Myths, Games & Meaning
What do Greek gods, video games, and popular culture have in common? More than you’d think.
I’m Dr Dani Shalet, and in Myths, Games & Meaning, I sit down with scholars, performers, storytellers, and creatives to explore how ancient myth is continually reimagined in modern culture. We look at how stories move from antiquity into video games, films, books, and the imaginative worlds we build through play.
From Medusa to Middle‑earth, from the Hero’s Journey to Tomb Raider and Baldur’s Gate, we dig into the myths that influence contemporary culture — and the ways we express our hopes, fears, and identities through storytelling, creativity, and games.
If you’re drawn to mythology, folklore, narrative design, or the stories that run through popular culture, you’ll feel right at home here.
New episodes are released monthly.
More at: https://www.mythsgamesmeaning.com
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About the Host
Dr Dani Shalet is a theologian, mythologist, educator, and lifelong gamer who explores how humans make meaning through stories — from ancient myths to modern games. She brings a warm, thoughtful approach to conversations with actors, scholars, creatives, and fans drawing on her academic background to make complex ideas feel accessible, cosy, and alive.
Through Myths, Games & Meaning, she invites listeners into a queer‑aware, emotionally intelligent space where narrative, culture, and identity meet.
Myths, Games & Meaning
The Journey Begins: Dorothy, the Hero’s Journey, and Why Myth Still Matters
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In the very first episode of Myths, Games & Meaning, Dr. Dani Shalet is joined by Dr. Chris Deacy and Dr. Paul March-Russell to explore the enduring power of myth in our lives.
Using Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz as a guide, they unpack the hero’s journey as a recurring narrative structure and consider how myth continues to shape culture, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
The conversation touches on Joseph Campbell’s lasting influence, the importance of gender perspectives in understanding hero narratives, and the role of myth in helping us make sense of contemporary challenges. They also ask what happens when myths are treated as absolute truth, and what dangers arise when stories stop being questioned.
Join us as the journey begins, tracing the path from yellow brick roads to the myths we live by every day.
Music: Intro and outro — Spirits of the Woods by Rotem Moav.
www.mythsgamesmeaning.com