The 'Thunderbird' is one of the most enduring figures in Native American folklore. A powerful, electric bird said to summon storms, strike down monsters, and keep balance between worlds. In this episode, I look at where the legend comes from, what it means to the tribes who tell it, and how it’s been reshaped over time.
We’ll explore stories from the Ojibwe, Sioux, and Menominee peoples, dive into ancient battles with underwater spirits, and trace how settlers reimagined the Thunderbird as a flying cryptid photographed in the Old West. From there, we’ll look at similar winged beings across the world, from Africa’s Impundulu to China’s Lei Gong and India’s Garuda, and ask what these stories say about our connection to nature, power, and the skies above.
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