OUR RATING:
A Wonderfully Weird Journey Through Folklore of all Kinds
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if someone took all of humanity’s weirdest stories, fact-checked them with the enthusiasm of a sleepy librarian, and then delivered them in the most pleasant voice possible, congratulations, you’ve discovered Jason Weiser’s “Myths and Legends” podcast. Weiser is your new friend who knows way too much about obscure folklore and make hearing about why that medieval knight thought it was a good idea to marry a swan a pure delight.
Weiser has managed to make ancient stories about gods throwing tantrums, heroes making spectacularly poor life choices, and magical creatures with serious boundary issues feel accessible and educational. His delivery style could best be described as “kindergarten teacher explaining tax law”, comforting, methodical, and soothing, even when describing someone getting turned into a tree for the third time this episode. You’ll find yourself invested in whether Odysseus will ever figure out that maybe, just maybe, he should stop angering sea gods.
The podcast covers everything from well-known Greek myths to obscure Slavic folktales that sound like they were invented by someone who had eaten some very questionable mushrooms. One week you’re learning about Thor’s cross-dressing adventure to retrieve his hammer (yes, really), and the next you’re hearing a Japanese story about a bamboo cutter who finds a tiny moon princess, because ancient storytellers had no concept of “keeping things simple.” Weiser treats each tale with the same level of earnest respect, whether it’s the Odyssey or a story about a magical talking fish with commitment issues.
What’s delightful about this podcast is how it highlights just how consistently terrible ancient heroes were at making basic decisions. These legendary figures had access to prophecies, wise mentors, and divine intervention, yet still managed to mess things up in ways that would make reality TV stars proud. Weiser’s dry commentary on their spectacular failures never feels mean-spirited, more like a patient teacher watching students repeatedly touch the stove after being told it’s hot.
The show also excels at pointing out the delightfully bizarre internal logic of these ancient stories. Why does every fairy tale stepmother immediately resort to murder? How exactly does one “accidentally” anger an entire pantheon of gods? And why do so many myths involve someone getting cursed for extremely minor social faux pas? Weiser doesn’t try to rationalize these plot holes, instead, he presents them with the kind of bemused acceptance usually reserved for explaining why your cat insists on knocking things off tables.
Perhaps the most entertaining aspect is how these ancient stories make modern drama look absolutely tame by comparison. Your family thinks they have issues? Greek mythology would like a word. Think your dating life is complicated? Let Weiser tell you about some Celtic love triangles that involve shapeshifting, curses, and at least three different prophecies of doom. These stories make soap operas look like documentaries about watching paint dry.
The educational value sneaks up on you like a particularly clever trickster god. You’ll start listening for the entertainment value of hearing about Thor dressing in drag or King Arthur’s knights’ questionable problem-solving skills, but you’ll end up with a surprisingly solid understanding of cultural values, historical contexts, and storytelling traditions.
Weiser has created something special: a show that makes you excited to learn about cultures and stories you’ve never heard of, while making you question how our ancestors managed to survive with such consistently poor judgment. Whether you’re a mythology buff or someone who just enjoys hearing about ancient people making hilariously bad choices, “Myths and Legends” delivers exactly what it promises, and makes you grateful that modern problems rarely involve angry gods, magical curses, or having to complete impossible tasks just to get a decent night’s sleep. It’s comfort food for your brain, served with a side of “wow, people have always been this weird.”
Where to listen to Myths and Legends
Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castro
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