Mythillogical Podcast

Mythillogical is the podcast where two enthusiasts of mythology, history and folklore try and make sense of the wide variety of fantastic tales told by cultures around the world. We discuss why the same idea can show up in the mythology of cultures on opposite sides of the world, what real events can inspire superstition and folklore, how stories can completely change over time, and where possible try to figure out what could have inspired people to dream up dragons, demons, gods and monsters. May contain wild speculation, terrible puns, and if we’re lucky, actual facts.

The Flying Dutchman 04/14/2024

The Flying Dutchman On our second ever solo episode, Charles takes a deep dive into the briny seas of the 18th century, to track the origins of the phantom ship of legend. Over the course of a hundred years of voyaging we'll watch the slow development of the Dutchman from merely an unfortunate vessel doomed by storms and plague, to an ill omen for all who encounter her. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: Suonatore di Liuto Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/30814973

Amaterasu and the Japanese Creation Myth 01/24/2024

Amaterasu and the Japanese Creation Myth So folks, it’s been a while! On today’s episode Crofty and Charles journey to the land of the rising sun, to examine the head of the Japanese pantheon and mythical ancestress of it's Imperial family, Amaterasu. Together they examine her earliest appearances in Japanese myth, along with wider theories as to her origin and evolving significance in Japan’s culture. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: Suonatore di Liuto Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/29627078

The Fairies, Part 2 09/08/2023

The Fairies, Part 2 In the second part of their examination of Fairies, Charles and Crofty tour the fairy ruins and otherworlds of both Ireland and Scotland. Here they delve too deeply into the unique fairies and pagan gods that call those nations home, and explore some of the darker sides of how fairy belief was treated in centuries past. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/27982989

The Fairies, Part 1 08/25/2023

The Fairies, Part 1 In the first episode of a two parter, Charles and Crofty run the risk of being trapped in fairy land on a quest to understand the origins of its famous denizens. Together they trace the history of these mysterious creatures throughout Britain and Ireland, examining how they evolved from elusive elves in Anglo Saxon times, to the regal fairy courts of Elizabethan literature, before finally take their iconic forms amongst the Victorian folklore craze. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/27852621

Trickster Gods of Africa and Voodoo - Bonus Episode 05/28/2023

Trickster Gods of Africa and Voodoo - Bonus Episode Who's that figure standing at the crossroads? After following Anansi’s journey from Africa to the New World, today’s bonus episode sees Charles and Crofty investigate two other trickster figures who were brought from Africa to the Americas, the gods Eshu and Legba. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/26971392

Anansi the Spider 05/14/2023

Anansi the Spider Today Charles and Crofty discuss the enigmatic trickster, Anansi the Spider, tracing his origins on the fringes of West African society and religion, to his evolution into a symbol of slave defiance and rebellion in plantation Jamaica. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/26831994

Beowulf 02/23/2023

Beowulf On today's episode Crofty makes a triumphant return, joining Charles to wax poetic about Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon epic rich in historical and legendary connections, and to ask if the eponymous hero was a poet’s creation, or a figure of legend himself? Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/26023440

The Bell Witch Haunting 10/31/2022

The Bell Witch Haunting On an impromptu Halloween episode, Charles finds himself lost in the woods on the trail of the Bell Witch of Northern Tennessee, tracking it from the first accounts of the early 19th century, through to its fullest and spookiest of incarnations. Enjoy! Audio editing by Charles Snart and Byron Lewis. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/24860697

Mesopotamian Creation Myths (w/Mythology with Mike) 10/17/2022

Mesopotamian Creation Myths (w/Mythology with Mike) On today's episode, Charles is joined by a special guest host to take a long voyage through two thousand years of Mesopotamian History. Together they track the earliest surviving Creation myths, beginning with the fragmentary creation myths of the Sumerians, through to the Epic Creation myth of the Babylonian period, the Enūma Eliš. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/24712149

Bigfoot, Part 2 07/31/2022

Bigfoot, Part 2 The search for Bigfoot continues, as Charles and Crofty discuss Patterson and Gimlin’s famous Bigfoot film, sketchy salesmen with claims of a captured sasquatch, and even attempts to identify sasquatch DNA. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/23912775

Bigfoot, Part 1 06/24/2022

Bigfoot, Part 1 What’s that sound coming from the trees? Today, Charles and Crofty travel the forests and mountains of North America, hot on the trail of the elusive Sasquatch, following it from Native American legend to the mysterious Bigfoot of the 20th century. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/23531297

Perseus and Medusa 04/25/2022

Perseus and Medusa Avert your eyes! For today Charles and Crofty bring you to the lair of Medusa, and tell of the life of Perseus, his quest to slay the Gorgon, and his subsequent adventures. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/22906163

Vampires: Before Dracula 02/14/2022

Vampires: Before Dracula Sharpen your stakes and grab your crucifixes, as Charles and Crofty rise from their crypts and delve into the folklore of Vampires, to discover the origins of one of the most popular creatures of modern horror. Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below: /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/22130369

Osiris, Lord of the Dead 12/14/2021

Osiris, Lord of the Dead This time, the late Charles and Crofty venture into the dark and dangerous paths of the Egyptian underworld, to encounter the Lord of the Dead, Osiris, and hopefully be granted resurrection by him. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/21480350

Robin Hood 10/17/2021

Robin Hood In today’s episode, Charles and Crofty journey to merry olde Englande, and examine the origins and evolution of the world's most famous outlaw, Robin Hood. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/20842031

The Wild Hunt 08/11/2021

The Wild Hunt This time, Charles and Crofty join the Wild Hunt, riding across the skies of Scandinavia, Germany, France and Britain, but things may not be what they first seem… /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/20110508

Heracles, Part 2 05/13/2021

Heracles, Part 2 In part 2 of the tale of Heracles, we follow his exploits throughout Europe and Asia to see the conclusion of his Labours, his death, and ascension to Godhood. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/19095929

Heracles, Part 1 04/23/2021

Heracles, Part 1 This time, Charles and Crofty travel to Ancient Greece, to chronicle the early life of one of their most enduring heroes, Heracles, and the beginning of his famous labours. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/18838658

The Yōkai Encyclopedia Club - Bonus Episode 03/05/2021

The Yōkai Encyclopedia Club - Bonus Episode In our first bonus mini episode, we do a short roundup of Yokai that caught our interest but didn't make it into the main episode. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/18203450

Yōkai 02/22/2021

Yōkai Charles and Crofty take a 2000 year journey through Japan, to try and understand the mysterious Yōkai of Japanese mythology, folklore, and popular culture. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/18040289

Spring-Heeled Jack, Part 2 11/17/2020

Spring-Heeled Jack, Part 2 On today's episode, Charles and Crofty delve further into the mystery and evolution of Spring-Heeled Jack. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/16846484

Spring-Heeled Jack, Part 1 10/31/2020

Spring-Heeled Jack, Part 1 On today's Halloween episode, Charles and Crofty head out on the trail of the Terror of London, Spring Heeled Jack! /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/16623170

Baba Yaga 09/19/2020

Baba Yaga On today’s episode, Charles and Crofty cross the thrice-nine lands to delve into the lore of one of Slavic mythology’s most enigmatic figures. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/16073696

King Arthur 07/13/2020

King Arthur This month, Charles and Crofty discuss the evolution of the legend of King Arthur, recounting takes of chivalry, murder, adultery, and strange women lying in ponds distributing swords. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/15185417

In the World of Dragons 06/08/2020

In the World of Dragons Charles and Crofty spend a sweltering British day getting to grips with the wider world of Dragons. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/14747261

Here be Dragons 05/21/2020

Here be Dragons In this inaugural episode, Charles and Crofty dive into the world of Dragons, including their origins in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and far off China and Japan. /episode/index/show/mythillogical/id/14514176

Mythillogical Podcast

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