270-Greek Myths: Cloud Cuckoo Land

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).  --  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

24 Jan 201837min

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.  --  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

17 Jan 201834min

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.  ---  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

10 Jan 201837min

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.  --  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

3 Jan 201835min

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.

29 Des 201744min

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

20 Des 201728min

The Amazons are at the gates, and they want what they came for: the sister of the queen that was kidnapped by Theseus...but does Antiope, the Amazon, want to return? What will the horribly outmatched and, let's face it, outwitted Theseus do? How does this whole segment only take up 1/3 of the episode? We'll see on this week's thrilling conclusion to...last week's story.    The creature this week is why you don't want to go to that fun worm dance party on the beach. I know. We ruin everything.    --  music:   "After Midnight" by Kai Engel "Delirium" by Kai Engel "Silence" by Kai Engel "Visum" by Kai Engel "Oecumene Sleeps" by Kai Engel "Crying Earth" by Kai Engel "Dancing on the Edge" by Kai Engel "Vik Fence Haflak" by Blue Dot Sessions "Vik Fence Sahder" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

13 Des 201734min

There is a monster that's worse than all other monsters. He's (literally) the father of monsters. His donkey-head scrapes the stars and his hands are a hundred snake heads. He was born for one singular purpose: to destroy the Olympians, and that's just what he'll do. His name is Typhon. And that's just the first story today. Then we launch into the main story, about Theseus and the Amazons. We'll pick back up with our buddy Hercules as he's being terrible and get a background on the Amazons and see why you shouldn't do exactly what Theseus does. Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

6 Des 201735min