Animal Magic

Power

Bacteria, billionaires and blockbuster action stars of the 80s – all are forms of power. In this episode, we await the most powerful being of all, the electrician, whose 5-minute appointment can eat an entire day from 8 to 4. But it gives plenty of time to wonder: what is "power?"  

The Trojan War and Euripides' Helen (Sample Chapters of WELCOME TO TRAGEDY)

I wrote a little book, Welcome to Tragedy: A Beginner's Guide to Greek Drama, with brief introductions to all of the surviving scripts by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides (plus three comedies by Aristophanes).  I was fascinated by the variety of Greek drama, ranging beyond familiar definitions of "Tragedy."  One script that really sticks out is Euripides' Helen, a wacky swashbuckling adventure story.  So that chapter is here (starting at about the 8 minute mark), after a basic introduction to the Trojan War.

Bonfire

Fire is like this pet we've been trying to adopt and domesticate for half a million years.  But at heart, all fire is wildfire.  In this episode, we'll be looking at some classic fire stories from Indigenous Americans, Ancient Greeks, and the Lethal Weapon film series.

Leviathan

One of the great mysteries of all Biblical Scripture is God's great battle with a sea-monster called Leviathan.  Why did God have to mud-wrestle this beast?  Was it killed and left out for the ravens, or is it still at large?  And how might the grudge-match live on in modern courtrooms and classrooms?  

MayDay and the Mysterious Robin GoodFellow Hood

Was Robin Hood really a Medieval Knight, or was he some kind of Goat-legged trickster?  And what did he have to do with Pagan Pole-dancing?  [Note: This live recording has some microphone buzz, but it basically came out alright]

Easter Bunny Special

In a candid moment, the Easter Bunny shares some personal recollections and ponders the...  Well, you'll see.  Or, in this case, hear.

The Minotaur

For some, the word "Labyrinth" conjures ancient visions of David Bowie with tight pants and puppets.  The ancient Labyrinth was the lair of the man-eating Minotaur.  We'll explore the myth of this monster, and the princess who masterminded its demise.

Raised by Wolves

Adopting a new dog (a dingo-corgi) raises fascinating questions about the long history of human-canine cooperation.  And there's this Gospel story where Jesus calls someone's daughter a dog - what's up with that?