x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Midnight Myth Podcast

Derek Jones and Laurel Hostak

Derek & Laurel dish on myths, history, pop culture and more as they explore universal themes in storytelling. From Game of Thrones and Harry Potter to the Marvel Universe and Star Wars, we"ve been making pop culture sound smart since 2017.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

00:59:03

Episode 137: Communism Is Just a Red Herring | Clue...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2020/01/26

You’re probably wondering why we’ve gathered you all here today. Assume your alias, join us for champagne in the billiard room, and all will be revealed… This week, we’re discussing the outrageous 1985 black comedy Clue—the best movie based on a board game. This wacky film is equal parts sex farce and murder mystery, with a cast so star-studded it lights up any cable TV lineup. Through the jokes and conventions of Clue, we’ll explore the history of the Whodunit genre—especially the works of Agatha

en

00:58:36

(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: Episode 11, Song of Susannah...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2020/01/24

Hello Fellow Travelers on the Path of the Beam, Derek and Steve are back at the next installment of the Wheel of Ka, talking the last half of Song of Susannah. Ever wonder if that sweet smelling dark looking BBQ place on the city block next to you is actually sheltering inter-dimensional monsters who are feasting on human flesh? Welcome to the Dixie Pig of episodes as your Ka-Tet breaks down the characters, scenarios and situations of Roland, Eddie, Jake and of course Susannah, can I get a

en

00:57:47

Episode 136: Revenge of the Giant Face | Inglourious...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2020/01/19

Once upon a time in… the Midnight Myth Podcast studio, Derek and Laurel took on their first study of Quentin Tarantino with his 2009 masterpiece Inglourious Basterds. This alternate history of World War 2 paints a bloody picture of power and revenge in Nazi-occupied France. We follow two independent assassination plots on Hitler and the German high command, which converge, of all places, in a cinema. In this episode, Derek & Laurel interpret Inglourious Basterds as, by turns, a fairy tale, a

en

00:59:36

Episode 135: This Is the Way | The Mandalorian,...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2020/01/12

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, some wars were fought, a Jedi rose, and grand destinies were revealed. But what was happening just outside of that orbit? How did the many races and species of the galaxy fare when all was said and done? Disney Plus’s new Star Wars show The Mandalorian asks these questions, and gives us a few answers. We follow a lone bounty hunter from an ancient culture through worlds familiar and new on his unexpected quest. In this episode of the Midnight Myth, we

en

00:53:01

Episode 134: There Is Only Zuul | Ghostbusters...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2020/01/05

When there's something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? That’s right, friends, we are talking GHOSTBUSTERS! The original blockbusting comedy is full of supernatural insights, historical tie-in’s, and made-up mythology. We’ll discuss the foundations of Spiritualism in America in the 19th Century, from seances to parapsychology. We’ll visit the Ancient Near East to find out who they were really worshipping in 6,000 BCE. Who are Gozer, Zuul, and Vinz Clortho? What is Slimer made of

en

00:44:20

Episode 133: The Journey Home | 2019 Year-in-Review

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/12/29

We’ve made it to the end of a decade—and what a decade it was! Continuing our tradition, this episode is a Midnight Myth Year-in-Review. We’ll look back at our conversations through the year and identify the common themes, motifs, and memories. Three major franchises came to a kind of close this year, so watch out for ***SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Game of Thrones Season 8, and Avengers: Endgame.*** In our continued search for universal themes in storytelling, this year-end

en

00:50:19

Episode 132: You're a Mean One | Dr. Seuss's How the...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/12/22

Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just North of Whoville… did NOT. Welcome, friends, to another Midnight Myth Christmas Special! This is our favorite time of year, in part due to the Winter holidays’ rich historical and folkloric tradition. Each year, we turn our eye to a beloved classic holiday story to identify its connections to universal themes. This year, we’re unpacking Dr. Seuss’s ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ We’ll discuss the inspiration for the

en

01:01:15

(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: Episode Ten, Song of...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/12/19

Welcome back, fellow travelers on the path of the Beam, and thank you for your patience as Derek and Steve prepared the next episode of the Wheel of Ka, say true? Say thank ya! This week is our first episode on Song of Susannah, and our 10th episode in the series. As we cross the milestone together, like a band of ancient cowboys crossing a magically opened door to another where and when, we sing the commala in unison! Our heroes are scattered in time and space, with Roland and Eddie battling

en

00:53:26

Episode 131: A Certain Point of View | Star Wars...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/12/15

Is C-3PO a god? Did Obi Wan tell the truth from a certain point of view? Can the worst of the worst, like Darth Vader, really be redeemed? In the final installment of our podcast series on the Star Wars Original Trilogy, we’re hopping on our speeder bikes for a joy ride through the Forest Moon of Endor. We’ll compare the teachings of the Jedi to the contradictory nature of real-world knighthood, discuss the basis of Ewok society, and track the formation and formalization of ritual in Episode VI:

en

00:58:59

Episode 130: Old Man Yoda | Star Wars Episode V: The...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/12/08

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… In the second installment of our series on Star Wars and mythology, we’re unpacking the most powerful symbols in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Considered by most to be the best of the Star Wars movies, Empire has no shortage of philosophy and mythic symbolism to mine. We’ll explore the sacred space of darkness and light that Yoda inhabits on Dagobah, and compare his understanding of the Force—which draws deeply on Buddhist philosophy—to what we

en

01:09:03

Episode 129: Let It Go | Frozen, The Snow Queen &...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/24

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen… Come with us to the fairy tale kingdom of Arendelle, the setting of Disney’s 2013 megabit: Frozen. Hot (or cold) on the heels of the release of Frozen’s long-awaited sequel, we’ll unpack the meaning of Anna and Elsa’s journey into the depths of winter. You’ll hear the story Frozen is inspired by—Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Snow Queen’—and an analysis of the changes Disney made to the source. We’ll talk trolls and magic in

en

00:59:48

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 20: Dark & Full...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/23

Welcome to the Midnight Myth Time Machine! Take one last trip down memory lane with us for this episode from June of 2017. “Ours is the fury.” These are the words of House Baratheon. Lords of the Stormlands, and House that brought about King Robert’s rebellion. Yes my friends, Derek and Laurel travel to the fantastic realm of Westeros, as they perform the first of many Game of Thrones character studies. The focus of the first study is Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of Robert, and his journey

en

01:13:18

Episode 128: Maclunkey | Star Wars Episode IV: A New...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/17

In just over a month’s time, we’ll gather, along with millions across the globe, to partake in an ancient ritual: the viewing of Star Wars. The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion to the epic Skywalker Saga, is just around the corner, so we’re going back to the source. In this discussion of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, we’ll work to decode the symbolic language in this myth for our time. Drawing on the work of Joseph Campbell, Sigmund Freud, C.G. Jung, and others, we’ll attempt to understand the

en

00:44:23

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 19: Don't Break...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/14

It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! This episode originally aired in 2017. Ya know, there are rules to this. All of this. You can’t just go around doing what you want, saying what you want, podcasting what you want. Rules. Well, listen as Derek and Laurel debate the battle tactics of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Then, a discussion of how magical systems in storytelling relate to the world of American politics. Subscribe to our friends at the Pop Venture Family on YouTube, and stay tuned

en

01:40:32

Episode 127: You Remind Me of the Babe (feat. Verbal...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/10

Turn back, listeners. Turn back. Unless you’re truly prepared for the epic team-up of Midnight Myth X Verbal Diorama! We’re thrilled to welcome Em on the podcast to discuss Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. We’ll try not to take anything for granted as we explore the technique, the enduring relevance, and the very David Bowie of it all. We’ll discuss Sarah, the fairy tale heroine who finds her own voice, Jareth, the Goblin King who sexually confused a generation, Sir Didymus of the Bog of Eternal Stench, the

en

01:07:25

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 18: Woman...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/06

This episode originally aired in 2017. This episode discusses the 90s class Jurassic Park. We are re-imagining the blockbuster classic as an intellectual treatise on the role humanity has on biological systems, as we grapple with manmade climate change. Derek & Laurel trace the evolution of the age-old conflict between man and nature, exploring Jurassic Park’s modern man vs. nature narrative (and its parallels to Mary Shelley’s classic story, Frankenstein). The debate is palpable, and reminds

en

01:09:20

Episode 126: Remember Remember | V for Vendetta,...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/11/03

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot. This week on the Midnight Myth, we’re exploring the 2005 film V for Vendetta—and what a treasure trove of theme, history, literature, and philosophy it is! We’ll unpack connections between the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and similar historical attempts at rebuilding society through destruction of the status quo. We’ll explain why V quotes so much Shakespeare, and why he

en

01:12:53

(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: Episode Nine, Wolves of the...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/10/29

The Wheel of Ka returns with its final discussion on Stephen King’s the Dark Tower Book V: Wolves of the Calla. Your reliable hosts again discuss all the themes of this epic book from the lens of what the Dark Tower means and how this installment fits into the broader series. The second half of Book V sees the Ka-Tet working with the good folken to prepare Calla Bryn Sturgis for battle with the the deadly Wolves. From the Dogan, to trips to NYC to save the Rose, a mysterious plant deeply linked to

en

01:12:46

Episode 125: Everybody Gonna Shine | Halloween...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/10/27

Happy Halloween 2019! Come get snowbound with us on our 3rd annual Halloween Special. This year, we’re exploring one of the spookiest, scariest, and greatest horror films of all time, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Bringing insight from the source novel by Stephen King (who famously hated the screen adaptation so much he produced his own adaptation for television), we’ll wander the halls of the Overlook Hotel, peer into Room 237 and into the crumbling sanity of Jack Torrance. Also: history of Gilded

en

01:02:59

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 17: This Is the...

The Midnight Myth Podcast ·

2019/10/26

Welcome to the Midnight Myth Time Machine! This episode originally aired in May 2017. If you’re easing back into the world of “Twin Peaks” like we are, you’re ripe for a discussion of David Lynch’s 2001 masterpiece, “Mulholland Drive.” You might not realize just how much the two have in common. Spoilers abound as we take a trip down a lost highway, exploring some of Lynch’s major artistic themes and motifs as he develops as a filmmaker. Using Lynch as our blueprint, we make a case for the universal

en

288 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser