

Myths and Legends
Jason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Jason Weiser and Carissa Weiser tell stories from myths, legends, and folklore that have shaped cultures throughout history. Some, like the stories of Aladdin, King Arthur, and Hercules are stories you think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories you might not have heard, but really should. All the stories are sourced from world folklore, but retold for modern ears. These are stories of wizards, knights, Vikings, dragons, princesses, and kings from the time when the world beyond the map was a dangerous and wonderful place.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 21, 2018 • 49min
100B-Knights of the Round Table: Family Reunion
Things get weird this week. The knights continue their quests through the Country of Strange Adventure, and the side-quests becomes the main quest as the knights get involved with: Bad breakups Vengeance Dragons eating dogs eating stags Death choirs Elderly women looking for a good time Church decorations Way too much more Also, were you wondering what happened to Arthur's incestuous offspring, Mordred? Neither was anyone else! But he's back just in time for something horrible to happen.
The creature this time is the cuero, a nice looking blanket to keep sand off you on the beach and also maybe your skin as well.
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Music: "Lick Stick" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dark Water" by Podington Bear "Nocturne Op 27 No 1" by Podington Bear "Rain on Glass" by Podington Bear "Pxl Cray" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plataz" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fence Lardha" by Blue Dot Sessions "Bivly" by Blue Dot Sessions "Mad Scientist" by Fog Lake "Connect the Dots" by Statusq
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Feb 14, 2018 • 32min
100A-Knights of the Round Table: Buddy System
Yvain and Gawain are just two best friends taking a fun trip together. Nevermind that they've been exiled from Camelot forever, making it a mandatory best friends vacation. It sparks the beginning of a yearlong quest filled with morbid church decorations, dragon diets consisting solely of puppies, and sad, creepy knights. Basically your standard Arthurian legend.
The creature of the week is a fearsome critter who loves your scent...especially if that scent is rum...
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Music: "Blue Highway" by Podington Bear "Ice Pack" by Podington Bear "In My Head" by Podington Bear "Miss You" by Podington Bear "In the Back Room" by Blue Dot Sessions "Peacoat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Borough" by Blue Dot Sessions
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Feb 7, 2018 • 32min
99-William Tell: One Shot
The story of William Tell is so much more than an arrow and an apple. It's the story of a reluctant hero, a tyrannical ruler, and why you shouldn't let your prisoners drive the vehicle you're using to take them to prison.
The creature this week is the cockatrice, and if you see a frog keeping eggs warm, that is just a completely normal and ok thing that won't end up destroying you and everyone you love.
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Music: "Cicle Clavis Textile" by Blue Dot Sessions "In Paler Skies" by Blue Dot Sessions "Gullwing Sailor" Blue Dot Sessions "KeoKeo" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Caspian Sea" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fenceta" by Blue Dot Sessions "Waltz for Zacaria" by Blue Dot Sessions
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 2018 • 32min
98-Native American History: Runner in the Night
A powerful Apache woman seeks revenge in the late 1800s, executing a daring plan with meticulous plotting. The story delves into her historical significance and confrontation with a Comanche Chief. The folklore creature Chon Chon from Chile symbolizes achieving dreams through gruesome means.

Jan 24, 2018 • 38min
97-Jack and the Beanstalk: Sleeping Giant
I feel pretty confident saying that this episode is the most fun you'll have listening to a story about child murder and cannibalism. Jack of Jack and the beanstalk fame is a hero who's...not really a hero. He's a lazy teenager who's kind of stupid. It's ok, though, because he keeps running into a kind ogre who repeatedly feeds him and saves his life...and he repays her kindness by robbing her blind. The second story is that of Jack the Giant Killer, which I just recently learned is a different Jack. His story loops in with King Arthur's too, and it's just a lot of fun...if waking up in matted, greasy giant hair is your idea of fun.
The creature this week is a giant pig monster from Greek mythology! Which giant pig monster? Well, that's the fun (hint: there are too many giant pig monsters in Greek mythology).
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Music: "Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie "Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie "Cicle Ariel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lanky" by Blue Dot Sessions "March on Gumdrop Field" by Blue Dot Sessions "Plum King" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Gall" by Podington Bear "Villano" by Blue Dot Sessions
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Jan 17, 2018 • 35min
96-Russian Folklore: Cold as Ice
Two vastly different stories of children made from snow. The first is one where the king is called on to solve some dating issues...but then discovers something far colder is at play. The second is the completely real story of a totally legitimately born snow child and what do you mean you don't think he's real? Of course he's real? Well, whatever. You can't prove otherwise so what are you going to do about it?
The creature this week is one that likes to make his home (and his toilet!) out of cinnamon.
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Music: "Cicle Gerano" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cicle Veroni" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lord Weasel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Intermezzo" by Blue Dot Sessions "Paper Feather" by Blue Dot Sessions "Peacetime" by Blue Dot Sessions "This is Our Home" by Blue Dot Sessions
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Jan 10, 2018 • 38min
95B-Irish Legends: Finn the Human
A giant otherworldly monster that shoots fire from its mouth. The treacherous chief that killed his father. A super-smart fish dinner. These are just some of the things that Finn MacCool has to deal with as we wrap up the first part of his story and see how he comes to terms with his father's complicated legacy.
The creature is the best at what it does, and what it does isn't very nice. Because it involves sneaking into your house at night and stalking you with its beady little insect eyes and razor-sharp claws.
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Music: "So it Goes" by Podington Bear "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear "Gale" by Blue Dot Sessions "Circle DR Valga" by Blue Dot Sessions "Circle Vascule" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lochley Fells" by Blue Dot Sessions "Lumber Down" by Blue Dot Sessions
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Jan 3, 2018 • 35min
95A-Irish legends: Wanted
If I could have just re-named myself in grade school, it probably would have been Finn MacCool. I mean, yeah, that's only an English transcription and it's actually spelled Fionn mac Cumhaill and it doesn't really mean "Cool guy named Finn" but, loosely, "Fair one who is the son of Cumhaill" but, you know, details. Really, really stupid joking aside, today's story is awesome. It's parts tense human drama, revenge tale, and fantasy epic. It has young people trying to avenge their parents, giant monster fights, and, of course, a very smart fish. It's a two-parter, and it's been one of my favorite stories so far on this podcast.
The creature this week is a fire monster who likes to play with his food. Unfortunately, that involves flinging flaming heads at grieving families.
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Music: "Cab Ride" by Blue Dot Sessions "Cicle Deserrat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Down by the Bank" by Blue Dot Sessions "Invernen" by Blue Dot Sessions "Headway" by Kai Engel "Slum Canto" by Kai Engel "Evermore" by Kai Engel "Cold War Echo" by Kai Engel
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Dec 29, 2017 • 44min
Bonus-The Time Machine: Inspector Spacetime
Since Myths and Legends is off this week, I thought I would run an episode from our other show, Fictional. It's a podcast where we adapt and retell stories from all over fiction. Today's episode is part one of "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells. If you're not already subscribed, this is a chance to check out the new show, and if you are, we'll see you next week with a new Myths and Legends! --- Subscribe to Fictional: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.fictional.fm/ Spotify: http://spotify.fictional.fm Stitcher: http://stitcher.fictional.fm/ Google Play: http://google.fictional.fm/ via the site: https://fictional.fm Copy and paste our RSS feed anywhere you get your podcasts: http://fictional.libsyn.com/rss --- Here are the original shownotes for this episode: "The Time Machine" is a book written by the father of science fiction, H.G. Wells. This is a book so famous that it actually coined the phrase "time machine" to refer to a machine that travels through time. It is a short but sprawling book, flinging mankind into the farthest future where we see how the consequences of our actions today can affect the world for millennia. It still holds up, too. It's a little more plot- and concept-heavy than today's novels, but it's a fascinating story full of interesting twists. The villain this time is neither fascinating nor full of twists. He's a one-note idiot obsessed with returning to a past that never was. ----- Music: “Cylinder Three” by Chris Zabriskie Additional music by Breakmaster CylinderSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 20, 2017 • 29min
94-Norse Legends: A Very Viking Christmas
The story of a few violent, zombie-filled Christmases from Norse legend.
There are two creatures this week! The first is the gloso! A friendly little piggy who will stop by to say hi. Except if you forget her Christmas gift. Then she turns into a demon of the night with glowing red eyes. The other is the nisse, a gnome will merely beat you senseless for forgetting his gift. Basically just remember to get gifts for all the mythological creatures on your list.
Music: "Anxiety" by Kai Engel "Floret" by Kai Engel "Delicant" by Podington Bear "Morels" by Podington Bear "Sorrento" by Podington Bear "Steps" by Podington Bear "Storm Passing" by Podington Bear
Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership