, religious influence, murder, fire/burning, sexual assault, and...

This week we’re joined by Jeannette Ng , who is kind enough to walk us through the multitude of Mulan stories that span centuries. We discuss cross-dressing in Chinese literature, the political influences of the story, and Mulan’s importance in the Chinese diaspora. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, war, nationalism, death, suicide, child death,...

We all need a little bit of escapism in times like this, so we’re taking a voyage under the seas to examine the Tom Hanks movie Splash, and how we see mermaids in media. We also ask the very important question: How would a mermaid ride a dolphin?  Media mentioned in this episode: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall The Deep by Rivers Solomon Into the Drowning Deep by Mir...

We’re back, we’ve got cider, and we’re telling your creepiest and coolest stories. Featuring stories about why you don’t talk trash about witches, our spinoff law podcast, haunted road trip, horses haunting homes, and the return of Team Ignorant.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about mentions of suicide, invasion, witch trials and executions, doctor malpractice, unjust l...

Just in time for Purim we’re joined by Eliana Morris, who gives us a primer on the holiday’s story, feminist themes, and celebratory traditions. Also featuring a lot of Disney references, some of the best Purim spiels we’ve ever heard, and more than a few mentions of The Bachelor.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about inequality in relationships, misogyny, virginity as a...

Julia has come up with the most scientific way of calculating who the coolest cryptid is: a tournament style bracket! While she brings the challengers, it’s up to Amanda and Editor Eric to determine, once and for all, who the coolest cryptid is.  Play along at home with our bracket at spiritspodcast.com/episodes/coolest-cryptid Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about sleep...

You would think that the horror movie version of a Grimm Fairy Tale would be the scariest version, but you would be wrong. We examine the original story of Hansel & Gretel, talk about the moral quandaries of famine, and dive into the origins of Amanda’s favorite Grimm adaptation: Into the Woods . This week, Amanda recommends Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery. Buy a...

30 is the sexy one, 31 is the light hearted one. That’s what everyone says, right? Also featuring recalibrating your creepy-meter, just some casual human bones, the Bobcat Goldthwait of the imagination, and more! This week, Julia recommends Killing Gravity by Corey J. White. Grab tickets to our L.A. live show at multitude.productions/live ! Our episodes of Hannahlyze This! Scary - It’s What We Lik...

Join us as we take a dip in to the beautiful broth that is Mothman (we’ll explain what that means, we promise). From the first reported sightings, to the work of Gray Barker and John Keel, and Mothman’s enduring legacy, we break down the story of West Virginia’s own Mothman.  This week, Amanda recommends Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. Grab tickets to our L.A. live show at multitude...

We’re joined this week by Celticist, teacher, and musician Sharon Paice MacLeod who provides a beautiful, nuanced primer for Irish Cosmology. We discuss the Maiden-Mother-Crone, music in Celtic lore, keening, and Brigid’s cross.  This week, Julia recommends Dooku: Jedi Lost .  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about religious persecution, child death, monarchy and poli...

Since we’ve watched Amanda’s favorite vampire movie, it seemed like a good time to submerge ourselves in all things vampire. We touch on the vast history of vampire folklore and tradition, then dive into some of our favorite examples of vampire media.  This week, Amanda recommends Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton and Burn the Ice by Kevin Alexander.  Content Warning: This e...

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First it’s spooky. Then it’s sexy. That’s right, it’s our THIRTIETH Your Urban Legends special! Hear all about menacing cows, ghost crushes, and a very VERY sexy Mothman. Join the MultiCrew for just $5 at multicrew.club ! This week, Julia recommends Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey . Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death, haunting, temporary paralysis, hallucinations, hom...

The internet’s newest favorite Pokémon game has real-life mythological origins, from its towns and cities to the wild new Pokémon making their debut in Sword & Shield. Join us to learn about new horrifying fossil animal mashups, Viking forest cats, and why the Weald isn’t just a Galar thing.  This week, Amanda urges you to donate to the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities . Tha...

Vampires, werewolves, and aliens, oh my! We’re joined this week by the incomparable Emily VanDerWerff to talk about her book, the Monster of the Week genre, and the horror genre. We discover Emily’s love for A Christmas Carol, Emily breaks a cardinal vampire rule, and make a LOT of horror recommendations.  This week, Amanda recommends Jane Harper’s mystery thrillers and Well Met by Jen DeLuca...