Explore every episode of the podcast Myths and Muses: A Mythik Camps Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 8: Mothman and Other Harbingers of Doom | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:21:41 | |
Our feature monster this week is one whose stories are spun out of urban legends, making him a more recent addition to the monster roster. It’s time to talk about the mysterious Mothman. And while we're at it, we'll meet some other mythological figures of fate, destiny, and bad luck from Greek, Celtic, and Germanic mythologies. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode! | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 7: The Loch Ness Monster & Other Creatures of the Water | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:27:17 | |
Our feature story in this episode takes us to the Highlands of Scotland, where we’ll meet the elusive Loch Ness Monster, AKA Nessie. We'll also learn about some other Nessie-like creatures across the world, and some different water-dwelling creatures in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and western and central Africa. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- The "Surgeon's Photograph": Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode! | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 10: Achilles, Patroclus, and Personal Loss | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:23:40 | |
In this final episode, we’re going to look at a few stories about recovering from – and remembering – loss. Then, we’ll look back over this Comeback Kids season and think about what it really means for a hero to find their way home – and how that’s not always as easy as it might seem. We start with Achilles, greatest of the Greek heroes, then explore some myths from civilizations around the Arctic Circle. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 10 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: The Wrath of Achilles, by Michel-Martin Drolling (1810) The Triumph of Achilles by Franz von Matsch (1892) Patroclus and Achilles in Troy (2004) | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 9: Odin and Stories of Sacrifice | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:25:58 | |
In this episode, we explore gods who have made sacrifices -- some of them on purpose, for the sake of wisdom or another advantage, and some of them less-intentionally. We'll explore three stories showing just how far Odin will go for wisdom, then we'll find out why Tyr, the Norse god of law and justice, and Nuada, a leader of the Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann, lost their hands. Then we'll finish with a coda to the story of Osiris, Horus, and Set. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Odin the Wanderer, Georg von Rosen (1886) Óðinn throws his spear at the Vanir host, by Lorenz Frølich (1895) Odin Fighting Fenrir, Emil Doepler (1905) Norse god Tyr sacrificing his arm to Fenrir the wolf, John Albert Bauer (1911)
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| Comeback Kids Episode 8: Osiris and Stories of Resurrection | 01 Aug 2024 | 00:24:52 | |
It’s time to finish up our “come back from the Underworld” mini-series! In this episode, we’ll be covering stories of some mythological figures whose trips to the Underworld were… unintentional. And not of natural causes. But they all manage to come back! Just usually with a little outside help. You'll hear two major stories from Egyptian and Norse mythology, and then a couple of lesser-known tales from Japan and Finland. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 8 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Statue of Osiris Osiris and the Egyptian Resurrection (1911 reproduction of ancient tomb wall art) "Death of Baldr" (c. 1750) “Baldur’s Death” by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1817) "Each arrow overshot his head" (1902) | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 7: Inanna and Braving Underworld Dangers | 18 Jul 2024 | 00:27:17 | |
Our Underworld mini-series continues! This time, we’ll meet some mythological figures who make that harrowing trip maybe to learn something, maybe to make a point, or, in one case, to make sure the sun still rises. It’s never an easy trip, and they have to face down some serious dangers along the way. We'll follow a Sumerian goddess there and back, chart a recurring trip in Egypt, and see how a famous Greek hero made a really terrible choice. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Ninshubur and Inanna (24th-22nd century BCE) Sculpture that may be Ishtar or Erishkigal (19th-18th century BCE) from Lewis Spence’s Myths and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) Ishtar by Yliade (2021) The sun god Ra in his solar barque, protected by the coils of a serpent (14th-13th century BCE) The ram-headed form of Ra traveling through the Duat (13th century BCE) | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 6: Psyche and Other Romantic Underworld Vacations | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:26:45 | |
Stories of coming back from the Underworld are some of the biggest, most dramatic comebacks of all! And there are so many of them that they won't all fit in one episode! In this one, we’re exploring stories of heroes who went to the underworld and back for the sake of love. We already talked about the most famous story of this kind, Orpheus and Eurydice, back in Season 1 -- but he’s definitely not the only one! You'll meet a beautiful, adventurous princess, a loyal wife, and a pair of Japanese primordial deities, all of whom face down death in one way or another. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 6 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Roman Mosaic of Cupid and Psyche from the Poseidon Villa (2nd-3rd century) Psyche Honoured by the People, Luca Giordano (1695) Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, Antonia Canova (1794) Admetus Mourning Alcestis, Johann Heinrich Tischbein (1780) The God Izanagi and the Goddess Izanami, Nishikawa Sukenobu (18th century) The Gods Izanagi and Izanami on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, Utagawa Hiroshige (1850)
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| Comeback Kids Episode 5: Odysseus and Getting Super-Lost | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:26:22 | |
In this episode, we've got stories about heroes who got lost. Really lost. Lost-for-years-or-even-centuries lost. We'll hear about Odysseus's prolonged detour, some Celtic heroes who wandered into the fairy realm, and some creatures of West African forests who you might not mind running into if you get lost in the woods. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 5 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Terracotta plaque showing the return of Odysseus (ca. 460–450 BCE) Hermes Ordering Calypso to Release Odysseus, Gerard de Lairesse (1670) Calypso calling heaven and earth to witness her sincere affection to Ulysses, Angelica Kauffman (c. 1775) Niamh, illustrated by Beatrice Elvery in Heroes of the Dawn (1914) "Oisin and Niamh of the Golden Hair" by P.J. Lynch (2008) Stephen Townsend's Aziza (2018)
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| Comeback Kids Episode 4: Tefnut and Disappearing Gods | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:25:17 | |
In this episode, we're exploring stories of gods who, for one reason or another, withdrew themselves and their gifts from the mortal world -- but who eventually either came back or at least made sure someone else picked up the slack in their absence. We'll hear about an Egyptian rain goddess who ran away, a Greek agricultural goddess in mourning, a Japanese sun goddess who hid in a cave, and a Yoruba Orisha creator god who is really good at delegation! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 4 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Relief of Tefnut, Ptolemaic Period. 180-47 BCE. Stele featuring Osiris, Tefnut and Shu Red Attic figure of Demeter, c.5th century BCE Roman statue of Demeter/Ceres Demeter by Yliade on DeviantArt, 2020 Amaterasu emerging from the cave, by Utagawa Kunisada, 19th century The Installation of the Sun Goddess, 1925 | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 3: Heracles and Heroes Losing Themselves | 23 May 2024 | 00:25:57 | |
In this episode, we're exploring stories of heroes who lost themselves in some way and had to find themselves again. We'll see how Heracles's Twelve Labors -- the things that made him one of the most famous demigods of all time -- only happened because of something he did while under a terrible curse. We'll also see how going into a frenzy makes some Norse warriors much more fearsome, and some Arthurian knights very much the opposite, and we'll hear a little about a mysterious prophecy making its way through the mythical world. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 3 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Bronze Hercules, 2nd century: Megara and Hercules, 3rd century: Hercules constellation, by Johann Bayer (1603): Hercules from an Italian film (1958) Disney's Hercules and Megara (1997) Drawing taken from a Swedish bronze plate (c. 900) Berserker depicted as a chess piece (12th century): "Guinevere Scorns Lancelot's Gift", George Wooliscroft Rhead and Louis Rhead (1898) "The Madman of the Forest who was Sir Launcelot", Howard Pyle (1907) "Sir Lancelot in His Madness", Innes Fripp (1912) "Sir Launcelot and the Queen Talked Sadly Together", Arthur Dixon (1921)
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| Comeback Kids Episode 2: Sundiata and Stories of Exile | 09 May 2024 | 00:26:45 | |
In this episode, the Muses have decreed that we’ll be looking at stories of heroes who were exiled from their homes and had to fight to regain what they had lost. There are a lot of epic tales that feature this theme, and it provides a great opportunity to send the hero on some sort of journey, where they can encounter monsters and challenges and all the exciting conflicts that make a story! We'll start with Sundiata Keita, a hero of the Mandinka people, and then explore a few other heroes from around the world. All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 2 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Sundiata Keita by Carlos Varejão on ArtStation Sundiata Keita as he appears in the video game Civilization VI Some Victorian-era images of Robin Hood: Reynard the Fox: Disney's Robin Hood: A Statue of Arjuna in Bali: Karna and Arjuna (1899) Arjuna and a heavenly maiden (1900) Athena helping to build the Argo (1st century CE, Roman) Jason arriving in Pelias's palace (1st century AD, Roman) Medea by William Wetmore Story (1868) Jason and Medea by John William Waterhouse (1907) Poster for the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts Jason battling skeletons in 1963's Jason and the Argonauts | |||
| Comeback Kids Episode 1: Aeneas, from Ruins to Riches | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:22:48 | |
Season Two of Myths & Muses kicks off with the tale of a hero who lost it all and had to start again somewhere new! Aeneas rises from the ashes almost literally, leaving the destruction of Troy behind and setting off on an adventure that takes him all over the Mediterranean and even to the Underworld. Driving him all the way is his looming destiny: to found a nation whose legacy will last for millennia. All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 1 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: The Journey of Aeneas (by Simeon Netchev for World History Encyclopedia) Aeneas Carrying Anchises, black-figure pottery (c. 520 BCE) Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1618) Aeneas Carrying His Father Anchises, by Ludolph Büsinck (1643) Aeneas Carrying Anchises, by Charles-Andre Van Loo (1729) The Meeting of Dido and Aeneas, by Nathaniel Dance-Holland (18th century) | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 6: The Hydra and Other Serpents | 22 May 2025 | 00:28:48 | |
In this episode, it's time to meet some slithering serpentine monsters! We start with the many-headed Hydra, who had the misfortune to be one of Heracles's many targets, but who got the consolation prize of becoming a constellation. Then we'll look at that constellation's story in Mesopotamian mythology and we'll meet an eight-headed serpent-dragon from Japanese mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch: Check out our curated Youtube playlist for this episode! | |||
| Season Two Trailer | 18 Apr 2024 | 00:01:50 | |
Season 2: The Comeback Kid starts on April 25th! Hello, demigods! I’m Cass, host of the Myths & Muses podcast and daughter of Clio, the muse of history, here to announce that Season 2 will be launching soon! The Muses have pointed me in a really interesting direction for this season. They sent me on a bunch of research trips over the winter, and then I got home to discover that they’re all a-flutter over … an Egg. But this is not just any egg. It’s a Phoenix Egg. Actually, it’s a bunch of Phoenix Eggs that have just… appeared all over the mythical world this spring. None of us are… really sure what’s going on with that, but the Muses have proclaimed themselves inspired. They love what the Phoenix stands for: rising from the ashes, from the lowest point of failure and despair – to the bright flames of new life, new beginnings, and reinvention. What does it mean to fail, pick yourself up, and try again? What gods and heroes have stories of triumphing over adversity that might be inspirational to us? Those are the tales we’ll be exploring in Season 2: The Comeback Kid. These stories can also provide essential guidance for demigods everywhere, whether you’ve found your way to a camp or not. So if you are at Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, Daring Girls, or Camp Mythik this summer, you’ll need this information so you’re prepared for the Quests you might face– and if you’re not at camp, you need it even more since you’re out there as a solo hero. Whatever you’re facing, we hope that the stories this season will inspire you. So make sure you’re subscribed! Episode One will be available to stream or download in one week, on April 25th, 2024! Until then, stay brave, demigods! | |||
| PJO Minisode 4: The Oracle | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:08:48 | |
In this fourth minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we explore the Greek and Roman traditions of prophecy and foretelling. ----more---- More on Oracles: | |||
| PJO Minisode 3: Entering the Underworld | 25 Jan 2024 | 00:07:30 | |
In this third minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we explore a classic part of a hero's journey: entering the Underworld! The journey that Percy, Annabeth, and Grover take looks a little different from what some classical heroes encountered – although they do encounter some of the same figures and obstacles. ----more---- More on the Underworld:
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| PJO Minisode 2: Medusa | 28 Dec 2023 | 00:07:18 | |
In this second minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we get to know the stories behind the monster Medusa. But... is she really as terrible as her legend claims? ----more---- More on Medusa:
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| PJO Minisode 1: The Furies | 21 Dec 2023 | 00:07:39 | |
With the release of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+, the Muses thought our listeners might like to know the stories behind some of the characters and creatures they'll meet in the series! In Minisode 1, we meet the Furies: goddesses of vengeance, tormenters of the wicked, and protectors of Athens. ----more---- More on the Furies:
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| Episode 10: Halloween Special! | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:24:49 | |
Throughout its evolution, Halloween has remained a time when the world gets a little … well, weird! For one night, the regular everyday world falls away, and it feels like anything could happen. That sense of possibility – maybe both frightening and exciting! – is central to the theme of transformation around this holiday and its central creatures. Whether it’s the world transforming to winter, the dead transforming back to the living world, the human turning into a wolf, the vampire turning into a bat, or you, yourself, turning into Darth Vader or Wonder Woman or a robot or a cat or anything else you can imagine! The idea of change lives behind so many of the myths, legends, and traditions we associate with Halloween -- and that's what we're exploring in this episode! This episode's interview features Lisa Longo, the administrative mermaid at Mythik Camps, who has also worked as a guide for ghost tours! Lisa shares some favorite ghost stories and shares why she thinks scary stories are something we enjoy. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: An Athenian vase depicting a man in a wolf skin, circa 460 BC: The "werewolves of Ossory", c. 1200 CE:
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| Episode 9: Sports and Athletics | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:22:14 | |
The history of sports is deeply woven into the stories humanity has told, from its earliest days. In this episode, we look at the mythological tie-ins of the Olympic Games, how wrestling shows up in many ancient stories, and a particularly wild sport from Minoan civilization. We also explore some of the most popular modern sports -- and how some of those have ancient origins, too! This episode's interview features Anna Willenbrock, a Camp Mythik and Camp Half-Blood Brooklyn Counselor who has a deep love of athletics! She's done everything from discus to sword-fighting, and she wants demigods to hear that athleticism can be for everyone. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Ancient stadium in Olympia, Greece: Olympic Boxers, c. 550 BCE (The Cleveland Museum of Art) Prize amphora showing horse-racing, c. 510 BCE (The Met) Heracles wrestling Triton (from theoi.com) Heracles wrestling Antaeus, c. 150 BCE Ullr on skis with a bow, 11th century: Ullr on skis with his bow, 18th century: The Bull-Leaping Fresco from the Great Palace at Knossos, Crete, c. 1600-1450 BCE: Minoan Bull-Leaper statue, c. 1500 BCE: Minoan gold ring showing a man leaping over a bull, c. 1400 BCE: | |||
| Episode 8: Music and Dance | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:25:02 | |
Music is something that we as humans have used to express ourselves for millennia – and it works its way into many of the stories we tell, too! Many myths speak to the power of music to change minds, charm beasts, and even create magic. In this episode, we explore some famous and some less-well-known tales about mythological musicians and dancers. This episode's interview features Kelly Branco, child of the Muses and a demigod with quite a bit of experience bringing music to others! You can find Kelly on her website, www.kellybranco.com, or on Instagram @kellybranxo. You can also find her epic playlists on Spotify and listen to "The Sound" on 89.1WFDU-HD3 Mondays and Thursdays 7-9pm. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Euterpe and Terpsichore from a fresco in Pompeii, c. 70 CE Euterpe, by Simon Voulet, c. 1640: Greek vase with muse playing the phorminx, a type of lyre, c. 440 BCE Recreations of Greek lyres from Luthieros: 1845 calotype photograph of the Irish harper Pádraig Dall Ó Beirn A modern Celtic harp: Two modern five-string kanteles: "The Kantele Player" by Pekka Halonen, 1892: Apsara dancers at the Bassac Theatre in 2012: | |||
| Episode 7: Back-to-School | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:23:28 | |
With summer at an end, the Muses have asked me to do an episode focusing on going back to school! As you might imagine, the Muses are all big fans of education. So many of the artistic things they inspire get studied in schools – books and poems and movies and paintings – but they also know that learning can inspire creativity. In this episode, we'll explore some stories about famous mythological teachers -- the figures who helped heroes become heroes -- and about some other gods of wisdom, knowledge, and learning. This episode's interview features Jordana Elias, daughter of Aphrodite and National Program Director for Plato Learning. In her mortal guise, Jordana has also worked as a classroom teacher! She shares insights on how teachers prepare to go back-to-school and assures us that they do not, in fact, hibernate in their classrooms. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Possible location of Scáthach's school (from Undiscovered Scotland) Reproductions of images of Seshat and Thoth from temple walls: Seshat by Yliade on DeviantArt Orunmila by Noire 3000 / James C. Lewis Orunmila by Christopher Pompey on ArtStation Oden som vandringsman, or Odin as Wanderer by Georg von Rosen (1886) | |||
| Episode 6: Pets | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:19:01 | |
Whether it’s dogs, cats, birds, fish, lizards – all kinds of pets today are a frequent inspiration for artistic expression, from Instagram photos to movies. And that’s always been true. As long as humans have had pets, we’ve wanted to work them into the stories we tell! In this episode of Myths & Muses, we look at some of mythology's most daring dogs and fabulous felines. This week's interview features a very special guest, joining us straight from the depths of Tartarus! If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: The Third Princess with her Cat, from The Tale of Genji, by Tsukioka Settei (18th century) The Story of Nippondaemon and the Cat, by Utagawa Toyokuni (1835) Hazy Moon Cats, by Utagawa Toyokuni (1846) Maneki-neko in Tokyo (2005) A collection of maneki-neko: | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 5: Echidna and Monstrous Mothers | 08 May 2025 | 00:30:38 | |
Since this episode is dropping just before Mother’s Day in the US, it seemed like the perfect time to talk about Echidna, the Mother of All Monsters. Or… at least an awful lot of the Greek ones. We'll also look at some other monstrous mothers in Mesopotamian, Norse, and Germanic mythology! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode! | |||
| Episode 5: Battles | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:27:25 | |
Our demigods are known for their swordplay, so it's only natural that we devote an episode of the podcast to the arts of war and battle! Epic fights have played a role in so many amazing stories from mythology through the ages, from the poems of Homer to modern movies. In this episode, we talk about the key PVP fight of the Trojan War, between Hector and Achilles, as well as several other major fights from Egyptian, Aztec, and Chinese mythology. This week's interview features Laine Flores, who works for Hermes as a logistics coordinator for Plato Learning, making sure that all our demigods get their swords and shirts every summer! But elsewhere in life, Laine is an expert in stage combat! Learn all about what that means in this episode. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Achilles Slays Hector, painting by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1630) Eric Bana as Hector and Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy (2004) From the throne of a statue of King Sesostri I, showing Horus and Seth binding together the symbolic plants of Upper and Lower Egypt. ca. 1961 -1917 BCE. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, art reproduced from the Codex Borbonicus (c. 1500)
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| Episode 4: Games | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:24:54 | |
From ancient board games to modern video games and tabletop role-playing games, this episode looks at how demigods play -- and the role that games have sometimes played in mythological stories! From the Hero Twins of the Maya Popol Vuh and their ball game that you can really lose your head over to the Egyptian game of senet and its role in the Egyptian calendar, we explore some ancient origins of gaming. Then, we bring it all the way forward, exploring how modern video games and tabletop role-playing games incorporate mythology, often putting the player right in the role of an epic hero. And, of course, no episode on demigod gaming would be complete without discussing Mytho, Mythik Camps' very own tabletop role-playing game. This week's interview features Shann Smith, child of Dionysus, who also runs our Mytho programming! Shann discusses their love for the community-building and improvisational aspects of tabletop gaming, as well as their work developing their own games. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Ball court at Chichen Itza: Maya ball court in Belize: Senet game board and pieces, ca. 1550–1295 B.C. From Egypt, Abydos (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) | |||
| Episode 3: Siblings | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:22:16 | |
Siblings! They can be the absolute best... or the absolute worst, especially when we're talking about families with divine powers. In this episode, we'll explore some of the most famous tales of sibling rivalry, like that of Romulus and Remus, as well as stories where the siblings manage to pull together! We'll also talk about how the importance of twins carry down from the divine to mortal life in Yoruba culture, and we explore some of the common sibling-themes found in fairy tales and folklore across the world. This episode's interview features Sarah Ryan, daughter of Athena and someone who has a special understanding with Baba Yaga. Sarah shares some of the important sibling and sibling-esque relationships in her own life, as well as her observations of how all the demigod siblings at our camps work together! If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Images of Ere ibeji: See some and read more about them at The Met | |||
| Episode 2: Creativity | 06 Jul 2023 | 00:22:57 | |
Art is amazing! The creative impulse has spurred humanity for thousands of years. We naturally want to tell stories, paint pictures, shape metal and stone into beautiful objects, and perform through song, dance, and theatre. In this episode, we explore the mythological connections to all those ways of expressing creativity! From the Muses of Greece to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, from Anansi the spider to Celtic metalworkers, we'll introduce some of the most epic figures related to arts and crafting. This episode's interview features Elle Vallejos, daughter of Aphrodite, former Daring Girls Counselor, and current Hiring & Recruiting Manager for Plato Learning! Elle is an illustrator and costumer, and she shares some of her journey as a creative artist. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch: Our Episode 2 Youtube playlist! With features on the Muses, Anansi and his stories, Athena, Hephaestus, Lugh and Celtic artwork, Homer and oral storytelling, and Saraswati! Cool Images: Artwork from Elle Vallejos: The Snettisham Great Torc, Britain, 1st century BCE The Celtic Lochar Moss torc, Scotland. 1st-2nd century CE. The god Cernunnos on the Gundestrup Cauldron, Denmark, 1st century BCE: Killamery High Cross, Ireland, 9th century CE Painting of the Goddess Saraswati by Raja Ravi Varma, 1896 | |||
| Episode 1: Origin Stories | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:22:07 | |
What happens when the Muses of Greek mythology want to have a podcast... but they don't actually want to do the work of making one? They conscript a demigod, of course! In the inaugural episode of Myths and Muses: A Plato Learning Podcast, we start at the very beginning: origin stories and myths of creation! Whether it's stories of how the whole world and all the gods came to be, or stories with a smaller focus, like the creation of a particular flower, origin stories can tell us a lot about a culture. They're also Origin something we humans seem to find endlessly fascinating – at least if all the Batman and Wolverine movies are anything to go by! We'll look at a few examples, then dive into the origins of storytelling itself. This episode's interview features Persephone and her mortal alter-ego, Plato Learning founder Crystal Bobb-Semple! If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch:
Cool Images: Cave painting: Chauvet Cave, France. 30,000 to 28,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Serra da Capivara, Brazil. 28,000 to 6,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Cumberland Valley Caves, Tennessee, U.S. Dated to: 4,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Cueva de las Manos, Argentina. 7,300 BCE to 700 CE. Cave Painting: Lubang Jeriji Saléh, Indonesia. More than 40,000 years old. Cuneiform tablet, Shuruppak, circa 2600 BCE Egyptian hieroglyphs, c. 3000 BCE: Oracle Bone Script, China, c. 1250 BCE: Maya codices, c. 900-1500 CE: | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 4: The Sphinx and Other Ferocious Felines | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:25:12 | |
This episode features that enigma wrapped in a mystery, the Sphinx. We'll discuss her famous riddle and examine how the Greek Sphinx is different from the one you see in Egyptian statues. We'll also look at some of her feline relations across not just Greece but also Persia, Assyria, medieval Europe, and China. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode! | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 3: Nine-Tails and Other Foxes | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:27:54 | |
This episode explores one of the cleverest monsters on our list: the Nine-Tailed Fox of East Asian mythology! But how do you tell a kitsune from a huli jing from a gumiho? We'll try to sort it all out! The fox's reputation as a trickster is world-wide, though, so we'll also look at foxes in Aesop's Fables, medieval stories from France, and the folklore of Eastern Europe. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode! | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 2: Fenrir and Other Wolves | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:27:04 | |
In this episode, we talk about monstrous and mythical forms a much-maligned animal: the wolf. We’ll begin with the biggest and most dangerous of them all: the Great Wolf Fenrir from Norse mythology, prophesied to destroy the world by swallowing the sun. We also look at fairy tale wolves, the raijū of Japanese folklore, and the crucial role that wolves play in many stories of indigenous North American cultures. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode! | |||
| Misunderstood Monsters Episode 1: Polyphemus and Other Giants | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:23:14 | |
Welcome to Season 3 of Myths & Muses! This season, we're focusing on monsters -- and, for better or worse, we've had some help in targeting which monsters to focus on from... Medusa. Because she's invited a bunch of them to our camps for our "Misunderstood Monsters" theme. You can see her first letter to us and the "tour poster" for the monsters on the World of Mythik theory board. We're starting with Polyphemus, the one-eyed monster best known for getting blinded by Odysseus. Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant best known for the role he plays in the story of the Greek hero Odysseus. And because we're not sure we quite trust Medusa to have shown us her whole hand, we'll talk about some other giants from across the world, too! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:
Stuff to Watch: See our curated playlist for this episode! | |||
| Season 3 Trailer | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:02:14 | |
Season 3: Misunderstood Monsters starts on March 13th! Medusa has thrown down a challenge: The Gauntlet of the Gorgon. She's invited twelve different monsters to visit Mythik Camps this summer! The Muses are super-excited about the potential for mayhem and the great stories that will come out of it. Since Medusa's given us a hint about which monsters will be coming, each episode of Season 3 will focus on one of them! ...And we're also going to cover a few more, just to be on the safe side. With these stories, we hope demigods everywhere will be ready to face down monsters of all kinds, whether you’ve found your way to a camp or not. So if you are at Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, Daring Girls, or Camp Mythik this summer, you’ll need this information to prepare for the Quests of Medusa's Gauntlet – and if you’re not at camp, you need it even more since you’re out there as a solo hero. Who knows where those monsters might end up? So make sure you’re subscribed! Episode One will be available to stream or download in two weeks, on March 13th, 2025! Until then, stay brave, demigods! | |||
| 2024 Holiday Bonus Episode: Wintry Monsters! | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:14:47 | |
In this episode of Myths & Muses, in honor of the holiday season, we explore monsters who prowl the snow and ice from the Himalayas to Austria, from the Great Lakes to Japan. From chilling terrors to mischievous troublemakers, we’ll tell you what to watch out for this winter! Plus: Find out what has the Muses a little too excited about next summer’s potential adventures… Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for 2024 Holiday Bonus Episode If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). Stuff to Read:
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