(Sort of) The Story
Two best friends tell each other stories they heard and read that week (and also, you are here!)
Episodes
Hello and welcome back to another episode! Today we're telling two stories that remind of us one fundamental fact of life: Italians are weird, man. (Enjoy!)
Janey’s Sources - Cannetella
- LOCATION: Italy
- “Beauty and the Beast and Other Classic Fairy Tales” Barnes and Noble edition
- Andrew Lang’s “The Gray Fairy Book”
- “The Pentamerone (The Tale of Tales)...
Welcome to another Off Topic season! This week, Janey is going to deep-dive into all the craziest things mega-pop star Katy Perry has ever done. From performing in yellow face to killing a nun, we're discussing all of it! Enjoy!
Sources:
- “Katie Perry vs Katy Perry: Australian designer wins trademark over popstar” by Lex Harvey and Angus Watson for CNN
- “Why all the fuss over Katy Perry's geis...
Hello and happy September! This week, Max will tell us a baffling tale about a beautiful woman who looks like a poop tooth (yes, you read that right), and Janey will talk about the benefits of wearing a shoe on your shoes. We hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - Singeli’s Silver Slippers
- LOCATION: Sweden
- “The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies”, stories and poems selected by Jane Werner, Il...
Hello and welcome to the podcast! This week, Janey is going to tell us a sweet little story about a monster that eats moons, and Max is going to tell us the worst story Janey has ever heard on this podcast. Text us your thoughts PLEASE.
Janey’s Sources - The Bakunawa and the Seven Moons
- LOCATION: Philippines
- “Dragon Myths and Legends: Tales of Adventure from Around the World” retold by...
Hello and welcome back from summer break!!! This week, Max is jumping back in with a story about an insane lizard-rock-woman who has a very nice dowry, and Janey tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of bulk trash-shopping. Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Wicked Fairy Wife
- LOCATION: Quebec (?)
- “The Wicked Fairy-Wife: A French Canadian Folktale” by Mary Alice Downie, illustrated by Kim Price...
Welcome to our last episode before our summer break! This week, we're unlocking one of our favorite bonus episodes, released way back in August 2023. This week, Max is going to tell us all about a gambling princess with a pear problem, and Janey is going to tell a cautionary tale of choosing stupid names for your children.
If you think you'll miss us this July, consider this your sign to join the Patreon! No matter w...
Hello and welcome to a monstrously themed episode! Today we are discussing werewolves and wendigos, and finally getting some much-needed insight into the Alabama White Thang from the Monster Ladies, Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler. Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Wendigo
- LOCATION: Minnesota, USA
- “Monsters of the Midwest” by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler
- “ZHAUWUNO-GEEZHIGO-GAUBOW...
Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going to tell us a shorty-baby-cutie story about a woman who doesn't know how to bargain, and Max is going to tell us a VERY terrible story that has a small moral at the end! Good luck!
Janey’s Sources - The Sunchild
- LOCATION: Greece
- Andrew Lang’s The Grey Fairy Book
- Full Free story
- “Letiko, La Fille du Soleil” by Caputo Nato &nb...
Hello and welcome! This week Max is going to tell us a story that may or may not explain something we may or may not need to know (and also there's a water horse, and we know how much Janey loves that.) ALSO Janey is going to tell us about a perfect princess (and the horrible family she's attached to). Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Toy Princess
- LOCATION: England
- Folk & Fairy Tales, edited by Martin Hallett...
Hello and welcome! It's another sleep-deprived/low-oxygen episode, so you're welcome (or we're sorry?) This week, Janey is going to tell us about a DEFINITELY 100% straight king with ZERO things to examine in his own life, and Max is going to tell us a fever dream! Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - Fanta-Ghíro the Beautiful
- LOCATION: Italy
- "Italian Folktales" retold and edited by Italo Calvino
Max’s S...
Hello! This week we're celebrating spring's triumphant return with Max's story about what can only be described as "some sort of lake yeti" discovering the convenience of Lyft, and Janey's tale of a King in desperate need of an HR department.
Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Useless Wagoner
- LOCATION: Hungary
- “Fairy Tales of Eastern Europe”, collected and retold by Neil Philip, Illustrated by Larr...
Cowabunga, everybody! This week, Janey is going to tell us about a disloyal knight with a surprising secret, and Max is going to tell us an alien invasion story that teaches us all a powerful lesson (don't trust a man just because he says he's a doctor...) Enjoy!
Janey's Sources: Bradamante
- LOCATION: France
- Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Susan Guevara.
- @Dwa...
Hello and happy spoooOOOOookyy March! This week, we're bringing out our scariest Irish tales to impress Andi and Feliz, the hosts of the "You Two Scare Me" podcast! First, Max is going to break the glass ceiling of headless horsePEOPLE, and then Janey's going to remind us all of the most important rule of horror: children. are. scary.
We hope you enjoy!
Sources:
- Check out theYou Two Scare Me Podcast!
- Lis...
Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Janey is going to tell us about a man who will go to great lengths to get his boss laid, and Max is going to tell us about an old man's fears! Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Tibetan Envoy
- LOCATION: Tibet
- “The Spring of Butterflies and Other Chinese Folk Tales”, translated by He Liyi, edited by Neil Philp
- “Story of Songtsan Gambo and Princess...
Hello and welcome to yet another week of life! This week, Max is going to tell us the dangers of letting a good story languish on the shelf, and Janey is going to tell us about some real sillies. We hope you enjoy this shorty-baby-cutie episode!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Sillies
- LOCATION: England
- “Favorite Folktales from Around the World” edited by Jane Yolen
Max’s Sources...
Hello and happy Thursday! This week, Max is going to tell us a story about a salty sea-scrub whose wife deserves better, and Janey is going to tell us about a Rasputin-baby who can never die! (No one said these episode descriptions had to be helpful. Janey just gets to write whatever she wants in here! Watch this-- Pie 'a la mode' is stupid thing to call it, since "a la mode" doesn't mean "add ice cream", it just me...
Hello everyone! This week we're catching ya'll up on some life stuff and saying goodbye to an old friend. Then Max is going to tell us a horror story about an eye-catching beauty in the woods, and Janey is going to teach us all the proper comeback to someone telling you you're "too much".
We hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Little Girl with a Big Voice
- LOCATION: South Africa
- “Tales of the Nigh...
HELLO! Today we have an amazing guest, the Cosbrarian herself-- LIZ GOTAUCO! Liz is the creator behind the series "F*cked Up Fairytales with Liz", and the author of the hilarious book inspired by the series!
This week Max and Janey tell stories from her book, and she tells us a story about vengeful fairies and the danger of telling bad jokes (yes, we take this personally.)
We hope you enjoy!
BUY THE BOOK: "F*cked...
Hello and welcome to our LAST episode of 2025! On this episode, Max is going to tell us a story about a girl who can see the important things (like what kind of belt you're wearing), and Janey is going to tell us why Rapunzel should have been a man.
We hope you've had a wonderful year, and that 2026 only goes up!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Fates
- LOCATION: Egypt
- “Fairy Tales of the Orient&rdq...
Hello, you dirty birds! On this very special "69" episode, we're doing a deep dive into historical love letters from two very specific historical men. First, Napoleon Bonaparte is going to teach us the meaning of "anxious attachment style", and then Max is going to read us James Joyce's love letters that are not for the faint of fart (ehem...heart...)
A million kisses!
J and M
Janey's Sources - Historical Love Le...
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