Mythmakers

About Mythmakers

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!

Publisher

Oxford Centre for Fantasy

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Aug 2021

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

241 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   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

2. 

   22 Oct 2026

   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

3. 

   15 Oct 2026

   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

Who has been a guest on Mythmakers

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Eleanor Baker
• Professor Nick Groom
• Jacob Rennaker
• Emily J Taylor
• Tad Williams

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

34,148

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

97

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

Contact Mythmakers

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Mythmakers