Overview
Since the beginning of time, humans have been telling all sorts of stories. Whether it’s tales of victorious Vikings or knights of the Round Table, there are tons of stories from every culture. And the podcast Myths and Legends puts just about every folktale you can think of (plus some you’ve never heard of) in one place.
Podcast hosts Jason Weiser and Carissa Weiser spend each episode retelling a myth or legend, with a uniquely modern and humorous twist on it. You may notice some are about popular stories like Aladdin or The Little Mermaid, but make no mistake — these are not the same Disney retellings that are always appropriate for young audiences. So let’s take a look at the content to make sure this podcast is safe for your child.
Harmful Content ❗️
You can probably guess that many stories from mythology are not completely wholesome. Many of them have themes of violence, inappropriate relationships, or outdated ideas that we don’t hold in the twenty-first century. The podcast handles these topics as tactfully as possible, but it’s important to note the show isn’t specifically written for children’s ears.
For particularly adult stories, the host will include a disclaimer at the beginning saying that this specific episode is not for kids (Pro tip: Greek mythology episodes will almost always have some kind of disclaimer). But there may still be episodes without this disclaimer that you do not want your child listening to.
Furthermore, some of the stories may be hard for younger audiences to follow, even if they’re appropriate. Just know that if you listen to this with your child, some of it may go over their head or you may have to explain some of the nuanced parts of the stories.
Language
In general, there are not a lot of curses or swear words in the episodes. Again some of the language may be “adult” in the sense that it’s talking about mature concepts, but inappropriate words are not frequent.
Sex
Some stories involve romantic attraction or interactions, but the host usually handles this quite subtly. There are certainly no graphic descriptions but be prepared for some implications of sex or intimate relationships.
Violence
As you can imagine, many myths and legends revolve around war, battles, dangerous creatures, dramatic deaths, and more. The level of detail and intensity of violence may vary from episode to episode.
Positive Value 💫
Myths and Legends is an excellent mix of creative storytelling and fascinating history. In the description of the show, it says, “All the stories are sourced from world folklore, but retold for modern ears.” In other words, these are real stories that have been told for centuries but are narrated in a way that sparks the listener’s imagination.
The show covers many common stories, such as Aladdin, King Arthur, and Hercules. But it also covers many lesser-known stories from tons of different cultures such as Danish folklore, Japanese tales, Slavic legends, and more.
So, should my kid listen to it?
This show is great for kids around the age of 12 and up. Be sure to consider your own family’s values and potentially preview some episodes that may be borderline for your child’s age and maturity.
