Podcast appearances and mentions of princess merida

It's nearly thirty years since Kelly Macdonald made her acting debut as the sharp-witted 15 year old schoolgirl Diane in the classic film Trainspotting. Since then, the award winning actress has starred in critically acclaimed films like No Country for Old Men, Gosford Park, as well as Harry Potter franchise, and voiced the fearless Princess Merida in Pixar's Brave. Now, she's taking on a new role in the vampire comedy thriller, The Radleys.Scientists at the University of Oxford are creating OvarianVax, a vaccine which teaches the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. The hope is that the jab could be given to women preventatively on the NHS with the aim of eliminating the disease. We talk to Professor Ahmed Ahmed from the university of Oxford, who is leading the research into the jab, and Cary Wakefield CEO of Ovarian Cancer Action, to find out when exactly we might see this becoming available.Hundreds of women have recently been protesting in Turkish cities after the killing of two young women in Istanbul – followed by protests every day for a week across the country, notably on university campuses. Recently the "We Will Stop Femicide Platform" reported that in Turkey, 34 women were murdered by men and 20 more died under suspicious circumstances in September alone. We hear from Elif Shafak - award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, and Times Turkey Correspondent Hannah Lucinda Smith.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

"Yeah sure I gave you a mysterious magical spell and I forgot to tell you the most important part of it, sure, that doesn't give you the right to blow up my goddamn house" It's been 10 years since Princess Merida needed to CHANGE HER FATE, and we try to get through our revisiting of it without breaking into a Scottish accent 100 times. We fail horribly, but we have a great time regardless. Listen as we talk wisps, Mor'du!, accents, mums, camp archery, rocking out to the Brave soundtrack on the ferry, witches, suitors, hood reveals, a very detailed conversation regarding the entrances of Guildford Mall, Maury Povich DNA reveals, blowing up houses, Pixar's soft decline, and whether or not it's justified to call Merida the c-word. All that plus FUN FACTS, Tenzie awards and more! (NEXT EPISODE: Ted)

The Legend of Emerald story is a very interesting story about Princess Merida. This is a story about one magic stone. Listen full story to know more about Brave Story.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

“Brave” #14Ben and Danielle discuss the 2012 Pixar movie Brave, directed by Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, and Steve Purcell. The movie stars Kelly Macdonald as Princess Merida, a young woman who tries to change her fate as her parents force her to endure a contest to see which young man in the kingdom will take her hand in marriage. However, this attempt goes awry when she accidentally turns her mother into a bear with a witch's spell. The animated film also stars Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson. Your hosts talk about aspects of the movie that they liked, such as the animation, comedic elements, and voice acting. They also examine the themes of family, love, and respecting boundaries. What do they think? Well, grab some popcorn, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!Share this podcast with other movie fans in your life: Music: "Nightmares Inn" by RKVCCasino Roulette Sound Effect: https://www.soundfishing.eu/sound/fortune-wheelCheck out our website and social media pages!Website: https://www.podpage.com/reely-random-movie-reviews/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reelyrandommoviereviewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelyrandommoviereviews/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MovieReely

“The Girl Boss in the sausagefest” Pitface and Tantz chat are here to chat with me about the subject or lady Barbarians: What they look like, where they originated, why they originated, what they mean, and the logic behind them. They're often overshadowed by their male counterparts (e.g. Conan), and often dismissed as simply an erotic male fantasy, but they've been around just as long and they've also had just as much of a role to play in the traditional “barbarian” mythos as the male versions. Sure, the sexy versions are abundant, iconic, and visually striking, but they're not the be all and end all! This Quackcast was inspired by the topic of my 8th Fashion Spotlight and its focus on the barbarian woman Rose Red, I go into a lot of detail there and it's linked bellow if you're interested. for a little bit of a recap: lady barbarians go back at least as far as the Roman empire, even older possibly. In Rome they took the form of “gladiatrixes” (female gladiators), who were dressed as and promoted as barbarian fighters from exotic, uncivilised lands (Africa, all over Europe etc), as a way to excite the interest of the paying public to pay to see the fights, the same as we'd do today with wrestling and MMA. Many influences were behind this: the myth of the Amazons, the myth of Atalanta, red haired Celtic queen Boadicea, even early ideas for what was behind the myth of Medusa - she was thought to be based on the queen of a barbarian tribe rather than Ovid's much later idea that she was a virgin temple priestess. But of course most of us know female barbarians because of their modern incarnations. They've always been around in the history of art but they had a spike in popularity with the Italian “Sword and Sandal” movies of the 1960s, then the art of fantasy art master Frank Frazetta in the 1970s. They found their way into things like Dungeons and Dragons and with the success of Conan the Barbarian and the Robert E Howard inspired Valeria in that film a whole host of lady barbarians got their own films, often exploitative and sexy. The most famous lady barbarian of the time was Red Sonja, loosely based on another Robert E Howard character called Red Sonya, but turned from an armoured fighter against the Ottoman Turks into a scale-mail bikini wearing comic book barbarian woman from prehistory. The most famous lady barbarian to come after her was Xena, the warrior princess, played by statuesque New Zealand sketch comedian Lucy Lawless. Xena was simply a female spinoff from Hercules The Legendary journeys. The really cool thing about her is that not only did she achieve extreme popularity and her show totally eclipsed its originator, she was also an original character AND she got that popularity without leveraging the sexiness of the premise or character! Some notable lady barbarians I can think off… Virginia Hey's Warrior Woman, Tina Turner's character, and Furiosa from the Mad Max 2, 3, and 4 respectively; Lady Death; Red Sonja; Grace Jone's character from Conan the Destroyer; Valeria (Sandal Bergman) from Conan the Barbarian; Queen Boadicea; Xena; Betty Paige's Cheetah woman (her look was probably an inspiration for Xena in some ways); Ygritte from Game of Thrones; Atalanta; Princess Merida of Brave; I even created my own version in a Barbarian Pinky TA! Who are your faves from the this genre? This week Gunwallace has given us the theme to Creeping through the desert ruins, not wearing overly much, heat hits like a wall, golden sun dazels and mystifies. From plucked strings to creepy atmospherics, the sound bursts in a bombastic wave of high energy multilayered noise and exotic sounds, with pounding percussion. Topics and shownotes Links DD Fashion Spotlight 8: Rose Red - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2022/jan/05/friday-fashion-spotlight-8-rose-red/ Featured comic: Latitude Zero - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2022/jan/04/featured-comic-latitude-zero/ Featured music: Hentai Action Theater - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Hentai_Action_Theater - by Bedlam Boy, rated A. Special thanks to: Gunwallace - http://www.virtuallycomics.com Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/ Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean PitFace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/PIT_FACE/ VIDEO exclusive! Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks! - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts! Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS

October 25, 2020

Did you know there were 4 Autopia attractions? Do you remember Superstar Limo? This week we’re reminiscing on the Lost Attractions of Disneyland. Those we miss, those we don’t remember and those we can’t believe lasted as long as they did. Also, happy anniversary to Fantasmic!, a Disney Park is reopening, new merch in honor of Star Wars day and what to watch on Disney+ this week. Show Description Links:Subscribe to our events calendar (it’s free)!Follow Sean, Tabitha and the Magic on Main Street Podcast on Instagram!If you have any comments, questions or any stories you may want to share with our audience, email us at friends@magiconmainstreetpodcast.com.Become a patron on our all new Patreon! For as little as $2 a month, you’ll get early access and you’ll never have to listen to ads!Shout outsGabe & Brooke celebrating 8 years of marriage on 5/12Patrick & KarenPatreonMelissaStevenJonathan - Happy Birthday 5/5Nurses Appreciation DayHappy Mother’s Day!Topic 1 - This Week in Disneyland history1956:The Main Street Horseless Carriage begins operating at Disneyland.1992:Disneyland's Fantasmic! - a new night-time fireworks and visual hydrotechnic show - is officially dedicated in Frontierland. The 22-minute presentation, featuring fireworks, live actors, water effects, fire, music, boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large mist screens, takes place over the Rivers of America. 2011:A "black carpet" premiere for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides takes place at Disneyland.2012:Disney costume designer Alice Davis is honored with a window (next to her late husband Marc's window) at Disneyland. The 83-year-old Disney Legend designed park costumes, including many of the 150 or so dolls in the "it’s a small world" ride and those of the animatronic characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Her window sits above the Disneyana shop along Main Street, U.S.A.2013: Walt Disney World officially crowns Merida from Disney/Pixar’s "Brave" as the 11th Disney Princess. Her coronation ceremony fittingly takes place in front of Cinderella Castle, just steps away from her own Magic Kingdom meet-and-greet spot. Just after the theme park opening, Princess Merida is joined for the first time by all ten of her fellow royals, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana, and Rapunzel, welcoming her to the group.2016:Shanghai Disneyland Park begins its soft openings. The new theme park, located in Pudong, Shanghai, China, will officially open June 16.Topic 2 - News ClosuresShanghai Disneyland is reopening! May 11th is the lucky day. There are multiple new protocols in place to keep everyone safe, limited capacity and cancellations for theater shows, fireworks and parades. Close up character interactions are also not going to be available at this time. During the initial reopening phase, a special Disney character procession, Mickey and Friends Express, will take place several times daily, and the Enchanted Storybook Castle will come to life with light and music at dusk each day with Evening Magical Moments. They’ve added multiple requirements for getting tickets and registering your info for admittance so if you plan on heading to Shanghai, which you shouldn’t be planning to go right now unless you live in Shanghai….please, be sure to read up on all their new guidelines.Disneyland announced they will begin accepting reservations for travel dates starting July 1st and later. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE PARKS WILL BE OPEN. Previously they were taking reservations starting June 1st, so all this means is that it has been pushed back. Again, there is NO confirmed opening date so do not get your hopes up!If you have the time, go check out the plans and considerations for reopening that Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Pam Hymel released. It talks all about the plans for phased reopenings for many disney parks, distancing and capacity requirements, cleanliness and sanitation measures, screening and cast member training. Definitely info you want to have for the coming months.Topic 3 - MerchDisney released some free “merch” last week in the form of free photopass wallpaper downloads of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Pixar Pier, the Partner’s Statue, The Haunted Mansion, Cars Land, Mickey balloons and Mickey in his newsboy outfit in the red car trolley. All are high quality and super cute. They expire June 15th so make sure you download them asap!Multiple items from Disneyland’s history, spanning from the 1950’s to 2010’s are being featured in the Van Eaton Galleries “Popular Culture and Disneyland Auction” that will take place Saturday May 9th. Things like old park signage and vintage publications will be available to lucky winners. Some key items on the list were a Disneyland Opening Day Press Ticket, Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station Mickey Flag, the old Bugs Land entrance sign posters and props from Star Wars, and memorabilia from the earliest years of Club 33. Visit vegalleries.com and click on the “Popular Culture and Disneyland” tab to get all of the details on how to bid and see everything they have to offer. They also have a buy it now section on their site if you don’t feel like getting into a bidding war!A Minnie Mouse polka dot purse collection was just added to the Loungefly website! The collection includes a red crossbody and red wallet both with white polka dots and a large gold Disney “D” on the front. The prices aren’t too bad at 65 and 25 for each.Speaking of Loungefly, they are trying to bankrupt us. Multiple Star Wars themed bags were released for May the 4th. The new POP by LF X Star Wars collection includes a Wicket POP Head Wristlet, an Ewok crossbody/handbag, a darth vader POP head crossbody, and an Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary Han Solo Hoth Canvas backpack that I NEEED. All are still available on the LF website as of right now.An Amazon Exclusive Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary “battle at Echo Base” funko pop is available for preorder. The pop depicts the scene where Han uses a saber to cut open a tauntaun to save Luke. Since it is a deluxe pop its a little more expensive than the others at 24.99 which still isn't bad.New Wishables blind bags are available on shopdisney featuring the country bears! They are limited release so if you collect them make sure you hop to it!Last for merch but certainly not least, a sneak peak of the Minnie Main Attraction for June was released….its amazing. The theme for June is Peter Pan’s Flight and it will be available June 20th. Everything is in a super vibrant blue color. The ears depict a starry sky with the second star to the right in sequins and a gold tinker bell in the middle of the lighter blue bow. AMAZING.Topic 4 - Hidden MickeyTopic 5 - FoodWe’re making beignets this week...sometime. Stay tuned!Topic 6 - Events/EntertainmentDisney Family Singalong Volume 2 airs this Sunday May 10th at 7 pm. The line up consists of Josh Gad, Shakira, multiple Disney on Broadway stars, Rebel Wilson, Halsey and many more!Clone wars finaleDisney Gallery SW: Mandalorian MAIN - The lost attractions of Disneyland part 1Over 150 lost attractions, restaurants, shops, parades and fireworks showsThe Flying Saucers1961 - 1966Space mountain queue/TheaterFly Luigi’s Flying Tires2012 - Paid homage to the Flying SaucersEven Bob Iger disliked the attraction - said it should be fasterAdded music & Beach BallsAdded 45 seconds to the endLawsuits for injuries from beach ballsLawsuits from injuries from falling out - bulky designClosed to make way for RRCaptain EO, Disneyland (1986—1997, 2010—2014)Captain EO was a 1986 American 3D science fiction film that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through 1998. The movie stars Michael Jackson, was written by George Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola (who came up with the name "Captain EO" from the Greek, cf. Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn). The film was shown as part of an attraction with in-theater effects. The attraction returned to the Disney Parks in 2010 as a tribute after Jackson's death.Captain EO is regarded as one of the first "4D" films (4D being the name given to a 3D film that incorporates in-theater effects, such as lasers, smoke, etc., synchronized to the film)The film tells the story of Captain EO (Michael Jackson) and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to "The Supreme Leader" (Anjelica Huston), who lives on a world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain EO's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idey (Debbie Lee Carrington) and Ody (Cindy Sorenson), robotic security officer Major Domo (Gary Depew), a small robot, Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter (Tony Cox) who always manages to upset the crew's missions. Dick Shawn plays Captain EO's boss, Commander Bog.AutopiaJunior Autopia (1956–1958): A version of the original Autopia geared towards children. The Junior Autopia featured a guide rail, which the original version of Autopia did not have at the time. The site of the Junior Autopia reopened a year later as the Fantasyland Autopia and is now part of the present-day Autopia.Midget Autopia (1957–1966): A version of the original Autopia geared towards young children. After the Midget Autopia closed, the ride was dismantled and sent to Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri, where it operated for a few years. The site of the Midget Autopia is now the main walkway between It's a Small World and the rest of Fantasyland.Fantasyland Autopia (1959–1999): A version of the original Autopia, built on the site of the former Junior Autopia. The Fantasyland Autopia was known as the "Rescue Ranger Raceway" and themed to the Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers television series from 1991–1993. Its name reverted to "Fantasyland Autopia" afterwards, and operated part-time until it permanently closed in 1999. Its track was combined with the track of the Tomorrowland Autopia to create the present-day Autopia.Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove (1961–1982): A dining experience themed to Captain Hook's pirate ship. Dumbo the Flying Elephant was relocated to the former location of Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove and reopened there in 1983.Motor Boat Cruise (1957–1991): Simulated experience of navigating waterways in a motor boat. Renamed Motor Boat Cruise to Gummi Glen (1991–1993), based on the Gummi Bears television show.Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (1994–2014): A live-action show featuring singing and comedy. In 2012 the musical/variety group moved to Big Thunder Ranch until their show was retired in early 2014. Afterward, they were hired by Knott's Berry Farm as Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.Big Thunder Ranch (1986–2016): A Western-themed casual area for seeing shows, viewing Disneyland's horses on their breaks and days off, and dining at Big Thunder Barbecue which served ribs, chicken, potatoes, beans, and such. The Barbecue remained open for a few more years after the Ranch area became the Festival of Fools stage for The Hunchback of Notre Dame show. Up until its closing, the area was used for special events, a Petting Zoo, and seasonal attractions. It closed in early 2016 for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.Country Bear Jamboree (1972–2001): An audio-animatronic show featuring traditional American folk songs sung by a variety of bears and their friends, including Henry the host and Big Al, Shaker (a.k.a. Terrence), The Sun Bonnets (Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah), Liver Lips McGrowl, Wendell, Ernest, Gomer, Trixie, Teddi Barra, The Five Bear Rugs (Zeke, Zeb, Ted, Fred and Tennessee), and Zeke's son Oscar. The content of the show was replaced by Country Bear Vacation Hoedown at the Country Bear Playhouse (1986–2001): Used the same animated figures as Country Bear Jamboree, redecorated. This is now the site of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.Superstar LimoOpened 2001 opening day closed in less than a yearWeird puppet agentCaricature style animatronicsDCA didn’t have a warm receptionOriginal concept was a wild ride away from paparazziDidn’t want a Princess Di connectionVery un-disneyMonsters IncQuote of the Week"It’s a mistake not to give people a chance to learn to depend on themselves while they are young." - Walt Disney See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Princess Merida is a skilled archer and determined to find her own path in life! Along the way, she defies tradition and unknowingly unleashes a beast. Follow along on her quest as she discovers what it truly means to be brave! If you would like to hear more magical Disney stories, you can visit us at abc11.com/magic-of-storytelling/

Brave (2012) PG | 1h 33min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 22 June 2012 (USA) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman Writers: Brenda Chapman (story by), Mark Andrews (screenplay by) Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson

Brave (2012) PG | 1h 33min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 22 June 2012 (USA) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman Writers: Brenda Chapman (story by), Mark Andrews (screenplay by) Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson

Jean Bolen Feeling indomitable, untamed, unsubdued? Or maybe not so much?Jean Bolen explores the myth of Atalanta, the famous hunter and runner in ancient Greek mythology, a mortal woman who is identified with Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and Moon. Atalanta began life abandoned and left to die because she was born a girl. She went on to conquer fierce animals and make a man prove himself before she would be his bride. She exemplifies the indomitable spirit in competent, courageous girls and in the women they become who will not be victims, no matter what.Looking at today’s girls with grit like Princess Merida from the film Brave and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Jean gives us ways we can explore and find our own uncrushable spirits. Learn more about Jean Bolen: www.jeanbolen.com

Do you have an idea for a huge project that you'd like to bring to life? Today we talk with Oscar winner and creator and director of Pixar's Brave, Brenda Chapman, to understand what it looks like to create something on the scale of a major animated film. Brenda has worked on several films and generously shares her wealth of knowledge on what it really takes when you have a huge idea in your mind. During the interview we'll talk about what life is like working inside Disney, how to get funding for your big idea, and why you may not want to share your big idea if you're already working inside a studio.

In ancient times when the night was so much darker than it is today, stories were told that endure to this day. It's easy for scholars to assume that, because written records are a permanent way to record history of any kind, many folktales from literary cultures are assumed to be recent ones. Familiar fairytales such as the ones The Brothers Grimm recorded in their early research in the Black Forest of Europe feel familiar enough as to be from a more recent time in history and not from a remote age like Native American stories. However, The Brothers Grimm were convinced that the stories they researched were, in fact, as ancient as their Native American counterparts. Folklorists since have had difficulty believing this, however, because they are scientists, solid evidence is the only type of evidence they will consider. Recent research by anthropologists has confirmed that, perhaps, The Brothers Grimm were correct after all and the fairy tales that are so familiar to us have an older, more alien origin in languages and cultures that left so little behind as to be forgotten. According to this new research, the famous story "Beauty and The Beast", which was once thought to originate in the 16th century, is instead 4,000 years old. One story is mentioned in this article, however, as being older than writing itself and being invented at a time when mammoths walked the earth. It is a lesser known story, but is possibly an inspiration for Goethe's novel "Faust" and also the inspiration behind Jack-O-Lanterns on Halloween. In Acadian French, the name for this spirit is "Feu Follet" or "Foolish Fires". Despite having Christian overtones in many versions, stories of the Will-O-The-Wisp or "The Smith and The Devil" are estimated to be 6,000 years old. At the root of these many versions and names across many countries and centuries, there is one commonality: a mysterious and bright ball of light that appears in the dead of night. Travelers who walk on country roads by night usually spot these strange lights, but not always. There are many explanations for these haunting lights worldwide, with most being supernatural. For example, the Malecite tribe and the people of Southern Wales see the lights as omens of death. In Wales, these lights are called 'corpse candles', and their color and size further specify the gender and age of the doomed person. In Mexico and Africa, these lights are witches and sorcerers on the move towards a remote place to practice secret and dangerous magic. In Argentina, the lights are 'Luz Mala' or 'evil lights'. This light kills anyone who looks at it, yet it will pursue hapless people at night and try to get them to look at it. In Japan, these lights are called "Hitodama" and are believed to be either a human soul or a ball of supernatural energy. Such balls of fiery light are either found in graveyards or around fox-like spirits called 'Kitsune'. Kitsune are famous shapeshifters in Japanese mythology who either trick humans into violent misdeeds or help rice farmers as servants of the rice god, Inari. This version is adapted from the book ""Will O The Wisp" and is adapted from Ireland and New Brunswick, Canada. It describes one of the most common supernatural explanations: A condemned soul tries to lure travelers at night to their death: There was once a man named Willy O'Bannon who immigrated to America from Ireland to seek his fortune with his family. He took up the blacksmith trade and performed small metalworking jobs such as making and attaching horseshoes and nails. He settled near a small village in Canada, where he had regular work. None of this work helped him to feed his family, however. It was so difficult to earn enough to keep body and soul together that one day, Willy grew frustrated and said that he would sell his soul to The Devil just for the money. Not long after this happened, a man dressed in black wearing a tall hat came to his door. Willy said "I have never seen the likes of you in these parts before. Who are you?" With a sly smile that made Willy feel uneasy, the stranger replied "You don't know me, but know you, Willy O'Bannon. In fact, I heard you just the other day make me an offer. Was it your soul for the money?" Willy gulped in fear. This was The Devil come to take him up on his offer.  The Devil continued. "I will make sure that you get all the money that you will ever need or want for seven years. But after seven years, I will arrive to take you to Hell." Feeling that seven years was a good long time, and feeling hunger in his belly, he accepted. The next morning, Willy's life changed. He got enough money to feed his family, buy a new house and workshop and even shared his wealth with the community. During this time, another strange figure appeared. It was a cold and rainy day, and an old, tired and cold man came to Willy's door. Willy fed him, warmed him up by the fireplace and gave him a place to sleep while the storm outside raged. The old man smiled at Willy as he ate his porridge. "I am an angel." The stranger said. "For your generosity, you have three wishes." Having already met an angel before (for The Devil is an angel too), Willy believed him. He thought for a moment. Then, he smiled. "I want three magical items. The first one is a chair that allows no one to stand up unless I say so. The second is an anvil that no one can let go of unless I say so. The third is a steel purse that does not let anything out of it unless I open it." The stranger frowned, but said. "It is done." When the seven years had passed, Willy was shaving and he heard the knock at the door. He knew who it was. "It's time to go, Willy." The Devil said. "I'm still shaving, sir." Willy replied. "Come in and have a seat. I'll be finished in a moment. I want to look my best when facing damnation." The Devil sat in the only chair in the room when he entered. As soon as he tried to rise from the chair, he felt he could not move. Willy wasted no time. He took an iron bar from his workshop and started to smack The Devil with it. "Stop! Please be merciful." "To you, Father of Evil? I think not." Willy replied before smacking him again. "Wait!" The Devil shouted before Willy posed to swing the bar. He listened to a Devil now beaten black and blue. "I will give you another seven years of wealth if you let me go form this chair." "No tricks?" "Of course not." The Devil said. With that, Willy commanded The Devil to stand up and in a flash, The Devil ran out of the house and back to Hell again to nurse his wounds. The next seven years passed faster than the first. Again, the familiar knock on the door was heard. "Come out, Willy! It's time to go, as per our agreement." "Of course, sir." Willie said. "Please come in. I need your help." The Devil came in and saw Willy organizing his workshop. "I need to leave this place in order for my family, so they don't have a horrible mess to clean up. Can you hand me that anvil over there, so I may put it away?" The Devil, confident in his strength, tried to lift to anvil. However, he found that he could not move his hand from it. He was rooted to the spot. Again, Willy took another iron rod and beat The Devil black and blue one more time. "No! Not again!" "Give me seven more years, Devil, and I'll release you." "Fine, just stop! Please!" Again, Willy commanded The Devil to take his hand off the anvil and again, The Devil wasted no time to leave. This span of seven years went along even faster than the last two. This time, The Devil did not come inside, but Willy left with the steel purse on his person. They walked through the town square and past a pub. "Say, Old Devil, since you'll be taking me somewhere hot and dry, could you do me the kindness of letting me have a drink for the road to Hell?" Not seeing any tricks this time, The Devil nodded. "I'll change myself into a coin for you, so don't worry about the cost." As soon as The Devil turned himself into a coin, Willy grabbed it, put it inside of the steel purse and bolted back home. He stuck the purse into the forge fire and kicked up the flames as hot as he could manage with the bellows. With each puff, The Devil wailed in pain. "I'll get you for this Willie!" "Then I'll just keep going if that's your attitude." He continued to kick up the flames until the purse was almost ready to melt. "If you let me out, I will never bother you again! I forfeit my claim on you!" With that, Willie used his blacksmith tools to open the purse. Howling in pain, with a smoking backside, The Devil bolted out of the house in a blackened whirlwind. Willie lived well until his death of old age. But when he reached the Gates of Heaven, St. Peter did not open the pearly gates. "I was always generous with my wealth and even took in one of your own. What is the meaning of this?" St. Peter shook his head. "That angel wanted to save you. The wishes were all attempts to pull you out of your pact with Hell. But instead, you kept yourself in it and played all those tricks on our enemy and hold onto wealth rather than abandon it. It was fun to watch you torture Satan, but because you wasted your chances to be saved and you got greedy, we can't let you in. So Willie accepted defeat and came to Hell's less than shiny gates. As soon as The Devil opened the gates to peek outside, his eyes widened and he shut the gate. "Oh God! Not you again!!!" The Devil shouted. Willie shook his head. "I'm not allowed up in Heaven sir. It looks like you get me in the end. You win." "Not a chance! After all you put me through, I don't ever want to see your face again, let alone for the rest of eternity! This place will freeze over before I let you in." "Then tell me where to go or I'll wait outside here and sneak in. You'll have to open those gates sooner or later, considering how many sinners are alive now." The Devil knew Willy was right and he knew that Willy was very clever. But The Devil came up with an idea. He took a piece of straw and lit it with a spark of hellfire. He opened the gate wide enough to reach out and hand it to him. "Here! You go get me souls I can use for firewood! Use this!  I'm sure with your wily ways, you'll find a way to get them to kill themselves. Don't get any ideas about sneaking in here, though! Now be off with you and don't ever come back!" And whenever that tiny little spark of light appears in the dead of night, it's Old Willy's ghost trying to complete his task: a task intended to keep him away from Hell. He likes the souls to drown, so don't follow him or he'll mislead you into a deadly trick, just as he misled The Devil three times. Even in modern times, when there is so much more light to be seen even at the darkest times of the night, there are still sightings of mysterious phantom lights. Rather than resort to sometimes frightening answers with a supernatural bent, the two most popular scientific theories relate to biochemistry. The first theory was written by  Allesandro Volta, a chemist who inspired the name for the standard measurement of electricity: the volt. He also created the world's first recorded battery since the ancient batteries first crafted in Babylon and Egypt. According to Volta, the balls of mysterious lights were not lost souls, witches or faeries, but swamp gas. According to this theory, plant and animal matter in a wetland decomposes and  methane gas builds up. Eventually, it must bubble up and fly out of the wet bottom and into the air. If there is lightning or some static discharge in the same area, the gas will be ignited like a match over an open torch head. At the time that Volta published this theory, which was after he discovered the existence of methane gas in 1776, it caused controversy. By this time, the supernatural legends behind will-o-the-wisps was so commonplace that it was an unquestioned fact. Just as Benjamin Franklin faced controversy for claiming that lighting was not caused by the wrath of God, so did Volta face a crowd angry with the possibility that, maybe, the phantom lights they sometimes saw was nothing to fear. Even today, swamp gas is an explanation that is often not taken seriously or accepted. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that methane gas is a byproduct of natural decay. Wherever there is a large amount of biomass left to decompose, there will be a buildup of this gas.This theory has further evidence to support it with the observed fact that as wetlands in England have been drained and developed, instances of will-o-the-wisp sightings have declined. The second explanation is bio-luminescent fungi. Some species of fungi will glow in the dark, either to attract insects that help spread the spores or to deter animals from eating it. Often, these fungi will appear either on top of trees or on decomposing logs on the forest floor. It is commonly a dim light, but can be bright enough to read by on rare occasions. The layman's term for this natural phenomena is 'foxfire'. On Wikipedia's listing of bio-luminescent fungi, there are over 23 species in North America and 22 species in Europe. The first species on this list, Armillaria calvescens, is a species that exists in Canada and New England. Specifically, it lives on maple trees abundant in New England and Canada. As if in commemoration of these stories, the scientists who discovered the chemical that lights up living things call it Luciferum, a name derived from one of many names for The Devil. Today, the genes for this chemical's production and expression are vital for use in the study of genetics. A recent study has involved making cats glow in the dark to see if it is possible to implant HIV resistant genes into humans to combat AIDS. Someday, we may have feline Will-O-The-Wisps roaming the country and spooking travelers because of this. For now, however, we have only ghosts and gases for explaining why there are errant lights that seem to come from the night with no explanation. It is clear from all of this evidence that this is a story with roots so old, that it is remembered long after it's original language has been completely forgotten. It has come to be retold in many languages across continents and helps to explain a phenomena that continues to intrigue people today. Anthropologists who discovered this story's true age suggest this is a tale that tells of how Man attempts to change his fate, but only ends up doing so in an unpleasant way. This same theme appears in the latest incarnation of the legend in Disney and Pixar's 2012 movie Brave. In it, Princess Merida is lured by tiny blue flame spirtes called "Will-O-The-Wisps". Just like Willie from the Irish and Maritimes version, she tries to defy her fate with magic and faces unforeseen misfortune as a result. There is another moral to these stories that is new to us, however. While languages come and go and cultures appear and disappear, stories remain today as monuments of the imagination. Even after temples and cities crumble down and their histories fade into the dark twilight of time, stories, like Will-O-The-Wisps, briefly appear to illuminate our past, even casting light onto that which has become alien to our memories and that which is still familiar to us today. Bibliography Will O' The Wisp: Folk Tales and Legends of New Brunswick by Carole, Spray Wikipedia: Will-O-The-Wisp Wikipedia: Biolumiescent Fungi Today I Found Out: What causes Will-O-The-Wisps The Guardian: Fairytales much older than previously thought, says researchers Celtic Monsters- Omen's of Death

Quickie Edition of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast! (Quickie Editions are 30 mins or less)   In the last podcast on The Moon we discussed being lost and the creative process in relation to the Artist archetype. In this podcast we delve into another aspect of this shadowy archetypal stage - the feminine archetype of deep knowing, agency and connection to nature. Artemis, also known as the Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Midwifery and Wilderness.  Sign up to be a part of the Archetypal Tarot Patron Team! tiny.cc/tarot ----more---- The Moon & Transitions If you think about it, you are probably in some kind of transition in your life right now. It could be small and less noticeable or it could be a huge life transition which leaves you feeling lost and unsure of what will happen next. This ambiguous stage of life is often associated with The Moon card of the Tarot when things are not quite what they appear to be and when we often feel lost in the wilderness. Along comes an archetype that embodies this situation to guide you through. She is called Artemis and she is part of the pantheon of mythological Greek Gods and Goddesses replete with stories to nourish you during this time. A Recognition of Feminine Aspects Cyndera and Julienne discuss The Moon card of the Tarot in relation to Artemis who some interpret as a Three-in-One Goddess with different aspects embodying cycles of transition. The new moon seen as Artemis herself (also known as Diana in Roman mythology), the full moon seen in Selena and the waxing moon seen as the goddess Hecate. This triune goddess takes a page out of the archetypal Maiden/Mother/Crone iconography and presents the middle stage as not simply woman as Mother but as woman in full bloom with or without children. It's a model we have had scarce references to in the past but one that is coming into fruition in the 21st century when a woman can be valued for herself with or without offspring. Together C & J talk about a recent workshop they attended with the venerable Jungian Psychiatrist and Author Jean Shinoda Bolen. Her new book, Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman delves deeply into the archetypal powers of this feminine character and how her energy is showing up in our lives and the greater culture.       The Indomitable Spirit at Any Stage The indomitable spirit of Artemis can be seen more and more in films such as Hunger Games with it's very Artemis inspired Katniss Everdeen, Merida the heroine of Pixar's Brave as well as icons from years past Wonder Woman and the Six Million Dollar Woman. All of these characters contain aspects of Artemis and work with the adversities and the challenges of the Victim archetype in a way that not only empowers themselves but dedicates them to the protection of others.   The Goddess Selene is seen as the woman in full, empowered with autonomy, generosity and the fulfillment of her choosing. We can see Selene in Minnie Driver's character Skylar in Good Will Hunting, Gina Torres's Jessica Pearson in the TV series Suits and Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope in the show Scandal and many others in film, television and literature.   Goddess Hecate the sage, fair witness and wisdom keeper who no longer gives a d@mn about what other people think, can been seen in Maude from the 1970's cult classic Harold and Maude as well as in many roles played by both Helen Mirren and Judi Dench.         Do you have an example of one of these indomitable archetypes from film, television or books? Leave it in the comments. Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen is a groundbreaking new book that explores the archetype of the activist. Indomitable means untamed, unsubdued. It is the one-in-herself quality in girls and women who will not be victims, no matter what. To bring the Artemis archetype to life, Dr. Bolen delves deeply into the myth of Atalanta, the famous hunter and runner in ancient Greek mythology, a mortal woman who is identified with Artemis the Greek Goddess of the Hunt and Moon. Atalanta began life abandoned and left to die because she was born a girl. She faced the Calydon Boar and drew first blood; she was the runner who would demand to be beaten in a footrace by the man who could claim her as his bride. Atalanta exemplifies the indomitable spirit in competent, courageous girls and in the women they become. This is grit, the passion and persistence to go the distance, to survive, and to succeed.  Dr. Bolen paints a vivid picture of Artemis women in current media, including Princess Merida from the animated film Brave and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. In all these examples and those of real-life women who grow into their Artemis spirit, she provides the means through which readers can navigate their own personal exploration to become their authentic selves. Bolen dedicates this book to women and girls who embody the archetype of Artemis, who discover her uncrushable spirit in themselves or others. We highly recommend getting a copy of this book - it's rich in detail, insight and empowering examples we can see in ourselves. If you are going through a transition, this book is a valuable resource. The Artemis triune: Artemis (Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen - Hunger Games) Selena (Gina Torres as Jessica Pearson - Suits) Hecate (Helen Mirren - as whatever the bloody hell she wants) More Artemis characters on our show page.

Brave - (2012) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Brave - (2012) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

It's a Happy Mother's Day as Tim Callaway visits the Walt Disney Family Museum to interview "lowbrow" artist Camille Rose Garcia and talk about her new exhibit "Down the Rabbit Hole," a dark and delightful look at "Alice in Wonderland." Also, we take a look at the controversy over Princess Merida's new Disney makeover, Entertainment Arts' takeover of Disney's "Star Wars" video games and the underwhelming tease for Disney/Marvel's "Big Hero 6." www.TheMouseCastle.com

"Iron Man 3" opened to huge box office numbers in the U.S. over the weekend, but is it any good? Also, Merida from Pixar's "Brave" is about to officially become a Disney princess and John Ratzenberger is now officially immortalized in a collection of Pez dispensers. www.TheMouseCastle.com.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and the Camera d'Or at the 2012 Cannes International Film Festival, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD exists entirely in its own universe: mythological, anthropological, folkloric and apocalyptic. “This movie is a blast of sheer, improbable joy, a boisterous, thrilling action movie with a protagonist who can hold her own alongside Katniss Everdeen, Princess Merida and the other brave young heroines of 2012.” New York Times Film co-producer Matthew Parker will be joining us to chat about this internationally acclaimed awarding winning film. Don't miss it!

This week, Team Mousetalgia celebrates Independence Day by sharing the music of the Voices of Liberty ensemble, an Epcot staple recently introduced to the Disneyland Resort. We also take a walk down Main Street and discuss the new additions to Disneyland, including the Carnation Cafe's bad coffee and amazing apple-granola pancakes, the penniless arcade, new candy offerings and some Dapper delights. The Matterhorn also "peaks" our interest, and we finish up by meeting Princess Merida at the new Brave photo location. Also - our take on Pixar's "Brave," and an ears-to-the-ground report from the grand re-opening of Disney California Adventure!

Brave (2012) PG | 1h 33min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 22 June 2012 (USA) Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman Writers: Brenda Chapman (story by), Mark Andrews (screenplay by) Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson