(Sort of) The Story

186. I Hate Melon Woman (and hot singles in your slippers)

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Hello and happy September! This week, Max will tell us a baffling tale about a beautiful woman who looks like a poop tooth (yes, you read that right), and Janey will talk about the benefits of wearing a shoe on your shoes. We hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Singeli’s Silver Slippers

LOCATION: Sweden
“The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies”, stories and poems selected by Jane Werner, Illustrated by Garth Williams

Max’s Sources - Dur Bibi Dur

LOCATION: Pashto (Pakistan)
“Heartstrings of the Khyber: A Collection of Pashto Folktales” collected by Shaherzaad Laila and Komal Salman

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185. Sexy-Neutral (how do I make my bro immortal?)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the podcast! This week, Janey is going to tell us a sweet little story about a monster that eats moons, and Max is going to tell us the worst story Janey has ever heard on this podcast. Text us your thoughts PLEASE.

Janey’s Sources - The Bakunawa and the Seven Moons

LOCATION: Philippines
“Dragon Myths and Legends: Tales of Adventure from Around the World” retold by Samantha Newman, illustrated by Katarzyna Doszla
BAKUNAWA and the SEVEN MOONS: The Original Bisaya Story (with translation and annotations), for The Aswang Project by Jordan Clark (2019)
Bakunawa wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The Friends

LOCATION: Lo-Yang, China
“The Cloak of Dreams: Chinese Fairy Tales” presented by Bela Balázs with translation and introduction by Jack Zipes

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184. CRAPitalism (a bottomless crone hack)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome back from summer break!!! This week, Max is jumping back in with a story about an insane lizard-rock-woman who has a very nice dowry, and Janey tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of bulk trash-shopping. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Wicked Fairy Wife

LOCATION: Quebec (?)
“The Wicked Fairy-Wife: A French Canadian Folktale” by Mary Alice Downie, illustrated by Kim Price
“The Son of Seven Queens: An Indian Fairy Tale” (Also told on Episode 127)
Read Janey's notes on Substack!

Max’s Sources - The Mistress of the Copper Mountain

LOCATION: Polevskoy, Russia
"Russian Magic Tales: From Pushkin to Platonov" edited by Robert Chandler https://bookshop.org/a/86350/9780141442235
“The Mistress of the Copper Mountain” on Wikipedia

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183. Buckets of Ducats (Buffer the Nut Fairy) from the BONUS EPISODE vault!

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome to our last episode before our summer break! This week, we're unlocking one of our favorite bonus episodes, released way back in August 2023. This week, Max is going to tell us all about a gambling princess with a pear problem, and Janey is going to tell a cautionary tale of choosing stupid names for your children.

If you think you'll miss us this July, consider this your sign to join the Patreon! No matter what, we hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Fairer-Than-A-Fairy

Andrew Lang’s The Yellow Fairy Book

Max’s Sources - The Cuirasser and the Horned Princess

"Slavic Myths" edited by J. K. Jackson

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182. Werewolves and Wendigos (a monster episode!) with Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to a monstrously themed episode! Today we are discussing werewolves and wendigos, and finally getting some much-needed insight into the Alabama White Thang from the Monster Ladies, Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Wendigo

LOCATION: Minnesota, USA
“Monsters of the Midwest” by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler
“ZHAUWUNO-GEEZHIGO-GAUBOW (Maisaninnine, Mesnawetheno) (Jack Fiddler),” by James R. Stevens in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed May 31, 2026,
“Columbus and Other Cannibals” by Jack D. Forbes
“Bury My Guilt in an Indian Burial Ground” by Jana Schmiedling for Medium

Max’s Sources - The Georgia Werewolf

LOCATION: Talbotton, Georgia, USA
“Monsters of the South” by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler
“The Legend of the Georgia Werewolf Girl” by Jeffery Wells for Georgia Mysteries
“The Werewolf Girl of Georgia” by Wayne Miller for Werewolves.com
Find a Grave listing for Emily Isabella Burt

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181. Bethink About It (short king)

Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going to tell us a shorty-baby-cutie story about a woman who doesn't know how to bargain, and Max is going to tell us a VERY terrible story that has a small moral at the end! Good luck!

Janey’s Sources - The Sunchild

LOCATION: Greece
Andrew Lang’s The Grey Fairy Book
Full Free story
“Letiko, La Fille du Soleil” by Caputo Nato
Lamias on Wikipedia

Max’s Sources - “The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet” by Jeanne Desy

LOCATION: Ohio, USA
“Don’t Bet on the Prince: Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North America and England”, edited by Jack Zipes

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180. Worm It In (just so)

Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome! This week Max is going to tell us a story that may or may not explain something we may or may not need to know (and also there's a water horse, and we know how much Janey loves that.) ALSO Janey is going to tell us about a perfect princess (and the horrible family she's attached to). Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Toy Princess

LOCATION: England
Folk & Fairy Tales, edited by Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek. 4th Edition.
Mary De Morgan biography

Max’s Sources - Sir Worm Wimble

LOCATION: Scotland
"The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain" by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
FULL STORY “Sir Worm Wimble” by George MacDonald

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179. Certainly Bisexual (I fish for fun!)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome! It's another sleep-deprived/low-oxygen episode, so you're welcome (or we're sorry?) This week, Janey is going to tell us about a DEFINITELY 100% straight king with ZERO things to examine in his own life, and Max is going to tell us a fever dream! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Fanta-Ghíro the Beautiful

LOCATION: Italy
"Italian Folktales" retold and edited by Italo Calvino

Max’s Sources - Our Lady of Good Counsel

LOCATION: Italy
"The Pomegranates: and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales" translated by Cristina Mazzoni, from the Oddly Modern Fairy Tales collection edited by Jack Zipes

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178. Lake Sasquatch (I’m completely hare-less)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! This week we're celebrating spring's triumphant return with Max's story about what can only be described as "some sort of lake yeti" discovering the convenience of Lyft, and Janey's tale of a King in desperate need of an HR department.

Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Useless Wagoner

LOCATION: Hungary
“Fairy Tales of Eastern Europe”, collected and retold by Neil Philip, Illustrated by Larry Wilkes.
Full Free Text

Max’s Sources - White Thang

LOCATION: Alabama
“Monsters of the South” by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler
“Cryptids of the South: The White Thang of Alabama”

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177. A Final Earthly Bone (and a tale of flying soft serves)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:00:00 -0400

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Cowabunga, everybody! This week, Janey is going to tell us about a disloyal knight with a surprising secret, and Max is going to tell us an alien invasion story that teaches us all a powerful lesson (don't trust a man just because he says he's a doctor...) Enjoy!

Janey's Sources: Bradamante

LOCATION: France
Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Susan Guevara.
@DwarfismHistory on Instagram
"The Story Of 'Orlando Furioso’" NPR. February 2009.
“Orlando Furioso, Canto IV” on Yesterweird
Bradamante on Wikipedia
Ruggiero on Wikipedia
“The Road to Middle Earth: How J.R.R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology” by Tom Shippey

Max’s Sources - The Tale of Flying Saucers

LOCATION: California
“American Folkore and Legends”, John J. and Potter Marcatante

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176. Moldy Cheese Nick (red flags everywhere) with the You Two Scare Me Podcast!

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy spoooOOOOookyy March! This week, we're bringing out our scariest Irish tales to impress Andi and Feliz, the hosts of the "You Two Scare Me" podcast! First, Max is going to break the glass ceiling of headless horsePEOPLE, and then Janey's going to remind us all of the most important rule of horror: children. are. scary.

We hope you enjoy!

Sources:

Check out the You Two Scare Me Podcast!
Listen to their episode on The Irish Banshee

Janey’s Sources - The Case of the Leannabh Sidhe

LOCATION: England
Fearsome Fairies: Haunted Tales of the Fae, edited by Elizabeth Dearnley

Max’s Sources - The Dullahan

LOCATION: Ireland
Full free text of “The Good Woman”
“The Dullahan” by Ghost City Tours
“The Headless Horseman” by Irish Myths
“The Dullahan” by The Irish Place

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175. Not Everybody Needs to Wang Chung Tonight (Grandpa has anxiety)

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Janey is going to tell us about a man who will go to great lengths to get his boss laid, and Max is going to tell us about an old man's fears! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Tibetan Envoy

LOCATION: Tibet
“The Spring of Butterflies and Other Chinese Folk Tales”, translated by He Liyi, edited by Neil Philp
“Story of Songtsan Gambo and Princess WengCheng” by Yangkyi, for Tibet Vista

Max’s Sources - The Terrible Leak, adapted by Furuya no Mori

LOCATION: Korea
“The Magic Listening Cap: More Folk Tales from Japan” illustrated and retold by Yoshiko Uchida

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174. Revenge of the Stories (silly together forever)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to yet another week of life! This week, Max is going to tell us the dangers of letting a good story languish on the shelf, and Janey is going to tell us about some real sillies. We hope you enjoy this shorty-baby-cutie episode!

Janey’s Sources - The Three Sillies

LOCATION: England
“Favorite Folktales from Around the World” edited by Jane Yolen

Max’s Sources - The Story Bag

LOCATION: Korea
Full free text of “The Story Bag” The story bag; a collection of Korean folk tales : Kim, So-un, 1907-1981

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173. Cheat On Your Cannibal Husband (the "Take My Wife" episode)

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy Thursday! This week, Max is going to tell us a story about a salty sea-scrub whose wife deserves better, and Janey is going to tell us about a Rasputin-baby who can never die! (No one said these episode descriptions had to be helpful. Janey just gets to write whatever she wants in here! Watch this-- Pie 'a la mode' is stupid thing to call it, since "a la mode" doesn't mean "add ice cream", it just means "is trendy now". It should be called "Pies-cream", because it rhymes.)

ANYWAY WE HOPE YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE!

Janey’s Sources - Morena-Y-A-Letsatsi, or the Sun Chief

LOCATION: Lesotho, South Africa
"African Myths and Tales: Epic Tales" with forward by Kwadwo Osei-Nyame Jr.
Full Free Tale

Max’s Sources - The Droll of the Mermaid

LOCATION: Cornwall, England
“The Watkins Book of English Folktales” by Neil Philip
Full free text of “The Droll of the Mermaid” by William Bottrell, as told by Uncle Anthony James

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172. I’m a Human, I’m Just Sad (relatable queen)

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello everyone! This week we're catching ya'll up on some life stuff and saying goodbye to an old friend. Then Max is going to tell us a horror story about an eye-catching beauty in the woods, and Janey is going to teach us all the proper comeback to someone telling you you're "too much".

We hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Little Girl with a Big Voice

LOCATION: South Africa
“Tales of the Night Sky: Stories of Stars from Around the World”, retold by Corinna Keefe, illustrated by Gaby Verdooren
“African Ethnoastronomy” (Some stories behind South African constellation folklore)
“If You’ve Ever Been Told that You’re ‘Too Much’, Read This”, an article by Annie Wright

Max’s Sources - The Rose Beauty

LOCATION: Turkey
“Turkish Folktales” edited by Jake Jackson
Full free text of “The Rose Beauty”

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171. One Jelly Meat Suit (a perma-stank situation) with Liz Gotauco!

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

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HELLO! Today we have an amazing guest, the Cosbrarian herself-- LIZ GOTAUCO! Liz is the creator behind the series "F*cked Up Fairytales with Liz", and the author of the hilarious book inspired by the series!

This week Max and Janey tell stories from her book, and she tells us a story about vengeful fairies and the danger of telling bad jokes (yes, we take this personally.)

We hope you enjoy!

BUY THE BOOK: "F*cked Up Fairy Tales" by Liz Gotauco

Janey’s Sources - The Flayed Old Woman

LOCATION: Italy
“The Tale of Tales” full book (by Giambattista Basille), free source

Max’s Sources - The Buzzard Husband

LOCATION: Guatemala
“The Mythology of Mexico and South America” by John Bierhorst
"9 Fascinating Vulture Facts" from 4vultures.org
Vulture Facts from Wildlife Center
MORE VULTURE FACTS from Desert Museum

Liz's Sources - Sweet Pea and Sweet William

LOCATION: England
"Sweet Pea and Sweet William" FULL STORY
"Tales From Beyond the Rainbow" by Pete Jordi Wood (@realbasicwitch)
Jeana Jorgenson (folklorist) @jeanadances on instagram
"Fairy Tales from Folk Lore" from Wilber Hershel Williams
"Skin deep" translated by Nancy Canepa
"Latin American Folktales" edited by John Bierhorst (Liz's source for "The Buzzard Husband")

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170. I Don't Care That He's Invisible (put that man in a tower!)

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to our LAST episode of 2025! On this episode, Max is going to tell us a story about a girl who can see the important things (like what kind of belt you're wearing), and Janey is going to tell us why Rapunzel should have been a man.

We hope you've had a wonderful year, and that 2026 only goes up!

Janey’s Sources - The Three Fates

LOCATION: Egypt
“Fairy Tales of the Orient” by Pearl S. Buck

Max’s Sources - The Invisible One

LOCATION: Micmac Territory (~New England and southeastern Canada)
“Algonquin Legends” by Charles G. Leland - full free text online

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169. Historical Sexting (Don't Wash)

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello, you dirty birds! On this very special "69" episode, we're doing a deep dive into historical love letters from two very specific historical men. First, Napoleon Bonaparte is going to teach us the meaning of "anxious attachment style", and then Max is going to read us James Joyce's love letters that are not for the faint of fart (ehem...heart...)

A million kisses!

J and M

Janey's Sources - Historical Love Letters

LOCATION: France and Ireland
“Napoleon’s Letters to Josephine” on Project Gutenberg (thanks, Steve!)
“Napoleon Bonaparte” from History.com
“The truth about Napoleon and Josephine’s marriage, divorce, and lasting legacy” by Nylah Iqbal Muhammad for Vox
“Joséphine's letters to trusted Napoleon general to go on sale in Paris” by Maev Kennedy (2014) for The Guardian
“James Joyce’s Love Letters” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian
“James Joyce’s Love Letters to His “Dirty Little Fuckbird” by Nadja Spiegelman for The Paris Review

BONUS: "Love and Limerence" by Dorothy Tennov

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168. New England Bean Time (Sai! Sai! Sai!)

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome back! This week Max is going to tell us about how wicked smart people from New Hampshire are, and Janey is going to tell us a very cathartic story that comes with the disclaimer "I swear I like my job". Sorry about our terrible accents! Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Mmadipetsane

LOCATION: Lesotho, South Africa
“Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales”
Full story (page 3)

Max's Sources - Three Times and Out

LOCATION: New Hampshire
“New England Bean-Pot: American Folk Stories to Read and to Tell” by Moritz A Jagendorf, illu by BA Botkin
https://montvernonhistoricalsocietynewsletter.wordpress.com/2023/07/21/chasing-the-devils-tale/

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167. Knife Brothers (welcome to Chekhov's Hole)

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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This week, Janey is going to bring us the final story in The Arabian Nights, about a man who just hates this baby... and Max is going to tell us that classic story of a nameless child finding God wandering around in the woods. Wonder what'll happen!

For those of you who are in the half of the world that's moving into winter, we hope you stay warm and cozy!

Janey's Sources - The Story of Codadad and His Brothers

LOCATION: (possibly Turkey)
“The Arabian Nights” illustrated by Earl Goodenow
Full free story

Max's Sources - Little Fourteen

LOCATION: France
“Folktales of France” edited by Genevieve Massignon

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166. Old and wrinkly (a poisonous no-no)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy Halloween (eve)! Today Janey is going to scare you with a tale about the oldest, wrinkliest woman in the world, and Max is going to tell us why romance books are going to get us all killed. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Treasure

LOCATION: Chatsworth, Georgia, USA
“Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman.

Max's Sources - The Zimwi

LOCATION: Africa (Swahili)
“A Terrifying Taste of Short and Shivery” by Robert D. San Souci

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165. Examine Your Handwriting (and learn to play the oboe)

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week, Janey is going to teach us a valuable lesson about the importance of writing complex characters, and Max is going to re-tell a cozy little comic! May your October be spooky and bright!

Janey's Sources - “W.S.” by L.P. Hartley

Max's Sources - A Small Wild Magic

LOCATION: None / Australia
“Monstrous Affections: An Anthology of Beastly Tales” edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant
Kathleen Jennings (plus their Instagram)

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30. (Sort of) Off Topic: Nicholas Cage and his Fabulous Wealth

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the shocking conclusion of this the 2025 Off Topic Season. This week, Max is closing us out with the truly baffling list of all the reasons why Nicholas Cage had to make those insane movies between 2009-2015. (Also Janey is REAL mouthy, so if you disagree, be sure to write in!)

Timed video

Presentation

All sources in presentation

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29. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Assassination of Kim Jong Nam

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Buckle up, babes! Janey's going to tell us about the most insane assassination you may have never heard of! Let us know if you followed this story when it happened, because Janey's never stopped thinking about it.

Sources:

“Kim Jong-nam Says N. Korean Regime Won’t Last Long”, by The Chosun Daily in 2012.
“Kim Jong-il’s son reappears in Singapore one year after feeling Macau” from The Shanghaiist.
“Was Kim Jong Nam in Sights of His Paranoid Half-Brother?” by Yoshihiro Makino for Asahi Shimbun.
Murder at the Airport: The Brazen Attack on Kim Jong-Nam, by Reuters
“Assassins review— unravelling the bizarre death of Kim Jong-nam” by Adam Sweeting for The Arts Desk.
“How North Korea got away with the assassination of Kim Jong-nam” by Hannah Ellis-Peterson and Benjamin Haas for The Guardian.
Dr. Harini Bhat, PharmD (@tilscience) explaining VX2

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164. How Much Do Girls Eat? (I refuse to look up golfing)

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy first episode of October!!!! This week, Max is going to tell us a wonder tale about a sexy bear and the weirdo prince who loves her, and Janey is going to give us all the CREEPS and make us want to do our laundry. Enjoy!!!

Janey's Sources - Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad

LOCATION: England
“Classic Ghost Stories” edited by John Grafton
M.R. James Wiki
“The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan
Poem by Robert Burns (Wiki)

Max's Sources - Bearskin

LOCATION: France
“Wonder Tales” edited, introduced by Marina Warner, translated by Terence Cave, illustrated by Sophie Herxheimer
“Imprisonment and the Fairy Tales of Henriette Julie de Murat” By Mari Ness for Reactor
“I’ve Fallen for Who Now? The French Fairy Tale “Bearskin”” By Mari Ness for Reactor
Wikipedia “Bearskin” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin_(French_fairy_tale)
Wikipedia “The Bear” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(fairy_tale)
Wikipedia “The She-Bear” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_She-bear

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28. (Sort of) Off Topic: Mary Shelley and the Creation of Frankenstein

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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It's alive! IT'S ALIVE! ("It" being another Off Topic episode!) Welcome back, gals and ghouls! This week, Max is telling us all about the teenaged mother of science fiction herself, and the lengths she went to to avoid hanging out with Lord Byron. Enjoy!

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27. (Sort of) Off Topic: Scientology, the Trouble with Ghouls

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going waayyyyy off topic to talk about something that freaked her out so bad, she felt the need to make a legal disclaimer at the top!

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Please check out the sources below for more information.

SOURCES:

“Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”, directed by Alex Gibney
Jenna Miscavige, former Scientologist (on Tiktok)
How much Scientology costs, according to members (For Business Insider)
"What allegedly happens inside Scientology's notorious 'prison camp' called 'The Hole’” By Jethro Nededog for Business Insider
Headley vs. The Church of Scientology
"Scientology's Vanished Queen” by Ned Zeman for Vanity Fair
“Bridge to Total Freedom” chart
“Understanding Scientology” by Margery Wakefield— Chapter 1: From Dianetics to Scientology and Chapter 5: Dianetics
L. Ron Hubbard’s Wikipedia

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163. Green and Oddly-Shaped (the Hexmaster General)

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us about a girl who CHOOSES to look that way (it's not an accident, so stop trying to fix her hair), and Max is going to guide us into spooOOOooky season with a story about a man with control issues. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Tatterhood

LOCATION: Norway
“Tatterhood and other tales” edited by Ethel Johnston Phelps

Max's Sources - The Wolf Bride

LOCATION: Pennsylvania, USA
“Upstate, Downstate: Folk Stories of the Middle Atlantic States” by M.A. Jagendorf
Book review of “Pennsylvania Dutch: The Story of an American Language”
“Wayfaring Stranger” article by Linda Griggs
“The Language of the Pennsylvania German Gypsies” by Henry Shoemaker

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26. (Sort of) Off Topic: The British Premonitions Bureau

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy 2nd Off Topic! This week, Max is going to tell us about an organization in search of people who could predict disasters. (We have a feeling you're going to like this one.)

Sources:

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25. (Sort of) Off Topic: Medieval Times

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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It's open season on topics, and Janey's starting us off with a bunch of facts about the Medieval Times dinner theater that nobody asked for! (Very seriously, if any knights listen to our podcast, please call us.)

Enjoy!

Sources:

“The Untold Truth of Medieval Times" by Adam Swierk for Mashed.
“How Medieval Times Survives in the Digital Age” by Christopher Reynolds for Toronto Star.
“A 30-Year Career Writing and Directing for the Medieval Times” by Eric Grundhauser for Atlas Obscura.
“How Medieval Times Became the Largest Breeder of Pure Spanish Horses in America” by Francesca Mari for TexasMonthly.
Medieval Times on how they care for their Horses
History of the Medieval Times/ knight training

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162. This One’s for the Juans (witches is tricky)

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome back! This week, Max is going to tell us a Filipino story about a man with questionable reasoning skills, and Janey is going to pull us kicking and screaming into spooky season. We hope you like it!

Janey's Sources - Pressed

LOCATION: Georgia, US
“Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman.
S.E. Schlosser’s website

Max's Sources - How Juan Married a Princess

LOCATION: Philippines
“World Folktales: An Anthology of Multicultural Folk Literature” by Anita Stern

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161. Kickin' Boys (keeps the rheumatism away)

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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On this week's episode, Janey is going to tell a story about a boy-kicker who got the last stomp, and Max is going to tell us about a little guy who gets his juice squeezed! (Some days writing these intros feels like a cosmic test....) Hope you enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Ragged Emperor

“The Bronze Cauldron: Myths and Legends of the World” by Geradline McCaughrean and Bee Wiley (Illustrator)
Wikipedia entry for "Yu the Great"

Max's Sources - Crooked Foot the Dwarf

LITTLE BOOK OF LATIN AMERICAN FOLKTALES

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160. Disco Hedgehog (let’s wrestle Grandma)

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! We're back from summer break and excited to tell you two brand new stories! This week Max is going to tell us about a radioactive little guy who just wants to dance, and Janey is going to tell us about a man who chose to tickle the wrong round girl. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Three Strong Women

“Diane Goode’s Book of Giants and Little People”

Max's Sources - Disco Hedgehog

“Viktor and Rolf Fairy Tales”

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159. Latin American Stories RE-RELEASE (Abolish ICE)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! We hope you're having a good summer. Things have been crazy, and we just wanted to pop in from our summer break and leave you all a little love.

On July 4th, we donated $500 in the name of (Sort of) The Story to the American Civil Liberties Union. We love you, no matter where you're from.

Janey's Sources - The Wife Who Could Remove Her Head (from Episode 33)

"The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers and Other Gruesome Tales" by Jen Campbell (Illustrated by Adam de Souza)
Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by John Bierhorst
History of The Pipils

Max's Sources - Ix Chel (from Episode 13)

"Who Was the Mayan Goddess Ixchel?"
"Ixchel Mayan Goddess"
"A Legend of One Goddess"
"Ix Chel" from Gods and Goddesses
"IxChel and the Dragonflies" from Tres Cuentos Literary Podcast
"The Moon in the Well: Wisdom Tales to Transform Your Life, Family, and Community" by Erica Helen Meade
"The Mayan Pantheon: The Many Gods of the Maya" by Joshua J. Mark for World History Encyclopedia

ADDITIONAL Sources -

“Support for immigrant families targeted for deportation” from Immigrants Rising
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Tools from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center
“I Have Rights” Red cards from ILRC (PRINT THESE)
Immigrants' Rights | American Civil Liberties Union
Immigration Hotlines (Report ICE Raids in your area)

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158. We’re the Hero Twins (why is there only one bed in this cave?)

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy last-episode-before-summer-break! This week, Max is going to tell us a Mayan tale about two little scamps who learn the age-old lesson that ball IS life, and Janey is going to teach us to never trust Old Greg (but if you haven't learned that lesson by now, you might be doomed). We hope you enjoy!

PS, we are taking the month of June (and possibly July) off! This is absolutely necessary for us to rest and recharge after Hurricane Twilight Puppet Musical devastated our mental cities (does this bit work?) If you want more episodes, consider joining the Patreon at the $7 level! We have a ton of very fun bonus episodes up and ready to binge-- plus you get access to the Discord!

We love you, we'll miss you, and we thank you for listening! <3

Janey's Sources - The Soul Cages

Celtic Fairy Tales retold by Neil Philip
Free Text
“The Soul Cages: A Fake Folktale” from Writing in Margins
The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers by Jen Campbell

Max's Sources - The Tricks of Hunahpú and Xbalanqué

Full scan online of “The Enchanted Orchard, and other folktales of Central America” by Dorothy Sharp Carter

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157. That's That Me Manchego (this princess has ADHD)

Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome back! On this week's episode, Janey is going to tell us about a helpful little mouse who can do it all, and Max is going to tell us about a woman who prioritizes her needs over work (god FORBID a woman do something for herself every once in a while). Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Forest Bride

Full free text

Max's Sources - The Weaver Maiden and the Cowherd

“Myths of the World” by Padraic Colum
Summary of “The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid” variant
Summary of “The Weaver and the Cow Herdsman,” Korean variant
Summary of “The Legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl” variant

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156. The Labyrinth was a Maze (Justice for Ariadne)

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy Part 2 of our Mythology episode! This week Max is going to tell us the story of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur! Get ready to rage!

Max’s Sources - Theseus, Ariadne, the Minotaur, and the Labyrinth

Diffen.com - “Labyrinth vs. Maze”
Classical Kids’ summary of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur
Greek Mythology: The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
Liverpool Museums, “Theseus and the Minotaur”
Knossos Palace, “The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur”
The Metropolitan Museum, “Theseus, Hero of Athens”
Epoch Magazine, “Theseus and Ariadne in Naxian Identity”
Ancient Greece, “Theseus and the Minotaur”
Theoi, “Ariadne”
Cornell College, “Analysis of Ariadne and Theseus”
The Guardian, “In love’s labyrinth” by Charlotte Higgins
Myth Matters podcast, “Into the Labyrinth and the myth of Ariadne’s Thread”
Full free text of Catullus 64 in English and Latin

BONUS: Homeric Hymn to Demeter

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155. Justice for Medea (everybody wants a hot goth girlfriend until…)

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! Our theme for the next two episodes is "mythology", and Janey is kicking us off with the Greek story of Jason and Medea. We're going to learn about the Argonaut-Boy Trip, how the gods screwed Medea over, and also discuss why we support women's wrongs. Hope you enjoy!

Sources:

The Voyage of Argo, Apollonius of Rhodes
Medea by Euripedes (Full play)
Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Medea and Jason: The Backstory, from the Metropolitan Opera
The Golden Fleece, from World History Encyclopedia

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Gotcha!

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy April Fools Day, Loca! https://youtu.be/2CLzjKXzwB0?si=sLl_8Muj59M_p3N2

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154. High Value Beans (here comes my story finger!)

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the end of March! This week, Max is going to change the way we think about Jack and the Beanstalk, and Janey is going to tell us about a magical kidnapping! (Business as usual!)

Janey's Sources - Jamie Freel and the Young Lady

Full Story

Max's Sources - Jack and the Beanstalk

Andrew Lang's "The Red Fairy Book"
Full free text of “Jack and the Beanstalk” from the Red Fairy Book
Article on the variations and roots of Jack and the Beanstalk

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153. Finn McCool and the Gang (and the OG Booktok girlie)

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy St. Patrick's Day! This week we're telling Irish stories! Janey is going to tell us about a man who runs away to fairy land, and Max is going to tell us about a woman who does the same! We hope you enjoy!

A note on spelling: Janey's story is about Finn McCool, which is how "Irish Folk and Fairy Tales" spells it. The traditional spelling is Fionn mac Cumhaill, but since we wanted to make the "Cool and the Gang" joke, we're sticking to the anglicized version.

Janey's Sources - The Birth and Death of Oísin

“Irish Folk and Fairy Tales” edited by J.K. Jackson
YOUTUBE VIDEO: “The Story of Tír na nÓg” by Folk Survival
P.J. Lynch Gallery illustrations
“Tír na nÓg: The Story of Niamh and Oisín” by Terri Murphy

Max's Sources - The Wooing of Becfola

Full free text of “The Wooing of Becfola” by James Stephens

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152. I Be Akimbo (Scrimbus Malfoy)

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Welcome back to another episode! This week, Max is going to tell us about a man who can't stop touching rocks, and Janey is going to tell us about the dangers of picking flowers (don't do it, ladies! It's not worth it!) Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - What Came of Picking Flowers

Max's Sources - The Touchstone

"The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain" by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
Full free text of “The Touchstone” by Robert Louis Stevenson

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151. Your Tallest, Mustachioed Girlfriend (the most popular girl at the party)

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Welcome back, friend! On this episode, we're taking a break from talking to the invisible king to bring you two tales of women in love! Janey's going to introduce us to one of the best New Orleans folk legends around, and Max is going to tell us all about a woman who is cursed to be ugly, but may have a secret skill that will make her the most popular girl at the party... who knows?

Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - “Annie Christmas”

“Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales” retold by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
Annie Christmas wikipedia

Max's Sources - The Great Green Worm

“Wonder Tales” edited and with an introduction by Marina Warner, translated by A. S. Byatt, illustrated by Sophie Herxheimer
Full free text of “The Green Serpent” translated by James Robinson Planché

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150. Flummoxed! (do you speak German?)

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to our very special LIVE episode! This week, we told our stories to all the lovely people on our Discord (and only had very minor awkward technical issues). If you love flummoxing fairies and swelling, this is the episode for you. (Also what's your deal? Why are those your two interests?)

Janey's Sources - Long, Broad and Sharp Eyes

“Czech Fairytales” by Karel Jarormir Erben and Bozena Nemcova
Full free story

Max's Sources - The Woman Who Flummoxed the Fairies

“The Woman Who Flummoxed the Fairies” retold by Heather Forest, illustrated by Susan Gaber

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149. A Garden of Heads (and an infestation of witches)

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us about a woman with a deadly bush, and Max is going to give us some tips on how to get rid of uninvited guests! Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Snow, The Crow, and the Blood

Full free story
Wikipedia entry on “The Grateful Dead” motif

Max's Sources - The Horned Women

"Fairy Tales of Ireland" by W. B. Yeats, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
Full free text of “The Horned Women” by Lady Jane Francesca Wilde from “Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland with Sketches of the Irish Past”

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148. Bisect, Divide, Sunder ('twas I that set the house ablaze!)

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and Happy New Year! We're starting 2025 off strong with Max's tale of the worst boy, and Janey's tale of the best boy! That's right, it's a BOY episode! We hope you enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds

“An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales” illustrated by John Bauer
Stop the Bleed Online Course (IMPORTANT)

Max's Sources - Ivan Tsarevich, The Fire-Bird and the Gray Wolf

“Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments,” illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Full free text of “Ivan Tsarevich, The Fire-Bird, and the Gray Wolf” by Alexander Afanasyev, translated by Jeremiah Curtin
Wikipedia article for Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf
Wikipedia article for Igor Stravinsky’s ballet and opera, “The Firebird”

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It: Chapter Goo (Holiday Re-Release!)

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy holidays! Today we're re-releasing a story Max told on episode 106, called "Boneless", from Robert D. San Souci's Short and Shivery. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do, and that you have a safe and restful holiday season! We'll see you next year!

Love, Janey and Max

Max's Sources - Boneless

"Short and Shivery: Thirty Chilling Tales" by Robert D. San Souci
"Boneless (folklore)" on Villains Wiki
Free text of variant for "Boneless"

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147. So Big, So Ugly (please tell Gerky to come outside)

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy almost-holidays, everyone! Today Janey we are so absolutely overwhelmed by our emotions today because Hans Christian Andersen decided to be mean to a baby. Then, Max is going to melt our cold, cold hearts with the true story behind Frosty the Snowman. We hope you enjoy the last episode of 2024!!!

Janey's Sources - The Ugly Duckling

Full free story

Max's Sources - The Snow Child

“Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments,” illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Full free text of original version from “Slavonic Fairy Tales” by John Teophilius Naaké
Wiki article on “Snegurochka” (the snow maiden)

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146. Sufficiently Icked (wee-sa babies)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello (we're sorry!) On this week's episode, Max is going to tell us possibly the most upsetting story we've ever heard (ick!). Then Janey is going to cleanse our palates with a trickster tale! Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Diamond Cut Diamond

Max's Sources - The Spreaders

“When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror” by James Burchac and Joseph Bruchac
Full free text of “The Spreaders” retold by James Bruchac

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145. Hefty Little Apple Baby (Popeye’s spicy 16-year-old sandwich)

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to another episode! Today we're drowning our collective sorrows in folklore. Janey is going to tell us about the devil's teeny tiny baby boy, and Max is going to tell us about the worst mother in the world! We love you! <3

Janey's Sources - The Devil’s Godfather

"Dancing on Blades: Rare and Exquisite Folktales from the Carpathian Mountains" by Dr. Csenge Virág Zalka
Ördög Wikipedia

Max's Sources - The Old Hag’s Garden

“Catarina the Wise: And Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales,” by Giuseppe Pitrè, edited and translated by Jack Zipes

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144. Chekhov’s Man-Bear (this is my girl-tooth)

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Happy November everybody! On this week's episode, we're both telling stories about man-bears! In Max's story, we're going to learn the importance of pacing ourselves and staying humble, after which Janey is going tell how to make our dreams come true (by agreeing to marry a bear). Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The White Bear King

"Winter Tales: Stories and Folktales from Around the World", by Dawn Casey

Max's Sources - The Man Bear

“When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror” by James Burchac and Joseph Bruchac

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143. Paw Proof (don't be afraid of the park)

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our Halloween episode! This week we're celebrating with the spookiest stories we could find. Janey will remind us all to be careful what we wish for, and Max will warn us about poking our noses where we don't belong.

Janey Sources- The Monkey's Paw

Max's Sources - Tea House

“Are You Scared Yet?: Haunted Houses” by Robert D. San Souci https://bookshop.org/a/86350/9780312551360

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24. (Sort of) Off Topic: The True Story of Pocahontas

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Today, Janey is going to tell us the true story of Pocahontas, as passed down by the oral historians from Pocahontas's own people, the Powhatan Nation.

Please be advised, this is an extremely dark story, and there are many triggering themes, including sexual violence, colonization, murder, etc.

Sources:

“The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History”, by Dr. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow and Angela L. Daniel “Silver Star”
“The True Story of Pocahontas: Historical Myths versus Sad Reality” by Vincent Shilling for Indian Country Today
1614 Letter from John Rolfe to Thomas Dale

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23. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Pirate Blackbeard

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Ahoy! For our last Off Topic episode of the season, Max is going to take us through the history of the man, the myth, the pirate Blackbeard!

NOTE: This is a historical account of the pirate known as Blackbeard, and not a recap of the amazing show "Our Flag Means Death". We do our best not to include major spoilers for the show, but we do strongly encourage everyone to watch it, and then tell us all your thoughts.

ALSO NOTE: This episode drops on October 11, the day before Max's birthday! Send her love at the links below!

ALSO ALSO NOTE: If anyone knows exactly how tall Blackbeard's descendants are, contact Janey at the links below. ;)

Sources:

“Three Centuries After His Beheading, a Kinder, Gentler Blackbeard Emerges” by Andrew Lawler for Smithsonian Magazine
“The Most Iconic Episode From the Life of Blackbeard Is How It Ended. Here’s How the Pirate Really Died” by Eric Jay Dolin for Time Magazine
“Blackbeard's Ghost” from North Carolina Ghosts
“The Golden Age of Piracy” on Wikipedia
“A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates” by Charles Johnson (or the Folio Society edition if ya nasty

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142. Ichabod Crane is a Snack Guy (walk him like a dog)

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy October! On this VERY giddy episode of the pod, Max is going to tell us a classic American ghost story, and Janey is going to drop a new Louisiana cryptid! Happy spooky season, ya'll!

Janey's Sources - The Grunch

Haunted Bayou and Other Cajun Ghost Stories by J.J. Reneaux
"The Grunch" Cryptid Wiki

Max's Sources - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Full free text of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving / Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. / Diedrich Knickerbocker

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22. (Sort of) Off Topic: The 1904 Olympic Marathon

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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The 1904 Olympic Marathon has been described as many things-- "unbelievable", "crazy", "racist"... This week, Janey is going to dive headfirst into the wild stories that make us question everything we know to be true about marathon running (for example-- how much rat poison is too much rat poison while running 25 miles?) We'll find out together! Enjoy!

Sources

“How the 1904 Marathon Became One of the Weirdest Olympic Events of All Time” by Karen Abbott for Smithsonian Magazine
“The Barely Believable Life of Andarín Carvajal” by Liam Boylen-Pett for Lope Magazine
“The Unbelievable True Story of the Craziest Olympic Marathon” by Ashwin Rodrigues for Runners World
Andarín Carvajal wikipedia

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21. (Sort of) Off Topic: Elizabeth Báthory

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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TW: 22:17 - 24:37 Brief descriptions of violent and disturbing acts

This week, Max is going Off Topic to kick us into spooky season with the story of Elizabeth Bathory. Was she the most prolific serial killer in the history of the world? Did she really bathe in blood to preserve her youth and beauty? Is this perhaps a sexist ploy for men to take power? Who knows? (We think we do. We are, as always, very confident in our assertions.)

Sources:

“Elizabeth Báthory’s Blood Baths: Separating Myth from Reality” from Vamped
Elizabeth Báthory Wikipedia
Paintings of Nádasdy Ferenc and Elizabeth Báthory
“Elizabeth Báthory” on Encyclopedia Brittanica
“Elizabeth Bathory” for Biography.com
“Cambridge University academic's quest to clear Elizabeth Bathory's name” by Laurence Cawley for the BBC
“Countess Elizabeth Báthory: The True Story Of “Lady Dracula”” by Ann Foster - op ed
“Bathed in Blood” from Vault of Thoughts
“Vampire folklore by region” on Wikipedia
“Empress Maria Theresa & the 18th Century Vampire Panic” by Jenni Wiltz for Medium
“The bloody legend of Hungary’s serial killer countess” for National Geographic
“On this Day, in 1610: the gruesome crimes of Elizabeth Báthory were uncovered” from Kafkadesk

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141. Odious and Toadious (it’s ‘Eatin’ Girls’ o’clock somewhere)

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Great Scott! It's a new episode! This week Janey is going to tell us all about two golden children who should spend less time together, and Max is going to tell us all about a beast that has an insatiable appetite (for girls!)

Janey's Sources - The Gold-Children

Max's Sources - The Seven-Headed Monster

“Folktales of France” by Genevieve Massignon, translated by Jacqueline Hyland, forward by Richard M Dorson

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20. (Sort of) Off Topic: Things We've Sent to Space

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Janey is going to bring us on the emotional rollercoaster that is "things we've jettisoned into space". From puppies to light sabers to Elon Musk's fragile male ego, we've truly tried it all (and Janey has THOUGHTS).

Sources:

“Eight of the Strangest Things We’ve Sent to Space” by Lee Cavendish on Space.com
“The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the Space Dog, and Her One-Way Trip Into Orbit” by Alice George for Smithsonian Magazine
“Ham, the First Chimpanzee In Space” for Save the Chimps
Save the Chimps donation page, to help care for chimps in their sanctuary in many important ways
“Where is Spaceman?” (Live tracker of Elon Musk’s space Tesla)
“No, NASA does not plan to send ‘nude pics’ into space” for Snopes
“The Fermi Paradox and the Drake Equation: Where are all the aliens?”
“Why Airplane Food Tastes Different”
The Golden Record cover (Pulsar Map)
“Spider Success! Weightless Webs Spun in Space” from Space.com

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19. (Sort of) Off Topic: △ The Bavarian Illuminati

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Max is going to tell us all the true history of the Bavarian Illuminati, and how what started as a bunch of rich white guys arguing about nothing somehow resulted in a bunch of people accusing Taylor Swift of being a lizard person. Enjoy!

Sources

“Illuminati” on Wikipedia
“The New World Order conspiracy: Illuminati” on Wikipedia
“9 questions about the Illuminati you were too afraid to ask” by Phil Edwards for Vox
“What is the fascination with the Illuminati conspiracy?” narrated by Sophia Smith Galer for the BBC
“What is the Illuminati conspiracy theory?” by Fred Kelly for TheWeek.com
“Secrets of the Illuminati: the Top-Secret Society With Plans to Rule the World” from SPYSCAPE
Full free text of “Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe” by John Robison
“The Eye of Providence: The symbol with a secret meaning?” by Matthew Wilson for the BBC

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140. First of all, Dalé (seals are scary)

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Max is going to tell us a story that can hopefully serve as a reminder that JUST because he's from Florida and wears a gold suit does NOT mean you should marry him. (Run. You're welcome.) And also Janey is going to tell us a story about a seal that only makes her blood run a little cold. Otherwise, it's pretty heartwarming. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Silkie’s Farewell

“Tales of the Seal People, Scottish Folk Tales” by Duncan Williamson

Max's Sources - The Man in Gold

“Spooky South” by S.E. Schlosser

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18. (Sort of) Off Topic: Magic School Bus Conspiracy Theories

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy Off Topic-Season to everyone who celebrates! We're starting this season off with a bang, as Janey discusses Alex Bale's "Magic School Bus Doppleganger Theory", and posits a theory of her own that leaves us both wondering-- how deep does the rabbit hole go?

Sources:

Alex Bale’s “Magic School Bus: Doppleganger Theory” Youtube Video
Gabriella Geisinger’s Digital Spy article on the connection between Pennywise and Mary Poppins
Magic School Bus wikipedia

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(Sort of) A Book Club: Mountains Made of Glass with Scarlett St. Clair and Lauren Boyle

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our Book Club! This month Max and I read "Mountains Made of Glass" by Scarlett St. Clair, and illustrated by Lauren Boyle. This book has everything-- fairytales, folktales, mythology, sex... and also, Scarlett and Lauren are here! Enjoy!

“If you can f*ck a door, you can f*ck a Peep.” – Max Higgins

BUY THE BOOK Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St. Clair

PRE-ORDER Apples Dipped in Gold, releasing October 29th, 2024

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139. Rowing in My Skin Canoe (there’s like, a LOT of witches here)

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello to all you Pit-Heads out there! On today's accidental Native-themed episode, Janey's going to talk about a strong boy who just wants a wife, and Max is going to tell us an Iroquois tale of witches! Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Beluga-Skin Bedaarka

"The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales", retold by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Stefano Vitale
Stefano Vitale biography

Max's Sources - The Punishment of the Witches

“Indian Legends of Canada” by Ella Elizabeth Clark
Free original text “Iroquois Notes” by William Martin Beauchamp from the Journal of American Folklore, July 1892

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138. Alliganey Janey– Here to Eat Your Bullets! (grand theft nautico)

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome back for another exciting episode of "Janey makes us cry!" This week, Max is going to tell us a story about Patricia Arquette from Holes (and her good-for-nothing ghost husband), and Janey is going to tell us yet another Scandinavian tale where the moral is "leave those giants alone!" Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Dwarf’s Banquet

“Viking Folk and Fairy Tales”, edited by J.K. Jackson
FULL STORY
Prose Edda Wikipedia
Info on Olaf the Holy

Max's Sources - The Widow Jinks

“Spooky South” by S.E. Schlosser

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137. Papa Yaga (I don’t want this little leprechaun anymore)

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome back! This week we're diving in with a story about a young woman who the police should probably question regarding the untimely deaths of her family, and Max is going to tell us about a man who is NOT tripping too hard on edibles. (Wink!) Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Vasilissa the Fair

"The Second Virago Book of Fairy Tales" by Angela Carter

Max's Sources - A Pot of Gold in the Oven

“The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales” by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth, translated by Maria Tatar
“Fairy Tale Coaching” from Dance of Polychrome

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136. Where’s My Best Boy? (meet me in the Heifer Hut)

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Max will tell us a dragon story where the dragons maybe aren't dragons, and at least one character does NOT have to be there! And Janey is going to tell us a story about a girl learning the most important lesson of all-- men ain't sh*t!

Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Four Gifts

The Virago Book of Witches, edited by Shahrukh Husain
FULL FREE STORY

Max's Sources - Constantes and the Dragon

“A Book of Dragons” by Ruth Manning-Sanders, illustrated by Robin Jacques
Free scanned text of “A Book of Dragons” by Ruth Manning-Sanders

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135. Bewildered and Honking (and nonstop harkin’ eggs)

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome BACK! We're jumping in after a month-long break to tell you two insane tales of heroism! This week, Janey is retelling Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Geese", and Max is going to tell us about a terrible wife who just can't seem to stop harkin' down eggs (this isn't canon but we like to use our imaginations...)

In other news! We will be changing our release schedule to every other week, instead of every week. This means you'll get two regular episodes a month, plus a monthly bonus episode if you're on our Patreon at the $7 level. Thanks to everyone who already heard the news on our July bonus episode and sent us love over the Discord!

Janey's Sources - The Wild Swans

“The Wild Swans” FREE TEXT
Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales
“The Silent Struggle: Autonomy for the Maiden Who Seeks Her Brothers.” by Christy Williams for The Comparatist, vol. 30, 2006, pp. 81–100. JSTOR,

Max's Sources - The Serpent Woman

“Favorite Folktales from Around the World” edited by Jane Yolen

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134. Mr. Noodle Wants Ten Gold Pieces (and an Inuit ‘Kill Bill’ story)

Thu, 30 May 2024 13:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our last episode before our summer break! This week, Max is going to tell us about a terrible man who gets TERRIBLE advice and has an undeservedly good time, and Janey tells us a story about a bad ass grandma who gives her granddaughter the best gift of all: revenge.

See you all in July!

Janey's Sources - Grandmother's Skull

“The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women” retold by Katrin Tchana
Knud Rasmussen and the Origins of the Greenland Inuit

Max's Sources - The Three Words of Advice

"One Hundred Favorite Folktales" chosen by Stith Thompson

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133. Worm/Kennedy 2024 (don't you know who my emperor is?)

Thu, 23 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to a VERY unhinged, late-night episode of (Sort of) the Story. Today we're talking about Robert Kennedy's brain worm, the fact that everyone seems to have forgotten that Armie Hammer is a cannibal, and ALSO we'll tell each other a couple of stories. It's a wild ride (thanks for taking it with us!)

Janey's Sources - The Princess in the Chest

Full free story
The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang

Max's Sources - The Censor and the Tiger

Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies by Moss Roberts
“Weretigers: More Than the Werewolf’s Cooler Cousin”
“Sacred Metamorphosis: The Weretiger and the Shaman” by Charles E. Hammond
“Weretigers” on The Werecreature Wiki

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132. Everyday I’m Draiglin (cats can't play guitar)

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome, all you Draiglin' Hogneys. We know you're too busy draiglin away your days to read a silly little intro like this, so we'll keep it short and sweet-- this week Max is going to tell us about a Hogney that is a little more Draiglin' than the average hog, and Janey is going to tell us a story about a man who is DEFINITELY not falling in love with a cat.

Spoily: Max cries in this episode, and you'll never guess where.

Janey's Sources - The White Cat (by Madame le Comtesse d’Aulnoy)

“Folk and Fairy Tales” edited by Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek
“Madame d’Aulnoy, the Mysterious Fairy Tale Queen” by Jack Zipes
Madame d’Aulnoy wikipedia

Max's Sources - The Draiglin’ Hogney

"Monstrous Tales: Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from Around the World" illustrated by Sija Hong
Full free text of “The Draiglin’ Hogney” from Elizabeth Grieirson’s “The Scottish Fairy Book”
Literally the only source I could find on the etymology of “The Draiglin’ Hogney”
Scots text of “The Draiglin’ Hogney”
Tumblr post - the linguistics of “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll

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131. I’d Risk It All for a Pear (and I might stop for a popcorn shrimp...)

Thu, 09 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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On this episode, Janey is going to tell us about a sarcastic little cat who doesn't have time for the prince's sh*t today, and Max is going to tell us the origin of Tom Thumb. Did you know King Arthur is a key player in Tom Thumb's life? Because we sure didn't! Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - The Little White Cat

“Irish Folk and Fairy Tales” edited by J.K. Jackson
Free Text

Max's Sources - Tom Thumb

“The History of Tom Thumbe, the Little, for his small stature surnamed, King Arthur's Dwarfe: whose Life and adventures containe many strange and wonderfull accidents, published for the delight of merry Time-spenders” written by (possibly) Richard Johnson
“The Grave of Tom Thumb” on Atlas Obscura

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130. Macbeth (would be so much better with robots)

Thu, 02 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to part 2 of our Shakespeare episode! Today Max is going to tell us all about Macbeth (and afterward she's going to tell us all why we're cursed now!) Please don't listen to this episode in a theater!

Max's Sources - Macbeth

Full free text of Macbeth
"The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?" from Penguin Publishing
Wikipedia article for "The Scottish Play"
"The Curse of the Scottish Play" by the Royal Shakespeare Company
"Cal Shakes risks curse of 'the Scottish play'" by Robert Hurwitt for the San Francisco Chronicle - SFGATE

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129. King Lear (and the toad-spotted traitor)

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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TW: Very graphic eyeball stuff at 59:20

Hello! In honor of Janey's birthday (which she shares with the Bard himself), we're telling more Shakespeare stories! This week, Janey is going to make us all weepy with the gut-wrenching story of King Lear, and aging king in the throws of dementia. Because these plays are so long, we had to split the episode into two, so stick around for next week, when Max will give you ANOTHER Shakespeare play!

From the bottom of her heart, Janey would like to thank ya'll for being the best part of being 32. Here's to another great year around the sun!

Janey's Sources - King Lear

"King Lear" original text side-by-side with modern translations
Watch the performance starring Sir Ian McKellan
Review of Sir Ian Mckellan's performance as King Lear, with pictures
World Health Organization signs of dementia

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128. Thumbelina is Canceled (blow up your castle)

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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On this week's episode, Max tells a story about a little baby woman who friend-zones a bird, and Janey is going to tell us three stories about a girl who goes on a world-tour to solve crimes and collect Daddies. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Tales of a Parrot

"World Tales" collected by Idries Shah
Full Free Text
Wikipedia article on the Tuti-Nama
"Tuti Nama" artwork

Max's Sources -Thumbelina

Han’s Christian Andersen’s “Complete Fairy Tales”

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127. Wring Your Hams (notice me, Mother)

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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TW for Max’s story: Cannibalism, Infanticide, and upsetting eyeball stuff

On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us a silly-goofy little Italian love story, quickly followed by a horrifying tale about a man who is Big Stupid but loves his moms. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Filo d’Oro and Filomena

Italian Folktales, selected and retold by Italo Calvino

Max’s Sources - The Son of Seven Mothers

“Tales of India: Folk Tales from Bengal, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu” illustrated by Svabhu Kohli and Viplov Singh

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126. Don't Swaddle Me (you wretched little shrimp)

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Janey’s Sources - The Headless Dwarf

The Violet Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang
Full free text

Max’s Sources - The Washerwoman and The Count

Full free text of “Tales of the Amber Sea” by Irina Zheleznova
Full free text of “The Washerwoman and the Count”

Bonus: WATCH "Superpower(less)" on Youtube!

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Faster, Stronger, Paler, Harder (I'm the Skin)

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to just another episode of the podcast! Today we're delving into a fan-favorite (or is that just us?) and saying goodbye to an old friend.

Shout outs to these superstars:

Jennifer Haining
Brycen Raymond
Barbara Higgins
Jordan Boyle
and our amazing friend, Conor

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125. H.P. Lovecraft? (I barely H.P. LIKEcraft)

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our Lovecraftian episode! We're getting into his life, his stories, his blatant and insidious racism-- Janey gets so sick halfway through that we had to stop recording for two days... it's fun, we swear!

Janey’s Sources - The Thing on the Doorstep

“The Thing on the Doorstep” by H.P. Lovecraft
Biography from HPLovecraft.com
“The Poem of Ulysses” full 88-line poem
“H.P. Lovecraft, the Grandfather of Horror” from The Collector
“We Can’t Ignore H.P. Lovecraft’s White Supremacy” from Literary Hub
Imaginary Worlds: Episode 151: “Inverting Lovecraft”
“The Ballad of Black Tom” (Novella) by Victor Lavalle

Max’s Sources - The Shunned House

Full free text of “The Shunned House” by H.P. Lovecraft
Notes on the Cthulhu Mythos from The H.P. Lovecraft Wiki

BONUS: Reading Child’s Stories Verbatim: Youtube Video

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124. UglyMeanLady Says What? (That seat's for Papa John)

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Janey’s Sources - The Japanese Woman

“Mexican Ghost Tales of the Southwest” by Alfred Avila
Full text for free

Max’s Sources - Meredydd and the Wyvern

“Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales” illustrated by Kate Forrester
Full text of “The Wyvern” from “Wonder Tales of Ancient Wales” by Bernard Henderson and Stephen Jones
“The Gwiber / Wyvern of Coed y Moch” from a Nannau history site written by Ian King
“Cadi & the Cursed Oak” by Kara Gebhart Uhl - a fiction novel set in the same area as the story, with folkloric themes! (A thousand thanks for the Welsh pronunciation guide, without which this story would be much phlegmier)
Pronunciation guide for “Cadi & The Cursed Oak” by Kara Gebhart Uhl, provided by Dr Iwan Wyn Rees

BONUS: Video of a Welsh man charming a seagull to dance

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE (based on I am doing my best)
Spelling in text | Pronunciation (US English approx) | IPA

Meredydd | Meh-RED-ith | /məˈɹɛdɪθ/
Llywelyn | LOO-ell-en or loo-ELL-en | /ɬəu̯ˈɛlɨ̞n/
Nannau | NANN-aye | /ˈnanaɨ̯/
Elwyn | ELL-win | /ɛlwɪn/
Coed-y-Moch | KOYD-uh-mawch | /ˈkoːɨ̯d ə moːχ/
Cynwych | Ken-WIYKH | /kɪnɡ ‘wɨːχ/
Moel Othrum | MOYL OTH-rum | /moːɨ̯l ‘oðɹʊn /
Wyvern | WAI-vurn | /ˈwaɪvə(ɹ)n/
Hafodfraith | HA-vod VRYE-th | /ˈhavɔd vrai̯θ/

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123. Mumped and Moaned (here's my wallet, sandwich dinner)

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to episode 123! This week Janey is going to tell us a story you CAN tell a child, and Max is going to help us all celebrate March! Alexa, Google "sad sexy booby time".

Janey’s Sources - Green Peter (or “Princess Hide-and-Seek”)

“Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World” by Csenga Virag Zalka

Max’s Sources - The Gypsy Woman and the Cave

“Gypsy Folktales” by Diane Tong

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122. Ol’ Sister Shovel-Tooth (honk-honk-honking around the floor)

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy March! This week Max is telling us a tale that will (hopefully) resonate with every person who thinks it's cool to hang around their high school years after they graduate (cough cough, Dale, cough cough). Then, Janey is going to confront her greatest fear by telling a beautiful story about the Seal People. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Silkie Painter

“Tales of the Seal People” by Duncan Williamson
Selkie wikipedia
Video of baby puffins being yeeted off cliffs in Iceland

Max’s Sources - The Red King and the Witch

“Gypsy Folktales” by Diane Tong
Full free text of “The Red King and the Witch” from “Gypsy Folk Tales” by Francis Hindes Groome
“The Marriage of the Red King and White Queen in Alchemy” by Catherine Beyer
Illustrations from Ruth Manning-Sanders’ book “The Red King and the Witch: Gypsy Folk and Fairy Tales” illustrated by Victor Ambrus

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121. Sorry You’re So Ugly (would you like to eat my flesh?)

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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TW: Pedophilia, cannibalism

Happy Leap Day! On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us a story about a princess raised by a bunch of gnomes, and Max is going to tell us a Japanese story with a very satisfying twist ending. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Story of Little King Loc

Andrew Lang’s Olive Fairy Book
Free Text

Max’s Sources - The Azure Hood

Free Text of “The Blue Hood” by Ueda Akinari

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120. A little superstition is healthy (I’m being haunted by myself)

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and Happy Black History Month! Today we're telling stories written by black authors. First, Max will tell us the story of "Uncle Monday" (don't go in the water). Then, Janey is going to tell us a cautionary tale of trying to out-stubborn evil spirits! We hope you enjoy the tales!

Janey’s Sources - The Gingi

“The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural” by Patricia McKissack
Breakdown of the stories

Max’s Sources - Uncle Monday

“Raw Head, Bloody Bones: African American Tales of the Supernatural”
“The Complete Stories” by Zora Neale Hurston
“Hoodoo History Heroes: Uncle Monday” from Voodoo Universe
“Uncle Monday” painting, Museum of Florida History

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119. The Edgar Allan Poe-pisode (everything is great in the Boink Bunker!)

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to a very spooky episode, all about America's favorite sad boy, Edgar Allan Poe! Max and I watched "Fall of the House of Usher" and this is our pitch to YOU to watch it too! Today, Janey is going to convince us all of her sanity with "The Tell-Tale Heart", and Max is going to remind us how much we hate capitalists with "The Mask of the Red Death". Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Tell-Tale Heart

Edgar Allan Poe: Illustrated Tales from Fall River Press
“The (Still) Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe” from Smithsonian Magazine
“The Tell-Tale Heart” wikipedia page
Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe wikipedia page

Max’s Sources - The Masque of the Red Death

Free full text of “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe

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118. Working Bear or Barely Working? (Gays on the Trod)

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy February! Today we're talking about bear boys and the Gay People (you're just going to have to trust us that these are real stories.) Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Trod

Fearsome Fairies: Haunting Tales of the Fae, edited by Charlotte Riddell

Max’s Sources - The Three Fates

“Slavic Myths” edited by Jake Jackson

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117. Hot Boys Don’t Go to Bed Before Midnight (or miss their graveside dinner date)

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Welcome back everybody! Today Janey is going to tell us a Victorian story about a super hot Irish doctor with a banshee on his back, and Max is going to tell us all about a female samurai's love test. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Banshee’s Warning

Fearsome Fairies: Haunting Tales of the Fae, edited by Charlotte Riddell

Max’s Sources - Of Ghosts and Goblins / The Test

“Of Ghosts and Goblins” by Lafcadio Hearn
Full free text of “The Test”
“Onna-Bugeisha, the Female Samurai Warriors of Feudal Japan”
“Onna-musha” on Wikipedia

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116. Kiss the Corpse (in their oppositional-defiant eyeballs)

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode, we're talking BODIES, BODIES, BODIES! Max is going to tell us yet another Irish tale about a person forced to wear a corpse as a backpack (if we had a nickel...) and Janey is going to tell us Cheyenne tales of body horror! This one's for the ghouls!

Janey’s Sources - Cheyenne Tales of Body Horror

Folk Tales of the North American Indians edited by Stith Thompson
FREE TEXT The Rolling Head
FREE TEXT The Eye Juggler
“Veeho” Cheyenne language
Penguin Random House “From the Page: There, There”
There, There by Tommy Orange

Max’s Sources - Teig O’Kane and the Corpse

“Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales” illustrated by Kate Forrester
Full free text of “Teig O’Kane and the Corpse”

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115. Pizza for Books (Happy Chenoo Year!)

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and happy new year!!! Janey's starting 2024 off with a quaint little tale about a terrible old woman who does nothing to earn a happy ending, and Max is giving us possibly the scariest monster we've ever covered. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Wonderful Story of Little Bridget

Gustave Doré’s Fairy Tales Told Again from Easton Press
Gustave Doré on WikiArt
Gustave Doré’s wikipedia

Max’s Sources - Keewahkwee

“When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror” by James and Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by William Sauts Netamux’we Bock
“Native American Legends: Giwakwa” from Native Languages of the Americas

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114. When the Crawdad Whistles (don't feed the Riddle Monster)

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to the LAST EPISODE OF THE YEAR! To celebrate, Max is going to usher us gently out of 2023 with a Christmas Horror Story (wear your safety goggles and stay out of the splash zone for this story). Then Janey is going to tell us one more story about a man who decides a "riddle" is anything he feels like saying on that particular day!

Happy New Year, Story Babies! Thanks for making our 2023 amazing!

Janey’s Sources - Manuel Has a Riddle

“The People Could Fly” told by Virginia Hamilton https://bookshop.org/a/86350/9780679843368

Max’s Sources - When the Crayfish Whistled: A Christmas Horror

“Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov” edited by Robert Chandler

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113. 7 Signs You’re In an Ogress’s Den (The Running of the Bowls)

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On this week's episode, Janey is going to teach us how to recognize when you've found yourself inside of an ogress's cave dwelling (hint: look for empty water bottles and piles of clean laundry on the bed), and Max is going to teach us how to spot mythical water horses (hint: one could be right next to you...)

Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Tritill, Litill, and the Birds

Andrew Lang’s The Crimson Fairy Book
Full Story

Max’s Sources - Tarbh na Leòid and the Water-Horse

“Gods & Monsters Myths & Tales: Epic Tales” from Flame Tree Publishing
Full free text of “Tarbh na Leòid (McLeod’s Bull)” from the McLeods of Condah website
A collection of water-horse stories from Ireland
“Water Horses” on Villains Wiki
Full free text of “The Peat-Fire Flame” by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor, including the chapter “The Water-Horse and Kindred Monsters”

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112. Swan Lake Extended Universe (these apples cure depression)

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode, Max is going to take us even further into the SLEU and tell us a story from the POV of a himbo stork dad who can't help but spill the tea, and Janey is going to tell us about a villain who discovers magical Prozac apples. Also at the end we get delirious and try to buy the domain www.shark.com. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - How Cormac Mac Art Went to Faery

Irish Folk & Fairy Tales: Ancient Wisdom, Fables & Folklore (edited by J.K. Jackson)
Cormac Mac Airt Wikipedia
The Wisdom of Cormac Mac Art

Max’s Sources - The Marsh King’s Daughter

“Hans Christian Andersen's Complete Fairy Tales” translated by Jean Hersholt
Full free text of “The Marsh King’s Daughter”

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111. Urban Legends! (are inextricably licked)

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome back from our week-long break! Our lovely Discord members voted on today's theme, and so we're telling Urban Legends! Today Janey will terrify us with the spooky legend (and bizarre history) of the Jersey Devil, and Max is going to tell us about Detroit's own little red man! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Jersey Devil

Wikipedia
Weird New Jersey article
New Jersey Haunted Houses article
Aspbury Park Press article by Jerry Carino
New Jersey history (elementary school lesson plan)
The story of Daniel and Titan Leeds, by Brian Regal for The Skeptical Inquirer
Rutger’s University exhibit “Running with the Jersey Devil”

Max’s Sources - The Nain Rouge

“Folktales and Legends of the Middle West” by Edward McClelland
“The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain” by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
“The Spirited Afterlife of Detroit’s Little Red Demon” by Jessica Leigh Hester for Atlas Obscura
“The legend of the legend of Detroit’s Nain Rouge: Raising Nain” by Le DeVito
“About the Nain Rouge,” from a pro-Nain scholar

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110. Sending My Worst (do your chores, you little b***)

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello! On today's shivery little episode, Max is telling a story of an Icelandic spite-haunting, and Janey is telling us a cautionary tale about why it's always better to just do your damn chores the first time you're asked. Also, we won't be here next week, as we're taking a much needed week off! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Sister and Brother

“Winter Tales: Stories and Folktales from Around the World”, by Dawn Casey

Max’s Sources - The Sending

“Even More Short & Shivery” by Robert D. San Souci
“Revenge Zombies and Necropants: A Brief History of Icelandic Sorcery” by Eric Grundhauser for Atlas Obscura
“Ghosts, specters, and zombies in Icelandic folktales” by Helga Dís Björgúlfsdóttir /
“Icelandic Fylgjur Tales and a Possible Old Norse Connection” by Eric Shane Bryan
“Chapter 3 THE FYLGJUR OF ICELAND: ATTENDANT SPIRITS AND A DISTORTED SENSE OF GUARDIANSHIP” from “Icelandic Folklore and the Cultural Memory of Religious Change” by Eric Shane Bryan
“Monster of the Month: Sending - A Ghost of Substance” by John Rogers

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109. Big Ol’ Foundling Babies (more like Pepto Dismal)

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Ahoy, Story Babies! Today we're talking about big ol' babies and singing sea shanties! It's an accidental theme episode! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Knös

Viking Folk & Fairy Tales: Ancient Wisdom, Fables & Folkore (edited by JK Jackson)
Full story for free
Relaxing audio recording of the story (Youtube)
Viking hygiene

Max’s Sources - Old Stormalong

"World Folklore for Storytellers: Tales of Wonder, Wisdom, Fools, and Heroes" by Josepha Sherman
"The Legend of Old Stormalong" by Salem Ghosts
Free text of "Old Stormalong" from "Spooky Massachusetts" by S.E. Schlosser
History and lyrics for shanty "Stormalong"
History and lyrics for "General Taylor / Carry Him To His Burying Ground"
The Longest Johns song "General Taylor"

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108. A Foot with Eyes (Vin Diesel NOTICE ME)

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode, Max is going to tell us a slimy little tale about a girl who comes out of her shell, and a boy who should never have become king. Janey is going to regale us with a wholesome story of a man who could take seven at once, and who also should not have been king. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Brave Little Tailor

"Folk and Fairy Tales" 5th Edition
Full Free Text
Wikipedia page
Daily Motion Video, Mickey Mouse as The Brave Little Tailor

Max’s Sources - The Snail Wife

"World Folklore for Storytellers: Tales of Wonder, Wisdom, Fools, and Heroes" by Josepha Sherman
Full free text of story variant:
"Slug & Snail Spirit Guide: Folklore and Symbolism" from Otherworldly Oracle

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107. The Shaving of the Ghouls (come get yer yog bogged)

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy November! Today Janey is going to tell us a Palestinian tale about a couple of 12-foot tall Home Depot skeletons (and like, a princess and stuff), and Max is going to teach us all a thing or two about family trees! Exciting!

Janey’s Sources -Nani, Daughter of Nani

Full text from Sonia Sulaiman's website
“Abu Jmeel’s Daughter and Other Stories: Arab Folk Tales from Palestine and Lebanon” by Jamal Sleem Nuweihed
Islamic Scripture
5 Ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza
Tell Congress to oppose a ground invasion of Gaza by Israel

Max’s Sources - The Stepdaughter and the Stepmother's Daughter

"Russian Magic Tales: From Pushkin to Platonov" edited by Robert Chandler
"Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales" by Sibelan Forrester

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106. It: Chapter Goo (It’s a Friday-night body hunt!)

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy end of October, Story Babies! Today Max is going to tell us the most bizarre cryptid tale yet (you may doubt, but you'll come to see that there is no way to top this guy.) And Janey is going to tell us one final October spoooOOOOoooky ghost story! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Ring and the Rib

“Cajun Folktales” by JJ Reneaux

Max’s Sources - Boneless

"Short and Shivery: Thirty Chilling Tales" by Robert D. San Souci
"Boneless (folklore)" on Villains Wiki
Free text of variant for "Boneless"

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105. Same Rick Forever (and the Jar Jar Binks of cryptids)

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy spooky season! Today Janey is going to tell us a lesser known ghost story about a girl with a mysterious ribbon around a body part, and Max is going to tell us all about the Australian vampire! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - A Black Velvet Ribbon

50 Great Ghost Stories, edited by John Canning
Nicola Gorges Wikitree/genealogy profile
Howth Castle Legends

Max’s Sources - The Yara-Ma-Yha-Who

"Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals" by W Ramsay Smith
"Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines" by David Unaipon
"Monstrum: Yara-ma-yha-who"

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17. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Green Children of Woolpit

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Sometime in the 12th Century, in the little village of Woolpit in Suffolk, England, two small children are found huddling together at the bottom of a wolf pit. They speak a strange language, will only eat raw fava beans, and (oh yeah), their skin is green.

Today, Max is going off topic to talk about the history and theories of this strange event. Enjoy!

Sources:

“Children of the Sky” by Duncan Lunan
Duncan Lunan’s website, article on the research process behind “Children of the Sky”
“The Green Children of Woolpit” from Green Canticle
“Woolpit, Suffolk” travel guide
“The Mysterious Tale of the Green Children of Woolpit” by Charlie Haigh for IFLScience
“The Green Children of Woolpit” article from Snopes.com
“Inside the Green Children of Woolpit” by Kaleen Fraga for AllThatsInteresting
“The Green Children of Woolpit” by Brain Haughton
“The Green Children of Woolpit” from Historic UK
“The Green Children of Woolpit” by April Holloway for AncientOrigins.net
“Who Were the Green Children of Woolpit?” from History Defined

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104. A Tsunami of Corpses (I like big boats and I cannot lie)

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX! On today's episode, Max is going to talk about an underwater foot-shaming mermaid kingdom, and Janey is going to tell us a terrifying tale of a Norwegian sea-monster! (Seals are scary, pass it on!)

Janey’s Sources - Elias and the Draug

Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories
Draugr wikipedia
Amazing reading of this story by “Classic Ghost Stories Podcast”, narrated by Tony Walker

Max’s Sources - Anna Malaya

"The Turnip Princess: And Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales" by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth

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16. (Sort of) Off Topic: Dear David

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Prepare to pee your pants, because this week Janey is telling us the entire terrifying tale of the haunting of Adam Ellis by a little boy known only as Dear David. Eek!

Sources:

Full thread on Wakelet
“Dear David” trailer
Adam Ellis on Instagram

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103. Doctors HATE this Magic Mirror (I need the love of a gourd woman)

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our first episode of October, recorded live on Zoom! Today Janey is talking about magic mirrors and stupid hotties, and Max is going to tell us about the Yiddish Cinderella! Enjoy!

TW: At the end of this episode we talk about beating up the corpse of Ronald Reagan. If that is not something you're into, don't listen to the very end!

Janey’s Sources - The Magic Mirror

Full Story
Source for baltic fairy and folk tales

Max’s Sources - The Princess of the Third Pumpkin

"Yiddish Folktales" edited by Beatrice Silverman Weinreich, translated by Leonard Wolf

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15. (Sort of) Off Topic: Hatshepsut, The Erased Pharaoh Queen

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Max fascinates us with the history of a Pharaoh almost lost to history-- Hatshepsut. (And at the end, Janey reads us smut!) Enjoy!

Sources:

“The Queen Who Would Be King” by Elizabeth B. Wilson for Smithsonian Magazine
“Hatshepsut” for History.com
“Who was Hatshepsut?” by Kristin Baird Rattini for National Geographic
“Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh” exhibition at the Met
“Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh” by Catharine Roehrig, Renee Dreyfus, and Cathleen Keller for the Met exhibition
Inscriptions by Hatshepsut on obelisks at Karnak

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102. The Easter Weasel (and the Power of Punctuality)

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello, autumn babies! Welcome to the new episode! This week, Max will tell us the classic Easter story of the white weasel/Christ allegory (?), and Janey will once again reiterate that we are #TeamTroll first and always. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Troll Ride

“An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales”
Full text of “The Troll in the Ditch”
Anna Wahlenberg Wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The Weasel

“White as Milk, Red as Blood: The Forgotten Fairy Tales of Franz Xaver von Schonwerth” translated by Shelley Tanaka, illustrated by Willow Dawson
Weasels in Greek folklore
“Death Before Dishonor” - symbolism of the white weasel

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14. (Sort of) Off Topic: No Man's Land

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Janey goes way off topic to talk about the history of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the Missouri Compromise, Bleeding Kansas, and the unofficial capital of the United States-- Beer City! Cheers!

Oklahoma’s Panhandle (Tiktok)
Why Oklahoma has a Panhandle
The Missouri Compromise (National Geographic)
What Was the Missouri Compromise? History (presented by Paul Laudiero!)
Texas Declaration of Independence (Texas State Library)
“Bleeding Kansas” (PBS)
“Bleeding Kansas: A Stain on Kansas History” National Park Service
“Fire on the Mountain” by Terry Bisson
John Brown’s raid on Harper Ferry wikipedia
Red River War wikipedia
Chris Madsen wikipedia
“Badmen in No Man’s Land” History.net

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101. Goose-Foot Bertha (HEA)

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to episode 101! This week, Janey is going to tell us a quaint little tale about a girl and her horse (TW the horse does not make it to the end of this story), and Max tells us the Shark Boy x Totoro love story we never knew we needed. (Let's never talk about HEA, okay???) Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Goose Girl

“The Goose Girl” Free Text
The Goose-Girl wikipedia
“Was there a real mother goose?” History.com
The Goose Girl/Bertrada legend

Max’s Sources - The Gratitude of Samebito

"Japanese Myths" edited by Jake Jackson
Full free text of from "Shadowings" by Lafcadio Hearn

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13. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Beeswax Wreck

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's Off Topic, Max tells us all about the shipwreck that inspired The Goonies, and Janey and Max develop a deep, deep love for a sensitive poet/lawyer/psychologist/conservationist.

Sources:

“The Ghost Hunter” by Leah Sottile for The Atavist Magazine
“Unbind the Soul” - three poems from Cameron La Follette
“The Unsolved Mystery of Oregon’s Beeswax Wreck” by Jennifer Burns Bright for Travel Oregon
The Oregon Historical Quarterly, issue 119:2 - special issue about the Beeswax Wreck, featuring articles from Cameron La Follette (available to read for free online, or for purchase through the Oregon Historical Quarterly website)
“Timbers from famed Beeswax shipwreck found on the northern Oregon Coast” article by Katie Frankowicz for Oregon Public Broadcasting
“Legendary Spanish galleon shipwreck discovered on Oregon coast” article by Kristin Romey for National Geographic
“Santo Cristo de Burgos” historical review essay by Cameron La Follette for Oregon Encyclopedia

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100. Girl Boss-iás Dinner (Leggings, Waffles, Morgan, Pancakes)

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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HELLO and welcome to Episode 100!!!! We recorded this episode live on a zoom call with some of the members of our Patreon, and had a blast doing it! On this episode, Max tells us about a wizard who loves Girl Dinner, and Janey tells the story of a little pig with a bad attitude! Thanks for sticking around for 100 episodes!

Janey’s Sources - The Pig Prince

“The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain” by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
Collection of "Hog Bridegrooms" stories, including "King Pig"
Giovanni Francesco Straparola wikipedia

Max's Sources - The Garabonciá

Tales of Superhuman Powers by Csenga Virag Zalka
Csenge Virag Zalka on Garabonciás

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12. (Sort of) Off Topic: Fleetwood Mac

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy Off-Topic Season! We are kicking off our 6-episode season with Janey's deep-dive into Fleetwood Mac.

Sources:

“Fleetwood Mac: Back on the Chain Gang” article by Rolling Stone
Christine McVie on why she and John McVie split up
A timeline of Fleetwood Mac’s relationship drama
Behind the Beef
An Interview with Jeremy Spencer
Why Bob Welch left Fleetwood Mac
Danny Kirwan on NPR

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99. Like Mother-in-Law, Like Daughter-in-Law (#TeamOgre)

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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CW for violence against animals in Max's tale.

It's 99 and we're feeling fine! Today Janey tells us about a colorful mother-in-law from HELL, and Max tell us the classic story of Puss in Boots!

Janey’s Sources - The Queen of Many Colors

“Tales of Superhuman Strength: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World” by Csenge Virág Zalka
Grateful Dead tale type wikipedia

Max’s Sources - Puss in Boots

“Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Other Classic Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault” by Angela Carter (with introduction by Jack Zipes)
Full free text of “The Master Cat; or, Puss in Boots” by Charles Perrault
“The Bloody Chamber” by Angela Carter (our current book club book!)

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98. So Many Mommy Monsters (I don’t love you anymore, Boat!)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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This week, Max is going to tell us a story of a She-Devil who lights a flame in our cold, cold hearts, and Janey is going to tell us a story about a 21-year-journey that is made possible because of a small yappy dog! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Griffin

“The Complete and Original Norwegian Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe”
Norwegian Folktales wikipedia

Max’s Sources - La Diablesse

"Caribbean Folk Tales: Stories from the Islands and the Windrush Generation" by Wendy Shearer
Wendy Shearer tells the story "In the Rainforest at Night" for the National Literacy Trust
Review of related folklore - "La Diablesse of Caribbean Folklore" by Hector Navarro
Full free text of Lafcadio Hearn's "Two Years in the French West Indies," chapter on La Guiablesse

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97. Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Goblin, Corpse, Troll (We Have to Kill This Fish Witch)

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! On today's episode, Janey is going to talk in detail about Scandinavian changeling lore, and Max is going to tell us a spooky Haitian story about why it's important to listen to your children! Have a great week, you ding-dang piles of S****! <3

Janey’s Sources - The Witch

Scandinavian Folk & Fairy Tales Edited by Claire Booss
University of Pittsburg collection of Scandinavian changeling lore: Elf Women Steal Human Children (Iceland), The Hulda-Folk in the Faroes (Faroe Islands), Two Changeling Tales (Denmark)

Max’s Sources - Tayzanne / Tezìn

"The Magic Orange Tree: And Other Haitian Folktales" collected by Diane Wolkstein https://bookshop.org/a/86350/9780805210774

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96. No Uggos Need Apply (at WifeMart)

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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TRIGGER WARNING: Violence and brief loss of limbs (they get them back because it's a fairytale, but it is still shocking to hear)

Hello! On today's episode, Max is going to tell us about a little cat who can do amazing tricks, like open doors, drive chariots, and (oh yeah) save princesses from giants! Janey is going to tell us an Egyptian tale about a man who was so susceptible to peer pressure, it got him thrown down a well! We hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - “It Serves Me Right!”

Folktales of Egypt, edited and translated by Hasan M. El-Shamy
Human Rights Watch article on LGBTQ+ issues in Egypt (TRIGGER WARNING, violence)
“Is Egypt LGBTQIA+ friendly?” from Intrepid Travel
“The Zar: Staging an Egyptian Exorcism”

Max's Sources- Kisa the Cat

"The Brown Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang
Full free text of "Kisa the Cat"

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95. Too Many Toenails! (The Patron Saint of La-Z Boys)

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to episode 95! On today's episode, Janey is going to make us fall madly in love with a sea god with a green mustache (who is not the main character in the story?!), and Max is going to prove, yet again, that it doesn't matter how dumb he is, white men fail up. Lightning McQueen!

Janey’s Sources - The King of Persia and the Princess of the Sea

Full Text on Project Gutenberg
Mermaid Tales from Around the World by Mary Pope Osborne

Max’s Sources - Jean of Bordeaux

"Folktales of France" edited by Geneviève Massignon, translated by Jacqueline Hyland

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94. Welcome to the Mouse House (ME GOLD!)

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! Welcome to our first episode of AUGUST. This week Max is going to tell us about a bear with some serious issues, and Janey is going to tell us about a terrible thief and a better liar. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Partnership of the Thief and the Liar

Andrew Lang’s “The Gray Fairy Book”
Free Text

Max’s Sources - The Bear in the Forest Hut

"Slavic Myths" edited by J. K. Jackson
Full free text of "The Bear in the Forest Hut"

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93. No Longer Sticky (Lick your Kicks at Route 66)

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the episode where Janey tells you the worst ending to a story EVER (and makes you simp hard for Charles Dickens), and Max tells us about a naughty little chicken who will haunt your dreams!

Janey’s Sources - The Magic Fishbone

Full story on Project Gutenberg
Charles Dickens wikipedia

Max’s Sources - Kuratko the Terrible

"The Shepherd's Nosegay: Stories from Finland and Czechoslovakia" by Parker Fillmore
Full free text of "Kuratko the Terrible"

BONUS: Giant chicken video (beware of nightmares)

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92. One Big Johnson (and how to know if you're a princess)

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! On today's episode, Max is going to tell us a spoooOOOoooky Japanese ghost story that'll make you remember to wear a life jacket, and Janey is going to tell us about 12 dancing serial killers-- I mean, princesses. RIP BTS.

Janey’s Sources - The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Andrew Lang’s, The Rainbow Fairy Book
Free text of the Brother’s Grimm version
“Nous n'irons plus au bois” French children’s song on Youtube
History of “Nous n'irons plus au bois”

Max’s Sources - How Tajima Shume was Tormented by a Devil of his Own Creation

Japanese Myths by J.K. Jackon
Flame Tree Publishing

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91. Don't Pick Me, B**** (dancing with the Wood Lady)

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the Meadow Episode, where Janey will tell us all about a flower that does NOT want you to pick it, and Max will give us the lesbian love story of our dreams! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Touch-Me-Not

“Dancing on Blades: Rare and Exquisite Folktales from the Carpathian Mountains” edited by Csenge Virág Zalka

Max’s Sources - The Wood-Lady

"Slavic Myths" edited by J. K. Jackson
Full free text of "The Wood-Lady"

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90. A Circle of Jerks (we love you, Boo Mama)

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to our 90th episode!!! Today Max is going to teach us that mother-in-law jokes work in every species, and Janey is going to make us cry our eyes out with a spooky mountain tale about moms! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Boo Mama

The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia M. McKissack

Max’s Sources - The Husband of the Rat's Daughter

Andrew Lang's "Brown Fairy Book"
"The Mouse who was to Marry the Sun" - fables of type ATU 2031C, analyzed by D.L. Ashliman

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89. Society is a Butterface (go do three crusades about it)

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to an extra-long episode! Today, Janey is going to tell us about a monster-f***ing love triangle that would make Stephanie Meyer blush, and Max is going to tell us about a veil-snatching villain who gets the girl!

Janey’s Sources - Sun Girl and Dragon Prince

“The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women” by Katrin Tchana (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman)
“The Golden Maid and Other Folk and Fairy Tales Told in Armenia” by Leon Seklemian
“Dragon-Child and Sun-Child” Full OG text

Max’s Sources - The Stolen Veil

Full free text (in German) of "The Stolen Veil"
"Swan Lake: The Origins of my Favorite Fairy Tale" from "Snow White Writes"

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88. Milkshake Ducking (and the dangers of pillow talk)

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Today Max is going to tell us about a magical white duck, and Janey is going to tell us about a pissed off brown bull. Some other colors might get thrown around here and there, possibly because Janey misses teaching children about art? Who knows? Slainte!

Janey’s Sources - The Brown Bull of Cooley

Full story
Ronnie Drew’s Irish Myths and Legends retelling of the Cattle Raid of Cooley
TEDed video of “Ireland’s Two Greatest Warriors”
Queen Maebh and the Brown Bull of Cooley
Donn Cuailnge wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The White Duck

Full free text of "The White Duck" by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Afanasyev

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87. Feminist Icon, Sir Gawain (You’re not afraid of the Hairy Things?)

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Good morrow! Today Janey is going to tell us the story of that time the cutest member of King Arthur's court got married to a hideous beast! And Max is going to drop a new cryptid that'll really make your head spin! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Marriage of Sir Gawain

The Virago Book of Witches, edited by Shahrukh Husain
The Marriage of Sir Gawain wikipedia
"Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain: Differing Views on Courtly Love" Owlcation Article

Max’s Sources - Rokuro-Kubi

"Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things" by Lafcadio Hearn
"The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore" by Michael Dylan Foster

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86. 1,000 Draculas Richer (at Outback Snake House)

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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G'day mates! Today Max is going to warn us all about the dangers of leaving our faces unattended after we die, and Janey is going to describe the perfect blended family dynamic. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The One-Handed Girl

The Lilac Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Full story on Youtube
Wikipedia entry

Max’s Sources - The Story of Thelyphron, the Student

"The World's Great Folktales: A Collection of 172 of the Best Stories from World Folklore," arranged and edited by James R. Foster
Originally from "The Metamorphoses of Apuleius," full free text here

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85. Adventures of Buffalo Bill (skeletons aren't scary)

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello friends! Our accidental theme today is "Native tales"! Sit back and relax while Janey tells us a Cheyenne tale of a little girl who wants brothers, and Max tells us the heartbreaking and uplifting Inuit story of a skeleton in love. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Sister and Her Seven Brothers

“The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales” retold by James and Joseph Bruchac
“Quillworker: A Cheyenne Legend” “written and adapted” by Terri Cohlene
“Quill-Work Girl and Her Seven Brothers” from firstpeople.us
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian youtube animation of “Quill-Work Girl and Her Seven Brothers”
“Tales of the Cheyenne” by Grace Jackson Penney

Max’s Sources - The Skeleton Woman

"Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.
Full free text of "The Skeleton Woman"
"From Darkness" 2002 Irish short animated film based on "The Skeleton Woman"

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84. P.P. the Pee Pee Peeker (The Bob White Tribute Show)

Thu, 25 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and Bob White to everyone! We hope you enjoy this episode where Max tells a first-draft version of "Ferris Beuller's Day Off," and Janey tells us the romantic origins of Sesame Street's favorite OCD vampire, The Count. Ping Pong Bye!

Janey’s Sources - How the Hermit Helped to Win the King’s Daughter

“The Pink Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang
Free Text
Full story on Youtube
Notes on Hermits in folklore

Max’s Sources - Petie Pete and Witch Bea-Witch

"Italian Folktales" retold and edited by Italo Calvino
Originally from "Tradizioni populari friulane," Luigi Gortani, 1893

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83. Do You Even Lift, Coachman? (I'm with The Calamity)

Thu, 18 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Today's episode has everything: pretty maids, little fellows, babies playing flutes in hurricanes, and more!

Janey’s Sources - Pretty Maid Ibronka

“The Second Virago Book of Fairy Tales” by Angela Carter
“No one got Angela Carter like Corinna Sargood” by Susanna Clapp for The Guardian
Corinna Sargood show at Black Swan Gallery
Selvedge piece on Corinna Sargood’s “Pictures and Dioramas” show in 2019

Max’s Sources - Li'l Fellow the Musician

"Creole Folktales" by Patrick Chamoiseau

Li'l Fellow's Song:

Péla man lou, Péla man li

Péla man li, Péla man lou

Corali belli, corali belli

Péli péla, péli péla

Plam!

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82. The Regular Devil (Did you fall out of the stupid sack?)

Thu, 11 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy May, everybody! Today Max is going to tell a Cuban tale about a strong man who fools the regular ol' devil, and Janey is going to explore some Jewish folktales about dummies who don't understand how the Sun works, and a little boy who can turn Sesame Street into a religious experience!

Max’s Sources - How El Bizzarón Fooled the Devil

“Favorite Folktales from Around the World,” edited by Jane Yolen - part of The Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folktale Library

Janey’s Sources - A Detour Through Helm

“The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales” by Peninnah Schram

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81. 10 Things I Hate About That Shrew (as De Boys like it)

Thu, 04 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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We're celebrating Janey's birthday with Shakespeare stories! Get ready to rage about "The Taming of the Shrew" and have your bisexuality activated with "As You Like It". We doth hope thee enjoys!

Janey’s Sources - Taming of the Shrew

"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew Full Play
No Fear Shakespeare Sparknotes translation
Extra History Youtube analysis
Overly Sarcastic Productions Youtube analysis
The Taming of the Shrew Movie (1967)

Max’s Sources - As You Like It

"As You Like It" by William Shakespeare
"As You Like It" Study Guide
Sparknotes: "As You Like It"
The Plot of "As You Like It" from the Royal Shakespeare Company
"As You Like It" Synopsis from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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80. The Bearbadook (we should stop and play Parcheesi)

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Today's episode is all about Bear Kings, prickly fairies, River Suckers, and strong female leads. Enjoy!

Max’s Sources - Fiery Eyes

“The Pomegranates: and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales” translated by Cristina Mazzoni, from the Oddly Modern Fairy Tales collection edited by Jack Zipes
Originally from "L'Ultima Fata" ("The Last Fairy"), a 1909 collection of literary fairy tales by "Cordelia" (Virginia Tedeschi Treves)

Janey’s Sources - The Master Maid

Full text of "The Master Maid"
Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World
The Master Maid wikipedia
Andrew Lang’s essay “The Far Travelled Tale” from Custom and Myth

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79. Back on our Blood Room BS (make Americans fear beautiful women again)

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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TW for brief descriptions of violence and sexual abuse

On today's episode, Janey is getting back to her Blood Room roots with the man, the myth, the legend: Bluebeard (guess why he's called that.) Max is going to tell us an innocent story of a perfectly normal relationship, don't worry about it. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Blue Beard

Andrew Lang’s “The Blue Fairy Book”
Jon Solo’s “The VERY messed up origins of Bluebeard” Youtube video
Gilles de Rais wikipedia
Conomor the Cursed
“Who Was the Real Bluebeard?”

Max’s Sources - A Girl in Green

Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies by Moss Roberts

BONUS

Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber”

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78. A Kiss on the Shoulder (and a thousand more husband-souls)

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's episode, Max is going to tell us the most unhinged dog story since Kujo, and Janey is going to cry about two crazy kids in love. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Savitri and Satyavan

PDF in Sanskrit and English
Wikipedia for “Savitri and Satyavan”
“Handbook of Hindu Mythology” by George M Williams book excerpt
“Savitri – The Golden Bridge, the Wonderful Fire” by Mangesh V. Nadkahmi book excerpt
Vana Parva wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The Tinderbox

“The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain” by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
Full free text of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Tinderbox"

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77. That's SO Raven (chicken nuggets for the poor)

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and happy April! Today Janey and Max are going to explain what last week's surprise episode was all about, answer some of your question about Keith, and also tell some trickster tales! Topical!

Janey’s Sources - Raven Stories

“American Indian Trickster Tales” Selected and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
Haida People
“The Raven in Haida Culture” article by Amy Lafleche
Son of a Trickster, book 1 in The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson

Max’s Sources - Crack and Crook

“Favorite Folktales from Around the World,” edited by Jane Yolen - part of The Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folktale Library
Full free text of "Crack and Crook"

And one final shoutout to our fake audio engineer Keith (aka Elijah Sloan). We're all going to take a million-year nap now!

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76. Corpse Eater (Beast your heart out)

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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WARNING: if you have never listened to an episode before, do NOT start with this one, please!

A man was shot in the heart. Nobody tried to save him and it doesn't kill him. What happened?

(Want the answer? He was already dead.)

Happy April Fools Day!

Sources:

Song Credit: "Emotional Mess" by Amy Lynn and the Honey Men (Youtube Video)
Story by: Anonymous (aka Elijah Sloan)

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75. Jezebel let the dogs out (Clog the Yard)

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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This episoDe brought to you by shredded cheddar poured straight from the bag, directly into your open mouth! And also, God! Today Janey will give us the rundown on one of the Old Testament's most powerful prophets, Elijah, and Max will tell us how much cheese is too much cheese. We hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Prophet Elijah

“Jezebel was a Killer and Prostitute, but she had her good side” by Michael Satchell for USNews.com
1 Kings 18:16-39 , 2 Kings 1: 1-18 , 2 Kings 2: 2-25
Ahab’s story on gotquestions.org)
Sacred Prostitution in Wikipedia
“Sacred Prostitution: An ancient tradition based on respect for the woman.”

Max’s Sources - The Boy Who Wanted More Cheese

“The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain” by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
Full free text of "The Boy Who Wanted More Cheese"

Thank you to Keith, who has made our year so amazing and terrifying that we're legitimately afraid of what will happen if you ever leave us. Maybe the world will end? Maybe we'll get split ends? Keith, we think you're a bioten out of ten, please don't leave us with dull, lifeless hair.

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74. Eye Eye Eye (Daddy Snati and Snati Lite)

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Are you one of those boring, disgusting people who hAve two eyes on your head? Do you read fairy tales and think "I wish there was more representation for Two Eyes like me." Does Max have the story for you! And afterwards, Janey is going to tell us a wild tale that goes fully off the rails at the very end, Oceans 11-style. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Prince Ring

The Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Free Text
Wikipedia on “Prince Ring”.
Wikipedia on Jon Arnason

Max’s Sources - One Eye, Two Eyes, Three Eyes

"One Hundred Favorite Folktales" chosen by Stith Thompson
Full free text of “One Eye, Two Eyes, and Three Eyes” collected by the Brothers Grimm

And thank you so much to Keith! Here are some fun facts about our wonderful audio engineer:
1) He has six fingers on his left hand.
2) If you spell his name backwards, you get "RUN".
3) He can't count past 325.

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73. It's Raining Men (Happy St. Pedant's Day)

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to a branD nEw episode! Today Janey will tell us a little story about how thunder became the world's worst husband, and Max will tell us an Irish story that'll make you feel guilty about stereotyping Leprechauns. Sláinte!

Janey’s Sources - The Rain Prince’s Bride

“Folktales of India” on Thriftbooks
“The Story of Thunder and Lightning” (A Nigerian Tale)

Max’s Sources - Master and Man

“Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales” illustrated by Kate Forrester
Free text of T. Crofton Croker’s “Master and Man”
Wikipedia article for “Clurichaun”
Article about the clurichaun from Ireland’s National Leprechaun Museum

BONUS:

"The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns" MOVIE starring Randy Quaid, Colm Meany, Whoopi M.F. Goldberg and a baby Kieran Culkin dear GOD go watch this movie.

And thank you to Keith, a man as lucky as a 17-leaf clover (but the leaves are made of arms, and the stem is a human torso, and the roots are planted so firmly into the ground that if you were to muster the strength to pull it up the Earth would bleed and crumble beneath your feet....) He's also a great audio engineer!

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72. Babayag-O-Rama (The Fright Night Motif)

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On this episoDe, Max invents a new motif to celebrate the terrifYing moment when someone invades your home and it's either you or them! Also there are stories about a baby-stealing witch in the woods and a Hairy Man who loves to smile. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Wiley, His Mama, and the Hairy Man

“The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales” told by Virginia Hamilton
Virginia Hamilton’s website
“Who Gave You the Right to Tell That Story? Ten authors on the most divisive question in fiction, and the times they wrote outside their own identities” by Lisa Shapiro for Vulture.
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (National Park Service site)

Max’s Sources - The Geese and Swans

“Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales” introduced and translated by Sibelan Forrester
Free text of some of Aleksandr Afanasyev’s collected “Russian Fairy Tales”
Free text of “The Magic Swan-Geese,” a different translation
Pictures of lacquered box art for "The Swans and Geese"

And a HUGE, monumental shoutout to our brilliant audio engineer, Keith, whom we rely on for everything! We don't know how to use computers, what a microphone is, or even how to read (let alone read ancient Sumerian texts! Wow, Keith, you really are a jack of all trades. By the way, what DO those texts say about the end of the world? We're all dying to know!)

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71. A Fetch Quest for Strong Boys (squat, wide guys)

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On todAy's episode, Janey will tell some Japanese stories of Kintaro the Golden Boy and his many strong-boy adventures, and Max will tell us a Korean story about a nice frog who may or may not have committed terrible crimes. Who are we to judge?!

Janey’s Sources - Kintaro the Golden Boy

“Japanese Folktales: Classic Stories from Japan’s Enchanted Past” by Yei Theodora Ozaki
Wikipedia on Kintaro

Max’s Sources - The Toad Bridegroom

“Favorite Folktales from Around the World,” edited by Jane Yolen - part of The Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folktale Library
Originally from “Folk Tales from Korea” by Zong In-Sob (or Jeong In-Seop, In-sŏb Zŏng, In-sŏb Chŏng)
Full text of "A Frog for a Husband"
Full text of "The Toad of Heaven"
Full text of "The Toad Bridegroom"

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70. America’s Problem (We Buy Used Hams)

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episodE, Janey is going to answer the age-old question "Why is the sea so salty?!" and Max is going to tell us a tale about a feminist candle icon and a terrible little bug with some pretty major body modifications. Enjoy!

Janey's Sources - Why the Sea is Salt

“Why the Sea is Salt” on Fairytalez.com
“The Blue Fairy Book” by Andrew Lang
Wiki link

Max’s Sources - The Mosquito

“Gypsy Folktales” by Diane Tong
“Why It’s Time to Stop Saying ‘Gypsy’” - article by The Mindful Mermaid travel blog
“The ‘G’ Word Isn’t for You: How ‘Gypsy’ Erases Romani Women” from the National Organization for Women

And thank you to Keith, the saltiest sound engineer we know! Ha ha! You'd think his whole body was made of salt, the way he absorbs moisture. Ha! And the crumbling! His skin basically flakes off! What a fun guy!

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69. Nice (Nice.)

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Welcome, fRiends, to the long awaited episode 69!! (Nice.) Today's episode is NOT FOR KIDS! How many times do we have to say that? It's not for kids! We're going to talk about butts and worse. Listeners beware: this one is sexy.

Janey’s Sources - Lysistrata

Free PDF, translated by Ian Johnston
“The Rise of Women in Ancient Greece” by Michael Scott for History Today.
Sex Strike: Why Ancient Greek Play Lysistrata Is Trending in the U.S. by Tasos Kokkinidis
Women in Greece wikipedia
Lysistrata Wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The Encantado

The Cryptid Keeper Podcast, "Episode 41: The Encantado" on Spotify
"The Encantado" on Cryptid Wiki, Mermaids Wiki, Bella Online
More story links: here, here, here, and here
Vogue gallery
"The at-risk Amazonian river dolphin" from WWF
"Why is the pink dolphin pink?"
Comic about the boto cor-de-rosa and its connection to colonialism and male violence, from Laura Athayde

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68. Stay Stupid, Pony Child (Honkitat for Horse-manity)

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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HelLo to everyone except Lizzo(?)! Today's episode is going to teach us all to be rude and hate ourselves! Max will tell us about a little man who craves violence, and Janey will show us that it's never too late to become like everyone else! Thanks, The French!

(Also jk jk Lizzo please come back.)

Max’s Sources - Mannikin Long Beard

"Wonder Tales from Baltic Wizards" by Frances Jenkins Olcott

Janey’s Sources - King Nosibus

French Folktales by Henri Pourrat

And thank you to Keith! A man who wears his heart on his sleeve, his liver on his collar, his kidneys in his pocket, and his teeth in your throat.

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67. A Court of Absent Fae-thers (sun's out, buns out!)

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Continuing her accidentAl series of "explaining the folkloric origins of A Court of Thorns and Roses," Janey is telling us the story of that mythical fae player, Tam Lin. Max is going to tell us about the time the Sun's milkshake brought all the boys to her yard, and why rattlesnakes are the chihuahua's of the snake world. Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Tam Lin

Wikipedia Entry for "Tam Lin"
“Tam Lin” by Pamela Dean
“This Halloween-set medieval Scottish ballad is incredibly pro-choice” by Constance Grady (Vox Article)
The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic (Home Page)
Folk Alley Sessions: Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer - "Tam Lin (Child 39)" (Youtube)

Max’s Sources - (Not Actually) "Orpheus"

"The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire and Entertain" by Professor William Gray with Joanna Gilar and Rose Williamson
Originally from "Tales of the North American Indians" by Stith Thompson
About "Little People of the Cherokee," from FirstPeople.us
About the Uktena in Cherokee stories

And thank you to Keith! KEITH! Who is one day going to "eat the moon", whatever that means! (:

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66. Dr. Boobs MD, DDS, WWE, RN (this one's for the beans)

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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CW: Mentions of suicide and racism

Today we anSwer the age-old question of "can a story be too silly?" (The answer is yes. It can and it has.) Max will tell us about a girl who didn't deserve a husband, and her sisters who love a broken glass discount. Janey will tell us about a stupid girl who can't stop bleeding (and discuss racism in folklore.) We swear, this one is a blast!

Max’s Sources - King Bean

"One Hundred Favorite Folktales" chosen by Stith Thompson
Originally from "Italian Popular Tales" by Thomas Frederick Crane

Janey’s Sources - The Girl Who Banished Seven Youths

Arab Folktales, translated by Inea Bushnaq
Udea and Her Seven Brothers wikipedia
Schmiesing, Ann. “Blackness in the Grimms’ Fairy Tales.”

And thank YOU, Keith, wherever you are. Are you in the wind? The trees? Just outside of our darkened windows, peering in with that wide, wide grin of yours? Are you in Key West? Who knows! Love ya, our guy!

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65. Dionysus the Inventor (Satan, get out of the bathtub)

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello and welcome to episode 65! TodAy Janey will tell us all about Dionysus, who truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Then, Max will retell an episode of Supernatural JUST KIDDING it's just a regular story about the devil! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Legends of Dionysus

“Ariadne” by Jennifer Saint
Semele (Dionysus’s mortal mother) Wikipedia
Info on Zagreus
More info on Zagreus from Theoi
Silenus, Dionysus’s drunk but lovable tutor
Ovid's "Metamorphoses"

Max’s Sources - Satan Takes a Wife

“Icelandic Folk Legends: Tales of Apparitions, Outlaws and Things Unseen” collected and translated by Alda Sigmundsdottir
Free text of "Satan Takes a Wife"
Recorded reading of "Satan Takes a Wife" and other Icelandic tales
"The Stupid Boy and the Devil" - a variant story, also from Iceland, in the canon of Sæmundur Fróði Sigfússon

And thank you to Keith, a man who never lost his baby teeth. He knows exactly where they are.

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64. Gobble Those Guts (is this some kind of Mario?)

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Hello all! On this episode Max is going to tell us a classic story about a witch, some guts, and some crustaceans (and she's finally going to ansWer the age-old question-- what's in a name?) And Janey is going to make us all fall in love with an evil enchanter. (Mark our words, you'll be smitten.)

Max’s Sources - The Name

“The Magic Orange Tree: And Other Haitian Folktales” collected by Diane Wolkstein
Google Books selection from "The Caribbean Story Finder" by Sharon Barcan Elswit, comparing different Caribbean versions of "The Name"
Malaika Ryan reads “Madam Crab Loses her Head,” a Trinidadian version of the tale

Janey’s Sources - Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla

Andrew Lang’s “The Green Fairy Book”
Free text
Illustration by Henry Justice Ford

BONUS: Here's a badass interview with romance novelist Nora Roberts

And thank you, Keith. Just.... thank you. Thank you for what you do, and, perhaps more importantly... thank you for what you do not do.

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63. Rudyard Kipling? Not cute. (The Mother Goat Episode)

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Happy 2023 everybody! On today's episode Max is going to tell us about a Fairy Princess wHo loves pot, and Janey is going re-tEll John Wick but instead of Keanu Reeves, it's a goat. Enjoy!

Max’s Sources - The Potted Princess

“Victorian Fairy Tales: The Revolt of the Fairies and Elves” by Jack Zipes
Free text of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Potted Princess” (with image of a grain pot)

Janey’s Sources - The Episode of the Mother Goat

“Folktales from Syria” collected by Samir Tahhan
Free PDF of “Folktales From Syria”
“Such deep roots you have: How Little Red Riding Hood's tale evolved” by Alan Boyle, Science Editor (2013)
The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats wikipedia
The Phylogeny of Little Red Riding Hood by Jamshid J. Tehrani

And a huge thank you to our sound engineer, Keith! Y'know the thing about Keith, he's got... lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'... until he bites ya. And those black eyes roll over white, and then... oh, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screamin', the ocean turns red, and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin', he comes in and he... rips you to pieces.

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62. Re-Elect King Dog (here's to you, MerBecca)

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Happy end of December, story babies! Today Janey is ending strong with a Maori folktale about a baddie with a penchant for dangerous men, and Max is going to tell us an epic story about a hot doctor and a mermaid!

We hope you enjoyed this year of podcasting as much as we have. We love and appreciate all of our listeners who have stuck with us as we try to figure out what we're doing and how we want to do it. You're the true MVPs, and we can't wait to see what 2023 has in store for all of us story-lovers!

Janey’s Sources - The Beautiful Bad Girl and The Shadow

Folktales of the Maori, by Alfred Grace (on Thriftbooks)
Alfred Grace wikipedia
New Zealand sovereignty info

Max’s Sources - The Princess of the Fomorii

“Celtic Myths and Legends” by Peter Berresford Ellis
Free text of "The Princess of Land-Under-Waves" from "Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend" by Donald Alexander Mackenzie
Scene from the movie "Leap Year" about Diarmuid and Gráinne

We wouldn't have breath in our lungs or ice in our veins if it weren't for our audio engineer, Keith. He keeps the darkness at our doorstep and hasn't invited it in (yet). He's also really good at Bridge.

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11. (Sort of) Off Topic: I Wanna Marry Harry

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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We were going to stop at 10, but since it's Christmas we thought we'd release an Off Topic episode from our drafts folder, all about the bizarre reality show "I Wanna Marry Harry." This was a horrific time for Max, but a wonderful (if sadistic) walk down memory lane for Janey. Merry Christmas, from Janey and Max!

Sources:

“I Wanna Marry Harry” on Amazon Prime
Jordan Theresa’s Youtube video “‘I Wanna Marry Harry’: A Masterclass in Gaslighting”
Refinery 29 article on “I Wanna Marry Harry: Oral History of Gaslighting Women”
“Revisiting the ill-fated reality show I Wanna Marry 'Harry'” Entertainment Weekly article
“Sex House”-- Fake reality show by The Onion on Youtube (Episode 1)
“My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance” wikipedia

And Merry Christmas to Keith, our brilliant audio engineer! Like Santa, he also sees you when you're sleeping, and knows when you're awake. He comes at night when the house is quiet and nibbles on all your snacks. He's bringing you a gift to go under your tree. Whatever you do, don't wake up before morning. It's not time yet. It's not time. If you do, he'll know.

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61. Dishrag Bikinis (what could be worse than the Boil Man?)

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode, Janey will finally tackle the winter epic that is "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" (and the girls will do their best to figure out why fairytale men who shed their animal skins get laid, while fairytale women who shed their skins get punished. SPOILER ALERT: the answer is misogyny.)

Max will tell us an Australian short horror story about a portrait that you don't want to hang on your walls. We hope you're having a safe and happy holiday/winter break!

Janey’s Sources - East of the Sun, West of the Moon

“East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, illustrated by Kay Nielson
East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Old Tales from the North), illustrated by Kay Nielson– Free on Project Gutenberg
“‘Thither you’ll come, late or never’, the Richness of East of the Sun, West of the Moon” by Sarah Schutte (A comparison between East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the story of Eros and Psyche.)

Max’s Sources - The Old Portrait

Free text of Hume Nisbet's "The Old Portrait"
Giovanni Battista Moroni's "Portrait of a Lady" painting

And as always, this podcast wouldn't be possible without Keith. He is the Wifi in our home, the electricity running down our spines and through our microphones. He is the cold winter air in our lungs and the cracking of the branches outside of our windows. He is the winter personified, and we love him deeply. Keith.

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60. Supernatural Itch Cream (DNA test the Sun)

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Happy 60th episode! Today Max is going to tell us why you shouldn't use ointment that wasn't prescribed to you, and Janey is going to tell us a Navajo tale about monster hunting (and paternity testing.) Thanks to everyone whose journeyed with us this far!

Max’s Sources - The Magic Ointment

“Faeries, Elves, and Goblins: The Old Stories” by Rosalind Kerven
Free text of a Welsh variation on "The Magic Ointment"

Janey’s Sources - The Hero Twins

“The Girl Who Helped Thunder and other Native American Folktales”, retorld by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, Ph.D. (and illustrated by Stefano Vitale)
Navajo creation story
James Bruchac website
Joseph Bruchac wikipedia
Stefano Vitale website and bio

And a HUGE thank you to Keith. We hope you never stop leaving dead birds outside of our window (though we could do without the bloody handprints on the sills.)

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59. A Tiny Butler (to Hammer and Hold)

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's episode Janey will dive into the bizarre and wonderful world of modern Egyptian folklore with a tale of a tiny butler who helps a rich kid neg a princess. Max will tell us a “weird and boring and realistic story” about a hot, hot horse who commits fratricide for too much milk, and the unnamed boy who is along for the ride. We hope you enjoy it!

Janey’s Sources - The Royal Candlestick

“Folktales of Egypt” edited and translated by Hasan M. El-Shamy on Bookshop.org
“Folktales of Egypt” edited and translated by Hasan M. El-Shamy CHEAPER on Thriftbooks
Hasan M. El-Shamy wikipedia

Max’s Sources - Dapplegrim

Free text of Andrew Lang's translation of "Dapplegrim"
Trailer for Dimension 20's new horror fairytale season, "Neverafter"
Brennan Lee Mulligan, GM for "Neverafter," talking about the story of "Dapplegrim"

Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith. Keith.

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58. Mighty Morfa Power-Ranger (and the Front Butts)

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's VERY sleep-deprived episode, Max will tell us a Russian tale about a man and boy who body swap (???) and Janey's going to tell us about an 8th century motorcycle! Enjoy the ride, you squishy d*cks!

Max’s Sources - The Tsarévich and the Dyád'ka

“Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments,” illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Free text of “The Tsarévich and the Dyád'ka”
"What Was John Wick Reading at The New York Public Library?" by Rhonda Evans for the New York Public Library
Wiki article for the Leshy (redirected from reference "wood-sprite" in article on Vladimir Nabokov's short story "The Wood Sprite")
"The Wild Man as Helper," D. L. Ashliman's collection of ATU type 502 stories

Janey’s Sources - The Ebony Horse

Free text “The Ebony Horse”
“Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World” by Dr. Csenge Virág Zalka
One Thousand and One Nights Wikipedia

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith, who went missing days ago but still haunts our dreams!

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10. (Sort of) Off Topic: Bridget Cleary, the Fairy Wife

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Trigger Warnings for murder and domestic violence.

In 1895, Bridget Cleary was a happily married, fashionably dressed, well-respected woman in rural Ireland. She made extra money for her family by working as a seamstress and delivering eggs, and she loved fairy stories. And then one day, Bridget found herself living in one of those stories. But unlike a fairytale, in real life the stakes are much, much more dire.

Today, Janey is going to tell Max (and Alex!) the harrowing tale of the real-life murder of Bridget Cleary, whose husband became convinced she as a changeling.

Source:

The Bizarre Death of Bridget Cleary, the Irish “Fairy Wife”, by Maria J. Pérez Cuervo (for Mental Floss)

Thank you so much to our sound engineer Keith! When your voice dips 20 Hz below the normal hearing range for humans, the rumbling in our bones temporarily makes us one with nature, and we like. Oh yes, we do. We like that.

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57. Don't be an idiot (and welcome to the SNACKS)

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Buckle in as Janey tells us a Chinese tale that makes humans think "maybe we're the drama," and Max tells us all about a brother and sister who should definitely spend more time apart...

Janey’s Sources - The Ungrateful Wolf by Ma Chung-hsi

“A Chinese Anthology” edited by Raymond Van Over
Raymond Van Over bio
Wikipedia entry on The Red Scare

Max’s Sources - The Sister of Montefiore

“Beautiful Angiola: The Great Treasury of Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales” Collected by Laura Gonzenbach, translated/annotated/arranged by Jack Zipes
German language free text of "The Sister of Muntifiuri"
ATU type 403A - similar tales

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith. We haven't seen him in a while, but we hear him scuffling around in the walls every once in a while, and that lets us know that he isn't ready to come out and feed (yet).

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9. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Battle of Blair Mountain

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Union breaking, machine gun massacres, courthouse dramas and intense military standoffs rock a tiny West Virginian town in the 1920s. If you're ready to scream and shout for workers rights, this episode is for you!

Sources:

Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC)
“What Made the Battle of Blair Mountain the Largest Labor Uprising in American History” by Abby Lee Hood, 2021, for Smithsonian Magazine
“The Battle of Blair Mountain” by Evan Andrews for History.com
Library of Congress chronicle of the Battle of Blair Mountain
“The Battle of Blair Mountain” on Wikipedia

References:

“Thunder in the Mountains: The West Virginia Mine War, 1920-21” by Lon Savage
“What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia,” by Elizabeth Catte

And thank you to Keith! Your eyes are as bright as your teeth are sharp.

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56. Rude Old Raisin (you know how to whistle, don't you?)

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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A bayou beauty with a death wish and a game of "Light as a Feather" that goes terribly wrong-- what more could you want?!

Janey’s Sources - King Peacock

"Cajun Folktales" by JJ Reneaux
“Remembering my friend and storyteller, JJ Reneaux” by Mama of Letters
JJ Reneaux biography from August House
Lève Tes Fenêtres Haut (Raise Your Window High) – JJ Reneaux music on Youtube

Max’s Sources - Golden Feather

"The Pomegranates: And Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales" edited, translated, and introduced by Cristina Mazzoni (from the "Oddly Modern Fairy Tales" collection edited by Jack Zipes)
Original Italian text by Luigi Capuana from "The Tale Teller" ("Il Raccontafiabe"), 1894
"Golden Feather" (orig. "золотое пёрышко"), 1960 animated Soviet short film based on story

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith. Sing us that song again, the one that shakes the walls and rattles our bones. The one that beckons the darkness and also hits that note that makes everyone sh*t their pants. (It's "Cotton-eyed Joe".)

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8. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Georgia Guidestones

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Mysterious visitors, conspiracy theories, and one woman taking on the entire Global Luciferian Regime-- all this and more on today's episode of (Sort of) Off Topic!

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55. Geothermal Currency (don't Björk your shorts)

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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On today's very French episode Max is going to tell us all about a man caught between two witches, and Janey is going to tell us the horrifying tale of what happens when you don't tell your cousin about the pair of red eyes you saw under her bed.

Max’s Sources - “The Witch of Lok Island”

“Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales” illustrated by Kate Forrester
Full free text of “The Witch of Lok Island”

Janey’s Sources - “Red Eyes”

"French Folktales" collection by Henri Pourrat
Henri Pourrat Wikipedia

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith. Did a cold wind just pass through the hallway, or are you breathing nearby, you silly little so and so?

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7. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Immortal Count of St. Germain

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Happy November, you little blood suckers! On this Off Topic episode, Max is going to tell Janey and Alex (What?!) the probably true story of the mysterious Count of St. Germain. Note how careful we were to not accidentally invite him into our home? We hope he and David Blaine got the message!

Sources:

“Saint-Germain: The Immortal Count” article by Stephen Wagner
Free text of “The Comte de St. Germain: The Secret of Kings” by Isabel Cooper-Oakley (alternate link: https://www.sacred-texts.com/sro/csg/index.htm)
“Count of Saint Germain” from New World Encyclopedia, a spiritual-religious organization
“Count of St. Germain: The Man That Never Dies” by Dean Traylor
Episode of Leonard Nimoy’s “In Search Of…” about Saint Germain
Quotes by and about St. Germain from WikiQuote
The Casket Girls/Saint Germain link in New Orleans

Big ups to our sound engineer Keith! We're sorry about that thing and we appreciate you being so cool about it!

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54. Haunted Tea Parties (Let's get freaky!)

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello! Welcome to yet ANOTHER episode where we sort of tell you stories! Today Janey is going to tell us about a house on a hill that is filled with ghosts and stuff, and Max is going to tell us about brothers that need therapy (and the queen that has to deal with them.) Let's get freaky!

Janey’s Sources - The House That Was Filled With Ghosts

“The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers: And Other Gruesome Tales” by Jen Campbell

Max's Sources- The Two Brothers

White as Milk, Red as Blood: The Forgotten Fairy Tales of Franz Xaver Von Schönwerth

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith. Was that you whispering down the hall, or did we just leave a window open?

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6. (Sort of) Off Topic: The War on Cats

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Have you ever wondered how cats became such an unlucky symbol in the West? Well, wonder no more! On this episode, Janey is going to tell us all about how cat's went from being worshipped in Egypt to being number 1 on Pope Gregory IX's Holy Sh*t List. Happy Halloween!

Sources:

When Pope Gregory IX Declared War on Cats
Vox in Rama Wikipedia
Cat-Burning Wikipedia
The Bizarre Life of Cats in Shakespeare
The Battle of Pelusium
Tudor Cats
The Black Death — National Geographic article
Vox in Rama on Quora

Big thanks to our sound engineer Keith! Your beauty is only surpassed by the amount of marbles you can hold in your mouth at one time.

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53. Remembering things is hard (especially for a vampire witch skeleton ghost)

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Today, Janey is going to introduce us all to the other gender with the tale of Prince Lindworm! and Max is going to terrify us yet again with a story about an innocent hermit's hut in the middle of a snowy forest... Happy Halloween, you Skadegamutces!

Janey’s Sources - Prince Lindworm

Free “Prince Lindworm” PDF from Project Gutenburg
“King Lindworm” Wikipedia

Max’s Sources - The Hermit’s Hut (The Vampire Witch Skeleton Ghost)

“Ghost Stories Deck: 50 Spine-Tingling Tales to Tell After Dark” by S.E. Schlosser
"The Vampire Hermit," free text of S. E. Schlosser's story
“The Vampire Skeleton: A Scary Seneca Iroquois Story” by Edward V. Curtin
"Native American Vampires of Myth and Legend" - a review of vampire-adjacent stories in Native American folklore
"Skadegamutc" creature overview in Wabanaki stories
“When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror” by Joseph Bruchas and James Bruchas, illustrated by William Sauts Bock

And thank you to our sound engineer, Keith. Your bones barely make a sound when you run on all fours, and that's what we appreciate about you.

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5. (Sort of) Off Topic: Who Put Bella In the Wych Elm?

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Max tells us the true crime story of a mysterious skeleton found hidden in a tree (and the haunting graffiti that begs the question: Who put Bella in the wych-elm?)

Sources:

Book, “Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? Volume 1” by Alex Merrill
Book, “Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? Volume 2” by Alex Merrill
Book, “Bella in The Wych Elm” by Andrew Sparke
Article: ““Who Put Bella Down the Wych Elm?” – An Unsolved Murder Mystery Seventy-Seven Years On” by Rose Staveley-Wadham
Article: “Bella in the Wych Elm: A Midlands Murder Mystery” by Brian Haughton
Article: “Who Put Bella In the Witch Elm?” by Meg Van Huygen
Article: “Is this the Bella in the wych elm? Unravelling the mystery of the skull found in a tree trunk” by Allison Vale (spoilers: it’s not)
Article: “Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?” by Amber Hunt and Emily G. Thompson
Article: “Mystery. Murder. And half a century of suspense” by Richard Askwith (from 1999)
Article: “Who put Bella in the wych elm?” by David Phelps
Article: “‘Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?’: Espionage, Witchcraft, and other Theories” from Curious Archive

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52. A Wit Game is Afoot! (Melk or Be Melked)

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's episode, Max is going to tell us the most entertaining story ever about a fussy little goblin who can't seem to catch a break! And Janey is going to tell us a Swahili story about a woman verbally gut punching three men over some milk and meat. Enjoy!

Max’s Sources - The Bogie and the Farmer

“Faeries, Elves & Goblins: The Old Stories” by Rosalind Kerven
“ATU 1030: Crop Division between Man and Ogre” selected and edited by D.L. Ashliman
“The Dialect and Folk-Lore of Northamptonshire” by Thomas Sternberg
“Outwitting the Bogie” by Thomas Sternberg

Janey’s Sources - A Woman for a Hundred Cattle

“Fearless Girls, Wise Women and Beloved Sisters” by Kathleen Ragan
“The more than beautiful woman - African folktales of female agency and emancipation” by Ayub Sheik (if you want to pay money to download what looks to be a really interesting research paper on how folklore influences social change.)

And thank YOU, Keith! How do you do that trick where you hold your own beating heart in your hand? That's so weird and cool. We're so happy we invited you to this party, everyone is really impressed.

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4. (Sort of) Off Topic: Operation Mongoose

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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The Bay of Pigs, the Vietnam War, the US plans to rapture Cuba-- all this and more on today's (Sort of) Off Topic episode!

Sources:

“Operation Mongoose: The Story of America’s Efforts to Overthrow Castro, and how they helped seal America’s fate in Vietnam” by Max Boot
This Day in History: April 17, 1961. “The Bay of Pigs Begins” History.com
“Fidel Castro” on History.com

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51. Happy birthday to me, the Devil (Terrytop, Terrytop, Terrytop)

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello, you little minx! This week we're celebrating Max's birthday with an unplanned Devil episode! Max will tell us why it's not a good idea to drink and race horses, and Janey will tell us a story that ends with a naked man in the woods. Enjoy!

Alternate episode title: The Great Awankening

Janey’s Sources - Duffy and the Devil

“The Maid of the North: Feminist Folktale from Around the World” by Ethel Johnston Phelps https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/497567
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duffy_and_the_Devil

Max’s Sources - Troubles in Bath Town

“North Carolina Legends” by Richard Walser https://bookshop.org/books/north-carolina-legends/9780865263031
“The Bath Hoofprints” https://northcarolinaghosts.com/coast/bath-hoofprints/
“The Legend Of Mysterious Devil’s Horse’s Hoof Prints” https://anomalien.com/the-legend-of-mysterious-devils-horses-hoof-prints/
Instagram @kwtallant

Lots of love to our sound engineer Keith! A man so physically hot the Sun fell in love with him and now won't stop sending him embarrassing Snaps.

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3. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Great Molasses Flood

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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What was Max thinking about this week? Molasses! Listen and rage with us about capitalism (and maybe use the link below to get the recipe for Max's amazing molasses cookies!)

Sources:

“Why the Great Molasses Flood was So Deadly” by Emily Sohn for the History Channel
“‘There was no escape from the wave’: These are the 21 victims of the Great Boston Molasses Flood” by Dialynn Dwyer
“Surreal Photos From The Deadly Boston Molasses Flood Of 1919” by John Koroski
“The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 was Boston’s strangest disaster” by Mark Shanahan for Boston Globe Magazine
"How Boston’s Molasses Flood of 1919 Reformed Big Business in America" by Philip S. Naudas for History of Yesterday
“That Time the Tzar’s Wine Ran Through the Streets” by Rose Heichelbech
For more info: Stephen Puleo’s book “Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919”
And at the WILDLY great risk of being insensitive, my favorite recipe for molasses cookies

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50. Arthurian Legends (Keep it in your britches!)

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Greetings, weary travelers! This week we are celebrating our 50 episode milestone by retelling Arthurian Legends! Huzzah! Sit back as Janey regales us with tales of incest and murder (sheesh with the old timey incest, we GET IT), and Max amazes us all with the VERY steamy story of the "The Green Knight." Excelsior!

Janey’s Sources - Morgause

Morgause in Legend of King Arthur
British Legends: "The Lust of Uther Pendragon…”
“Morgause” by the Camelot Project
“Mordred” real-world background and info, by the Gargoyles Wiki
“Why Arthur Commits Incest…” on Medium

Max’s Sources - The Green Knight

Prose version of the poem known as “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” translated and presented by Jessie Weston
Original text of poem known as “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” in Middle English
“The magic, sex, and violence of the 14th-century poem behind The Green Knight,” by Constance Grady for Vox

Big thanks to our sound engineer Keith! You're so special to us it physically hurts our little hearts.

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2. (Sort of) Off Topic: Women in Ancient Greece

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Why are the Greek goddesses written so vastly different from the gods? What's up with Hera, the goddess of marriage, being in such a toxic relationship from which she can't escape? How did mythology spring up from Ancient Greek women's real lived experiences?

This week, Janey's going Off Topic to detail what it was like to be an Athenian woman in Ancient Greece. She's also going to highlight some well-known Greek goddesses, and how their stories mirrored those of Greek women back in the day.

All this and much much more! Get ready to either be fascinated or super bummed out!

Sources:

The Life of Athenian Women in Ancient Greece: A Comprehensive List by Anisia Iacob (for The Collector)
The Tragedy of Greek Goddesses: Feminism in Ancient Greece by Bethany Williams (for The Collector)
Women in Classical Greece by Colette Hemingway (for The Met Museum)

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49. Kiss My English Rose (Just like the pandas do!)

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's episode, Max will tell us a horrifying Irish tale that tries to answer the question "Where do missing children go?" And Janey will haunt us with a ghost story about phantom lovers (using her absolute best old white British man accent.) Is it spooky season already?!

Max's Sources - The Giant's Stairs

"Fairy Tales of Ireland" by W. B. Yeats, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
Free text of "The Giant's Stairs," version by William Crofton Croker

Janey's Sources - Samlesbury Hall

"Phantom Lovers" by Vida Derry, from 50 Great Ghost Stories: Unearthly and eerie tales from beyond the grave, edited by John Canning
The tale of the ghost said to reside in the ancient Samlesbury Hall : Lancs.live
Samlesbury Hall ghosts
Samlesbury Hall witches
Witch Janey?!

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48. Hot and Prosperous (Have you seen my beautiful berries?)

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello, sluts! Welcome to yet another week where Max scares the ever living sh*t out of us! On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us a Japanese tale "The Story of the Man Who Did Not Wish to Die," and Max is going to tell us all about the Russian figure, Father Frost.

Alternate episode title: Frost Side Story.

Janey's Sources - The Story of the Man who Did Not Wish to Die

“Japanese Folktales: Classic Stories from Japan’s Enchanted Past” Complied by Yei Theodora Ozaki
National Geographic article about Qin Shi Huangdi
“Is ‘Spanish Fly’ really an aphrodisiac?”
"The First Emperor of China who Died During His Quest Pursuing Immortality" article from Interesting Engineering.
Qin Shihuang by Asiaculturaltravel.co.uk

Max's Sources - Frost

"Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments," illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Free text of "Frost" from "Russian Fairy Tales" by William Ralston Shedden-Ralston
A clip from Mystery Science Theater 3000's spoof of the film "Morozko"

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47. Wolves with Friends (Mommy Needy Drinky)

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Ah yes, another totally normal episode where Janey and Max wow you with how totally normal they are as human beings. Welcome! On this episode Janey is going to tell you part of an Icelandic saga about a f***ed up family, and Max is going to explain to us why dogs and cats will never get along.

"Mommy needy drinky." -- Max Higgins, 2022.

Janey's Sources - Sigmund and Sinfjötli

"Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World" by Dr. Csenga Virag Zalka
Summary of the Volsung Saga by D.L. Ashliman

Max's Sources - The Enchanted Wine-Jug

Free text of "Korean Tales" by Horace Newton Allen, including story "The Enchanted Wine Jug"
"Korean Tales: A Collection of Classic Korean Folktales" from the Sophene Collection

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46. Got Paranormal Body Issues? (Peon the Brothers Grimm!)

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Episode 46, the one with all the piss jokes. If you make it through this, urine real trouble! (good god how did we end up here?)

Anyway! Max tells a Japanese ghost story about paranormal body dysmorphia, and Janey pisses everyone off with the tale of poor old Pee Wit. Enjoy!

Max's Sources - Jikininki

Free text of "Jikininki"
"Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things" by Lafcadio Hearn

Janey’s Sources - Pee Wit

“Pee Wit” by the Brothers Grimm

Unrelated Shout Outs:

Affinity Floral Arts Instagram for beautiful handmade jewelry and mythology
Let’s never go back to dinosaur island by Tom Cardy

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45. (C)Ovid's Metamorphoses (tales of the A-Team)

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the very special episode where Janey has Covid! Today we're being cute by telling our favorite myths from Ovid's Metamorphoses! Janey will tell us about Arachne's badass Tell-All Tapestry, and Max will pump us all up with the bad*** adventures of Atalanta! Stay safe and wear a mask (with a filter!)

Janey’s Sources - Arachne

“Ovid’s Metamorphosis” by Ovid and Charles Martin
“Ovid’s Fascinating Portrayals of Greek Mythology” via The Collector
Quora question: Why is Ovid’s Account of Greek Mythology Considered to be canon when he was a Roman poet? (read Saul Agar Ward’s answer)
Quora Question: How did the Greek and Roman gods become so interchangeable? (read Dr. George Sarant’s answer)
"Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!" podcast by Liv Albert

Max's Sources - Atalanta and the Calydonian Boar

"Atalanta and Meleager" and "Diana's Hunt" by Peter Paul Rubens

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44. Hands on your sack (but don't touch the snake)

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome back to another episode of Janey and Max barely holding it together! Today Max will tell us a Haitian story called "Bouki Dances the Kokioko" that will make you want to get up and move. Janey will make us all feel old and achy with her retelling of "Li Chi Slays the Serpent". Keep your hands on your sack, and remember that the Constitution is made of paper (but bayonets are made of steel.)

Max's Sources - Bouki Dances the Kokioko

"The Magic Orange Tree: And Other Haitian Folktales," collected by Diane Wolkstein
"Haitian Folktales and Proverbs" by Bob Corbett
"Haitian Folktales," a primer from "Teaching for Change"
"Uncle Bouki and Ti Malice," an "Ay-Yai" variation written by Nicholas Beatty and read by Pam Atherton
"Bouki Dances the Kokioko," read aloud by Caribbean storyteller Tuup

Janey’s Sources - Li Chi Slays the Serpent

“Li Chi Slays the Serpent” from Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Susan Guevara.
“Li Chi Slays the Serpent” by Kan Pal, from Once Told: An Anthology of World Folklore edited by Brandy L. Ross. (PDF)

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43. Feed the Wolves (and don't mess with the Frog Lord)

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Janey will tell us the tale of child serial murderer-in-training, Molly Whuppie! And Max will take us through a rags to riches to rags to Bluegrass career with "Of Nettles and Roses: A Yiddish Cinderella."

Janey's Sources - Molly Whuppie

“Molly Whuppie” (From Folk & Fairy Tales, edited by Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek. 4th Edition.
“Twice Yet, carle, I’ll come to Spain!” The Song of Roland summary from Study.com

Max's Sources - Of Nettles and Roses

"Of Nettles and Roses: A Yiddish Cinderella," full text with analysis by Rachel Hope Crossman
"Yiddish Folktales," edited by Beatrice Silverman Weinreich, translated by Leonard Wolf

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42. The Devil Went Down to Thailand (Bela Lugosi's Glorious Adventure)

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the wholesome episode! Today Max is going to retell the Thai tale, "Drinking with Yommaban, the King of the Dead," and Janey is going to tell us all about "Bella's Glorious Adventure." Pack a picnic and snuggle up with a warm blanket, this episode is going to be cozy as hell!

Max's Sources - Drinking with Yommaban, the King of the Dead

"Thai Tales: Folktales of Thailand" by Supaporn Vathanaprida, edited by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Boonsong Rohitasuke

Janey’s Sources - Bella’s Glorious Adventure

"An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales," illustrated by John Bauer

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41. Rapunzel, Rapunzel (why can't you be more like Parsley, your Italian twin?)

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Once upon a time, a teenage shut-in ran away from home with the worst prince in the kingdom, and learned the crown's policy on "take backs" (or something like that.) Max sort of tells the story of Rapunzel! Enjoy!

Max's Sources - Rapunzel

"The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (All-New Third Edition)" translated by Jack Zipes
Free text of "Rapunzel" by the Brothers Grimm

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40. Sleeping Beauty (what the Shrek happened?)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome to yet another fairy tale that would not have happened had men in power communicated better with their friends and family! Today Janey is going to tell us Charles Perrault's version of "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," a beautiful tale that doesn't involve a prince kissing an unconscious woman! Hurrah!

Janey's Sources - Sleeping Beauty

"Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" by Charles Perrault
"Sleeping Beauty" on Wikipedia

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39. Grandmother Dump Truck (take the heart and run)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello, all you beautiful idiots (and the rest of you, too!) This week Max will spin us a tale of an incompetent lady who stumbles into a good situation, and Janey will tell us a story where FINALLY the other woman wins (?)

Check out Brenna West's beautiful artwork on Instagram @velvet_ghost

Max's Sources - The Clumsy Beauty and her Aunts

"Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales" illustrated by Kate Forrester
Full free text of "The Lazy Beauty and her Aunts" by Patrick Kennedy from "Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry" by W.B. Yeats

Janey’s Sources - The Wife Who Stole a Heart

“Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World” by Kathleen Ragan

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38. The Stupidest Hemsworth (and Princess Bog Beast)

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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On this week's episode, Janey goes fishing for the stupidest story she can find (and boy does she catch a big one!) and Max gives us a heartwarming tale that just might fix all of the world's problems? Only one way to find out, and that's by listening! Hope you enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - The Story of the Youth who Went Forth to Learn what Fear Was

Free text of “The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was” by the Brothers Grimm

Max's Sources - Nya-nya Bulembu, the Moss-Green Princess

"Fairy Tales from South Africa," by Mrs. E. J. Bourhill and Mrs. J. B. Drake, 1906 - available for free online
"Monstrous Tales: Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from Around the World," illustrated by Sija Hong

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37. No cost for the poor (take a chunce on me)

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy Thursday, kiddos! On today's episode Max is going to teach us the proper etiquette for encountering giants in the forest, and Janey is going to give us another impossible riddle? What is up with these kings?!

Max's Sources - The Three Giants and the Three Hunters

"White as Milk, Red as Blood: The Forgotten Fairy Tales of Franz Xaver von Schönwerth," illustrated by Willow Dawson, translated by Shelley Tanaka, with a forward by Phillip Pullman
"Five hundred new fairytales discovered in Germany," article by Victoria Sussens-Messerer for The Guardian

Janey’s Sources - The Peasant’s Clever Daughter

"Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World" by Suzanne I. Barchers

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36. Don't get married (just take off your frog skin!)

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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On this episode, Janey is taking us to Finland to aggressively make fun of men who think they're entitled to wife-servants, and Max is going to ask us to "take off our heteronormative frog skins and dance to a lesbian/gay spirit." Hope you brought your dancing shoes!

Janey’s Sources - The Maid of the North

“The Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World” by Ethel Johnston Phelps

Max's Sources - The Frog's Skin

"The Frog Princess," Georgian tale by Marjory Wardrop, from "Georgian Folk Tales," free text available
"The Frog Princess," Russian tale, free text available
Obituary for Harry Hay, official founder of the Radical Faerie movement
"Radical Faeries Have Been Pushing Queer Boundaries for More Than 40 Years," article by Matt Baume for Hornet
Twitter thread that inspired this story choice

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1. (Sort of) Off Topic: The History of Abortion in America

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0400

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Hello friends! As you probably know, on June 24, 2022 the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, stripping millions of Americans of their access to life-saving medical care, and their rights to privacy. One of the reasons the Supreme Court felt empowered to do this was because "abortion is never mentioned in the Constitution." And that begs the question: why? Why wasn't abortion seen as an issue worthy of mentioning in 1776?

On this special, off-topic episode, Janey is going to break down how people in the late 1700s/early 1800s felt about at-home abortions (and we're going to rant a bit too.) We hope you listen, do your own further research, and feel a little less alone as we go deeper into the darkest timeline together.

We love you, and we're so sorry to everyone whose lives the United States is endangering now and in the near future.

Helpful links:

Research Sources:

"The Complex Early History of Abortion in the United States" by Erin Blakemore for National Geographic.
"A Manual of Midwifery" (1841) by Dr. Michael Ryan
"Why not? A book for every woman" by Horatio R. Storer (1866)

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35. World's Densest Baby (the adventures of Katherine Fried Crackernuts)

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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On today's episode Max is going to tell us about a samurai with a heart of gold (and biceps of steel) with "The Story of Umetsu Chubei", and Janey is going to take us on a journey to the fairy hill and back again with "Katherine Crackernuts."

NOTE: At the end of this episode, we discuss the trope "Women in Refrigerators" and Janey incorrectly says the O.G. woman stuffed into a fridge was Marvel's Big Bertha. In fact, it is the Green Lantern's girlfriend Alexandra DeWitt. You can find more about the trope here.

Max's Sources - The Story of Umétsu Chūbei

"Japanese Tales of Lafcadio Hearn" edited and introduced by Andrei Codrescu, foreword by Jack Zipes

Janey’s Sources - Katherine Crackernuts

"Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales" chosen and edited by Gordon Jarvie
"The Lukewarm Appeal of the 'Women In Refrigerators' Trope" by Larissa Irankunda for The Mary Sue

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34. Boar Meets World (My Life as a Teenaged Casket Girl)

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Oh hello! On this episode Janey is going to talk about a French mystery and how Saturdays are for the girls, and Max is going to empower us all with the story of how the Pelican Girls pulled a full Lysistrata (and why you shouldn't mess with the Casket Girls.)

Janey’s Sources - Melusine

"Mermaid Tales from Around the World" by Mary Pope Osborne
Melusine info

Max's Sources - The Casket Girls

"The Casket Girls," Ghost City Tours
"The Casket Girls and Vampires of New Orleans," Randi Samuelson-Brown for Folklore Thursday
"The mysterious 'casket girls' of New Orleans," Mary Hallberg
"18th Century Mail Order Brides or Vampire Smugglers: The Story of the Casket Girls" by Melissa Bastek
"My Granny was a Vampire-Smuggling Casket Girl: a (possibly) true story" by Michael DeMocker
"Casquette girl" on Wikipedia

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33. Redhead the Whale (the 'Neck Stump' episode)

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Ahoy there, Story Babies! If you're not a child or a cop, please enjoy this episode about Redhead the Whale, Iceland's cautionary tale on respecting the Huldufólk. Once you've been thoroughly warned, sail around the world as just a head like El Salvador's tale of "The Wife Who Could Remove Her Head." It's en episode jam-packed with magical ladies!

Max's Sources - The Man-Whale

"The Man-Whale" by Jón Arnason
"Monstrous Tales: Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from Around the World," illustrated by Sija Hong
Einar Ólafur Sveinsson,"The Folk-Stories of Iceland" p. 179

Janey’s Sources - The Wife Who Could Remove Her Head

The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers and Other Gruesome Tales by Jen Campbell (Illustrated by Adam de Souza)
Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by John Bierhorst
History of The Pipils

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32. Defund the Palace Guard (you can't haggle with dogs)

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Happy June! This week Janey is going to tell the horrifying tale of Central American cryptid La Siguanaba, and Max is going to tell a Romani story about a stupid boy who somehow stumbles into success. Typical!

Janey’s Sources - La Siguanaba

C. Adan Cabrera’s story of “La Siguana”
La Siguanaba from USC.edu
Espooky Tales (podcast about latinX folklore and horror)
A Little Bit Human’ article about La Siguanaba
La Siguanaba mythology (Blog post)
El Cipitio Legend
Salvadoran folklore (Blog post)

Max's Sources - Dilo

"Rromane Paramicha: A Collection of Romani Folktales" by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić, illustrated by Doros Greven, translated by Ronald Lee
RomArchive bio for Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić

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31. Hot as Hell (women be inventing science fiction)

Thu, 26 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to the podcast! On this week's episode Max is going to tell a truly delightful Yiddish folk tale of a merchant's son who can't catch a break, and Janey is going to creep us out with Rosemary Timperley's story of a woman who is suspicious of all red heads. Want to know why all eagles go to hell? We're gonna tell you! Enjoy!

Janey’s Sources - Harry

“Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories” by Roald Dahl
“Roald Dahl Was a WW II Spy and Fighter Pilot Before Becoming a Beloved Children's Book Author” by Sara Kettler
Roald Dahl biography
“Rosemary Timperley” by “Spooky Isles”
“Rosemary Timperley” on Wikipedia

Max's Sources - The Merchant’s Son and the Demons

"Yiddish Folktales" edited by Beatrice Silverman Weinreich, translated by Leonard Wolf
"The Infernal Dictionary: Devils, Gods, and Spirits of the Dictionnaire Infernal" by Collin de Plancy, illustrated by Louis Le Breton, edited by Diablito Ordo Al Ghoul (also available as a free PDF!)

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30. Haunted Dolls and Spooky Witches (The Franklin Taylor Fan Club)

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Holy Live Show, Batman! On this week's episode, Janey and Max tell scary stories LIVE on Tiktok, and answer some of your questions at the end. Janey will scare us with the Key West story of Robert the Doll, and Max will tell a story of a witch (with a twist!)

You can now follow us on Goodreads to see what books we cite!

Janey’s Sources - Robert the Doll

Atlas Obscura article about "Robert the Doll"
Ghosts and Gravestones on "Robert the Doll"

Max's Sources - Bloody Mary

"Ghost Stories Deck: 50 Spine-Tingling Tales to Tell After Dark" by S.E. Schlosser, with illustrations by Paul Hoffman

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29. M'Titsman (Make. Birds. Immortal.)

Thu, 12 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hello and welcome to this episode, featuring stories that Max might describe as a "single massive Yike!" This week, Max will tell you all about "The Bloody Ricotta" and finally explain why so many people were obsessed with being milk-white and blood red. Janey will tell us the CERTAINLY not-depressing story of "The Happy Prince," and then we'll wrap it up with some thoughts on why these authors were hellbent on making us all sad. YIKE!

Janey’s Sources - The Happy Prince

“Folk and Fairy Tales - Fifth Edition” edited by Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek
Free text of “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde

Max’s Sources - The Song of the Bloodied Ricotta

“The Pomegranates: and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales” translated by Cristina Mazzoni, from the Oddly Modern Fairy Tales collection edited by Jack Zipes
"Red as Blood, White as Snow, Black as Crow: Chromatic Symbolism of Womanhood in Fairy Tales" by Francisco Vas da Silva

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28. Dirty Clothes (how to show your rooster you care)

Thu, 05 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Greetings, all! This week Janey is going to fill out your bingo cards with some stories of the Little People, those magical wee folk who have the power to make or break you! Max will give us all the creeps with her ghost story, "The Seven Bones."

Janey’s Sources - Native American Stories of the Little People

Max’s Sources - The Seven Bones

"The Telltale Lilac Bush (and other West Virginia ghost tales)" by Ruth Ann Musick

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27. The Psychotic Cricket Man (and Hey There, Delilah, What's It Like In Jawbone Heights)

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Max tells the story of Im, the Hunter, the Korean general who learned master swordsmanship from an insanely powerful - and powerfully insane - mountain man; as well as the minor inconveniences that come with being a sentient skull. Janey talks about Samson and Delilah; the world's worst riddle; and the forgotten skill of donkey dentistry.

Max’s Sources - Im, the Hunter

"Korean Tales: A Collection of Classic Korean Folk Tales" by Horace Newton Allen
Originally sourced from "Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies" by Im Bang and Yi Ryuk.

Janey’s Sources - Samson and Delilah

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26. A Very Grimm Space Jam (where witches be witchin')

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Welcome in, beautiful babies! Today Janey's dipping back into the f***ed up world of the Brother's Grimm with "The Juniper Tree". In case you needed a reason not to commit child murder... here it is? (Also go to therapy.) Max is going to delight us with a story about witches, and we're all going to get a history lesson about Scotland's 200-year-long witch hunt! Hurrah!

Janey’s Sources - The Juniper Tree

Free text of “The Juniper Tree” by the Brothers Grimm
“The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales: Expanded Edition” by Maria Tatar

Max’s Sources - The Witch of Fife

“Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales” illustrated by Kate Forrester
Free text of “The Witch of Fife” edition by Elizabeth Grierson
Historical review article “The Witches of Fife”
“The Witches of Fife: Witch-Hunting in a Scottish Shire, 1560-1710” by Stuart MacDonald

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25. A Cereal Mascot Tale (and the ONLY TIME Greek gods were helpful)

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Max tells the story of the Fig and Raisin Fool, a cereal mascot with nothing to lose and a baby who is also a detective to gain. Janey tells the beautiful story of Iphis and Ianthe, one of the only trans* love stories in Greek mythology.

Janey’s Sources - Iphis and Ianthe

“Metamorphoses: A New Translation” by Ovid, translated by Charles Martin

Max’s Sources - The Fig-and-Raisin Fool

“Catarina the Wise: and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales” by Guiseppe Pitrè, edited by Jack Zipes

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24. Queen Bean Face (the dragon maybe explodes?)

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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In this episode, Janey will simp over Dr. Csenge Zalka's incredible folklorism in her retelling of "The Maiden with the Red-Gold Hair", and Max will blow our minds with the tale of 15-year-old badass/dragon slayer, St. Margaret of Antioch.

Janey’s Sources - The Maiden with the Red-Gold Hair

"Dancing on Blades: Rare and Exquisite Folktales from the Carpathian Mountains" by Dr. Csenge Virág Zalka

Max’s Sources - Saint Margaret of Antioch, the Virgin

“St. Margaret of Antioch” from Catholic Online, the real website of Catholicism
“Dragon Slayers: Saint Margaret of Antioch”
“Why does St. Margaret always appear with a dragon?”
Selection of “The Golden Legend” about Margaret

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23. Dating a Dexter (and never trust boys who have families)

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Max tells the story of a normal girl who falls in love with a murder addict and learns some important lessons about agricultural responsibility. Janey talks about bumbling, baby-eating, BMX, and bands of boys in jorts (the four B's). Happy April 1st!

Sources:
Max: "At the End of the Day," book by S. Moyer
Janey: "Start of the Month," book by Stephen Merit

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22. Ancient Irish Power Couples (we dream of Wine Toad)

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Today Max will tell us the Irish story of The Dagda's magic harp, and Janey will explain to French folklorists why it's not funny to hit your wife! #UnconfessedAndUnblessed

Janey’s Sources - The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs

Free text of “The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs” by the Brothers Grimm
“French Folktales” by Henri Pourrat, from the Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore Library

Max’s Sources - The Harp of the Dagda

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21. Sweaty Butts in a Meat Forest (A Heist Gone Wrong)

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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Hold on to your butts, friends, today's episode is a wild ride! Strap in as Janey terrifies us all with the "perfect elixir of scary stories", and Max makes us all fall deeply in love with Diane Wolkstein and the art of the heist.

Janey’s Sources - Tamamo-no-Mae and the Sessho-seki Stone

“Japan’s ‘killing stone’ splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs” article by Betsy Reed via The Guardian

Max’s Sources - The Master Thief

"The Magic Orange Tree: And Other Haitian Folktales" collected by Diane Wolkstein

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20. Loki, the Original Horse Girl (and Saint Godzilla of Vengeance)

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

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The long-promised Mythology Episode! Max talks Ragnarok, the struggles of freelancers, and Loki's "horse girl" era; Janey tells the story of Saint Olga of Kyiv, who, faced with the decision to "get mad or get even," chooses both - and adds in "get canonized." (Also featuring the extensive lore of Osmosis Jones.)

More information about donation efforts in Ukraine, via Vox

Charities to help Ukraine:

Janey’s Sources - Saint Olga of Kyiv

The story of Saint Olga, via The Conversation
The story of Saint Olga, via Everything Everywhere Podcast

Max’s Sources - Loki and Sleipnir

“Myths of the Norsemen” by Hélène Adeline Guerber
Jackson Crawford, Ph.D., a Norse mythology expert and linguist, discusses depictions of Thor in "God of War: Ragnarok" on YouTube

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19. The Fast and the Fairyest (this episode (allegedly) directed by Justin Lin)

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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"We like the podcast, but where are all the explosions?!" -- you guys, probably.

You asked, we delivered. This episode will leave you wondering "why were there so many explosions?!"

....There are explosions in this episode. Sources below. BYE.

Janey’s Sources - The Road to Heaven

"African Myths and Tales: Epic Tales" with forward by Kwadwo Osei-Nyame Jr.

Max’s Sources - The Fairy’s Theft

Free text of “The Fairy’s Theft” by Theodore K. Gianakoulis and Georgia H. MacPherson
“Fairy Tales of Modern Greece” by Theodore K. Gianakoulis and Georgia H. MacPherson

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18. WTF Andrew Lang (we stan a disobedient daughter)

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Hey there kids, welcome to the episode where Max and Janey rage about the stories they chose to tell! This episode does have a content warning, as Janey will discuss child marriages at the very end.

Janey’s Sources - The Disobedient Girl Who Married a Skull

"African Myths and Tales: Epic Tales" with forward by Kwadwo Osei-Nyame Jr.
“Child Marriage in West and Central Africa: At a Glance“ from UNICEF
“Nigeria: Child Marriage Violates Girls’ Rights” from Human Rights Watch
“Female chief in Malawi breaks up 850 child marriages and sends girls back to school,” article about Chief Theresa Kachindamoto by Boaz Abel
“Malawi’s fearsome chief, terminator of child marriages” from Aljazeera
"Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Max’s Sources - The Nettle Spinner

Free text of “The Nettle Spinner” by Andrew Lang, from “The Red Fairy Book”

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17. How to Economy (and look good in tiny golden shoes while you do it!)

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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This week Janey will take us all back to our childhoods with the tale of Rumplestiltskin (and remind us that we all had weirdly messed up childhoods...) while Max tells us the story of a terrible little beetle who may or may not learn a lesson at the end! This episode is better than a wet ditch, we guarantee it! ***

Janey’s Sources - Rumplestiltskin

Free text of “Rumplestiltskin” by the Brothers Grimm

Max’s Sources - The Beetle

Free text of “The Beetle” by Hans Christian Andersen

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16. An American Taily Po (and other stories from the Liar's Bench)

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Howdy Pardners! On this episode of (Sort of) The Story Max will give you your next scary story for the big 5th grade sleepover and Janey will FINALLY open the discussion everyone has been begging for: Why and when should you circumcise your horse? Howdy pardners!

Janey’s Sources - Bow-Legged Bill

“A Treasury of American Folklore: Stories, Ballads, and Traditions of the People” by B. A. Botkin
Wikipedia article for “Bowleg Bill”

Max’s Sources - Tailypo

“Tailypo” retelling by Michael Kellermeyer
“The Tailypo: A Ghost Story,” illustrated children’s book by Paul and Joanna Galdone
“The Big Toe” from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

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15. Silly Rowdy Boys (and why all birds go to jail)

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Behold! This is another episode of (Sort of) The Story! This week Janey will tell the almost TOO silly story of "János and Rózsa", and Max will explain why the "Bird of Sorrow" deserves to go to prison for his silly little crimes against humanity.

Janey’s Sources - János and Rózsa

“Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World” by Dr. Csenge Virág Zalka
“J is for János and Rózsa” blog post by Dr. Csenge Virág Zalka

Max’s Sources - The Bird of Sorrow

"Monstrous Tales: Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from Around the World," illustrated by Sija Hong
Free text of “The Bird of Sorrow” by Dr. Ignácz Kúnos

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14. Lesbian Cat Paradise (and where did Princess Cottongrass go?)

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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This week Max is going to terrify us with Japanese cat demons, and Janey's going to openly weep over Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass. (Damn you, Helge!)

Janey’s Sources - Leap the Elk and Princess Cottongrass

“An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales” illustrated by John Bauer
Free text of a retold “Leap the Elk and Princess Cottongrass” by Helge Kjellin, retold by Michelle Tocher

Max’s Sources - “The Cat Monster Mansion,” “The Dancing Cat,” and “The Cat’s Return of a Favor”

“Strange Tales from Japan: 99 Chilling Stories of Yokai, Ghosts, Demons and the Supernatural” collected and retold by Keisuke Nishimoto, translated by William Scott Wilson

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13. Ol' Candle Hands (and why you should be nice to dragonflies)

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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This week Janey is going to tell us the story of The Daughter of the Sun and why we shouldn't play with fire, and Max is going to wow us with the Mayan mythology of Ix Chel, goddess of the moon.

Janey’s Sources - The Daughter of the Sun

“Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World” by Csenga Virag Zalka

Max’s Sources - Ix Chel

“Who Was the Mayan Goddess Ixchel?”
“Ixchel Mayan Goddess”
“A Legend of One Goddess”
“Ix Chel” from Gods and Goddesses
“IxChel and the Dragonflies” from Tres Cuentos Literary Podcast
“The Moon in the Well: Wisdom Tales to Transform Your Life, Family, and Community” by Erica Helen Meade
“The Mayan Pantheon: The Many Gods of the Maya” by Joshua J. Mark for World History Encyclopedia

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12. Hot Raven Husbands (and how squatter's rights can save your marriage)

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Welcome to episode 12, where Max tells us a Russian tale about a man who never stops crying, and Janey tells us a Filipino love story that is mostly her trying to pronounce names! For more information visit our Instagram @sortofthestory !

Janey’s Sources - Aponibolinayen and the Sun

“Philippine Folk Tales” by Mable Cook Cole
Free text of “Aponibolinayen and the Sun” by Mabel Cook Cole

Max’s Sources - Maria Morevna

“Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales” by Sibelan Forrester, foreword by Jack Zipes
Free text of “Maria Morevna”

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11. Cinderella (and the bird she exploited to get to the top)

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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Today Janey is going to tell us the harrowing story of Cinderella, a girl who wanted so badly to escape her terrible family that she harassed an innocent family of wish-granting birds until she became princess. We're also going to talk too much about Gail Carson Levine and how much we love her. Get pumped!

Janey’s Sources - Cinderella

Free text of “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm

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10. The Little Mermaid (and why you must be 18+ to talk to sea witches)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

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In this two-part series, Max and Janey are telling famous fairy tales you've probably heard but have never looked into the f-ed up origins. Today Max is telling us the very gory tale of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" (and yes, the content warning is real!) Happy 2022!

Max’s Sources - The Little Mermaid

Free text of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”

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9. My Dark Hedgehog Academia (it's okay if you want to fight the man in the moon)

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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Incels, Bagpipes, and Bird lies-- oh my! In this episode Janey will tell her most chilling and problematic story yet, and Max will drop a new cryptid for you to fall into deep, irrevocable love with. Happy New Year, everybody!

Janey’s Sources - Hans My Hedgehog

Free text of “Hans-My-Hedgehog” by the Brothers Grimm

Max’s Sources - Daniel O’Rourke

"Fairy Tales of Ireland" by W. B. Yeats, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
Free text of “Daniel O’Rourke” by T. Crofton Croker

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8. Share Your Noodles (and don't trust tomatoes!)

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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In this episode of (Sort of) The Story, Max is going to tell us all about why you should always share your noods (and why cheating is only okay if you're really likable). Janey is going to take us on a journey that will make you say "This is the second #TeamTroll story she's told on here, does she have an agenda?" (Yes!) Safe and happy holidays!

Janey’s Sources - The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte

“An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales” illustrated by John Bauer

Max’s Sources - The Three Precious Packets

“Chinese Myths” edited by Jake Jackson
Free text of “The Three Precious Packets” by Cyril Birch

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7. #TeamTroll (and the buff lesbian kingdom of our dreams)

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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You're in for a treat with this episode! Sit back and relax as Janey tells us a story about changelings that causes her to cry for the first time on this podcast, and Max tells an Indian tale that makes us all wonder "would the world be better if everyone was a super strong lesbian and all the husbands were eaten by ghouls?" Listen and decide for yourself! (But yes.)

Max’s Sources - The Princess and the Ghouls

“Monstrous Tales: Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from Around the World” illustrated by Sija Hong
Free text of “The Princess and the Ogres” by Rev. Charles Swynnerton

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6. Butt Kissers Anonymous (and tales of the O.G. spider-man)

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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Good news! We're back and we're giddier than ever! This week Max tells the truly hilarious tale of two serial killers falling in love, and Janey dives right into several Sioux stories of Iktomi, the smart ass spider-man.

Max’s Sources - The Pot of Basil

“Catarina the Wise: and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales” by Guiseppe Pitrè, edited by Jack Zipes

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5. We Discovered the Grimm Brothers (and other lies to impress your turtle wife)

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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Holy theme song, Batman! We finally caved and learned how to choose audio loops on Garageband, proving that the adage about old dogs is definitively untrue! On this week's episode, Janey will teach you how to steal from snakes and raise the dead, and Max will swim you down to the castle in the sea and bring you safely(?) back to shore.

Janey’s Sources- The Three Snake Leaves

Free text of “The Three Snake Leaves” by the Brothers Grimm

Max’s Sources - The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lord

“Japanese Fairy Tales” by Yei Theodora Ozaki
Full free text of “The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lord” from SurLaLune Fairytales

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4. Apple Cider Weather (and the last blood room of the season)

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

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Hold on to your butts, kids! Today Max is going to lull you into a false sense of security with "The Apple Tree Man" and why landlords should probably be nicer to their tenants, and Janey's coming in strong with murder, mayhem, and cannibal clowns for every occasion!

Janey’s Sources - The Sweetheart in the Wood

“The Sweetheart in the Wood” by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

Max’s Sources - The Apple-Tree Man

“Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland” by Lisa Schneidau

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3. Justice for Raw Head (and why you shouldn't trust sticky birds)

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500

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If you're not a child, this podcast is for you! In this episode of (Sort of) the Story, Janey drops several c-bombs and tells us all about "The Fitcher's Bird", while Max horrifies us with the story of "Raw Head and Bloody Bones." Are you still on the fence about poaching? You won't be after this episode!

Janey’s Sources - The Fitcher’s Bird

Free text of “The Fitcher’s Bird” by the Brothers Grimm

Max’s Sources - Raw Head and Bloody Bones

“Raw Head and Bloody Bones” by S.E. Schlosser
“Raw Head, Bloody Bones: African-American Tales of the Supernatural” by Mary E. Lyons

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2. Phantasmal Time Travelers (and other eligible bachelors)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500

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NOTE: The audio in our first couple episode is ROUGH. We get better, we promise.

Cool your nethers, everybody! And welcome to episode 2 of (Sort of) the Story, the one where Max introduces the world to the next Hollywood blockbuster "Black Flash", and Janey tells everyone the story of how Jack got his lantern. Spooky Halloween, everybody!

Janey’s Sources - Stingy Jack (The Jack-o’-Lantern)

“Story Story Podcast”
“The Messed Up Origins™ of Jack-o'-Lanterns” by Jon Solo on YouTube

Max’s Sources - “The Horrible Harlequins” and “When the Devil Came to Provincetown”

“Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors” by Joseph A. Citro

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1. Bloody Oatmeal (and other things snakes won't eat)

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500

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NOTE: The audio in our first couple episode is ROUGH. We get better, we promise.

Welcome to our very shaky first episode! Today Janey's going to tell us all about The Blackthorn Walking Stick and why men ain’t sh*t, and Max is going to tell us a story starring 1,000 snakes. Happy listening!

Janey’s Sources - The Blackthorn Walking Stick

"The Blackthorn Walking Stick" from Dennis Gessing on “Story Story Podcast”

Max’s Sources - The Snake Prince

“The World Treasury of Fairy Tales & Folklore: A Family Heirloom of Stories to Inspire & Entertain” by Rose Williamson, Joanna Gilar, and William Gray
“The Snake Prince,” free text from Andrew Lang’s “The Olive Fairy Book”

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