351: Dragons: Alternate History

In one story, a dragon is rampaging around the countryside unless he gets his favorite meal: teenage girls. In the other, a young woman trapped in an impossible situation meets a new friend who might just be able to save her: a parrot with a secret. Two stories with two very different heroines who share one defining characteristic: their unbreakable will to survive. On the creature of the week, when it comes to making a deal with the devil, you could choose infinite wealth, power, or epic guitar skills...or you could do what the strix did and become a stinky owl monster. Disclaimer: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14475/190-chinese-folklore-fierce/ -- Music: "Where it all happened" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dark Skies Above" by Bobby Cole "Lemon and Melon" by Blue Dot Sessions "Betty Dear" by Blue Dot Sessions "Topslides" by Blue Dot Sessions "Low Slopes" by Blue Dot Sessions "Really Scary Piano Music" by Bobby Cole "Artic Draba" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sincerely Yours" by Podington Bear -- Links: A discussion of gender and Confucianism as it relates to the first story today: https://www.rejectedprincesses.com/blog/corrections/li-chis-historiography-totally-wack

29 Jul 202045min

In the third and final part of our series on the Nibelungenlied, the hero of the story, Siegfried, is dead and his wife, the princess, has a score to settle.  The creature this week is the strong toad, a super cool toad who can read your mind, but he's so nice and definitely not making me write this right now.  --  Music: "Prayer" by Enzo Orefice "Plasticity" by Blue Dot Sessions "Clockwork by Michele Nobler" "Kreis" by Luis Berra "Chain link" by Blue Dot Sessions "A Florentine Story" by Michele Nobler "Cicle Deserrat" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

22 Jul 202042min

We pick up right where we left off last week: Gunther has tricked his way into marrying Brunhild, and Brunhild decided to give him a minor test of strength on their wedding night. He failed, and ended up naked and hog-tied, yelling out for help while dangling upside down from the rafters. The creature is the Tsurube-otoshi (釣瓶落とし), from Japan, who will go head-to-head with you in the forest. Because its a giant head. -- Disclaimer: https://www.mythpodcast.com/14462/189b-nibelungenlied-heinous/ --  Music: "Two boys and a girl" by Podington Bear "Places" by Michael Vignola "Shapeshifters" by Podington Bear "Sad Goodbyes" by Mark Kueffner "Dark Time Ticking" by Robert Valenti “We are Nowhere” by Sander Kalmeijer "Sad Hymn" by Ceiri Torjussen Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

15 Jul 202035min

The story starts out with one prince slaying a dragon and getting rich. It starts there. The wild ride of the Nibelungenlied has echoes of one of our most beloved stories, the Saga of the Volsungs, with it's over-the-top characters, the ridiculous situations, the betrayals, and, yes, dragon fights. The creature is a dragon cat with poison breath. -- Music: "Order of Entrance" by Blue Dot Sessions "Palladian" by Blue Dot Sessions "Highway 430" by Blue Dot Sessions "Ranch Hand" by Blue Dot Sessions "Elegant Weasel" by Blue Dot Sessions "Searching for Hope" by Neil Cross "In the Box" by Blue Dot Sessions -- Youtube link: The Stollenwurm: https://godofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Tatzelwurm Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

8 Jul 202036min

Two stories from the bawdy, funny, and oftentimes deeply unsettling 17th century fairytale author Giambattista Basile, both of which have to do with pets. The first pet is a rooster, whose owner just can't bring himself to kill it. No judgement there. The second pet is a flea...the size of a lamb.  The creature this week is a cat that's either evil and smells like a skunk dog, a hero who defeated a demon, or a hunter who needs a toothbrush.  --  Music: "Cake" by Podington Bear "Quatrefoil" by Podington Bear "Scaffoldings" by Podington Bear "Leafeaters" by Podington Bear "Go to Sleep" by Podington Bear "Lerennis" by Blue Dot Sessions "Sunbeam" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

1 Jul 202041min

Agamemnon is coming home from the Trojan War. He has no idea what's waiting for him. There are over fifty bonus episodes on the Myths and Legends bonus feed! Check out that and weekly ad-free shows at https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Check out the store at https://shop.bardic.fm Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mythsandlegends Find the episode post and the disclaimer at https://www.mythpodcast.com/14441/187-greek-myths-the-end-to-all-our-pain/  --  Music: "Deadly recitation" by blue dot sessions "Leadin" by Blue Dot Sessions "Thin Passage" by Blue Dot Sessions "The PI Sleeps" by Blue Dot Sessions "Glimpse into a Dark Mind" by Lance Conrad Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

24 Jun 202037min

A story from the Grimm brothers about three down-on-their-luck soldiers who get everything they could ever dream of and then do their absolutely best to lose it. The extended creature of the week is a fearsome critter from Colorado - a land whale called the Slide Rock Bolter who exclusively eats tourists who care about the environment. The Myths and Legends store is up! Check it out at http://www.mythpodcast.com/store Get access to over 50 member episodes and weekly ad-free shows: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership  --  Music: "Little Door" by Podington Bear "Broken Branch" by Podington Bear "B7 Bomber" by Podington Bear "Blur and Coalesce" by Podington Bear "Moonglow" by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

17 Jun 202036min

The story of Eglė the Queen of Serpents, from Lithuanian folklore, about a young woman who is faced with an impossible choice: witness the destruction of her family...or marry a snake.  The creature is a wet, inebriated chicken named skrat who will either make you rich or burn down your house or both of those things. -- Music: "Delamine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Tiny Bottles" by Blue Dot Sessions "Donnalee" by Blue Dot Sessions "At our Best Alone" by Blue Dot Sessions "Basketliner" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Jun 202036min