Episodes

The story of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, is a direct precursor to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" and comes inspired by the soulless elemental creatures some alchemists thought populated our world. Really they just want to marry you and are mostly nice. The creatures this week are the Sirena, the Boa, and more - extremely dangerous snakes who just want to drink way too much milk. Toe Croc Charms: https://www.amazon.com/beeurptnr-Charms-Unique-Decoration-Creativity/d...

The story of Demeter from Greek mythology is one of finding her place in the world. A world run by her terrible siblings, but it's ok. She's her own person and she can weather anything as long as she has her daughter Persephone by her side. As long as nothing happens to Persephone. The creature is the Ya-Te-Veo, a story told by people who traveled Central and South America in the 1800s. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/372 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: Bomba...

Two stories from Flanders (the region of Belgium, not Homer Simpson's annoyingly nice neighbor) about people who are stuck. One is a married couple who wants their long awaited dream to come true. The other is people who are literally stuck to a thing they shouldn't be touching in the first place. The creature is the Asanbosam, a pink Batman with great legs. Membership! https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership That Mitchell and Webb skit I mentioned: https://myths.link/immortality Asanbosam at...

It's fable time on Myths and Legends...despite fables being neither myths nor legends... They're fun, though, and you might just learn some of the wisdom of the ancients, like how you should never question the king. The creature is a very wise dragon. So wise that you should get all your answers from him. Namely the answer to the question: is that dragon dangerous? The answer, of course, being, no...now take a bath in barbecue sauce. --- Sponsor Quince: Upgrade your closet this summer with Q...

Two stories from Japan. On the first, a former samurai's wife is up to something and he's going to figure out what. On the second, we'll see that kindness matters most...but only if you're absolutely forced into doing it. The creature is the salamander! It'll turn you into a spicy human burrito! Want to support the show? https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership A TED-Ed video of the second story: https://myths.link/pilgrims-teded --- Sponsors: GhostBed: Visit GhostBed.com/legends and use the...

When your seven spouses all have the same dream on the same night and ask you not to do the thing they dreamt would lead to problems for all of you...maybe don't immediately do that thing. The creature is Sæhrímnir from Norse myth, AKA ham sandwiches. Dog wigs: https://myths.link/dogwigs Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: MeUndies: Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping, at https://meundies.com/legends Shopify: Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial...

The madcap story of what happens when a monk decides he doesn't want to be a monk anymore. He wants to make way more money...as a poet. Also, why it might be weird if you're eating several cows for breakfast. Back shaver: https://myths.link/backshaver Irish source: https://myths.link/anier1 English source: https://myths.link/anier2 --- Sponsors: Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: LEGENDS for $20 off polarized sunglasses. BetterHelp: Myths and Legends is Sponsored by Be...

Back in the Journey to the West and Monkey has a fan club, the Tang Monk teaches an impromptu class, and Pigsy finds his calling: sitting and eating. The creatures are the Ruslaki, and they're very easy to break up with. Shrok Pillow: https://myths.link/shrok --- Music: "Germaine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lush Arborio" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sparkling Craft" by Blue Dot Sessions "Simple Aside" by Blue Dot Sessions

Two stories of goblins (도깨비) from Korean folklore and how, if they stop by, you'll want to have drinks on hand because it might just save your life. The creature is Ratatoskr, the greatest* squirrel in Norse myth. *only Disclaimer and list of Dokkaebi: https://myths.link/365 --- Sponsors: Quince: Upgrade your wardrobe and enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at https://Quince.com/legends GhostBed: Ready for a more comfortable night of sleep? Visit https://GhostBed.com/legends and use c...

When your parents get you three tiny men in a golden box as a going away present. The creature is the Neugle, who will drown you but feel super bad about it. AI Bird feeder that you probably shouldn't buy: https://myths.link/birdfeeder -- Sponsors: Style for everyone and unmatched comfort—that’s MeUndies! Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping, at https://MeUndies.com/legends Can you solve the case? June needs your help, detective! Download June’s Journey for free today on iOS an...

The story of Yaroslav is one of growing up and figuring out who you are...so you can stop accidentally killing people with your deadly high-fives. The creature is the Pombrero, a sleazy, muscly little hobbit who might already be in your house. --- Sponsors: Can you crack the case? Download June’s Journey for free today on iOS and Android! https://www.wooga.com/games/junes-journey This episode of Myths and Legends is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your social sweet spot, with BetterHelp. Try ...

Two stories from Chinese folklore about broken things. A broken pot, a broken future, and how things can come together to heal. And why you shouldn't go to work drunk or else you might have to arrest a tiger. The creature is the tooth tyrant, the Odontotyrannos, and it's not an angry dentist. Links: Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: https://myths.link/liftinjimmy --- Sponsors: Ready for a more comfortable night of sleep? Visit https://GhostBed.com/legends and use code LEGENDS to save 50% off your purc...

Two stories from English folklore about perspective, and how you can't get something for nothing, but you can absolutely get nothing for something. The creature is an outlandish, bizarre, and strange creature known as an "ostrich." Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar: https://myths.link/vinegar The Bogey Beast: https://myths.link/bogeysonyourtail Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Sponsors: Shopify: Grow your business, no matter what stage you’re in, with Shopify. Go to https://shopify.com/...

The saga of Fergus mac Léti is, apparently, the first time leprechauns make their appearance in folklore. It's also the first time leprechauns try to kill a guy, get stuck in porridge, and offer some magical menswear. The creature this time is the Oyaleroweck, who's thriving in the absence of knights in Canada. We actually merged two stories of Fergus. Here's one translation of the overarching narrative: https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/dab.eriu.16.001.t.text.html Here's the inset one with King I...

Munachar and Manachar are two friends out for a fun day of berry picking, but when one commits the only unforgivable sin of hogging all the berries, the only response is swift, murder-y justice. Time to recruit some accomplices The creature is the nain, and it will help you know if you're making terrible life choices (and also encourage you to learn a foreign language!) --- Munachar and Manachar: https://myths.link/berrymurder Not the Breman town musicians but kind of: https://myths.link/notb...

Back in the Journey to the West where Monkey and the gang are actually having an easy time of it and WHY IS IT SO HOT? The creature is Muirbech who is not a sea bee, and while it should get in trouble for false advertising it is already in jail until Judgement Day? --- Sponsors: Make a healthy choice today and try Field of Greens. Get 15% off your first order plus free rush shipping with promo code LEGENDS at https://FieldofGreens.com --- Music: "Jenny K" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cran Ras" b...

A lost prince, a magic TARDIS barrel, and a talking dog take us to Jötunheim and back in the story of Prince Ring from Icelandic folklore. The creature is mouse deer who just wants to dance and hopefully not kill anyone. --- Links: Ring source: https://myths.link/princering Glitter drink why would you do this: https://myths.link/glitter Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: Factor: No prep and no mess meals ready to heat and eat? Factor has us covered. Head to h...

A story from 1001 Nights about how to get rid of that annoying babysitter and what to do if your husbands keep getting killed (the answer is, apparently, to keep getting married). The creature is the sea monk, neither a monk nor a sea creature, but a horrifying Cthulhu mash-up. Creature pictures: https://myths.link/356 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsors: Thrive Market is helping us stick to a healthier year. Join for the savings, the convenience, the flavors, an...

The stories of the creation from Roman/Greek mythology, the first werewolf, and Pygmalion, and also some Ares stuff because this is his week I guess. The creature, the Bonnacon (or, as cultured people say, Bo-nacho), has fiery diarrhea. Insert spicy food/White Castle joke here. Disclaimer: https://myths.link/355 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Inflatable cow for some reason: https://myths.link/mooooooo --- Sponsor: This episode of Myths and Legends is sponsored by BetterH...

Two stories about finding people who like you for you. Not because you wear a rice bowl on your head. Or because you spend way too much time looking in the mirror. It's the stories of the Black Rice Bowl and the Mirror from Kyoto, from Japanese folklore. The creatures are real life magpies, chaos birds. Praying mantis eggs: "Each Egg Pod Contains 20-500 Babies!" https://myths.link/mantis Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Sponsor: Field of Greens is our new super-fruit an...

The story of a storyteller who can't think of a story to tell, and how a stranger solves that problem by getting him fired and taking him on wacky adventures with too many beheadings. The creature is the Lou Carcolh. Brace yourself, snail links are coming. Snails: I don't know if this is a good price for snails: https://myths.link/snails No idea why I find this video of a snail eating a cucumber so unnerving, but here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifjpgt26osY Here's one eating a s...

How do you ensure your children grow up to be good people? You work with a fairy to design jewelry that stabs them, of course! The creature this week is Lamia! She will pull out her own eyeballs and eat your children, but she also has a budding career in the movies? Sad duck lamp: https://myths.link/sadduck Source for today: https://myths.link/pd Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership --- Music: "B Roll" by Chad Crouch "The Ramble" by Chad Crouch "Pilgrim's Progress" by Chad Crou...

A mother and son are surviving at the end of the world, while monsters prowl the wasteland all around. And now, one of them wants to leave. The creature is the Kudan (件), a human-faced bovine who wants you to have its poster up in your home. A lot of posters, actually. Source: https://myths.link/georgie Lion bites: https://myths.link/lionbites Disclaimer: https://myths.link/351 --- Sponsors: Bombas makes clothing that feels good and does good, too. It’s our favorite! Get cozy at https://Bom...

Three(ish) stories from the Korean peninsula about ghosts and goblins. Kind of. Some are actual ghosts and goblins (도깨비). Some are the ghosts of happier times and the lives we thought we wanted. Some goblins literally beat us up when they cheat at board games. There's a lot to learn this week. The creature is the Kting Voar, a creature that definitely does not exist, but not for lack of being extremely normal and boring. Kting Voar article: https://myths.link/academicrigorcryptidstyle Cow eati...