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 Hero’s Journey: Poppy Fields, Emerald Cities & the Illusion of Authority in Myth
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In this episode of Myths, Games & Meaning, Dr. Dani Shalet is joined by Dr. Chris Deacy and Dr. Paul March-Russell to explore myth, authority, and the hero’s journey through The Wizard of Oz.
Continuing our journey with Dorothy, we move from the trials of the Poppy Field to the shining promise of the Emerald City, and finally to the Wizard’s unmasking as “just a man.” Along the way, we examine how myth challenges authority, offers moments of escape, and helps communities make shared meaning.
The conversation also reflects on the ritual power of watching films together, the cyclical nature of the hero’s journey, and how retelling familiar myths helps us make sense of desire, transformation, and identity.
Find us at https://mythsgamespod.wixsite.com/myths
Music: Intro and outro — Spirits of the Woods by Rotem Moav.
www.mythsgamesmeaning.com