Myths And Legends

There is someone that isn't happy that the family of Zeus and Hera is sitting on Olympus. Well, there are many people that aren't happy about it. Actually most people except for Zeus and his family aren't thrilled about it. Even then, they all kind of hate each other. Regardless, someone finally comes along to do something about Zeus and his ilk. Someone from their past...and she's coming with an army...an army that has the ability to finally put an end to the Olympians once and for all.  The creature this time is a jacked angry unicorn with fabulous hair.  -- Music! "Tumult" by Kai Engel "Periculum" by Kai Engel "Tumbler" by Podington Bear "Jackbird" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Black Frame" by Rolemusic Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Two stories of just terrible, terrible fathers from Greek mythology. The first is really only in the story for a few minutes, but helps to bring about two giants that could end his reign. The second is one who admits his mistake and takes pity on the boy before trying to do right by him. And it ends much, much worse than if he had done nothing at all.  The creature this time is an elephant unicorn who has one weird trick to make you feel strong. Hydras hate him.  ---  Music: "Beautocracy" "Lullaby" "Plum" "Rarified" "Aim is True" "Tortoise Shell" "Uptown" by Podington Bear "Hammer and Damper" "Line Exchange" "Slow Driver" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The land of giants. Jotunheim. The realm of the monstrous "other" from Norse myth. Thorstein grew up being told it was only a legend, and he probably thought as much...until he walked into it. This is the epic saga of Thorstein Mansion-Might, a legendary Viking who is bigger than doors.  The creature this time is Dr. Big Bird. He's a big bird who is an ancient world doctor. That sounds impressive until you think that probably anyone alive today is qualified to be an ancient world doctor.  ---  Music: "Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie "Cases to Rest" by Blue Dot Sessions "Aim is True" by Podington Bear "Boardwalk" by Podington Bear "Chrysalis" by Podington Bear "Degradation" by Podington Bear "March" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "Rubber Robot" by Podington Bear "Tarnish" by Podington Bear "These Times" by  Blue Dot Sessions "Well Water" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Maui. Trickster. Demigod. Sometimes-fish. Abandoned at birth but in the possession of great power, the story of Maui is the story of an underdog that came to help the human race in immeasurable ways: giving them fire, pulling up islands, making the day longer, killing monsters to give coconuts, and convincing the sun to give us some more time in the day...by beating him mercilessly with a fishhook. The creature is a square hedgehog. It's yellow, and makes a terrible pet, because not only does it like to get your horses sick, but it's not remotely housebroken and enjoys urinating basically everywhere.  -- Music: "Am Trans" "Cake" "Ice Pack" "Rubber Robot" "So it Goes" "Spring Comes Early" "Surface Tension 1" "Swing Lo" "The Confrontation" all by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The Day of the Wolf. The Doom of the Gods. The end of all things. It has many names, but one word encapsulates it all: Ragnarok. It's what Odin has been dreading and fighting. It's what Loki has been planning. It's the dark end of days where the worlds will drop into eternal night, giants will battle gods, and all will burn.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Werewolves are people that turn into wolves. Or they don't. Maybe they just wear a fancy wolf belt. Or maybe part of a wolf skin. Or maybe they just like to think they're a wolf. Or maybe they're just people that like killing. Werewolf stories are simple ones, but there's no simple answer as to why this thing happens. And it did. A lot. All throughout history there are stories of Werewolves, stretching back as far as Ancient Greece. As it turns out, humans being monstrous is as old as humanity itself.  The creature this time is the reason you'll want to avoid the river if you see a ghostly woman crying out for her children. But if you're not already doing that, a podcast description won't save you.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Clever Hans is clever. He knows the best way to store needles and knives and how to carry a goat in your pockets on long walks through the country. He's even getting married to Gretel, and we'll see how taking advice on wooing your fiancee from your mom can end up in way too much mutilation.  The second story is also about Hans! A different one. It's about cat chefs and following voices down into the dark places under the earth. The creature is why you'll want to pack a lunch and brush up on some cicada-speak (protip: it's just buzzing) the next time you plan on stealing from the guardians of the forest.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The conclusion to the dwarf with the long beard, a story about a dwarf. And a long beard. And entering the ear canals of magic horses for fun and profit. We'll see the epic struggle between brothers come to an end, as well as a powerful argument in favor of facial hair.  The creature this time is big, warm cat named Big Ears! He has Big Ears! And an army of demonic cats to do his will!  ---  Music: "Remember Trees" by Chris Zabriskie "I Should have been more human" by Chris Zabriskie "Shake It" by Jahzzar "Denouement" by Kai Engel "Warbled Reflection" by Podington Bear "Den" by Podington Bear "The Telling" by Blue Dot Sessions "White Limit" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Today's story comes from Slavic folklore and it was so much fun. It's surprisingly complex and full of magic, love, and a sleazy little kidnapper who just can't catch a break.  Did you know cotton balls were vegetarian friendly snacks? I mean, they're also living things, but they are primarily plants. They taste like old fish and/or honey, but they are low cholesterol so, you know, there's that.  ---  Music: "Vanagon" by Podington Bear "Qi" by Blue Dot Sessions "Waypoint 7" by Blue Dot Sessions "We Drive Three Days" by Blue Dot Sessions "Old Regrets" by Lee Rosevere "The Secret to Growing Up" by Lee Rosevere Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Threes are everywhere in folklore, and today we look at stories where they feature the most prominently: The three bears, the three little pigs, and Cinderella. The tales told and adapted for children children, the three pigs and Cinderella,  are extremely bloody and unforgiving, while the one that was originally for adults - the three bears - is about three very chill best bear friends enjoying a fun afternoon before dealing with a deeply psychologically troubled intruder.  The creature this time adds to our list of mythpodcats...and it's further proof that, given half a chance at victory, your cat wouldn't hesitate to kill you.   ---  Music: "Associations" by Podington Bear "Don't Go" by Podington Bear "In My Head" by Podington Bear "Rope Swing" by Podington Bear "As I was Saying" by Lee Rosevere "More on That Later" by Lee Rosevere "Alphabet Soup" by Podington Bear "Relinquish" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The "Tale of Tales" is a very famous, moderately deranged collection of folklore from 16th century Italy. It's by the author Giambattista Basile, a storyteller who traveled the Mediterranean region collecting stories. The collection known as "Tale of Tales" follows a similar framing narrative to "1001 Nights", with the storyteller telling the king stories in a very loosely-connected fashion. I'm not even going to say the titles for today's stories, but they are two of the most famous in the collection and wildly unpredictable. They're gross, violent, weird, and interesting - so, basically like everyday life.  The creature is a man...who is a bat. But he's not Batman, because Batman can't handle this little guy's intensity.  -----  Music: "Sad Marimba Planet" by Lee Rosevere "Are we Loose Yet?" by Blue Dot Sessions "August (Summer Nights)" by Kai Engel "November Mist" by Blue Dot Sessions "Shiny" by Podington Bear "Yellow Dust" by Rolemusic "Swapping Tubes" by Blue Dot Sessions "In the Back Room" by Blue Do

We have to go deeper.  Well, for Scheherazade to survive, she always has to have another level of story to go to - she always has to have another layer of protection, to keep the king interested or her story might end with the rising of the sun. Luckily the king is very easy to impress because these stories are bananas.  The creature is a funny little guy who just wants to wash his beans in piece. Or eat you. Depending on how playful he's feeling.    -----  Music: "Myrian" by Blue Dot Sessions "Pieces" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slimm" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sage the Hunter" by Blue Dot Sessions "Venndet" by Blue Dot Sessions "Fits" by Podington Bear "Glitter" by Podington Bear "Samara" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

(Have you checked out Fictional? Check out Fictional! There are three episodes waiting for you. Go to https://fictional.fm for more info.) The collection known as "Arabian Nights" actually has an overarching story. And it is...interesting. Full of djinn, demons, kings, and slaves, it's an incredibly interesting way to set up one of the best known collections of folklore. The framing narrative (a way to set up a story-within-a-story) is actually much more interesting than many of the stories it sets up, with betrayal, trickery, and probably the most sex and violence we've encountered so far on this podcast.  The creature this time is a wise old owl...who doesn't have a problem bringing it in the fight against demons trying to steal your fingernail clippings.  -----  Music: "Changing Reality" by Kai Engel "Modum" by Kai Engel "All the Colors in the world" by Podington Bear "Don't Go" by Podington Bear "Everybody" by Podington Bear "Falling Falling" by Podington Bear "Turning to You" by Blue Dot Sessions "Whe

An episode with a story from Scandinavia about trolls. Not the internet kind. No, these are the less annoying ones that will murder you in the forest.   Two creatures this week! And they are dogs! And Myths and Legends will ruin dogs for you, too!  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

**Have you subscribed to Fictional yet? You'll love it! https://fictional.fm/subscribe**  Wrapping up the story of Perseus, we'll see that fated confrontation with the eternally cosmetologically-challenged monster, Medusa, as well as fall in love. Turns out it's really easy to meet people when they are imprisoned beneath you. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  The creature this time is the gargoyle, which ages phenomenally...because it's in indestructible dragon head. Unlike the monsters from that 90s cartoon that was awesome at the time but which did not age well at all...  -----  Music: "Thematic" by Blue Dot Sessions "Doghouse" by Blue Dot Sessions "Are We Loose Yet?" by Blue Dot Sessions "A Simple Blur" by Blue Dot Sessions "A Palace of Cedar" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sensitive" by Podington Bear "Small Pond" by Gurdonark "Quantum Field Theory" by Rolemusic Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Hey! Have you subscribed to Fictional? Go subscribe to Fictional! You'll love it, and it will be an amazingly huge help to us. Thank you!! You can find it at: https://fictional.fm/subscribe ---  Medusa is probably the most misunderstood villain in all of Greco-Roman Mythology, famous only for being a monster...and the hero's quest to kill her. We'll learn all about her background and follow the quest of one fated to clash with her. Also this is Greek mythology so everyone is terrible all the time always.  The creature this week is the floating head and he's kind of like Pac-man...if Pac-man had a taste for people and delicious chestnuts.  --- Music: "Toppler" by Blue Dot Sessions "Soothe" by Blue Dot Sessions "Seamless" by Blue Dot Sessions "Partly Sage" by Blue Dot Sessions "Old Skin" by Podington Bear "Little Dipper" by Podington Bear "Astrisx" by Blue Dot Sessions "Comet Trails" by Moon "Orbs of Light" by Moon      --- Disclaimer: Non-graphic talk of Zeus impregnating a woman by turning into a shower

We're back in the cold, unforgiving north, at the very beginning of Odin's reign. We'll see him meet a new friend while being completely unsuspicious in giant land, a threat come from another world to try to topple the Aesir, and the lengths Odin will go to in order to gain power, acquire knowledge, and thwart his coming doom.  The creature this week is an antlion. When a mommy ant and a daddy lion love each other very much, they think of ways to express their love and, well, you'll see...  --- Music: "The Nightmare" by Lee Rosevere "Not Alone" by Lee Rosevere "Sad Marimba Planet" by Lee Rosevere "Twirl Into Insanity" by Keshco "Decompression" by Blue Dot Sessions "Bogero" by Blue Dot Sessions "Pukae" by Blue Dot Sessions "Midday" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sunset at Goat Fell" by Graham Bole "Rooftop" by Jahzzar Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Starting at the beginning of the universe and going to the beginning of the epic and mildly disturbing battles between Set and his nephew Horus, Egyptian mythology is epic, funny, interesting, and bizarre. It's taken way too long to get into this mythology, and I'm excited to dive in.  The creature has no problem diving in...to your mouth. As a newt.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of a dark (well, dark-ish. Actually, kind of not even that. You'll see.) prophecy, a kingdom overrun by monsters (again, kind of), and one woman's globe spanning quest to do what's right (that's pretty much correct). Also, pig plague parties are only fun if you're a talking swine with a moderately sinister agenda.  The creature this time is the Alkutane, from the folklore of the Pacific Northwest, in the US. These creatures will leave fun little baubles by your ear. Oops. My bad, I meant to say bubbles. Bubbles filled with your undigested brains. And they're not fun.  -- Music: "Vanagon" by Podington Bear "Trellis" by Podington Bear "TrailwaysA" by Podington Bear "Bambi" by Podington Bear "Daemones" by Kai Engel "Modum" by Kai Engel "Locked Up" by Fleslit "Cach" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of Atalanta is one of the woman who just couldn't be stopped...and of a world that had a big, big problem with that. Giant monster fights, meddling gods, and well-known heroes make an appearance in the story of a heroine who just can't be kept down.  The creature this week is Al, from North Africa, and he's a great reason to not run with scissors.  --- Music: "Gringo Steele Rocks the 40" by Rolemusic "Death on the Battlefield" by Rolemusic "Seventh Hill" by Podington Bear "Vengeful" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tuck and Point" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Cast and Favor" by Blue Dot Sessions "Set the Tip Jar" by Blue Dot Sessions "Mercurial Vision" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lemon and Melon" by Blue Dot Sessions "Andelo" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership