Best Mere Mortals Podcasts (2024)

1
Farewell Speech For Mum | Travel Plans & My Biggest Problem 57:05

5h ago57:05

57:05

Giving the speech I couldn't and my plans for the near future. In Episode #451.5 of 'Kyrin Solosode' I discuss: why I wasn't able to talk at my mum's memorial service, memories from our time together, the pain of passing does start to ease, random thoughts on drugs, all the people and places I am visiting the next month, realising that Australia is…

1
A Violent Socialist Dystopia | The Iron Heel (Jack London) BOOK REVIEW 23:57

2d ago23:57

23:57

Future predictions that have NOT come true ..... kind of. 'The Iron Heel' by Jack London is a dystopian novel with a heavy political undertone (maybe even overtone) that wrongly might be called science fiction. Starts in 1900 America and told from the point of view of Avis who is seduced from her privileged upper class world by Ernest Everhard and …

1
Ep. 12 (33) - Canossa Finally! 32:46

1h ago32:46

32:46

It is time - we are finally going to Canossa. Expect imperial power to disappear in smoke, greedy mothers-in-laws, frozen passes, hoisted horses and tobogganing empresses. All that ends with the enduring picture of a king first kneeling before a woman and then before a pope..... That is the the episode you have to listen to! The music for the show …

1
Story Sunday for 07-14-2024: The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, a Tale from Japan 21:08

1h ago21:08

21:08

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Artemis here with a story from Japan. This one is about a bad-tempered woman and what happened after she overreacted to a sparrow's honest mistake. Thankfully, unlike in last week's tale, nobody faces their demise! Good always triumphs over evil, but sometimes evil actually gets the opportunit…

1
Trailer Thursday, 07-11-2024: The Best Revenge Is a Fiery One 2:15

1d ago2:15

2:15

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Revenge is not a dish best served cold! In fact, it seems that our princess thinks it is best served hot. Fiery hot. However, that's a discussion for another day. For now, just know that she is cooking up something and when she's finished, all I'll be able to say is, "Well done." If you have a…

1
Mastering Life's Chaos: Calmness, Clarity And Continuous Improvement | Mere Mortals Podcast 19:29

3d ago19:29

19:29

In this episode of the Mere Mortals podcast, I dive into the key philosophies and learnings from my personal experiences in June 2024. From mastering the art of calmness during stressful times to embracing flexibility, effective communication, and the importance of quality family time, I share practical insights and actions to help you navigate lif…

1
Toss-Up Tuesday: Lies and Gold 3:32

4d ago3:32

3:32

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hey there, listeners. This episode is a bit of revelry Uncle Hades displayed over the weekend. Just don't tell him I shared it. At least not for awhile. You see, with him, it's important to ask for forgiveness rather than for permission. He has always empathized with Rumpelstiltskin's plight, and while we were all …

1
Ep. 11 (32) - Hildebrand, not Pope but false Monk - Emperor Henry IV confronts the Pope 46:05

4d ago46:05

46:05

The rise of the papacy since 1046 is almost linear. The popes throw off the chokehold of the roman aristocracy, they take over leadership of the church reform movement from the emperors, and by the end of the pontificate of Alexander II the Holy See has become universal with kings hailing the pope and not the emperor as their overlord. In 1073 Hild…

1
Story Sunday 07-07-2024 - The Twelve Months 21:55

5d ago21:55

21:55

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hello there, listeners. It's Hestia and today I thought I'd read a story by the fireside. As the goddess of hearth and home, I thought it would be a cozy way to enjoy our tale. I also couldn't resist calling upon our grim brother to do the honors of playing the Great January. The others just couldn't manage to do i…

1
Trailer Thursday; 07-04-2024: Let's Mix It Up! Apricot And Almond Spritzer 2:21

9d ago2:21

2:21

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hey there, listeners! This week, my uncle got a touch of that Underworld malaise! So, he asked me to serve up the mocktail/cocktail recipe for the upcoming Golden Pail episode. Olympus knows when that's coming, but hey! Until it does, we can enjoy something refreshing! Happy Independence Day for those celebrating i…

1
The Network Is Supreme | New Rules For The New Economy (Kevin Kelly) BOOK REVIEW 16:23

9d ago16:23

16:23

Future predictions that have come true ..... kind of. 'New Rules For The New Economy' by Kevin Kelly are 10 rules that he predicted would change the world just as the internet was coming of age. Most of these are related to networks, increasing adoption of technology and the ability for information to spread cheaply. He makes a lot of generalities …

1
Juan's Wonderful Walk | Implementing Our Learnings 1:11:25

11d ago1:11:25

1:11:25

How far did Juan walk down the rabbit hole? In Episode #451 of 'Meanderings' Juan & I discuss: a walk that filled his head with ideas, getting back into yoga again, reflecting in a negative way, whether I should eat a meal before working out, remembering when we used to live together, why I think Juan will inevitably run an ultra-marathon and why i…

1
Toss-Up Tuesday: Bespoke Websites Made Just For You! 5:14

11d ago5:14

5:14

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hello there, listeners! Hermes here to tell you about a fun and wacky website. No, I don't get money for this, and no, I'm not having a laugh at your expense! I'm actually here to tell you about Websim.ai which creates the Internet in your image! That's right, folks. If you can think it, a website can be yours! Wan…

1
Ep. 10 (31) - The (second) Saxon War - The nobles rebel against "the imperial tyrant" 37:57

11d ago37:57

37:57

In 1065 king Henry IV begins his personal rule. After 9 years of regency., the last 3 of which under a government of barons headed by archbishop Anno of Cologne, imperial power is much diminished. Prelates and lords are raiding the imperial purse, when the barons force the young king to dismiss his main adviser, he realises that the previous model …

1
Story Sunday: Peddler Polly and the Story Stealer 12:45

13d ago12:45

12:45

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! This week's story has been made possible thanks to Aaron Shepard, a renowned storyteller of children's folklore. You may visit his website at http://www.aaronshep.com for more fun retellings and original stories. As I was thinking about the concept of copyright, the public domain, and how it h…

1
Monthly Goals | July 2024 39:32

14d ago39:32

39:32

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcoming…

1
Let Software Run Free | The Cathedral & The Bazaar (Eric S. Raymond) BOOK REVIEW 27:56

20d ago27:56

27:56

What is Open Source and why is it changing the world? 'The Cathedral & The Bazaar' by Eric S. Raymond is a collection of essays describing the ethics, philosophy, history and implementation of the Open Source movement. As computer hardware became available to larger groups many wanted to play & tinker with their devices. Closed Source software (own…

1
Trailer Thursday: It Takes Chutzpah To Name Your Ship "Allah's Gift" 4:49

16d ago4:49

4:49

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Here's another trailer from The Golden Pail in which the vizier must scramble together some treasure in order to build a ship of such splendor that it gets dubbed Allah's Gift. Unfortunately, this ship causes a lot of problems for one young princess. Namely, her supper is late! What an insult,…

1
Whoopsie Wednesday: Apparently Ancient Princesses Drive Cars 3:35

17d ago3:35

3:35

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hello, listeners! While Hades and I were working on the podcast, I sang a line about a spoiled princess having a car she couldn't drive. Neither of us bothered to review the song before I started singing it! This obviously couldn't go into The Golden Pail but it was funny, nonetheless, so I decided to share it with…

1
Toss-Up Tuesday: Dear Prince, What Were You Thinking?!; Artemis Weighs In On the Princess and the Pea 2:13

18d ago2:13

2:13

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hello there, listeners! Artemis here with a letter to Prince Charming about his mother's ridiculous advice. Whoever thought that picking out a woman to marry based on her ability to detect a pea under an enormous pile of mattresses and featherbeds clearly didn't understand the concept of red flags or high-maintenan…

1
Ep. 9 (30) - Three Roads to Canossa - Lay Piety, Reform Papacy and the Saxon Rebellion 43:20

21d ago43:20

43:20

Emperor Henry III is dead. The realm is now in the hands of his widow, Agnes of Poitou who rules on behalf of the six-year-old king Henry IV. Agnes is no Theophanu and no Adelheid. Not that she is incompetent, she just isn't absolutely brilliant, and absolutely brilliant is the baseline necessary to manage this fragile situation. The relationship b…

1
Jeff Yew | The Intricacies of Australia's First Spot Bitcoin ETF 1:04:02

19d ago1:04:02

1:04:02

In this episode, we talk with Jeff Yew, CEO of Monochrome, about the journey to creating Australia's first true spot Bitcoin ETF. Jeff delves into the complexities of the Bitcoin market, the regulatory landscape, and the unique features of Monochrome's ETF that allow investors to directly hold and withdraw Bitcoin. We also discuss the broader impli…

1
Story Sunday: Kupti and Imani; Is There Any Patience for Sale? Patience for Sale? 21:29

20d ago21:29

21:29

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Hermes here with a story read from the Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. It's a story about how a messenger's silly mistake led to a young princess receiving patience as a gift! You see, I was supposed to have finished an adaptation of The North Wind and the Sun but my mortal conduit just didn'…

1
Retreating From Technology | Handstanding For Days 1:23:22

22d ago1:23:22

1:23:22

Lessons from a week spent doing nothing but handstands and not using technology In Episode #450 of 'Meanderings' Juan & I discuss: the handstand retreat of Miguel Sant'ana, seeing toucans & capybaras, learning my weaknesses and strengths all over again, being free of the constant negative news, the huac tuah girl meme, taking time off to recuperate…

1
Trailer Thursday: Trouble Begins with a Feather, Regardless of Whether You Pick It Up 4:08

23d ago4:08

4:08

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Here's a little trailer from the Golden Pail. No singing this time. Just a bit of good old-fashioned voice acting with cheesy music in the background to give it that epic feel. Our young hero, Hassan, runs away from his father, who probably wants to make his life a nightmare. Thankfully for hi…

1
Uncovering Stoic Learnigs | Lives of the stoics (Ryan Holiday) BOOK REVIEW 12:50

23d ago12:50

12:50

As I revisited "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I discovered a wealth of insights and practical philosophies that deeply resonated with me. From understanding the importance of being a willing participant in life to the power of endurance and self-restraint, the book offers timeless wisdom for personal growth. Each philo…

1
PSA: No Set Schedule 6:06

25d ago6:06

6:06

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! It is with much deliberation that I have decided to change the release schedule for this podcast to "no set schedule". It wasn't a decision I made hastily. However, after realizing that I couldn't delegate my scripting or relegate the folklore to artificial entities, lazy deities, or spirited …

1
Ep. 8 (29) - The Last Years of Henry III - Tyrant or consolidator of power? 29:27

27d ago29:27

29:27

In 1046 Henry III reached the zenith of his rule. He deposed three unworthy popes and replaced them with serious churchmen who will bring the necessary reforms about. Domestically he is in control of the three Eastern European states, Poland, Bohemia and Hungary and the restless Lotharingians seem settled. How did it come about that by 1056 the chr…

1
Godfather Hades, Dionysus's Attempt to Retell (And Revamp) Godfather Death from the Brothers Grimm 3:16

26d ago3:16

3:16

Send over your dead SMS messages. Is it good? Who knows? Was it fun? Definitely! The story went something like this: a father who was down on his luck couldn't feed or care for his thirteenth child, so he decided to find the kid a godfather. Why didn't he just send him to the Mafia? I don't know. Anyway, he rejects God and the Devil, because one ha…

1
I'm a Golden Bird (The Underworld Undead Quartet) 4:30

29d ago4:30

4:30

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings listeners! Okay, so Hestia may be right. The key should be changed for her to minimize the cracking, but she's not getting off without us giving it a valiant try so that she can sing this one. I loved it so much I actually shared it with the mortal world, and I don't do that often, folks! So, I hope you e…

1
I'm a Golden Bird (A Sneak Peek from the Golden Pail) 4:19

29d ago4:19

4:19

Send over your dead SMS messages. Hello there, listeners! I thought you'd enjoy a little preview of a song (our first song) in our long overdue episode, The Golden Pail. However, I, Hestia, think I'm not the right one for this, and I was hoping you'd help me talk my brother out of this? Or at the very least, tell him to change the key so that it's …

1
Uncovering Stoic Wisdom: Zeno to Marcus Aurelius | Lives of the stoics (Ryan Holiday) BOOK REVIEW 8:54

1M ago8:54

8:54

As I delved into "Lives of the Stoics" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, I was taken on a journey through the lives of Stoicism's greatest philosophers. From the foundational teachings of Zeno to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, this book offers a practical guide to applying Stoic philosophy in everyday life. The chronological structure, de…

1
Timeless Wisdom: Effective Philosophies From The Month Of May 14:19

1M ago14:19

14:19

Juan's learnings from May. Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Value 4 Value Support: Boostagram: https://www.meremortals…

1
Oh, Uncle Hades! Where Did Ya Go? 3:06

1M ago3:06

3:06

Send over your dead SMS messages. Soldiers of folklore, it's Ares here! I just thought I'd pop in with a little song to stir the pot. Also, I wanted to be first! Did you know that Tuesday is associated with Mars, my Roman counterpart? So I'm releasing this (or at least immortalizing this content) on Tuesday. Enjoy! Or if you don't, tell anyone but …

1
Ep. 7 (28) - Three Popes with One Stone - The Council of Sutri in 1046 34:30

1M ago34:30

34:30

In 1046 Henry III finally has time to go to Rome and claim the imperial crown. All he wants is get in, get crowned and get out before the Malaria season. He encounters a problem when he finds out that the current pope Gregory VI has bought the papacy for cold hard cash, a sin that could invalidate his coronation. Henry III gets involved, deposes al…

1
Bon Voyage For Real | Generative Or Degenerate AI? 1:27:12

1M ago1:27:12

1:27:12

Time to travel again but with a new perspective. In Episode #449 of 'Meanderings' Juan & I discuss: doing a handstand retreat with Lucas Branco & Miguel Sant'ana, why Juan and I are struggling to stick to our yearly goals, playing with dogs and babies, crazy people who run super long distances, the nitty gritty of trying out Venice.ai, why I think …

1
S2E5-Forever5 - Until We Meet Again ... This Feed Is Being Commandeered By the Family 2:53

1M ago2:53

2:53

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! This retelling of the Golden Pail is akin to the quest for the holy grail. I've run into all sorts of impediments, but this time, my friends, it's a good one! That is, good for me and perhaps a touch of a nuisance for you, for you see, my friends, I've thrown myself headfirst into the process …

1
Why Is Everyone Travelling To Japan? | Transitioning To A Dog Person 45:32

1M ago45:32

45:32

Juan's back from the land of the rising sun. In Episode #448 of 'Meanderings' Juan & I discuss: economic reasons for wanting to travel, Juan's impression after returning 5 years later, my recent thoughts on taking a break, focusing upon things that are easy and bring me joy, why living in a dog house is not as bad as it could be & the solitary appe…

1
S2E5-6 - A Letter From a Listener; Holding Onto Hope In a World Of Despair 9:23

1M ago9:23

9:23

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners. We have been feverishly working on the Golden Pail but it hasn't been completed and my father, Chronos, isn't doing me any favors! So, I thought I would share a letter from a listener ... with her permission, of course! As we close out May and Mental Health Awareness Month, please know that wh…

1
Ep. 6 (27) - Peace in Our Time - The Peace of God in the Middle Ages 26:13

1M ago26:13

26:13

The main role of a medieval monarch is to bring peace to his subjects. Peace is not so much absence of major international conflict, but protection from feuding lords. Whilst in France central power is far too weak to maintain any semblance of order giving rise to the Peace of God movement, the empire under Henry III can rely on its monarch to fulf…

1
Monthly Goals | June 2024 33:18

2M ago33:18

33:18

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcoming…

1
A Study In Semantics | The Tyranny Of Words (Stuart Chase) BOOK REVIEW 24:05

2M ago24:05

24:05

We must blah blah the blah in order to blah the blah from blah. 'The Tyranny Of Words' by Stuart Chase is his attempt at furthering the field of semantics to the general public. He takes us through the general theory, how language is used compared to cats or primitive people, areas of human conversation that contain more precise meaning and plenty …

1
Hera and Hades Make Peace With Ambrosia Cookies and Mutual Understanding; S2E5-5 of Fireside Folklore with Hades 12:40

2M ago12:40

12:40

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Time in the Underworld moves differently, hence my delay in sharing the conclusion to the ceasefire between Hera and I which was too many millennia too late! Ironically, it was my podcast which convinced her that Zeus wasn't cheating on her and I really (and truly) wanted to make peace. You se…

1
Ep. 5 (26) - Henry III Comin' in Smoothly - The first seamless transition of power from father to son in 70 years 28:46

2M ago28:46

28:46

For the first time in almost 70 years the transition from one king/emperor to the next is smooth. Konrad II was not only one of the most successful medieval rulers, he also managed to live long enough for his son Henry III to grow up to adulthood before taking over. Henry III is outwardly quite different from his father, well educated, deeply immer…

1
Life, Liberty & Property | The Law (Frédéric Bastiat) BOOK REVIEW 25:47

2M ago25:47

25:47

To quote the great philosopher Judge Dredd .... "I am the law". 'The Law' by Frédéric Bastiat is a philosophical treatise that might get confused as political writing due to the subtitle. Bastiat argues that the law should be limited to a narrow subset of protection of natural rights, not to be philanthropic & interfere in people's lives. Mini sect…

1
The Twelfth Labor of Heracles, or Why Hera and Hades Are At Odds 11:45

2M ago11:45

11:45

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! Today, we travel back in time to a time when ancient Greece was in its prime, and heroes walked among us. We learn about Heracles, the hero who was tasked with performing twelve Labors to atone for slaying his family in an induced fit of madness. The final Labor, as you will see, involved the …

1
Ep. 4 (25) - Konrad II, the Construction of an Empire - Speyer Cathedral as a symbol of Salian power 26:51

2M ago26:51

26:51

In his last years Konrad tries to further strengthen his power, first by fighting the Hungarians, unseating the duke of Carinthia and a second Italian expedition. Al three of these endeavours backfire. The Hungarians win the war, the duke of Carinthia gets unexpected support from Konrad's son Henry III and the Italian campaign ends in a fiasco enti…

1
Flying On Airplanes With Babies | Life Without A Routine 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

It's time to have a goodbye party for Juan and family. In Episode #447 of 'Meanderings' Juan & I discuss: the bad karma coming Juan's way, secrets behind airline booking systems, the need for a holiday, what it's been like living without a solid routine, why I threw my brother's shoe on the roof, finding secret spiderman underwear and what I should…

1
Let's Break The Bank | More Money Than God (Sebastian Mallaby) BOOK REVIEW 20:06

2M ago20:06

20:06

Who is to blame for all the financial turmoil? 'More Money Than God' by Sebastian Mallaby is a history of US hedge funds. It details how they were created, notable people who worked in them and some of the legendary trades that occurred. It also goes over some of the larger financial bubbles (and subsequent crashes) that happened and contributions …

1
S2E5-3 - Hades Takes A Listener Request; Or Unbeknownst to Ares, He Is Set Up 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

Send over your dead SMS messages. Greetings, listeners! I received quite the audacious dead letter the other day, and given the fact that I appreciate honesty and chutzpah, I decided to humor it. Yes, I really am deliberately delaying my ceasefire! Although I won't swear this upon the river Styx. After all, such an oath isn't the sort of thing I'd …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Mere Mortals Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide