The Olympic Family

Adam Bauer

46 episodes listed below

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In their own words

In The Olympic Family, Harmonia--goddess of harmony, and the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite--shares stories from her divine relatives: the jealous, the heroic, the foolish, and the wise. These are the original dysfunctional family dramas, with thunderbolts, monsters, epic quests... and consequences. Told with warmth, wit, and just a touch of ambrosial judgment, each episode introduces a character or moment from Greek mythology in a way that makes sense for curious middle-schoolers and their grownups alike. Because once you know the gods, history makes a lot more sense.

Why you'd press play

A discus veers into the stands; if you like heroes facing consequences, take a seat.

Press play if you want

  • to watch Zeus's authority get tested when Prometheus gives fire to humans
  • to see Hera's grudge against Heracles through the promises Zeus broke
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Talks about

Best episodes of The Olympic Family

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

The Discus and the WindApr 3, 2026

A calm myth retelling that turns one stray wind into an unforgettable reckoning.

The chapter follows Perseus to Larissa for the funeral games, and that plain purpose works in its favor. It spends a little time getting there, but the slower start gives the throw real force: the motion is clear, the wind hits, and the stadium goes quiet fast.

The Stone CourtApr 2, 2026

A homecoming turns quiet, tense, and suddenly fatal, with the stillness doing most of the damage.

The episode keeps its focus tight as Perseus returns to Seraphos with Andromeda beside him. The afternoon crossing and their embrace feel plainspoken and sincere, which only makes Perseus's silence on the island more uneasy.

Aphrodite: Beauty, Risk, and the Power of Love

Aphrodite is treated as beauty with force behind it, and love feels unruly rather than tidy.

Here, Aphrodite comes through as more than beauty. She has wit, radiance, and a sharp edge, with a presence that bends the room around her. The mother-child angle keeps Olympus feeling intimate, and the delivery carries the story with a steady pull.

Podcasts like The Olympic Family

Episodes

  1. 1

    Aphrodite: Beauty, Risk, and the Power of Love

    Harmonia narrates the story of her mother Aphrodite, exploring the goddess's quiet yet immense power over love and desire, her mythical origins from sea foam, and her complex relationships with gods like Hephaestus and Ares.

    ·18m·1 clip
  2. 2

    Aion: The God of Forever

    This episode explores Aion, the god of eternal time and cycles, contrasting him with other temporal deities and illustrating his role in the perpetual transformation of existence.

    ·6m
  3. 3

    Ananke: The Power That Must Be

    This episode explores the concept of Ananke, a goddess who personifies the unstoppable force of fate and necessity that governs the universe, shaping events and maintaining order without cruelty.

    ·6m
  4. 4

    Aether: The Light Above the World

    This episode explores the mythological figure Aether (Ether) as the divine embodiment of pure, glowing air that lifted the oppressive atmosphere of the early world and created space for light, clarity, and breath.

    ·6m
  5. 5

    Blood on the Sand

    This episode continues the story of Perseus after he beheads Medusa, focusing on the unintended consequences when a drop of her blood falls to the desert below.

    ·22m
  6. 6

    Tartarus: The Prison Beneath the World

    This episode explores Tartarus, the deepest layer of the Greek underworld where Zeus imprisoned dangerous entities like the Titans and monsters.

    ·10m
  7. 7

    Demeter: The Goddess Who Learned to Say No

    This episode explores the Greek goddess Demeter's story, focusing on her power over continuity and growth, and how her decision to withhold abundance when her daughter Persephone disappeared reveals the deeper, often underestimated nature of her influence.

    ·13m
  8. 8

    The Gorgon's Lair

    A narrator describes Perseus's tense, stealthy approach to the Gorgon's lair, evoking the eerie, frozen atmosphere and the hero's preparation for confrontation.

    ·11m
  9. 9

    The Locked Tower

    The narrator introduces a mythological adventure about Perseus, Dana, and King Acrisius of Argos, focusing on a locked tower and a prophecy of doom.

    ·14m
  10. 10

    Thanatos: The Gentle God of Death

    This episode explores the Greek god Thanatos, reimagining him not as a terrifying monster but as a gentle, peaceful guide who escorts souls from life to the afterlife with calmness and compassion.

    ·9m
  11. 11

    Iapetus - The Edge of Mortality

    This episode explores the mythological Titan Iapetus, who represents mortality not as death itself but as the awareness of risk, consequences, and the finite nature of life.

    ·10m
  12. 12

    Coeus - The Mind That Made Questions Holy

    This episode explores the mythological figure Coeus (Krius/Koyas), the titan of intellect and curiosity who introduced questioning to the cosmos.

    ·9m
  13. 13

    Crius - The Titan Who Pointed First

    This episode explores Crius, the lesser-known Titan of Greek mythology who provided orientation and structure to the stars and celestial movements.

    ·9m
  14. 14

    Theia - She Who Saw Worth in Light

    This episode explores the mythological goddess Theia, who imbued light with meaning and taught gods and mortals to see value in gold, silver, and gems through clarity rather than just illumination.

    ·10m
  15. 15

    Oceanus: The Circle That Holds the World

    This episode explores the ancient Greek Titan Oceanus, the cosmic river that encircles the world, contrasting his quiet, foundational power with the more dramatic gods of Olympus.

    ·12m
  16. 16

    Rhea — The Mother Who Waited

    This episode narrates the story of Rhea, a Titaness in Greek mythology, focusing on her role as a mother who protects her children from being eaten by her husband Cronus, highlighting themes of quiet strength and survival.

    ·18m
  17. 17

    Athena: The Pattern in the Chaos

    This episode introduces Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, through a narrative about her dramatic birth from Zeus's head and her role as a mentor to heroes.

    ·20m
  18. 18

    Themis - The Voice That Balanced the World

    This episode explores the Greek goddess Themis, who personifies divine justice, balance, and cosmic order, influencing even Zeus with her moral authority.

    ·9m
  19. 19

    Achlys: The First Darkness

    This episode explores Achlys, the primordial goddess of darkness and despair in mythology, describing her subtle, pervasive influence on human emotions and her contrast with other deities.

    ·8m
  20. 20

    Hypnos: The God Who Softens the World

    This episode explores the mythological god Hypnos as a gentle force of sleep and rest that invites surrender rather than demands it, emphasizing the importance of letting go after effort.

    ·12m
  21. 21

    The Chest and the Sea

    This episode recounts the mythological story of Danae and her infant son Perseus being cast into the sea in a wooden chest by King Acrisius as an act of cruel exile.

    ·11m
  22. 22

    Mnemosyne - The Mother of Memory

    This episode explores Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory, portraying her not just as a keeper of recollections but as a fundamental force that shapes meaning, storytelling, and human existence.

    ·10m
  23. 23

    Cronus ruled as king of the Titans

    This episode narrates the mythological story of Cronus, the youngest Titan who dared to rebel against his father Uranus, setting the stage for the rise of the Olympian gods.

    ·15m
  24. 24

    Hades: The God Who Kept the Door

    This episode explores the misunderstood nature of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, emphasizing his quiet authority, responsibility, and custodial power rather than fear-based rule.

    ·15m
  25. 25

    Polydectes' Game

    This episode continues the mythological tale of Perseus, focusing on his childhood on Seraphos and the manipulative King Polydectes who begins to weave a web of deception around Perseus and his mother Danae.

    ·16m
  26. 26

    Hyperion - The Eye That Never Closed

    Harmonia narrates the story of Hyperion, the Titan of Heavenly Light, who used light for perception and truth rather than mere decoration, setting the celestial cycles in motion and imagining the concept of time, contrasting him with his more famous children like Helios and Selene.

    ·10m·1 clip
  27. 27

    Pandora’s Jar: The Gift and the Gamble

    This episode explores the Greek myth of Pandora, the first mortal woman created by the gods, who was given a mysterious jar with strict instructions not to open it, leading to world-changing consequences.

    ·13m
  28. 28

    Introducing The Olympic Family

    Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, introduces herself and explains how she partnered with Red Buoy Media to create a podcast sharing mythological stories through an artificial voice.

    ·3m
  29. 29

    Artemis: The Goddess Who Said No

    This episode explores Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, moon, and wilderness, focusing on her independence, protective nature, and rejection of societal norms.

    ·13m
  30. 30

    Hermes: The God Who Didn’t Ask Questions

    This episode explores Hermes, the fast-moving Greek god of messengers, thieves, and mischief, highlighting his clever nature, iconic winged sandals, and caduceus staff.

    ·16m
  31. 31

    Nemesis: The Balance That Always Returns

    This episode explores the concept of Nemesis as a calm, patient force of balance in mythology, contrasting it with revenge and explaining how she restores proportion when people take too much glory or power.

    ·12m
  32. 32

    The Girl and the Sea

    This episode continues the mythological story of Perseus as he flies toward the coast after turning Atlas to stone and discovers a mysterious chained woman by the sea.

    ·17m
  33. 33

    Apollo: The Sun God Who Couldn't Stop Shining

    This episode explores the multifaceted life of Apollo, the Greek god of music, medicine, prophecy, and sunlight, revealing the pressures and complexities behind his radiant persona.

    ·14m
  34. 34

    Dionysus: The God Who Danced Through the Cracks

    This episode explores Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, theater, and transformation, focusing on his chaotic nature, his journey to Olympus, and how he challenges societal norms through masks, freedom, and emotional shifts.

    ·13m
  35. 35

    Phoebe - The Radiant Oracle

    This episode explores Phoebe, the mythological oracle of radiant prophecy, contrasting her quiet, reflective nature with more dramatic figures like Apollo and her brother Cuius.

    ·12m
  36. 36

    Zeus: King of the Gods (and Complicated Family Dinners)

    This episode explores the life and role of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, focusing on his powers over the sky and storms, his complex family dynamics, and the mythological stories behind his rule.

    ·20m·1 clip
  37. 37

    Hera: Queen of the Gods (and Keeper of Vows)

    This episode explores Hera, the Queen of the Gods in Greek mythology, focusing on her roles as goddess of marriage, vows, and loyalty beyond common stereotypes of jealousy and revenge.

    ·19m·1 clip
  38. 38

    Tethys - The Quiet Sea That Remembers

    This episode explores Tethys, the quiet freshwater goddess in Greek mythology who is the source of rivers, rain, and springs, contrasting her with louder deities like Oceanus and Poseidon.

    ·11m
  39. 39

    Hephaestus: The God Who Built His Way Back

    This episode explores Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and forge, focusing on his role as a builder and creator who endures through hard work rather than flashy power.

    ·13m
  40. 40

    Persephone: The Goddess Who Learned to Return

    This episode explores the myth of Persephone as a transformative figure who embodies the transition between light and darkness, memory and forgetting, beyond her traditional role as goddess of spring.

    ·16m·1 clip
  41. 41

    Prometheus: The Fire That Lit the Future

    This episode narrates the Greek myth of Prometheus, who created humans and stole fire from the gods, leading to divine rebellion and punishment.

    ·15m
  42. 42

    The Gifts of the Gods

    This episode continues the mythological tale of Perseus as he journeys through ancient, wild lands toward the Greyeye, watched by the gods and undergoing personal transformation.

    ·13m
  43. 43

    Ares, my father, the God of War

    Harmonia narrates the story of her father Ares, the god of war, exploring his fierce personality, family dynamics on Olympus, and the deeper emotions behind his warrior facade, framed as a relatable tale for listeners.

    ·18m·1 clip
  44. 44

    I Need To Step Away From The Table

    Harmonia takes a break from her family's stories to introduce a quieter companion podcast, The Golden Thread.

    Apr 8, 2026·4m
  45. 45

    The Discus and the Wind

    Hidden gem

    Harmonia narrates the story of Perseus attending funeral games in Larissa, continuing his heroic journey after slaying Medusa.

    Apr 3, 2026·31m·2 clips
  46. 46

    The Stone Court

    Hidden gem

    Harmonia narrates Perseus's tense homecoming to Seraphos with Andromeda, reflecting on how home and people change.

    Apr 2, 2026·20m·1 clip