Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore
A boozy dive into mythology, legends, and folklore. Every week we pour a drink and dive into a new story from around the world. Hear fresh takes on classic myths and learn new stories from around the world. New episodes every Wednedsay!
Episodes
Bloody Mary: A sleepover myth? Or something much deeper? We discuss the mirror rituals of the past, the women who might have inspired the myth, and how modern Bloody Mary might have been a way of fighting against the patriarchy!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment/death, illness, death, torture, execution, racism, car accidents, religious persecution, pregnancy, w...
There’s been a lot of buzz around bees, especially in folklore and mythology! From Ancient Egypt and Greece to Hinduism and Celtic folklore, the relationship between bees and humans has been considered divine - so we’re talking about the good friends, the bees!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of insects, injury, child endangerment, cannibalism, death, dismemberment, animal at...
We dive into three generations of hauntings, from blackbird death omens, the worst Ouija board experience we’ve ever encountered, and a haunted cabin where the ghosts should be paying the utilities. Also, Julia and Amanda plan a road trip.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of medical issues, gentrification, death, suicide, global politics, drowning, abusive relationships, cance...
Technology and capitalism? In your mythology podcast? It’s more likely than you’d think! We’re joined by Jathan Sadowski, professor and podcaster, to discuss the myth of inevitability, the modern Eleusinian Mysteries of Silicon Valley, and why technologists need to read better sci-fi.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of capitalism, US politics, AI, racism, slave labor, and ani...
Julia really wanted to title this episode 2 Gnomes 2 Furious, but SEO! We dig into the Scandinavian Nisse and Tomte, the socialist leanings of these house spirits, and just why everyone got so into garden gnomes all of a sudden!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of poverty, death, theft, animal death, Nazis, nationalism, guns, sexual content, and climate change.
Housek...
Those little red-hatted fellas that hang out in your garden? There’s enough for a whole Spirits episode on that? The answer might surprise you as we dig into the mythological (and alchemical, shoutout Paracelsus!) origins of just where they came from, and why they’re hanging out with your hydrangeas!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of grief, racism, drug use, drowning, immolation, ...
We’ve got a variety of haunted places this month for you - a haunted house (classic), a haunted college (love it), a haunted adult store (?????). Also, we explore the birthplace of Dark Academia. And yes, it’s as haunted as you’d think!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, porn, death, homophobia, true crime-related disappearances and deaths, child endangerment, child death, chi...
NYC has a long history, filled with (unsurprisingly) MANY ghosts. So we called in an expert to tell us about them: Greg from The Bowery Boys discusses his favorite ghost stories and urban legends from over 18 (!!!) years of podcasting about the history of NYC!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, murder, organized crime, child endangerment, kidnapping, ableism, and animal deat...
Spring has sprung, and you’re probably wondering: What should I be planting? How do I make sure my garden is a success? Well, we’ve got all the gardening superstitions and folk magic to make your garden sparkle this year.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pregnancy, misogyny, menstruation, theft, insects, death, drowning, and poisoning.
Housekeeping
Riddles have captivated fiction and mythology alike for thousands of years! From sphinxes and gods to kings and princesses, we’ve been posing riddles to each other for longer than we can remember. But why? That’s the real riddle we’re looking to solve this episode!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of genitalia, religious persecution, death, animal attacks, suicide, decapitation, ins...
Ooops! That’s a lot of haunted schools! Haunted school trips, haunted school theatres, haunted turrets that no child should be crawling up into! Be unruly, be ungovernable, give children nightmares!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment, warfare, death, murder, suicide, hanging, and execution.
Housekeeping
This week, we give you an episode from our friends at Queens Podcast about the life of Amina of Zaria, a legendary figure in African history. Enjoy this episode capturing the incredible story of a woman who defied the norms of her time!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of warfare, misogyny, slavery, sexual innuendo, and genitalia.
Housekeeping
Women of a certain age can do anything - whether it’s being assassins, spinning the threads of fate, or doing witchy things in the woods! From the Fates of Greek mythology to Victorian scientists like Margaret Fountaine, author Deanna Raybourn shows us that older women are capable of doing anything and everything.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fascism, misogyny, unrealis...
Every story has to start somewhere. Whether it’s with “once upon a time” or “when tigers used to smoke tobacco”, storytellers have been setting the scene for their audiences in beautiful and interesting ways. Join us as we dig into the origins of story beginnings AND endings!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of totalitarian rule, state kidnapping, drowning, enslavement, and imperial...
We’ve reached the end of the river. What an amazing journey. We discuss our final 3 gods of the Nile River: Khnum, Hapy, and Sobek. Fish? They’re agents of chaos.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of warfare, animal death, transphobia, infidelity, animal sacrifice, and animal attacks.
Housekeeping
- See us LIVE! Buy a ticket to our March 23 live show in Portland at spir...
What if you got to dream of an urban legends episode that never actually existed? Well, it happened! Also featuring several food superstition follow-ups, two grannies blessing marriages, and an off-the-grid ghost!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of bodily functions, hanging, death, war, PTSD, fire, child death, car accidents, and misogyny.
Housekeeping
What happens when the very real fear of wildfires meet folklore and urban legends? You get something like The Char Man of Ojai. We’re joined by Jess from WTF Is That Podcast to talk about this prescient urban legend, why cryptids love bridges, and why shouting for help in the woods is a bad idea!
Places you can donate: Mutual Aid LA Network, Fire Aid, California Federation of Labor Unions
Content Warning: This ...
Perky little ears and a terrifying visage, we’re talking this week about the god of mummification, Anubis! Featuring a zoology corner where we learn about jackals that aren’t actually jackals, watch a guy REALLY go through it, and more as we discuss our little rotty prince.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, decay, murder, infidelity, animal attacks, cannibalism, body de...
Valentine’s Day has changed over the past millennia or so. From a martyred saint, to a feast day, to courtly love and gifting roses and chocolates, where did our current Valentine’s Day traditions come from? Hint: British postal reforms are more important than you’d think!
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, religious persecution, torture, beheading, violence, execution, feces, a...
It’s confirmed: You can use Spirits as a tool for surviving in the wilderness. Also featuring another appearance of the Hat Man, cryptids from the Ozarks, and a horrifying parade of cats.
Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of mental illness, gun violence, misogyny, and drug use.
Housekeeping
- See us LIVE! Buy a ticket to our March 23 live show in Portland at spiritspodcast....
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