Myths And Legends

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

The story of Pecos Bill is that of a true American Hero...who spends half the story naked and who legitimately thinks he is actually a coyote. But don't tell him that. He's cool and won't hurt you, but you'll get into a long discussion and won't actually convince him or his horse (named Pegasus/Widowmaker/Jeremy) that he's actually a human being. Also, while we're at it, he can lasso water and air because I guess when you ask the audience to suspend disbelief, you go for broke.  The creature this time is the Mongolian Death Worm. It's a sand worm, but don't go getting your maker hooks just yet, because it's no Shai Hulud. And that's a problem, because instead of the spice melange that will give you longevity and maybe prescience, it spits a virulent neurotoxin that will do precisely the exact opposite.  ---------- Music: "Vibrant Canopy" "Seamless" "Scraper" "Opener" "Moon Bicycle Theme" "Middle" "Gondola Blue" "Doubled" "An Introduction to Beetles" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodc

The story of Sentaro the millionaire* is about a man with a dream. Well, not really a dream, but a deep, abiding fear of death. Soon, he becomes so obsessed with avoiding the inevitable that it leads him on a journey across Japan and later the world to find a way to avoid that which will come to us all.  The creatures this time are from the US and one will "please and excite" you in the forest...then lure you back to its place where it will turn you into an electric eel burrito. *Sentaro is not a millionaire and really not very smart at all. ----------  Music: "Waltz and Fury" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tralaga" by Blue Dot Sessions "Twosome" by Podington Bear "Spring Comes Early" by Podington Bear "Big Blue" by Podington Bear "Norvik" by Blue Dot Sessions "Drone Pine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Chilvat" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

A young woman's father is taken, and she decided to go to the edges of the known world to get him back, to a faraway island harboring a dark and terrible secret.  The creature this week is skunk ape! He's 0% skunk, 0% ape, and 100% into stealing your produce.  --- Music: "Two Dollar Token" by Blue Dot Sessions "These Times" by Blue Dot Sessions "Slow Casino" by Blue Dot Sessions "Yellow Dust" by Rolemusic "In My Head" by Podington Bear "Down and Around" by Podington Bear "Cylinder Six" by Chris Zabriskie "Cylinder Five" by Chris Zabriskie "Drone Thistle" by Blue Dot Sessions "What Does Anybody Know About Anything" by Chris Zabriskie Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

A sea horse (but not that type of sea horse) that haunts the coasts of Scotland, the kelpie is a legendary cryptid that represents the dangerous unknown of the water...as well as new guys stopping by your village for the sole purpose of picking up women. The creature this time is the Shojo, a Japanese yokai, who is living its best life: by lounging on the beach drinking and pulling off daring heists. ************  That incredibly readable book on Celtic myths and legends: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786711078/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_VOCszbY1WGRBD  ************  Music:  “Closer” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cottonwoods” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Dirtbike Lovers” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Drch” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Flaked Paint” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Mknt” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Tensor” by Blue Dot Sessions   “The Big Ten” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Turning on the Lights” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Halter Top” by Podington Bear   “Rain On Glass” by Podington Bear   “Satellite Bloom” by Podington Bear Support the show:

If you've ever wondered about giving that strange old man a piggy-back ride in the woods, the philosophical nuances of way too much grave robbing, or how many people are necessary to take down a four-story-tall baby bird, well, then this is the episode for you. Sinbad finishes up his epic tale of epicness and we see what led to him falling back on his plan "B" of living a life of leisure on his near-infinite wealth.  The creature this time is the reason you should take a giant bat with you everywhere you go. S --- Music: “Decompression” by Blue Dot Sessions “Liptis” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Sunday Lights” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Toppler” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Across the River” by Podington Bear   “All the Ways” by Podington Bear   “Just Watching” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Whether it's deadly literary references, sticky cows, or extremely inappropriate eulogies, the stories of Sinbad have it all...as long as by "it all" you're looking for a story of how a rich (and, let's face it, not-so-smart) guy for whom everything pretty much always works out. It's like Mr. Magoo without the nearsightedness and with much, much more impalement and cannibalism. The creature the creature this week is a great excuse to keep your house well-stocked with red peppers and pet crabs. ---------- The clip from Planet Earth II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3OjfK0t1XM ----------  Music: “Patched In” by Blue Dot Sessions “Brass Buttons” by Blue Dot Sessions “Diner Gothic - Dasher” by Blue Dot Sessions "Downhill Racer” by Blue Dot Sessions “Floor Shine” by Blue Dot Sessions “Inventio” by Blue Dot Sessions “Midday” by Blue Dot Sessions “Slider” by Blue Dot Sessions “Sweetly” by Blue Dot Sessions “Wax Paper Jewel” by Blue Dot Sessions “Gorgon” by Jesse Spillane “Harbor” by Kai Engel “Front Runner”

Sinbad (no, not that Sinbad) is probably the 3rd most famous story from a collection titled "One Thousand and One Nights". It's a story of loss, hardship, and redemption...and then partying so hard that you forget all that loss, hardship, and redemption and need to do it all over again. Six more times. On the plus side, it's not just about an out-of-touch rich guy being out-of-touch and rich, but being so while experiencing some pretty weird stuff.  The creature this time is an awkwardly hot squirrel thing who wants to cram a metaphor about pride down your throat. ----------  Music: “Hickory Interlude” by Blue Dot Sessions “Plaque” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Colocate” by Podington Bear   “Oui” by Podington Bear   “Pure Swell” by Podington Bear   “Streetbeat Heat” by Podington Bear   “Transmogrify” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

It seems like with a lot of fairy tales someone looked at the original, thought that there was absolutely no way they could tell that to a child, and re-wrote it to get rid of the shocking violence and general terribleness of every creature ever. "The Ugly Duckling" by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen is no exception. It's shockingly violent and sad at times, but underneath its brutality and ridiculousness is a profound theme that still resonates today. Also birds are jerks.  The creature this time is the Loveland Frog. It's a large-ish frog from my hometown in Ohio. Ohio is so boring we can't even have a cool cryptid.  --- Music: “Just a Blip” by Andy G. Cohen   “Warmer” by Andy G. Cohen   “Faster Faster Brighter” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Parade Shoes” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Rafter” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Tripoli” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Like Starlight through a Veil” by Philipp Weigl   “Midnight Blue” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Don't, under any circumstances, trust the Midas touch. The king of unforced errors, Midas is a well-known figure in mythology mainly because of horrible decision-making and lack of foresight. They say any publicity is good publicity, and I hope that is the case for Midas, who took a bad choice and used it to propel himself to everlasting notoriety. Mouse bears.  The creatures this week are mouse bears. They have the ferocity of bears and the ability to sneak into your cupboards like mice. Needless to say, they're super annoying.  ----------  Music: “Bitter Roll” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Floating Whist” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Glass Runner” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Lead Shroud” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Pacing” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Sylvestor” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Town Market” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Bagd” by Podington Bear   “Breadtime” by by Podington Bear   “Many Hands” by Podington Bear   “Swimmy” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Wrapping up this two-part series on Morgan le Fay, we'll see her devious schemes within schemes come to fruition with one aim in mind: killing King Arthur and seizing the throne for herself.  The creature this week is fish man, from Spain. He's kind of like a superhero if all superheroes did was lay around and drink wine at their parents' house.  ----------  Music: “Lamplist” by Blue Dot Sessions “One Needle” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Parissi” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Tuck and Point” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar   “60s Quiz Show” by Podington Bear   “A1 Rogue” by Podington Bear   “All The Colors In The World” by Podington Bear   “Canoe” by Podington Bear   “Climbing the Mountain” by Podington Bear   “Dulcet” by Podington Bear   “Loam” by Podington Bear   “Modest House” by Podington Bear   “Rythn” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Sorceress. Confidant. Traitor. Sister. All of those words describe Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur's half-sister. She is by far the most complex character I've come across in the Arthurian legends, but she's constantly portrayed in the medieval and early modern texts as a one-note traitorous baddy who is evil because she's an evil sorceress and evil sorceresses are evil. If you're familiar with the legends, you're going to see a Morgan you've never seen before. If you're not, get ready to meet one of the most interesting, tragic figures you'll come across.  --  Music: “Malachite” by Andy G. Cohen   “Watching from Red Hill” by Artofescapism   “Disinter” by Blue Dot Sessions   “The Face of the Thrush” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Take Me Higher” by Jahzzar   “Snowmen” by Kai Engel   “Even when we fall” by Philipp Weigl   “The Scent of Cedars” by Philipp Weigl   “60s Quiz Show” by Podington Bear   “Fits” by Podington Bear   “Pop Brasilia” by Podington Bear   “Seventh Hill” by Podington Bear   “Starday” by Podington Bear

I wanted to name this episode "it's not easy being green," but it really is. The Green Knight had his head chopped off last episode...but still carried it out of the most uncomfortable Christmas dinner ever. Really, it's not easy being Gawain, who has to go present his neck in payment. Except it really is easy being Gawain. Most of this episode will consist of him sleeping until noon in a fancy castle. But he still has that date with destiny on New Year's Day...and by "destiny" I mean a hairy green gentleman who is really good at pole vaulting.  If you disrespect the hobbies of the creatures this week, they will make your life mildly uncomfortable for like an evening. You've been warned. S --  Music: “A Perceptible shift” by Andy G. Cohen   “Monkeybars” by Andy G. Cohen   “Curious Case” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Felt Lining” by Blue Dot Sessions   “PolyCoat” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Tiny Putty” by Blue Dot Sessions   “Chance” by Kai Engel   “Run” by Katie Engel   “Scenery” by Kai Engel   “Love Wins” by Lee Ro

You probably had to read the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in high school. I know I did, and it's a great story. There are beheadings, green guys, confusing interactions with ladies. It might be one of the most violent non-Die Hard Christmas stories. Anyway, everyone knows that. You probably don't know the story I'll tell today. It's of how Gawain grew into the paragon of virtue he's known as in the legends. It involves, of course, dog parties, inept knights, and the most grotesque piece of neckwear we will ever talk about on this podcast.  The creature is a bunch of tiny guys who want to hang out in your room and dance, as long as you're cool with it. Just kidding - they don't care if you're cool with it.    -- Music: "Quiet Still" "Plaque" "Pick up the Tempo" "Marble Transit" "Chapel Bottom" "Drifting Spade" by Blue Dot Sessions   "Flapjacks" "Bumble" "Mutinee" "Springtime" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

You know how to make your stories completely resistant to any ridicule from a future podcaster? Make them as ridiculous as possible. The stories of Paul Bunyan arose from the camps of lumberjacks in the US in the 1880s, but he spread to be a nationwide symbol of American strength and a pioneer spirit. Except that a lot of what we know about Paul Bunyan might actually not be folklore, but stories made up to sell stuff. Also, if someone tells you to put something up your nose that feels like bees and lightning, just say no. --- Music: "Nothing will grow here" "Wake up, heroic figure" "Fight the apocalypse but before a quick nap" "STOP TALKING AND MOVING" by Komiku   "Goodnight Esme" "Three Kites Circling" by Axletree Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of Oedipus is fun until it isn't. I've met people with varying degrees of familiarity with the story. Some are familiar only with the central premise of the story, while others' knowledge only extends to a certain disgusting little complex popularized by a similarly-disgusting Viennese psychologist. Regardless, the story of Oedipus is a fascinating commentary on fate, our willing blindness to uncomfortable truths, and why you should, under no circumstances, talk to prophets. Seriously, they will mess up your life.  The creature this week is the Tanuki from Japan, with two big surprises for you.  -------  Music: "Skeptic" "Modest House" "In My Head" "A1 Rogue" by Podington Bear   "Readers Do You Read" "Wonder Cycle" "Everybody's Got Problems that Aren't Mine" by Chris Zabriskie   "Seeker" by Kai Engel "Mogul" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plaster Combo" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of the frog prince is well known - a beautiful princess meets a frog, kisses him, and he turns out to be a prince. Except, in the earliest version, it doesn't go like that at all. I won't spoil it, but the original frog prince is extremely bizarre, and I had the most fun writing it of any episode so far. The second story is of a frog princess, from Russian folklore, and not only is it a great story in its own right, with a stupid king and a ridiculous dating service, but we'll catch back up with our favorite witch living in a house on chicken legs and a certain deathless sorcerer early in his career.  The creature of the week shoots hail out of its ears and kills anyone it sees...unless you're carrying a sack of llama fat.  --- Music: "The Spinnet" "The Silver Hatch" "The Shoes they Wear" "Filing Away" "Decompression" and "Brass Buttons" are all by Blue Dot Session "Vanagon" "Submerging Blue-Black" "Trailways A" "Smolder" "Sensitive" "Running on Empty" and "Down and Around" are all by Podington Bea