Best MJ Stokes Podcasts (2024)

1
#80—Unrealistic Beauty Standards 45:08

14d ago45:08

45:08

Caoimhe and M.J. talk about ADHD diagnosis before having to dive into a chapter where we have to bring up kidnapping of women and rape again. Links: Episode artwork is a cast iron scuplture of Buddha’s head circa 1500: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E6%98%8E %E9%91%84%E9%90%B5%E4%BD%9B%E9%A0%AD%E5%83%8F-Head of Buddha MET DP170188.jpg Jou…

1
#79—Back Pain 46:22

4M ago46:22

46:22

Caoimhe and M.J. talk about back pain, unions and at the end, fascists. We talk about some kind of book in the middle of it too? Links: Episode artwork is a Ming era acupuncture chart: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acupuncture chart, dumai (Governor Vessel), Chinese Wellcome L0037827.jpg Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.…

1
#78—Der Roman mit dem Affen 36:01

4M ago36:01

36:01

The Pilgrims arrive the the Young Master’s City (né the Bhikṣu Kingdom) where they find a mass of young boys imprisoned and with their lives threatened. Links: Arcade Game: Monkey Magic (1979 Nintendo) on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wL-vWIVo4Y PET-Recycling for Die Sendung mit der Maus on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr3O5…

1
#77—Meat Head Buddha 31:36

5M ago31:36

31:36

Wukong is tricked into thinking that Tripitaka is dead, but he knows who to blame: Tathāgata Buddha. Links: Episode artwork is a photo of a carving of Buddha at the Tapa Shotor monastery taken by Marek Gawęcki and used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license and photo of meat taken by Issac Gyamfi used under a Creative Commons A…

1
#76—Brotherly Hatred 48:09

5M ago48:09

48:09

The pilgrims face off against three brothers who get along a lot better than they do. Links: Episode artwork is this Tumblr post: https://www.tumblr.com/journeytothewestresearch/740387923787218944/my-mind-boggles-at-the-number-of-interactions-that Which is an ad for this article: https://journeytothewestresearch.com/2023/12/28/how-to-kill-sun-wukon…

1
#75—I Am so Tired 43:30

8M ago43:30

43:30

The podcast is taking a break till the new year. If you want to hear more of Caoimhe before the first episode of The “the Ring” Podcast is now available: https://oakreef.ie/ring Links: Episode artwork is a photograph of a bow drill taken by Yannick Trottier and used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license: https://comm…

1
#74—Monsters of the World, Unite! You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Headbands! 38:41

8M ago38:41

38:41

Sun Wukong teaches the monsters of the Lion Camel Ridge lessons in solidarity. Links: Episode artwork is a modified version of the logo of Industrial Workers of the World. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse: https://mastodon.ie/@monkeykingpod M.J. on Instagram: ht…

1
#73—Pepsiman/Sun Wu Karen Fic (w/ special guest Rita) 48:22

9M ago48:22

48:22

Two star crossed lovers. Will Pepsiman and Sun Wu Karen be able to make it in a world that wants them kept apart? When the restaurant only has coke will she demand to speak the manager? None of this will be answered in this episode of Journey of the Monkey King, where the pilgrims come across a Daoist abbey with connection to their latest foes. Fea…

1
#72—It Is Definitely a Kink Thing 51:25

9M ago51:25

51:25

This chapter the pilgrims find themselves in a sticky situation. Because of the spiderwebs. Because of the spiders. There’s spiders in this one. Also Caoimhe is starting a second podcast with her friend Jen, called The “the Ring” Podcast. It’s about The Ring! Those movies with the tape that kills you. The first episode is going to be released for p…

1
#71—My Brother Knows Wukong, Met Him Eating Peaches to Make Him Strong 36:44

1y ago36:44

36:44

We close off our story of the Scarlet-Purple Kingdom and talk about a local mural. Links: Episode artwork is a photo of the utility boxes outside of the Peace Park in Cork. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse: https://mastodon.ie/@monkeykingpod M.J. on Instagram: h…

1
#70—Going Without Coming 32:21

1y ago32:21

32:21

We continue the story of the Scarlet Purple Kingdom, which unfortunately is going to touch on kidnapping, rape and femicide. Links: Episode artwork is a cropped and edited photo of a stoat taken by Peter Trimming under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 generic licence: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:’Sybil’ the Stoat - geograph…

1
#69—(Nice!) We Stan a Menopausal King 47:50

1y ago47:50

47:50

Wukong continues to perform medical malpractice. Horse piss is involved. Links: “Interesting TCM Facts 101: Pulse Taking with a String” on drxiangjun.com: https://www.drxiangjun.com/blog/interesting-tcm-facts-pulse-taking-with-a-string “Xiezhi” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiezhi Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.pat…

1
#68—Medical Malpractice 34:51

1y ago34:51

34:51

The pilgrims arrive into the Scarlet-Purple Kingdom where Sun Wukong practices medicine without a license and Zhu Bajie misgenders some eunuchs. Links: “Interesting TCM Facts 101: Pulse Taking with a String” on drxiangjun.com: https://www.drxiangjun.com/blog/interesting-tcm-facts-pulse-taking-with-a-string Artwork is a depiction of Sun Simiao takin…

1
#67—Meow 30:28

1y ago30:28

30:28

The pilgrims encounter their worst obstacle yet: A mountain pass completely filled with rotting fruit. Links: Artwork is a cropped and edited photo of persimmons by Frank Schulenburg under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fuyu persimmon fruits, one cut open.jpg Journey of t…

1
#66—This Is an Organ-heavy Episode. 40:04

1y ago40:04

40:04

Also a Discworld-heavy episode. Also a technical difficulties-heavy episode. It’s got it all! Including self-disembowelment. So be aware of that. Links: “Xuanwu (god)” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanwu_(god) “Yu Xin” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Xin “Wuzhiqi” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuzhiqi “Ma…

1
#65—Some Monkeys Have Beaks and That’s Okay 30:37

1+ y ago30:37

30:37

Or maybe they don’t. Look, we were both very tired when we recorded this. Links: Artwork is a cropped and edited photo of a jolly chimp toy from Wikimedia Commons user YuMaNuMa under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Musical_Jolly_Chimp1.jpg Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.pat…

1
#64—We Just Skip the Main Plot and Do Cat Facts Instead 31:56

1+ y ago31:56

31:56

The pilgrims try to cross the Bramble Ridge but Tripitaka is kidnapped by some vogon ents. Links: “Monk’s Spade” on Wikipedia again: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk’s_spade Artwork is Yan Huaili as Sha Wujing carrying said spade in the 1986 adaptation of Journey to the West by China Central Television. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: http…

1
#63—Patreon Bonus Preview: Dragon Ball w/ Jen 6:02

1+ y ago6:02

6:02

A clip from out Patreon bonus episode where Caoimhe invites her friend Jen on to talk about Dragon Ball. Subscribe to MonkeyKingPod on Patreon to hear the full thing. https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Links: Caoimhe now has another podcast with Jen about The Ring called The “the Ring” Podcast: https://oakreef.ie/ring Journey of the Monkey King …

1
#63—Nine Heads Are Better than None 37:06

1+ y ago37:06

37:06

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie decide to mutilate some prisoners to send a message to the All Saints Dragon King and Nine-Heads, who does, in fact, have nine heads. Links: “Monk’s Spade” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk’s_spade Episode artwork from A Modern Journey to the West by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: https://yoshitoshi.net/series/journeyw…

1
#62—The Benbo Kingdom of Drinking Games 32:42

1+ y ago32:42

32:42

The pilgrims make their way to the Sacrifice Kingdom, where MJ sacrifices their innocence and learns that the Hogfather is not actually a hog. Links: “Cangue” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cangue Episode artwork is a photograph of a man in a cangue taken by John Thomson: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:THE_CANGUE.jpg Journey o…

1
#61—Brainstorming Future Bull-related Projects 41:50

1+ y ago41:50

41:50

We can finally put all this bull behind us as Wukong recovers the palm-leaf fan and puts out the Mountain of Flames. Links: You can see Elementaller at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin on the 11th and 12th of February: https://smockalley.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873633108 ”Táin Bó Cúailnge” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Táin…

1
#60—Happy Year of the Rabbit 52:55

1+ y ago52:55

52:55

We are back and continue the story of Lady Iron-Fan and the Bull Demon King. The chapter has a lot of misogynistic language, drunkenness and a character tricking another into thinking they’re their spouse. Links: You can see Elementaller at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin on the 11th and 12th of February: https://smockalley.ticketsolve.com/ticket…

1
#59—It’s Not a Plot Hole! 25:51

2y ago25:51

25:51

The pilgrims come across a mountain that is four hundred kilometres across and always on fire that proves to be something of an obstacle to progress, so Sun Wukong goes to ask his sister-in-law for help. Links: “Rakshasa” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasa Rakshasa Pronunciation Sanskrit राक्षस rākṣasa on Youtube: https://www.yout…

1
#58—Highly Targeted Parasocial Relationships 24:56

2y ago24:56

24:56

Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing investigate the imposter Pilgrim, but Wujing doesn’t know which one to shoot! Links: “Puss” on the Online Etymology Dictionary: https://www.etymonline.com/word/puss Episode artwork is J.J. Fong as the Librarian from The New Legends of Monkey. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Jour…

1
#57—Sus 36:49

2y ago36:49

36:49

Wukong is banished and comes back angry and jealous. But perhaps there’s something a bit sus about him. This episode features the torture headband and monkey cannibalism. Amogus. Links: Platforms in the Dublin Fringe Festival, featuring M.J.: https://www.fringefest.com/festival/whats-on/platforms “Leigong” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wik…

1
#56—A Horse, a Yakṣa and a Léigōng Walk into a Bar 30:51

2y ago30:51

30:51

The pilgrims are out of the women’s country, but some resentment might be starting to set in, and the torture headband comes out again. Links: Episode artwork is a section of a painting of Marshal Wang depicting a Léigōng, which Caoimhe thinks is probably the type of thunder god that Wukong gets described as looking like: https://www.metmuseum.org/…

1
#55—This Is Not a Place of Lovemaking 29:02

2y ago29:02

29:02

Tripitaka has been kidnapped by a demoness who’s a real maneater. No not like that. Well, yes, actually, like that. But also in the other way. Links: Episode artwork is Zhao Wenqi as as the scorpion demon and Nie Yuan as Tripitaka in the 2011 Journey to the West television adaptation by TVS Television. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https:/…

1
#54—This Man has Never Cum 22:27

2y ago22:27

22:27

The pilgrims make their way to the capital of the Women State and Tripitaka faces a threat not to his life, but to his chastity. Will he cum? There is only one way to find out. Links: Episode artwork by Chen Huiguan: http://www.innerjourneytothewest.com/english/en-resource.html Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeyki…

1
#53—The MPreg Episode 42:56

2y ago42:56

42:56

You read the title correctly. This episode was recorded before the United States Supreme Court struck down the Roe vs. Wade ruling. Links: “Silphium” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium “Omegaverse” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omegaverse “Thomas Beatie” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Beatie Women…

1
#52—I Don’t Know What You Were Expecting 37:16

2y ago37:16

37:16

Wukong is going to need to go the the very top for help with the One-Horned Buffalo. No, not Guanyin. The very top. The episode has some brief mentions of slavery and cruelty, and the torture headband gets brought up again in passing. Links: Clashmore on Caoimhe’s website: https://oakreef.ie/clashmore Clashmore on the Internet Archive: https://arch…

1
#51—50 Monkeys Getting Sucked Off 27:46

2y ago27:46

27:46

Sun Wukong’s rod has been stolen by the Great One-Horned Buffalo’s magical fillet and he’s going to need to enlist the help of some old enemies. Warning for brief mention of rape and discrimination against intersex people in an aside about the novel Ring between about 6:30 and 9:45. Links: Episode artwork by Chen Huiguan: http://www.innerjourneytot…

1
#50—The Midway Point 🎉 30:16

2y ago30:16

30:16

We are officially half way through the book! 🥳 Links: Episode artwork is a photo of Baily, a Pekingese, taken by Flickr user Dirk DBQ: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bailey_Pekingese.jpg Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse: https://mastodon.ie/@monkeykingp…

1
#49—That’s Why His Hair Is So Big: It’s Full of Soldiers 35:52

2y ago35:52

35:52

What type of creature is The Great King of Numinous Power? M.J. thinks he might be a crocodile, or maybe a newt. Guanyin will help the pilgrims find out. Links: Episode artwork is a Ming Dynasty painting of Guanyin with Fish Basket: https://www.si.edu/object/fsg_F1911.297 Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod …

1
#48—Chen to the Bottom 41:51

2+ y ago41:51

41:51

After having his child sacrifices taken away by the pilgrims, The Great King of Numinous Power decides to set his sights on a new meal. I don’t think you need to be told who at this point. He wants to eat Tripitaka. They all want to eat Tripitaka. This episode also contains spoilers for Riverdale I guess. Links: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1…

1
#47—Patreon Bonus Preview: The Great Tang Records of the Western Regions 2:11

2+ y ago2:11

2:11

A preview of our Patreon bonus episode where we read some of Xuanzang’s travelogue written after his return to China featuring one of the more gruesome folk tales recorded in the book. https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Links: Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse…

1
#47—Is Child Sacrifice Technically Child Murder? 32:42

2+ y ago32:42

32:42

The pilgrims find themselves in a town at the mercy of a cruel local god who demands child sacrifice, but Sun Wukong is here to help and so is Zhu Bajie whether he likes it or not. Links: Episode artwork by Chen Huiguan: http://www.innerjourneytothewest.com/english/en-resource.html Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monk…

1
#46—Don’t Challenge an Immortal Monkey to Any Fights that Involve Doing Yourself Grievous Body Harm 41:13

2+ y ago41:13

41:13

Just as the pilgrims are about to be allowed to leave the Cart Slow Kingdom, Sun Wukong suddenly faces the one challenge he is incapable of winning. This episode contains some very gruesome deaths, including decapitation, disembowelment and boiling oil. It also features biting insects. None of those are the the challenges Wukong can’t win though. T…

1
#45—That’s Right, Big Smile. Everybody’s Happy. 28:11

2+ y ago28:11

28:11

To prove their worth to the king of the Cart Slow Kingdom the pilgrims are asked to make it rain. This episode contains people getting tricked into drinking urine. Links: Episode artwork is the Simpsons. I don’t think I need to link to this one. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King …

1
#44—This Podcast Is Now Just About Caoimhe’s Cat 37:51

2+ y ago37:51

37:51

The pilgrims make their way to the Cart Slow Kingdom, where Buddhist monks have been made slaves of Daoists and Wukong has been declared their saviour. Links: Episode artwork is a photo of Caoimhe’s cat, Easóg. Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse: https://mastodon.…

1
#43—Fish Nepotism & Character Development 46:14

3y ago46:14

46:14

Red Boy dealt with, the pilgrims face difficulty trying to cross the Black River. Links: Episode artwork is a Ming Dynasty statue of Golden Boy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Attendant to Guanyin (Golden Boy) China Ming Period 1368-1644 CE Wood polychrome and gilt (20147520202).jpg Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreo…

1
#42—[Insert Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Reference Here] 34:41

3y ago34:41

34:41

Guanyin finds out that Red Boy was impersonating her and she is not best pleased. Links: Episode artwork by Aleksis Shi: https://aleksisshi.wordpress.com/ Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King on the Fediverse: https://mastodon.ie/@monkeykingpod M.J. on Instagram: https://www.instagr…

1
Discussion with Journey to the West: The Podcast 1:22:42

3y ago1:22:42

1:22:42

M.J. and Caoimhe appeared on Journey to the West: The Podcast with Richard Tseng and James Young and had a lovely discussion about the novel. We will resume our normal Sun Wu-content in the next episode. Links: Journey to the West: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/journey-to-the-west-the-podcast/id1477420265 Jour…

1
#41—Cuttlefish Commander, Sturgeon Sergeant 26:05

3y ago26:05

26:05

Sun Wukong gets his arse kicked for once when Red Boy doesn’t believe that Pilgrim Sun used to be mates with his dad. Can Zhu Bajie fill his shoes? No. Obviously not. Links: “Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxing_(Chinese_philosophy) Episode artwork is a photograph of statues of the Dragon Kings of the Four…

1
#40—We Are Technically Done with Child Murder 35:24

3y ago35:24

35:24

After leaving the Black Rooster Kingdom behind, Sun Wukong starts to get fed up at Tripitaka not heeding his warnings. This episode does not technically contain child murder, but does feature a monster disguised as a child that is very violently attacked. Murder and kidnapping is also mentioned. So is vaccine scepticism. We have a Patreon now! Link…

1
#40—Patreon Bonus Preview: BBC’s Monkey 3:14

3y ago3:14

3:14

We have a Patreon now! Subscribers get new episodes as soon as they’re done and as a first bonus episode we have made an audio commentary track for the first episode of BBC’s Monkey. Here’s a preview of it. https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Links: Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey…

1
#39—Your Kingdom Ain’t S*** 25:02

3y ago25:02

25:02

Who can Wukong turn to try and bring the king of the Black Rooster Kingdom back from the dead? Someone who’s annoyed at him for a lot of wasted charcoal. This episodes has mentions of cannibalism, rape by deception, gelding of an animal/animal spirit and use of the corporal punishment headband. Links: “Blue–green distinction in language” on Wikiped…

1
#38—My Dad Would Definitely Still Be ****ing If He Were Alive 27:20

3y ago27:20

27:20

The prince of the black rooster kingdom, investigating the claims made by Sun Wukong, makes enquiries about his parents’ sex life. This episode features animal cruelty and mass animal death as well as corporal punishment. Links: Episode artwork by Chen Huiguan: http://www.innerjourneytothewest.com/english/en-resource.html Journey of the Monkey King…

1
#37—Why Didn’t You Just Sue the Guy Who Murdered You? 38:16

3y ago38:16

38:16

Tripitaka is visited by a ghost, who was murdered in a somewhat more mundane way than the magical shenanigans we’re used to dealing with. Links: Episode artwork is a painting of a rooster by Li Yin: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:菊鸡图.jpg Journey of the Monkey King on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/monkeykingpod Journey of the Monkey King…

1
#36—More Reason to Never Trust Monks 37:11

3y ago37:11

37:11

The pilgrims arrive at the Precious Grove Monastery Built by Imperial Command where the abbot is not quite rolling out the red carpet. Pilgrim Sun takes this as you would expect. Links: “Vajra” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajra The Rogue Gallery & Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroguegallerywt/ The Rogue Gallery &…

1
#35—Gourd Measuring Contest 46:21

3y ago46:21

46:21

Today we finally learn the secret of the Gold and Silver Horn Demons. Links: The Rogue Gallery & Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroguegallerywt/ The Rogue Gallery & Studios on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroguegallerywt “Laozi” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi “Nüwa” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/w…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

MJ Stokes Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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