Myths and Muses: A Mythik Camps Podcast

Episode 9: Sports and Athletics

The history of sports is deeply woven into the stories humanity has told, from its earliest days. In this episode, we look at the mythological tie-ins of the Olympic Games, how wrestling shows up in many ancient stories, and a particularly wild sport from Minoan civilization. We also explore some of the most popular modern sports -- and how some of those have ancient origins, too!

This episode's interview features Anna Willenbrock, a Camp Mythik and Camp Half-Blood Brooklyn Counselor who has a deep love of athletics! She's done everything from discus to sword-fighting, and she wants demigods to hear that athleticism can be for everyone.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 9]

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Episode 8: Music and Dance

Music is something that we as humans have used to express ourselves for millennia – and it works its way into many of the stories we tell, too! Many myths speak to the power of music to change minds, charm beasts, and even create magic. In this episode, we explore some famous and some less-well-known tales about mythological musicians and dancers.

This episode's interview features Kelly Branco, child of the Muses and a demigod with quite a bit of experience bringing music to others! You can find Kelly on her website, www.kellybranco.com, or on Instagram @kellybranxo. You can also find her epic playlists on Spotify and listen to "The Sound" on 89.1WFDU-HD3 Mondays and Thursdays 7-9pm.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 8]

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Episode 7: Back-to-School

With summer at an end, the Muses have asked me to do an episode focusing on going back to school! As you might imagine, the Muses are all big fans of education. So many of the artistic things they inspire get studied in schools – books and poems and movies and paintings – but they also know that learning can inspire creativity. In this episode, we'll explore some stories about famous mythological teachers -- the figures who helped heroes become heroes -- and about some other gods of wisdom, knowledge, and learning.

This episode's interview features Jordana Elias, daughter of Aphrodite and National Program Director for Plato Learning. In her mortal guise, Jordana has also worked as a classroom teacher! She shares insights on how teachers prepare to go back-to-school and assures us that they do not, in fact, hibernate in their classrooms.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 7]

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Episode 6: Pets

Whether it’s dogs, cats, birds, fish, lizards – all kinds of pets today are a frequent inspiration for artistic expression, from Instagram photos to movies. And that’s always been true. As long as humans have had pets, we’ve wanted to work them into the stories we tell! In this episode of Myths & Muses, we look at some of mythology's most daring dogs and fabulous felines.

This week's interview features a very special guest, joining us straight from the depths of Tartarus!

[Transcript for Episode 6]

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

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Episode 5: Battles

Our demigods are known for their swordplay, so it's only natural that we devote an episode of the podcast to the arts of war and battle! Epic fights have played a role in so many amazing stories from mythology through the ages, from the poems of Homer to modern movies. In this episode, we talk about the key PVP fight of the Trojan War, between Hector and Achilles, as well as several other major fights from Egyptian, Aztec, and Chinese mythology.

This week's interview features Laine Flores, who works for Hermes as a logistics coordinator for Plato Learning, making sure that all our demigods get their swords and shirts every summer! But elsewhere in life, Laine is an expert in stage combat! Learn all about what that means in this episode.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 5]

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Episode 4: Games

From ancient board games to modern video games and tabletop role-playing games, this episode looks at how demigods play -- and the role that games have sometimes played in mythological stories!

From the Hero Twins of the Maya Popol Vuh and their ball game that you can really lose your head over to the Egyptian game of senet and its role in the Egyptian calendar, we explore some ancient origins of gaming. Then, we bring it all the way forward, exploring how modern video games and tabletop role-playing games incorporate mythology, often putting the player right in the role of an epic hero. And, of course, no episode on demigod gaming would be complete without discussing Mytho, Mythik Camps' very own tabletop role-playing game.

This week's interview features Shann Smith, child of Dionysus, who also runs our Mytho programming! Shann discusses their love for the community-building and improvisational aspects of tabletop gaming, as well as their work developing their own games.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 4]

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Episode 3: Siblings

Siblings! They can be the absolute best... or the absolute worst, especially when we're talking about families with divine powers.

In this episode, we'll explore some of the most famous tales of sibling rivalry, like that of Romulus and Remus, as well as stories where the siblings manage to pull together! We'll also talk about how the importance of twins carry down from the divine to mortal life in Yoruba culture, and we explore some of the common sibling-themes found in fairy tales and folklore across the world.

This episode's interview features Sarah Ryan, daughter of Athena and someone who has a special understanding with Baba Yaga. Sarah shares some of the important sibling and sibling-esque relationships in her own life, as well as her observations of how all the demigod siblings at our camps work together!

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 3]

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Episode 2: Creativity

Art is amazing! The creative impulse has spurred humanity for thousands of years. We naturally want to tell stories, paint pictures, shape metal and stone into beautiful objects, and perform through song, dance, and theatre.

In this episode, we explore the mythological connections to all those ways of expressing creativity! From the Muses of Greece to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, from Anansi the spider to Celtic metalworkers, we'll introduce some of the most epic figures related to arts and crafting.

This episode's interview features Elle Vallejos, daughter of Aphrodite, former Daring Girls Counselor, and current Hiring & Recruiting Manager for Plato Learning! Elle is an illustrator and costumer, and she shares some of her journey as a creative artist.

If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

[Transcript for Episode 2]

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