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Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

Latest episodes

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Jul 2, 2025 • 50min

What are the MOUTH PROPORTIONS?! | Your Urban Legends 109

Some kids are gay. Some kids are obsessed with death. Some kids are gay AND obsessed with death. And we love that for them! Also featuring astral projecting to family functions and helping your family break the cycle of buying haunted houses.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of defecation, drug use, death, misogyny, and violence.Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning productions that save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Get 15% off your first order when you go to blueland.com/spirits- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/spirits Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jun 25, 2025 • 49min

Queer and Trans Witchcraft w/ Brooke Palmieri

We’re joined this week by author and artist, Brooke Palmieri, to discuss his new book - Bargain Witch: Essays of Self-Initiation. We chat about holding onto your weirdness, the importance of astral hygiene, and how we used the Neopets roleplay forums as a way of exploring our ideal selves. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of punishment, transphobia, bullying, religious persecution, doxxing, and sexual content. GuestBrooke Palmieri  is a writer and artist working at the intersection of memory, history, and transsexual alternate realities. Brooke founded CAMP BOOKS to promote access to queer and trans history through rare archival materials, cheap zines, and sculptural installations. His book Bargain Witch: Essays in Self-Initiation is about witchcraft, heresy, and working in an occult bookstore in London, and comes out on DOPAMINE BOOKS in October 2025.Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Bookshop.org, where you can now use the code we shared in the midroll to get 10% off your purchase!Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jun 18, 2025 • 51min

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary: A sleepover myth? Or something much deeper? We discuss the mirror rituals of the past, the women who might have inspired the myth, and how modern Bloody Mary might have been a way of fighting against the patriarchy!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment/death, illness, death, torture, execution, racism, car accidents, religious persecution, pregnancy, warfare, misogyny, and patriarchy. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Bookshop.org, where you can now use the code we shared in the midroll to get 10% off your purchase!Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jun 11, 2025 • 48min

Bees

There’s been a lot of buzz around bees, especially in folklore and mythology! From Ancient Egypt and Greece to Hinduism and Celtic folklore, the relationship between bees and humans has been considered divine - so we’re talking about the good friends, the bees! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of insects, injury, child endangerment, cannibalism, death, dismemberment, animal attacks, and sex. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/spirits Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jun 4, 2025 • 55min

Everyone Assumes the Worst of Devin the Ghost | Your Urban Legends 108

We dive into three generations of hauntings, from blackbird death omens, the worst Ouija board experience we’ve ever encountered, and a haunted cabin where the ghosts should be paying the utilities. Also, Julia and Amanda plan a road trip. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of medical issues, gentrification, death, suicide, global politics, drowning, abusive relationships, cancer, and car accidents. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning productions that save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Get 15% off your first order when you go to blueland.com/spiritsFind Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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37 snips
May 28, 2025 • 56min

The Mythos of Technology and Capitalism w/ Jathan Sadowski

Join Jathan Sadowski, a senior lecturer at Monash University and author of *The Mechanic and the Luddite*, as he unpacks the intricate connections between mythology, technology, and capitalism. He challenges the myth of technological inevitability and critiques the romanticized narratives of tech heroes. The conversation dives into the legacy of the Luddites, framing them as modern folk heroes while exploring the material consequences of our tech-driven society. Sadowski urges listeners to reconsider how corporate narratives shape our understanding of progress.
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May 21, 2025 • 50min

Gnomes 2: The Nisse

Julia really wanted to title this episode 2 Gnomes 2 Furious, but SEO! We dig into the Scandinavian Nisse and Tomte, the socialist leanings of these house spirits, and just why everyone got so into garden gnomes all of a sudden! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of poverty, death, theft, animal death, Nazis, nationalism, guns, sexual content, and climate change. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/spirits- Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning productions that save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Get up to 15% off when you go to blueland.com/spirits - Tales to Terrify is a podcast where, every week they showcase the very best in short horror fiction from well-known classic greats, award-winning modern masters, and fresh voices. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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May 14, 2025 • 43min

Gnomes

Those little red-hatted fellas that hang out in your garden? There’s enough for a whole Spirits episode on that? The answer might surprise you as we dig into the mythological (and alchemical, shoutout Paracelsus!) origins of just where they came from, and why they’re hanging out with your hydrangeas!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of grief, racism, drug use, drowning, immolation, abuse, sex, eugenics, animal attacks, and animal death. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out our merch store, where we’re running a sale on pins and stickers!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Tempo, where you can get 60% off your first box at tempomeals.com/spiritsFind Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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May 7, 2025 • 48min

The Birthplace of Dark Academia | Your Urban Legends 107

We’ve got a variety of haunted places this month for you - a haunted house (classic), a haunted college (love it), a haunted adult store (?????). Also, we explore the birthplace of Dark Academia. And yes, it’s as haunted as you’d think!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, porn, death, homophobia, true crime-related disappearances and deaths, child endangerment, child death, child disappearance, and abduction. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out our merch store, where we’re running a sale on pins and stickers!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning productions that save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Get up to 15% off when you go to blueland.com/spirits Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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27 snips
Apr 30, 2025 • 59min

Urban Legends of NYC w/ Greg Young of The Bowery Boys

Greg Young, co-host and producer of The Bowery Boys, shares his expertise on New York City's haunting history and urban legends. He recounts the eerie tale of Olive Thomas, a ghost haunting the New Amsterdam Theater, alongside personal ghost tour experiences. The conversation dives into how the city's rich tapestry of history influences its ghostly narratives and societal fears. With a dash of humor, Greg discusses how folklore can shape real estate dynamics and reflects on quirky spirits like Mickey at the haunted Ear Inn.

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