Myths and Legends

Latest Episodes:

164A-Chinese Legends: Here I Go Again Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

The legend of the White Snake is one of the four great folktales of China. Today, we start that with an act of kindness, demons lurking in the places we can’t look, and a (misguided?) monk hoping to bring justice.
When the creature this week has time off, it prefers crashing funerals and projectile vomiting on strangers.
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163-Hansel and Gretel: Crumble Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

There's a surprising amount to the story of Hansel and Gretel. There's your average fairy tale weirdness, like load-bearing cake and aquatic duck Uber, but there's an unexpected humanity in the story that I think is overlooked. I hope you like it.
The creature is punyaiama, from India, and she's the reason you can't get drunk in your own home.
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"Re:Joyce" by Podington Bear "Running on Empty" by Podington Bear "Tarnish" by Podington Bear "Warbled Reflection" by Podington Bear "The Snowgarden" by Blue Dot Sessions "Stack Me Up" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Highride" by Blue Dot Sessions
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162-47 Ronin: Wanderers Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

The story of the 47 Ronin is a historical tale where a powerful daimyo is shamed and killed by a greedy official…the only issue? The victim had dozens of loyal samurai, and they’re not about to forget what happened to the man they served.
The creature is Pricolici, from Romania, a were-dog that is anything but man’s best friend.
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“Bell Solo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cicle Vascule” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cover Letter” by Blue Dot Sessions “Doubled” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vik Fenceta Lan” by Blue Dot Sessions “Waypoint” by Blue Dot Sessions
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161-Japanese folklore: Karma Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

Two stories from Japanese folklore today dealing with the consequences of our actions. The first has a woman chasing a dumpling across her floor…and into a mysterious, far-away land. The second is what happens when a horrible tragedy brings two people together…only to have their fates tear them apart.
The creature is the Peluda, a vicious turtle dragon (not Bowser, though) who’s mad about not being allowed on Noah’s ark. He’s working out his emotions in…less than healthy ways (by killing everything).
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Jizo article: http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/cabinet-curiosities-jizo-statues-japan
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Music: “Dog and Pony Show” by Podington Bear “Evenhanded” by Podington Bear “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “Clouds at the Gap” by Blue Dot Sessions “Um Pepino” by Blue Dot Sessions “Min” by Blue Dot Sessions “Releasing the Sculpture” by Podington Bear
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160-Halloween Special: Lurking Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

There's something in the forest in 16th century Scotland. It's been there for years. Anyone who sees it doesn't live to tell about it, and it moves seamlessly between land and sea, leaving nothing but body parts in its wake. With a body count in the thousands, it's a legendary historical horror story that's supposedly true.
The creature is a goblin spider. It's a goblin who's also a spider...or, is it? We'll see that things aren't always what they seem on an extended creature of the week.
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Music: “An Accumulation” by Blue Dot Sessions “Emmit Sprak” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cicle Veroni” by Blue Dot Sessions
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159-Rip Van Winkle: Bad Dad Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

The story of Rip Van Winkle is more than just a guy taking a long, alcohol-induced nap. It's a story about a changing time and a man struggling to keep up. It's a story about lost love and and a second chance. It's a story about one of the most insufferable fictional protagonists that you didn't know you hated: Rip Van Winkle.
The creature is the Polong, from Malaysian folklore, the little one-inch tall woman who will cut a hole in your side and just run around inside you, messing all sorts of things up.
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Music: "Dark Water" by Podington Bear “Blossoming” by Podington Bear “Go to Sleep” by Podington Bear “Tumbler” by Podington Bear “Toil” by Podington Bear “Cake” by Podington Bear
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158-Agamemnon: Fate Proceeds Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

This week, we’re back on the boat to the Trojan War where Agamemnon has a problem. I mean, he always has a lot of problems, but this one involves a bunch of warriors with nothing to do but wait for the winds to pick up, and they're not going to pick up until Agamemnon does what needs to be done.
The creature this week is pollo maligno, the evil chicken. He's honestly perfect for this segment.
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Music: “Triana” by Blue Dot Sessions “Matamoscas” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vela Vela” by Blue Dot Sessions “Talltell” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lonely Stairwell” by Blue Dot Sessions
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157-Jack the Giant Killer: Giant Problems Oct 09, 2019

Show notes

Jack the giant killer is back, and he’s less Jack the giant killer than Jack the let’s-just-sit-here-and-let-the-giants-die-from-their-own-unforced-errors guy. That’s way less catchy, though.
The creature (pixui) is a constipated robber with daddy issues.
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Music: “Popism” by Blue Dot Sessions “The Gall” by Podington Bear “Mello D” by Podington Bear “Flatlands 4th” by Blue Dot Sessions “Twosome” by Podington Bear “Scallat” by Podington Bear “Rope Swing” by Podington Bear “Indian Paintbrush” by Podington Bear
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156-Italian Folklore: Clever Girl Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Two stories, one from Italy, one from England. In the one from italy, Costanza is born which would usually be pretty great...except her parents are already in retirement and have given everything away to her older sisters, so she sets out on her own in the wild medieval world. The second story is Molly Whuppie, whose parents have left her and her two sisters in the forest to die. Then things get worse.
The creature this week is hoop snake, a snake that's a hoop and also really confused as to why you're diving through it.
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Music:
“Climbing the Mountain” by Podington Bear “Airliner” by Podington Bear “In the Box” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lakkalia” by Blue Dot Sessions “Ice pack” by Podington Bear “So it goes” by Podington Bear “Hardboil” by Blue Dot Sessions “Box Canyon” by Podington Bear
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Hoop Snake story: https://web.archive.org/web/20060629012039/http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/editors_pick/1925_01-02_pick.html
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155-Fairy Tales: The Pearl Sep 25, 2019

Show notes

Two stories of terrible parents. One decides to get rich by strapping a gemstone to an infant's head, and the other let her son do whatever he wanted until the day came when she needed him to do one little thing: babysit a chicken. It did not go well.
The creature is the phooka, from Ireland, and it will fly you to the moon...but not in the charming Sinatra way, but in the literal way where you suffocate.
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Music: “Wonder Happens” by Podington Bear “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “Highride” by Blue Dot Sessions “Pives and Flarinet” by Podington Bear “Minor Islands” by Podington Bear “Blue Blanket” by Podington Bear
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