House of Legends: World Myths & Legends

By popular demand... it's time to go a-viking!This is one of the most popular Norse tales. It comes from the Prose Edda, the main source of Norse Mythology, recorded by Snorri Sturluson in Iceland in the 13th Century.Recommended texts for getting started with Norse stories:The Penguin Book of Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland (my favourite)Norse Mythology by Neil GaimanMyths of the Norsemen by Roger Lancelyn GreenI'd also highly recommend the Northern Myths podcast. Join the House of Legends club at https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

This week our guest is leading international storyteller Daniel Morden. I saw Daniel perform at Beyond the Border in Wales and was enraptured by his storytelling.Daniel works with Hugh Luton to tell the Iliad and the Odyssey, and they were awarded the 2006 Classical Association prize for 'the most significant contribution to the public understanding of the classics'. Daniel has conceived and presented numerous documentaries on storytelling for BBC Radio Wales. In 2007 he won the Tir na n-Og Award for his book Dark Tales from the Woods and he has a number of publications available of his retellings of Celtic and Greek myths and legends.Daniel is the host of the House of Stories podcast, in which he has in-depth discussions with the likes of Kate Tempest and Alan Moore.Take a look through Daniel's publications here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Morden/e/B0034NT05G?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1568233123&sr=8-2Subscribe to his podcast here:https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/thecraneskinbagAnd like his Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/DanielMordenStoryteller/My new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

This week we have the story of Vasalisa the Beautiful, the most famous Russian folk-tale.The story was collected by Alexander Afanasyev for his Russian Folk-Tales collections, which were published between 1855-1863. It was made into a film by the same name, and has featured in the Hellboy cartoon as well as  various short stories. Most recently, Sophie Anderson used the story as the basis for her novel, The House With Chicken Legs, while Clarissa Pinkola Estes analysed the story in Women Who Run With The Wolves.Get access to every new House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

House of Legends is back!Our guest this week is Michael Harvey. Michael Harvey is an internationally performing storyteller and a recipient of the prestigious Creative Wales award. Recently he has worked with production company Adverse Camber on Dreaming The Night Field, a piece based on the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion, which toured Australia earlier this year.Michael was kind enough to share both an exclusive preview of his forthcoming show Taliesin, and to share a recording of Branwen, his retelling of the Second Branch of the Mabinogion. Both were created and performed in collaboration with Pauline Down.Learn more about Michael, get exclusive downloads and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at www.michaelharvey.org. Learn more about the Mabinogion at https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-Mabinogion/Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

The story comes from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and the version I based my telling on is called 'The Dark Doctor' in 'Celtic Sea Stories' by George Macpherson. I've made a few little tweaks but the story is essentially the same.Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

This episode was recorded at Storyfest Singapore in June 2019, where I was fortunate enough to see a group of young storytellers perform. The group had been mentored by festival organiser and legendary storyteller Kamini Ramachandran, and it was such a pleasure for me to see young people taking up the art of storytelling and doing so with passion, grace and skill. Charlotte was part of that group. She and I got talking over our welcome dinner and thankfully she agreed to tell a story for House of Legends! The story tells the origin of the Kitchen Gods, or Tao Quan. These gods were traditionally an important part of every Vietnamese household, and even have a day dedicated to them - the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar calendar. On the day they report what they have seen to the Jade Emperor. It was fascinating to hear Charlotte talk about how her mother would make offerings to the Kitchen Gods while she was growing up.You can follow Charlotte at @_charlotteelizabeth on Instagram, and catch her storytelling at events across Singapore. Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

A European folk-tale that feels absolutely universal. In some versions, there is an axe in the soup, instead of stones.No source for this - I've only ever heard it orally. Try telling it yourself - its a very simple story to get started with!Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

A Brazilian tale from storyteller Ana Maria Lines.Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

An episode from the Tain Bo Cauilgne, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, the great epic of Irish & Celtic oral literature.A great translation of the Tain is:The Tain by Ciaran CarsonI've been so inspired by this stunning reimagining of the Cuchulainn tales - it is heartbreaking how little attention this book has received:Cuchulainn & The Crow Queen by Bernard KellyBoth are essentials for any mythic library!Get access to every House of Legends episode and patron-only worksheets by becoming a patron at:https://www.patreon.com/houseoflegends  Get my FREE ebook Silverborn at:https://www.houseoflegends.me/landing-pageStudy with me at the Roundhouse Storytelling School and get a FREE pack of stories to tell:https://www.roundhouseschool.comLearn about Myth Singers, my storytelling coaching program, at:www.houseoflegends.me/story-coachingGet my books, Scottish Myths & Legends, The Shattering Sea and Finn & The Fianna, at Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+allison&crid=3LFU9R8PFUBP1&sprefix=daiel+all%C3%AD%2Caps%2C217&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daniel-Allison/e/B081PNRL92/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADaniel+Allison&s=relevancerank&text=Daniel+Allison&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1Join us on FBhttps://www.facebook.com/houseoflegendspodcasInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcastMusic by Kate Young https://www.kateyoungmusic.comMy new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.

A tale from the legendary Scottish Traveller storyteller, Duncan Williamson.I heard this on an audio recording of Duncan. The same story can be found in:'The Coming of the Unicorn' by Duncan Williamson, edited by Linda WilliamsonLearn more about Duncan in the two volume biography written by his friend and student David Campbell,  'A Traveller in Two Worlds' by David Campbell.My new series of online Cave of Dreams events with Danica Boyce runs October 2025 to February 2026. Learn more here. Support the podcast by buying an ebook for the price of a cup of coffee here.Get my free full-colour Celtic Mythology Handbook here.Thanks for being part of House of Legends.