Spirits

Listen, kids love to join clubs. Even if it means potentially selling their souls to the ghosts haunting their homes. Also an abandoned gym, a mean …

So Hallmark made a Golem RomCom: Made for Each Other. But is it actually a golem?? We brought back golem correspondent, Eric Silver, to remind us …

Buckle up, theater kids, we made a deal with the devil to cover the incredible store of Dr. Faustus. Faustus loves a monologue, Mephistopheles is a …

We’re back with It’s Norse, Of Course! We’re telling the story of Baldur, who is really defined by, of all things, how he died. Hear the story. Throw things at your friends. Enjoy

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We’re joined by audio sorcerer, Mischa Stanton, who swears they are not that spooky. Amanda tells us you’re not getting a horse in a basement, we debate whether a ghost makes a hotel sexier or less sexy, and we learn …

We’re joined by author Helene Greer, who is here to tell us about Clytemnestra, or as she puts it, “The Murder Queen of All of Our Dreams”. We also discuss blood curses, sapphic battle axes, and making better Hallmark …

We know the “Oedipal complex,” but how well do we actually know the Oedipal Plays? This set of three plays is a real Star Wars situation, with …

Dr. McTier is back, and we’re once again channeling the gods. We are learning how to fail safely, talk about stealing plants from your hometown, and discourage you from throwing rocks at your future wife. Y’know, the …

We’re kicking off It’s Norse of Course with a look at the All-Father himself. Come for the history of Norse mythology’s father figure, and stay for …

From a Jewish Pope to a woman Pope, we are hearing all about the legendary popes from author Daniel Lavery. We talk about “The Rule of Harlots”, Dan …

Did you know, a ghost bird? Just a dinosaur. We’re joined by writer and comedian Corinne Caputo to explore your creepiest stories, get her opinion on Team Ignorant, and Zombie Jurassic Park.

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Throw out everything you know about Pinocchio. The story of this little puppet boy is wilder than you could possibly imagine. From the wild amount of …

You’ve probably heard about the evil eye; there are so many traditions on what it does and how to protect yourself from it! We dive into evil eye traditions around the world, and talk death rays, airplanes, and mummy …

The Orangey Guy is back, aren’t you excited?? Plus we discuss the best ways to give back to a haunted historic site, secrets revealed at funerals, and exes that live in haunted lighthouses. 

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As midwinter fast approaches, we explore The Wild Hunt; the spectral parade of spirits and souls that hunt across the European skies. We discover the …

What you know about alchemy might only be a scratch on the surface. Metal to gold? It’s so much more than that! We’re joined by Sara Norja, who is …

Con artists and harmful horror tropes and production scandals, oh my! We’re talking about the Spielberg classic, Poltergeist, the origins of these …

What was that noise? Just the pipes, right? WRONG! We talk about cleaning up paranormal messes, clearing up a haunting by flushing a toilet, and of course, the supernatural explanation: Cheetos.

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You checked under your pillow, and what’s that? A new Spirits episode? And it’s all about the Tooth Fairy?! We dig into the origins of this …

We’re joined by author Van Hoang, who teaches us the story of the Monkey King, how Journey to the West MIGHT have been a romance novel, and how going through puberty turns every kid into a trickster spirit. 

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Halloween might be over but we’re STILL thinking about our favorite horror movies and the best villains from those movies. Join Julia and Eric as …

It’s what you’ve been waiting for. We’re finally going to solve ghosts. Answers like coffee ghosts, teenage shenanigans, and devious child lies. 

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Parental confirmations of ghosts, theories about a haunted sewing machine, and Schrodinger’s wedding guest? This episode has a lot, because it’s an urban legends episode, baby!

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Did you have an imaginary friend growing up? Was he a creepy shadow hanging out in the corner? Even if you didn’t, we’ve got plenty of scary stories submitted by our listeners for this urban legends episode!

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There’s something that’s just spooky about a hotel, haunted or not. But these hotels? They’re definitely haunted. But don’t worry, y’all, we’re not entering our haunting phase just yet. 

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We’ve got a lot of dragons in pop culture; funny dragons, scary dragons, wise dragons, vicious dragons. But who is the BEST dragon? Amanda and Julia …

We’re joined by Mara Wilson, who regales us with her experiences growing up in a haunted house, living the “gothic valley” life, and what would be …

Liminality. Transition. Limbo. Thin places. The betwixt and between! This episode is all about one of our favorite things in mythology and pop …

It's Episode 300, which means we're giving Spirits some special updates and upgrades. You will notice freshened-up art and music on today's episode, but most importantly for you, we're giving you MORE and COOLER …

It’s our 300th episode! And to celebrate, you’re getting an extra-long urban legends episode! Ghost horses, ghost lights, office doppelgangers, ghost …

The woods might be dark and full of wolves (which yes, they’re a metaphor), but together we can follow the path of the history of Little Red Riding …

Welcome to Head Heart Gut, where the Multitude hosts argue about the best things using our head, our heart and our gut. This is a supercut of the …

From the Satanic Panic to the urban legends of our youth, we talk to podcaster Sarah Marshall of You’re Wrong About to get her takes on creepiest and …

Babies of unusual size, vegetable babies, animal babies, and more! This week we’re talking about the most interesting babies of mythology, folklore, …

A renovated haunted house, a transforming cat god, and of course, a creepy kid. We broke out the big spooky stuff for this episode where we’re all in the same room. Ooooooh spooky!

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It’s Eric’s birthday on the show, so we sit down to watch one of his childhood favorite films: Bedknobs and Broomsticks. And boy, it sure is a film! We talk WWII flavored magic adventures, con men, and an incredibly …

Big questions, little questions, these figures of folklore, mythology and world religion are here to answer them. We tackle camp quandaries, quitting …

Calling all sports fans! We’re joined by author KD Casey to talk about America’s pastime,  baseball, through the lens of modern legend, romance, and inclusivity. 

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It’s a party, and Dionysus has invited you! As we wrap up “It’s All Greek to Me” with the party god, we look at his unique place on Olympus, the tragic origins of wine, and bucking societal expectations. 

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Come see the entire Spirits Podcast team LIVE, united in person for the first time since 2020, next FRIDAY at Caveat in NYC!Join us in-person (proof of vaccination required, mask strongly encouraged) or via …

Amanda reveals she is the shower ghost, Julia demands answers and closure, and Eric comes out as anti-olive. It’s an urban legends episode and the …

This week we’re joined by author Sascha Stronach to talk about his debut novel, The Dawnhounds. We chat about spreading Māori science fiction, mushroom cities, and being joyously weird.

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Hestia is the living embodiment of the heart of the home. This oft-forgotten Olympian might not have gotten into the same shenanigans and antics that the other gods got into, but that doesn’t stop her from being an …

Julia’s house might be haunted, but we’re not gonna dwell on that. Instead, we’re revisiting how haunted pasta is, yelling at you about using …

It’s summertime and we’re revisiting our own hometown urban legends. Don’t go swimming in Lake Ronkonkoma, don’t visit the Hell House, and don’t look too deep into the military base that inspired Stranger Things. But DO …

We’re joined by author B.L. Blanchard to imagine a North America without colonization. We talk about map-making as world-building, returning home, …

As queen of the Olympians, Hera gets a bit of a bad reputation. But we’re here to tell you that not all of her stories focus on revenge and toxic relationships. She deserves some love too! 

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We’re joined by author Isabel Cañas to talk about her debut novel, The Hacienda, and all things postcolonial gothic! And along the way we chat about …

Next time you’re buying pottery or some cool jewelry, remember that Hephaestus is to thank for that and SO much more. Learn how the Greeks did …

There’s a lot of teens getting into shenanigans in this episode. Driving on haunted roads that might not exist, accidentally turning themselves into urban legends, and singing karaoke with ghosts. Teen shenanigans!

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The gods are on the line, and we’re asking them for advice. We discuss “no, for now”, chaos gods give advice on finding order in life, and a living island tells you to live life at your own pace. 

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We’re joined by author Natasha Bowen, who spins us the tale of her love of mermaids, the darker fairy tales of her youth, and connecting to the West African mermaids of her family. 

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Whatever you thought about Ares before now, we think we can change your mind a little bit. We’re talking about propaganda, roosters, and learning lessons from our mistakes. 

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From haunted colleges to towns full of creepy kids, we’re doling out advice on how best to survive your own hometown urban legends! 

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We’re joined by author Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev, an incredible storyteller and educator. We talk about how myths are purposeful, cautionary …

If you’ve ever debated over drinks who the best vampire is, this is the episode for you! We’re joined by the hosts of the Queer Movie Podcast, Rowan Ellis and Jazza John, to decided, once and for all, who the most …

We’re finally chatting about the goddess of Sex, Love, and Not Exactly Rock and Roll: Aphrodite! We talk about why our parents warned us about sea …

We’re opening the portal, but don’t worry, we’ll remember to close it. Ghosts help Eric with some home improvement, Amanda goes to WikiHow for some …

We’re joined this week by Dr. Vivian Asimos, who explains that just about anything can be mythology. Yes, including Star Wars, The Legend of Zelda, …

The gods have a lot in store for us this week. Amanda talks about being dragged out of the “dank woods”, Moiya suggests finding a third beaker, and …

King of Interns, patron of finance bros, we’re talking this week about our messenger god, Hermes! Amanda channels her past jobs, and Julia thinks …

Have you ever thought about how messed up the Pokemon world is? We have! We’re joined by Eric Silver to do a deep dive into the most terrifying …

Didn’t you want a magical animal companion as a kid? We know we did! Amanda revisits her childhood favorite example, the daemons from the His Dark …

The goddess of compost has finally made an appearance on our podcast: Demeter. Strap in, and find out what we mean when we whisper: “An ear of grain, cut in silence”. 

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It seems only right to end the year with urban legends. Julia has an embarrassing revelation, Eric decides colors are the most haunted, and we …

We’re bombarded every year by various holiday romcoms, so Amanda has offered to take us by the hand and lead us through the tropes that make these …

When you think of Santa Claus, what do you picture? The big guy in red is this malleable, larger than life figure that has origins that might surprise you. Luckily, we have Emily VanDerWerff to guide us through the …

This episode is as wild and stormy as the god we talk about; there’s talking horses, there’s hot wives who love sea monsters, and he’s got a lot of …

We’re delivering your urban legends; hot, fresh, and straight from a creepy basement. Or perhaps you’d like a creepy attic door that refuses to close. It’s a real buffet of creepiness, served up for you. 

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The gods are back to give advice, with advice dealing with angsty teenagers from a teacher of gods, to learning to become fluent in fae speak to get …

Sometimes you just gotta go off about Paul Bunyan and timber. We’re joined by Leah Lemm, who shares with us growing up with Paul Bunyan stories, how …

It’s Girl Boss Time-- We mean, Athena Time. We talk about some cool birds that we like, how Meryl Streep is channeling Athena in most of the movies …

We’re talking demons, haunted houses, and horror tropes as we watch 2013’s The Conjuring. And asking the important question: How long would YOU live …

This week, author Maggie Tokuda-Hall joins us to talk about all things murder and magic. From the exploration of gender, to werewolves as a metaphor …

We’re back visiting the Olympian gods and this time it’s finance bro Apollo. We talk about all the women (and men!) Apollo has wronged, and of …

We’re going on a haunted date through the forest. Because you don’t really know your partner until you see how polite they are to a terrifying German …

Hold on a second, we’re channeling the gods to answer your questions about creativity, religion, bachelorette parties, body image and more. Don’t …

There’s something magical about the magic of home, and Sarah Hollowell wrote a whole book about it. We talk about spending time in the elementary …

Children in dangerous situations, children being scared by pickles, the kids are creepy but alright! The new urban legends episode features many …

It’s movie night and we’ve watched the stunning film, The Green Knight. We talk classic fairy tale tropes, Arthurian canon, Latin funeral hymns, letting Dev Patel sleep, and what exactly the problems with chivalry are. 

We’re joined by author and professor Veronica Schanoes, who leads us through a forest of  the feminism of Alice in Wonderland, taking moralizing out …

Lay your head down, close your eyes, and drift off to dreamland as we talk about the mythological stories and figures that inhabit your dreams! Also, …

There’s something very special about this episode. We answer questions like “why can’t capitalism be a ghost?”, “are ghosts part of your college …

Robots, androids, AI - the staples of our science fiction media actually have very historical and mythological inspiration! Join us as we discuss the …

We’re joined by author and storyteller, Owl Goingback. He tells us all about things like befriending the Creature from the Black Lagoon, hoping to see Sasquatch, and his personal experiences as the caretaker of the most …

In the past, we’ve talked about bird husbands and seal wives, but today we’re diving deep into Animal Spouses with the Japanese folk tale, the Crane …

This episode is full of creepy shenanigans, don’t worry. We talk viral Tiktok ghosts, respecting funeral directors and undertakers, and what was …

The gods have given more advice, and we’re sharing it with you. We trick imposter syndrome with a trickster, making new houses and apartments into a home, and tackling to-do lists. 

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We chat with award-winning science fiction author Becky Chambers! We define space opera, talk about building big worlds without confusing your audience, and creating “cozy science fiction”.

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Ahoy! Is that the return of Sinbad the Sailor? It is! We’re judging the luckiest/unluckiest man in folklore this week, as well as talking about the …

Would you eat the cursed Cheez-its? It’s important that we know if you would. Also, we talk about being trained by a ghost on how to be a good adult, …

Here comes the podcast, with its myths like always. We’re covering the origins of the classic, Beauty and the Beast, and decide that if we try, we can all be disembodied himbos. 

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We’re joined this week to talk with author Bethany C. Morrow about her novels, using “speculative” fiction to tell the truth, how Black sisterhood is …

An episode with a framing device, within a framing device. We’re getting meta here with the One Thousand and One Nights story, Sinbad the Sailor. We discuss whether or not Sinbad is the luckiest or unluckiest guy in the …

Haunted woods, haunted schools, and creepy kids. We’re hitting all of the classics in this Urban Legends episode, including the return of a familiar …

Dr. Moiya is back to help Julia channel the gods and give advice to our Conspiriters about science, relationships, and what wild animals to feed. …

One trip and one story can change your life, as author Ciannon Smart showed us in this episode. Listen to how her trip to Rose Hall in Jamaica stuck with her for a decade, how she embraced her weird kid energy to learn …

They’re mysterious, they’re everywhere, and they’re not quite tall enough to stand up in. This week we explore erdstalls, the completely mystifying …

We chat with author Rena Rossner about her new book, inserting ourselves into historical fiction, the fairy tales of her youth, and looking beyond …

What kind of video games do ghost gamers prefer? What does the hierarchy of sleep paralysis demons look like? Is a ghost with snow pants really THAT scary? Sometimes we’re left with more questions than answers after an …

We talk a lot about the ghost type of spirits on the show, but what about the liquor kind of spirits? We’re joined by Dr. Hyunhee Park to talk about the global history of the distinctive Korean drink: Soju. Hint: It all …

Obviously looks aren’t everything, and with Tatterhood that is absolutely true. This fairy tale is full of twists, turns, and incredible aesthetics. …

We’re mixing up statistics and graphs with our creepy children. Typical episode of the show. Also featuring how funeral homes shouldn’t be real …

When you put on a Studio Ghibli film, you don’t expect to be talking about aliens and proto-science fiction in 9th century Japan. But that didn’t …

We’re joined by author Jess Zimmerman, making her Spirits return, to talk about women and monsters from Greek mythology. We chat Aerosmith music …

Look up at the night time sky. See the moon? Human beings have been doing the exact same thing for centuries, and there’s plenty of moon deities to …

The lore of Spirits is expanding with more stories about the man with the trenchcoat and the dog, the origins of the Silent Hill movies, and more …

Julia and Moiya are back channeling the gods to give you advice on burning questions! Amanda teams up with a fortune god to give financial advice, we …

We’re joined by horror and video game connoisseur, Jenna Stoeber, to discuss the Internet’s own version of folklore - Creepypastas. From Candle Cove …

We have talked about theatre a LOT over the past five years, so now seems like the perfect time to talk about theatre superstitions! From old …

Sometimes a story just sticks with you. And in this last installment of Oops! All Urban Legends month, our favorite hometown tales are back and better than ever. Hear the real story behind the Toyota Plant, the return …

A creepy store, ghost hunting parents, and a small town monster family! These extra long stories deserved their own episodes because they are so JAM PACKED with details to scare and delight. 

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Humans aren’t the only supernatural beings and spirits out there - it’s time to feature the pets and animals in our creepy lives! Featuring a cat’s unfinished business, how to create a plant ghost, a horse antichrist, …

A whole month of urban legends. You read that right. And we’re kicking it off with Second Chances - a series of updates from stories we love, and new …

We’re closing out this year with the tale of Chang’e - or rather, the many tales of the Chinese moon goddess. We cry through a musical, blend tales of betrayal and love, and discuss the honesty of grief and moving on, …

A year ago, we said we’d have Emily VanDerWerff on to talk about A Christmas Carol, and damn it, we delivered! We talk cozy ghost stories, bringing …

Sometimes we ask a question on this show that simply does not have an answer. And that’s probably for the best. We talk hair-styling witches, flipping haunted homes, and… well you’ll just have to wait to find out. 

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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 rebirth and reincarnation, and discuss the modern interest and study of past …

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 …

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 answer …

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 …

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 gods, hot Furies, sleepy lads, and who this Zagreus guy is, anyway. 

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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 Rose Eveleth, who walked us through the scientific origins behind …

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 …

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. You name it, we’ve got scary urban legends about it!

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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 what state is haunted by a horse, which is haunted by a pickup truck, and …

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

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

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 …

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 book, the ghosts of her childhood, and murder ballads. Also humidity? Just …

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, …

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 …

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 on …

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 …

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. Our survey of invisibility spans past centuries all the way to the …

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 Florida so spooky? We don’t promise we have all the answers, though. 

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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 activity, real estate hauntings, and ask the question: At what point is …

We are joined by Kamuela Kaneshiro of Legends from the Pacific, who gives us the lowdown on the spiritual and paranormal stories of Hawaii. Kamu shares his first hand accounts with the Night Marchers, and his own …

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, …

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 …

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 best …

We’re joined by the ever insightful Amanda LeDuc this episode to talk about the portrayal of disability in fairytales. Join us …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Time to put down the Switch, stop playing Animal Crossing, and listen to some urban legends. We’ve got squatters rights for ghosts, toddlers toddling, and the spookiness of corroborating evidence. Beat that, turnip …

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

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 Jason …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 see mermaids in media. We also ask the very important question: How …

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 witches, …

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. Also …

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

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 …

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 …

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, to …

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

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 …

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

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, and a …

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

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 Week …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 about …

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 ‘Song of the Sea,’ featuring: summer stones, storm hags, where a selkie coat …

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 with mirrored closets, spooky home renovations, Shorts Ghosts, and …

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 …

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, how …

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… …

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

We ask important questions with these hometowns. Are all ghosts just pranksters? How much spooky stuff has to happen to create A FAMILY LORE? Rediscovering a ghost son, the spookiness of bad infrastructure, an …

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 …

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 on …

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, …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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

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 baking. …

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 over …

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

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 …

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 and …

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 Christmas, and learns about the sacrifice of giving, while getting …

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 …

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 various dragons around the world and decide we definitely want to …

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 how …

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 …

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 before we head to Spaghetti Warehouse in the second half of the episode, we …

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 conventions, the moral conundrum of eating baby-faced fruit, and how …

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

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 …

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 probably remember that we talk about haunted toys, guess the capital of …

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 …

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 this …

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 Undertaker. Even if wrestling isn’t your thing, we think you’re going to enjoy …

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 …

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 …

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

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?) into what lurks in the deep around the world. Hear about the …

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 …

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 She-Ra references, befriending crows, and the ending to Little Shop of …

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 …

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 has surprising friendships, bad advice, and enough parallels to …

Lots of hauntings in this episode. So many. Haunted castles, haunted mirrors, haunted… punch bowls? Also featuring a hot air balloon accident, an influx of priests, and our own version of The Bee Movie.

This week …

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

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 …

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 …

Disclosure: We might have been creepy kids as children. We wanted to let you know because it’s the creepy cool LAW. We also learn not to trust your …

We’re all out enjoying the holidays, but we also wanted to celebrate with you! So we did a quick round up this week about a bunch of different ways …

How would you like to hear a story about... all of the stories? It’s time to learn about Anansi, the trickster figure of Western Africa and the …

What would you put up with for free frozen yogurt or a great apartment? If the answer is “ghosts”, we’ve got the episode for you! It’s another round …

We take you to Bali to talk about the widow witch, the demon queen, Rangda! We discuss her different forms, the story of how she came to be, and some …

We’ve got our good friend Lisette on to talk about what the living tradition of witchcraft means to them! Bonus points as we talk about how witchcraft varies around the world, how we all want to fight Zak Bagans in the …

After 100 episodes of Spirits, we wanted to welcome in a new age. And what better way than with the Hindu god of beginnings, Ganesha! We dive into the stories of how Ganesha was born, how he got his elephant head, and …

This week’s roundup, we chat about several haunted schools and camps, have some grandma stories creep out and inspire us, and hear Eric’s first hand …

Today may be Halloween, but it’s also another special day - the first day of Día de los Muertos! We’re joined by special guest, Trina Espinoza, who …

We’ve done it. 100 episodes. And to celebrate, we are tackling our most requested topic: The Fae! We touch on several different fae stories from across Europe, have some revelations about Santa Claus and business …

What are you most afraid of? Chances are there’s a horror movie about it! That’s why we’re diving headlong into the history of horror films, from their inception in 1890 all the way to our present! Featuring …

We asked for restaurant hauntings and y’all DELIVERED! Featuring haunted Italian restaurants with paintings that need to be burned ASAP, UK pubs with something scary lurking in the basement, and a Massachusetts bar with …

Halloween is a time to face your fears. And Julia is making Amanda come along with her as she faces one of her biggest fears: clowns. Learn why we’re …

Sometimes, you just want to sit down and have your friends tell you scary stories. Luckily, we have Paul Bae of The Big Loop and The Black Tapes to …

Marriage is a hot topic in Julia’s life, which is why we’re talking about Izanami & Izanagi - a marriage that helped create the world, introduced …

Let’s get right to it: This episode has EVERYTHING. Eric attempts to do an old timey voice. Julia freaks out over a Blair Witch style game. Amanda …

We’ve looked into the future and we’ve seen… a roundup episode! Julia leads Amanda through the foggy future with some of her favorite divinatory …

We are joined this week by David Rheinstrom, who helps us parse through the history of fakelore in the USA! How do we feel about Paul Bunyan being …

This week, we take a trip back to the Pacific to tell the story of Madame Pele, the Earth-Eating Woman, and Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. We chat …

Not only do we have listener stories, we have the tale of Tim the Yowie Man! This episode features big cat stories, Mirror Boys, and elementary …

Hurrian, Hittites, and Anatolia, oh my! We look at the story of the goddess, Šauška, who spread her influence throughout the world. We also talk …

It’s Shark Week, but we’re not here for shots of Great Whites (mostly because we’re an audio medium). We’re joined by Melissa Marquez, who …

This is it. The lost, cursed episode of Spirits. We never thought it would see the light of day. But now you get to learn about all the CREEPY HORSES …

It’s the Witching Hour 24/7 here at Spirits Headquarters, especially when we’re reading your creepy cool stories! This episode features high levels …

It’s summer and it is TOO HOT, but it doesn’t mean we’re not grateful for the seasons. So we’re talking about the seasonal Irish goddesses, Brigid …

We are joined by Adal Rifai of the amazing Hello From the Magic Tavern podcast to chat about improv, Dungeons & Dragons, talking badgers, hungry ghosts, manticores, and more! We also cover creepy grandma vocab, …

Summer is finally here, which means one thing: BEACH BABES TIME! We’re celebrating with a roundup of the best mermaids and fish folk the world has to …

You send them, we read them, everyone gets scared! This week we dive into stories about creepy kids, kids being creeped on, young blood, full ghost …

That’s right, we’re heading BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES! We chat about creation myths, supreme deities, and more importantly, the badass women goddesses of Tagalog religion. Amanda creates a brand new dance move that is …

Happy Pride! We’ve invited our friend Andrea back to do a revamp of our FlameCon panel from last year, discussing myths and legends from around the …

Take a moment and picture this: You’re hanging out, minding your own business, when suddenly the sky opens and a Dark and Mysterious Woman emerges riding a flaming phoenix. Yeah, we’re also super impressed. Which is why …

A hell dimension was opened, and once again, we go off the rails in this week’s Your Urban Legends! We battle over who deserves the title King of Crawdads, discuss the misleading aspects of the Air Bud franchise, debate …

We’re joined this week by Finnish podcaster, Elena, who shares the story of Kalevala - an epic tale of magic, trickery, heroes, and just… a lot of …

We love a Bigfoot story, but we’re going across the world for this one! The Australian Yowie has a lot of great stories; from backwards feet, ancient wars, and just wanting a beer from your garage, we bring you through …

Welcome to Fake or Folklore, the game show sensation that’s SWEEPING the nation! Hosted by Charles the Gamesman, aka Eric Silver of Join the Party, …

It’s GRANDMAS GRANDMAS GRANDMAS. All the grandmas! From demon grandmas in Texas, motivational ghosts (You Only Ghost Always), to helpful anti-murder …

This week, we get excited about religious traditions and physics, which is… on-brand for us. Julia teaches Amanda about the Orishas of the Yoruba …

We thought we knew all about Tolkien and Middle Earth. We were WRONG. Guest Emma Sherr-Ziarko (Wolf 359, Pairing Podcast) schools us on the creation …

This week, we cover things that Amanda loves: angels, organization, and of course, so many eyes. Just. All the eyes. We wax poetic about how the Fast and Furious franchise is clearly an act of God, comment on how Latin …

Your stories this week were buck WILD. From fires and the mafia, to demon hunting internships, and secret government projects with some secret …

We know how numbers work - we embrace the sex number, talk about succu-kisses, sleep paralysis, demon chinchillas, and where to draw the line when it comes to bird claws. Amanda gives in to the demon offering her …

Hollywood: Stars and Glamor, but also murder and curses? It’s more likely than you think. We’re joined by audio drama creator, James Oliva, to do a …

This week, we break down the Maya creation story, as told by the Popol Vuh and learn that actually, the fourth time's the charm. Amanda asks the …

YULE LADS, ASSEMBLE! It’s time for some ridiculous and spooky tales that you, our listeners, have sent to us. Amanda asks you to adopt a phantom …

Take a journey down to the underworld with us and our new favorite goddess, Inanna. Listen to how the Queen of Heaven got her start, got a man, got killed... then came back. Also featuring incorrect Shakespeare quotes, …

We are joined by the amazing Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text to talk about personal mythos, secular sacred reading, and of course, …

WARNING: Don’t listen to this episode while hungry, because these stories are utterly delicious. We travel the world in this roundup, giving you stories of how Capitalism ruins everything, how not to serve your guests …

This has gone on long enough. We’re getting our Eric back!

Featuring Kristen DeMercurio as the Spagghost. Series written by Eric Silver.

Find Us …

We reach out to a secret contact in Akron, Ohio—Amanda’s cousin Chad.

Featuring David Rheinstrom as Chad. Written by Eric Silver.

Find Us Online

If …

We are on the road to Ohio, so we cut together some of your spooky experiences inside the spaghetti-belly of the beast.

Featuring Sara, Mike Schubert…

A ghost stole Eric and we need an expert, stat. Luckily we got in touch with the greatest ghost academic in the city (who would agree to an interview …

This week, we read up on Ouija boards and try one out in Amanda’s apartment. What can go wrong?

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This week, we read some first-person accounts about the Deer Woman, a spirit in several indigenous North American cultures that punishes the wicked …

Spread out the deck and think about your intentions. You flip a card. Jokes ensue. We’re joined this week by cleanliness expert and Tarot lover, …

Sometimes on Spirits we get stories that just have everything - action, monsters, romance, actual history, and empowering depictions of women. The story of Lạc Long Quân and Au Cơ is one of those lucky legends we’ve …

You sent us some great stories this week: protective women spirits, murderous otters, toe-crunching bear grannies, and so many more! Amanda explains …

What’s that? AMANDA is leading an episode? It’s the gift that keeps on giving—and naturally, we go full nerd. We talk linguistics, Julia gets some …

The Arthurian Canon is sacred to some people—so you know we’ve got a lot of jokes about it. We dive into the nitty gritty with special guest Christian Madera as we talk about why self-insert fanfiction is questionable, …

Winter is here, and with it blows the cold wind of something spooky. We tell the sad tale of the Yuki-onna, a spirit of a woman who froze to death in …

Spaghetti Warehouse makes its return, along with some spaghetti conspiracies. Grandpa comes back with a Bloody Bones follow up. A fan from Shropshire …

Bundle up from the cold as we tell you some of our favorite stories from Inuit mythology. We tell the relatable story of how a woman goes from a …

We’re busy cooking and prepping for family coming into town, so our good goofy friends volunteered to take over the podcast for the week! Even if you …

You’ve heard us mention Zeus, but today you’re going to know why we consider him the Fuckfather of all Fuckboys. We talk about how Hera’s just doing …

We’re back with another round of your Urban Legends! From werewolves to werepanthers to haunted trolleys, we have a few drinks and happily stumble …

#Creeptober might be over, but that doesn’t mean we’re done telling scary stories. Driving along the dark highways on the border of the United States and Mexico, keep your eye on the sky. You never know when La Lechuza …

Just in time for Halloween, we’re delivering some of the creepiest college ghost stories we’ve ever heard. With Jeffrey Gardner of Our Fair City fame …

There’s something in the distance, coming closer. Blood is in the air. You know what that means—it’s time to get drunk and talk about Ancient Egypt! This week’s episode covers the goddess of war and intoxication, …

We’re telling your creepy stories this week! From haunted theatres to farms and rivers to something called a Dinglehole, we bring you listener …

Let’s face it - from Irish changelings to the creepy twins in the Shining, humankind has found kids to be super creepy for generations. This week, …

#Creeptober is just around the corner, but we’re starting the season out right with one of our favorite creepy-cool witches: Circe. From turning men …

Down the cliffs overlooking the Southern Sea of Java, plunging into the depths of the rough ocean, you’ll find the kingdom of Kanjeng Ratu Kidul. …

We’re not just talking werewolves of London! We’ve got cannibals, whole cities of wolf-people, and some big ol’ cat folks as well. This week we cover …

We’re kicking folklore into the 21st century to bring you this #kindacultykindacool episode. We’ve brought in reporter Kelly Weill to discuss …

What makes you you? Is it the way people see you? Or who you are and the actions you pursue? For the Laumes, it’s a little bit of both. We discuss …

You may have heard some great breakup stories in the past, but we bet you haven’t heard one as good as Toyotama-hime’s. From a gem-spitting meet cute to battling a normal sized crocodile, our radiant gem princess went …

The path might have a lot of twists and turns (and good goofs), but at the end of the Swedish Year Walk (Årsgång), you’ll be able to see into the future. We’ll give you a sneak peek: It features special guest Soha (…

Happy Pride! Now, let’s talk about the heat death of the universe. ...okay, it’s not THAT dark, but we go a little nuts talking about the Australian Aboriginal story of the Rainbow Serpent. We discuss Hogwarts’ lack of …

You sent them, we read them! In this episode of Spirits, we read out your creepy, vaguely horrifying, usually fascinating hometown urban legends and …

We leave the world of men and enter Paradise as we sit down with Greg Rucka, head writer of Wonder Woman for DC. We discuss comic books as mythology, …

This Sami Sun goddess has our back as we celebrate both the start of summer and Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn how Beaivi brings light to those in the darkness (metaphysically and literally!), how Amanda doesn’t …

The road to the afterlife is dangerous, but good thing we’re all going together! We take you down the path past animal-headed gods, competent women who run the universe, and a god who just wants to eat your heart. But …

Doomed love has never been so fun to talk about! Special guest Linda takes us through one of the most famous love stories in the Chinese cultural …

Meet the badass mermaid ruler of the rivers and coasts of Western Africa: Mami Wata, who knows how to exact revenge and how to enjoy the finer things …

Creepy ravens, death rituals, and battlefield curses abound in this episode on the Celtic goddess trinity of doom and destruction. Hear A+ cursing, terrible stories about our future forms, confusion over what exactly a …

As guest star supreme, Catherine Addington, tells us, Our Lady of Guadalupe is “a thing that is both.” Mexican and Catholic, native and foreign, we …

She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll cut you in the face. Then behead you and wear it as a necklace. That’s right, we’re talking about Hindu goddess of badassery, Kali! We take tips on how to participate in divine dance …

Dating can be treacherous, even without skeletal girlfriends, spider wives, child-eating mistresses, and crazy vengeance monsters. But don’t worry! The ladies at Spirits are here to help you navigate the seas of …

A whole year has come and gone, and we’ve told a lot of stories. So why not DOUBLE IT? To celebrate Spirits Podcast’s first birthday, we’re giving …

All stories have the same roots - or, at least, that’s what our boy Joseph Campbell says. This week, we enter into the cycle of The Hero’s Journey with special guest Mischa Stanton. We’ll talk Basic Hero Bitches, the …

It's time to get a little abstract! (Get it? Because it's about Time?) With dad jokes galore, we dive into the New Year head-first with deities and …

After 24 episodes and many many drinks, there is a LOT of tape on our cutting room floor. We thought it was only fair to share some of these good, good spooky goofs, gags, and bloopers with you as the end of the year …

He's made a list, and we've gotten smashed. This week, we stumble through the story of Krampus, the half-goat, half-demon, anti-Santa Claus. Unique …

There's nothing quite like a fairy tale. Heroes on quests, helpful magical animals, and… hidden sex dungeons?! We break down the famous Russian …

Your hometown defines you - the stories you hear end up being the stories that you tell through the rest of your life. This week, in honor of heading home for Thanksgiving, we bring you the urban legends we grew up …

What makes a monster? This week, we take a well-known myth and turn it on its (snake) head. Everyone knows Medusa’s image and ability to turn people to stone, but we dive into her tragic origins and fearsome legacy. …

How many times do we have to tell you - Stay out of graveyards! Unless you're into tragic lives, mysterious deaths, and long-lasting urban legends. Our guest Grace McCreight (@lizardtruth_) brings the myth and the wine; …

We couldn't resist bringing you a special bonus minisode on the spooky topic of Jack O'Lanterns! Where did this tradition come from? Were they always …

A popup ad gone wrong. A fatal taxi ride. A host of vengeful ghosts. Present-day Japan has so many creepy-cool urban legends to offer, we just had to …

We feel a storm coming! Find out what the X-Men, tempests, and royal succession debates have in common as we learn about the Modjadji, the long line …

Across the misty moors of Wales and England, we stumble across the Druids' most mysterious landmark: Stonehenge. Follow us into the shadowed origins …

Who knew Russian mythology includes so many half-bird, half-woman creatures?! They run the gamut from prophets to sirens to companions for very emo …

Before you see Disney’s upcoming movie Moana, learn all about the badass demigod Maui, origin stories of the Pacific Islands, and very human …

Something is in the water. Follow us down a one-lane road through hills and swamps to uncover the mysteries of Cassadaga, Florida. Special guest Matt …

Dive with us into the treacherous waters of Chinese Demonology, where giant clam monsters and sea serpents lurk. We encounter everything from …

Feel the love as we explore Haitian Voodoo and its unique family of love spirits, the Erzulie. We look at three Erzulie who specialize in romantic …

Kicking it old school in Dark Age Eastern Europe this week with special guest Eric Silver! We missed out on the manischewitz, but we have lots of …

Break out the REM karaoke, because it's the end of the world as the Norse gods know it. Hear all about Ragnarok, apocalypse, rebirth, and more fantasy book/movie/TV references than even we can handle.

If you …

Follow us into Asgard and beyond with our crash course on Norse mythology! Thor, Loki and Odin are just the beginning. Plus, stick around to the end …

Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti. Menk. This week we tackle one of the most notorious folk legends of all time with the help of special guest Jake! Learn all …

Go beyond Noah and the Ark with great flood myths from Mesopotamia, China, Native North America, and more. We dig into flood origin stories, survival strategies, the merits of Prometheus vs. Spider Grandmother, and way …

This classic myth from Korean folklore has an ending that we didn’t see coming! Universal motifs in a uniquely Korean context make for a great …

Learn about the Tailypo, a.k.a. “The Sphinx of West Virginia,” from our first ever guest star! Eric Schneider, also our editor and all-around right-hand man, will teach us about this creepy woodsy myth. Plus, an …

This week, a truly epic tale of love, betrayal, jealousy, and a quest literally to Hell and back. Episode four dives into the dramatic relationship …

Join us on a journey to the Philippines as we learn more about this delightfully creepy vampire/witch/ghoul. Surprisingly, aswang make pretty good …

This week on Spirits, two very different kinds of creatures from the deep: Selkies and Kelpies. There's mischief, rumors, sexual intrigue... Only the best for you, dear listeners!

If you like Spirits, help us grow by …

The first episode of Spirits introduces you to the ancient Greek gods with the story of Hades and Persephone. Find out why marrying siblings wasn't weird, hear what Hades was really like, and get tips on naming your dog …

Spirits is a boozy weekly podcast about mythology, legends and folklore. Hear fresh takes on classic myths and learn new stories from around the …