Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

We’ve talked about the gods, but what about the rest of the figures from Norse mythology? We’re talking frost giants, giant wolves, world serpents, and so much more. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, death, animal attacks, beauty standards, warfare, animal death, torture, and natural disasters. Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends a beach read!- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Listen to Games and Feelings today!Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Shaker & Spoon is a subscription cocktail service that helps you learn how to make hand-crafted cocktails right at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/cool Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.Transcripts are available at http://spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to http://spiritspodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider (who you can also follow on BlueSky). We are founding members of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eric Silver, Head of Creative at Multitude, discusses monster-branded commercials in this entertaining episode. Topics include Godzilla and King Kong's effectiveness in selling products, comparisons of Sasquatch and Swat Monster cosplays, the benefits of therapy and craft cocktails at home, favorite monster beer commercials, the chaotic nature of Gritty the mascot, and comedic analysis of Dracula and Sasquatch in commercials.

Crocs on rocks! We’re joined by Niki Grayson to explore your urban legends: a shapeshifting, Crocs loving tanuki, and the fae teaching a baby Calculus.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, murder, mental illness, animal injury, nudity, death, child death, and car accidents.  GuestNiki Grayson is a brand manager, community builder, and content creator. They are one of the hosts of If You’re Driving, Close Your Eyes. Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Traitors Australia!- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out the free Multitude Discord!  Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Wildgrain is the first bake-from-frozen box for artisanal bread. For a limited time, you can get $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/Spirits to start your subscription.- Brooklinen delivers luxury bed sheets, pillows, comforters, & blankets straight to your door. Visit Brooklinen.com today for $20 off plus free shipping. Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re joined this week by photographers and creatives, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, to chat about Western fairy tale retellings, African folklore, and creating fairy tales for a new generation of kids! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of racism, beauty standards, misogyny, arranged marriage, death, and domestic violence.  GuestsRegis and Kahran Bethencourt are a husband-and-wife duo and the imaginative forces behind CreativeSoul Photography and creators of Crowned. With more than ten years of working with hundreds of children, families and brands, they specialize in child and lifestyle photography while incorporating authentic visual storytelling. As artists, CreativeSoul Photography is committed to helping kids and brands create fascinating imagery by operating as a one-stop shop offering expert creative direction, vision, planning, strategy, and execution. They've worked with brands small and large around the globe such as Disney, Amazon, Just for Me, CurlyKids Haircare, CamilleRose Haircare and more. Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out the MultiCrew!  Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Brooklinen delivers luxury bed sheets, pillows, comforters, & blankets straight to your door. Visit Brooklinen.com today for $20 off plus free shipping. Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s so many gods and goddesses in Norse mythology! But sadly not a lot of surviving stories about them. So we did a quick roundup to tell you about some of our favorite stories of the lesser known Vanir and Aesir! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of war, violence, death, animal attacks, dismemberment, bugs, birth and labor, genitals,  Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Planthropology Pod and Dr. Vikram Baliga’s TikTok!- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out Exolore, where Dr. Moiya McTier explores fictional worlds by building them with a panel of expert guests, interviewing professional worldbuilders, or reviewing the merits of worlds that have already been built. Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Tab for a Cause, where you can raise money for charity while browsing the web! Join team Spirits at tabforacause.org/spirits Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Greek mythology to fairy lore, Shakespeare has always loved the magical and supernatural in his plays. With A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we chat about hot messengers, earnest amateur actors, and the parallels between rulers and fairy kings. Also, why doesn’t everyone just kiss a little?Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of genitals, death, execution, racism, exoticism, murder, human sacrifice, and abduction.   Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Life with Leo(h)- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out Pale Blue Pod: an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend! New episodes every Monday, wherever you get your podcasts! Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Shaker & Spoon is a subscription cocktail service that helps you learn how to make hand-crafted cocktails right at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/cool  Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re joined by author Samara Breger, to talk about vampires: queer vampires, Jewish vampires, and reclaiming The Vampire.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of antisemitism, The Holocaust, eugenics, blood, homophobia/lesbophobia, misogyny, stalking, predatory relationships, animal death, sex, and death.  GuestSamara Breger writes books about women in improbable circumstances falling in love. Before she started writing books, she worked in public radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. She is a proud News and Documentary Emmy loser. If you peek into her work history, you'll find a lot of stuff about sex, reproductive health, and queer people. Her new book, A Long Time Dead, is now available. Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the game Inscryption- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Listen to Join the Party today! Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Brooklinen delivers luxury bed sheets, pillows, comforters, & blankets straight to your door. Visit Brooklinen.com today for $20 off plus free shipping.- Shaker & Spoon is a subscription cocktail service that helps you learn how to make hand-crafted cocktails right at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/cool  Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kids love triangles. Even though they’re very haunted. We tell camp stories featuring night sweeping, our desire to visit the school’s boiler room, and the RETURN OF THE DEMON PLUSH.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, genitals, death, natural disasters, insects, child endangerment, child death, and blood.  Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Sarina Bowen’s True North series.- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Listen to Games and Feelings today! Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Brooklinen delivers luxury bed sheets, pillows, comforters, & blankets straight to your door. Visit Brooklinen.com today for $20 off plus free shipping.- Tab for a Cause, where you can raise money for charity while browsing the web! Join team Spirits at tabforacause.org/spirits Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books. About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s in a name? Well, it turns out, a whole lot! We dive into the religious and folkloric origins of the True Name, the fantasy works it inspired, and how names are just as powerful now as they were in the dawn of humanity.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, animal attacks, racism, slavery, and religious persecution.Housekeeping- Links: Read more about names in Judaism here, here, and here!- Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Listen to Tell Me About It today!Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo, available in your podcast app now or at jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcastFind Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books.Transcripts are available at http://spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to http://spiritspodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s time for Freya, a goddess that contains multitudes. We discuss why amber is the coolest material for jewelry, Freya’s BATTLE SWINE, and the best drink ever: The Beer of Memory. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, violence, war, death, transphobia, toxic masculinity, slut shaming, and bestiality.   Housekeeping- Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the Jacques in the Garden YouTube channel- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Take the Multitude summer survey now at multitude.productions/survey Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/spirits- Kitsch is a global beauty powerhouse built on positivity and pure hard work. Get 30% off your order at MyKitsch.com/spirits Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books. About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.