360: Leprechauns: Lucky

People throughout history, before they died, have seen something...strange. They have seen ghostly doubles haunting their steps, foretelling their doom. These things are called doppelgängers, and while they mean something different now - basically someone that looks like you - their folklore origins are something far more ominous and sinister. This episode is about the shadowy creatures of ill omen that follow us all, and the famous historical figures that have seen theirs before they met their end. The creature of the week is an extended, creepy story of a creature from Japanese folklore, and a solitary priest that became lost in the mountains. Patreon! Say hi on Facebook Find the show on iTunesSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Okt 201537min

The tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, legendary Viking king and main character of the History Channel series "Vikings" and the many women in his life you absolutely do not want to mess with. It contains Viking battles, murder, betrayal, and heartbreak, uncommonly-ugly peasants, and, of course, a dragon fight. For the creature of the week, if anyone in the woods calls to you from a bush asking you to stop what you're doing to play a tickle game, you should probably say no. You should definitely say no if it's this long-fingered creature who will literally tickle you to death. Say hello on the Facebook Patreon! Paye-tree-on! Find the show on iTunes A couple pictures of the big harp Songs: "This" by Tryad "Akantha" by Lazath "Meditation" by Eracilon "Python" by Rolemusic "A Trip to Paris" by Peter Perio "Something Elated" by Broke for Free "Wandering" by Steve CombsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Okt 201534min

For over 200 years in western Europe, there was a pervasive belief among large portions of the population that the upper classes in society were hiding something - women horribly cursed with the heads of pigs . Not an insult or a metaphor, no, these were women who were thought literally to be pigs from the neck up. Crowds gathered to harass potential pig-faced women and chase their carriages, and they apparently made appearances at fairs. This is an incredibly bizarre series of events that is all but forgotten in the modern day, but bears were shaved, legacies were tarnished, and there were men from an ocean away proposing marriage to a pig-faced woman. On the creature of the week, it's a bird who can escape from any predator, but after you hear the route it needs to take, you'll wonder if it shouldn't just let itself get caught.   Patreon! Patreon! Say hi on Facebook Find the show on iTunes Pig-faced lady pictures Songs: "The Rain" by Carmelo Costanzo "White City, Black City" by Esther Garcia "Chaos in the Mouse Kingdom" by DDmyzik "Quizitive" by Lee Rosevere "Taking Dark Matter Lightly" by Alan Singley "Something Elated" by Broke for Free "Wandering" by Steve CombsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Okt 201525min

These are two stories from Japanese fairy tales. I don't want to ruin them, so I can't say too much, but they are amazing. One is about a boy who draws pictures of cats, much to the detriment of his job and a ridiculous amount of ancient books. The other story is about a kind fisherman who saves a turtle and has his whole world turned upside down. On the creature of the week, it's a naked guy who, if he helps you, just thank him and be on your way. Seriously, who cares if he could have cut the grass more? He did it for free, and it's not worth losing your legs over. Patreon! Patreon! Say hi on Facebook Find the show on iTunes   Songs: "Tech Toys" by Lee Rosevere "Ending" by Tadd Euro "Baby Monster" by Music for your Media "Scary Chimes Loop" by Chrisoph Schade Composer "All In All (No Voices)" by VYVCHSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Okt 201534min

Finishing up the twelve labors, Hercules fights way, way too many things: a giant boar, a giant bull, vicious birds, man-eating horses, the three-headed hell hound Cerberus, and more, all as penance for his crime. The creature of the week are invisible weasel brothers that might give you a small cut or two...or might cut off your legs...all without you feeling it. Say hi on twitter (@mythpodcast) e-mail: Jason@mythpodcast.com find the show on iTunes (itunes.mythpodcast.com) That story thing I mentioned Songs: "Direct to Video" by Chris Zabriskie "One Last Sunset" by Alan Singley "Leafless Quince Tree" by Rolemusic "Strange Kiss" by Alasdair Cooper "Tilt" by Avaren "Something Elated" by Broke for Free "Wandering" by Steve CombsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Sep 201538min

The story of Hercules is one part gritty, serious tragedy and two parts over-the-top monster fights. This week, in the origin story of one of the greatest mythological heroes of the western world, we get to see the human side of the demigod before the story goes completely off-the-rails and it's just one big monster fight topping the next. But don't worry, there are also monster fights this episode. We'll see that Zeus is essentially the Don Draper of the Greek pantheon, only without all that pesky introspection or likability, and that if your husband cheats on you, you should bring down horrible punishments on everyone but him. On the creature of the week, it's a grotesque little piggy that just needs a hug.   Say "hi" on Twitter e-mail: Jason@mythpodcast.com Find the show on iTunes   Music: "Melancholy" by DDmyzik "Offerdal" by Simon Mathewson "Shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean" by Rolemusic "Scientology and the Masses" by statusq "Fine without you (Remix)" by Steve Combs "Something Elated" by Broke for Free "Wandering" by Steve CombsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Sep 201535min

Instead of one long story, this week I'm telling four stories about canines from folklore from all around the world. We'll go back to the Norse gods and goddesses where Loki will make more poor choices. Then I'll talk about the legend of the black dog of the UK and Ireland. There's the weird and hilarious story of a little dog that was made king of Denmark, and how the people took it surprisingly seriously. Finally, I'll round out the show with the saddest story about a dog you've ever heard.   Also, I know Fenrir is a wolf and not a dog, but his inclusion will fit with the narrative arc of the show, I promise.   On the creature of the week, it's a tiny, angry old man who lives in an anthill and really, really wants you to stay off his lawn.   Say Hi on Twitter: @Mythpodcast Find the show on iTunes E-mail: Jason@mythpodcast.com My miniature dachshund, Abbie! The dog king riddle   Music: "Living Legends" by False Awakenings "Ambient" by Strange Day "In the End" by The Losers "If There's Time" by Odesza "Something Elated" by Broke for Free "Wandering" by Steve CombsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Sep 201532min

A short supplemental on one of the inspirations for Merlin, a man named Myrddin the Wyllt,  a Welsh warrior bard who went insane after seeing his friends die on the battlefield and ran off to a life in the forest. It would have been fine if people didn't keep dragging him back to civilization...or if he had thought at all about what he would do during the winter. You'll see that "insane" in this story is kind of a loose term for "I just want a little 'me' time in the forest." On the creature of the week, you'll meet that thing that yells all night in your kitchen and shatters all your good plates, and I'll guess at what she's doing with all that evil linen thread she's spinning.Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Sep 201513min