

Living Myth
Michael Meade
Mosaic presents Living Myth, a podcast with Michael Meade, renowned mythologist and storyteller. Meade presents mythic stories that offer uniquely insightful and wise ways of understanding the current dilemmas of the world we live in. Living Myth proposes that genuine solutions to the complex and intractable problems of our world require both transcendent imagination and cohering, transformative narratives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

8 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 38min
Episode 444 - An Act of Truth
Dive into the intriguing exploration of how conspiracy theories and misinformation thrive in our quest for belonging. Discover the psychological impact of group dynamics on personal identity, and how polarization intensifies the acceptance of false narratives. Uncover ancient wisdom contrasting true vision with ignorance, and hear transformative stories highlighting the healing potential of truth. Finally, learn how courage and small acts of honesty can foster significant societal change and restore our collective integrity.

8 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 34min
Episode 443 - Facing Inner Fears
A fairy tale reveals a kingdom in despair, needing the Water of Life to revive a sick king. The journey emphasizes humility, vulnerability, and confronting inner fears, led by a wise dwarf. Listeners explore the relationship between leadership and environmental health, and how embracing one's inner youth can lead to transformative healing. Facing sorrow and inadequacy becomes essential for personal growth, highlighting that fear is not just a barrier, but a pathway to discovering deeper wisdom and creativity.

37 snips
Jul 2, 2025 • 30min
Episode 442 - Your Lot in Life
Explore the ancient belief that every soul has a unique path, rooted in the symbolism of the World Tree. Delve into the role of myths in shaping our understanding of life’s complexities and the significance of individual destinies. Discover how recognizing your divine purpose can guide you through challenges and awaken your true self. The podcast emphasizes personal growth and authenticity as crucial for contributing to a more united and renewed human experience.

Jun 25, 2025 • 28min
Episode 441 - A Light Within Dark Times
Explore an ancient Persian myth that reveals the deep-rooted nature of conflict and its psychological impact on society. Discover how poetry and art can serve as beacons of hope during turmoil. Delve into creation myths that highlight doubt as a catalyst for growth and insight. Learn about the importance of healing divisions to foster lasting peace. Embrace the tensions of life, where fear and beauty coexist, driving creativity and connection even in challenging times.
Jan 28, 2025 • 23min
Premium Episode 151 Excerpt - Pathways to the Center
On this excerpt from a Living Myth Premium episode, Michael Meade explores how even in the darkest times, the inner abundance of the soul is ever nearby. The problem is that the pathways to our inner inheritance and instinctive vitality are blocked by received ideas and an over-adaptation to early life conditions. The rigid attitudes of our ego or little-self make it difficult to connect to the imagination and vitality of the greater self within us. The deeper self is our true center that can be both a place of stillness and refuge or a place of breaking open and breaking through the limitations of the little self. You can hear the full episode and receive additional podcast content by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 700 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at patreon.com/livingmyth

Jun 10, 2023 • 17min
Premium Episode 116 Excerpt - The Subtle Ground of Imagination
On this excerpt from a Living Myth Premium episode, Michael Meade explores how inside of each of us is a mostly hidden, mostly golden and mostly eternal image and aspect of being similar to the gold that is buried in the Earth. In seeking out this inner gold, we meet egoic resistance and must find ways to break the ego's shell to tap the deeper wisdom within. Along the way, part of what opens this territory is a courageous act of facing death, for a death of the ego is required in order for the deeper self to emerge. You can hear the full episode and receive additional podcast content by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 520 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at patreon.com/livingmyth

Jan 13, 2023 • 26min
Premium Episode 108 Excerpt - The Salt of Inner Wisdom
Mythologist Michael Meade discusses the intertwining of cosmology, psychology, and philosophy in ancient Irish myths, exploring embodied wisdom and the symbolic significance of salt. The podcast delves into the quest for wisdom, interconnectedness of self, initiatory wounds, and the journey to finding inner wisdom.

Sep 16, 2022 • 18min
Premium Episode 104 Excerpt - Complexities of Life
On this excerpt from a premium episode, Michael Meade talks about key issues that affect transformation in our lives. He considers core complexes in family and culture and wades into the territory of deep emotions. The word complex is trying to point out that when we have a particular kind of interior trouble, the issues are complex. Deep down, we all want to change, he says, and each crisis and obstacle we encounter serves to spark the initiatory transformation our soul longs for. If we change one small thing in our lives, we affect everything and everyone around us. In following our deep calling in life, we naturally encounter struggles. Yet it is these exact struggles that become the turning point for our lives to become bigger, for our wounds to find healing and for our destiny to be revealed. You can hear the full episode and receive additional podcast content by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 445 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at patreon.com/livingmyth.

Jun 17, 2022 • 16min
Premium Episode 97 Excerpt - The Stars Know Your Name
Exploring the collapse of certainty in the world, dangers of cynicism and isolation, and the importance of cosmology and inner gifts. Delving into the link between cosmic elements and human existence, adapting to uncertainty, and self-discovery through imagination. Reflecting on finding resilience and connection amidst disruptions and embracing our inner selves.

Dec 14, 2019 • 22min
Bonus Episode - Premium Podcast #37 - The Language of Truth
On this bonus sharing of the latest premium podcast, Michael Meade begins with a poetic response to the deadening language that at times dominates the discussion about impeaching the President. What begins as a critique of the speech being used to defend the politics of big lies turns into a lament for the loss of language able to carry the truth of the human heart and soul. A procession of poems and commentary ranges from Aime Cesaire seeking "to rediscover the secret of great communications and great combustions" to D.H. Lawrence warning us how big lies and damning mistakes have repeatedly been sanctified in modern times. The surprise of this intricate response to the lack of presence and imagination in political life arrives through the ancient wisdom of Kabir, who reminds us that truth resides in the surprising territory of awakening where the deep self and soul waits to be found again. Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can hear more content like this by joining the growing community of listeners who are members of Living Myth Premium. Become a member with a $10/month subscription and receive 3 bonus episodes each month, the full podcast archives and a 30% discount on all products. Become a member at patreon.com/livingmyth.


