Myths and Legends-logo

Myths and Legends

History Podcasts

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.

Play Button

Location:

NY

Description:

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.

Twitter:

@mythpodcast

Language:

English

Episodes

313A-1001 Nights: Party Down

3/21/2023
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. The creature is haakapainizi, a folksy grasshopper! Who is also a cannibal! The membership! https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership The Best of the Worst! https://villains.lol/listen Tiny Lobster Hands! https://myths.link/lobsterhands * * * Sponsors: Athletic Greens: AG1 by Athletic Greens is an easier way to take...

Duration:00:37:13

312-Norwegian Folklore: Let's Dance

3/14/2023
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. The creature is why you should avoid home improvement projects like the plague...because you could be literally plagued with wood and earth imps. Membership! Want ad-free and bonus episodes? Check out Myths and Legends Plus in Apple Podcasts or go to https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Best of the...

Duration:00:44:07

311-Samurai: Lost and Found

3/7/2023
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 creature is Rübezahl, a turnip counter, and we'll see why you shouldn't trust people who love vegetables. Best of the Worst! https://villains.lol/listen/ The disclaimer and source: https://myths.link/311 --- Sponsors: Rocket Money: Stop throwing...

Duration:00:56:25

310-Norse Sagas: The Maiden King

2/28/2023
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. There's a lot going on this week. The creature this week is the Pope Lick Monster, who shows that the most dangerous thing of all is our own superstition. And also being hit by trains. Show post and article: https://myths.link/310 Best of the Worst is back!...

Duration:00:46:17

309-Scandinavian Folklore: The Enemy of my Enemy

2/21/2023
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. The creature this week is a forest creature who won't lope lazily past your out-of-focus camera...because he'll fly past. He's Batsquatch! Show post and Batsquatch article: https://myths.link/309 Best of the Worst is back! https://villains.lol/listen -- Sponsors: PIA...

Duration:00:41:16

308-Tricksters: Food Chain

2/14/2023
Stories of tricksters from the folklore of the Hopi, Northern Pueblo, and Algonquin people. Coyote makes an enemy when he steals Fox's best friend...and eats him. We meet Rabbit Boy and learn how to get a free ride from your worst enemy. Then, we see how that guy who keeps trying to bite your tail off...might not be your friend? -- Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Assorted insects: https://myths.link/insectassortment -- Sponsors: Babbel:...

Duration:00:43:30

307-Dragons: Pie Hard

2/7/2023
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. This is the tale of the Knucker. The creature this week is Bunny Man! He throws axes at cars! -- The post with the disclaimer and pictures and all that: https://myths.link/307 Crayfish: https://myths.link/cray The membership!...

Duration:00:37:29

306-Latin American Folklore: Payback

1/31/2023
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 creature is the magician's monster from Castle Frankenstein, a living lesson of why you shouldn't brag about your elixir of life and then die a year later. -- Cat Butt Key Caps:...

Duration:00:35:43

305-Turkish Folklore: Angry Bird

1/24/2023
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. It's a big week. The creature is the neugle, a handsome little horse that gives Lil' Sebastian a run for his money. -- Music: "Among the Reeds" by Podington Bear "Caprese" by Blue Dot Sessions "Chel Taza" by Blue Dot Sessions "Enter on Bull Lake" by Podington...

Duration:00:36:26

304-Celtic Folklore: Among Us

1/17/2023
Two stories from Celtic folklore of the things that lurk among us: witches that live in our home town, trolls that hold dance parties on the frozen wastes, and tiny, 1000-year-old fairy creatures who are buying drinks after work. The creature this week is the Giant of Smeeth, who would really like you to watch your language, please. ***Slight correction*** I mention that it is 9th century Scotland in the first story. It's...probably not? The stories are just kind of vaguely Medieval...

Duration:00:38:43

303-Japanese Folklore: Rice and Means

1/10/2023
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. The creature this time is ao nyōbō, and she doesn't want you to stop by her beautiful, horribly dilapidated mansion. -- Creature page: https://yokai.com/aonyoubou/ Fart spray: https://myths.link/ohfarts Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership -- Sponsors: BOMBAS! https://bombas.com/legends with code...

Duration:00:44:16

302-Jewish Folklore: Losing Hares

1/3/2023
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 creature is B.O.B., the Beast of Blattenboro, and he's here to do two things: exsanguinate dogs and scare people...and there is a lot of dog blood to suck and people to scare, so it's going to be around for a while. -- Links! Links here! Get your links! Creepy baby hand candles: https://myths.link/babyhandles The Beast of Blattenboro newspaper article:...

Duration:00:35:10

301-Japanese Folklore: After Sundown

12/27/2022
The story of a family and the monsters that hunt them. The twist? These are monsters that they might know better than they realize. The creature is snow snake! It's a snake that lives in the snow, and if you're thinking, "that's ridiculous, snakes are cold blooded!" Well, while you were thinking about that it bit you and you died. Congrats. -- Links! Reuter's fact-check on Snow Snakes (2021): https://myths.link/snowsnakesreuters Snopes on Snow Snakes (2014):...

Duration:00:19:26

300-Norse Christmas: A Slaying Song Tonight

12/20/2022
An abbot spends Christmas surrounded by outlaws in the dark forest, so he can listen to mysterious, otherworldly music. A farm has a fun Christmas tradition where employees end up dead on Christmas morning. It must be the holidays in Swedish and Icelandic folklore. The creature is draugr of the sea, Norse sea zombies, who are going to get in the way of your holiday mead run. -- Like ad-free and bonus episodes? You'd like the Myths and Legends membership, here...

Duration:00:46:04

299-Korean Folklore: Long Con

12/13/2022
The spies are coming. Governor Sim has gone too far and earned the attention of the king, who's sending people to see what's going on in Sim's district. The only thing? Sim is four steps ahead of the king and those spies don't know what they're walking into. The creature is Western Europe's first vampire! And why you want to avoid mixing sorcery with your home improvement projects! -- Links! Say hi on Instagram? https://instagram.com/mythsandlegends New episode of Scoundrel out today!...

Duration:00:43:39

298-Finnish Folklore: Footsteps in the Dark

12/6/2022
A home improvement project 800 years in the making that includes way too many wolves, rat parts, and beards. It's the story of the Tomten of Åbo Castle, from Finnish folklore. The creatures are women with varying degrees of faces from British folklore. The one thing they have in common? Drunk, possibly concussed guys are the only people that have seen them. -- Åbo/Turku Castle tour Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPSIBVQ8p3E Membership:...

Duration:00:46:30

297-Monkey King: Up in Smoke

11/29/2022
We're back in the story of the Monkey King as he and the crew continues their journey to the west. Xanzang, the monk, of course gets captured again, but this time, it's by the son of an old friend of Monkey's from back in his pillaging days! He figures things should go well. Because, of course, there is nothing children love more than being bossed around. The creature is the L'esak, and it's why you shouldn't eat that delicious road bread, no matter how good it looks. -- Myths and Legends...

Duration:00:47:42

296B-Roman/Greek myths: Should I Bray or Should I Go?

11/22/2022
Lucius has been turned into a donkey after using the wrong body lotion. Then, he was kidnapped by bandits. Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Lucius. The creature is the Korori (虎狼狸), who offers a new way to feel better after you get sick. -- Links! Shop: https://shop.bardic.fm Disclaimer: https://myths.link/296b Source one for creature of the week: https://yokai.com/korouri/ Source two for creature of the week:...

Duration:00:49:42

296A-Greek Myths: To Bewitch or Not to Bewitch

11/15/2022
Lucius’s lifelong dream, as of ten minutes ago, is learning how to do sorcery. Luckily, he’s not only in a city crawling with witches who are slicing bits off people’s faces to do their magic and bringing wineskins to life, but his hostess is a sorceress herself, and all he has to do is catch her in the act. The creature is the Lizard Man, lover of sinking his claws into cars…and his teeth into some Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. — Disclaimer: https://myths.link/296 Scoundrel:...

Duration:00:45:53

295-1001 Nights: What's in the Box?

11/8/2022
The story of a merchant gets lost ducking out early from a funeral and who ends up sleeping in a graveyard…and that’s somehow the least scary thing that happens to him that year. The creature is the Sirin, and they’ll only sing for you if you’re super happy and harmonious. So, kind of never. — Disclaimer: https://myths.link/295 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Come say hi on Mastodon if that's your thing:...

Duration:00:48:30

See More