Animal Magic

Bacteria, billionaires and blockbuster action stars of the 80s – all are forms of power. In this episode, we await the most powerful being of all, the electrician, whose 5-minute appointment can eat an entire day from 8 to 4. But it gives plenty of time to wonder: what is "power?"  

Fire is like this pet we've been trying to adopt and domesticate for half a million years.  But at heart, all fire is wildfire.  In this episode, we'll be looking at some classic fire stories from Indigenous Americans, Ancient Greeks, and the Lethal Weapon film series.

One of the great mysteries of all Biblical Scripture is God's great battle with a sea-monster called Leviathan.  Why did God have to mud-wrestle this beast?  Was it killed and left out for the ravens, or is it still at large?  And how might the grudge-match live on in modern courtrooms and classrooms?  

Was Robin Hood really a Medieval Knight, or was he some kind of Goat-legged trickster?  And what did he have to do with Pagan Pole-dancing?  [Note: This live recording has some microphone buzz, but it basically came out alright]

In a candid moment, the Easter Bunny shares some personal recollections and ponders the...  Well, you'll see.  Or, in this case, hear.

For some, the word "Labyrinth" conjures ancient visions of David Bowie with tight pants and puppets.  The ancient Labyrinth was the lair of the man-eating Minotaur.  We'll explore the myth of this monster, and the princess who masterminded its demise.

Adopting a new dog (a dingo-corgi) raises fascinating questions about the long history of human-canine cooperation.  And there's this Gospel story where Jesus calls someone's daughter a dog - what's up with that?

Abraham is remembered as a "good shepherd" - but did his sheep feel this way?  In this episode, we'll explore how livestock herding has helped to shape human history.  Alert: this episode does contain references to Biblical animal cruelty.

Piling chili and coleslaw onto a hotdog sure is food for thought, inspiring questions like "what is 'food'?"  And "if you are what you eat - what am I?"  This is a sample chapter of the book "Chaos Chaos," a collection of comical personal recollections, silly bits of history, and some idiotic ponderings about what it means to be human.

How did a donkey become the only animal prophet in the Bible?  And how did horses change the lives of Indigenous Americans of the Great Plains?

A bear visits our campsite at Allegany State Park.  Michael nearly learns a valuable lesson.  A Biblical prophet's baldness summons the ursine species into existence.  And we learn what happens when a bear refuses to dance like a chicken.

What's the Lifespan of your Average Magical Groundhog?  Why is his February message so important?  And how does Groundhog Day relate to Ancient Systems of Spring Predictions?

A Comical Glance at the Talking Serpent of Eden, Snake-Handling Churches, and some of the Silliest Snake-stories of the Bible.  Plus: Before the Garden of Eden story got so famous (and poisonous) - what did the locals of Israel actually like about Women, Snakes and Trees?

Watching the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with my Kids I wonder - What's Humanity's great Fascination with Dragons?  Where does the word come from, and what kind of Dragon-lore (good, bad, and ugly) might we find in Greek, Mayan and Chinese Mythology?  And what might our long Multicultural Love-Hate Relationship with Scary Reptiles have to tell us about what it means to be Human?

How did the Human Species Survive in the Chaos of the Jungle?

How did a Native American Raven bring light to the world?  What happened to the Cratchit family goose in A Christmas Carol?  And why did two Turtledoves have to die when Jesus was born?

In this very special episode, the featured creature is James Taylor (or, more specifically, his eyebrows).  

What's the first thing Noah did when the Ark landed?  Can elephant sounds be translated into English?  And why do I have to live in an artificial primate habitat?