Episodes

We're back in the Odyssey where Menelaus comes home, Telemachus leaves it, and Odysseus? Odysseus has been stuck in the same place for seven long years. The creatures this week are the Agogwe, tiny hairy naked people who are really cool until they aren't. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/220b Thanos swimsuit: https://myths.link/thanos Store: https://myths.link/store Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: Talkspace: Go to http://talkspace.com and use the code MYTHS for ...

Three men grappling with the legacy, or curse, of their fathers. Menelaus loses everything and finds a life, but will his past come hunting for him? Telemachus lives each day in the shadow of the absence of his father, pushing back at the inevitable. Orestes knows what he must do to avenge his father, even if it means prolonging his family’s curse. The creature is a tiny elephant who might just eat your brain? Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Store: https://myths.link/store B...

A story from the Pentamerone with a title so spoiler-y that I can't even say it here, but it's a fun, mildly horrifying tale of a relationship that just doesn't work out. And is also really gross. The creatures this week are the little devil and angel on your shoulder, except one of them is a burly wildman and the other is a snake with a human head. Store: https://myths.link/store Membership: https://www/mythpodcast.com/membership Post: https://myths.link/219 THE REDWALL COOKBOOK: https://myth...

We resume our journey to the west right where we left off: the Tang monk has been kidnapped by demons, and it's up to Sun Wukong and Pigsy to save him...if they aren't too busy making tiny monkey babies out of Sun Wukong's fur, crying, and talking to fantasically bearded men to save him. The creature this time is a monster skunk that isn't farting everyone to death! It's actually kind of way worse! Stephen the frog (soap): https://myths.link/stephen The store: https://myths.link/store The membe...

We’re back in the Mabinogion, where we’ll learn about the perils of bacon - and it’s not the cholesterol, but the magical wizard war that the first pigs ever brought to the world. Then, we’ll see why you shouldn’t lie to a wizard and how to be safe stepping out of the bath and onto your pet goat - just make sure no one is throwing spears at you. The creature this week is a hatchet headed prankster! Who wants to headbutt you! Disclaimer: https://myths.link/217 Store: https://myths.link/store Me...

Two stories from Russia. On the first, we catch up with the famous witch, Baba Yaga, as we follow yet another young person who has been sent on an errand/to be eaten at the evil witch's walking hut. The second one is about a dragon slayer, Dobrynya, as he makes a wrong turn down in the city and keeps falling in love with a woman who wants nothing at all to do with him. The creature is a tiny little old man with long hair who cries like a baby! And eats people! The membership: https://www.mythp...

The story that inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet, the tale of Amleth, the prince of Denmark. A ton of death, some cryptic non-riddles, and copious amounts of poop smearing serve as the starting point for one of the greatest works in the English language. The creature this week is a sad little bird from Hebrew folklore who just can't catch a break. Store: https://myths.link/store Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Episode post: https://myths.link/215 -- Sponsors: Bombas: Give a pai...

Two short stories from Japan. On the first, an old man is in a tree surrounded by demons and faced with a desperate choice. On the second, a man has a pet that his wife is not thrilled about, so she makes that known. With scissors. The creature is a sad cow! Or a vampire! Either way you probably don't want to hang out with it. Weird flavored soda: https://myths.link/soda The store: https://myths.link/store The membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: To get ...

We continue the saga of Reynard where the the classic trickster tries to do good in a world turned against him...and, by his actions, reveals a sinister truth about the world in which the story was written. The creature is hatred! Who just wants love...and to not be turned into a jellyfish. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/213 The membership: https://mythpodcast.com/membership The store: https://myths.link/store -- Sponsors: Talkspace: We're so glad we found Talkspace. Check it out and get $10...

An awesome story about a young king who wants to do the impossible! And the ill-advised! And, frankly, makes a kind of stupid choice to go into the murder forest that took the lives of his father and six consecutive brothers. Inside, a deeper, darker secret lurks, one that brings fairies, witches, sorcery, and...love? The creature is a tall hairy man who takes issue with your dating choices...all while visiting half the town every night. -- The membership: https://mythpodcast.com/membership ...

The Aeneid, by Virgil, is one of the great world epics. Inspired by, and modeled after, the Odyssey, it's the story of Aeneas's journey from burning Troy to found the Roman empire, and all bleeding ground, sad Cyclopes, and bellybutton-wolves he encounters along the way. The creature is the Camazotz, from Mayan mythology, and it's like Batman, only if a Batman was an actual bat and not only didn't have an aversion to killing, but was like super into decapitation all day every day. -- The stor...

The story of Dobrynya the dragon slayer from Russian folklore is the tale of a young man finding his heroic destiny, from magical hats to skinny dipping and dancing with baby dragons. Sorry, did I say dancing *with* baby dragons? I meant dancing *on* baby dragons. The creature is the lavellan a plague-ridden mouse! Because we need more of that right now! The store: https://myths.link/store The membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Bombas: Give a pair when you buy a pair, and g...

Kjartan and Gudrun were always meant to be together, but when the former gets waylaid in a foreign kingdom with a beautiful princess, the latter needs to make other plans. Of course, she accepts the proposal of their mutual best friend, sparking a love triangle that could prove deadly. The creature is a good dog! Who has to die! The store: https://myths.link/store The membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership The episode post: https://myths.link/209c The saga: https://myths.link/gudru...

Our winter Norse saga continues, with our protagonists celebrating Christmas in Norway...and also learning what Christmas is when the king basically puts a sword to their necks and tells them to convert or die. We’ll also follow Gudrun on marriages 1 and 2, the first ending with a problematic wardrobe malfunction and the second with a meddling of (possible) sorcerers. The creature is the Tomten, a forlorn little goblin who will either make sure you’re safe in bed...or bite you. Episode post (...

A Norse saga in the truest sense of the word, this story follows one family through changing times of the Middle Ages. There are cursed swords, Viking love triangles, and why throwing stinky socks at a person whose only desire is to punch you in the face is a terrible idea. The creature is the Yule goat, who hasn't been burned down yet! Maybe! The Yule goat's twitter: https://myths.link/goat The Myths and Legends store: https://myths.link/store Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membershi...

What do you do after you hook the sun, dredge up islands for humanity, and bring fire to the world? How about settle down with a nice goddess, have some kids, and enjoy the simple life. Nevermind that your new spouse's evil ex is on the way...and he's a vicious, monstrous eel. You have nothing to worry about! You're Maui! You have a...fishhook? Ok maybe you do have something to worry about. The creature is the family tension that leads to you turning someone into a vicious, blood-thirsty firefl...

We're back in the tale of the Journey to the West, where we'll catch up with the pious monk, Xangzang, the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, and the incognito dragon horse, Yulong as they continue their trek to India. This week, they stop off on what they think is a side-quest - helping an old man whose daughter was kidnapped by a pig monster - but they might get more than they bargained for...and make a new friend. The creature this week is the Milk Bird, your new source of milk that doesn't care about...

We're back in the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh folklore, where we'll see what happens when the apocalypse comes and goes. The good news is that you survived! Yay! The bad news is that, since your servants have all disappeared, you'll now have to make your own bed. Bummer. The creature this week is the Afanc, which is also from Wales, with a great reason why you don't want that angry lizard beaver monster to fall asleep in your lap. If you're looking for a gift for a fan (or yourself??), c...

We're back, finishing up this leg of our journey in a packed episode with a witch, pigmen, more giants, Scylla, Charybdis, Hades, Tiresias, and, of course Hercules. The creature is an evil, eyeless monster from South Africa and the reason you'll want to carry a 2-ton boulder with you everywhere you go. -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: our listeners get 10% off your first month at http://betterhelp.com/myths Headspace: Meditation made simple. Go to http://headspace.com/legends for a free 1-month tria...

With monsters, witches, sirens, and cyclopes, the Odyssey is one of the landmarks of world literature and a classic for the ages. This is the start of Odysseus's long journey home from a war that he didn't want to join in the first place. The creature is a big monster with one small request: all the water in the world forever. Chipfingers: https://myths.link/chipfingers -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Hurry! You can get 30% off plus a free security camera if you order by Friday (11/20) by going to ...

We're back in Russian folklore for a fun story about a soldier with some biscuits who fights demons, heaven, and yes, death itself. The creature is the valravn and I just can't get over how cool that name is. -- Sponsors: Bombas!! They are fantastic, and right now you can get 20% off your first order by going to http://bombas.com/legends. AcornTV: We're low key addicted (in the best way) to AcornTV. Check it out and get 30 days(!) free at http://acorn.tv code LEGENDS -- Music: "The Louve...

Two stories from the Grimm brothers! On the first, a wolf wants to eat some kids, and is annoyed that he needs to do the smallest amount of effort to do so. On the second, a woman travels to a mysterious land, talks to some bread, and finds her strength. The creature is a lonely monster with an awesome blue bonnet and flowing blonde hair...but you can't take a look at them because he's so ugly you'll die. -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: get 10 percent off your first month at http://BetterHelp.com/m...

This week it is the very very spooky* Halloween episode about a terrifying** trek through the Greek underworld. It's definitely not a lighthearted romp where a Greek god makes a podcast, trick-or-treats as Hercules, and emcees a poetry competition. Nope. Not at all. The creatures this week are bogeymen! I don't know why it's pronounced like that they don't boogie but they do eat children. Membership: http://support.mythpodcast.com Sloth raft: https://myths.link/sloth -- Sponsors: BetterHelp:...

We're back in the stories of 1001 nights, where Scheherazade has to tell bedtime stories to save her life. On the first, a man ruins a wedding reception and can't show his face in town again. The second starts with a murder, and then only gets darker. This week's item, the ridiculous umbrella hat: https://myths.link/umbrella -- Sponsors: BetterHelp: get 10 percent off your first month at http://BetterHelp.com/myths Bombas: Give a pair when you buy a pair, and get 20 percent off your first pur...