Episodes

King Arthur and his best knight, Sir Gawain, have to answer the age-old question: what do women want? Oh, and if King Arthur doesn't find the definitive answer within a year, he'll be executed. Hijinks ensue. The creature is Nalusa Falaya, an evil porcupine who will turn you into an unwitting sleeper agent against your own family. -- The Salt Shooter: https://myths.link/saltshooter The membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: Bombas! Get 20% off your first purchase: h...

Two stories from the Grimm brothers with people going beyond death. On the first, it's a prince and princess who find love...after they swear a terrible and toxic oath to one another. On the second, if your guest sees ghost children in your house, maybe you should listen to them? The creature is the Leyak, a witch who likes munching on some human entrails and turning into a monkey with golden teeth. -- Scoundrel: If someone offers you a miracle tonic that's literally just heavily irradiated b...

Three stories from Korean folklore about family with terrible frog sons, angry imps beating guys with sticks until their arms get tired, and a mayor who just doesn't know when to quit. The creature is the Leanhaum-Shee, and if someone wants to set you up on a date with an invisible person...maybe pass. And also run away as quickly as possible. -- Links! Disclaimer: https://myths.link/280 Scoundrel: https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Simplisafe: Go to http://simplisafe.com/legends an...

The story of Spotted Ali, from the Icelandic sagas, has werewolves, ogre battles, and witch curses. It also has parents doing the right thing (and then the wrong thing for way too much cash), enemies becoming friends if they can keep on doing enemy stuff, and why you should always be polite to people who help you out: you don't know which ones might be actual trolls. The creature this week is the Kibaan, a chill hairy guy who will play music for you...providing you don't try to steal his child....

Two literary fairy tales from Irish writer Oscar Wilde. On the first, we'll see that even fireworks need spa days. Is that what wallowing in the mud with animals is? Probably, right? On the second, it's a story of love. Cynical, brutal love. The creature is the Joseung Saja (저승 사자), a dapper grim reaper who's all business. -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/278 -- Sponsors: June's Journey: download June’s Journey today! Available on Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as on PC through F...

The story of the cook and the warlock, from 1001 Nights, where you see how a hot tub can change your entire life's course. The creature is the Murghi-i-adami, a buff peacock with a lot to say. -- Disclaimer & vizier bit: https://myths.link/277 Scoundrel! Check out the worst (as in least talented) counterfeiter in US history: https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Check out June's Journey on the Apple App Store or Google Play! Helix Sleep: Go to http://helixsleep.com/myths for up to $200...

An adaptation of a Swiss horror novella "The Black Spider" by author Jeremias Gotthelf (AKA Albert Bitzius), about a town with a knight problem, so they make a deal with a very suspicious man to help them in their time of need. The creature is the Kanbari nyūdō, that creepy hairy guy watching you go to the bathroom on New Year's Eve. -- The disclaimer: https://myths.link/276 -- Music: All music by Blue Dot Sessions -- Sponsors: BOMBAS: Suuuuper comfortable everything. Check it out and get...

A prince, chased by seven evil wizard roommates, seeks help from a hermit. This leads him on a journey of discovery that entails ghosts, mythological creature kidnapping, and many, many blisters. The creature is the Lioumere, and you'll see that clowns aren't just for children's birthday parties! They're also for doing dental work on dangerous ogresses. -- The strange, sad life of Bernarr Macfadden: https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Indeed: Go to http://indeed.com/legends to claim y...

Two stories from Eastern Europe where we see why mythological water monsters aren't a great way to discipline your kids. On the second, if a wizard is mumbling something outside your house, you're in for a bad time unless you talk to a witch. The creatures are the Devil's Dandy Dogs! They're not dandy, not the devil's, and they're barely dogs! -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/274 Newts! The new PRX podcast I mentioned that has the Vodník, the Czech water monster in the first story. If you wa...

You would think, if you're the most wanted person in Britain, you would probably want to lie low for a little while and think that the all-too-happy-to-get-kidnapped abbot with the big bags of gold strolling through Sherwood forest might be an obvious trap. The creature is why you don't want to eat a big meal and then go into battle. -- Links! Scoundrel! Check out the story of Sarah Wilson: https://myths.link/scoundrel Our membership! It still exists! https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -...

The story of a young man who decided that he would do anything to live the life of his dreams...but how far is too far? The creature is the Minata-Karaia, basically ents who snack on their armpit fruit. -- Mitos y Leyendas: https://myths.link/mitos Best of the Worst, another show we have that's basically creature of the week but with comic book villains: https://myths.link/botw Fictional is back, too! https://fictional.fm/subscribe -- Sponsors: Best Fiends! Check it out on the App Store or ...

Sonoro and Nextpod (that’s Jason and Carissa Weiser!) present Mitos y Leyendas. The acclaimed podcast about mythology and worldwide folklore, now in Spanish. Listen, learn, and subscribe today on your favorite podcast platform to catch all the episodes every week. Available now! To listen directly on Apple Podcasts: https://play.sonoropodcast.com/LFm7oyx7 Nextpod.com Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three stories of people helping people from Korea, including helpful monsters, deadly Pictionary, and why you should shove strangers down hills. The creature is the Glashtin, a creature with sticky hands, but in the murdery way and not the stealy way or ice creamy way. -- Sonoro and Nextpod (that's us!) present Mitos y Leyendas. It's this podcast, now in Spanish! Listen to the trailer and first TWO episodes now: https://play.sonoropodcast.com/LFm7oyx7 Check out this week's all-new Scoundrel: ...

This week, Olympus will fall. The reign of the Greek gods will come to an ignoble end to an enemy that has been lurking in the shadows the whole time. Hear how it all goes down in this definitely serious story about how the rule of the Olympians was usurped by something you see every day. The creature is the Kickle Snifter! The reason why you should wash your beard! Or don't because who doesn't enjoy having a semi-parasitic friend around all the time? -- Links! That disclaimer: https://myths...

A story from Hans Christian Andersen about becoming your best self…after that self completely separates from you and leaves you as merely a shadow. The creature this time is the invincible bear monster your ghost grandpa warned you about. — Scoundrel: All new this week! https://myths.link/scoundrel Fictional: All new tomorrow! https://fictional.fm/subscribe — Sponsors: BOMBAS: Suuuuper comfortable everything. Check it out and get 20% off your first purchase. http://bombas.com/legends June’s...

Two stories from Norse myth. The first is about how you should just be you, even if people think you're a fool for doing so...actually, kind of especially if people think you are a fool for doing so. The second is about why you shouldn't go to the bathroom alone at night: Norse toilet zombies. The creature is the Mimick Dog, a dog that will mimic you and maybe put on plays. -- Sherlock Holmes on Fictional! https://fictional.fm/subscribe Best of the Worst, our twice-weekly mini-cast with ridi...

A story of believing in yourself and finding your own way in the world...by imitating Pokemon and Hodor and wearing flashy suits from your best friend's stone safehouse. From a story from what's now Czech Republic and Slovakia, called "Prince Bayaya." Coming to a garden near you, the creature is the Jidra, from Medieval Europe. You might think you're a fantastic gardener, what with growing a plant bigger than you are...but you might rethink that when the plant tries to eat you. -- Links! Sco...

A story from One Thousand and One Nights of an incompetent dude, a genie that's more than happy to be used for evil, and how the best legal outcome is one that involves free honey cakes. This is also where we wrap up the framing narrative, and we see if Scheherazade's gambit, of keeping herself alive by telling her husband stories every night for the past 989 days, finally pays off. The creature is Irusan, the Irish king of the cats, and he is tired of listening to your terrible poetry. -- Li...

A super-powered monkey from Chinese folklore meets more than he bargained for: a sloshing hollow gourd full of pus. The creature is the Mikaribaba (箕借り婆) from Japanese folklore, a great reason not to shower (because she will literally gouge out your eyes). -- Scoundrel! New episode of Scoundrel this week. Check it out: https://myths.link/scoundrel New episodes of Best of the Worst out, too. They're a lot of fun. https://myths.link/botw -- Sponsors: Headspace: Go to http://headspace.com/lege...

Five stories from Korean folklore all woven together to tell a grand narrative of the lives of normal people (and animals...and trees) on a mountainside in medieval Korea. The creature is the Iara, from Brazil, a vampire mermaid who isn't thrilled to be a vampire mermaid but hey, it was the best her fish friends could do for her a the time. -- Best of the Worst! Check out our (other other) new podcast where we tell funny vignettes of ridiculous heroes and villains from comic book history. Che...

Three stories of things worth more than gold from Slavic, Celtic, and Chinese folklore. Also, why you shouldn't eat gold (it will literally kill you), why you should dig into that road cake early on, and why you should remember where you put stuff before getting the authorities involved. The creature is a cow's stomach with bone melting eyes! Who hates it when evil barons are evil! -- New Scoundrel out this week! Check it out at https://myths.link/scoundrel New Fictional out tomorrow! Check i...

Three stories from Japan about love gone wrong. On the first, the fairest youth in all the land is set to marry the daughter of a rich noble. The problem? His father kind of oversold his looks... On the second, we'll see why moths and other nighttime bugs go toward the light, and on the third, a lovelorn samurai meets a woman from his past he thought was long gone. The creature just wants you to chill out and stop trying to kill its friends...or else it will make you swell up in horrifying and ...

Two stories of King David's magic mirror. One actually involves a folklore version of the Biblical king facing off against an enemy from his past...and maybe turning into a balloon? The second involves a rabbi, a murderous sorcerer, and a magic battle dinner party. The creature is what happens when you stay too long as a vampire. You turn into what's basically an angry George Costanza with seven goat tails. -- Links! Scoundrel (new episode out today!): https://myths.link/scoundrel Fictional ...

Heidrek the wise...was not actually all that wise. He took ownership of a cursed sword for one. He also got in a riddle battle with Odin, which is never a good idea. In fact, if you want to be wise, it might be a good idea to just look at Heidrek's life, and do the opposite. The creature is the Kaibaan, and he's that guy hanging out with his guitar on the quad trying to meet girls. You can spot him because he's the size of a human baby. -- Links! Fictional is back! https://www.fictional.fm/s...