Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

Did we use a cheesy Christmas movie as an excuse to talk about ghost stories and haunted houses during Christmas time? We sure did. Amanda and Julia both brought the research this episode, talking about the tradition of telling ghost stories around Christmas and how hauntings are way less romantic that Hallmark would make you believe.  This week, Amanda recommends The Repair Shop on Netflix....

Does your college campus scare you? After these urban legends, it just might. From a scene straight out of Poltergeist (1982) to a university with SEVERAL haunted bathrooms, we think it might be time to consider whether your campus ghosts should be filling out a FAFSA form.  This week, Julia recommends Dimension 20 - The Unsleeping City on Dropout . Check out Join the Party at jointhepartypod...

After years of doing Spirits, Julia is once again putting Amanda to the test to see what she’s learned. This time, Amanda must decide whether a mythological story ends in a Trick or a Treat with the help of our Witches Three: Eric Silver , Mike Schubert , and Brandon Grugle . This week, Amanda recommends Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about...

Have you ever wanted to ask your local forest witch a question? Enter “Ask Baba Yaga” and Taisia Kitaiskaia. We talk with the wonderful author about her process of channeling the Slavic folklore character, how she grew up with the story, AND one lucky Conspiriter gets their question answered by Baba Yaga! This week, Julia recommends The Red Threads of Fate by JY Yang .  Content Warning: This...

We’re revamping our Myth Movie Nights by revisiting a Spirits favorite - selkies! We’re doing a deep dive (get it?) into the Celtic stories of ‘Song of the Sea,’ featuring: summer stones, storm hags, where a selkie coat comes from, and being kind to yourself.  This week, Amanda recommends Goliath by Matt Stoller .  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death/disappea...

This episode became a debate over an important topic: do you ignore the ghosts or confront them? In this accidental case study we discuss the problem with mirrored closets, spooky home renovations, Shorts Ghosts, and the decision to just… go to sleep when ghosts come to call. For the record, 75% of you are Team Ignorance . This week, Julia recommends Bring it On, Ghost! Aka Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight...

This story seems like we lifted it straight out of a fanfiction or a long-running anime, but the story of Jacheongbi is so incredible, it had to be replicated. Friends to lovers, trials and tribulations to win back your love, but a shocking amount of good communication?? All this and more!  This week, Amanda recommends Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and the podcast, Witch N B...

We’re joined by author and fabulist (our new favorite word) Carmen Maria Machado as we delve into the stories and urban legends that inspire her, how video games and relaxing TV are more in depth than we’d imagined, and her favorite biblical insult. This week, Julia recommends “Sisters of the Vast Black” by Lina Rather . You can also get our new beanie, plus tons of new Multitude merch, at multitu...

Live from the Bell House, Julia is putting on her game show crop top and hosting CREEPY OR COOL - a game where you guess if a creature is, well… creepy or cool. It’s like friendship! But where someone wins! Check out our INSTAGRAM for the slides from this episode!  This week, Julia recommends The Lighthouse . Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals Series (again).  Content Warning: This e...

For Julia, nothing says Halloween quite like Hocus Pocus. For Amanda... she’s never seen it. Shocker. We dive into the Salem-inspired Disney Halloween classic, fall in love with Binx, question how a musical number could happen, and dream of a New England Halloween.  This week, Julia recommends Folk Magic and Healing by Fez Inkwright . Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about...

We ask important questions with these hometowns. Are all ghosts just pranksters? How much spooky stuff has to happen to create A FAMILY LORE? Rediscovering a ghost son, the spookiness of bad infrastructure, an accusatory phone call, and thankfully, a palate cleanser.  This week, Amanda recommends Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about surgery,...

Break out your ghost detectors and specter-o-meters. Because we’re talking about HAUNTED DOLLS this week! Julia breaks down the historical links to the haunted dolls of today, and then lays out some of her favorite unique examples to scare Amanda.  This week, Julia recommends the new podcast Passenger List ! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about child death, car accidents...

Amanda’s childhood dreams come true as we’re joined by award-winning author Garth Nix. We learn how Nix creates magical worlds, hear his top tips on writing, throw some shade at Tolkein, and chat about his new novel Angel Mage . Remember: The answers are within us.  This week, Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversati...

A review of Scooby Doo on Zombie Island was too wild to do on our own - that’s why we invited Eric Silver along on this wild tale of a talking dog, voracious hungers, and a completely confusing climax.  This week, Julia recommends Community , all of which is available on Hulu.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about racism, the Civil War, death, cultural appropriation...

We run the gambit of hauntings this episode - haunted pennies, haunted frat houses, haunted bathrooms, and far too many haunted AirBnBs for us to stay at in the future. Julia and Eric argue the merits of Scooby Doo and Ghostwriter. Amanda rethinks her recent move.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about war, shootings, child death/ghosts, and mention of home invasion.&nbsp...

You might know Thor from mythology, Marvel movies, and comic books. But do you know how these various versions compare? This week, Julia walks us through the origins of Thor’s mythology. Then we sit down with the incredible comic historian Lorraine Cink to talk about the god’s transition into the world of Marvel.  Get tickets to our Boston show now! And, get ready to get nerdy as you help us...

The only thing we love more than a farmers market is, you know, the whole human project of agriculture. Hallie Casey and Catherine Arjet from One to Grow On introduce us to some of their favorite gods and goddesses of agriculture! In this house we stan Demeter, gardens, hospitality, and community-oriented storytelling. And remember, #agricultureispraxis. This week, Amanda recommends Make New Mista...

We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into this Myth Movie Night. Amanda and Julia watch Princess Mononoke for the first time, cry a whole lot, and talk about how we need to be better to our environment. Is lipstick evil? Or just a sign of modernity? Who can say?  This week, Eric recommends Climate Grief from Philosophy Tube .  Content Warning: This episode contains conver...

This week, we discuss The Unquiet Dead - Slavic spirits who cannot rest peacefully in death. Amanda proposes spring is the most haunted season. Julia yells about how you can’t control birds (or bird husbands!). Long leg, long neck, head cat...can’t lose?   This week, Julia recommends My Hero Academia .  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about suicide, drowning, ch...

This episode is chock full of summer camp ghosts, haunted schools, and too many cemeteries. Eric makes too many ranch dressing related jokes. Julia becomes incredibly jealous of a ghost hunting club. Amanda is once again confused by narwhals.  This week, Amanda recommends the Essex County Trilogy by Jeff Lemire.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about food, Manifest D...

This week, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and cook, Julia Turshen, who tells us about the familial folklore of her family’s history with baking. We talk about how bread baking is matriarchal, dough starters as a connection to the past, and the romance between a miller’s son and a baker’s daughter, Check out the first round of Head Heart Gut by joining the MultiCrew ! This week, Julia recommend...

We’re breaking into some 90’s CGI and inaccurate Egyptian mythology with this week’s Myth Movie Night - The Mummy! We stan Brendan Frasier, gush over Rachel Weisz, poke holes in plot, and remind you that “no harm ever came from reading a book”. Check out the first round of Head Heart Gut by joining the MultiCrew ! This week, Amanda recommends The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. Content Warning: This...

Your stories are full of lessons, this episode. Including the milestone of giving spooky prophecies, a queer dream icon, that Capstone class you take to learn how to excorcise a demon, and taking a moment to consider why you keep winding up at haunted places.  Check out our newest show by joining the MultiCrew ! This week, Julia recommends Schitt’s Creek , available on Netflix.  Content...

Oral tradition got a little bit more ridiculous with the introduction of Fearsome Critters in Americana folklore. As we dive in, Amanda comes up with her own Roman senator names, we fall in love with a drunk cactus cat, and a reminder: You’re not a squonk. We’re proud of you. This week, Amanda recommends Normal People by Sally Rooney . Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about gas...

Caroline Crampton has spent more than six years thinking about the Thames River. We’re so excited she joined us to talk about the river’s history and folklore! Featuring “more recently, the Middle Ages,” the Angel of the Thames, and the pilgrims’ version of the pressed penny. This week, Julia recommends the Join the Party one shot episode Goat Party (with Lauren Shippen) . Content Warning:  ...