Unraveling the Unknown

FINALE- Dragons

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown Episode Title: Finale- Dragons Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,  You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa. In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Dragons.  SEGMENT 1: STORYTIME In ancient Mesopotamia, dark forests spread wide across the hilly landscape, dipped in the moonlit glow from far above. A great warrior roamed the land. Looking for adventure and glory in times of peace. The warrior walked along the edges of the forest, As he spotted a small gold coin gleaming in the moonlight. He picked it up and looked further into the darkness of the moon-crested forest, spotting an extravagant necklace of gold and jewels. Traveling further in, he followed the trail of misplaced gold, leading to a huge carved-out opening in the side of the mountain.  The warrior had found it! Treasure! Something good for his tribe he could bring back to them.  Soon the warrior noticed something- a ginormous winged beast splayed out on a mountain of gold the warrior thought could encompass the ocean. A dragon. It was sleeping but far less soundly than a few minutes prior, it's breathing was less smooth and slow, becoming jagged like the walls of the cave. The warrior dropped down and grabbed whatever gold was within grasp, scooping it up and then rushing as quietly as possible back home.  The next morning, the warrior woke up to the sounds of screaming and terror. Outside, people ran for their lives and cried in pain and disbelief as a dragon- the likes of which most had only heard stories- spit tsunamis of flame over the kingdom.  Most were destroyed and many were killed, although some were able to find refuge in the dark lapses of the surrounding forest.  No one had defeated a dragon and learned to tell the tale- not even in legends- So, the kingdom abandoned their home, fleeing to the woods and other settlements, never to see their home or their lost loved ones again.  SEGMENT 2:  ORIGIN  * Next, we will discuss the origins of a dragon. Dragons have appeared in mythology throughout every Country. The main theory of Dragons is derived from the discovery of dinosaur bones. The first dragon myths appear with the Sumerian(soo-meh-ree-uhn) legends of the god-mother Tiamat. Dragons appear in Chinese and Indian Legends in about 2700 B.C.  * In 1335, a huge skull was found in Australia in Claren Fort. It was known to be the skull of an old water dragon Legend. This dragon was known to flood the town with water. Then, in 1590, they created a statue for the Capital Corinthia based on this skull. This Dragon statue represents a dragon that spouts water out of its mouth. * During the 1600s, an Englishman named Robert Plot found a huge bone, thinking it was part of a giant something. This fossil turned out to be from the Meglosaurus bucki (meg-la-sore-us buck-eye).  * The dragon symbolizes power, good fortune, and strength and is associated with intelligence. Chinese emperors consider themselves descendants of dragons. Dragons are also thought of as evil and satanic in some places of the world. Serpents are often associated with the devil/ evil. Sometimes dragons are thought of as protective, and sometimes harmful and dangerous. * Often, dragons are guardians of something either gold and treasure or of a town * Many believe dragons could have originated from a fear of snakes. - mesopotamian art and drawings.  SEGMENT 3:  DISCUSSION  Let's discuss.  From a scale of 1-10, 10 being absolutely real, 1 being completely fake, how believable do you think dragons are?  -How to Train Your Dragon- movies -toothless and Hiccup -Avatar-are those dragons?              -The third Avatar movie coming of in December 2025- about fire people, and the avatars are red and live in volcanic regions  -Avatar the Last Airbender- dragons and culture in Avatar are based on East Asian culture, mostly Japanese and Chinese in the Fire Nation. Dragons Ran and Shaw, Sun Warriors tech fire bending. Fire Festival in Fire Nation with dragon dance and costume Dragons are seen in a positive light- hunting them is bad. wise -Harry potter * Basilisk and hydra types of dragons Hey Curiosos! If you enjoyed listening to this weeks podcast or have been tuning in every week, we would love it you could leave a review and follow us on Apple Podcasts.  Thank you for being part of our inquisitive community! Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about Dragons!  This will be the last and final episode of our podcast, Unraveling the Unknown. Thank you for listening! SIGN OFF Let curiosity be your compass. MUSIC CREDITS:    * Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake * Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake * Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras * Frightmare by Jimena Contreras CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Triple Threat; Cerberus

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown Episode Title: Triple Threat; Cerberus Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,  You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa. In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Cerberus and other multiheaded creatures. This podcast will be a little special. In this week's episode, we have not one but two special guests. We are here with… Guests Seamus- he used to be a big fan of the Percy Jackson series Zoe-  Segment 1: Q/A -What do you think Cerberus symbolizes in Greek mythology? Is it just a guardian, or is there a deeper meaning to his role? He has been a symbol of protection in many stories even to this day including Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.  His name literally means flesh devouring, he is an important part of a system like the cerberus molecules in the human body that build the heart, head, and help create left-right symmetry. He is also often related to the military and war, using its name as a military protocol.  I think it is really important how he prevents the living from entering the underworld and devours those who try to leave. He kind of protects life. Cerberus is often seen as the complexity of Death. With his multiple heads, he might symbolize the multifaceted nature of death.  I think Cerberus could represent a lot of different things, and it is up to the mind's interpretation that makes him such a unique mythological figure.  -Cerberus is often depicted as a fearsome beast with three heads. What do you think the multiple heads represent? Could they symbolize anything beyond just being intimidating? I feel like they probably relate to the three parts of the underworld: Elysium, where the righteous and heroes go  Tartarus, where the evil go, pretty much a dark pit Asphodel Meadows, where ordinary souls go who did nothing with their lives, their minds were numbed. I also agree with zoe, I think the three heads could represent the three parts of the underworld. I think the three heads could also represent the past, the present and the future.  Since Cerberus guards the underworld, the heads may represent the different phases of human existence, meaning Cerberus overs those who have died but also the flow of souls and in inevitable passage of time.  -Cerberus guards the gates of the Underworld, preventing souls from leaving. Do you see him as a symbol of the inevitability of death or something more complex? Some myths describe Cerberus being tamed or subdued by certain heroes, like Heracles or Orpheus. What do these interactions tell us about human nature and our relationship with death or fear? Death is inescapable in real life for normal people and stories of heroes are used to cope with this idea that people cannot escape death. Heros give people hope and inspiration  Hesiod -What do you personally find most fascinating about Cerberus? Is it his loyalty to Hades, his terrifying appearance, or something else entirely? -If you were tasked with designing a modern version of Cerberus for a film or game, how would you change his appearance, abilities, or personality to make him resonate with today's audience? -If Cerberus had a human counterpart or a voice, what kind of personality do you imagine he would have? Would he be more philosophical, menacing, or indifferent? Quick overview of Cerberus/ three headed beasts-  Cerberus is known as the watchdog of the underworld and hound of Hades, god of the underworld. Cerberus prevents souls from leaving or escaping the underworld and guards the gates into the underworld.  Cerberus is the offspring of the mythological monsters Echidna and Typhon.  Echidna- half woman half snake  Typhon- a half snake and half human god of storms with many heads. Sibling of the hydra. Cerberus is often depicted as only a huge canine with three heads, however many older descriptions include a mane of snakes or a tail consisting of several snakes (often three),  Hera gave cerberus to hades, her brother, after receiving cerberus as a gift from echidna. Today, cerberus often symbolizes ferocious loyalty, vigilance, strength, power, protection, death and the afterlife. Segment 2:  Free Discussion  How believable on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real.  Harry potter Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about three-headed monsters Next week we will be discussing the Banshee SIGN OFF Let curiosity be your compass. Music Credits:    Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras Frightmare by Jimena Contreras Connect with us on Social Media @theHVSPN

Wailing Banshee

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown Episode Title: Wailing Banshee Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,  You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa. In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Banshees.  SEGMENT 1: STORYTIME On one grassy town hill in Ireland, a family house sat, brick and stone, under the soft sun of the falling afternoon. The wind blew into welcoming windows, infusing the smell of grass and earth into the house. A mother and father began to cook in the kitchen while three kids ran around the house, breaking through the calm noise outside. Unexpectedly, a loud screaming wail, like a mother losing her love, faced with death and despair, rang through the house and hillside. The family was shocked still, with the children running to the kitchen questioning the noise. The mother and father slowly looked at each other, horrified by the meaning of the scream. A banshee. Their children were not yet old enough to have heard of the legends- a haunted woman- an Irish folktale who screams and shrieks to warn families of a coming death. Many see her as a bad omen and curse, while others believe she is trying to protect the family. The mother rushed to check on her children and husband, and they began to get ready to leave the house when a storm began, soon rain and lighting were beating down on their roof, until one lighting strike hit a tree that teetered and crashed into the side of their home. One of the children, a 4-year-old boy was crushed under the tree, breathing his last breath as rain began to cover his face. Is she a curse? Or a protector?  SEGMENT 2:  ORIGIN  * Banshee, known as “Women of the Fairies”, or the Irish angel of death is a supernatural female spirit in Irish and Scottish folklore.  * Banshees are normally depicted as evil, as they enjoy wailing out to their victims until they either commit suicide or go insane. * These Banshees were described as frightening old witches who emit howls that shatter glass and torment the living and are filled with such hatred that direct eye contact with one would cause immediate death.  * Not all Banshees need to be feared. In an Irish household, many believed every family had its own Banshee, and this spirit would watch over the family members in life and death. * The family Banshee has the power to safely pass deceased family members to the other side.  * People assumed Banshees appeared as beautiful young women, and they would sing a mournful song filled with love and concern for their families.  *  Banshees could only come from five prominent Irish family names: O’Neills, O’Connors, O’Briens, Kavanaghs, and O’Grady.  * The Banshee’s cry is said to be so piercing that it can be heard from miles away. Each Banshee’s cry can be different for each family, which can be used as identification for the particular family branch.  SEGMENT 3:  DISCUSSION  From a scale of 1-10, 10 being absolutely real, 1 being completely fake, how believable do you think the Banshee is?  Curse or protector or just murderer?  How do you think this legend started? * Banshees are known for keening which is an Irish word for what  a woman does to fend off evil  spirits from a dead body * Banshees are often seen combing their hair which could represent a washer woman who prepares the dead for burial. * A banshee can be killed by ripping out its heart or cutting off its head or any fatal wound * In media today, especially Western banshees are often seen as evil ghost spirits with superhumanly strong lungs, throats, and vocal cords whose voices and screams stun and harm hearing and shake things around them. * In Teen Wolf, the banshee is a human woman with the ability to access the supernatural and is a harbinger of death.  * Cry of the Banshee is a 1970 horror film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Vincent Price. It was released by American International Pictures. It was written by Tim Kelly and Christopher Wicking. Hey Curiosos! If you enjoyed listening to this week's podcast or have been tuning in every week, we would love it if you could leave a star review on Apple Podcasts.  Your support would help us out a ton and would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for being part of our inquisitive community! Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about Banshee  Next week we will be discussing dragons SIGN OFF Let curiosity be your compass. MUSIC CREDITS:    * Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake * Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake * Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras * Frightmare by Jimena Contreras CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

The Basilisk

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown Episode Title: The Basilisk Hello Curious people and welcome to a world of mystery. You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa. In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: The Basilisk. SEGMENT 1: STORY TIME * One day on a farmhouse in ancient times, a farmer was shaken awake by loud screams and croaks from his farm animals. He dashed out of bed and rushed outside.  * Eyes adjusting to the light of morning, he glanced around, spotting an abnormally large chicken egg cracked and broken on the ground. The farmer looked around at all the commotion, roosters running around, feathers and dirt flying in the air. The horses, cows, and other livestock were spooked, breaking fences and crying out.  * He saw dead black grass near where the chicken egg was hatched, and dead livestock littering the ground around it. Then, following this trail of death, he looked up, meeting the gaze of a huge rooster-like creature with the characteristics of a serpent. He gasped, Immediately falling over, face banging against the muddy ground. He was petrified, dead.  * This creature was a basilisk, a Serpent-like creature with the ability to turn things into stone with its glance- even in a reflection, causing immediate death. The basilisk also is extremely venomous. It originates in Ancient Greece and Rome and is often thought of as the King of Serpents. Basilisk is also the name of a genus of small lizards [https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lizard], The Green Basilisk, also called plumed basilisk, is often called the "Jesus lizard" for its ability to run on the surface of water. They are roughly 2.5 feet in length, so relatively small, and kind of cute. * There are a lot of variations and species that originate with the basilisk. For example, Medusa is a side species of basilisk - a lot of legends of the basilisk involve a mixture of a snake or serpent combined with other animals.  * Medusa is an example of this because she is part snake and part human. Other combinations can often include farm animals like cows, roosters, etc.  * Basilisks have haunted legends and terrorized kings, kingdoms, and people all over the world since ancient times. * The only two weaknesses of a basilisk ever recorded are hearing the crow of a rooster and seeing its own deadly gaze in a mirror.  SPOILER WARNING!!! * HARRY POTTER- the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has a basilisk as its main enemy.  * When Harry Potter discovers the chamber of secrets and Voldemort plans to resurrect himself, he goes into the chamber, preparing to destroy a powerful notebook with the basilisk venom.  * Hary encounters the huge Basilisk creature who petrified a female student Ginny at Hogwarts.  * He has to kill the giant snake with a sword without looking it in the eye. Harry uses the shadows on the basilisk in the tunnels to predict and see where the basilisk is without looking at it.  * The basilisk in Harry Potter is really scary and very powerful. It is a giant scaly snake that lives in the tunnels under Hogwarts.  * Like most legends, It has a petrifying gaze and extremely poisonous venom. Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about The Basilisk  Next week we will be discussing a three-headed creature which also makes an appearance in Harry Potter. SIGN OFF Let curiosity be your compass. MUSIC CREDITS:    * Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake * Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake * Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras * Frightmare by Jimena Contreras CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Wicked Werewolves

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown Episode Title: Wicked Werewolves  Hello Curious people and welcome to a world of mystery. You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa. In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: werewolves. Segment 1: Story Time In 1589 Germany, in the village of Epprath on a simple farm ranch, Peter Stumpp, worked as a successful farmer for many years of his life until one day when mysterious disappearances from nearby towns began to conjure up suspicion. Neighboring farms and passersby began sensing strange and dark energy as well as hearing occasional unexplainable noises coming from Stump's house.  Soon, Peter was accused of werewolves, witchcraft, and cannibalism.  He was put on trial and confessed after being tortured to killing and eating several of his livestock and villagers including women and children He confessed further that he had made a pact with the devil to become a werewolf. He was then sentenced to death after they found several half-consumed human remains on his property.  He was executed in one of the most horrible and tortuous deaths on record, execution by wheel. His daughter and mistress were also put to death in fear of further werewolf tendencies spreading through the village.   In Germany at the time, Roman Catholics were attempting to push out Protestantism, of which Stupp was a proud member.   This could have influenced his trial and story into a monstrous devilish horror story in order to create paranoia and switch people to catholicism. At the same time, werewolf panics and witch hunts were springing up around Germany, causing mass hysteria and paranoia.  He could have been innocent, or he could have been just a serial killer with no other abilities who went crazy and made up a story. There are many different versions of the story that could have been stretched or misinterpreted.  Segment 2:  Origin and Facts Werewolf is a well-known mythological animal and is commonly throughout many stories throughout the world People can morph into vicious powerful wolves, or can be half- human half-wolf. No matter the form, all of them are bloodthirsty monsters who cannot control themselves when it comes to killing animals and people.  Werewolves did make an early appearance in Greek mythology with the Legend of Lycaon. Lycaon, the son of Pelasgus, made Zeus mad, and as a punishment Zeus turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves. Back in 1521, in France, people thought that werewolves were the serial killers.  Frenchman Pierre Burgot and Michel Verdun allegedly swore to the devil and claimed to have turned them into wolves. After they confessed to brutally murdering several children they were burned to death at the stake.  The Beast of Gévaudan, a man-eating animal killed by the hunter Jean Chastel in 1767, brought the idea of bullets with a coat of silver to kill werewolves. Silver is known to have antimicrobial properties, and the substance is even used in some forms of medicine. Silver is extremely pure, and effective against impure forces.  In multiple stories of werewolves, we only see werewolves turning into her beast-like form during a full moon. According to a study conducted at Australia;s Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital, a full moon brings out the “beast” in many humans.  At this hospital during a full moon, patients attacked staff, and showed wolf-like behaviors such as biting, scratching, and spitting.  Although most of these patients were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is unclear why they became intensely violent when the moon was full. It is scientifically proven that moons can affect people due to its gravitational pull, just like how the mood affects the ocean's tides. Humans are made up of 70% water, so it is not uncommon for people to feel different or experience mood changes during a full moon.  Segment 3:  Discussion How believable are werewolves on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real.  Wendigo Lily- Werewolves make me think of wendigos. Because they are both mythological cannibalistic monsters that are hungry to eat human flesh. Wendigos and werewolves are also known to both be afraid of fire.  Tessa- wendigos are from native american stories of a hunter whose spirit transformed into a crazed beast after he was starved and driven mad. They sort of shape shift like werewolves but resemble more of human fear and loss of humanity. -Vampire diaries- there are people who are werewolves in Vampire diaries, and they have many abilities such as super strength, super speed, enhanced healing, and heightened senses of smell, sight and hearing. The vampires and werewolves do not get along in this show, because the werewolves are hardwired to kill vampires, and their venomous bite is lethal to vampires.  -Twilight- werewolves in twilight are represented as native american tribes with special powers. Being a werewolf is considered special and honorable. They protect humans and are enemies of vampires. help stop vampires from killing people. They are normal people that can transform into large dogs/wolves at whim. They have super strength, speed, and healing as well as other enhanced senses. Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about werewolves  Next week we will be discussing a scaly creature that's petrifyingly terrifying! (basilisk) SIGN OFF Let curiosity be your compass. Music Credits:    Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras Frightmare by Jimena Contreras Connect with us on Social Media @theHVSPN