Born in ice and fire, Norse mythology starts violently...and strangely. There's a blood ocean, a giant primeval cow, and some light grandpa murder. Thor and Loki take two kids on a field trip to Jotunheim, where, like any family vacation, Thor gets in a drinking contest and wrestles an old lady. Then, Odin travels to the far reaches of the void for wisdom and learns that he must pay a terrible price only to learn that the end, when the universe will once again be bathed in ice and fire, is coming. The creature of the week is the sandman and you shouldn't let your kids listen to it, especially if it's right before bedtime. Basically, growing up in the middle ages was terrible and I don't know how anyone made it out without some severe psychological trauma. Sponsors: Loot Crate! Check out http://www.lootcrate.com/legends (offer code: LEGENDS) for the awesome antihero box. Blue Apron! http://www.blueapron.com/legends And newcomer Credit Karma, for a completely free credit report http://www.creditkarma.com/value Music: "Virality Ratio" by Steve Combs and Simon Mathewson "Pilgrimage-initiation" by Wayne Kinos  "The Origination" by Nihilore All other music by Poddington Bear and Blue Dot Sessions

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The Conclusion of the "Story of Hong Gildong" takes us from the household drama of last episode to a story that spans the entirety of the Korean peninsula, with Gildong earning his title of the Korean Robin Hood. It then moves beyond Korea to mythical lands, where Gildong battles demons and becomes a doctor. Or pretends to be a doctor. I mean, it's a frontier setting in the 1600s, let's not split hairs. It's basically the same thing. The creature this time, is cactus cat. It's a cat who wants to get drunk and party like it's 1910. The awesome source for this episode: https://amzn.com/0143107690 Looking to build a website? Weebly is pretty great! Check out http://www.weebly.com/myths Make fantastic meals with Blue Apron: http://www.blueapron.com/legends Music: All music  by Blue Dot Sessions and Poddington Bear. Except for the awesome chip tune song by Role Music.

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Hong Gildong has been called the Korean Robin Hood, but really oversimplifies the story. It is both an awesome adventure tale with dragons, magic, assassins, demons, bandits, and betrayal, and a complex human drama, where one young man must find and understand his place in the world. It's both action-packed, and heartbreaking. The titular character, Gildong, was born a second-class citizen, and he was determined to make a way for himself in a world that kept pushing him down, even if that meant living outside the law. This is his story. The creature this time is the saalah, and they are what happens when a mommy genie and a daddy human (or the other way around) love each other very much. Loot crate is fantastic. Check out Loot crate: http://www.lootcrate.com/legends (Offer code: LEGENDS) Looking to build a website? Check out http://www.weebly.com/myths Say hi on twitter? I'm http://www.twitter.com/mythpodcast That incredibly great source for this story today: https://amzn.com/0143107690

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Hercules is as terrible as he is awesome. There are sea monsters, centaurs, people being thrown off of things, Hydra poison, and Hercules making ridiculous choices. Basically, it's everything you could want from a Hercules episode. Oh, and he dies, because apparently he can do that. The creature this time is the Mamagwasewug, and he just wants to borrow a smoke off you...or he'll burn your house down.   Batman picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BHD5g9OjfXq/?taken-by=mythpodcast Our sponsor this week: www.lootcrate.com/legends (code: LEGENDS).  Support the show? (http://support.mythpodcast.com) Find us on iTunes? (http://itunes.mythpodcast.com) Music: "Cheap suit" by Jason Staczek "Silence" by Kai Engel "Deserted City" by Kai Engel "At the End Everyone Dies" by Kai Engel "Leafless Quince Tree" by Rolemusic All other music by Poddington Bear and Blue Dot Sessions. Bibliography: "Metamorphoses" by Ovid 9:1-282 "The Women of Trachis" by Sophocles "The Library of Greek Mythology" by Apollodorus 2:6-8 "Library of History" by Diodorus Siculus 4:32 "The Greek Myths" by Robert Graves

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An abbreviated history of Pocahontas and John Smith, this episode looks at the conflict largely from the Powhatan side. This isn't the Disney version. It is gritty, dark, violent, and, if Mattaponi oral history is to be trusted, fairly disturbing. Still, it tells the story of a clash of worlds, and one woman who stood in the middle to bring a brief peace. The creature this week lives in lime trees and, in return for probably not paying rent, will hurt you if you're mean to the tree. Our sponsors: www.MackWeldon.com (promo code MYTHS) http://www.blueapron.com/legends http://www.weebly.com/myths My interview on The Podcast Digest: http://www.thepodcastdigest.info/2016/06/tpd-96-jason-weiser-from-myths-and.html Mattaponi Oral History: https://amzn.com/1555916325 The Disclaimer (and post): https://www.mythpodcast.com/4096/36b-pocahontas-two-streams/ Music: "What does anybody know about anything" by Chris Zabriskie All other music (besides intro/outro and COTW) by Poddington Bear and Blue Dot Sessions

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The story of Pocahontas and John Smith has turned from compelling historical story of a brave woman who united two warring nations, to a melodramatic, oversimplified love story. In reality, Pocahontas likely never view Smith as more than a friend, since she was 11 when they first met. But they won't meet quite yet. We need to talk about the world they both inhabit, and the nations that will collide in the early 17th century. Then, on the creature of the week, you'll see why you want to bring hair clippers when checking on your infant in the middle of the night. check out the companies that were nice enough to sponsor this episode: http://Lootcrate.com/legends - offer code: LEGENDS (the Loot Crate community thing I talked about) http://Weebly.com/Myths Music: "Wipe my Face Away" by Keshco "Cloudz" by Jahzzar All other music by Poddington Bear

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This is not the Beauty and the Beast you've heard. It's not even the story the one you've heard is based on. That one is a super-pared-down version of an 18th century French novella. The original contains way too much description about fairy politics and power structures, 18th century Pandora, and an idea for a "Downton Abbey" reboot...with monkeys. The creature of the week is Papa Bois, from Trinidad and Tobago. He will show you why regular exercise and a balanced diet of strangers lost in the forest will keep you healthy well into old age. Our super-awesome sponsor: Loot Crate (don't forget the code Legends) The other awesome sponsor: Casper. All that in the ad was true. These things are amazing. Find the show on iTunes The discussion post with all the fun links Music: "March" by Kai Engel "Train" by Sergey Cheremisinov "Usless Confusion" by much, "Comet Trails" by Moon "She Does Her Best (feat. Small Colin)" by Six Umbrellas "Falling into You" by Little Glass Men "Captain Socrates" by Nihilore "Everest" by Scott Holmes "Stay 17" by Peter Rudenko "Todas las promesas" by Gumbel "Space(Outro)" by Andy G. Cohen "Breeeze" by Jelsonic "Dizzy Spells - Instrumental" by Josh Woodward "Midnight Undercover" by Jelsonic "Seasong" by Jelsonic

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Two stories from Greek Mythology: first, it's the story of Sisyphus, who you might know from his interminable, crushing labor, but who actually really deserved that punishment because of how horrible he was. The second story is of good-guy-Bellerophon, Sisyphus's grandson, who is constantly having that football pulled out from under him just as he is about to kick it. The creature is an 80-foot-tall, sneaky Japanese skeleton who has a drinking problem...in that he has a difficult time drinking the blood spewing from his decapitated victims. Loot Crate is awesome. Check out Loot Crate. (Don't forget the code LEGENDS). Music: "Factory Time" by Visager "Captive" by Steve Combs and Delta Is "The Origination" by Nihilore "Escape Pod" by Steve Combs and Delta Is "F*** Yeh, Capitalism!" by Nihilore "What Lurks in the Blind Spot of a God?" by Nihilore "Beat the Burglar" by Scott Holmes "Liberosis" by Nihilore "Young Love (Bonus Track)" by Steve Combs and Delta Is "Ants" by Rolemusic "Homage to John Carpenter" by Squire Tuck

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As you've probably come to expect, the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, perhaps the second most famous story from One Thousand and One Nights, is much more violent than modern adaptations would have us believe. Medieval Persia was a dangerous place, and you needed to have your wits, a lot of luck, and apparently an extremely loyal, wily slave girl to survive. The creature this week is the Nix, and it will give you yet another reason to shout at strangers in the grocery store. Wanting an easy way to build a website? Check out our sponsor this week, at http://www.weebly.com/myths Music: "Golden" by Little Glass Men "The Falsehood of Positivity" by Rowan Box "Cavern" by Jahzzar "XX" by Jahzzar "CGI Snake" by Chris Zabriskie "Wonder Cycle" by Chris Zabriskie "Night Without Sleep (Instrumental)" by David Mumford "Arcade Paradise" by Scott Holmes

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Three stories of tricksters. We have Coyote from Native American mythology giving great gifts and racing a turtle. There's also Anansi the spider-man from West African folklore, who is trying to buy the stories of the world. We also catch up with our old friend Loki from Norse mythology, who just wants to give Thor's wife an impromptu, un-asked-for haircut. The creature of the week is an emaciated horse who will either play harmless pranks on you, or crush you to death in the street. Our sponsor, Weebly! Say hi on Twitter Music: "Waltz Ohia" by Fields Ohio "Redhead" by Jahzzar "Modulation of the Spirit" by Little Glass Men "Wild Ones" by Jahzzar "The Beat Influence" by Cullah "Theme K" by Steve Combs and the Delta Is "Inner Light" by Kevin MacLeod

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