Probably Improbable Podcast

Happy Winter Holiday of Choice! Carly delves into "Christmas monsters" with Iceland's Jolakotturinn, (or Yule Cat, because 'Yule Cat' is much easier to say if you're an American unfamiliar with Icelandic pronunciation). Join the ladies as they discuss the most adorable monster! Sam perfects her various kitten sounds, and Carly figures out all of the ideal work-arounds to not get devoured by the cutest beast.

Sources, show notes and reference images: https://probablyimprobablepodcast.home.blog/2019/12/24/episode-26-jolakotturinn-yule-cat-wants-you-to-fall-in-line/

Sam is enjoying her slightly new direction with her episodes by again recounting an old folktale. This time it's the mysterious wealthy landowner, and multi-widower, Bluebeard. Join this discouraged actress and discouraged blood-ologist in a time, long ago, when women were viewed primarily as currency, property, or simply a huge inconvenience, where Sam weaves an unforgettable tale of Bluebeard.

Show notes, sources, and reference images can be found here: https://probablyimprobablepodcast.home.blog/2019/12/17/episode-25-bluebeard-just-ignore-the-anthropomorphic-wardrobe-2/

Get ready for a badass black mermaid from over 4,000 years ago! That's right! On this week's episode, Carly wins over Sam's icy cold Minnesotan heart with Mami Wata, an African goddess of the ocean. The ladies also ponder the universal truths of human experience, like laughter, joy, dance, and our fascination with the beautiful vastness of oceans, and the fact that IT CAN TOTALLY KILL YOU

Sam takes some delightful liberties with our podcast premise as she explores a couple of lesser-known and utterly bonkers Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Of course, these tales are presented in an endearingly Sam-fashion as the devil wears a top hat, a guy wears a bear carcass for years, and a bird, a mouse, and a sausage are all roommates! Yep, you read that right--roommates.

Show notes, reference images, and sources: https://probablyimprobablepodcast.home.blog/2019/12/04/episode-23-bearskin-bird-mouse-and-sausage-sams-bonkers-storytime-1-2/

In this week's episode the ladies venture back into Slavic fairy tale lore and discuss the Likho, it's a creature of bad luck, the very embodiment of misfortune. It's a wicked old lady and a malicious goblin. It's hiding your keys and killing your cattle. Sam shares her "worst" online dating experience, and enjoy Creepy Pasta Storytime with Carly!

Sam turns to our theme song for inspiration this week. That's right! Sam tackles the illusive unicorn! And it's more intriguing than you might expect! Sam delves into uses for their magical horns as well as some history of the fantastical monster, including how to set a unicorn trap. Hint: It involves virgins. (And no, we aren't making that up.) Curious how long a unicorn's horn is in ax-handles? Find out in this week's episode!

Show notes, reference images, and links here: http://probablyimprobable.libsyn.com/episode-21-unicorn-and-a-chinese-giraffe-named-karen

In this episode Carly teaches Sam about La Cegua, a bone-chilling creature from Central American folklore. This mysterious and fantastical woman can be found on isolated roads in Nicaragua waiting for ill-intentioned men willing to give her a ride or a ride (in the sexual innuendo way). But this beautiful woman isn't all she seems! Because of course not! Where is the interest in that? No. She's secretly an evil spooky monster who will make men insane! What does she look like? How does she make men go mad. Go listen and find out, silly! We'll explore old-timey-folklore-slut-shaming, Sam creates her very own bespoke Cegua and demonstrates her impressive cold reading abilities!

Sam briefly delves into one of the topics that most gives Carly the hebee-jeebes (as her mother would say), Black Eyed Children. Sam tells us about David Weatherly and his expertise in this not-at-all-real-thing, that still irrational terrifies Carly. It's October. It's spooky season. And it's time to be very careful about which drably-dressed-monotone-sclera-less-children you invite into your home. Hint: None! Don't invite any of those creepy-creepers into your home! Come on! You should know this by now!

If you don't like distractions from the main topic, you should probably skip this one. However! If you're a delightful human who appreciates the rambunctious banter of your PI cohosts, then settle in as Carly invites you and Sam to Helheim! Learn about the Norse goddess of the underworld, Hel, she's the giantess daughter of Loki, and her siblings are a serpent and giant wolf. So come learn more about Hel and Carly's middle school track experience, and the general trepidation associated with carnival rides, and Sam's hatred of Pinterest, and how 90s children in the midwest used to make snow tunnel "igloos".

This week Sam reminds us that winter is just around the corner, with everyone's favorite cannibalistic-supernatural-monster-being! The wendigo! This was a topic both ladies expected to be boring. They. Were. Wrong. This creature is bonkers! And metaphorical! Sam also delves into every 90s child's favorite horror series, "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". Join us! Or don't, it's up to you. Just, whatever you do--DON'T EAT YOUR FRIENDS.

Sources, reference images, and links here: https://probablyimprobablepodcast.home.blog/2019/10/10/episode-17-wendigo-your-guide-vanished-and-you-had-mystery-talking-wind/