This episode is brought to you by Pepsi Max. Christmas is great, but there's loads of ways to make it better.

Like sneaking some chili into the gravy for some extra oint, or building a playlist that will even get your

none up on the table or just cracking open an ice cold Pepsi Max.

Christmas.

Better with Pepsi Max. One of the constants that exists within cultures all around the world is the concept of their

being a higher power.

Whether you're talking about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or countless other religions,

the one thing they all have in common is the belief that there is some celestial being

that is both greater than man and very much in charge.

As a result if we look to history, it's common for people to turn their eyes to the heavens

and ask their particular gods for both spiritual guidance as well as some very earthly help.

Whether it's praying to ensure a productive harvest or a successful hunt, or for the rains to fall, or to stop

falling, or for any of a million other reasons, people have traditionally looked to their

gods and asked them to grant them with some sort of good fortune.

But there are some religions that believe that prayer is a two-way street,

and that sometimes the gods demand something in return

before giving the people what they wanted. And in some cases what the gods

demand is something altogether dark and terrible.

Sometimes the God's demand a sacrifice.

I'm Nate Hale coming to you live from my mystical podcasting temple.

And this is the conspirators. The people of Mexico have a proud and rich heritage that can be traced at least as far back as the mighty Aztec Empire.

For about 200 years, from about 1325 to 1521, the Aztec Empire reined supreme throughout

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