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Mermaids, Part 1: The Indifferent Deep

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Manage episode 500800771 series 3549894
Content provided by Steph Summar. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Steph Summar or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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A Scottish lord hears a woman drowning in his loch. Every instinct tells him to dive in and save her. But his servant grabs his arm: "My lord, that's no woman."

This is the mermaid most of human history has feared – not Disney's lovestruck princess, but something far more alien and dangerous. What's truly wild is how universal these stories are. From Brazil's Iara to Japan's Ningyo, from Scotland's selkies to Africa's Mami Wata, cultures worldwide independently created tales of deadly female water spirits.

But why? Why do humans across continents and centuries keep telling the same basic story about dangerous women who live in water?

In this deep dive into global mermaid mythology, we explore ancient Greek bone-heaps, oceanic folklore, and a disturbing truth about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Because what if these stories were never really about women at all?

Key moments

  • 1:02The Laird of Lorntie meets a mermaid
  • 4:06Welcome to the party! Meet the mermaid
  • 6:59The universal mermaid mythos
  • 9:19The original sirens
  • 12:36Why is the ocean "female"?
  • 14:53Nature's indifference to humanity
  • 18:30Would you rather have a shipwreck or an existential meltdown?
  • 19:30What to do when your ocean mommy doesn't love you

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!
View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.
Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram or subscribe to the podcast's newsletter, Lights Out!

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Content warning (00:00:00)

2. The Laird of Lorntie meets a mermaid (00:01:02)

3. Welcome to the party! Meet the mermaid. (00:04:06)

4. The universal mermaid mythos (00:06:59)

5. The original sirens (00:09:19)

6. Why is the ocean "female"? (00:12:36)

7. Nature's indifference to humanity (00:14:53)

8. The ocean will straight-up murder you (00:16:43)

9. We are not the protagonists of the universe (00:17:48)

10. Would you rather have a shipwreck or an existential meltdown? (00:18:30)

11. What to do when your ocean mommy doesn't love you (00:19:30)

12. Next time on Paranormal Pajama Party: More mermaids (00:21:28)

41 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 500800771 series 3549894
Content provided by Steph Summar. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Steph Summar or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send me a text message!

A Scottish lord hears a woman drowning in his loch. Every instinct tells him to dive in and save her. But his servant grabs his arm: "My lord, that's no woman."

This is the mermaid most of human history has feared – not Disney's lovestruck princess, but something far more alien and dangerous. What's truly wild is how universal these stories are. From Brazil's Iara to Japan's Ningyo, from Scotland's selkies to Africa's Mami Wata, cultures worldwide independently created tales of deadly female water spirits.

But why? Why do humans across continents and centuries keep telling the same basic story about dangerous women who live in water?

In this deep dive into global mermaid mythology, we explore ancient Greek bone-heaps, oceanic folklore, and a disturbing truth about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Because what if these stories were never really about women at all?

Key moments

  • 1:02The Laird of Lorntie meets a mermaid
  • 4:06Welcome to the party! Meet the mermaid
  • 6:59The universal mermaid mythos
  • 9:19The original sirens
  • 12:36Why is the ocean "female"?
  • 14:53Nature's indifference to humanity
  • 18:30Would you rather have a shipwreck or an existential meltdown?
  • 19:30What to do when your ocean mommy doesn't love you

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!
View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.
Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram or subscribe to the podcast's newsletter, Lights Out!

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Content warning (00:00:00)

2. The Laird of Lorntie meets a mermaid (00:01:02)

3. Welcome to the party! Meet the mermaid. (00:04:06)

4. The universal mermaid mythos (00:06:59)

5. The original sirens (00:09:19)

6. Why is the ocean "female"? (00:12:36)

7. Nature's indifference to humanity (00:14:53)

8. The ocean will straight-up murder you (00:16:43)

9. We are not the protagonists of the universe (00:17:48)

10. Would you rather have a shipwreck or an existential meltdown? (00:18:30)

11. What to do when your ocean mommy doesn't love you (00:19:30)

12. Next time on Paranormal Pajama Party: More mermaids (00:21:28)

41 episodes

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