Myths and Legends

The story of a storyteller who can't think of a story to tell, and how a stranger solves that problem by getting him fired and taking him on wacky adventures with too many beheadings.

How do you ensure your children grow up to be good people? You work with a fairy to design jewelry that stabs them, of course!

Three(ish) stories from the Korean peninsula about ghosts and goblins. Kind of. Some are actual ghosts and goblins (도깨비). Some are the ghosts of happier times and the lives we thought we wanted. Some goblins literally beat us up when they cheat at board games. There's a lot to learn this week.

We're back in the stories of the Monkey King on the Journey to the West and we'll see that not everyone who is mean to you is a demon. They might be a murderous bandit! Also, try to make friends that can tell the difference between you and your evil doppelgänger.

The story of Ketil Trout is about growing up and learning to be your own person. It's a coming-of-age tale with giant fights, dragon slaying, and outlaw who know way to many trout facts.

Tales of everyone's favorite Olympian in charge of warfare, wisdom (& crafts!): Athena. Well, everyone's favorite except for anyone who has been led to a grisly adventurer fate by her. Or been turned into a monster by her. Or has adopted a snake from her. Or...

The story of Culhwch and Olwen is that of a thousand quests and why it's probably ok to name your baby after the place they were born...but maybe not if they were born in a literal pigsty.

The story of Mirza, from Armenian folklore, and why it pays to be a heavy sleeper. Also, if you find your incredibly angry, stinky uncle chained up in a closet...it's probably best to leave him there. If you can.

A knight learns that generosity for those in need is good. Generosity to the point where you're in a worse spot than those you're helping? Maybe it's time to make a budget. Also, why you should follow that very, very stinky man in the woods. The creature is the Hobyah! Despite their fun sounding name, they're horrible. Their victims, sadly, are not much better.

Lord Long Legs is a spider daimyo with ruthless mantis samurai. Sazaye has an impenetrable shell that will always keep him safe. An eel grilling couple discovers a secret in their midst. Three stories collide on this week's episode.

What happens when you mix chastity, violence, and absolutely zero private baths? The history of the Olympian Artemis...and a whole lot of problems.

A Halloween story about the specter bridegroom. A bridegroom. Who's also a specter...and the bride who's actually really ok with that.

The story of Frithiof and Ingeborg is rife with evil trolls, good trolls, sea witches, land witches, and how to move on when the tragedy of the past has changed you (into an actual troll). The creatures this week are Havman and Havfrue, Danish mer-people who might mer-der you or just give you a nice mer-ssage to relax. Mer.

Viking is a Viking. His dad was either not very creative when it came to naming him, or had a very specific plan for his life. In his story we meet evil giants, awesome mythological dwarf dads, and the only Viking ball game that doesn't turn deadly...during the ball game. It kind of does immediately afterward, though.

For the god of healing, Apollo sure does a lot of the exact opposite. Born to a mother on the run from a giant snake, Apollo's life only gets more chaotic and destructive from there.

Xuanzang, the monk leading the Monkey King, Pigsy, and Sandy on their journey to the west doesn't want to get married. The city full of women who want to marry him don't really care.

Two stories from Indian folklore where we learn that you should always know your exact weight in mangos...because it might help you outrun those eight guys trying to murder you. Also, being a parent is difficult, especially when your clever ideas to punish your kids just make them more awesome.

The epic story of Fatima, Dhat Al-Himma, the warrior woman, princess, mystic begins with the misadventures of her family line where they learn the perils of bad poetry, why you shouldn't marry genies, and it might be a bad thing to constantly rob your enemies when your bank account gets a little low.

You've heard of rock, paper, scissors, but have you heard of slug, frog, snake? That old man you're trying to rob who lives in the mountains by himself has. Hope you like everything being covered in slime.

Two stories from English folklore about the secrets we keep. The first is the story of the Monk of Leicester, Dan Hew, a man who has a few verses of poetry he wants to yell at the married women of the village. All the married women. Humphrey Kynaston likes to party and has made it his life's goal to spend all his dad's money, a goal he'll be able to check off his todo list sooner than he thinks because he's terrible with money. The creature is the Dobhar-Chu, a vicious otter who might just get his own true crime podcast.

Two stories from Yiddish folklore of taking a chance, making a change, going for a ride on a giant bird's wings, yelling at a classroom full of kids, and marrying a demon. Not necessarily in that order.

What would you do if you could have anything you could imagine, but it would cost you everything you have? That's not a choice Hans made, but one he was stuck with when his dad made a terrible deal for a wishing box. The creature is why you should help out that unfortunate stranger with their laundry (but not really)

We're back in the story of the Monkey King with the Journey to the West, and we'll see Sun Wukong finally meet his match: a buffalo with a headband.

The story of Finette Cendron is like a greatest hits of fairy tales. A tale of betrayal, sisters, ogres, bad poetry, and haircuts, we see three sisters brave the wilds and everything the fairy tale world can throw at them, to make things right.

A story with magic carpets, genies, fairies, and a man who can wrap his mustache around his head, we learn the value of communication, understanding, and not having people murdered.

Aphrodite is looking for love in all the wrong places.

Two young men: a wildman determined to collect 1000 swords from defeated samurai, and a displaced son of a clan leader, who had spent his childhood on the run. Together, these two would find their place in the world, and change it in the process.

The story of Erec and Enide from Arthurian Legend is a good illustration of why you should try to work out your problems as a couple with empathy, understanding, and communication...and not through a deadly quest filled with pointless, brutal combat.

Two Norwegian tales of asking dad. All seven of them. Who live in the same house. Or might not have a house to go back to, depending on the story.

On his quest to help princess Ingigerd, Hrolf has become enslaved by the wily William, a con man who wants to be a prince. This episode, they'll come face-to-face with ghost kings, giant walruses, mythological dwarves, and the evil wizard that took down an entire kingdom.

This week, it's the Saga of Göngu-Hrolf, from Icelandic folklore. It starts with a king getting one, solitary, five-foot-long, apparently super attractive hair wrapped in a scarf...and only gets better from there.

The hero twins will rise...and then fall. The underworld calls, and the monsters of their past comes back to haunt them.

In the beginning, the gods apparently had an undo button. And angry tortilla griddles that took out the first humans. Today, it's the beginning of the beginning in the Popol Vuh.

Subramanya has learned something terrible about two people who are practically siblings to him. Can he use his deep wisdom to beat the life that's laid out before them?

Who is the smith god of Olympus? Why is he married to Aphrodite, and why can't he catch a break? This week, it's all about Hephaestus and his journey of self discovery where he (hopefully) doesn't fall off a mountain. Again.

We're back in the story of the Monkey King, and monkey finds a noble new calling: freeing enslaved monks.

It's the story of "The White Cat" by Madame d'Aulnoy, and in addition to questionable parenting, there are quests, dwarves that are just doing their job, evil fairies, and cat ballet.

A story from Korean folklore about friendship, kindness, moving on, and why magicians are terrible actors.

The story from Greek mythology of how Hermes became an Olympian by killing a turtle and eating some barbecue.

We wrap of the stories of the dervishes (and the mysterious visitors to the party who are DEFINITELY NOT the caliph and Jafar) and then the hostess and her sisters find the tables have turned...because, yes of course, they have been threatening the life of their ruler, but more because...why were they beating those dogs and weeping??

A party no one can speak of under threat of death. Genie fights, wizard battles, and grocery shopping. Yes, we're back in One Thousand and One Nights.

A Norwegian tale about why you should pay your employees a living wage (or at least not beat them and try to have them executed), or else you could end up in a never-ending dance party.

A Ronin (a masterless samurai) goes on a quest to find a stolen sword and restore the honor of his family's name, but, when it comes to pushing the limits of what is right in order to see his mission through, how far is too far?

The story of Sigrgarthr and the Maiden King, from Icelandic folklore has Viking male models, ruthless princesses, people shoving metal down their pants to make unbeatable weapons, dragons, trolls, witches, and monsters.

This week, there are three stories of people bargaining: with the devil, with that angry lady who owns too many cats, and with...rocks, and we'll see that the person you need...might be the one you least suspect.

Stories of tricksters from the folklore of the Hopi, Northern Pueblo, and Algonquin people.

The story of why, no matter how good of an idea it sounds like after a few drinks, you shouldn't steal church bells and drop them into a nearby pond. You might awaken an ancient evil. Because of course you will.

Two stories from Latin America folklore about people (and animals?) getting payback. The first is a story about why you shouldn't bite strangers. The second is about a man who can make the dead rise...but for a small fee will make sure that they stop.

The story of the Bird of Sorrow, from Turkish folklore, has love, loss, gratitude, people messing up coffeehouses, genie girlfriends, and elaborate pranks involving not being able to take off your pants.

Two stories from Celtic folklore of the things that lurk among us

Two stories from Japan about samurai (and wannabe samurai) following their dreams. Too bad it takes fights with giant creatures and a little bit of murder to do so.

This week, we learn where you shouldn't kiss a rabbit (it's exactly where you think), and how a dance party can save a city.

The story of a family and the monsters that are coming for them - monsters that they might know better than they realize.