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.
Song of the Siren | The Odyssey (2026), Mythology & The Classics
The Odyssey (2026) · Jul 29, 2026
(BONUS) The Wheel of Ka: Misery
Misery (1990) · Feb 7, 2024
Meditation: Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
Die Hard (1988) · Dec 24, 2023
Episode 217: The Senate, Sand, and Other Things | Stars Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) · Dec 3, 2023
Episode 216: Now This Is Podracing | Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) · Nov 12, 2023
Midnight Myth Meditation: Barbie
Barbie (2023) · Sep 17, 2023
Episode 213: Summer's End | Moonrise Kingdom (2012), Mythology & Music
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) · Jul 23, 2023
Episode 212: Bond Company Stooge | The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Mythology & Oceanography
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) · May 28, 2023
Episode 211: Family of Geniuses | The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Greek & Roman Mythology
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) · Apr 30, 2023
Episode 210: Heads Will Roll | Sleepy Hollow feat. Garden of Doom
Sleepy Hollow (1999) · Mar 27, 2023
Midnight Myth Meditation: Mythology vs Folklore in Big Fish (2003)
Big Fish (2003) · Feb 5, 2023
Episode 209: Drying Out | Big Fish (2003), Mythology & Truth
Big Fish (2003) · Jan 29, 2023
(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: The Shining | Trauma, Ghosts, and Booze
The Shining (1980) · Jan 12, 2023
2022 In Review | Andor, White Lotus, Everything Everywhere All at Once & More
Andor (2022) · Jan 1, 2023
A Christmas Bonus
Gremlins (1984) · Dec 25, 2022
A Christmas Bonus
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) · Dec 25, 2022
A Christmas Bonus
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) · Dec 25, 2022
A Christmas Bonus
Elf (2003) · Dec 25, 2022
A Christmas Bonus
Krampus (2015) · Dec 25, 2022
Episode 208: Cookies Are for Closers | Elf (2003), Christmas History & Elves
Elf (2003) · Dec 18, 2022
Episode 201 : Rosebud | Citizen Kane, American History & Epistemology
Rosebud (1975) · Apr 24, 2022
Episode 200: Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli | The Godfather (1972), Mythology & History of the Mafia
The Godfather (1972) · Mar 27, 2022
Episode 199: Emergence | Eternals (2021), World Mythology & the Cartesian Circle
Eternals (2021) · Feb 27, 2022
Episode 198: More Than Just Your Gift | Encanto, Trauma & History of Colombia
Encanto (2021) · Jan 30, 2022
Episode 195: Hark! | A Charlie Brown Christmas, History of Christmas & Medieval Theatre
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) · Dec 19, 2021
Episode 194 | Desert Power: Dune (2021), Mythology & Persia
Dune (2021) · Nov 7, 2021
Episode 192: Strength & Honor | Gladiator (2000), Rome & Historical Fiction
Gladiator (2000) · Sep 26, 2021
(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: The Mist
The Mist (2007) · Aug 22, 2021
Episode 191: Gods & Demons | Princess Mononoke, Shinto, Japanese History & Identity
Princess Mononoke (1997) · Aug 15, 2021
(BONUS) It's Not Easy Being Green | The Green Knight (2021)
The Green Knight (2021) · Aug 13, 2021
Episode 189: Let's Go Bowling | The Big Lebowski, Existentialism & Eastern Philosophy
The Big Lebowski (1998) · Jul 12, 2021
Episode 188: The Horror, the Horror | Apocalypse Now (1979), the Vietnam War & Myth
Apocalypse Now (1979) · Jun 6, 2021
Episode 187: I Never Drink... Wine | Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Vampire Literature & Vlad the Impaler
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) · May 23, 2021
Episode 186: One Day More | Les Miserables, French History & Literature
Les Misérables (2012) · May 2, 2021
Episode 185: Feast of Fools | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Gothic Architecture & Antiziganism
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) · Apr 22, 2021
Episode 183: Please Stand By | WandaVision, Psychoanalysis & Eastern Philosophy
Please Stand By (2018) · Mar 14, 2021
Episode 182: I Know Kung Fu | The Matrix, Plato's The Cave & The Old Testament
The Matrix (1999) · Feb 28, 2021
Episode 181: Ocean Master | Aquaman (2018), the Myth of Atlantis & the Arthurian Legend
Aquaman (2018) · Feb 14, 2021
(Bonus) The Wheel of Ka: It part 1
It (2017) · Jan 26, 2021
Episode 171: The Heir of Slytherin | Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets, Epistemology & Legend
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) · Nov 15, 2020
Episode 169: Sparkle Motion | Donnie Darko, Philosophy & Religion
Donnie Darko (2001) · Nov 1, 2020
Episode 167: Pandemonium | Hereditary (2018), Greek Tragedy & Religion
Hereditary (2018) · Oct 11, 2020
Episode 166: Really Bad Eggs | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Ghost Ships & Piracy
Episode 164: Will-o-the-Wisp | Pixar's Brave (2012), Fairy Tales & Feminism
Brave (2012) · Sep 20, 2020
Episode 163: Spartan Spirit | 300 (2006), Greek History & Mythology
300 (2007) · Sep 13, 2020
Episode 161: FREEDOM! | Braveheart, Historical Fiction & Political Philosophy
Braveheart (1995) · Aug 23, 2020
Episode 160: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Podcast | Jaws (1975), Mythological Monsters & Public Health
Jaws (1975) · Aug 16, 2020
Episode 157: Rage Against the Machine | Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Greek Myth & Technology
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) · Jul 19, 2020
Episode 155: Kane's Son | Alien (1979), Greek Mythology & The Body
Alien (1979) · Jul 5, 2020
Episode 154: Starchild | 2001: A Space Odyssey, Mythology & Philosophy
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) · Jun 28, 2020
Episode 153: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | The Wizard of Oz, Mythology & Americana
The Wizard of Oz (1939) · Jun 14, 2020
Episode 152: Phone Home | E.T., Greek Mythology & Peter Pan
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) · May 31, 2020
Episode 150: Bangarang! | Hook (1991), Psychoanalysis & Piracy
Hook (1991) · May 17, 2020
Episode 148: Don't Panic | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Science Fiction & The Absurd
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) · May 3, 2020
Episode 145B: The End of All Things | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Medieval Literature & Eucatastrophe
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) · Apr 12, 2020
Episode 145A: Prince of the Halflings | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Norse Mythology & Kingship
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) · Apr 5, 2020
Episode 144: Crusty Jugglers | Hot Fuzz, The History of Bromance & The Greater Good
Hot Fuzz (2007) · Mar 29, 2020
Episode 141B: Pity and Mercy | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Mythology & Heroism
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) · Mar 8, 2020
Episode 141A: The Turn of the Tide | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Medieval Literature & History
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) · Mar 1, 2020
Episode 139B: Those Who Wander | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring pt. 2
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) · Feb 16, 2020
Episode 139A: One Pod to Rule Them All | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring pt. 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) · Feb 9, 2020
Episode 137: Communism Is Just a Red Herring | Clue (1985), Whodunits & McCarthyism
Clue (1985) · Jan 26, 2020
Episode 136: Revenge of the Giant Face | Inglourious Basterds, Alternate History & Revenge Tragedy
Inglourious Basterds (2009) · Jan 19, 2020
Episode 132: You're a Mean One | Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! & the History of Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) · Dec 22, 2019
Episode 129: Let It Go | Frozen, The Snow Queen & Scandinavian Folklore
Let It Go · Nov 24, 2019
Episode 128: Maclunkey | Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Mythology & Psychoanalysis | ***Giveaway***
Giveaway (1982) · Nov 17, 2019
Episode 127: You Remind Me of the Babe (feat. Verbal Diorama!) | Labyrinth (1986), Myths, Fairy Tales & Puppets
Labyrinth (1986) · Nov 10, 2019
Episode 125: Everybody Gonna Shine | Halloween Special! The Shining, Horror History & Philosophy
The Shining (1980) · Oct 27, 2019
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 17: This Is the Girl: David Lynch, Mulholland Drive & Artistic Intent
Mulholland Drive (2001) · Oct 26, 2019
Episode 124: Doomsday Clock | Watchmen (2009), History & Psychology
Watchmen (2009) · Oct 20, 2019
Episode 122: Let's Get Nuts | Batman (1989), Philosophy of Justice & Victor Hugo
Batman (1989) · Oct 6, 2019
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 13: The Clock Is Broken | Doctor Who, Mythology & Thermodynamics
Doctor Who (1996) · Sep 27, 2019
Episode 120: I Am a Golden God | Almost Famous, Mythology, Virtue Ethics & the History of Rock & Roll
Almost Famous (2000) · Sep 22, 2019
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 12: Zoo Me | Zootopia, Fairy Tales & Anthopormorphism
Zootopia (2016) · Sep 20, 2019
Episode 119: Too Many Notes | Amadeus, Classical Music, History & Ancient Greek Drama
Amadeus (1984) · Sep 15, 2019
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 11: Don't Disconnect Me, Brah | Robotics, Consciousness & 2001
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) · Sep 13, 2019
Episode 118: Bringing Skeksi Back | The Dark Crystal, Greek Mythology & the Art of Puppetry
The Dark Crystal (1982) · Sep 8, 2019
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 7: There Is No Spoon | The Matrix, American Beauty & Fight Club
Fight Club (1999) · Aug 7, 2019
Episode 115: Mirror Mirror | Snow White, Mythology & Religion
Mirror Mirror (2012) · Aug 4, 2019
Episode 113: HULK SMASH | The Incredible Hulk, Greek Mythology, Gothic Literature & Psychology
The Incredible Hulk (2008) · Jul 21, 2019
Episode 112: Moon Child | The Neverending Story, Mythology, Alchemy & Philosophy
The NeverEnding Story (1984) · Jul 7, 2019
Episode 110: Don't Fear the Reaper | Bill & Ted, Mythology & Psychoanalysis
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) · Jun 23, 2019
Episode 102: Avengers Assemble | Endgame, Mythology & American History
Avengers: Endgame (2019) · Apr 28, 2019
Episode 86: You Wonderful Old Building & Loan | It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas & American Exceptionalism
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) · Dec 16, 2018
Episode 84: It Belongs in a Museum | Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Archaeology & Museum Ethics
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) · Dec 2, 2018
Episode 82: The World is Mi Familia | Pixar's Coco, Dia de los Muertos & the Power of Music
Coco (2017) · Nov 11, 2018
Episode 81: The Fire Swamp | The Princess Bride, Fairy Tales & Marriage
The Princess Bride (1987) · Nov 4, 2018
Episode 78: O Captain! My Captain! | Dead Poets Society, Romanticism & Artistic Identity
Dead Poets Society (1989) · Sep 17, 2018
Episode 75: Nolan | Memento, the Dark Knight, Inception & Interstellar
Interstellar (2014) · Aug 19, 2018
Episode 70: Outside In | Pixar's Inside Out, Coming-of-age & Emotional Theory
Inside Out (2015) · Jul 16, 2018
Episode 68: That's Incredible! | The Incredibles, Politics & the Superhero
The Incredibles (2004) · Jul 2, 2018
Episode 64: Way Down Below the Ocean | The Little Mermaid, Fairy Tales, Tragedy & Plato
The Little Mermaid (1989) · May 20, 2018
Episode 63: A Balm in Gilead | The Handmaid's Tale, Religion & the Individual
The Individual · May 13, 2018
The Boomerangerang: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) · Apr 25, 2018
Episode 60B: Reach out with your Feelings | Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, Rey & the Hero's Journey
The Hero's Journey (2017) · Apr 22, 2018
Episode 60A: Rey of Light | Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens & the Hero's Journey
The Hero's Journey (2017) · Apr 15, 2018
Episode 56: Beauty is in the Eye of Truth | The Shape of Water, Beauty and the Beast & Aesthetics
Beauty and the Beast (1991) · Mar 18, 2018
Episode 56: Beauty is in the Eye of Truth | The Shape of Water, Beauty and the Beast & Aesthetics
The Shape of Water (2017) · Mar 18, 2018
Episode 55: Problem-Free Philosophy | The Lion King, Shakespeare & Nihilism
The Lion King (1994) · Mar 11, 2018
Episode 54: The Panther is Dead, Long Live the Panther | Black Panther, Shakespeare & the Arthurian Legend
Same, Again (2025) · Mar 4, 2018
Episode 53: See You Later, Alligator | Black Mirror, Humanity & the Soul
The Soul (2003) · Feb 25, 2018
Episode 47: Doctor, I Let You Go | Doctor Who, Resurrection & Psychology
Doctor Who (1996) · Jan 15, 2018
Episode 46: Saving What We Love | The Last Jedi & the Legacy of Star Wars
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) · Jan 7, 2018
Episode 43: Darth Podcast | Star Wars, Oedipus & The Hero's Journey
The Hero's Journey (2017) · Dec 3, 2017
Episode 36: House Full of Mustard and No Hot Dogs | Fight Club, Masculinity & Anarchy
Fight Club (1999) · Oct 15, 2017
Episode 35: The Podcast We Deserve | Batman & Gothic Literature
Batman (1989) · Oct 15, 2017
Episode 33: What Form is This? | Plato & Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich (1999) · Sep 28, 2017
Episode 29: Going Native | Gangs of New York, American History & Nativism
Gangs of New York (2002) · Aug 30, 2017
Episode 26: The Greatest Story Never Told | Monty Python's The Life of Brian, Religion & Comedy
Life of Brian (1979) · Aug 9, 2017
Episode 23: Don't Let The Bastards Grind Ya Down | The Handmaid's Tale & Speculative Fiction
The Handmaid's Tale (1990) · Jul 6, 2017
Episode 22: Hell On Earth | The Underworld, Wonder Woman & Get Out
Wonder Woman (2017) · Jun 29, 2017
Episode 21: Ulysses | O Brother Where Art Thou, The Odyssey & The American South
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) · Jun 21, 2017