The 'Thunderbird' is one of the most enduring figures in Native American folklore. A powerful, electric bird said to summon storms, strike down monsters, and keep balance between worlds. In this episode, I look at where the legend comes from, what it means to the tribes who tell it, and how it’s been reshaped over time.

We’ll explore stories from the Ojibwe, Sioux, and Menominee peoples, dive into ancient battles with underwater spirits, and trace how settlers reimagined the Thunderbird as a flying cryptid photographed in the Old West. From there, we’ll look at similar winged beings across the world, from Africa’s Impundulu to China’s Lei Gong and India’s Garuda, and ask what these stories say about our connection to nature, power, and the skies above.

Listen now. And if you want to support the podcast and get bonus content, you can do that by joining us on Patreon.

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Let's trace the eerie wail of one of Ireland’s most enduring legends, the 'Banshee'.

Often dismissed as myth or metaphor, the Banshee is more than just a ghostly woman who cries in the night. Her story shifts across time and region, tangled in ideas of ancestry, grief, and death itself.

This unsettling figure has followed generations through the centuries but just what is she? and what does she want with us?

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• If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at luke@lukemordue.com.

• For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

Amongst the skies of southern Africa, legend speaks of a bird born of lightning, the 'Impundulu'.

In this chapter, part I of II electric bird tales, we investigate the creature’s mythic origins, its ties to witchcraft, and shapeshifting folklore.

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Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)

Support the show

• If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at luke@lukemordue.com.

• For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast