Best Fairy Tale Analysis Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 425: Raised on a Diet of Vengeance 39:17

1h ago39:17

39:17

This week we're reading The Death of the Sun Hero. Did you know there's an ancient pact that spurs all newborns to begin crawling towards the same point on earth, all in an effort to murder a single man? Apparently only the Sun knew that. Suggested talking points: Kebob a Rhino, Naked 'n Stuff, Sex Dolls for Cats, A Horse on Cocaine, An Infant with…

1
Episode 424: Another Win for Big Big Rock 44:13

7d ago44:13

44:13

This week we're reading The Origin of Stories, which I guess is a pretty big deal, considering the premise of this show. Suggested talking points: Envision Yourself Mong-ing, The Deep Etsy, Firstname Inanimateobject, CTRL+F "Goose", Stones Crave Birds, An Orphan Named Orphan If you'd like to support Carman's artistic endeavors, visit: https://www.p…

1
Office Hours #2: Syllabus Week 53:19

9d ago53:19

53:19

In this episode, Fern and Julia finally explain where they've been and where they (and the podcast) are going. Tl;dr: New season "Star Wars Appreciation 101", coming soon! Social Media: @swenglishclass on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram Julia is on TikTok @juliachristine77 Fern is on TikTok @alwaysfern Business inquiries: starwarsenglishclass@gmail.…

1
Can Normative Inquiry Become Gaming's Next "Lore Analysis"? 1:52:01

5h ago1:52:01

1:52:01

The With a Terrible Fate podcast is back with a vengeance! On the heels of Aaron's relocation to Los Angeles for his PhD, we've settled into a new weekly recording time and are excited to share more regularly scheduled conversations about the storytelling of video games with you, our dear listeners. First on the docket is a follow-up to the convers…

1
Episode 423: A Hunger for Evil and Cash 59:08

10d ago59:08

59:08

This week we're reading The Wicked Prince, a deep dive into the possibility-space of whatever the hell Hans Christian Andersen's personality is. Suggested talking points: Purple Prose Kiss Orgy, The Worst Coin, Hundreds of Strong Eagles, Big Bad Bullet Button, The Gnat Medal of Honor, A Possibility of a Personality If you'd like to support Carman's…

1
Episode 422: The Emperor's New Ding-Dong 1:10:38

1M ago1:10:38

1:10:38

It's time for our First-Annual Daughter-Off! This week we're reading The Great Bell, in order to compare and contrast the daughters of this and last week's tales. We also learn a LOT about jugglers on the way, for some reason. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Secret Pidgeon App, Tuckered Out From the Head-Hitting, The B…

1
Episode 421: The 5th Best Medicine 55:00

1M ago55:00

55:00

First off, big congratulations to Gordie for achieving the fastest fully funded project on Kickstarter in the site's history. Don't believe me? Well just click the link below and see for yourself! Anyway, we also read The Strange Tale of Doctor Dog, whom we almost immediately eminent-domain for our own purposes. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! …

1
Episode 420: Corn, Lies, Hijinks, Bird Terror, Bones and Blood (Aztec Creation Myths Part 2) 56:36

1M ago56:36

56:36

After a brief-but-crucial PSA, and a short check in on the modern AI hellscape we all call the internet, we return our attention to finishing last week's Aztec Creation Myths. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: The Chuck E. Cheese of Gas Stations, Deceiving Faster Than We Can Think, An Animal That Can Throw a Punch, White…

1
Episode 419: Jaguars Solve All Problems (Aztec Creation Myths Part 1) 59:40

2M ago59:40

59:40

This week we spend much too much time complaining about the Disney corporation before turning our attention to some Aztec Creation Myths. Turns out this isn't even the first Sun our planet had back in the space-goop days! Neat! Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: A Cupcake for Every Occasion, Terminally Tumblr, Floating in…

1
The Moral, Immersive, and Esoteric of Video Games 1:25:15

2M ago1:25:15

1:25:15

On this week's episode of With a Terrible Fate's podcast, join Aaron and Dan in a treacherous, invigorating relitigation of domains of video-game discourse with a reputation for being too messy and inert to matter to the ordinary gamer. The two main bugaboos on the agenda are "morality" and "immersion" in gaming. What does it mean for games to have…

1
Episode 418: Pneumatic Baby Bullet 1:00:29

2M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Due to recording this week on World Chocolate Day, we of course had to check in on how Willy Wonka's retirement is going. After that brief aside, we read The King of Love, who in a shocking twist, is none of those words. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: A Circle of Bread, Willy Wonka's Retirement, A Surprising Dearth of…

1
INSCRYPTION, Game Mothers, and Gaming Rituals 1:10:27

3M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

***WARNING: THIS EPISODE IS HAUNTED!*** The characters in the first game we discussed were haunting our podcasting software, so please excuse some small technical difficulties throughout the episode and a rather abrupt kickoff on account of a lost introduction. We jump directly into spoilers for Inscryption, a game that ought to be played without s…

1
417: You Can't Dox Immortal Bony 47:41

3M ago47:41

47:41

"It was never corn you feared, my child. It was destiny that frightened you." Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Interpretive Threats, A Benadryl Situation, A Cruel and Dangerous World of Endless Picnics, Princesses Priced to Move, Animal Sopranos, Baba Does as Yaga Wants If you'd like to support Carman's artistic endeavo…

1
Episode 416: My Mother IS Pagliacci 43:38

3M ago43:38

43:38

This week on WTFolklore, we read My Mother is a Cat. Who knew there was such a plethora of moms out there ripe for the picking, if you just had the courage to ask them to be your mom instead of your current mom, who is a cat. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Technically Functioning, Toilet Is Forever, The Segue Klaxon, …

1
Episode 415: A Deleted Scene from The Brave Little Toaster 40:32

3M ago40:32

40:32

We tackle another Chromatic Dwarf story this week, The Little Gray Man, from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books. It takes some unexpected twists, landing us squarely in the realms of DOUBLE FICTION. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Happy World Sea Turtle Day, House+, Plotmosphere, Lotto Tickets in the Leaves, Extra-Dimensional W…

1
Episode 414: The Horse Who Only Chooses Violence 1:05:09

4M ago1:05:09

1:05:09

This week we cover the tale of Dapplegrim, the only named character in his story. And rightly so, as he's the most terrifying horse to ever live. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Accidental Estate Sale, Schrödinger's Vacuum, Investing in a Future Brag, The Money Laundromat, Addicted to Milk, Rad By Association, Echoes o…

1
Lies of P, Philosophical Catalysts, and Charitable Replays 1:39:10

3M ago1:39:10

1:39:10

On this episode of the With a Terrible Fate podcast, we celebrate Dan's birthday with a conversation ranging from becoming a real boy to becoming a... real old man! We begin with a postgame analysis of Lies of P in which it takes Aaron and Dan a hilariously long time to uncover that, contrary to their first impression based on each other's perspect…

1
Episode 413: Very Almost Smart 1:13:14

4M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

After her daring escape from what is almost certainly a fae-managed Kroger, Carman regales us with the story of The Serpent Prince, which claims to come from Italy, but...well you be the judge. Check out Gordie's new Kickstarter! Suggested talking points: Entreprenordie, The Insatiable Desire to Punk Everything, Fairy Ring Grocery Store, Foxpower E…

1
Episode 412: The Best at Getting Robbed 36:03

4M ago36:03

36:03

This week we, and by extension you, are treated to The Epic Farts of General Pumpkin. I dunno what else you want from me on this one, it's all on the tin. Suggested talking points: The Rabbit-to-Bear Pipeline, Sit Down and Enjoy the Gas-Humor, Pumpkin Popeye, The Last Fartbender, Flatulent Forest Gump, Fartial Arts, General Pumpkin's Pumpkin Cookbo…

1
Episode 411: Animal A-hole Team 34:11

4M ago34:11

34:11

We return to the welcoming, warm blanket of Fairytalez With a Z Dot Com to read about The Half-Chick, an Origin Story that really didn't need to be. Suggested talking points: Load-Bearing Cereal, Chicken Broth Nightcap, Just a Hint of Feather, Soliciting Help From the Ground, Victor Hugo's Dark Souls If you'd like to support Carman's artistic endea…

1
Strangeknife Diaries 2 1:16:21

4M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

Well, this seems familiar...By What the Folklore

1
Episode 410: The Meat Ghost 56:06

5M ago56:06

56:06

This week on WTFolklore, we turn our attention to The Toad Woman, a Native American tale of unrecorded origin. With a name like that you'd figure she'd be pretty interesting, but, uh, there are a number of other intriguing entities this week as well. Suggested talking points: The Original Team Rocket, Too Hot for Poe, Old Lady Moccasin Pit Crew, He…

1
Episode 409: The Backpack of Dorian Gray 1:02:57

5M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

This week on WTFolklore, we read The Goose Girl at the Well, A Grimm Brothers' tale that has absolutely nothing to do with any previously mentioned Goose-Women on our program. Apologies for any audio hiccups, we had some very strange glitches this week that I've cleaned up the best I can. Suggested talking points: An Hour of Consciousness, Dragon B…

1
Fairy Tales, Fantasies, and Fourth Walls 1:32:19

5M ago1:32:19

1:32:19

This week, With a Terrible Fate's podcast is a romp ranging from adaptation to serialized storytelling to metafiction. We kick off discussing Lies of P in the contexts of Pinocchio, Miyazaki-inspired games, and philosophically-minded stories as Aaron nears the conclusion of his first playthrough. (He's since wrapped this up, so stay tuned for overa…

1
PAX East 2024, Second-Chance Games, and Perilous Platinums 1:49:32

5M ago1:49:32

1:49:32

This week on With a Terrible Fate's podcast, we celebrate the communities, black sheep, and arduous challenges of gaming! We begin with Aaron breaking down With a Terrible Fate's lecture on bosses at PAX East last month, along with broader reflections on everything from cosplays to upcoming indie games you won't want to miss. All the talk of bosses…

1
Strangeknife Diaries 1:30:06

5M ago1:30:06

1:30:06

Looks like them anime boys are at it again!By What the Folklore

1
Episode 408: A Mysterious Fellow with a Slight Cherry Scent 1:14:47

6M ago1:14:47

1:14:47

This week on WTFolklore, we read Nani Daughter of Nani, A Palestinian story who's title omits a FASCINATING detail about said character. You'll have to listen in to find out for yourself. Suggested talking points: Decorative Digital Monkey, The Algorithm Used to be a Guy, Rock-Pocket Memory Palace, An Ill-Fated Cereal Promotion, Prehensile Rapunzel…

1
First Thoughts on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 1:18:11

6M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

This week on With a Terrible Fate's podcast, Aaron and Dan take a deep breath and dive into their very first, unfiltered, spoiler-rich thoughts about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Save this episode until you've finished the main scenario and are ready to dig into its microscopic and macrocosmic implications! We're already eagerly planning new analyses…

1
Episode 407: The Think-About-What-You've-Dungeon 1:02:17

6M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

This week we read The Enchanted Ring. No, not that one, the other one, from Russia. This obviously means we had to infuse it with some timely, seasonal holiday flair of our own. Suggested talking points: Blarney Day, Peasant is a Mindset, An Island in a Sea of Reasoning, Ruble-to-Dog Exchange Rate, Master Ninja Carpenters, There Are No Mysteries in…

1
Episode 406: Middle-Manager-Slash-King Tiger 53:18

7M ago53:18

53:18

This week we read The Tiger King's Gift. No, not that one, the other one, from India. We actually meet a trinity of animal kings, so we encourage you to tag yourself among them. Suggested talking points: Time Crime, Enter the Month Zone, A More Wholesome Rage, A Well for Men, Living the Death Stranding Life, Terms of Genie Services, Inflation on th…

1
Episode 405: A Blackbelt in Royalty 59:32

7M ago59:32

59:32

This week we read The Bird Catcher, from Serbia. It features either the very best or the very worst agent of Project Birdfall. We'll let you decide which. CONTENT WARNING: Infrequent, but repeated mentions of domestic violence. Suggested talking points: BYONut, Bird Concerts are Canceled, Ruining Lives For Fun, The Senile-o-Meter, Redefining Mischi…

1
Episode 404: Waiting Room Simulator 2024 52:47

7M ago52:47

52:47

This week we read The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, another banger from Hans Christian Andersen. It doesn't do much to disrupt it's own status quo by the end, but boy are there some twists along the way. Suggested talking points: A Proud Line of Highly Skilled Dishwashers, Big Hoof: Sasquatch of the South, Peppers That Learn English, Invest In…

1
How to Get to Know a Video-Game Character 1:07:55

7M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

On this special edition of the With a Terrible Fate podcast just ahead of analyst Dan Hughes' wedding, Dan and Aaron wrestle with the marvelously multifaceted problem of how we can best come to understand the nature of characters in our favorite video games. What draws us to specific protagonists in party-based games? How can game-based conflict ac…

1
Episode 403: Knitting...Sinisterly 39:10

7M ago39:10

39:10

This week WTFolklore reads The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower, a Japanese story that demonstrates the perils of being TOO nice to someone, and the perils of being TOO stupid for niceness to be done unto you. Suggested talking points: The Baby-to-Grandparent Pipeline, The Job of Dog is Win Food, Cool Prank, Planet Earth, The …

1
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Infinite Narrative Lessons 1:26:42

7M ago1:26:42

1:26:42

This week on With a Terrible Fate's podcast on the storytelling of video games, we kick things off with a discussion of Dan's recent journeys through Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, only to discover the game as a surprisingly illuminating throughline for a rich diversity of reflections on the structures of serial video-game stories, the interpretat…

1
Episode 402: My Horse is Dead and the Toilet's Clogged 53:53

7M ago53:53

53:53

This week we read The Flower Queen's Daughter, which transitions naturally from a PSA about egg consumption protocols to a Ye Olde retelling of Scott Pilgrim. Suggested talking points: Redemption Arc University, The AI-niverse, An Exercise in Broken Promises, Karate Fighting a Ditch, Midnight Egg Demands, Prince Grindset, Cordially Captured, Even M…

1
Video Game Analysts' Journey Across Japan 1:26:28

8M ago1:26:28

1:26:28

On the latest episode of With a Terrible Fate's podcast, Dan Hughes and Aaron Suduiko fire up the mics two weeks after their vacation in Japan to share stories from their journey and reflect on how their latest adventure through the cultural progenitor of so many video games has informed how they think about the medium! From stumbling upon the myth…

1
Episode 401: THE MEGASUS 1:03:40

8M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

This week WTFolklore reads two tales of similar structure, The Apples of Pregnancy and The Three Princesses and the Unclean Spirit. Turns out when you get your boys from apples, they ain't normal boys no more. But they ARE very capable infants. Suggested talking points: I Miss Boat, A Non-Stop Flood of Tom and Jerry Content, One Punch Jr., A Very M…

1
Episode 400: WTFolklore, Now on LaserDisc! 1:28:50

8M ago1:28:50

1:28:50

We have arrived at what is definitely our 400th episode (excluding a bunch of additional recordings that simply don't count). Such a momentous occasion requires a momentous surprise. Thanks to (lil') Geri for joining us! Suggested talking points: Fallen Carpet Paladin, Corn Wearing a Bib, The Bedtime Onion Threshold, The Blobfish of Phrases, Uncle …

1
Episode 399: Fresh Ghost Meat 30:51

8M ago30:51

30:51

This week we read The Plague Omen, a Polish tale that, on one hand, is about 4 years too late, but on the other, probably wouldn't have changed much if we're honest. Suggested talking points: Flex the Germs Off, Tummy Dentist, A Secret Auction With Yourself, Stank-Free Tales, Requiescat in Fauci, Can't Go Back to the Rat Shack If you'd like to supp…

1
Episode 398: Piss Soup is Not the Way to Repay a Favor 50:09

9M ago50:09

50:09

WTFolklore kicks off 2024 by reading Tsuru no Ongaeshi and several of it's variants, giving you a veritable zodiac wheel of animal wives to choose from! Suggested talking points: The Gradual Descent Towards Something, The Most Secret Best Known Folktale Award, A Grab-Bag of Human Parts, Posture Correcting Underpants, Furry Waifu Starter Kit, Eyes F…

1
Episode 397: Tips on How to Defeat a Child 1:19:09

9M ago1:19:09

1:19:09

Rounding out the year 2023, we read the two wintery tales, The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds and The Yule Buck and the Girl, to jam-pack as much WTFolklore in as we can before the holidays. You'll also learn an awful lot about Kellogg's cereal. Suggested talking points: Not an Ideal Wolverine, Pac-Man Fitness Tape, Smash Glass if Bugs and D…

1
What Do We Do When We Talk About Games? 1:40:49

10M ago1:40:49

1:40:49

This week on With a Terrible Fate's podcast about the study and culture of video-game storytelling, we take a reflective look at the good, bad, and ugly of what it means to talk about games. Where does lore analysis end and literary interpretation begin, and how can streamed "book clubs" of games help create good-faith homes for a positive mode of …

1
Episode 396: Cream of Water Soup 1:01:37

9M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

This week on WTFolklore we read the Brazillian tale, Why the Sea Moans, which is obviously a well-known phenomenon and not just a made up excuse to tell another bizarre Cinderella-like. Suggested talking points: December Ants, Zynnergy with a Z, Tim Slurry, Return of the Math Corner, The Ocean Learns to Annunciate, Politely Ghosting a Princess, Han…

1
Awards, Holiday Gaming, and Demos! 1:07:36

10M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

With the last month of the year upon us, join the With a Terrible Fate podcast for December-themed game reflections! From the culture developing around the Game Awards, to analyzing what counts as a "holiday gaming experience," to reflecting on evolving standards around game demos, spoilers, and recommendations, this episode is stuffed with plenty …

1
Episode 395: Hallmark Movie Event Horizon 1:04:06

10M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

This week on WTFolklore after some brief forays into the worlds of toilets and Hallmark movies, which ARE different, we read The Cat that Walked by Himself, certainly for the first time ever. We learn some uncomfortable truths about the sitcoms that are our lives, and the marketing acumen of our feline friends. Suggested talking points: Pork and Ap…

1
Ludic Gymnastics 1:05:42

10M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Do you find yourself bouncing back and forth between multiple games, or running a few different playthroughs at the same time to support different mindsets or moments throughout your day? Take a listen to this latest podcast episode, in which Dan and Aaron explore the many reasons for which we might bounce gymnastically between multiple games, and …

1
Products & Artworks; JRPGs & Ghostbusters 1:09:06

11M ago1:09:06

1:09:06

Welcome to the latest incarnation of With a Terrible Fate's podcast: unstructured, organic conversations about current gaming experiences, how they inform our understanding of the world, and how they relate to the broader language of video-game storytelling! In this inaugural episode, Dan Hughes and Aaron Suduiko discuss their recent adventures in …

1
Episode 394: The Constellation of Meats 54:56

11M ago54:56

54:56

This week on WTFolklore we read The Fairies of the Waterfall, which inadvertently helps to clue us in on the diabolical modern-day machinations of the Fae. Suggested talking points: Vivid Nighttime Idea Hallucinations, A Big "We", Practical Laundry Math, Infrared Flags, Mandala Death Messenger, A Ham-Themed Year, Lorem Ipsum Lagoon, If you'd like t…

1
Office Hours #1 39:38

11M ago39:38

39:38

Welcome to the first in a series of rambling, casual episodes where Fern and Julia do not hold themselves to pesky things like "academic standards" and "research" and just kind of chat, like you would during your professor's office hours. Points of Interest: -Julia's Broken Brain -Sometimes, Star Wars is Book -SWCC London Live Episode THANK YOU!! -…

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Fairy Tale Analysis Podcasts

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