Episodes

Returning to Irish legends, we tackle the wooing of Etain, a love story that goes up against witches turning people into puddles and flies, multiple angry spouses, and death itself. The creature is a dangerous blanket! Don't sit on blankets with teeth! -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Check out http://simplisafe.com/legends to get a free HD camera with your order. -- Music: “Balti” by Blue Dot Sessions “Our Fingers Cold” by Blue Dot Sessions “Children of Lemuel” by Blue Dot Sessions "The Summi...

A story from Japanese folklore of Princess Moonlight, from Japanese folklore, where a bamboo cutter finds one of those magical heaven babies in a bamboo stalk (you know, those extremely common glowing children found in plants) and it changes his life, and the whole empire, forever. The creature this week is a dangerous Greek fox because the ancient Greek city of Thebes can't catch a break ever. -- Sponsor: Better Help: Myths and Legends listeners get 10% off your first month at http://bette...

Robin Hood is back on the road and ready to make some quick cash, so of course, he's going to go undercover as a beggar an infiltrate a secret society. Meanwhile Little John poured himself into a friar costume to hit on strangers. The creature is an iron-toothed rat who will eat your books. -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Check out http://simplisafe.com/legends to get a free HD camera with your order. Better Help: Myths and Legends listeners get 10% off your first month at http://betterhelp.com/m...

After a ball game goes wrong in the worst possible way, Viking best friends go on a quest to clear their names. A quest that involves poison vultures, evil priestess witches, kings that can transform into dragons, and stuffed animal cows. The creature is the teakettler! A creature that just wants to be left alone and if you keep hassling it, it will get really steamed...in that it will shoot a jet of steam at you. -- Music: "Black is the Color" by Podington Bear “He went away” by Podington ...

A reboot, of sorts, of Reynard the Fox, everyone's favorite brutal, amoral trickster. I found a much older, much more nuanced version of the fox's stories. Today, we meet his father, get an origin story, and see him trying to make things right in a society run by predators...or is he working a long con to eat all the animals in his charge? With Reynard, we never really know. The creature this week is the Talasam, who will very politely ask you for a human sacrifice. -- Sponsors: Bombas! Chec...

Dionysus was the god of wine from Greek myths and the last Olympian to earn a place on Mount Olympus. His story starts with him being born from Zeus's thigh...and then somehow gets stranger. He does make a lot of really fun, dangerously intense fans among the humans, though. The creature is the Tenjoname! He's a helpful ghost who will clean your ceilings with his filthy tongue! Check out the ad-free membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: Indeed: Try Indeed out with a...

A completely new version of the Mulan legend, sourced from a story from the late middle ages, so even if you think you know the Mulan story, this version has twists and turns that make her big secret, that she's a woman pretending to be a man, the least of her worries. The creature is the Manticore! It's terrifying, but not for the reasons that it should be terrifying! The episode post (and horrifying pictures of the Manticore): https://myths.link/194 The earlier Mulan episode based off "The B...

We're on the road with the monk, Xuanzang, and Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as they start their Journey to the West... that is, if Sun Wukong is coming back from taking off in a huff (he is). Once he gets back, the trip won't be without problems, though, like river dragons, murderous monks, and bear ogre birthday parties. -- Sponsors: We think it's the best in home security. Give it a shot with free shipping and a 60-day risk-free trial at http://simplisafe.com/legends Preparing for a standardized...

We return to the stories of the Monkey King and pick up at the end of his long imprisonment under a mountain, for trying to overthrow everyone and everything. Meanwhile, a messenger from heaven is on the move, looking for a pilgrim to make a dangerous journey that will bring them into contact with demons, monsters, and companions to help him along the way...who might just be more dangerous than anything on the road. --- Show post: https://myths.links/193a Check out the Myths and Legends store ...

An off-the-wall story from the Grimm Brothers about a young man who knew no fear...and why that was a massive problem for him. The creature is a man who you don't want to high five. Mainly because he has eyeballs on his palms. Also mainly because he'll drink your bones with a straw. -- Disclaimer: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14487/192-grimm-brave-traveler/ -- Music: "The Consulate" by Blue Dot Sessions “Scary Sounds” by Bobby Cole “Storm Passing” by Podington Bear "Relinquish" by Podington Bear...

In this episode from Norse legends, we'll see that the worst breakups involve Thor breaking up the couple with his hammer and we'll see that even though Odin can shapeshift, that doesn't mean he skips the conditioner. It's the Saga of King Gautrek, a story spanning generations of Viking warriors and their bizarre and dangerous interactions with the gods, giants, elves, and everything in between (but mostly just those three). The creature this week likes to drill holes in your boat with its nos...

In one story, a dragon is rampaging around the countryside unless he gets his favorite meal: teenage girls. In the other, a young woman trapped in an impossible situation meets a new friend who might just be able to save her: a parrot with a secret. Two stories with two very different heroines who share one defining characteristic: their unbreakable will to survive. On the creature of the week, when it comes to making a deal with the devil, you could choose infinite wealth, power, or epic guita...

In the third and final part of our series on the Nibelungenlied, the hero of the story, Siegfried, is dead and his wife, the princess, has a score to settle. The creature this week is the strong toad, a super cool toad who can read your mind, but he's so nice and definitely not making me write this right now. -- Music: "Prayer" by Enzo Orefice "Plasticity" by Blue Dot Sessions "Clockwork by Michele Nobler" "Kreis" by Luis Berra "Chain link" by Blue Dot Sessions "A Florentine Story" by Michele N...

We pick up right where we left off last week: Gunther has tricked his way into marrying Brunhild, and Brunhild decided to give him a minor test of strength on their wedding night. He failed, and ended up naked and hog-tied, yelling out for help while dangling upside down from the rafters. The creature is the Tsurube-otoshi (釣瓶落とし), from Japan, who will go head-to-head with you in the forest. Because its a giant head. -- Disclaimer: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14462/189b-nibelungenlied-heinous/ ...

The story starts out with one prince slaying a dragon and getting rich. It starts there. The wild ride of the Nibelungenlied has echoes of one of our most beloved stories, the Saga of the Volsungs, with it's over-the-top characters, the ridiculous situations, the betrayals, and, yes, dragon fights. The creature is a dragon cat with poison breath. -- Music: "Order of Entrance" by Blue Dot Sessions "Palladian" by Blue Dot Sessions "Highway 430" by Blue Dot Sessions "Ranch Hand" by Blue Dot Sessio...

Two stories from the bawdy, funny, and oftentimes deeply unsettling 17th century fairytale author Giambattista Basile, both of which have to do with pets. The first pet is a rooster, whose owner just can't bring himself to kill it. No judgement there. The second pet is a flea...the size of a lamb. The creature this week is a cat that's either evil and smells like a skunk dog, a hero who defeated a demon, or a hunter who needs a toothbrush. -- Music: "Cake" by Podington Bear "Quatrefoil" by Podi...

Agamemnon is coming home from the Trojan War. He has no idea what's waiting for him. There are over fifty bonus episodes on the Myths and Legends bonus feed! Check out that and weekly ad-free shows at https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Check out the store at https://shop.bardic.fm Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mythsandlegends Find the episode post and the disclaimer at https://www.mythpodcast.com/14441/187-greek-myths-the-end-to-all-our-pain/ -- Music: "Deadly recitation" ...

A story from the Grimm brothers about three down-on-their-luck soldiers who get everything they could ever dream of and then do their absolutely best to lose it. The extended creature of the week is a fearsome critter from Colorado - a land whale called the Slide Rock Bolter who exclusively eats tourists who care about the environment. The Myths and Legends store is up! Check it out at http://www.mythpodcast.com/store Get access to over 50 member episodes and weekly ad-free shows: https://www....

The story of Eglė the Queen of Serpents, from Lithuanian folklore, about a young woman who is faced with an impossible choice: witness the destruction of her family...or marry a snake. The creature is a wet, inebriated chicken named skrat who will either make you rich or burn down your house or both of those things. -- Music: "Delamine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tiny Bottles" by Blue Dot Sessions "Donnalee" by Blue Dot Sessions "At our Best Alone" by Blue Dot Sessions "Basketliner" by Blue Dot Sess...

We return to the Robin Hood stories with a (mostly) standalone episode. Robin Hood and his merry men are throwing a dinner party! With food and wine! And robbery! The creature is a shirtless Jaguar man who can end the world anytime he feels like. -- Music: "Pat-a-Pan Whistles and Drums" by Craig S. Elliott "The Gall" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "Andante in e minor" by Matthew Fagan "The Consulate" by Blue Dot Sessions "Medieval Ritual" by Adrian Ellis Support the show: https:...

The story of an ancient Indian king who goes on a fetch quest through an evil-looking cemetery and listens to the worst podcasts of all time...hosted by a ghoul he has slung over his shoulder, and if he doesn't pay attention, he could die. The creature is a crow-grasshopper who will make you vomit (if it doesn't kill you with its flatulence) Fictional: https://www.fictional.fm/subscribe -- "Night Watch" by Blue Dot Sessions "I Recall" by Blue Dot Sessions "Soft Horror Piano Drone" by Bobby Co...

Join Bulat the Brave Companion and Ivan Tsarevich (no, not that one) as they get a magical new horse, escape magical prison, and get in some magical fights. The creature is the shōkera, the slimy guy looking in your window right now. -- Music: "Kaleidoscope" by Podington Bear "Exploring the Cave Mix Full" by Bobby Cole "Vanagon" by Podington Bear "Setting Pace" by Blue Dot Sessions "Kalsted" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Hero Within (No Drums)" by Bobby Cole "Holding Hands" by Podington Bear Suppo...

Branch two of the Mabinogion has the kings of Great Britain and Ireland (Bran and Matholwch, respectively) just wanting to bro out, but their nobles and family members will do anything to keep that from happening. Also, why is there never a sundae bar in the wine cellar? Episode post: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14215/181b-mabinogion-with-friends-like-these/ -- Music: "Last Winter" by Zac Nelson "Louver" by Blue Dot Sessions "Medieval Ritual" by Adrian Ellis "Talltell" by Blue Dot Sessions "Gh...

King Pwyell just wants to go hunting in the dark forest alone. What's the worst that can happen? Huh? Forced to live for a year away from his people at the demand of an otherworldly king? Yeah, ok, that's kind of bad. It's the first branch of the Mabinogion, the original source for a few of the stories we've told on this podcast, like the very first story from this podcast, that of Yvain and the lady of the fountain. We're finally diving into this amazing work of Welsh folklore and over the nex...