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Join us as we take a look at the mythic metaphorical goodness of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We discuss the hoped for, then canceled, Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, directed by Chloe Zhao. After our disappointment of that terrible news we take a look at the original Buffy series' cultural impact, including its influence on other series and creators. The conversation also explores the thematic depth of the original series, focusing on Buffy's journey from a reluctant hero to a mature adult, her relationships, and the symbolic significance of her battles. We touch on the show's exploration of adulthood, intimacy, and the struggle with societal expectations, emphasizing its enduring relevance and influence and taking a look at the feminist and inclusive themes of Buffy. Buffy's journey is a metaphor for autonomy and breaking societal norms, and Buffy's impact on female empowerment and the struggle against patriarchal structures means its mythic themes continue to resonate today.

SHOW NOTES

Why was the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot “new Sunnydale” canceled? - NME article

How Buffy the Vampire Slayer Redefined TV Storytelling - The Atlantic

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Myth, Metaphor, and Morality - book by Mark Fields

Passion of the Nerd Season One Analysis of Buffy the Vampire Slayer - search his playlists for subsequent seasons

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Join us as we explore the ethical dilemma of enjoying art created by people who have done bad things. We discuss the tension we experienced after we had recorded an episode on The Sandman by Neil Gaiman and then discovering serious allegations about Gaiman from several women. The conversation delves into the concept of the "great artist," the impact of social media on artist-audience relationships, and the complexity of separating art from the artist. We reference Claire Dederer's book "Monsters" (highly recommended for those interested in this topic) and the concept of ethical consumption, acknowledging the humanity of artists, and the need for grace in navigating these moral quandaries.

SHOW NOTES

Neil Gaiman's wikipedia page outlines his extensive artistic work as well as the allegations against him, and the legal proceedings that have occurred in relation to them to this date.

Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

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Join us as we discuss Lord Ganesha, a popular Hindu deity known for his role in removing obstacles. We explore the history and diverse myths of Ganesha's origins, his widespread worship across Asia, and his significance in Hinduism. Ganesha's stories, including his birth, his battle with Shiva, and his broken tusk, are examined for their symbolic meanings. We also examine Ganesha's wide appeal and his association with wisdom and learning and Ganesha Chaturthi, a significant festival celebrating his birthday, as well as its historical context in India's struggle for independence.

SHOW NOTES

Ganesha on mythopedia

A Quick Overview of Ganesha 

All About Ganesha Chaturthi on HinduAmerican.org

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Join hosts Karen Foglesong and Erin Branham as we discuss the quote by Francis Weller, "The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them." We explore the balance between grief and gratitude, and how grief keeps the heart fluid and soft, enabling compassion. We take a look at how modern society's avoidance of grief and discuss the lack of collective mourning for COVID-19 victims. The conversation touches on the importance of empathy, creativity, and rituals in processing grief and gratitude, and how these practices can foster a deeper understanding of human experience and connection.

SHOW NOTES

Living a Soulful Life: Francis Weller's website

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Hosts Karen Foglesong and Erin Branham discuss the beliefs about money in our culture. We look at the history of money, how various religions have dealt with wealth and wealth inequality, and provide contexts for our listeners to examine their own beliefs about money and material success.

9 Gods and Goddesses of Wealth and Prosperity from World Mythology - The Scribbling Geek blog

History of Usury: The Transition of Usury Through Ancient Greece, the Rise of Christianity and Islam, and the Expansion of Long Distance Trade and Capitalism - The Gettysburg Economic Review

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong book by James W. Loewen

Note: The Great Courses is back to being The Great Courses Plus and is no longer Wondrium.

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Join us as we discuss the concept of "torture culture," exploring why humans inflict pain on each other and themselves. From schadenfreude and laughing at friends falling down to the banality of evil, we take a look at where the human capacity to do harm (and enjoy it!) comes from. We explore the division in America and the competing mythologies of our nation and the importance of facing ourselves and our personal pain. The discussion concludes with a reflection on the role of stories in shaping individual and collective realities.

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Join us as we discuss Clarissa Pinkola Estes' "Women Who Run with the Wolves," emphasizing its depth in Jungian psychology and storytelling. We explore the feminine perspective in myths, using Baba Yaga as an example of a reinterpreted heroine. The conversation delves into the historical and cultural significance of wildness and civilization, especially the differences in how Wild Men of myth are treated versus Wild Women. We discuss the societal pressures on women and men, the importance of transgressing social norms, and the psychological benefits of embracing one's wildness. The discussion also touches on the cultural diversity brought by Estes' Hispanic heritage.

SHOW NOTES

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Voices on Independence: Four Oral Histories about Building Women's Economic Power - Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Wild Men & Women of the Forest - Myth & Moor website by Terri Windling

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Join hosts Karen Foglesong and Erin Branham as we discuss the origins of the field of comparative mythology, from Frazier's Golden Bough to post-modernist critiques of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. We explore how modernist and post-modernist ideas have impacted the study of the world's religions, mythologies and philosophies and what it means for spiritual seekers in the West today as we try to avoid the colonialist mistakes of the past.

SHOW NOTES

The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion full text - Project Gutenberg

Bronislaw Malinowski - Encyclopedia Britannica

Jung's "Psychology with the Psyche" and the Behavioral Sciences

The Man Behind the Myth: Should We Question the Hero's Journey - LA Review of Books

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Join hosts Karen Foglesong and Erin Branham as we discuss the mythological significance of snakes, and their dual symbolism of life and death. We explore various cultural perspectives, including Chinese mythology where snakes represent power and transformation, and Hindu mythology where snakes are both protective and deceptive. The conversation also delves into the historical and symbolic use of snakes in medicine, such as the Caduceus and the rod of Asclepius. We highlight the snake's role in ancient myths, from the Minoan Snake Goddess to the Garden of Eden, and conclude by encouraging listeners to embrace the transformative power of the snake in their own lives.

SHOW NOTES

Wadjet:  Cobra Goddess of Egypt 

Ningishida: Snake God of Mesopotamia

Nuwa and Fuxi: Chinese Mythology

Orinico River Petroglyphs

Great Serpent Mound in Ohio

The Solstice Snake in the Moab Desert

Nagas of Indian Mythology

Minoan "Snake Goddess"

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Artificial Intelligence is everywhere now, available for your use and possibly coming for your job! Karen and Erin discuss the hefty moral implications of AI for humans - and for the artificial intelligence itself. The discussion ranges from AI art in competitions to the Church of AI to (of course) Star Trek, the Borg, and Commander Data (with a little Star Wars thrown in for good measure).

SHOW NOTES

What Isaac Asimov Can Teach Us About AI - article in The Atlantic

The Mathematical Basis of the Arts by Joseph Schillinger, 1943 - Internet Archive

Inside the First Church of Artificial Intelligence - article in Wired

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 2, Episode 9 clip - Picard and Guinan discuss disposable creatures

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