Myths and Legends
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.
Episodes (51)
417: Guy of Warwick: Don't Be That Guy
🛡️This Guy?🛡️
This guy is Guy of Warwick, and he's your guy. But only if you need someone to be the best guy in the world at fighting and killing. It's just too bad Guy hates being that guy.
😈 The...
This guy is Guy of Warwick, and he's your guy. But only if you need someone to be the best guy in the world at fighting and killing. It's just too bad Guy hates being that guy.
😈 The...
416: Hans Christian Andersen: Humbugs
🪲They're not so different🪲
One is the king of the world, and the other is a beetle. One wants to fight God, the other wants to wear golden horse shoes. When it comes to being completely arrogant and...
One is the king of the world, and the other is a beetle. One wants to fight God, the other wants to wear golden horse shoes. When it comes to being completely arrogant and...
415: Aesop's Fables: Bray it Ain't So
🫏One little rent-a-donkey, one big journey🫏
Actually he's a full-grown rental donkey but the journey is a big one because, when you're a poorly treated rental donkey and you have a chance to escape,...
Actually he's a full-grown rental donkey but the journey is a big one because, when you're a poorly treated rental donkey and you have a chance to escape,...
414: Monkey King: Ham-bushed
🐷Sun Wukong is a bad friend🐷
But, to be fair, he never said he and Pigsy were friends...because you don't send your friends to dinner parties where everyone is trying to murder you.
😈 The Creature:...
But, to be fair, he never said he and Pigsy were friends...because you don't send your friends to dinner parties where everyone is trying to murder you.
😈 The Creature:...
413: European folklore: Justice
🔔Ring the bell for justice🔔
Want justice? Ring the bell. Doesn't matter if you're a horse or a snake or a merchant or a peasant but if you're one of the latter two probably don't get caught ringing...
Want justice? Ring the bell. Doesn't matter if you're a horse or a snake or a merchant or a peasant but if you're one of the latter two probably don't get caught ringing...
412: Indian folklore: Dicey
🎲Losing your kingdom in a game of dice🎲
The story of Nala and Damayanti is a tale of love, loss, and losing everything but your underwear because of your terrible decisions and then also your...
The story of Nala and Damayanti is a tale of love, loss, and losing everything but your underwear because of your terrible decisions and then also your...
411: Celtic folklore: The Wake
⛵️Get lost at sea with Maelduin⛵️
All Maelduin wants to do is avenge his father's murder...with more murder. He should have listened to that wizard. Because he didn't, his trip just got a whole lot...
All Maelduin wants to do is avenge his father's murder...with more murder. He should have listened to that wizard. Because he didn't, his trip just got a whole lot...
410: Japanese folklore: Provincial
⛩️Stories from the Japanese countryside⛩️
Five interconnected stories of purpose, meaning, justice, talking animals, the boss falling off a cliff, mushrooms, and travel hampers.
😈 **The Creature: The...
Five interconnected stories of purpose, meaning, justice, talking animals, the boss falling off a cliff, mushrooms, and travel hampers.
😈 **The Creature: The...
409: Reynard: Nasty, Brutish, and Short
🦊 Reynard the fox hates meetings, too 🦊
Especially because at most of the meetings he's invited to, people usually try to kill and eat him. Today, we're back in the stories of Reynard the fox, with...
Especially because at most of the meetings he's invited to, people usually try to kill and eat him. Today, we're back in the stories of Reynard the fox, with...
408: Knights of the Round Table: Hither and Thither
🏰When a knight says he'll be right back, he means it
Unless he dies. Or gets captured. Or just forgets about it, prompting his son to come looking for him in the land of wickedness...and also maybe...
Unless he dies. Or gets captured. Or just forgets about it, prompting his son to come looking for him in the land of wickedness...and also maybe...
407: West African folklore: Wiser
🍼Have a budding tyrant? You need a snarky talking baby🍼
Yenga Naa is wiser than the chief. How do you know? Well, he named himself that...the moment he was born.
😈 The Creature: The Cornu
How do you...
Yenga Naa is wiser than the chief. How do you know? Well, he named himself that...the moment he was born.
😈 The Creature: The Cornu
How do you...
406: Slavic folklore: Udder Nonsense
🐄Baba Yaga, Dragons, Giant Talking Pigs🐄
We'll see what happens when a king who wants one son gets more than he bargained for: three sons, with the oddest one of all, the one capable of calming...
We'll see what happens when a king who wants one son gets more than he bargained for: three sons, with the oddest one of all, the one capable of calming...
405: European legends: Ale to the King
🍺Meet Cambrinus, things aren't going so well for him🍺
He's a peasant kid with a job that's going nowhere, a crush who doesn't love him back, and no one takes him seriously when he absolutely knocks it...
He's a peasant kid with a job that's going nowhere, a crush who doesn't love him back, and no one takes him seriously when he absolutely knocks it...
404: Monkey King: Not Found
🤑 The Monkey King and friends are making money and staying in fancy hotels🤑
What is this that you heard about them being monks? What? No. That's ridiculous. They don't know why you thought that. So...
What is this that you heard about them being monks? What? No. That's ridiculous. They don't know why you thought that. So...
403: Norse sagas: Wormtongue
⚔️The plight of the Viking celebrity poet⚔️
Friends become enemies, enemies become friends, and none of what you actually say matters all that much...as long as you're famous.
😈 The creature: the...
Friends become enemies, enemies become friends, and none of what you actually say matters all that much...as long as you're famous.
😈 The creature: the...
402: Japanese folklore: Misconceptions
🐸Love means never having to say I'm sorry (I poisoned you)"🐸
...or something like that. This Valentine's Day there are three love stories from Japan. On the first, a man moves on after becoming a...
...or something like that. This Valentine's Day there are three love stories from Japan. On the first, a man moves on after becoming a...
401: Chinese Zodiac: Rat Race
🐀It's Race Day🐀
Today, we tell the story of how the animals in the Chinese Zodiac got their years: a race that's terrible for all involved.
😈 The Creature: Nian
Why you want to dress in red to avoid...
Today, we tell the story of how the animals in the Chinese Zodiac got their years: a race that's terrible for all involved.
😈 The Creature: Nian
Why you want to dress in red to avoid...
400: Celtic folklore: The Baddies
👸 Our princess is in another castle! 👸
Two stories from Ireland where it's unclear who the villain is...and how it might just be among the people we least suspect.
😈 The creature: le cheval Bayard
A...
Two stories from Ireland where it's unclear who the villain is...and how it might just be among the people we least suspect.
😈 The creature: le cheval Bayard
A...
399: Canadian folklore: Wild Night
🎉At a bad New Year's party?🎉
It has to be better than little Joe and Baptiste's New Years, in the frigid Canadian wilderness. But they're going to change that. By making a deal with the devil.
😈 The...
It has to be better than little Joe and Baptiste's New Years, in the frigid Canadian wilderness. But they're going to change that. By making a deal with the devil.
😈 The...
398: Nordic Christmas: In the Bleak Mid-winter
🌲Trolls, zombies, and evil housecats🌲
It must be Christmas in the Nordic countries. Today, a young officer is stuck in the city after being in a brief coma. At least there are some tales to keep him...
It must be Christmas in the Nordic countries. Today, a young officer is stuck in the city after being in a brief coma. At least there are some tales to keep him...
397: Monkey King: King of Hearts
🐵Monkey and Co. are really hoping this city is different🐵
I mean, it has to be, right? Not every city can be full of monsters...can it? We're back in the Journey to the West with Sun Wukong, the...
I mean, it has to be, right? Not every city can be full of monsters...can it? We're back in the Journey to the West with Sun Wukong, the...
396: Greek Myths: Hades, Too
💀Hades is taking the long way home💀
After dropping Persephone off in the world of the humans, Hades makes the long walk back down to his palace at the heart of his realms, giving us a tour of the...
After dropping Persephone off in the world of the humans, Hades makes the long walk back down to his palace at the heart of his realms, giving us a tour of the...
395: Breton folklore: Darkest Knight
🏰 Why maybe you should pass on dating that person with the dad who murders everyone trying to date them 🏰
The tale of Degarré is a story of knights, chivalry, violence, and grappling with what it...
The tale of Degarré is a story of knights, chivalry, violence, and grappling with what it...
394: Danish folklore: Heartless
🧙♂️How a Scientist Becomes a Wizard🧙♂️
Two stories from Denmark about people dealing with their neighbors in very different ways. One loves and accepts them. The other just wants to get away so he...
Two stories from Denmark about people dealing with their neighbors in very different ways. One loves and accepts them. The other just wants to get away so he...
393: 1001 Nights: Let it Be(ak) (part 2 of 2)
📝A Cavern Full of Snakes is apparently a Great Classroom📝
Hasib is still stuck in the room with the Queen of Serpents and twelve thousand snakes, and the QoS a story to tell. Two of them, actually....
Hasib is still stuck in the room with the Queen of Serpents and twelve thousand snakes, and the QoS a story to tell. Two of them, actually....
392: 1001 Nights: The Unthinkable (part 1 of 2)
🐍Hasib wants to avoid a freak library accident🐍
So he will avoid learning anything. Ever. This week, it's the story of Hasib and the Queen of Serpents, the snake woman with a cistern full of...
So he will avoid learning anything. Ever. This week, it's the story of Hasib and the Queen of Serpents, the snake woman with a cistern full of...
391: Japanese Horror: Handsome Bad Man
👹If you can't be with the one you love...👹
Love the one you're with? What? No. Kill everyone in your way until you get what you want. This week: a ghost story from Japan about what happens when a...
Love the one you're with? What? No. Kill everyone in your way until you get what you want. This week: a ghost story from Japan about what happens when a...
390: Hans Christian Andersen: Swan Song
🦢 Let them eat sand 🦢
A story from Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen about a witch who wants to take over the kingdom and the twelve kids who stand in her way. Just kidding, they have no idea...
A story from Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen about a witch who wants to take over the kingdom and the twelve kids who stand in her way. Just kidding, they have no idea...
389: Korean folklore: Star-crossed
🖤 The story of why you don't menace crows. Even if the people you're doing it to try to mess with are extremely annoying and lovey-dovey. Or, if you're single and looking, here's why you should...
388: Finnish folklore: Uh oh, Better Get Mikko!
The story of King Mighty Mikko, a young man who isn't a king or mighty, but he is Mikko, and maybe that's all he needs. Oh...and a very clever fox conman.
The creature is Vishap, who lives at the top...
The creature is Vishap, who lives at the top...
387: Slavic Folklore: Kind of Forgot About Vengeance (part 2 of 2)
The conclusion of the story of Bova, where last episode we saw him ride out to battle alone against an army...but now he faces more danger delivering a letter and dressing up like an elderly man.
The...
The...
386: Slavic Folklore: Really, Really, Ridiculously Good-looking (part 1 of 2)
The story of Bova, a hero from Slavic folklore, the beautiful beautiful man who is on a lifelong quest for vengeance. Against his mom.
The creature is the Vila (or Vile), a ghost with unfinished...
The creature is the Vila (or Vile), a ghost with unfinished...
385: Aesop's Fables: On the Farm
More fables from Aesop about life on the farm and how, if someone stops by wearing your friend's skin...they might not be all that trustworthy.
The creature is the Veo, a dragon you don't want to...
The creature is the Veo, a dragon you don't want to...
384: Turkish folklore: The Silent Princess
The story of the silent princess and the prince who definitely has been cursed by that strange woman in the street. He totally hasn't just psyched himself out thinking that if he doesn't meet the...
383: Monkey King: Food Fight (part 2 of 2)
Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is dead. For real. He was eaten by a lion and is gone for good because we can all trust Pigsy because he's so honest and not looking for a reason to cut and run.
The...
The...
382: Sun Wukong: A Good Death (part 1 of 2)
We're back in the story of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King and the Journey to the West, where Monkey goes undercover as a demon and defeats a whole army with a math equation.
The creature is Tsuchi-gumo,...
The creature is Tsuchi-gumo,...
381: Japanese folklore: Lend Me Your Ears
Two stories from Japan about the stories we tell one another. On the first, it's a not-so-famous musician who gets a massive new audience for the legend he has been telling. For the second, it's a man...
380: British Legends: I Loathe that for You
The story of the laidly worm is all about the costs and benefits of kissing dragons on the mouth.
The creature is Topielec, and it might just make or break your video game franchise and/or...
The creature is Topielec, and it might just make or break your video game franchise and/or...
379: Norse Sagas: Forsaken (part 2 of 2)
We finish up the story of Bard with that of his son, Gest, which includes bloody Christmas parties, fun new games for you and your friends will try* and what happens when you forsake everyone and...
378: Norse Sagas: Snowfell (part 1 of 2)
The first part of the story of Bard, a medieval Icelandic dad who goes full Batman.
The creature is Stallo. It's made of turf and magic, but it takes half your remaining life as soon as it's born, so...
The creature is Stallo. It's made of turf and magic, but it takes half your remaining life as soon as it's born, so...
377: 1001 Nights: Science and Geometry
A story from "One Thousand and One Nights" about three wondrous gifts: a clock, a security system, and a fake horse that can fly. Bet you can't guess which one wins the prize at the king's big science...
376: Danish folklore: Sweet Pea
Three stories from Denmark about learning from your mistakes. Or not learning, and donating six full bags of gold to the local thieves.
The creature is the swamfisk. It's horrible, horrible smell is...
The creature is the swamfisk. It's horrible, horrible smell is...
375: Monkey King: The Eyes Have It
We're back in the story of the Monkey King and the Journey to the West where maybe this monastery is different and not haunted and infested with monsters? Maybe? Please? Also, we'll see if Xuanzang is...
374: European Fairy Tales: Mermaider (part 2 of 2)
Undine the water elemental has a soul. And an evil uncle. And a friend who is in love with her husband. And about a thousand family members who want to see that everything works out for her. Her...
373: European Fairy Tales: The Elements (part 1 of 2)
The story of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, is a direct precursor to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" and comes inspired by the soulless elemental creatures some alchemists...
372: Greek Myths: Things as they Are
The story of Demeter from Greek mythology is one of finding her place in the world. A world run by her terrible siblings, but it's ok. She's her own person and she can weather anything as long as she...
371: Flemish folklore: Stuck
Two stories from Flanders (the region of Belgium, not Homer Simpson's annoyingly nice neighbor) about people who are stuck. One is a married couple who wants their long awaited dream to come true. The...
370: Aesop's Fables: State of Nature
It's fable time on Myths and Legends...despite fables being neither myths nor legends... They're fun, though, and you might just learn some of the wisdom of the ancients, like how you should never...
369: Japanese folklore: Pilgrims
Two stories from Japan. On the first, a former samurai's wife is up to something and he's going to figure out what. On the second, we'll see that kindness matters most...but only if you're absolutely...
368: Indian Fairy Tales: Eye Love You
When your seven spouses all have the same dream on the same night and ask you not to do the thing they dreamt would lead to problems for all of you...maybe don't immediately do that thing.
The...
The...
367: Irish folklore: Daft Monk
The madcap story of what happens when a monk decides he doesn't want to be a monk anymore. He wants to make way more money...as a poet.
Also, why it might be weird if you're eating several cows for...
Also, why it might be weird if you're eating several cows for...
About this Podcast
Copyright
2015-2024 Bardic Enterprises LLC, all rights reserved.
Language
en
Categories
Arts, Books, History, Fiction