Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

Have you ever wanted to ask your local forest witch a question? Enter “Ask Baba Yaga” and Taisia Kitaiskaia. We talk with the wonderful author about her process of channeling the Slavic folklore character, how she grew up with the story, AND one lucky Conspiriter gets their question answered by Baba Yaga!This week, Julia recommends The Red Threads of Fate by JY Yang. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about heavy subjects like existentialism, abuse, Soviet Russia, loneliness, and death. Guest- Taisia Kitaiskaia is the author of Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Everyday Troubles and its forthcoming follow-up, Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Troubled Times; Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers , a collaboration with artist Katy Horan, and the accompanying The Literary Witches Oracle; and a forthcoming book of poetry, The Nightgown and Other Poems (Deep Vellum). She posts a new "Ask Baba Yaga" piece weekly on Instagram. Sponsors- Honeybook: A purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first year on HoneyBook.com/SPIRITS.- Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2 to get two months of Skillshare Premium for free! This week Amanda recommends “Happy Houseplants: Caring For Your Plants.”- Doordash is a fast, convenient food delivery app. Get $5 off your first order of $15 or more when you download the DoorDash app and enter promo code Spirits at checkout.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re revamping our Myth Movie Nights by revisiting a Spirits favorite - selkies! We’re doing a deep dive (get it?) into the Celtic stories of ‘Song of the Sea,’ featuring: summer stones, storm hags, where a selkie coat comes from, and being kind to yourself. This week, Amanda recommends Goliath by Matt Stoller. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death/disappearance, drowning, animal death, implied emotionally abusive relationships, birth and birth complications, loss/grief, and mental health struggles.  Sponsors- Calm is the #1 app to help you reduce your anxiety and stress and help you sleep better. Get 25% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits.- Away, whose suitcases are our new go-to for travel of all kinds. Get $20 off a suitcase by using promo code SPIRITS at checkout.- Warby Parker is our go-to destination for eyeglasses. Take their quiz and order your free home try-ons at warbyparker.com/spirits.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode became a debate over an important topic: do you ignore the ghosts or confront them? In this accidental case study we discuss the problem with mirrored closets, spooky home renovations, Shorts Ghosts, and the decision to just… go to sleep when ghosts come to call. For the record, 75% of you are Team Ignorance.This week, Julia recommends Bring it On, Ghost! Aka Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight. You can check out our new studio and read how we built it in this blog post. And back the Cryptids, Creatures & Critters: A Manual of Monsters & Myth fundraiser today!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about surgery, animal attacks, smoking/vaping, insomnia, home invasion, child death, mental illness, drunk driving, and car accidents.Sponsors- Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2 to get two months of Skillshare Premium for free! This week Julia recommends “Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate”- Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box!- ThirdLove is on a mission to find a perfect bra for everyone. Get 15% off your first order at thirdlove.com/spirits.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This story seems like we lifted it straight out of a fanfiction or a long-running anime, but the story of Jacheongbi is so incredible, it had to be replicated. Friends to lovers, trials and tribulations to win back your love, but a shocking amount of good communication?? All this and more! This week, Amanda recommends Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and the podcast, Witch N Bitch. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about childbirth, fertility issues, colorism, rape, cross-dressing, murder, resurrection, starvation, menustration, and sexism. Sponsors- Honeybook: A purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first year on HoneyBook.com/SPIRITS.- Care/Of, the personalized vitamin service designed to fit your life and body. Get 50% off your first order with code SPIRITS50.- Doordash is a fast, convenient food delivery app. Get $5 off your first order of $15 or more when you download the DoorDash app and enter promo code Spirits at checkout.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re joined by author and fabulist (our new favorite word) Carmen Maria Machado as we delve into the stories and urban legends that inspire her, how video games and relaxing TV are more in depth than we’d imagined, and her favorite biblical insult.This week, Julia recommends “Sisters of the Vast Black” by Lina Rather. You can also get our new beanie, plus tons of new Multitude merch, at multitude.productions/merchContent Warning: This episode contains conversations about hypochondria, urban legends surrounding contamination/infection, AIDS/HIV, child endangerment, poison, sexual assault/rape, domestic violence, gun violence, school shootings, #MeToo, biblical/religious references, video game violence, and animal death. Please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline for confidential support if you have experienced sexual assault.Guest- Carmen Maria Machado is a fabulist and the author of the memoir In the Dream House and the short story collection Her Body and Other Parties. Follow her on Twitter @CarmenMMachado.Sponsors- Calm is the #1 app to help you reduce your anxiety and stress and help you sleep better. Get 25% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits.- Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2 to get two months of Skillshare Premium for free! This week Amanda recommends “Ink Drawing Techniques: Brush, Nib, and Pen Style” by Yuko Shimizu.- Warby Parker is our go-to destination for eyeglasses. Order your free home try-ons at warbyparker.com/spirits.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Live from the Bell House, Julia is putting on her game show crop top and hosting CREEPY OR COOL - a game where you guess if a creature is, well… creepy or cool. It’s like friendship! But where someone wins!Check out our INSTAGRAM for the slides from this episode! This week, Julia recommends The Lighthouse. Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals Series (again). Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about child death, bodily functions, body horror, feet, corpse-eating, blood, insects, unsanitary conditions, suffocation, murder, drowning, kidnapping, Sponsors- Doordash is a fast, convenient food delivery app. Get $5 off your first order of $15 or more when you download the DoorDash app and enter promo code Spirits at checkout.- Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box!- ThirdLove is on a mission to find a perfect bra for everyone. Get 15% off your first order at thirdlove.com/spirits.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Julia, nothing says Halloween quite like Hocus Pocus. For Amanda... she’s never seen it. Shocker. We dive into the Salem-inspired Disney Halloween classic, fall in love with Binx, question how a musical number could happen, and dream of a New England Halloween. This week, Julia recommends Folk Magic and Healing by Fez Inkwright.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about kidnapping, child endangerment/death, hanging, burning, animal death, sexual harassment, and mind control. Sponsors- Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2 to get two months of Skillshare Premium for free! This week Julia recommends “Writing for Online Engagement: Fiction in a Digital World”- Honeybook: A purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first year on HoneyBook.com/SPIRITS.- Angel Mage, the newest standalone fantasy novel from Garth Nix. Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We ask important questions with these hometowns. Are all ghosts just pranksters? How much spooky stuff has to happen to create A FAMILY LORE? Rediscovering a ghost son, the spookiness of bad infrastructure, an accusatory phone call, and thankfully, a palate cleanser. This week, Amanda recommends Trick Mirror by Jia TolentinoContent Warning: This episode contains conversations about surgery, dental/tooth discussion, health care, drug use, burning, drowning, suicide, strangling, implied sexual assault, drunk driving, car accidents, cult/cult suicide, death, and gaslighting. Sponsors- Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2 to get two months of Skillshare Premium for free! This week Amanda recommends “DIY Macrame Plant Hangers.”- Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box!- Angel Mage, the newest standalone fantasy novel from Garth Nix. Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Break out your ghost detectors and specter-o-meters. Because we’re talking about HAUNTED DOLLS this week! Julia breaks down the historical links to the haunted dolls of today, and then lays out some of her favorite unique examples to scare Amanda. This week, Julia recommends the new podcast Passenger List!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about child death, car accidents, possession, and systematic racism. Sponsors- Calm is the #1 app to help you reduce your anxiety and stress and help you sleep better. Get 25% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits.- Care/Of, the personalized vitamin service designed to fit your life and body. Get 25% off your first order with code SPIRITS.- HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service that shops, plans, and delivers step-by-step recipes and pre-measured ingredients. For $80 off your first month of HelloFresh, go to HelloFresh.com/SPIRITS80 and enter SPIRITS80.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amanda’s childhood dreams come true as we’re joined by award-winning author Garth Nix. We learn how Nix creates magical worlds, hear his top tips on writing, throw some shade at Tolkein, and chat about his new novel Angel Mage. Remember: The answers are within us. This week, Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death and religious institutions.Guest- Garth Nix is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Old Kingdom series and the new novel Angel Mage. Sponsors- Gender Free World is an all-gender clothing company with diverse sizing options and inclusive design. Use code spirits10 to get 10% off your purchase at genderfreeworld.com- Within the Wires, a unique and immersive fiction show that tells stories using found audio from an alternate 20th century. Find them on any podcast app or withinthewires.com.- Doordash is a fast, convenient food delivery app. Get $5 off your first order of $15 or more when you download the DoorDash app and enter promo code Spirits at checkout.Find Us OnlineIf you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.About UsSpirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.