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.

Listen now. And if you want to support the podcast and get bonus content, you can do that by joining us on Patreon.

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Let's trace the eerie wail of one of Ireland’s most enduring legends, the 'Banshee'.

Often dismissed as myth or metaphor, the Banshee is more than just a ghostly woman who cries in the night. Her story shifts across time and region, tangled in ideas of ancestry, grief, and death itself.

This unsettling figure has followed generations through the centuries but just what is she? and what does she want with us?

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In this chapter, we explore the legend of the 'Impundulu', Southern Africa’s lightning bird. A shapeshifting blood-drinker entity that is both feared and revered across generations.

We’ll trace the story through Zulu, Xhosa, and Pondo traditions, uncovering its many forms and meanings. From deadly thunder to fairy rings and vampiric hunger, the Impundulu is as mysterious as it is terrifying.

We’ll also take a step back, looking at how electric birds like this one appear across global mythologies, and how stories like this reflect something deeper about nature.

If you’d like to support the show and get bonus episodes, head to the link in our bio to join us on Patreon.

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**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**

Join us as we explore a strange and unsettling tale that slithered its way into urban legend, 'The Pet Snake'.

At first glance, it's a strange story of an affectionate reptile that stops eating, only to reveal a chilling intention. But behind the surface lies a story that speaks to our uneasy relationship with domesticated predators.

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In the 1990s, in the streets of Bangalore, India, a strange phrase began to appear on walls and doorways: 'Nale Ba''Translating as, 'Come Tomorrow.' This was all tied to the legend of a witch who wandered the streets at night, calling out to men in the voices of their loved ones.

In this chapter, I explore the urban legend of Nale Ba, where it came from, how it spread, and what it says about gender and shifting roles in a changing world. We’ll look at how the story became a local ritual, how it vanished in the wake of modernisation, and how it reemerged through Bollywood cinema.

This is a tale about power, consent, and a spirit that, despite disappearing from the streets, may still linger in the stories we tell.

To support the show and get bonus chapters, behind-the-scenes extras, and more, you can join us over on Patreon.

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Today we turn to one of Japan’s most enduring and disturbing legends, 'Kuchisake-onna', also known as 'the Slit-Mouthed Woman'.

This tale of a disfigured woman who asks a chilling question has stalked schoolyards, late-night streets, and the public imagination for decades. But beneath the horror lies a deeper story - one shaped by post-war trauma, shifting societal fears, and the evolution of urban myth in a media-saturated age.

We trace the legend’s rise from whispered folklore to national panic, exploring how stories like Kuchisake-onna take root, why they thrive, and what they reveal about the fears we try to suppress.

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A snippet of this weeks Patreon Exclusive chapter.

Legends don’t always come from ancient times. Some are crafted more recently, shaped by communities, and kept alive because they say something important about the place they come from.

In this chapter, I explore the strange story of the 'Nain Rouge', Detroit’s Red Dwarf. Said to be a demonic figure that brings misfortune, the legend has ties to French folklore, Native American stories, and modern-day parades. But when you start pulling at the threads, you find a history that may not go back nearly as far as many believe.

We’ll look at the origins of the Nain Rouge, the figures that may have inspired it, and how Detroit turned this mischievous creature into a symbol of identity, community, and resilience, even if that meant rewriting the past.

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As we begin Season V, we explore one of the most unnerving figures in modern folklore: the Men in Black.

Join us as we trace the shadowy origins of these silent enforcers, following their evolution from early UFO encounters to government conspiracies and their place in pop culture. We’ll examine the strange patterns that link witness testimonies, the unsettling uniformity of their behaviour, and the psychological weight they carry as symbols of censorship, paranoia, and control. Blurring the line between reality and fabrication, this urban legend continues to haunt the spaces where secrets are meant to stay buried.

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Season Five of Urban Legends begins 14th May.

In this new series, we uncover the strange, the sinister, and the stories that refuse to die. From serpents and spirits to courtrooms and cryptids, each episode takes you deeper into the folklore, fear, and facts behind the world’s most enduring legends.

Written and narrated by Luke Mordue, Urban Legends blends storytelling, history, and cultural analysis to explore why these tales persist, and what they reveal about us.

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Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends; shorter chapters delving into smaller folkloric tales shared worldwide. To listen to our past episodes and to gain access to those coming on our next season, join us on Patreon by clicking the link below.

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Get ready for a festive, yet perplexing journey into the world of urban legends as we explore the mysterious tale of Santa stuck in chimney. Join us as we investigate the origins, variations, and enduring fascination with this quirky holiday myth.

The legend of the body of a man, dressed as Santa Claus being found stuck in the chimney has endured for many years. But where did this twisted story originate? Why does it continue to spread? and has this ever really happened?

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• If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]

• For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast