Not Your Mother&#x27;s Mahabharata

For this episode we continue our adventure with Nick Mroczek by introducing him to Ekalavya, the forest kid with archery skills that inexplicably are better than Arjuna's. He claims Drona taught him, but what is the real truth? Nick is skeptical of Ekalavya's methods, and Azure is disgusted with Drona's actions to keep his promise to Arjuna.

What do you think of Ekalavya using just his imagination to perfect his archery? Let us know in the comment section of the episode page.
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-09/

Nick Mroczek is a singer, composer by night and an IT specialist by day.

S.P. Jayaraj is a mythology fanatic and the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two novels, The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He is also a Life Coach through his business Imagination Life Coaching. He draws inspiration from global mythology.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/spjayaraj

#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 28: Why You Shouldn't Insult a God.

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

03/31/25 • 58 min

Yudhishthira is now emperor. All that is left is to choose a guest of honor...It doesn't go well.

You can get 48% off your first subscription for the next 10 days or 20% off for a one
time purchase of Magic Mind at

https://www.magicmind.com/notyourgm20

You can also use the code NYM20 directly on their website

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

We welcome John Rynders to tell him the story of what happens when Yudishthira closes the ceremony by honoring Krishna. Shishupala who has been carrying a grudge against Krishna chooses now to let it all out!
Satish recounts for John and Azure how that goes, and how what happens satisfies a prophesy made when Shishupala was a babe, and a promise made eons ago back when the universe was young.

Join us

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/nymmpodcast to get access to additional content

S.P. Jayaraj is the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two novels, The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He is also a Creative Life Coach through his business Imagination Life Coaching. The Mahabharata and other global mythology inspires him in all his projects.

spjayaraj.com
Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 21: Parashuram and the otherworldly travels of young Krishna: Krishna Chronicles 5

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

12/23/24 • 81 min

For our penultimate episode of the Krishna Chronicles we are thrilled to welcome Didi Koka, who comes to us with a little more familiarity with the Dark One which makes for some deeper conversations.
Satish tells the origin story of Parashuram, the founder of all martial arts who has already appeared numerous times in our podcast.
Krishna in this episode visits the ocean, and two underworlds to perform miracles for his teacher and adopted mother. We see clear similarities with the stories of Greek Mythology's Orpheus, although with happier endings. Is there nothing this god can't do?
Didi Koka is a family physician by day and a poet, dancer, drummer and singer by night.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/nymmpodcast to get access to additional content.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Didi would like you to know about
Joseph's Coat
Joseph's Coat is a free store providing goods and service to those in need within an environment of dignity and respect, Joseph’s Coat maintains an inclusive philosophy toward people of all ages, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, abilities and challenges. The organization offers essential support to marginalized members of our community: persons experiencing homelessness, living below the poverty line, coping with joblessness, transitioning from incarceration, battling chemical addictions, and managing mental health challenges. If you are looking for a place to donate your old winter clothes this season, Joseph's Coat will make sure it will provide warmth to people in need.
https://www.josephscoatmn.org/

Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

Have an imaginative day.

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 20: A Boar, a Lionman, and a Dwarf walk into a story. Krishna Chronicles 4.5

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

12/09/24 • 49 min

We continue our Krishna Chronicles with Jenny McDougal by telling her about three more avatars of Vishnu.
Jenny and Azure try to guess the only animal form that can take on the first invincible demon. We imagine the monstrous form Vishnu takes to deal with the second demon, and Satish tells the more pleasant story of the third invincible demon who is celebrated in Satish's home state of Kerala.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/nymmpodcast to get access to additional content, including our continued discussion session with Amy "Our religious non-religiousness."

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Jenny Mcdougal is a poet, home baker, mom and union steward. She is a voracious reader of fiction.

Jenny would like you to know about
The Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center (MIWRC)

The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) is a non-profit social and mental health services organization committed to traditional ways of being and support of Native women and their families.

Founded in 1984, MIWRC provides a broad range of programs designed to educate and empower Native women and their families, and to inform and assist those who work providing services to the community.

MIWRC is located in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, which has the third largest urban American Indian population in the United States.
https://www.miwrc.org/

Jenny and Satish met in a poetry class run by Deborah Keenan, someone who had a profound impact on their passion for creativity.
https://deborahkeenan.com/
Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 10: My Arrows are Bigger than Your Arrows.

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

06/10/24 • 87 min

We welcome Shanan Custer to tell her the story of the exhibition.
Drona wants to show off all he has taught his students, to bring unity to the Kuru clan and dazzle everyone with Arjuna's unparalleled skill. It doesn't go well. ☹️ Shannan expects the grudge match between Bheem and Duryhodana to be what ruins everything. Azure has specific questions on who did all the arranging. No one was expecting this character to return and level up the boyish taunting.
Who do you think would have won if the contest between Arjuna and Karna went forth? Let us know in the comments section of the episode page
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-10/
Shannan Custer is an actor, improviser, writer, director, and educator based in the Twin Cities. She is a veteran of the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis.

Shanan is performing in "Rock of Ages" with Unlabeled Theatre Company this July 11th to the 14th.

Unlabeled Theatre Company employs and educates artists and actors with disabilities. Their model is to connect these artists with shadow partners, of which Shanan is one, in order to create a fully accessible creative environment.
www.unlabeledtheatre.org

S.P. Jayaraj is a mythology and mahabharata fanatic and the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two novels, The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He is also a Creative Life Coach through his business Imagination Life Coaching. He draws inspiration from global mythology.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/spjayaraj
#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 03: The Most Stubborn Man in the Universe.

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

03/03/24 • 71 min

For this episode we welcome Aaron Fiskrataz and tell him the story of Bheeshma sticking to his vow, even if it means the end of the world. We hear how the powerless princess Amba is as relentless in taking matters into her own hands and is prepared to spend 2 lifetimes to get her revenge. Aaron is not surprised by Bheeshma's 'stick-to-itness.' and loves seeing how the story can be told through multiple perspectives.

Are you team Amba or team Bheeshma? Let us know in the comments of the episode page at
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-03/

Aaron Fiskradatz is a Technician, Artist, and Educator in the arts who is proud to work for Upstream Arts.

Aaron is a master at broadcasting live performances, whether it is to hundreds of fans, or sharing an online classroom with half a dozen students.

make it happen. He’ll take care of the technical know-how so that you can concentrate on your presentation.
If you live in the Twin Cities Metro Area and you would like your in-person event streamed live to distant participants. Aaron can help you with the proper equipment setup, and even run tech for the event as it happens. Weddings, concerts, parties, whatever you’re doing to connect with others, Aaron can help you do it online at the same time.

'He's also just a swell guy to work with'- says S.P. Jayaraj

Find out more about his consulting work at aaron.fiskradatz.com
Discover more about his work in the disability community at upstreamarts.org.

S.P. Jayaraj loves bringing people together through stories. He has authored two mythological fantasy books The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He draws inspiration from global mythology. Find out more about S.P. Jayaraj at spjayaraj.com
Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/spjayaraj

#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 16: The Dark One's Lineage: Krishna Chronicles 1

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

10/14/24 • 69 min

Satish decides that before continuing forward, we should venture back to explore the origin of the enigmatic lord Krishna. Drew Kellum Johnson joins us to discover the origin of the Yadavas. Starting off with two besties who have a falling out after wearing each other's clothes, followed by a king cursed with old age unless he can convince one of his sons to take the curse from him, and finally the prophesy of a heroic birth sends a damaged king on a tailspin of murder and madness.
Let us know what you think the comment section of the episode page.
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-16

Drew Kellum Johnson (often stylized Drew d'Lakes) is a multi-instrumental songwriter, producer, and performer who captures musical ideas through a whimsical lens. Although he plays bass in Kym and the Kick and cello in Balung Getih (pronounced: Bah-lung Geht-tee), his primary focus is on his indie glam pop band, d'Lakes. Having just celebrated the release of their second album, d'Lakes has been performing in festivals, touring the midwest, and preparing the release of their second Halloween EP featuring spookified remixes of their summery upbeat pop songs (Hell Is A Blaring Library is out Friday, October 25th)..
https://www.instagram.com/drewdlakes/

S.P. Jayaraj is a mythology and Mahabharata fanatic and the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two novels, The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He is also a Creative Life Coach through his business Imagination Life Coaching. He draws inspiration from global mythology.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/nymmpodcast

#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd #culture #education #society

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 15: The Fire Born Woman Burning Every Man's Loins.

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

08/18/24 • 68 min

Today we were happy to have two guests with us! Mystery author Mindy Mejia and our other good friend, clay artist and yoga teacher Jenna Jo Bodling!
Satish really wanted an extra lady at the podcast table to introduce everyone to Draupadi, the dark skinned beauty that every king, prince, warrior and teenage boy wants for themselves - How will the pandavas resolve their desire for one woman?
Before we get to that, Satish tells the story of Arjuna's hot headed encounter with an elf and how that encounter probably helps the Pandavas keep their cool when facing the enemies who tried to kill them.
It's a laugh filled culture challenging season finale to Not Your Mother's Mahabharata.
Let us know in the comment section of the episode page.
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-14/

Mindy Mejia is a best selling Mystery Author. Her lates book, a World of Hurt is the latest in her Iowa Mystery Series.
Jenna Jo Bodling is a clay artist, yoga instructor and happy mother to two girls, three cats and a do.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/spjayaraj

#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd #Bheem #Draupadi

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 30: What's a Little Gambling Between Murderous Cousins?

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

04/14/25 • 81 min

We welcome back Rhiannon from episode 2 and MamaFaerie fame. Rhiannon wants to know if we will once again feature 'flowing tits and ass' and comes to regret that the semi answer is 'yes.'

Satish recounts the game of dice for Rhiannon and Azure. Yudhishthira, the oldest of the Pandavas has just been crowned emperor of the known world. No one except perhaps Indra of the heavens owns as much as he does. He is invited by his conniving cousin Duryodhana to a game of dice, and though every person tells him not to accept, Yudhistira does.

Rhiannon and Azure are understandably confounded by the decisions being made by everyone in this episode that is a turning point for the scions of the Kuru Kingdom.

spjayaraj.com
Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Rhiannon Fiskradatz is among many things a musician who goes by MaMa Faerie. Her debut album, Anthems for the Apocalypse, is experimental electronic pop music and is available on all platforms. Rhiannon is also one half of Songversations, a performance series that amplifies intersectional feminism through song, story and ritual. They have taken on issues including LGBTQ+ allyship, the wellness industry, and witchcraft. Check out this and all of the other amazing work she does at www.rhiannon.fiskradatz.com

Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

NYMM 12: A Couple Queer Origins.

Not Your Mother's Mahabharata

07/08/24 • 51 min

Today we are excited to welcome our old friend Kari Kusek to the show. Kari and Azure are taken on a surprise trip back to some of the earliest Mahabharata episode that precedes where we started on episode 1.
We explore 3 (of the many) examples of queerness in Hindu Mythology. Also featuring the moon, some tree spirits, and suddenly having boobs.

What was your favorite Gender twist in this episode?

Kari Kusek is a S.A.C. (A School Assessment Coordinator/ Dean in Denver Colorado.

Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.

Support the podcast and join the NYMM community on Patreon.com/spjayaraj

#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd #QUEERSTORIES