The Midnight Myth Podcast (Derek Jones and Laurel Hostak)

Love is a many splendored thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love! Come with us to the Underworld of turn-of-the-century Paris—a nightclub, a dancehall and a bordello… the Moulin Rouge. Revisiting the 2001 modern classic by Baz Luhrmann, we’ll explore the tenets of Aristotelian tragedy, the Greek myth of Orpheus & Eurydice, and the historical period known as La Belle Epoque. The tragic love story of Christian & Satine, soundtracked with contemporary popular music, speaks to a universal catharsis and stands as one of the most dazzling cinematic experiences of the early 21st century. Won’t you join us in the Moulin Rouge tonight?

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Steve and Derek talk Stephen King’s Misery and how it relates to the Dark Tower

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The Wheel of Ka returns with its final discussion on Stephen King’s the Dark Tower Book V: Wolves of the Calla. Your reliable hosts again discuss all the themes of this epic book from the lens of what the Dark Tower means and how this installment fits into the broader series. The second half of Book V sees the Ka-Tet working with the good folken to prepare Calla Bryn Sturgis for battle with the the deadly Wolves. From the Dogan, to trips to NYC to save the Rose, a mysterious plant deeply linked to the survival of the Tower, to learning that Walter, Flagg and Martin are all the same mysterious magical nemesis of Roland, Derek and Steve deliver the next stop on the quest, say thank ya, big-big.

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Who will campaign door to door for America? Why, the Star-Spangled Man with a plan. Our Captain America character study is here, the second in a new series of character-based podcasts from the MCU. Hot on the heels of Avengers: Endgame, Derek and Laurel analyze the long, emotional arc of a 90-year old superhero. We track his character evolution from scrappy young man to propaganda symbol to fugitive to savior in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Through comparisons to the Greek hero Perseus and the folk motif of the ‘man out of time’ as in Rip Van Winkle and the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima Taro, we get at the heart of his emotional conflict, and explore his relationship to American history and international politics. We’re with you till the end of the line.

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28 days. 6 hours. 42 minutes. 12 seconds. That is when the world will end… according to Frank, the giant bunny rabbit. Closing out a run of spooky Halloween-themed episodes is the 2001 indie classic Donnie Darko. Is this film a muddled mess or an of-the-moment masterpiece? What can we make of the three seemingly conflicting threads that run through the movie—the science fiction, the vaguely religious, and the meditation on upper middle class suburban alienation? Do these thematic strings clash horribly, or are they inextricably intertwined? How do we make sense of an increasingly mad world through the eyes of Donnie? We meditate on the film’s carefully selected symbols and philosophical underpinnings to answer these questions and more.

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Black Lives Matter. Click here to support protestors via the Philly Bail Fund, or here to directly support the family of Walter Wallace Jr.

Hey US listeners—VOTE! Go to iwillvote.com to make your voting plan in this critical election.

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Death is only the beginning…

Dear listeners, we have a treat for you today! An epic centuries in the making - we’re thrilled to join forces once again with an adventurer, scholar, podcaster extraordinaire: Em from Verbal Diorama! Even better, we’re teaming up to cover the 1999 action adventure blockbuster The Mummy. One part ancient love story, one part classic monster flick, one part Indiana Jones-style adventure, The Mummy walks genre lines with elegance and humor to create one-of-a-kind cinematic experience. We’ll dive into the history and legacy of the film with Em (wait till you hear who was supposed to direct this one!), learn about the Imperial ironies that dictate historical study of Ancient Egypt with Derek, and explore surprising literary connections to another classic monster with Laurel.

You can check out more of the history and legacy of movies you know (and movies you don’t!) at Verbal Diorama, available wherever you get your podcasts!

Apple

Spotify

And catch up with Em on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me! Join us upon the high seas this week as we discuss perhaps the best film adaptation of a theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Why do pirates hold such a sway over our romantic imagination? Is the image of pirates we think of in any way close to the historical reality? We’ll discuss the relatively short period of time known as the “Golden Age of Piracy” and how handful of sources have created an indelible archetype. But this isn’t just a pirate story—it’s also a ghost story. Why do those two different types of narratives live side-by-side so easily? What stories or superstition and the supernatural were shared among old mariners? We’ll look to legendary ghost ships—most notably the Flying Dutchman—to trace the connections between pirates and ghosts.

Further reading:

The Pirate World by Angus Konstam

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Black Lives Matter. Consider supporting protestors in Louisville via the Louisville Community Bail Fund.

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, some wars were fought, a Jedi rose, and grand destinies were revealed. But what was happening just outside of that orbit? How did the many races and species of the galaxy fare when all was said and done? Disney Plus’s new Star Wars show The Mandalorian asks these questions, and gives us a few answers. We follow a lone bounty hunter from an ancient culture through worlds familiar and new on his unexpected quest. In this episode of the Midnight Myth, we explore the influence of the Western film genre—in particular the Spaghetti Western—on The Mandalorian, and discuss the similarities and differences of the mysterious Mandalorian culture to that of Ancient Sparta. This is the way.

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It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! We’re publishing our back catalog week by week, and this is Episode 3: Detected. It originally aired in February of 2017 and explored our fascination with detective stories. With a special emphasis on the best-loved detective in fiction—Sherlock Holmes—we’ll interpret the clues and uncover the truth about why detective stories continue to be told. Join the investigation by hopping in the time machine with us.

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And now for a movie that’s as coarse, rough, and irritating as sand! Still, in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, we find meaningful parallels to military history across the world (the US, Ancient Rome, and Enlightenment France, for example). Plus, why the Jedi should adopt a practice of courtly love.

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Drawers! Floors! Doors! Let’s go!

Come with us to Casa Madrigal, the magical casita that sits in the heart of a wondrous Colombian community. After spending weeks with “Surface Pressure” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” buzzing in our heads, we’re discussing Disney’s 2021 animated smash Encanto, and the myriad ways it evolves the studio’s offerings. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful landscape, culture, and music of Colombia, the literary magic of Marquez, and the tragic history of the country, Encanto weaves a vision that’s truly moving. We discuss how the Madrigal family suffers from intergenerational trauma, and the intense work they must undertake to heal their collective wounds. We also dive into the history of Colombia to try and place Encanto in time, giving the story additional emotional context. Lastly, we acknowledge some of the many mythological parallels in the story. The stars don’t shine, they burn.

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It’s astounding. Time is fleeting. MADNESS takes its toll… But listen closely to this week’s podcast—a bonkers analysis of the Queen of Midnight Movies, the ultimate cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show! We discuss the legacy of both the stage production and cinematic adaptation, how it spawned a true cult of devoted followers and a universal tradition of audience participation—going back through theatre history to understand why Rocky Horror provokes such an audience response. Plus, we’ll explore what it means to give yourself over to absolute pleasure, discussing the philosophy of Hedonism and the psychology of pleasure-seeking. Come with us to a different planet, and we’ll do the Time Warp again!

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Hey US listeners—VOTE! Go to iwillvote.com to make your voting plan in this critical election.

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Game of Thrones Season 8 spoilers, y’all. Here with our quick take on Episode 5: The Bells, we’re interested in the historical context of the BIG THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK—both in our literal history and the history of Westeros. We’ll investigate conquerors like Julius Caesar and A Song of Ice & Fire characters like Jon Connington. Plus our standout scenes, MVPs, and light predictions for the finale. Ring the bells.

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It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! This episode originally aired in 2017.

Ya know, there are rules to this. All of this. You can’t just go around doing what you want, saying what you want, podcasting what you want. Rules. Well, listen as Derek and Laurel debate the battle tactics of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Then, a discussion of how magical systems in storytelling relate to the world of American politics.

Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and stay tuned for details on our upcoming Star Wars giveaway collaboration!

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Do not try to bend the spoon…first realize the truth…there is no spoon…then you will see it is not the spoon that bends, but merely yourself.

Derek and Laurel are back discussing the 1999 Sci-fi masterpiece smash hit, The Matrix. How does the movie hold up and what new themes can be learned as we dissect Neo tumbling down the rabbit hole and landing in the desert of the real? If it's the question that drives us, what questions should we be asking of this movie? What is real anyhow?

We dissect the symbols and allegories within this wonderful movie and relate them back to Plato’s Republic, the Old Testament.

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Year Four at Hogwarts brings us a tournament of epic proportions, another intricate mystery, and the return of the most powerful dark wizard of all time. In our discussion of Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, we examine how this installment, right at the halfway point of the series, marks a pivotal turning point in Harry’s journey. It’s the moment when Harry—and the series—really leaves childhood behind. We explore coming-of-age through ritual, sport, sacrifice, and symbolic death, comparing the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament to Theseus’s mythological journey into the Cretan Labyrinth. Everything’s going to change, isn’t it?

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We will be donating our Patreon earnings for the next two months to the Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures.

Donate here: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate

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In the second part of a mini-series on stories concerned with popular music, this episode takes on the award-winning Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous (2000). The rock and roll odyssey about a teenage rock journalist touring with Stillwater, a mid-level band struggling with its own success in the harsh face of stardom, engages with questions about gender, hedonism, and virtue. We’ll dig into the history of rock and roll, the development of “cool,” and the concept of the muse—from Greek mythology to modernity.

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From the Godfather to the grandfather of modern cinema… This week, we’re taking on another epic American classic, considering one of—if not the finest film ever made: Citizen Kane. From the technical cinematic innovations of young director Orson Welles to the timeless tale of a media magnate turned political hopeful, Citizen Kane proves painfully resonant with the world of today. We explore the twists and turns of this slanted biography, one haunted by the figure of Kane, who, himself, remains voiceless. We track the historical evolution of mass communication and media that gave rise to Kane’s real-world analog, William Randolph Hearst—and the Yellow Journalism wars that precipitated a real-life international conflict. Ultimately, in the search for truth, we are always missing a piece of the puzzle—whether we’re looking for the truth about a man’s life, a nation’s foundational myth, or human nature itself.

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Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? This week, we return to you with the next installment of our multi-part discussion of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this week covering the first part of The Two Towers, The Treason of Isengard. We follow Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas in their pursuit of the orcs who absconded with Merry and Pippin. We mourn the death of the complicated man Boromir. We meet new cultures—like the Ents and the Rohirrim—and find common ground on an uncertain road. Join us again in Middle Earth for discussions rich with history, mythology, medieval literature, and more.

***GIVEAWAY*** As part of our Lord of the Rings series, we’ll be giving away a LotR gift basket to one lucky listener, including a Trivial Pursuit set, two Funko Pop vinyl figurines, and some Midnight Myth Merch (a $75 value). Follow us on Twitter @themidnightmyth and stay tuned to this series for details on how to enter!

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Let’s shake it up, shall we? Every week, the first words you hear on the Midnight Myth are “what is the perfect story?” We thought we’d try our hand at really answering that question. This week, we’re laying out our metrics for the perfect movie—a set of criteria we developed while trying to kill time in quarantine. We’ll go through our methodology, share listener suggestions, and run a few possibly perfect movies (Jurassic Park, Dr. Strangelove, Ghostbusters, anyone?) through the gauntlet. It’s science.

We hope you have as much fun listening to this as we had making it. Stay safe (and try to stay sane!)

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Nearly a decade after Stephen King concluded the Dark Tower, he went back to Roland and his Ka-Tet and wrote The Wind Through the Keyhole. Chronologically, the book takes place in between Dark Tower books 4 and 5, where Roland finds himself and his band of travelers taking shelter amid the dangerous freezing storm called the Starkblast. Stephen King plays with meta narrative as the story of The Wind Through the Keyhole is Roland telling a story about young Roland telling a story. From shape shifting murderers to tigers in a cage, Derek and Steve break down this interesting narrative as they travel closer and closer to the nexus of the universe, the Dark Tower, say thank ya.

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Fellow travelers on the path of the Beam, the Wheel of Ka is back discussing the second half of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower book four, Wizard and Glass. Young Roland practices his secret love with Susan Delgado while playing Castles with the Big Coffin Hunters. In this episode we discuss the motivations and strategies of the main characters in the hopes it will illuminate what makes Mejis County of Mid-World so appealing. We talk everything, from the Wizard of Oz, the series first vampire, and the deadly seductive hum of the thinny in this episode. Grab your pink crystal and jump in to see where Ka, like a storm, will take you.

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Wheel of Ka Returns to talk Stephen King’s the Talisman

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CW: discussion of pregnancy and infant loss, traumatic birth, suicide

In this week’s episode, we’re revisiting Westeros and the seeds of a Targaryen civil war. HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon brings an overlooked era of medieval history and politics to the screen - and adds dragons! We’ll discuss our impressions of the series, its attitudes toward women in power, and its sometimes ill-advised attempts to subvert fantasy expectations. Plus, a crash course in “The Anarchy,” the civil war of succession for the English throne in the 12th century. What can we learn from Stephen and Matilda’s bloody 19-year power struggle? And what can we learn from House of the Dragon’s repackaging of history?

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Can storytelling change the world? How does our media shape our understanding and perceptions of other cultures? As we await the release of the live-action remake of the beloved animated film Aladdin, these questions have bubbled to the surface. In this exploration of the best-known retelling of Aladdin and his Enchanted Lamp, we’ll learn about the jinn of Islamic theology, the tangled publication history of the One Thousand and One Nights, and the stories that came together to inspire a children’s classic. You ain’t never had a podcast like us.

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We conclude, at long last, our series on the Star Wars prequels with an in-depth look at Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. How do the Jedi sow the seeds of their own downfall? How does the Force - and our relationship to it - evolve throughout the prequels? Is this movie just a post-Freudian adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?? Come along with us to our favorite galaxy far, far away, and discuss…

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The Sleep & Sorcery book, written by Laurel, is now available in hardcover at Crossed Crow Books - and you can pre-order the paperback! crossedcrowbooks.com

Support indie bookstores by ordering at bookshop.org.

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Come shed a tear or two with us on an odyssey through the Mediterranean. We’re discussing The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. We’ll plumb the depths of its emotional impact, its inspiration in the life and work of Jacques Cousteau, and the mythological stories it reworks.

This is the continuation of our mini-series on the works of Wes Anderson, everyone’s favorite symmetry-obsessed, pastel-painted auteur.

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Turn back, listeners. Turn back. Unless you’re truly prepared for the epic team-up of Midnight Myth X Verbal Diorama! We’re thrilled to welcome Em on the podcast to discuss Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. We’ll try not to take anything for granted as we explore the technique, the enduring relevance, and the very David Bowie of it all. We’ll discuss Sarah, the fairy tale heroine who finds her own voice, Jareth, the Goblin King who sexually confused a generation, Sir Didymus of the Bog of Eternal Stench, the whereabouts of the Hoggle puppet, and so much more.

Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and stay tuned for details on our upcoming Star Wars giveaway collaboration!

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Surprise, and happy Hallo-Wednesday! We made it into the studio for a very special edition of our Perfect Movie Gauntlet. As we continue to test our criteria for the Perfect Movie (evaluating on the basis of dimensions like Timelessness, Technical Achievement, etc…), we’ve made a few tweaks to determine the Perfect Spooky Movie! Listen to find out if your fall faves—like Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas—can pass the ultimate test.

Send us your contenders, or tell us why we’re wrong! We’ll head back to the lab to continue refining our formula…

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Open the pod bay doors and join us beyond the infinite as we dive deep into Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 science fiction classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. In this first part of a mini-series on sci-fi in movies and television, we’re starting with what many consider the greatest science fiction film ever made (and we don’t disagree). We’ll explore some of the myriad readings of this ambiguous and powerful piece of visual storytelling, discuss themes of evolution and progress, and offer some insights into the unique collaboration of Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. We’ll decode some of the visual and auditory symbols, bringing analysis from the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. How does Kubrick fashion a sci-fi masterpiece that works its magic on the unconscious, stirs our “mythological yearnings,” and infuses Romance and poetry into the cold vacuum of space? All this and more on this week’s odyssey.

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The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

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You’re probably wondering why we’ve gathered you all here today. Assume your alias, join us for champagne in the billiard room, and all will be revealed… This week, we’re discussing the outrageous 1985 black comedy Clue—the best movie based on a board game. This wacky film is equal parts sex farce and murder mystery, with a cast so star-studded it lights up any cable TV lineup. Through the jokes and conventions of Clue, we’ll explore the history of the Whodunit genre—especially the works of Agatha Christie—and its oft-overlooked ties to politics and social commentary. The characters in Clue may say Communism is just a red herring, but we’ll also reveal the significance of McCarthyism, the Red Scare, and blacklisting in the movie.

Most importantly, we’ll reveal who did it, and where, and with what.

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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! For lo, I bring you tidings of a great podcast. We’re thrilled to be back in the studio with a 2021 Christmas Spectacular. This year, we’ll use the 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas to explore the sweeping history of Christmas traditions like the Christmas tree, pageants, and ritual media consumption. From ancient pagan festivals to medieval mystery plays, from Washington Irving to postwar capitalism, A Charlie Brown Christmas prompts the kind of philosophical inquiry you might not expect from a 25-minute cartoon. Whatever and however you celebrate, and with whom, we wish you a happy holiday season and a joyous new year.

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Just when you thought the Wheel of Ka was over, and after 7 books of re-reads and discussion about Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, Derek and Steve return with the coda. We sat and reflected on the time, and gunslinger-esque dedication it took to complete our side project, and realized we had just one more episode of the Path of the Beam. In an interview style bonus, Derek asks Steve several questions about the books, what connects them, their strengths, their weaknesses, and debate like two old stars in a constellation over Midworld, locked in dialogue, trapped in gravity, and forever repeating.

We hope you enjoy this bonus, and remember, all things, even the Beams serve the Tower, why would this podcast be any different?

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The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

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Oh my gosh, we recorded an episode! The conclusion of our series on the Harry Potter films is here, and we’re revisiting all your favorite places: Hogwarts Castle, Gringotts Bank, Hogsmeade, and Platform 9 3/4. We’ll discuss the history and development of castles—from military fortresses to royal residences and projections of wealth—plus how that fits in to the transition of Hogwarts from school to battleground. We’ll question the bittersweet end to a mysterious character in Severus Snape, and debate whether his sacrifices redeem his darker nature. Finally, we’ll reflect on the series as a whole, its most potent themes, and our most inexhaustible source of magic.

Thanks for bearing with us as we figure out the future of the podcast with a new baby in the family. We love you, and Happy New Year!!

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We donated our Patreon earnings for November & December to the Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures.

Donate here: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate

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Whether you wear blue robes or red, serve the White Cloaks or the Aes Sedai, or follow the way of the leaf, you’re welcome at our fire for this week’s discussion of Amazon Prime’s The Wheel of Time, based on the books by Robert Jordan. We explore religious, mythological, and philosophical traditions that subscribe to a cyclical cosmology (a “wheel of time”) and contemplate the implications on the story world. We also delve into the three oaths of the Aes Sedai, and the limitations of deontological moral systems in corruptible institutions. Unexpected cameos by Isaac Asimov and Cleopatra, as well.

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Interested in starting your own podcast? Try using Anchor by clicking on this link to get started:

anch.co/midnight

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The five-week nostalgia gauntlet continues on the Midnight Myth with the 1991 Spielberg classic HOOK. This clever reimagining of the story of Peter Pan begins with one fundamental question: What if Peter Pan—the boy who wouldn’t grow up—grew up? This week, we follow the second star to the right (straight on till morning) and revisit Neverland as adults, feeling a lot like Peter Banning as we do. In the process, we uncover the lost memories of childhood, interrogate our nostalgic responses, and ask ourselves what the real difference is between a pirate and a Lost Boy. Are childhood and adulthood really separate countries that can’t be united? Do we lose some sense of magic and innocence as we age? What treasures can we find when we integrate our past selves with our current selves? Through the lens of psychoanalysis, history, and mythology, we put all these questions to Hook.

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After spending the last few months talking nothing but Star Wars, Derek and Laurel finally get to the real question we’ve all been wondering…What’s the deal with the Jedi? Religious order or security forces? Warrior or priest?

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Check out Sleep & Sorcery, Laurel’s podcast for fantasy and folklore-inspired bedtime stories. Support on Patreon: patreon.com/sleepandsorcery 

The Sleep & Sorcery book, written by Laurel, is now available in hardcover at Crossed Crow Books - and you can pre-order the paperback! crossedcrowbooks.com

Support indie bookstores by ordering at bookshop.org.

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Fellow travelers on the path of Beam, Derek and Stave are back at it again, this time discussing the epic conclusion of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Book VII: The Dark Tower. What did this multi-verse spinning, psych power wielding, todash chime ringing narrative mean? What happens to Roland when he reaches the Tower, and confronts shape changing monsters, laughter eating vampires, and the end of the Ka-Tet we have come to love? Come with us through the advice of Stuttering Bill on Tower Road to the final stages of an adventure that took Stephen King 35 years of his life to write. The only promise we make is that it won’t bore you, as we cover as much as we can of this wonderfully strange, horrifically dark, cyclone of book.

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Fellow travelers on the path of the Beam, Wheel of Ka returns with another episode, covering The Mist. This Wheel of Ka takes us to a small New England lake town. When a powerful storm knocks out the power, a strange mist descends on the town. David and his son Billy go to the market when the mist comes and the monsters who live within it. This short novel delves deep into human nature as David attempts to reconcile with what is more dangerous, the monsters who live in the mist or the monsters his neighbors become as they are trapped inside the market? As always, we discuss how this book relates to Stephen King’s masterpiece, The Dark Tower, say thank ya sai!

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Welcome. Everything is fine. NBC’s acclaimed philosophical comedy The Good Place came to an end recently, and we’re here to discuss the emotional series finale and the lasting legacy of the show. Having finally reached the real Good Place, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason (along with architect Michael and not-a-girl/not-a-robot Janet) have overseen the creation of an entirely new afterlife system. In the finale, “Whenever You’re Ready,” the show grapples head-on with the most difficult questions of existence. What happens after we die? What does it mean to live a good and happy life? Can people really improve, and how? In this installment of the Midnight Myth, we’ll also grapple with these questions of morality, spirituality, and Maximum Derek.

We’ll look for insight in Buddhism, Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aristotelian virtue ethics, and other tentpoles of moral philosophy. Will we find the forking answer to lasting peace? Maybe. But until then, take it sleazy.

*Spoilers for Seasons 1-4 of The Good Place!*

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Who could have imagined the impact that a simple story of domestic struggles and joys would have on the world? After more than seven film adaptations, numerous televisions adaptations, and countless versions for the stage, a new generation got its Little Women in 2019 with Greta Gerwig’s bold interpretation of the March Sisters’ story. In this episode, we’ll discuss the legacy of Little Women and how this latest film version honors the life of author Louise May Alcott while infusing the story with a contemporary urgency. Issues of gender expression, feminism, and economic independence run through the lives of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they come of age during the American Civil War. The film also asks a question: does writing confer importance or reflect it? We examine this question from the lens of fiction storytelling, but also from the lens of history to discover Little Women’s place in both spheres.

Further reading/listening:

Why Don’t More Boys Read Little Women? By Anne Boyd Rioux for Literary Hub

The Director’s Cut: Little Women with Greta Gerwig and Rian Johnson

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Black Lives Matter. Consider supporting protestors in Louisville via the Louisville Community Bail Fund.

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While we gather our notes for the continuation of our Wes Anderson series, enjoy this meditation on HBO’s recently wrapped Succession. What kind of tragedy unfolds in the high echelons of corporate America? Why does the “war of succession” story compel us, wherever or whenever it is set?

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Check out Sleep & Sorcery, Laurel’s podcast for fantasy and folklore-inspired bedtime stories. Support on Patreon: patreon.com/sleepandsorcery 

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Fellow travelers on the path of the Beam, Derek and Steve are back discussing the first four parts of Stephen King’s time traveling epic, 11/22/63. If you could change the past, would you? If you tried, would you actually change the events or would you cause a new reality to spring into existence? If you live long enough pretending to be someone else, do you become the fictitious person? All this plus predictions on where this book is heading and as always, how it connects to The Dark Tower, say thank ya, big-big.

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Coming in spring of 2022, Sleep & Sorcery is a folklore and fantasy-inspired sleep series from the co-creator of The Midnight Myth Podcast. Step across the threshold into a world of myth and magic, where you can safely drift off into a deep and comfortable sleep. Sleep & Sorcery is one part bedtime story, one part guided meditation, and one part dreamy adventure.

My name is Laurel, and I’ll be your guide on infinite fantastical journeys. On each episode of Sleep & Sorcery, I’ll whisk you away to a far-off time and place. Visit a cozy cottage in the mythical village of Slumbershire, where you’ll share a cup of tea with old friends, reminiscing on your past adventures to misty mountains and elven halls. Travel through the mysterious forests of Bohemia, encountering fairy tale creatures and exploring gothic churches. Go back in time to the court of King Arthur and embark on a meditative quest for lost relics. Soar in a spaceship among the stars, taking in the awesome sights of cosmic phenomena. Each sleep story is carefully crafted to evoke feelings of comfort, safety, and relaxation – paired with breath work or a soothing body scan to send you naturally into sleep.

Sleep & Sorcery. See you in your wildest dreams.

Music: A Glimpse of Avalon by Flouw, from EpidemicSound.com

Special Thanks to Derek Jones

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We’re back. In the fourth installment of our science fiction mini-series, we’re taking on another iconic sequel (and finally succumbing to the lure of James Cameron) by covering 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The sci-fi-action-blockbuster that spawned some of cinema’s most quotable moments also deals in massive questions of human responsibility, technology, destiny, and compassion. We’ll discuss Sarah Connor as an analog of Cassandra, the cursed prophetess of Troy, and the film’s parallels to a widespread mytheme. Plus, what is SkyNet? What is the technological singularity? Is the future set, or are we bound toward the same destruction via many paths? Come with us if you want to live… and learn!

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Find out if your state offers free COVID-19 tests and get tested through Project Baseline. Thank you for wearing a mask and protecting the health and safety of your community.

__

The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

—

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After an eventful couple of weeks, we’re back in the studio with the conclusion of our mini episode series on science fiction film and television. This week, we’re getting schwifty with insights from Season 4 of Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty. Through the particular lens of Season Four, Episode Six: Never-Ricking Morty (you know, the one with the Story Train), we’ll explore what it means to be postmodern sci-fi. We’ll discuss Dan Harmon’s signature “Story Circle”—an adaptation of Joseph Campbell’s comparative mythology research—and the layers of in-universe and out-of-universe commentary this episode achieves. Like, it’s so meta. Plus, what happens when stories become the basis of entire belief systems—from Jesus Christ to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to Rick Sanchez himself…

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Find out if your state offers free COVID-19 tests and get tested through Project Baseline. Thank you for wearing a mask and protecting the health and safety of your community.

__

The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

—

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Fellow Travelers On the Path of The Beam, before you jump into the next Wheel of Ka, a quick warning; the second half of It gets dark, really dark. Steve and I have a no holds barred discussion. Please keep this trigger warning in mind, we talk about sexual assault, violence towards children, and infant loss.

Derek and Steve are back at it again, this time discussing the second half of Stephen King’s horror masterpiece, It. As the past and present collide, the Losers must confront the evil force known as It in mysterious town of Derry Maine. What does It say about themes such as free will, the nature of evil and if childhood innocence even exists?

As always, we relate every point back to the Dark Tower, say thank ya.

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It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine—our back catalog is headed to podcast platforms near you. This episode, which originally aired in March of 2017, is the second half to our first discussion of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe. Where in the previous episode we focused on world-building through the various races of Middle Earth, here we explore the mythological precedent for magic rings and rings of power.

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What do you do when someone enters your home, mistaking you for someone with the same name, and defiles your rug—the one that really tied the room together? Do you take the path of anger? Get mixed up in an intricate and complex investigation? Or embrace a new philosophy that allows you to move on? This week, we’re discussing the 1998 Coen Brothers’ classic The Big Lebowski: a film that openly discusses the philosophy of nihilism, deals in a heady mix of Eastern and Western philosophy, and does so through the language of American cinematic genres like the Western and film noir.

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Happy Halloween 2019! Come get snowbound with us on our 3rd annual Halloween Special. This year, we’re exploring one of the spookiest, scariest, and greatest horror films of all time, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Bringing insight from the source novel by Stephen King (who famously hated the screen adaptation so much he produced his own adaptation for television), we’ll wander the halls of the Overlook Hotel, peer into Room 237 and into the crumbling sanity of Jack Torrance. Also: history of Gilded Age resorts in America, philosophy of evil, and the short story that forms the basis for much of what makes The Shining so terrifying—Edgar Allen Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.

Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and stay tuned for details on our upcoming Star Wars giveaway collaboration!

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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…

We’re back for a spooky Halloween special covering Mike Flanagan’s latest anthology outing for Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher. This reworking of the bibliography of Edgar Allan Poe opens many avenues for discussion, including a focus on Egyptian mythology and burial ritual, the multifaceted symbolism of the raven, the role of the mysterious and ancient Verna, and the recurring themes of Mr. Poe’s iconic work. Nevermore!

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Once upon a time… You know the story. King and Queen have a baby girl, evil fairy shows up to the celebration and curses the girl, girl is raised in the woods by good fairies, girl meets prince, girl falls into enchanted sleep, prince slays a dragon, true love’s kiss saves the day, happily ever after. But behind Disney’s 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty lies a dark and disturbing fairy tale tradition, one in which gender and sexual politics and questions of fate are as tangled as the thorny briars surrounding the castle. This week, Derek and Laurel explore the legacy of our most beloved fairy tales and their Disney adaptations. We’ll uncover corollaries to classical mythology, psychoanalytical interpretations, gender stereotypes and more in Sleeping Beauty.

CW: brief discussion of sexual assault

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Put on your mask, close your eyes, and surrender to your darkest dreams. That’s right, we’re covering the longest running Broadway musical in history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 mega-hit The Phantom of the Opera. We’’ll analyze the angel of music himself, the love triangle at the show’s core, and symbolism in the opera house through the lens of aesthetic philosophy and mythology—From Edmund Burke’s description of beauty and the sublime to Neoplatonism and the evolution of art-making. Is Phantom a great romance or a piece of gothic horror? All this and more on the Midnight Myth.

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IT'S THE MIDNIGHT MYTH TIME MACHINE! We’re republishing our back catalog, which has heretofore been unavailable on most platforms. We’re starting with Episode 1: Villainy, in which Derek & Laurel deliver side-by-side case studies of two iconic villains. First, an exploration of Dracula and the Francis Ford Coppola adaptation of the classic vampire tale that upends traditional villain narratives. Next, a study of Voldemort, the larger-than-life antagonist of the Harry Potter saga and magical demagogue. Plus, the basics of melodrama, and Laurel predicts Cersei Lannister's successful strategy against the White Walkers. Stay tuned each week for our older episodes in addition to our regular weekly content.

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Welcome to the Midnight Myth Time Machine! Take one last trip down memory lane with us for this episode from June of 2017.

“Ours is the fury.” These are the words of House Baratheon. Lords of the Stormlands, and House that brought about King Robert’s rebellion. Yes my friends, Derek and Laurel travel to the fantastic realm of Westeros, as they perform the first of many Game of Thrones character studies. The focus of the first study is Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of Robert, and his journey from second fiddle to claimant of the Iron Throne, perpetrator of filicide, and ultimately the one who brings ruin to his house. We learn that Stannis is not a unique figure, drawing upon his Greek mythological character archetype, and historical parallels. Perhaps the more fitting words for House Baratheon, “Go on, do your duty.”

Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and listen to Episode 128: Maclunkey for details on how to enter our joint Star Wars Funko Pop giveaway! Here is the video you’re looking for.

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Fellow Traveler's on the Path of the Beam, Derek and Steve are back doing part two of Stephen King's 11/22/63. We talk about the first two third's of the book, where its going and where it relates to the Dark Tower

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Check out Sleep & Sorcery, Laurel’s podcast for fantasy and folklore-inspired bedtime stories. Support on Patreon: patreon.com/sleepandsorcery 

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It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! This episode originally aired in April 2017.

I am a computer circuit that thinks, therefore, I am? Listen to Derek and Laurel discuss the long science fiction tradition of artificial intelligence, and the history of the fictional robot. Baked into these narratives is the question of human consciousness. Intuitively, we all know we are conscious, right? But how do we define it, and can we create it in our technology? All these questions and more will be (kinda) answered in this week’s podcast, “Don’t Disconnect Me Brah!” Stories explored will include 2001: A Space Odyssey, R.U.R., Asimov’s I, Robot, and others…

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We’re back with a more casual conversation as we prepare a more traditional episode in the coming weeks. Today, we’re rounding up what we watched, what we loved, what we were “meh” on in 2020. Special focus on Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Queen’s Gambit, and The Mandalorian Season 2. We’ll keep chatting as long as the baby keeps napping!

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After five weeks of discussing iconic science fiction films and television—2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Rick & Morty Season 4—we’re back with a no-holds-barred discussion of the connecting themes and striking variation within the genre. Starting with a (very) brief history of sci-fi, from its ancient roots to its flourishing in the 19th and 20th Centuries, we try to arrive at a satisfying definition of the science fiction genre that celebrates its rich and diverse output. We’ll discuss how sci-fi properties frequently serve as apt social or political commentary, the changing landscape of literary voices within the genre, and the contentious distinction between sci-fi as pulp and sci-fi as “serious literature.”

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Find out if your state offers free COVID-19 tests and get tested through Project Baseline. Thank you for wearing a mask and protecting the health and safety of your community.

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The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

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If you could change your fate, would you? Step back with us into the misty Scottish Highlands through Pixar’s 2012 fairy tale Brave. Pixar’s first woman-led feature may look like a traditional fairy tale at first, but through clever meditations on destiny, free will, and community, it rings with truths that are incredibly modern. How do we restore women’s voices in patriarchal systems? How do we balance our desire to create our own destiny with our responsibilities to family and community? In this episode, we’ll explore how Brave embraces and evolves fairy tale traditions, incorporates new takes on medieval history and world folklore, and infuses Merida and Elinor’s feminist journey with magic and grace.

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As we continue careening through the vacuum of space in our mini-series on sci-fi classics, we’re picked up by the commercial ship the Nostromo. A strange creature lurks on board… This week, we’re discussing Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror/science fiction mashup ALIEN. We’ll explore the ancient themes that resonate from Greek mythology into this modern masterpiece, and we’ll discuss how the persistent mind-body problem suffuses this intensely visceral film. A movie that masterfully tackles questions of gender and sexuality, survival and heroism, humanity and monstrosity. Don’t forget—if we break quarantine, we could all die.

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The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent.

Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area.

Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES.

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, two podcasters strapped in for an exciting undertaking… It’s been years since we first sat down to analyze the original Star Wars trilogy, one movie at a time; now, we take on the prequels. Framing our conversation about the much-maligned films are questions about the nature of the Force, the balance of politics and fantasy escapism, and recurring narrative conventions. It’s like poetry - they rhyme.

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Check out Sleep & Sorcery, Laurel’s podcast for fantasy and folklore-inspired bedtime stories. Support on Patreon: patreon.com/sleepandsorcery 

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Morning in Paris, the city awakes to the bells of Notre Dame! Join us among the clouds, in the bell tower of one of the world’s great cathedrals, where lives the mysterious bellringer. This is the story of a man and a monster—but which is which? We’re discussing the 1996 Disney adaptation of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame! One of the darkest entries in Disney’s animated canon, it explores themes of racism, infanticide, sexual obsession, deformity, and religion. We explore the development of Gothic architecture and the role of the cathedral in the story, the impressive legacy of Hugo’s novel, and the disturbing truth about anti-Romani prejudice and oppression that continues to this day.

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Help improve education outcomes for Romani children around the world by considering a donation to the Roma Education Fund.

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In the beginning…

Join us for a podcast 7,000 years in the making, as we take on Marvel’s Eternals (2021)… for the second time in a few weeks - Check out our review of Eternals alongside the incomparable Geek Salad here. It’s a film teeming with history, mythology, and philosophy - the energy cocktail that powers our podcast. We discuss the mythological counterparts for the characters and artifacts in Chloe Zhao’s film, debate some of the movies most cogent themes, and argue for its place within the MCU. We also explore the interesting space Eternals occupies at the intersection of Charles Darwin, Walt Whitman, and Rene Descartes.

Be sure to participate in our Q&A - ask on any of our social platforms or via the web contact form at midnightmyth.com to be entered in a Norse myth/Marvel giveaway bundle for our 200th episode!

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Interested in starting your own podcast? Try using Anchor by clicking on this link to get started:

anch.co/midnight

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My fellow travelers on the path of beam, the long wait, the long walk through the desert wastes, into the minds of the three to be drawn, through the city of Lud, into the pasts of Mejis, we have all traveled. It is here. Book 7 of Stephen King’s the Dark Tower: The Dark Tower. The final tale will be told and we shall share it together before we all meet again, at the clearing at the end of the path.

Derek and Steve discuss each character’s journey through the first two installments of Book 7, which starts with the Ka-Tet scattered across where’s and when’s. We follow Roland’s band as they unite one last time, for one last battle before the Ka-Tet shatters forever.

This is the first of two before we reach the conclusion of King’s epic, say true? Say thank ya!

Have you checked out our main podcast, The Midnight Myth? Right now we’re deep into a reread of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and we’re doing a giveaway! Follow us on Twitter and check out our pinned tweet to enter for your chance to win two LotR Funko POPs and a set of LotR Trivial Pursuit.

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Ever been in a tight spot? A real tight spot? Oh man, a tight spot? Well get your dapper dan hair pomade to slick back your style, and gear up for an epic edition of the Midnight Myth. Listen as Derek and Laurel examine the universal story of the Odyssey, written by the immortal Homer and re-contextualized by the masters of film, The Coen Brothers. That’s right folks, we’re mass communicating out analysis of O’ Brother Where Art Thou? and it’s epic greek origins. Watch out for the sirens, for their enticing song may turn you into a toad, as we journey through a great movie inspired a true midnight myth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

If you were standing at the edge of the earth, ready to take the plunge into the underworld, would you? So many heroes take that plunge, into the depths of hell only to return, unencumbered but not unscathed. Listen to Derek and Laurel understand the idea of traveling to the underworld as a story device, its mythic origins, and pop culture manifestations. We go from Persephone to Wonder Woman in another quest to understand the perfect story. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

So when the shit hits the fan, and the world collapses around you, what do you do? You form a totalitarian regime bent on exploiting the weak to propagate the powerful. Listen this week as Derek and Laurel tackle the modern dystopia. In particular, they examine Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel-turned-blockbuster-hit from Hulu, The Handmaid’s Tale. It’ll be another exciting ride in the search for the perfect story! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Game of Thrones opens a concerning door.

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Derek and Laurel are back from Europe. We've missed you guys and we want to jump in with a full game episode. It is a battle of wits, words, creativity, and nerdiness. Who will emerge victorious, what is the format, how does this battle even work? Listen my friends, and all will be revealed. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Derek and Laurel have returned from traveling the great wide world and bring you another episode about a favorite character who travels the great wide universe. In our second Doctor Who case study, we focus not only on the Doctor himself, but an unexpected friend, the painter Vincent Van Gogh. In Season 5, Episode 10 of the beloved BBC series, we explore questions of madness, alienation, loneliness, and ecstatic joy. Most importantly, we ask, what does it take to be a truly great artist? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

When at the brink, we often look for a unifying philosophy that sums up the experience of our confusion and pain, while pointing us towards a better moral life— a life that bring conscience, direction, and purpose. We at the Midnight Myth may have found those words: “Life’s a piece of shit when ya look at it.” Join us as we jump into the obscure and silly world of Monty Python and The Life of Brian. Nothing is scared as we peel apart what makes this movie so damn smart, funny, loony, and insightful. We haven’t done comedy before, so don’t laugh at us (nudge nudge, wink wink)! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

From the winding streets of Rome to the cobbled alleys of Philadelphia, our histories are always just beneath our feet as we follow the well-worn tread of those generations that came before us. This week, Derek & Laurel explore the most powerful historical narratives of Western culture and their inextricable ties. In the end, all roads truly do lead to Rome and two monolithic figures: Jesus Christ and Julius Caesar, whose archetypes continue to resonate throughout Western storytelling. Untangling some of the powerful mysteries of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church, we also turn our eyes to what we can learn about ourselves in the stories we’ve always told. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

We never thought we’d nearly cry over the death of a fire breathing, scale covered, flying monster that can burn and eat people alive. Somehow, that happened. What am I talking about? Dragons— the darling of the fantasy world, and the monster that so many great heroes have had to over come. Yet, somehow in the Game of Thrones they have become characters that the audience empathizes with. How did this happen? This week, listen as we talk about he history of Dragons and how Game of Thrones turned them from evil beasts to emphatic heroes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Our histories and our stories are intertwined, and often visual media, such as film, becomes the conduit by which we contextualize our past. This week, we examine the film Gangs of New York from director (legend) Martin Scorsese and how it brings nativists philosophy to the forefront fighting for control over the grimy slums of 1860s New York City, right as the Civil War ravages the south. Part of a multi-parter exploring this particular moment in our nation’s past from a multitude of perspectives— and learning to understand the real-world implications of historical fiction. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Game of Thrones Season 7 Spoilers: What happens when you create a monster? Not literally, but in a story, a Frankenstein…Listen as Derek and Laurel's next Game of Thrones character case study, as they examine Arya Stark, and how the writers of the show failed to address the spirit of vengeance they created in one of the shows most beloved characters.

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It has come. With It released, Derek and Laurel peek under the belly of all the ghouls, goblins, and ghosts going bump in the night. This week on the Midnight Myth, the subject is horror; where horror stories come from and why they scare us. In particular, the podcast focuses on the scary clown and how Stephen King turns the childhood favorite into a monster that keeps you up at night. With a few “boomerangs” to keep you on your toes, this week gets to the bottom of horror and how it stands the test of time as part of the perfect story. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

What is a stoic character? Grim, emotionally immovable, and cold in the face of great human pain? Listen this week as Derek and Laurel delve into the archetypal stoic character and unpack Stoic philosophy along the way. The current stoic character construct bares some superficial resemblance to the philosophy started in Ancient Athens in 350 BCE, but do the tropes really do justice to the philosophical doctrine? By examining characters from the Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and more, we will try to discover the truth beneath the unshakeable facades. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

What is real? Am I real? Are you? Is this podcast real? Is my experience dictated by my perspective, by the materials i interact with, or by some higher essence? When questions like these start to mess with our heads, we filter them through the lens of the quintessence indie mind f*ck, Being John Malkovich. Derek and Laurel take look at Plato’s timeless allegory of the cave, the theory of the forms, and themes of universe justice (and also puppets). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

On this week’s episode, we step into the strange dystopian world of the Hunger Games Trilogy. By tracking the evolution of the films themselves and their thematic intentions, Derek & Laurel draw real-world conclusions about the horror of war, the collective amnesia of humanity, and why revolutions fail. Spoilers within for the Hunger Games films, Rogue One, and V for Vendetta! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Everything is Batman. Listen as Derek and Laurel peel under the bat mobile hood of Gotham’s favorite son Bruce Wayne and his true self, the darling of pop culture, the Dark Knight, hero of heroes, Batman. In particular, we examine Frank Miller’s the Dark Knight Returns as a watershed moment in rebranding of the crime fighter from a campy Adam West cheeseball to a tortured lonely man who will stop at nothing to fight crime. The theme, why Batman? Why is he our hero, the one who’s fame and power shakes pop culture to its very knees? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

I am Jack’s toxic masculinity. Few movies attempt to address a crisis of masculinity with as much style or swagger as David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s anarchist classic, Fight Club. But what happens when the charm and wit of your villain takes over the steering wheel? Perhaps there’s a one in a million chance the whole car blows up. So grab your fists, and remember that even the Mona Lisa won’t last forever, as Derek and Laurel dive deep into the symbolism, intentions, interpretations, and legacy of Fight Club. I am not a space monkey, I am a unique snowflake. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

It’s a spooky scary Halloween episode with Derek & Laurel! With ample history, mischief, and delight, we revisit one of our favorite holiday movies, Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas. By combining the two most popular holidays in America, Nightmare reminds us of the spirit behind them both. Its a story of life and death, faith and love, adventure and fear, and of course… trick and treat. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

I turned myself into a podcast is a reflection and meditation on the Sci-Fi interdimensional madness of Rick and Morty. While we all covet the power of turning ourselves into sentient pickles, the question remains, what is this show about? Is it really a hodgepodge of nihilistic philosophies turned into comedy so tragic that we don’t know if we should laugh or cry? Rick and Morty makes us laugh at the very futile nature of human existence, but somehow gives Derek and Laurel hope. Listen, as we Meseek and Destroy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Did you honestly think we were done talking about Rick and Morty? We haven’t even scratched the surface of the multiverse of Midnight Myth Rick and Morty talk. Listen this week as we deconstruct the story structure of Rick and Morty, trying to understand why the antihero works and doesn’t work in modern serialized commercial shows. We go from Ancient Greece to the Sopranos to Rick and Morty, all to ascertain what makes the antihero one of post-modernity's most commercially viable archetypes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Three brothers come to a ridge over a river, using magic they create a bridge and anger Death. Death tricks them into gifts that will destroy them, and thus the Deathly Hallows are born. This week, Derek and Laurel look at the story of the Deathly Hallows built inside the final installment of the Harry Potter universe. Derek and Laurel examine the construction of folklore and how adding it into a narrative grounds the story, then look at Harry Potter through the lens of religious re-contextualization. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

How far have we come, and how far will we go? In the latest Midnight Myth, Derek and Laurel take a voyage through the history of the Disney Princess, tracing the way to Moana. We explore the myths that make up her environment, the exciting new portrayal of powerful women on the big screen, and some of the academic discourse and critique of the world of the movie. In Moana, we see an exhilarating step forward, but now that we’re past that reef, there’s much more to learn about finding our way. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

In a special holiday episode, Derek and Laurel pay homage to 2017’s best superhero flick, Wonder Woman. Viewing Diana Prince’s origin story through the lens of thankfulness, your hosts draw comparisons to great origin myths throughout history, from the Garden of Eden to the marriage of Persephone, and make the kind of discoveries you can only find by reexamining one’s favorite stories with an active eye and imagination. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

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The force is strong with this podcast. It took 42 previous episodes, and we are finally ready to jump into the galaxy far far away. The topic this week is Darth Vader and the role of fatherhood as villainy in storytelling. As we all gear up for The Last Jedi, it is time to look at Vader, and his legacy in the Star Wars universe and in villain construction.

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As Laurel and Derek settle in for a long winters nap, we bring you our last episode of 2017 discussing the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. In this episode, we ask what makes a good Christmas story, as we delve into Charles Dickens perennial holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Just like the holiday itself, Dickens’ story strikes a chord with its roots deep in history, myth, and the human condition. We hope everyone had a great year, and thank you all for coming on this adventure with us. Pod bless us, everyone. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Happy New Year from the Midnight Myth! As the clocks strike midnight, Derek and Laurel are back at podcasting, inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, and flavor of Louisiana. The topic today is the impact of Southern Gothic literature on TV and film as your two favorite podcast hosts reflect on their trip to the great American South. With each new year, there is promise, there is pain, there is something lurking at night, hunting humanity, in a neverending search for blood. That’s right, we are talking American Southern Vampires to ring in a new year. So sit back, relax, and watch your neck!

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We’ve gathered our thoughts, and now we ask you to gather round as we dig through the complex thematic, structural, and philosophical merits of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the psychological to the humorous, the latest installment of the beloved space opera is a treasure trove of reference and richness. Derek and Laurel examine TLJ’s place within the SW saga at large, explore the inner lives of characters old and new, and invite you to join the conversation. Whether you loved or hated the movie, we hope to inspire reflection on the universal themes and motifs held within. No porgs were harmed in the making of this podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Few themes of storytelling and mythology are as widespread or as powerful as the resurrection myth. From the ancient to the modern world, the idea of resurrection, reincarnation, and escape from mortality lies at the heart of religions, belief systems, and popular BBC television shows. Revisiting one of our favorites, Doctor Who, we learn to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new during the Doctor’s process of “regeneration.” Derek & Laurel take a look back this week over Peter Capaldi’s legacy as the legendary Timelord, and seek to understand the timelessness of the character through the lens of Egyptian mythology and contemporary psychology. Some spoilers for Series 9 and the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

This week’s episode takes a look inside HBO’s stellar series “Big Little Lies,” the archetypes it relies on, and the stereotypes it deconstructs. From Freud’s triangle of trauma to Hippocratic Humorism, there’s a lot going on beneath the idyllic surface in the wealthy beach town of Monterey. Join Derek and Laurel on a journey beneath the waves as we look at what went so so right (and what went so so wrong.) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin— which house are you in? Whether it’s a fun game, a personality-defining decision, or an actual educational system, “sorting” is a bigger part of our lives than we might think. This week, Derek & Laurel return to the Harry Potter series to explore the Hogwarts houses as they relate to storytelling archetypes, and the historical examples of similar traditions. Perhaps the most important question, however, is this: does the beloved Sorting Hat simply reinforce dangerous tribalism? Or does it, in fact, deliver a scathing critique? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Have you ever walked into the edge of the woods and wondered if the shadows moved? Was it a fairy, a faun? Ever considered the possibility that a magical realm lived just outside the grasp of humanity? On this, the 50th episode of the Midnight Myth, Derek and Laurel go back to the fairytales and myths that have shaped human existence as they discuss Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 masterpiece, Pan’s Labyrinth. Del Toro expertly intertwines the politics of 1944 Spain with magical realism, delighting our senses while challenging the conventions of traditional fairytale paradigms. The underworld, princesses and monsters get reinvented as they are juxtaposed to the reality of fascism and the oppression of dictatorship. 

 

Thank you to all of Midnight Myth listeners, without you, we would have never made it to 50 episodes! 

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As Philadelphia-based podcasters, we’re understandably pretty high on the Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory. But the game that brings a country together one Sunday each year is more than a game when viewed through the lens of sporting history and the idea of cultural identity. This week, Derek and Laurel look to one of the great sport stories, which also has roots in scrappy Philadelphia: Rocky. As a character, as a symbol of America, as a perseverant fighter, Rocky Balboa has inspired a generation of sports fans and cinema junkies alike. Join us as we explore the underlying moral philosophy and artistic heritage of America’s favorite underdog. ****CORRECTION: Derek is acutely aware that dentology is not a word. Painfully aware. However, when Derek recorded the above episode, he fucked up and misspoke deontology (a word whose roots go back to Ancient Greece), which is the moral system he was referring to. Feel free to tweet at him #dentologyshame for the rest of his life.**** --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Here’s looking at you, podcast. Listen as Derek and Laurel examine the politics, tragedy and love, of cinema’s greatest love story, Casablanca. Inspired by Valentine’s day, and the notion that society’s greatest virtue is love, Casablanca asks if the problems of little people amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Maybe as Rick says, they don’t. Or Maybe its the only thing that does matter. Maybe beauty will save us. Maybe we are doomed. One thing that is certain, this is a podcast you don’t want to miss!

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Is there a soul? One of the oldest questions humankind has ever asked works its way through almost all of our stories in some form or another. But it’s a question that pops up continually in the popular Netflix series, Black Mirror. A vision of a technological future that often devolves into dystopia, Black Mirror pits humanity against machine-learning tech, sentient digital copies, and transferred consciousness on a frequent basis. We’re taking this question up with a quieter episode though. Season Four’s Crocodile asks about whether we have a soul, not as opposed to a robot, but as opposed to the rest of the animals. And if we have a soul, what happens when it’s corrupted? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support

Derek and Laurel breakdown there picks for this years Oscars. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support