Mythic Existence with Jack Daly

In the Fall of 1903, the small town of Van Meter, Iowa was visited by a strange creature that had no business being there. Over the course of several days, well-respected residents of Van Meter saw a giant flying creature with a horrible, uncanny smell, and a light glowing from a horn atop its dinosauric head. This pterodactyl-like being has come to be known as the Van Meter Visitor. For a week it haunted the town, until it was eve...

Deep in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, folklore says that there is a hideous monster with cloven feet, the head of a horse, and giant wings that flies among the remote forests. This creature is said to be the cursed 13th child of an 18th century witch, and it became to be known as the Jersey Devil. But recent historical research has shown that the Jersey Devil was originally known as the Leeds Devil, and was actually a name given ...

 The Holy Grail is one of the most enduring images in world culture. But what is the grail exactly, and if we can determine that, can it be found? The grail has been described as a cup, a dish, the chalice used by Jesus during the last supper, the philosopher’s stone, and even the holy bloodline. The grail itself seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once, and on this episode of Mythic Existence, we’ll try to get to the bottom of t...

Deep in the valleys of the Ozarks, lore tells of a terrifying horned beast with glowing eyes and the power to either bring luck to those who see it or predict their death. This monster is known as the Ozark Howler, and on today's episode of The Monster Folklorist with Jack Daly, we'll dive into the legends surrounding this creature. As it turns out, America's Ozark Howler has strong resemblances to the black dogs of ...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly investigates one of the most notorious figures from the halls of legend: The Cropsey Maniac.

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Comfortable Mystery 4 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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On today's episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers the origins of one of literature's greatest villains: Sauron. Listen to learn how Sauron's story stretches back to the origins of Arda, and how he was the student of the original dark lord of Middle Earth. 

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Comfortable Mystery 4 - Fi...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses contemporary legendary monsters. We build off of one of our most popular episodes, the monster theory episode, by discussing North American monsters that are at times believed to exist, and explore what cultural purposes these creatures serve. By the end, we’ll hope to see how these beings have a complex and multifaceted existence and should be studied as such. 
Ple...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, guest Steven Merrell joins to talk about his cyclic belief theory and how it applies to folklore and myth. Steven is a second-year graduate folklore student and is finishing his degree at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and in this episode he and host Jack Daly discuss topics like the experiential source hypothesis, Jung's theories of the anima and the animus, and the purpose and func...

This episode of Mythic Existence is the start of a new direction that the podcast will be taking, as I’m recording this episode with a guest, the one and only Carly Schaelling. For those of you who don’t know, Carly is my beautiful fiancé. The topic of today’s episode is going to be Harry Potter: a topic we are both very enthusiastic about. So sit back, relax, and enjoy another episode of Mythic Existence. 
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On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly talks about ring composition and chiasm in Harry Potter. This is a literary technique in which a story leads to a mid point and then is reversed. By determining this key function of the books, we’ll discover how Harry Potter serves as a form of literary alchemy that allows us to transcend pairs of opposites, and have a mystical experience as we search for the divine spark inside t...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly explores the Tao of Physics, a book written by the physicist Fritjof Capra that examines the similarities between physics and Eastern mysticism. We discover how both science and spirituality point to an inseparable interconnection of nature. The Tao of Physics leaves us with some earth-shattering revelations: that we are all connected, that there is a basic oneness to our existenc...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly begins our preparations for St. Patrick’s Day by investigating the Irish vampire: the Dearg Due. We’ll look at one particular incarnation of this creature by recanting the story of the Abhartach, which may have been an inspiration for Stoker’s Dracula. 
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On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers the history of witchcraft. We journey to Ancient Greece and plunge into the mythic witches of old to dispel the misconception that witchcraft only occurred in the Middle Ages by taking a look at the age of witch trials. We discuss the witches in Shakespeare, learn about the history of Gerald Gardner and Wicca, and finish off by looking at the curious case of witchcraft in N...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly takes the listener to the island of Puerto Rico, where in the 1990s a stealthy, vampiric creature was reported to kill livestock and suck their blood. This creature came to be known as the chupacabra. By the end of this episode, you’ll come to see the tie between the chupacabra and the United States’ dark legacy of imperialism, and that the origin of the chupacabra came from somew...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses Appalachian folk magic. We'll learn about folk traditions for healing wounds, curing illnesses, and how the weather shows portents of things to come. Appalachian magic is a unique treasure trove of folk knowledge. Make sure to put your horseshoe facing up above your door, don’t go fishing in the sign of pisces, and don’t forget to use ocean water to heal rheumatoid ...

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers a fascinating topic: the different types of magic. We discuss the difficulties involved with defining magic, trace the development of European medieval magic, and read excerpts from little-known texts like the Three Books on Life and the Arbatel of Magic. Magic is a fascinating topic that demands to be studied. Learning about a culture's attitudes towards magic can she...

This week on Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly spices up the winter with a holiday-inspired episode. Instead of focusing on the holly and jolly, we dive into some of the darker aspects of Christmas folklore by talking about Krampus, Frau Perchta, and the Icelandic Yule Lads. These tricksy, and sometimes sinister figures remind us that if we're not good, we might be beaten with a stick, disemboweled, or possibly boiled to death....

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly  discusses the archaeology of counter-witchcraft and popular magic. We look at how protective charms such as witch bottles and dried cats, along with other magic items were used in England to protect against witches and evil spirits. 
Counter-witchcraft and apotropaic magic was popular in England well into the 20th century, and is likely still being carried out today. If you o...