Episodes

Aphrodite is looking for love in all the wrong places. It's the story of where she came from, her side of her doomed marriage with Hephaestus, and how the love of her very, very long life was a tree baby. The creature is Buffardello, a small, bearded fairy from Italy with many, many weird hobbies. --- Links: The Buffardello's Wikipedia page, translated from Italian: https://myths.link/buffardello Disclaimer: https://myths.link/325 --- Sponsors: Find your outer peace in socks, underwear, a...

Two young men: a wildman determined to collect 1000 swords from defeated samurai, and a displaced son of a clan leader, who had spent his childhood on the run. Together, these two would find their place in the world, and change it in the process. The creatures are the Keltémas and Kazna Peri, and they just might help you get rich...or lead you out into a snowstorm straight from the bath. -- The phone umbrella: https://myths.link/phonebrella Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership ...

The story of Erec and Enide from Arthurian Legend is a good illustration of why you should try to work out your problems as a couple with empathy, understanding, and communication...and not through a deadly quest filled with pointless, brutal combat. The creatures are the Elephant Men, the strange visitors you get when you're drinking whiskey with friends down by the river. * * * Disclaimer: https://myths.link/323 Myths and Legends membership https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Book by t...

Just ask dad Two Norwegian tales of asking dad. All seven of them. Who live in the same house. Or might not have a house to go back to, depending on the story. The creature is the orc! It is both different from the Lord of the Rings orc and very currently a problem! * * * Storage Soles: https://myths.link/storagesoles Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Billy B's version of the Orc: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Blake) If you're on Mastodon, come say hi: https://weiser.so...

On his quest to help princess Ingigerd, Hrolf has become enslaved by the wily William, a con man who wants to be a prince. This episode, they'll come face-to-face with ghost kings, giant walruses, mythological dwarves, and the evil wizard that took down an entire kingdom. The creature is Biron (びろ～ん)! He's a little gross and weird! -- Biron: https://yokai.com/biron/ Disclaimer: https://myths.link/321b -- Music: "Our Ears, Deceivers" by Blue Dot Sessions "Elegant Weasel" by Blue Dot Session...

This week, it's the Saga of Göngu-Hrolf, from Icelandic folklore. It starts with a king getting one, solitary, five-foot-long, apparently super attractive hair wrapped in a scarf...and only gets better from there. There are evil wizards belching (yes, belching) fire and poison, somber Vikings getting conned, and a deadly honeypot zombie trap for any heroes who might try to be heroes. It's a fun one. The creature is the Nunui, and you'll see why you want to wear shoes when gardening. Chicken ar...

The hero twins will rise... ...and then fall. The underworld calls, and the monsters of their past comes back to haunt them. The creature is the Obda, from Mari folklore. Yet another hairy naked man who lives in the forest. Who want to tickle you. Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Alligator (warning, skinned alligator): https://myths.link/alligator * * * Sponsor: Canva: Collaborate with Canva for Teams! https://canva.me/myths * * * Music: "Caveman" by Blue Dot Sessions ...

In the beginning, the gods apparently had an undo button. And angry tortilla griddles that took out the first humans. Today, it's the beginning of the beginning in the Popol Vuh. We'll meet a macaw who thinks he's the son, a metal band lineup of underworld beings, and see the birth of the hero twins, who are destined to go up against the batman* *not that batman The creature is the Snallygaster, the answer to the age-old question of what happens when a Cthulhu bird gets drunk? * * * Links! ...

Can you beat fate? Subramanya has learned something terrible about two people who are practically siblings to him. Can he use his deep wisdom to beat the life that's laid out before them? The creature is maneki-neko, the waving cat, and we'll see how cats can be very lucky...if they can be bothered to help you in the first place. -- Links! Disclaimer: https://myths.link/319 Source: https://myths.link/fate Pooping clock: https://myths.link/sandclock Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/mem...

Hephaestus has his day Who is the smith god of Olympus? Why is he married to Aphrodite, and why can't he catch a break? This week, it's all about Hephaestus and his journey of self discovery where he (hopefully) doesn't fall off a mountain. Again. The creature is the Sea Hare. It's a hare that lives in the sea and also is relentlessly vicious. * * * Links That disclaimer: https://myths.link/318 Membership, anyone? https://mythpodcast.com/membership * * * Sponsors Olive and June: Salon-wor...

We're back in the story of the Monkey King, and monkey finds a noble new calling: freeing enslaved monks. Does this noble calling include the ignoble murdering of his enemies and/or tricking them into drinking his urine? Yes. Yes it does. The creature is the Stcemqestcint, the stinky naked man watching you in the forest. * * * Extended cut and other membership stuff: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership I can't remember if I've mentioned this, but a PHENOMENAL source of the complete Monkey...

What happens when you see something you can't live without? A thing you desire so strongly that you can't stop thinking about it. Do you give up everything to try to get it? Maybe? But if what you're willing to give up is your child and the thing you desire is fruit from the garden...maybe rethink your priorities. It's the story of "The White Cat" by Madame d'Aulnoy, and in addition to questionable parenting, there are quests, dwarves that are just doing their job, evil fairies, and cat ballet....

A story from Korean folklore about friendship, kindness, moving on, and why magicians are terrible actors. The creature is the Silver Lake Serpent, and it's not actually in Silver Lake, near Perry, NY, but hanging out in a nearby hotel. Links: Allll the stuff about the Silver Lake Serpent: https://myths.link/315 Want ridiculous villains? Because this is how you get ridiculous villains: https://villains.lol * * * Sponsors: Simplisafe! Customize the perfect system for your home in just a few...

The story from Greek mythology of how Hermes became an Olympian by killing a turtle and eating some barbecue. The creatures are the heikegani (平家蟹), that angry crab that might just be a deceased samurai who has waited at the bottom of the sea for centuries...to snap at your toes a little. Best of the Worst! https://villains.lol Everything becomes a crab: https://myths.link/crabs The show post with the disclaimer and crab pictures: https://myths.link/314 * * * Sponsor: Indeed: Attract, Interv...

We wrap of the stories of the dervishes (and the mysterious visitors to the party who are DEFINITELY NOT the caliph and Jafar) and then the hostess and her sisters find the tables have turned...because, yes of course, they have been threatening the life of their ruler, but more because...why were they beating those dogs and weeping?? The creature is Napf-Hans! A German version of the butter cat who is neither butter nor cat...but who loves cake and beer. Squirrel underpants! https://myths.link...

A party no one can speak of under threat of death. Genie fights, wizard battles, and grocery shopping. Yes, we're back in One Thousand and One Nights. The creature is haakapainizi, a folksy grasshopper! Who is also a cannibal! The membership! https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership The Best of the Worst! https://villains.lol/listen Tiny Lobster Hands! https://myths.link/lobsterhands * * * Sponsors: Athletic Greens: AG1 by Athletic Greens is an easier way to take supplements. https://athlet...

A Norwegian tale about why you should pay your employees a living wage (or at least not beat them and try to have them executed), or else you could end up in a never-ending dance party. The creature is why you should avoid home improvement projects like the plague...because you could be literally plagued with wood and earth imps. Membership! Want ad-free and bonus episodes? Check out Myths and Legends Plus in Apple Podcasts or go to https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Best of the Worst! Ch...

A Ronin (a masterless samurai) goes on a quest to find a stolen sword and restore the honor of his family's name, but, when it comes to pushing the limits of what is right in order to see his mission through, how far is too far? The creature is Rübezahl, a turnip counter, and we'll see why you shouldn't trust people who love vegetables. Best of the Worst! https://villains.lol/listen/ The disclaimer and source: https://myths.link/311 --- Sponsors: Rocket Money: Stop throwing money away. Canc...

The story of Sigrgarthr and the Maiden King, from Icelandic folklore has Viking male models, ruthless princesses, people shoving metal down their pants to make unbeatable weapons, dragons, trolls, witches, and monsters. There's a lot going on this week. The creature this week is the Pope Lick Monster, who shows that the most dangerous thing of all is our own superstition. And also being hit by trains. Show post and article: https://myths.link/310 Best of the Worst is back! https://villains.lol...

This week, there are three stories of people bargaining: with the devil, with that angry lady who owns too many cats, and with...rocks, and we'll see that the person you need...might be the one you least suspect. The creature this week is a forest creature who won't lope lazily past your out-of-focus camera...because he'll fly past. He's Batsquatch! Show post and Batsquatch article: https://myths.link/309 Best of the Worst is back! https://villains.lol/listen -- Sponsors: PIA VPN: An awesome...

Stories of tricksters from the folklore of the Hopi, Northern Pueblo, and Algonquin people. Coyote makes an enemy when he steals Fox's best friend...and eats him. We meet Rabbit Boy and learn how to get a free ride from your worst enemy. Then, we see how that guy who keeps trying to bite your tail off...might not be your friend? -- Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Assorted insects: https://myths.link/insectassortment -- Sponsors: Babbel: https://babbel.com/myths for up to ...

The story of why, no matter how good of an idea it sounds like after a few drinks, you shouldn't steal church bells and drop them into a nearby pond. You might awaken an ancient evil. Because of course you will. This is the tale of the Knucker. The creature this week is Bunny Man! He throws axes at cars! -- The post with the disclaimer and pictures and all that: https://myths.link/307 Crayfish: https://myths.link/cray The membership! https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: In...

Two stories from Latin America folklore about people (and animals?) getting payback. The first is a story about why you shouldn't bite strangers. The second is about a man who can make the dead rise...but for a small fee will make sure that they stop. The creature is the magician's monster from Castle Frankenstein, a living lesson of why you shouldn't brag about your elixir of life and then die a year later. -- Cat Butt Key Caps: https://myths.link/catbuttcaps -- Music: "Drama Queen" by Po...

The story of the Bird of Sorrow, from Turkish folklore, has love, loss, gratitude, people messing up coffeehouses, genie girlfriends, and elaborate pranks involving not being able to take off your pants. It's a big week. The creature is the neugle, a handsome little horse that gives Lil' Sebastian a run for his money. -- Music: "Among the Reeds" by Podington Bear "Caprese" by Blue Dot Sessions "Chel Taza" by Blue Dot Sessions "Enter on Bull Lake" by Podington Bear "Nesting" by Podington ...