Episode 143: If It's a Myth | HBO's The Outsider, World Folklore & Epistemology

Is there a monster out in the darkness? How do we know what we know? In this week’s episode, we discuss HBO’s new Stephen King adaptation, The Outsider. Spoilers abound!

We’ll talk about the epistemological conflict between Ralph Anderson and Holly Gibney, and how their tension compounds the mystery. We’ll discuss universal folklore and mythology around children, monsters, and psychic energy. This unconventional crime drama is filled with surprises, so be sure to tune in to the show before hearing our take on the history, mythology, and philosophy within!

We’re doing a Lord of the Rings GIVEAWAY! Follow us on Twitter and check out our pinned tweet to enter for your chance to win two LotR Funko POPs and a set of LotR Trivial Pursuit.

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Episode 129: Let It Go | Frozen, The Snow Queen & Scandinavian Folklore

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen… Come with us to the fairy tale kingdom of Arendelle, the setting of Disney’s 2013 megabit: Frozen. Hot (or cold) on the heels of the release of Frozen’s long-awaited sequel, we’ll unpack the meaning of Anna and Elsa’s journey into the depths of winter. You’ll hear the story Frozen is inspired by—Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Snow Queen’—and an analysis of the changes Disney made to the source. We’ll talk trolls and magic in Norse myth and Scandinavian folklore. Together, we’ll try to understand Frozen’s place in the canon of Disney’s creative output—and in the fairy tale continuum.

Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and listen to Episode 128: Maclunkey for details on how to enter our joint Star Wars Funko Pop giveaway! Here is the video you’re looking for.

Support us at www.patreon.com/midnightmyth

Check out our new merch store for Midnight Myth, Boomerangerang, and Wheel of Ka tees and totes!

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If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 12: Zoo Me | Zootopia, Fairy Tales & Anthropomorphism

So don’t you hate it when you just want to eat some pie with your grandma and a giant wolf jerk eats you? Yeah, it’s the worst. Join us as we talk about anthropomorphic animals from ancient fables to fairy tales to modernity. We talk about the boy who cried “WOOOOOOOLF,” Red Riding Hood and Disney’s Zootopia, and ask ourselves why these stories endure—and what they can teach us along the way.

Episode 96: You See Me R'hlling

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is dark and full of spoilers for seasons 1-7 of Game of Thrones! In a new in-depth character study from the universe of A Song of Ice and Fire, Derek and Laurel explore the Red Woman: Melisandre. She made an explosive appearance in season two of the HBO series as the mouthpiece of a mysterious religion, and she whispered in the ears of kings, wielding her strange influence from one land to the next. By turns upholding and deconstructing the ancient archetype of the sorceress, Melisandre’s very nature is enigmatic, making the quest of understanding her a never-ending task. So we look to women of history, mythology, and folklore to grasp her inner workings, and to the faith to which she so keenly clings to imagine her deepest motivations.

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Episode 94A: Locksley

We have all heard the stories, seen the movies, read the children’s books, about Medieval England’s daring outlaw, who steals from the rich to give to the poor. Join us for part one of a two episode series, as we discuss the folk origins of Robin Hood. From the beer guzzling Friar Tuck to the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham, Derek and Laurel explore the long history of this enigmatic folk hero. How did a few ballads and festivals of Medieval England become one of the most prolific heroes of all time? Head to Sherwood Forest, put on your green hoods, and notch an arrow as you don’t want to miss this stunning deep dive into this bonafide legend. 

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Episode 80: Season of the Witch

Autumn is upon us, and as we wrap our sweaters around our shoulders, sip on warm cider, and spend our weekends apple- and pumpkin- picking, the chill in the air reminds us of the rich mythological and historical tradition that makes the Halloween season so spookily sweet. So for this year’s Halloween special, sit back with a candied apple and join us on a journey to ancient myth as we untangle a long and complicated history—that of the witch. We’ll question the contemporary renaissance witches enjoy and follow the breadcrumbs to her origins in Greek, Roman, and Ancient Near East mythology. We’ll trace the line from Lilith of the Talmud to the Salem witch trials, from Medusa to the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. All that and more on this week’s Midnight Myth.

Episode 64: Way Down Below the Ocean

Once upon a time, way down below the ocean, there lived a little mermaid who longed to be part of a different world. This week, Derek and Laurel deconstruct one of the most beloved stories of all time, from its ancient mythic inspiration to its 19th Century origins—all the way to the classic Disney animated movie. We’ll break apart tragic themes and what it means to give a happy ending to a heartbreaking fairy tale, and explore the social hierarchies and family dynamics that make The Little Mermaid a perfect allegory for some of our worst fears. And, most importantly, everything comes back… to Plato.

Episode 59: Brains

Where did our obsession with zombies come from? Whether you cringe or cheer for the movie violence, plan for the zombie apocalypse, or animate corpses with your own home recipe, tune in to our latest episode for an exploration of zombies in pop culture. From its origins in Haitian and West African folklore to the serialized tv sensations of today, the zombie myth persists because it touches a very real, very universal fear. With a dash of Eighteenth Century history and philosophy, this zombie cocktail will delight and inspire.