Instructional Video12:48
PBS

Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha

9th - Higher Ed
Swooping down from the heavens on a fire ball, the Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of damnation. Most frequently depicted as a demonic, flaming cat, the kanji for ‘Kasha’ actually translates to “Fire...
Instructional Video12:18
PBS

What Happened During Our Scary Slumber Party

9th - Higher Ed
Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, Bloody Mary and Ouija are scary and entertaining rites of passage for kids and teens to participate in. But do these games actually work? And why do we love to scare each other so much at sleepovers?
Instructional Video13:50
PBS

The Evolution of Creepy Dolls

9th - Higher Ed
Maybe it’s the unblinking eyes, staring at you, emotionless, day and night. Or, perhaps it’s their small size acting as a cloak of innocence. Or their human-like appearance that makes them seem just slightly too real. However, you want...
Instructional Video12:30
PBS

The SCP Foundation: Declassified

9th - Higher Ed
Unlocking the Mysteries of SCP: From Secure, Contain, Protect to Unearth, Expose, Fascinate! Dive deep into the shadowy world of the SCP Foundation as we peel back the layers of secrecy surrounding these enigmatic entities. Discover the...
Instructional Video12:08
PBS

Uncovering the Enigma: Sasquatch Sightings

9th - Higher Ed
North America’s most famous cryptid, Sasquatch is a bipedal hairy humanoid with history pre-dating European colonization with numerous sightings even up to the present day. From cave paintings to video documentation, Sasquatch is a...
Instructional Video13:23
PBS

The Untold Secrets of Pokémon’s Monster Mythology

9th - Higher Ed
Pokémon are inspired by flora and fauna, science, religion, yokai and other supernatural beings. But the series is teeming with not just Japanese folklore, but versions of monsters from across the globe made cute with softened features.
Instructional Video13:50
PBS

Hero, Beast, or Both? The Complex Lore of the Centaur

9th - Higher Ed
Humans have domesticated animals as beasts of burden for thousands of years and the vital role horses play in the evolution of culture in particular has inspired countless equine folklore, but none are quite like the centaur.
Instructional Video11:50
PBS

Was Púca the Nightmare Bunny That Inspired Donnie Darko?

9th - Higher Ed
Existing somewhere between boogeyman, scapegoat, and temperamental fae, the known trickster called Púca is an animal-spirit that was once dreaded across Ireland, the Channel Islands, and England.
Instructional Video9:52
PBS

The Wicked Feline Murder Floof, a Yule Cat Story

9th - Higher Ed
Christmas isn’t just a time for presents, cookies, and holiday cheer, but the hunting period of Iceland’s murderous monster feline, the Yule Cat. This giant, fluffy cat towers over buildings, roaming the snowy countryside for human...
Instructional Video12:54
PBS

Unicorns: Magical Icons or Violent Beasts?

9th - Higher Ed
Unicorns are all over the place in popular culture these days - movies, TV shows, toys, clothing and books for children and adults alike. But you might be interested to learn that the majestic, all-white horse with a spiralized horn on...
Instructional Video7:21
Curated Video

Popular Words Invented by Authors

6th - Higher Ed
Authors often create words just for a one-time usage... but a special few will gain traction and become full-fledged parts of our shared lexicon!
Instructional Video8:38
Curated Video

It’s Never Turtles All the Way Down

6th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video10:51
Curated Video

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

6th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video10:48
Curated Video

Hawaii's Fiery Lovers to Enemies Myth

6th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video8:24
Curated Video

Music of the Gods

6th - Higher Ed
In many mythologies, music is associated with the explosion of life and bursts of creativity. But it’s also used to explore the dark side of human nature: the desire to manipulate our surroundings, or to control others.
Instructional Video8:23
Curated Video

The War in Heaven

6th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video10:32
Curated Video

The 2 Sides of Gawain: Hero vs. Antihero

6th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video8:29
Curated Video

How Every Heroic Story Is Really Just Gilgamesh

6th - Higher Ed
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.
Instructional Video10:54
Curated Video

How Mountains Inspire Mythology

6th - Higher Ed
Majestic, mysterious forms that hold the secrets of the universe? Or big, inscrutable rocks that take a lot of effort to climb? In pretty much every culture, it’s all about majesty and mystery when it comes to mountains. Home to mighty...
Instructional Video10:53
Curated Video

Aztec Mythology and the Origins of Humanity

6th - Higher Ed
If the word “Nahua” sounds unfamiliar to you, it’s probably because you’re more used to hearing them referred to as the Aztec. The history is complicated, but the name Aztec was popularized by a German explorer in the 1800s to describe...
Instructional Video9:11
Curated Video

Trickster Gods and the Mortals Who Love Them

6th - Higher Ed
If you’ve attended a sleepover party in the last 50 years, chances are high that you’ve encountered a prank call - maybe you’ve even made one yourself. But for thousands of years before the invention of the telephone, pranks fell under...
Instructional Video8:51
Curated Video

How Ancient Mythologies Defy the Gender Binary

6th - Higher Ed
Creation, transformation, and the quest for self-knowledge – these are universal themes that appear across world mythology. But there’s another common thread within these tales: gender fluidity. It’s not only commonplace in many...
Instructional Video10:16
Curated Video

How Sun Mythologies Are Universal

6th - Higher Ed
Energy from the sun gives heat, offers a bright reprieve from the darkness of night, and serves as the base for our entire food chain. It is no wonder it plays a central role in nearly all world mythologies.
Instructional Video9:13
Curated Video

Persephone: Bringer of Life or Destruction?

6th - Higher Ed
In Greek mythology, the magnificent mother and daughter duo Demeter and Persephone were the bringers of food and fair weather and were worshiped in lush harvest celebrations. But their story has a darker side – one involving violence,...