Culture

Fate & Fabled

Join Dr. Moiya McTier & Emily Zarka and dig into the stories and characters of ancient mythologies to explore why such tales were crafted, and investigate mythology’s influence on humanity.

Paradise on Earth: We Built Our Very Own Utopia

16m 48s

Utopias are the everything bagel seasoning of myth devices because they are born out of something everyone everywhere can relate to: the desire for a better existence, even one currently out of our mortal reach.

Episodes

  • Paradise on Earth: We Built Our Very Own Utopia: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Paradise on Earth: We Built Our Very Own Utopia

    S3 E9 - 16m 48s

    Utopias are the everything bagel seasoning of myth devices because they are born out of something everyone everywhere can relate to: the desire for a better existence, even one currently out of our mortal reach.

  • It’s Never Turtles All the Way Down: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    It’s Never Turtles All the Way Down

    S3 E8 - 8m 38s

    Several mythologies from around the world imagined that the world sits on the back of a turtle. Centuries later, we end up with the whimsically iconic phrase “it's turtles all the way down.” Let's explore the origins of the phrase, some of these turtle mythologies . . . and talk about my new tattoo!

  • The War in Heaven: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The War in Heaven

    S3 E7 - 8m 23s

    What happens when angels and demons battle in heaven? Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all have a story of cosmic conflict—some depict all-out war, while others are more courtroom drama. Their differences give us insight on each faith's beliefs about the afterlife, good and evil, and humans' moral responsibilities. But their similarities point to an ancient ancestor all three religions share.

  • The Book of the Dead May Not Be What You Think It Is: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Book of the Dead May Not Be What You Think It Is

    S3 E6 - 10m 50s

    We reveal the true purpose of the ancient text, discover more about the ancient Egyptian people and their relationship with death and the afterlife and dispel misconceptions about the use of this piece of ancient history. Join us as we explore the journey into the afterlife, trusty handbook by our side.

  • Hawaii's Fiery Lovers to Enemies Myth: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Hawaii's Fiery Lovers to Enemies Myth

    S3 E5 - 10m 47s

    Not all marriages are love stories, and some of them are meant to end. The Hawai’ian volcano goddess Pele was briefly and disdainfully married to the half-pig demigod Kamapua’a before their ugly breakup. This story will allow us to comment on rising divorce rates from a modern feminist angle that sees the advantages of more women having the freedom to leave bad marriages.

  • Were These Mythical Warriors Real?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Were These Mythical Warriors Real?

    S3 E4 - 11m 10s

    Ancient tales of this tribe of warrior women who fought epic battles and established great cities continue to inspire storytellers in modern times. The legend challenges traditional gender roles and inspires narratives of female empowerment.

  • The 2 Sides of Gawain: Hero vs. Antihero: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The 2 Sides of Gawain: Hero vs. Antihero

    S3 E3 - 10m 31s

    This episode explores the legend of Gawain, a noble knight of King Arthur's Round Table who embarks on a perilous quest where he must confront his fears, uphold his knightly virtues, and face the Green Knight, exploring themes of environmentalism, natural preservation, and mortality relevant to modern audiences.

  • How Every Heroic Story Is Really Just Gilgamesh: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Every Heroic Story Is Really Just Gilgamesh

    S3 E2 - 8m 29s

    We delve into the epic tale of Gilgamesh, the legendary Mesopotamian king. From his incredible strength and bravery to his quest for immortality, the episode explores the timeless themes of friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning.

  • The EPIC Aesir vs. Vanir War: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The EPIC Aesir vs. Vanir War

    S3 E1 - 10m 49s

    This epic Norse mythology featurs two different groups of deities who initially battled but ultimately joined forces into a unified Pantheon. An unheardof phenomenon in the worlds of adversarial deities.

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