Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

Past Lives

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We haven’t gotten existential about death in a while, so let’s talk about past lives! We touch upon the religious and philosophical origins of reb...

Beowulf w/ Maria Dahvana Headley

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bro! Gather round the mead hall, because we’re gonna tell the story of Beowulf, talk the nuance of translation, and gush over warrior queens with au...

Oracle of Delphi, Enkidu, and Brigid | Advice from Folklore w/ Moiya McTier

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to turn to the gods for some divine advice. We welcome Moiya McTier back to the show to channel the gods like the oracles of old and answe...

Trapper Keeper Confusion | Your Urban Legends 41

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all over the place in this one, both in terms of content and geography. From Scandinavia to Alaska, we’re questioning your choices left and ...

The ‘Hades’ Guide to the Greek Underworld

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Right this way! We’ll be your tour guides through the Greek Underworld this episode as we talk about the new game, Hades, as well as the chthonic go...

Frankenstein w/ Rose Eveleth

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

October might be over, but when you’re Mary Shelley, every day is a great day to talk about death. That’s why we were so excited to have guest Ros...

Halloweentown | Myth Movie Night

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Only on Spirits do we get really into the logistics and philosophy of a Disney Channel Original Movie. We’re talking Halloweentown, and stress that ...

Maybe it was Crows? | Your Urban Legends 40

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Halloween month, which means we are breaking out some of the best urban legends in our inbox. Cursed buildings, cursed objects, cursed woods. Y...

50 Scariest Urban Legends from Each State

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Your state might be spookier than you thought. For Halloween, we’re rounding up the scariest urban legends from all 50 states! Listen to find out wh...

200!!! Urban Legends + Q&A Spectacular!

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

200 episodes. Wow. We answer your questions, follow up on past episodes, and rate the sexiness of several mythological and folklore beings. Thank you....

Butt-Heavy Haunting | Your Urban Legends 39

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fair warning: This is a butt-heavy episode. Also featuring frequent haunted sleepovers, a wild scooter ride, and why Bluetooth technology is suddenly ...

The Western Zodiac

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After making too many jokes about Virgo season, Julia is making it up to Amanda by giving her a tour of the Western Zodiac! We still know too much abo...

Music and Ghosts w/ Erica Waters

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you hear some otherworldly banjo music coming from the pines? Don’t worry, we’ve brought on author Erica Waters to guide us through her new boo...

Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster | Myth Movie Night

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who would have guessed that Scooby Doo would have us go deeper than Loch Ness itself? Was the Loch Ness Monster just a marketing scheme? And what, exa...

The Backwoods Cabin Door Turner | Your Urban Legends 38

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is your house really energy efficient, or do you have ghosts? What genre do singing sands rock out to? Has this whole podcast been a conspiracy to get...

Sailor Superstitions

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Avast! What’s that on the horizon? Unlucky bananas, gold hoop earrings, and sons of guns; it must be sailor superstitions! Trim the sails and come o...

Norse Cosmology w/ Moiya McTier

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Science and folklore make a wonderful shot and chaser for our guest, Moiya McTier, who is here to regale us with facts about space as she maps the lan...

The Invisible Man | Myth Movie Night

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Invisible Man has been scaring us since 1897, but invisibility has been used for nefarious purposes in myths and legends since way before that. Ou...

TikTok Ghost! | Your Urban Legends 37

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re raising some important questions because of your urban legends: Do you have a cursed bloodline? What kind of TikToks are ghosts into? Why is F...

The Ghostbusters Case

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if your house was legally haunted? The Ackleys of Nyack, New York had to deal with just that. We look into the legal precedent of paranormal acti...

Hawaiian Night Marchers w/ Kamuela Kaneshiro

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are joined by Kamuela Kaneshiro of the Legends from the Pacific podcast, who gives us the lowdown on some of his favorite spiritual and paranormal ...

Friday the 13th | Myth Movie Night

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t have sex, camp counselors. Because Jason can sniff out horniness like a bloodhound. We discuss the history of the unlucky Friday the 13th, Jas...

The Taste of Ghosts | Your Urban Legends 36

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about what a ghost tastes like? We sure have now! We rank the five senses of hauntings, bemoan a secret bathroom, and yell about...

Mythological Dogs (Boston Museum of Science Virtual Live Show)

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s a good boy?! Apparently, there’s a lot of good pups across the world and throughout history. Julia takes Amanda and Eric on a tour of the be...

Disability in Fairytales w/ Amanda LeDuc

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined by the ever insightful Amanda LeDuc this episode to talk about the portrayal of disability in fairytales. Join us as we look at stories...

The Shape of Water | Myth Movie Night

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You probably know that Guillermo del Toro was inspired by The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but do you know what inspired that? We’re here to disc...

It’s Ouija Time! | Your Urban Legends 35

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Urban Legends time! We share your family ghost stories, visit a very beautiful/creepy mannequin in Mexico, and learn the reason why The Devil r...

Fact or Fiction II w/ Eric Silver

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re looking for redemption as we play, once again, FACT OR FICTION with Chuck Games aka Eric Silver. Have Amanda and Julia learned anything from d...

Mythology of Brewing w/ Katrina Pfeiffer

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes we take advantage of the beers in our fridge and the booze on our shelves. Thanks to future brewmaster Katrina Pfieffer, we got to learn not...

Godzilla & Kaiju | Myth Movie Night

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Godzilla and Kaiju movies are inextricably linked to a lot of difficult topics, but we have cocktails in hand and we feel ready to talk about them...

No Switch, Just Urban Legends | Your Urban Legends 34

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Time to put down the Switch, stop playing Animal Crossing, and listen to some urban legends. We’ve got squatters rights for ghosts, toddlers toddlin...

Creepy or Cool? - Bigger in Texas (Live from Austin, TX)

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s another game of Creepy or Cool? And because we played in Texas, our two teams have to determine whether a series of GIANTS are either big ol’...

Supernatural w/ Meghan Fitzmartin

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Supernatural is one of the longest running Monster of the Week shows on TV, and with that much content, we need an expert. Thankfully, Supernatural’...

Jason and the Argonauts | Myth Movie Night

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re suggesting a new title for Jason and the Argonauts—really, it should be Medea and the Himbos. This week’s movie is the 1963 edition of Jas...

Ghost Kid Adoption | Your Urban Legends 33

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re asking a lot of questions during this Urban Legends episode. Would you adopt a ghost kid? Which is scarier, corporeal or incorporeal? And can ...

Gargoyles

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, we talk about mythology all the time, but what if we talked about mythology AND architecture AND science? So we’re diving deep on gargoyles to...

Mulan w/ Jeannette Ng

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re joined by Jeannette Ng, who is kind enough to walk us through the multitude of Mulan stories that span centuries. We discuss cross-d...

Mermaids, Media and ‘Splash’ | Myth Movie Night

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We all need a little bit of escapism in times like this, so we’re taking a voyage under the seas to examine the Tom Hanks movie Splash, and how we s...

Unliving Document | Your Urban Legends 32

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back, we’ve got cider, and we’re telling your creepiest and coolest stories. Featuring stories about why you don’t talk trash about witc...

Purim w/ Eliana Morris

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for Purim we’re joined by Eliana Morris, who gives us a primer on the holiday’s story, feminist themes, and celebratory traditions. A...

Coolest Cryptid (Live from Los Angeles, CA)

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Julia has come up with the most scientific way of calculating who the coolest cryptid is: a tournament style bracket! While she brings the challengers...

Grimms’ Fairy Tales and ‘Gretel & Hansel’ | Myth Movie Night

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You would think that the horror movie version of a Grimm Fairy Tale would be the scariest version, but you would be wrong. We examine the original sto...

Boy Toy is the WRONG Phrase | Your Urban Legends 31

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

30 is the sexy one, 31 is the light hearted one. That’s what everyone says, right? Also featuring recalibrating your creepy-meter, just some casual ...

Mothman

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we take a dip in to the beautiful broth that is Mothman (we’ll explain what that means, we promise). From the first reported sightings, t...

Brigid, Imbolg & Irish Cosmology w/ Sharon Paice MacLeod

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined this week by Celticist, teacher, and musician Sharon Paice MacLeod who provides a beautiful, nuanced primer for Irish Cosmology. We dis...

Vampires & ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ | Myth Movie Night

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Since we’ve watched Amanda’s favorite vampire movie, it seemed like a good time to submerge ourselves in all things vampire. We touch on the vast ...

Who’s the Best Harry Potter Trio Member? (Head Heart Gut Preview)

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Listen to all of the episodes of Head Heart Gut only on the MultiCrew! Join the Internet’s coolest club at multicrew.club.See Privacy Policy at http...

SEXY (and Spooky) | Your Urban Legends 30

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

First it’s spooky. Then it’s sexy. That’s right, it’s our THIRTIETH Your Urban Legends special! Hear all about menacing cows, ghost crushes, a...

Mythology of Pokémon Sword & Shield

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The internet’s newest favorite Pokémon game has real-life mythological origins, from its towns and cities to the wild new Pokémon making their deb...

Monster of the Week w/ Emily VanDerWerff

01 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vampires, werewolves, and aliens, oh my! We’re joined this week by the incomparable Emily VanDerWerff to talk about her book, the Monster of the Wee...

Spirit of Christmas | Myth Movie Night

25 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did we use a cheesy Christmas movie as an excuse to talk about ghost stories and haunted houses during Christmas time? We sure did. Amanda and Julia b...

The Bathroom is a Ghost | Your Urban Legends 29

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Does your college campus scare you? After these urban legends, it just might. From a scene straight out of Poltergeist (1982) to a university with SEV...

Trick or Treat? (Live from WBUR CitySpace)

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After years of doing Spirits, Julia is once again putting Amanda to the test to see what she’s learned. This time, Amanda must decide whether a myth...

Ask Baba Yaga w/ Taisia Kitaiskaia

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wanted to ask your local forest witch a question? Enter “Ask Baba Yaga” and Taisia Kitaiskaia. We talk with the wonderful author abo...

Song of the Sea | Myth Movie Night

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re revamping our Myth Movie Nights by revisiting a Spirits favorite - selkies! We’re doing a deep dive (get it?) into the Celtic stories of ‘...

Stay Ignorant! | Your Urban Legends 28

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode became a debate over an important topic: do you ignore the ghosts or confront them? In this accidental case study we discuss the problem ...

Jacheongbi

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This story seems like we lifted it straight out of a fanfiction or a long-running anime, but the story of Jacheongbi is so incredible, it had to be re...

Multimedia Mythmaking w/ Carmen Maria Machado

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined by author and fabulist (our new favorite word) Carmen Maria Machado as we delve into the stories and urban legends that inspire her, ho...

Creepy or Cool? (Live from the Bell House)

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Live from the Bell House, Julia is putting on her game show crop top and hosting CREEPY OR COOL - a game where you guess if a creature is, well… cre...

Hocus Pocus | Myth Movie Night

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For Julia, nothing says Halloween quite like Hocus Pocus. For Amanda... she’s never seen it. Shocker. We dive into the Salem-inspired Disney Hallowe...

VERY SPOOKY HOMETOWNS | Your Urban Legends 27

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We ask important questions with these hometowns. Are all ghosts just pranksters? How much spooky stuff has to happen to create A FAMILY LORE? Rediscov...

Haunted Dolls

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Break out your ghost detectors and specter-o-meters. Because we’re talking about HAUNTED DOLLS this week! Julia breaks down the historical links to ...

Making Magic in Fiction w/ Garth Nix

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda’s childhood dreams come true as we’re joined by award-winning author Garth Nix. We learn how Nix creates magical worlds, hear his top tips ...

Scooby Doo on Zombie Island w/ Eric Silver | Myth Movie Night

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A review of Scooby Doo on Zombie Island was too wild to do on our own - that’s why we invited Eric Silver along on this wild tale of a talking dog, ...

Cat Werewolves? Wolf-Cats? WERECATS! | Your Urban Legends 26

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We run the gambit of hauntings this episode - haunted pennies, haunted frat houses, haunted bathrooms, and far too many haunted AirBnBs for us to stay...

Thor - Marvel vs. Myth

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You might know Thor from mythology, Marvel movies, and comic books. But do you know how these various versions compare? This week, Julia walks us thro...

Gods & Goddesses of Agriculture w/ Hallie Casey and Catherine Arjet

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The only thing we love more than a farmers market is, you know, the whole human project of agriculture. Hallie Casey and Catherine Arjet from One to G...

Princess Mononoke | Myth Movie Night

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into this Myth Movie Night. Amanda and Julia watch Princess Mononoke for the first time, cry a ...

The Unquiet Dead

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we discuss The Unquiet Dead - Slavic spirits who cannot rest peacefully in death. Amanda proposes spring is the most haunted season. Julia ...

Lost My Friend in a Ball Pit | Your Urban Legends 25

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is chock full of summer camp ghosts, haunted schools, and too many cemeteries. Eric makes too many ranch dressing related jokes. Julia be...

Bread & Family w/ Julia Turshen

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and cook, Julia Turshen, who tells us about the familial folklore of her family’s history with bakin...

The Mummy | Myth Movie Night

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re breaking into some 90’s CGI and inaccurate Egyptian mythology with this week’s Myth Movie Night - The Mummy! We stan Brendan Frasier, gush...

Capstone in Exorcism | Your Urban Legends 24

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Your stories are full of lessons, this episode. Including the milestone of giving spooky prophecies, a queer dream icon, that Capstone class you take ...

Fearsome Critters

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Oral tradition got a little bit more ridiculous with the introduction of Fearsome Critters in Americana folklore. As we dive in, Amanda comes up with ...

Thames River w/ Caroline Crampton

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Caroline Crampton has spent more than six years thinking about the Thames River. We’re so excited she joined us to talk about the river’s history ...

Krampus | Myth Movie Night

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, we’ve covered Krampus before, but we wanted to see him in ACTION with the 2015 film Krampus. A family finds out the dark true meaning of Chris...

Bootylicious Curves, BAM, That Mountain's a Lady | Your Urban Legends 23

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We got our pre-live show jitters out of the way by scaring each other with your urban legends! Featuring a WILD trip to a mountain in the Philippines,...

Dragons

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Listen, we know you ALL probably have opinions on Game of Thrones but let’s focus on the important part: DRAGONS! We discuss the differences between...

The Death of Heroes w/ Christopher Dole

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Every Hero’s Journey has to come to an end eventually. We invited Christopher Dole to tell us five tales of heroes who lived their best lives and ho...

Harry and the Hendersons | Myth Movie Night

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Harry and the Hendersons, OR A Man Comes to Terms with His Toxic Masculinity by Adding a Cryptid to His Family, OR What If We Were the Monsters All Al...

We Survived Spaghetti Warehouse | Your Urban Legends 22

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve come across these field recordings from the Spaghetti Warehouse, it means that we didn’t make it. Or we did, and had some fun. But befor...

Yokai & Pokémon

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for us to ruin your childhoods as we break down some of the creepy origins of your favorite pocket monsters. We talk Pokémon team naming co...

Cannibalism & True Crime w/ Chelsea G. Summers

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined this week by author Chelsea G. Summers to talk about the different forms of cannibalism throughout history, as well as patriarchy, miso...

An American Werewolf in London | Myth Movie Night

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s another Myth Movie Night. Grab your moonshine, break out the passport, and start up your VHS player. We’re visiting London in the classic 80s...

You Heard This Episode in a Dream | Your Urban Legends 21

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If this episode seems familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it in a dream before (or you’re a precog. It’s gotta be one of those). So you’ll p...

Passover w/ Eric Silver

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This Passover, Eric Silver joins us to tell the story of the Jewish holiday and leads us through the Seder with all its mandatory cups of wine. He exp...

Isis

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re not letting society dictate to us what it means to be a woman - we’re taking a leaf out of Isis’s book. We explore all of the aspects of t...

The Undertaker

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wrestlemania is this SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY, and Editor Eric has been dying to talk about the mythos of his favorite wrestler of all time, The Undertake...

Certified Devil Survivor | Your Urban Legends 20

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is full of scary stories and too many children having to camp. You have been warned. We also learn about the importance of doing your res...

Hercules | Myth Movie Night

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

And now for something a little different: we revisit Disney’s classic 1997 film Hercules! Unlike when we were 5, we now have plenty of booze in hand...

Names w/ Gretchen McCulloch

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re getting meta in this episode featuring Internet Linguist Gretchen McCulloch. Learn why names are important not only in mythology and folklore,...

Lake Monsters

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all heard of the Loch Ness Monster, but what about all of the other lake-dwelling creatures? We do a deep dive (Get it? Because lake monsters?...

LIVE from ListenUp Festival 2019 | Your Urban Legends 19

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is coming at you straight from our live show at the Listen Up Festival in Portland, OR. We shared some of our favorite listener-submitted...

The Epic of Gilgamesh (Part 2)

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back this week to finish out the story of Gilgamesh! We discuss grief and then journey with Gilgamesh to the land of the dead, which features ...

La Llorona w/ Elena Fernández-Collins

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The story of La Llorona is so much more than that trailer you keep seeing with Linda Cardellini. We invited podcast critic Elena Fernández-Collins to...

The Epic of Gilgamesh (Part 1)

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you haven’t heard of or read the Epic of Gilgamesh, it has EVERYTHING. Kings, gods, epic monster battle, prophetic dreams, and more. But it also ...

Bee Movie, Spirits Edition | Your Urban Legends 18

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of hauntings in this episode. So many. Haunted castles, haunted mirrors, haunted… punch bowls? Also featuring a hot air balloon accident, an in...

Brazilian Creatures

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re rounding up some of the most interesting Brazilian mythological creatures. From chaotic good tricksters, to snakes that just want to be left a...

Mythological Cross-Dressing w/ Andrea Lam

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our good friend Andrea is BACK, this time to lead us through a history of cross-dressing in mythology and folklore. We tackle stories from ancient Gre...

The Benandanti

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Julia decided to give us all a history lesson. We’re talking about The Benandanti - a group of witches from Northern Italy. We’ve got f...