This week, on Myths and Legends, we wrap up this leg of our journey with Odysseus.

We'll see a monster-filled trolley problem, and learn that if your new girlfriend turns

your buddies into pigs, it's probably not meant to be.

Don't be offended if this week's creature shoves its foot in your face.

It's just trying to make eye contact.

This is Myths and Legends, Episode 205B, The widening Gyre.

This is a podcast where I tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular stories you might think you know, but with surprising origins,

and others are stories that might be new to you, but are definitely worth the listen.

Previously on the podcast, Odysseus helped the Greeks win the Trojan War, and just had a quick trip

back home. A trip he already made once during the war, to pick up Achilles' little psychopath.

Still, it should be no big deal. Well, nearly three months later, he was barely any closer.

He had a few episodic stops until landing on the island of the Cyclopeese, where he blinded

a Cyclope son of Poseidon, Polyphemus, who invoked his dad's wrath.

Odysseus almost escaped, said wrath, though. When he got all the wins of the earth from

Niling King, the Olis, and sailed for nine days uninterrupted until he was inside of Ithaca,

his home. Of course, it can never be that easy, so his envious men loosened the strings of the

back, summoning all the wins and sending the ships right back to King Iolus.

Get out! King Iolus screamed at the Ith King King, but Odysseus said that that seemed like it was

a little bit of an overreaction. You are hated by the gods, the King said, still screaming.

No, my guys are idiots. I just need another bag of that wind. Maybe just the western wind

this time. I don't need the whole Shabang. Come to think about it, this is kind of on you. I mean,

...