Mythmakers

Oxford Centre for Fantasy
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Books
  • Weekly

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them. Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Folk Horror and Doppelgangers: Darren Simpson and Lykewise

    Horror is having a moment. Looking at recent cinema releases, you’ll see the genre is booming as a big box office draw. But where on the scale does a horror story become fantasy? Returning this week to Mythmakers, Darren Simpson discusses this with Julia Golding. They turn to the tradition of the doppelgänger story - the portrait in the attic, the ‘other’ or shadow self – and take a look at what it tells us about psychology. In Darren’s new children’s book, Lykewise, the doppelgänger is the Lykewise, released from a mirror. How do you write about this darker self and its hidden urges for this age group, and what does it tell us about our modern era? Julia and Darren end off their discussion by celebrating magic mirrors and deciding which one they would most like to encounter. Order your own copy of Lykewise, and explore Darren’s other works, at https://darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk/ 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Folk Horror with Darren Simpson 00:45 Is Horror Fantasy? Exploring the Genre Boundaries 06:01 The Doppelganger Tradition: Jekyll and Hyde to Dorian Gray 08:06 The Thing and Mirrors: Inspiration Behind Likewise 10:00 Mirrors and Identity: Who Are We When We Look at Ourselves? 11:35 Introducing Likewise: The Mirror Ritual and the Village of Haramir 17:24 Shame and Responsibility: When the Likewise Causes Harm 18:25 The Shadow Self: Psychology and Dark Desires 24:15 Modern Mirrors: Social Media, AI, and Digital Doppelgangers 30:04 The Fenlands: Creating an Atmospheric Liminal Landscape 35:04 Independence and Rebellion: The History of Fenland Communities 37:11 Bloody Mary and Modern Folklore: Mirrors in Youth Culture 38:32 What's Next: Strange Blooms and Future Folk Horror 40:56 Magic Mirrors in Fantasy: From Snow White to Alice For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Folk Horror and Doppelgangers: Darren Simpson and Lykewise

  2. Nov 5 ·  Video

    Just a Fool's Hope - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 4

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and The Siege of Gondor 02:04 Breakfast and Maturity: Pippin's Character Development 05:41 Denethor the Spider: Webs of Wizardry and Schemes 09:12 Can You Sing? Pippin as Page and Denethor's Humanity 14:44 The Gathering Gloom: War's Oppressive Atmosphere 17:28 The Causeway and Battlefield Detail: Tolkien's Real World 19:28 One Day Felt Like a Year: The Weariness of War 22:01 The Fell Beasts and Pterodactyls: Tolkien's Prehistoric Mythology 24:54 Sports Commentary on War: Pippin and Beregond Narrate the Battle 26:53 Gandalf the White Star: Saving Faramir 29:37 The Twist of the Knife: Denethor Wishes Faramir Had Died 34:22 Why Not Send Faramir? Character Combinations and Story Choices 37:43 The Gaze Duel: Gandalf and Denethor Fence with Their Eyes 44:11 Faramir's Suicidal Mission: Raising the Stakes 53:22 The Heads Over the Wall: Horror and the Dishonoring of the Dead 54:54 The Sick Chamber: Intimacy Amid the Epic 57:41 Pippin Looks Denethor in the Eye: The Hobbit Becomes the Bigger Man 58:38 The Funereal Procession: Water Dripping from the Dead Tree 1:00:33 Illegal Orders: Pippin Tells Beregond to Choose 1:02:33 Grond: The Battering Ram and Spells of Ruin 1:04:53 You Cannot Enter Here: Gandalf Faces the Lord of the Nazgul 1:06:57 The C**k Crows and Horns Answer: Rohan Has Come at Last 1:08:40 War Writing Lessons: Contrasts, Scales, and Keeping Pages Turning For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Just a Fool's Hope - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 4

  3. Oct 29 ·  Video

    Romantasy and The Wycherleys with Annaliese Avery

    Annaliese Avery, author of the Wycherley series, joins Julia Golding on the pod to talk about the conclusion to her trilogy. Annaliese and Julia explore the phenomenon of romantasy, the kind of rules necessary to make magic systems believable, and the appeal of the Regency period as a fantasy setting. Prepare yourself for a few shocking revelations about first drafts and dragons! To learn more about Annaliese and her writing visit https://www.annalieseavery.com 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Romantasy with Annaliese Avery 01:44 The Rise of Romantasy: From Trope to Genre 03:09 Fantasy as Cultural Mirror: From World Wars to COVID 06:36 Romantasy vs. The Hunger Games: Generational Appeal 08:52 Girls and Fantasy: The Romantasy Revolution 16:55 Introducing The Wycherleys: Magic, Curses, and the Season of the Witch 21:50 Magic Systems and Boundaries: The Power of Limitations 23:47 Regency Romance Meets Witchcraft: Rules and Longing 25:51 Building a Magical Regency: Historical Fantasy World-Building 27:20 The Draft Zero Method: Writing by Deleting 30:48 Visual Storytelling: Invitations, Wheels, and Black Pages 37:34 Rivals to Lovers: Aurelia and Jules's Journey 41:46 Multiple Forms of Love: Beyond Romance 44:35 Dragons and Wyverns: The Controversial Six-Limb Rule 46:15 What's Next: Knights, Jousting, and Cozy Crime 48:40 Fantasy Covens: Where Would You Join? For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Romantasy and The Wycherleys with Annaliese Avery

  4. Oct 22 ·  Video

    The Neverland Thieves: Katie and Kevin Tsang and the Peter Pan Legacy

    When Great Ormond Street Hospital, home to the rights to Peter Pan, asks you to add to its beloved stories, you take on an awesome responsibility. In this episode of Mythmakers, authors Katie and Kevin Tsang join Julia Golding to share their journey into Neverland in support of this worthy cause, with profits benefiting the hospital’s charity. They made the bold decision to centre the story on Tom, a seriously ill patient at Great Ormond Street, bringing with it a particularly high level of responsibility in how they portray his experience. As you might expect, Tom finds adventure and friendship on a journey that takes him from the magical spaces of the hospital into the world of imagination. Katie and Kevin also spill the tea on what it’s really like to write as a partnership, before taking us into the world of their other stories, including the Dragon Realm series. Learn more about Katie and Kevin, and order your own copy of The Neverland Thieves, at https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Katie-Tsang/169163632 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and The Neverland Thieves 01:31 Writing as a Couple: The Journey to 18 Books Together 05:15 The Creative Process: Brainstorming, Dividing, and Conquering 10:17 Introducing The Neverland Thieves: Tom, Felix, and Daisy's Adventure 13:50 Tom's Story: Writing a Seriously Ill Child as Adventure Hero 18:01 The Great Ormond Street Hospital Connection: Legacy and Charity 20:56 London as Magical Space: Flying Over the City 24:14 Inside Great Ormond Street Hospital: Research and Inspiration 26:57 Playing in the Peter Pan Legacy: Rules, Updates, and Respect 34:23 The Dragon Realm Series: Action-Packed Adventures 37:48 Choosing Your Neverland Tribe: Pirates, Mermaids, or Lost Children For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    The Neverland Thieves: Katie and Kevin Tsang and the Peter Pan Legacy

  5. Oct 15 ·  Video

    Where Will Wants Not, a Way Opens - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 3

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and The Muster of Rohan 01:37 Atmospheric World-Building: Twilight on the Waterfalls 04:34 Merry's Perspective: The Weight of Middle-earth 07:03 Theoden and Merry: A Father-Son Bond 08:49 Theoden's Heroic Speech: Spending My Last Strength 13:03 The Pukel-men and Layers of History 17:47 Paths of the Dead: Aragorn's Fate and Eowyn's Grief 21:59 The Arrow Arrives: Gondor's Call for Aid 23:41 The Day with No Sunrise: War Encroaches 25:45 Merry Left Behind: The Shame of Staying Home 26:08 Eowyn Arms Merry: A Secret Plot Begins 29:23 Dernhelm Appears: Where Will Wants Not, A Way Opens 30:18 Riding Toward Shadow: Hope Wanes in Every Heart For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Where Will Wants Not, a Way Opens - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 3

  6. Oct 8 ·  Video

    Rock Music in Gerwig's Narnia and Other Film News

    Today on Mythmakers, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker explore the latest film news surrounding some of the biggest upcoming fantasy movies. Thanks to a comprehensive article in Empire, we now have a clearer picture of what Greta Gerwig may be planning for The Magician’s Nephew. What are the pros, what are the possible cons? From there, Julia and Jacob turn to new set photos from Andy Serkis’ The Hunt for Gollum, before discussing the latest news on Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures film deal. As a final stop in their journey, they offer a book recommendation for those writing for children as Julia reflects on her experience of beginning the publicity part of an author's journey to a book. 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Fantasy Film News 00:47 Empire Magazine's Narnia Reveal: First Look at The Magician's Nephew 01:31 Rock Opera Vibes: Gerwig's Bold Creative Direction 03:01 Setting the Scene: 1955 Post-War Britain and Rock Music Origins 04:37 Design Details: The Wood Between the Worlds and the London Underground 06:35 Emotional Resonance: Why This Approach Could Work 08:43 Casting Concerns: Can Child Actors Carry a Rock Opera World? 11:20 The Lion in the Room: Meryl Streep as Aslan 12:26 Spiritual Themes: Stealing Past the Watchful Dragons 15:31 Religious Messaging: Why Downplaying Christianity Makes Sense 16:46 The Garden of Eden Parallel: Narnia's Fall and Redemption 18:06 Comparing Authors: Lewis's Generosity vs Tolkien's Fastidiousness 28:43 Musical Eras: Could Each Narnia Film Have a Different Genre? 30:04 Lord of the Rings Update: The Hunt for Gollum Set Photos 33:00 Autumn in the Shire: Tone and Timeline Speculation 36:22 Stephen Colbert's Hobbit Film: What We Know So Far 36:48 Catherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures: Oxford's Next Big Fantasy 38:21 Pullman vs Rowling: Where Does Impossible Creatures Fit? 40:53 The Challenge of Child-Centered Fantasy: Whimsy vs Cynicism 47:40 Writing for Children: Mac Barnett's Make Believe 50:05 Book News: Julia's Mystery of Treason Castle Proof Copies 53:29 Behind the Scenes: Foreign Rights and the Frankfurt Book Fair 57:56 Closing Thoughts: High Hopes for Gerwig's Narnia For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Rock Music in Gerwig's Narnia and Other Film News

  7. Oct 1 ·  Video

    The Dead Are Following - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 2

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Return of the King 01:13 Second Thoughts: Tolkien's Structural Changes 03:58 Merry Left Behind: The Relatable Point of View 06:04 The Arrival of the Grey Company 12:58 Merry's Oath to Théoden: A Father for a Little While 15:45 Aragorn Looks into the Palantir: A Battle of Wills 23:56 The Words of Malbeth the Seer: Prophecy and the Paths of the Dead 26:29 Éowyn's Desperate Plea: Eyes on Fire 33:34 Entering the Haunted Mountain: A Ghost Story Begins 36:24 Gimli's Terror: The Paths of the Dead 41:01 The Wild Hunt: Riding with the Dead Behind 42:25 The Stone of Erech: Aragorn's Oath and Command 43:53 Lost to Mortal Sight: A Cliffhanger Ending For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    The Dead Are Following - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 5 Ch 2

  8. Sep 24 ·  Video

    Harry Potter Full Cast Audio Series Books 1-7: Our Verdict

    Andrew Head, our resident audiobook expert, joins Julia Golding today on Mythmakers to discuss the complete Harry Potter full-cast audio series. Did the switch to different actors for the older Harry, Ron, and Hermione work, or was it disorientating? What does the full-cast experience offer that a traditional audiobook or film adaptation doesn’t? And how might it connect with the forthcoming HBO series? Stay tuned as Andrew and Julia share their final verdict—and the all-important rating out of five stars. 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Harry Potter Full Cast Audio 01:00 The Voice Shift: New Actors for Books Four Through Seven 03:55 The Goblet of Fire: A Standout Performance 05:30 Why Goblet of Fire Is Andrew's Favorite Book 08:08 The Half-Blood Prince: Forward Momentum vs Pensieve Flashbacks 11:34 Sound Design and the Pensieve Moments 13:09 The Headphone Experience: Immersion Through Audio Quality 16:24 Performance Highlights: Avada Kedavra and Creative Choices 17:18 Knowing the Ending: Creating with the Full Story Arc 19:36 Comparing Audio Formats: Full Cast vs Single Narrator 21:32 Looking Ahead: HBO's Harry Potter Series and Future Adaptations 21:43 Final Verdict: Five Out of Five Stars 24:13 Growing Up with Harry Potter: Andrew's Personal Journey For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Harry Potter Full Cast Audio Series Books 1-7: Our Verdict
See All (243)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them. Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!

Information

  • Creator
    Oxford Centre for Fantasy
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    243
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Mythmakers

You Might Also Like