Episode 125: Everybody Gonna Shine | Halloween Special! The Shining, Horror History & Philosophy

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 Age resorts in America, philosophy of evil, and the short story that forms the basis for much of what makes The Shining so terrifying—Edgar Allen Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.

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Episode 93: I Defy You, Stars

Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us! To celebrate the spirit of the day of love, The Midnight Myth goes back to the middle ages and the Renaissance. That’s right, it’s a Shakespeare episode. We’re dishing up historical context and analysis for one of the most important pieces of literature ever written: Romeo & Juliet. An early work in the bard’s long line of tragedies, comedies, and histories, Romeo & Juliet can be viewed as the work that invented our modern understanding of love. And the poet himself may be the man who invented modern man. All this and more in a very special Midnight Myth episode for lovers, fools, poets, and madmen.

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Boomerangerang: Christmas Edition

It’s the Eve of Christmas, and the Midnight Myth is here to bring you joy and cheer. With a Holiday Edition of our classic Boomerangerang, we’re swapping your favorite Christmas-y characters with non-holiday franchises to see who’d fare well in the “real world.” Who’d make a better Don Draper: Frosty the Snowman or George Bailey? All that and more. Watch our Twitter to vote for the winners, and of course, happy new year.

Episode 86: You Wonderful Old Building & Loan

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year to all. It’s another Midnight Myth Christmas Special, and this time we’re breaking down one of the most beloved Christmas stories of all time: Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life. Derek and Laurel revisit flashbacks of the life of George Bailey, the caretaker of Bedford Falls, using his story to understand the greater themes of the season, and of American exceptionalism. From Enlightenment economics to creative nursing and A Christmas Carol, this episode truly celebrates the little things.

Episode 83: Mutant and Proud

We lost some legends in the past few weeks, and in the wake of the monumental loss of Stan Lee, Derek & Laurel now tip their hats to the legacy of Marvel and in particular, the X-Men. Created in 1963 with the intent of promoting diversity and anti-bigotry, the X-Men comics, cartoon series, and films now stand as a rallying cry for the disenfranchised. This episode focuses on 2011’s X-Men: First Class, examining the complex relationships between characters that exist in marginalized groups, and the deeply relatable reasoning behind the birth of great villains like Mystique and Magneto in the series. With love, compassion, and harmony, we look to the example of Charles Xavier to navigate troubled times and give thanks for our communities and chosen families. Happy Thanksgiving from the Midnight Myth.

Episode 82: The World is Mi Familia

Few movies have quite the nuanced take on life and death as those made for young audiences—and few with the deftness that Pixar’s Coco has. After returning from a honeymoon in Mexico, Derek & Laurel explore the traditions of Dia de los Muertos as they relate to Miguel Rivera’s journey in the 2017 film, all tied together through the power of love and music. Themes of memory, personal and universal relationships, and storytelling as culture round out this week’s Midnight Myth. Keep your tissues handy—it’s Pixar—and all topics from the Crusades to spirit animals are on the table.

Boomerangerang Which Witch

It’s a bonus Halloween episode, spooky scary! Derek and Laurel are back at gaming up magical characters in silly scenarios. In this Halloween flavored episode, Derek and Laurel sit around the cauldron stirring up magic potions while they battle for which witch would fare better in differing far away lands. Who will win this Boomerangerang? Be sure to visit our twitter and vote, and have a happy Halloween.

Episode 80: Season of the Witch

Autumn is upon us, and as we wrap our sweaters around our shoulders, sip on warm cider, and spend our weekends apple- and pumpkin- picking, the chill in the air reminds us of the rich mythological and historical tradition that makes the Halloween season so spookily sweet. So for this year’s Halloween special, sit back with a candied apple and join us on a journey to ancient myth as we untangle a long and complicated history—that of the witch. We’ll question the contemporary renaissance witches enjoy and follow the breadcrumbs to her origins in Greek, Roman, and Ancient Near East mythology. We’ll trace the line from Lilith of the Talmud to the Salem witch trials, from Medusa to the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. All that and more on this week’s Midnight Myth.