Myths and Legends

Latest Episodes:

10B-Hercules: Labor Intensive Sep 30, 2015

Show notes

Finishing up the twelve labors, Hercules fights way, way too many things: a giant boar, a giant bull, vicious birds, man-eating horses, the three-headed hell hound Cerberus, and more, all as penance for his crime.
The creature of the week are invisible weasel brothers that might give you a small cut or two...or might cut off your legs...all without you feeling it.
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That story thing I mentioned
Songs:
"Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie
"One Last Sunset" by Alan Singley
"Leafless Quince Tree" by Rolemusic
"Strange Kiss" by Alasdair Cooper
"Tilt" by Avaren
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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10A-Hercules: Going into Labor Sep 23, 2015

Show notes

The story of Hercules is one part gritty, serious tragedy and two parts over-the-top monster fights. This week, in the origin story of one of the greatest mythological heroes of the western world, we get to see the human side of the demigod before the story goes completely off-the-rails and it's just one big monster fight topping the next. But don't worry, there are also monster fights this episode.
We'll see that Zeus is essentially the Don Draper of the Greek pantheon, only without all that pesky introspection or likability, and that if your husband cheats on you, you should bring down horrible punishments on everyone but him.
On the creature of the week, it's a grotesque little piggy that just needs a hug.
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Music:
"Melancholy" by DDmyzik
"Offerdal" by Simon Mathewson
"Shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean" by Rolemusic
"Scientology and the Masses" by statusq
"Fine without you (Remix)" by Steve Combs
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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9-Dogs and Wolves: Generations (Fenrir, The Black Dog, Dog King of Denmark, Gelert) Sep 16, 2015

Show notes

Instead of one long story, this week I'm telling four stories about canines from folklore from all around the world. We'll go back to the Norse gods and goddesses where Loki will make more poor choices. Then I'll talk about the legend of the black dog of the UK and Ireland. There's the weird and hilarious story of a little dog that was made king of Denmark, and how the people took it surprisingly seriously. Finally, I'll round out the show with the saddest story about a dog you've ever heard.
Also, I know Fenrir is a wolf and not a dog, but his inclusion will fit with the narrative arc of the show, I promise.
On the creature of the week, it's a tiny, angry old man who lives in an anthill and really, really wants you to stay off his lawn.
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E-mail: Jason@mythpodcast.com
My miniature dachshund, Abbie!
The dog king riddle
Music:
"Living Legends" by False Awakenings
"Ambient" by Strange Day
"In the End" by The Losers
"If There's Time" by Odesza
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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8-Merlin: Call of the Wyllt Sep 09, 2015

Show notes

A short supplemental on one of the inspirations for Merlin, a man named Myrddin the Wyllt, a Welsh warrior bard who went insane after seeing his friends die on the battlefield and ran off to a life in the forest. It would have been fine if people didn't keep dragging him back to civilization...or if he had thought at all about what he would do during the winter. You'll see that "insane" in this story is kind of a loose term for "I just want a little 'me' time in the forest."
On the creature of the week, you'll meet that thing that yells all night in your kitchen and shatters all your good plates, and I'll guess at what she's doing with all that evil linen thread she's spinning.

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7-Little Mermaid: Cry with the Saints Sep 02, 2015

Show notes

The real story of the Little Mermaid is way more violent and grim than the Disney version, and does not have a happy ending. It's the story of a teenage mermaid who falls in love with a human and makes a deal to get legs, but that's where the similarities end. The original includes bald mermaids, daggers, and a great way to blackmail your kids into being good.
If you've ever wanted to know way, way too much detail about a mermaid society, but hate it when your characters have names or plausible motivations, this story is for you. But really, it's very weird, and it makes you wonder why it has not only survived to the modern day, but is incredibly popular and has inspired multiple retellings.
In the creature of the week, an ape man you can't hide anything from, but who has an extremely short attention span.
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My e-mail: jason@mythpodcast.com
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Songs:
“The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan” by Chris Zabriskie
"Hypnic Jerk" by Smith Comma John
"La Valse de Marian" by Marian Badoi
"Keep on Moving" by Ton
"Rewound" by Chris Zabriskie
"Archimedes" by Jason Staczek
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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6C-King Arthur: How I Met Your Mother Aug 26, 2015

Show notes

Wrapping up this current run of King Arthur episodes, we find a kingdom in shambles. We'll see the final(ish..for now at least) battle between the Saxons and the Britons, and then the rule of King Arthur's uncle and father. Uther then decides to risk this extremely tenuous peace to woo a woman who isn't into him at all. And by woo, I mean declare war against her and her husband and use your fancy magician friend's fancy magic to trick her into...well, you'll see. Then, the sword in the stone! Also, the definitely true origins of Stonehenge!
The creature of the week carries an impractically large bowl of blood with him at all times - just sloshing around everywhere he goes - that he will dump on you if he catches you on the road at night.
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Music:
"Reveries" by Eracilon
"Gymnopedie" by Erik Satie
"Taking Dark Matter Lightly" by Alan Singley
"Love and Mystery" by Oursvince
"Max Flashback" by Lee Rosevere
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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6B-Merlin: What’s Red, White, and Fighting All Over Aug 19, 2015

Show notes

This is where we meet Merlin, a son of a demon who uses his evil powers for good. But he's not yet the bearded sorcerer we all kind of know and love. No, he first enters our story as a serious seven year-old with power over magic, the ability to prophesy, and knowledge of the past, present, and future. The only problem? He's about to be executed by Vortigern's magicians. Luckily, his life will be saved by not one, but two dragons. Its the origin story of the world's most famous legendary wizard.
Then, on the creature of the week, you'll hear me embarrass myself trying to pronounce the name of this big, stupid dog.
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Music:
"Let's Ride" by Alasdair Cooper
"Cheap Suit" by Jason Staczek
"You Know Who You Are" by Alan Singley
"Rivers and Mountains" by The Losers
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
"Wandering" by Steve Combs

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6A-King Arthur Prologue: The Once and Really Only that One Time King Aug 12, 2015

Show notes

The King Arthur legends don't actually start with Arthur, but with several years of war, intrigue, and betrayal among the Britons, and a slippery earl by the name of Vortigern not-so-subtly engineering the deaths of two kings to become king himself. We'll start at the very beginning, with Arthur's grandfather being murdered and his father fleeing across the channel to protect himself from assassins working for a usurper king. We'll also meet Merlin as a child, as he's being hunted by the king's men in the Welsh highlands.
On the creature of the week, if you're thinking about a career change into the medical field, forget all that annoying education and just become a Fairy Doctor. This somehow completely real profession from the middle ages doesn't involve any of that pesky schooling that a boring old MD requires, but allows you to heal people from this week's creature, an extremely dangerous and extremely adorable fairy from Gaelic folklore.
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Transcript (and pictures) for this episode
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5B-Slavic Folklore: The First Horcrux Aug 05, 2015

Show notes

As it turns out, Koschei the Deathless is very, very hard to kill, a fact one could probably guess from his name. This episode explores his tragic origins, as well as the ludicrously complex way he's hidden his soul (a Russian nesting doll situation that's unpleasant for everyone involved). He'll prove his name incorrect as he finally meets his demise in what amounts to the most heart-wrenching egging of all time.

In the creature this week, despite forests being kind of the only place where forest fires can take place, this sticky giant thinks nothing of tapping the ashes from his giant cigars into the dry leaves.

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5A-Slavic Folklore: Tried and Died Jul 29, 2015

Show notes

In this story of a dangerous magician from Russian folklore, you'll learn that you should maybe believe your spouse if she says you definitely don't want to know what's behind that door in the dungeon. It's the bizarre, sad, and kind of hilarious story of Koschei the Deathless, a man who seems like a much more serious and dangerous version of the Ice King from Adventure Time. Really, if you're horrible sorcerer who's a little lonely, maybe stop kidnapping princesses and just get a cat. Or a hobby. I hear podcasting is fun?
Really, though, this is exactly the type of story I love doing on this podcast. I doubt you've heard it, but it is scary, ridiculous, and a little sad, and I hope you enjoy it.

The creature of the week is the Boo Hag, a morning breath vampire, and she's a great reason for you to chew an onion before going to bed.

Link to iTunes for reviews/subscriptions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/myths-and-legends/id990897842

Link to the site: https://www.mythpodcast.com

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