Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
S.P. Jayaraj
The Mahabharata is this epic Indian work that encapsulates a great deal of Indian Mythology. It is a magnificent story that is constantly being rewritten and retold since its inception that was either in 3000 BC or 1500 BCE
‘Not Your Mother’s Mahabharata with SP Jayaraj’ is a podcast where I tell the story conversationally to my wife and to friends, most of whom have never heard of the tale, and so listeners familiar and unfamiliar with the story are treated to their entertainingly honest first reactions.
Doing it conversationally as opposed to it being a straight up reading also allows us to examine some of the variations in the story and to pick apart some of the many ideas about life that the Mahabharat brings to the forefront.
This podcast’s goal is to make this great work accessible, memorable, and entertaining to an adult audience, so come in expecting some laughs, some pop culture tangents, and because it is me, my wife, and our friends, definitely some swears.
This is a labor of devotion to the Mahabharat quite unlike any other you might come across.
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Top 10 Not Your Mother's Mahabharata Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Not Your Mother's Mahabharata episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Not Your Mother's Mahabharata for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Not Your Mother's Mahabharata episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
NYMM 15: The Fire Born Woman Burning Every Man's Loins. Featuring Draupadi, Kunti, and the Pandavas.
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.
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 #Bheem #Draupadi
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 11: ‘Why are Teenagers Warring with my Kingdom?’ Featuring the Pandavas and Drupada.
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
06/24/24 • 52 min
Aaron Bodling joins us to hear the story of Drupada as he is attacked by the Kuru clan.
Drupada is a good king who has ruled by the wisdom he has gained from his guru, so he has no idea why a bunch of teenagers are leading an army against him. Aaron and Azure love the flashback and different version of Drupada's daughter/son Shikhandi. Satish is thrilled to rediscover Drupada's importance in the Mahabharata, and foreshadows galore with the new characters introduced at the end.
Which of Drupada's three children are you most invested in? Shikhandi, Drishtadyumna, or Draupadi? Answer in the comments section of the episode page.
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-11/
Aaron Bodling is a nurse and animal love in Saint Paul, MN. He and his family are proud supporters of Underdog Rescue
Underdog Rescue, MN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, foster-based, rescue group dedicated to the rehabilitation and permanent placement of homeless dogs and cats of all ages and all breeds. We believe that all animals deserve caring, responsible homes and if there is one common bond between them and their foster volunteers, it is this:
We are genuinely moved by each of the amazing animals who come into our care and we believe we are their advocates.
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 10: My Arrows are Bigger than Your Arrows. Featuring Arjuna and Karna.
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. Featuring Bheeshma and Amba.
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 01: The Old Man and the Young Fish Lady. Featuring Parasha, Satyavati, Vyasa and Ganesha
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
02/02/24 • 66 min
In this first episode Satish and Azure welcome Mindy Mejia.
While Satish tells the origin story of Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, Mindy and Azure can't help to draw connections to Seinfeld and Twilight. Satish recalls his grandfather telling him the story of how the epic was first written down by Ganesha, and Mindy is fascinated with how Vyasa can negotiate with the god.
What was your favorite pop culture reference from this episode? Let us know in the comment section of the episode page at
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-01/
Each episode you will hear Satish P. Jayaraj casually tell stories from the epic Indian work, The Mahabharata to his wife Azure Anderson and a special guest.
Our guest today is Mindy Mejia. Mindy is an internationally acclaimed thriller writer, known for mixing compelling characters with page-turning suspense against the backdrop of the US Midwest. Her books have been chosen for People’s Best New Books Pick and listed in The Wall Street Journal’s Best New Mysteries. She lives and works in the Twin Cities. Learn more about Mindy at MindyMejia.com.
The Mahabharata is an epic Indian work that encapsulates a great deal of classic Indian Mythology. It is a magnificent story that is constantly being rewritten and retold since its inception thousands of years ago.
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
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 17: The Invincible Baby: Krishna Chronicles 2
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
10/28/24 • 70 min
We welcome our good friend Kale Lepak to tell Krishna baby stories.
Krishna baby deals with demon, after demon, after demon,- with each one being vastly different from the others.
We tell the story of 2 of Vishu's different avatars/forms in Hindu Mythology-
Kurma the turtle and Matsya the Fish- and we can't help but notice the parallels to Jesus Christ and expert ark maker, Noah.
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
Kale Lepak is a lifelong learner passionate about understanding people. His career in research, insights, and strategy helps organizations make human-centered decisions. He enjoys traveling, cooking and sour gummy worms.
Kale Lepak supports Youth Farm.
Youth Farm is a multi-faceted youth development organization, engaging hundreds of youth each year in leadership training, farm and food classes, and community events. Through growing, harvesting, and distributing fresh, local produce in their own neighborhoods, young people are making tangible impacts while also preparing for success on whichever path they choose.
www.youthfarmmn.org
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
You will also get access to Bonus content
Let us know what you think the comment section of the episode page.
https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-17
#Mahabharata #ComedyMeetsCulture #Comedystorytelling #IndianMythology #MahabharataRetold #MythologyNerd #culture #education #society
Have an imaginative day.
Artwork and music by Azure Anderson
NYMM 19: Krishna returns to Mathura: Krishna Chronicles 4
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
11/25/24 • 44 min
Jenny McDougal joins us for part 4 of the Krishna Chronicles.
Krishn'a destiny to deal with his tyrannical uncle Kamsa comes a calling.
We tell the story of Krishna and Balarama leaving their old cow herding life behind to return to the nation of his birth, all while Jenny asks the most insightful questions.
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."
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.
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
NYMM 18: Tales of Teenage Krishna: Krishna Chronicles 3
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata
11/11/24 • 70 min
We continue with our Krishna Chronicles, this time with Amy Wielunksi.
Krishna is now old enough to be cowherds and do their part for their beloved village. Krishna continues to safeguard his village from demon after demon, with some help from his thunder thighs brother, Balarama. He then, in quite astounding ways defies a couple of the other gods.
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."
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.
Azure Anderson-Jayaraj is a musician, a maker, a cat mom, an arts administrator and now a podcast editor.
Amy Wielunksi describes herself as short sweet and nerdy, with a partiality towards board game nerds, but she likes nerds of all types. She is the executive director of VocalEssence which is one of the world’s premier choral music organizations. Amy is an active patron of the arts, with a focus on theater and classical music.
Amy would like everyone to know about VocalEssence.
VocalEssence, a choral arts and community building non-profit based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Every day, VocalEssence is working with singers of all ages to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the influence of choral music. In addition to producing an annual series of concerts with both professional and volunteer performing groups, the VocalEssence teaching artists and staff are in classrooms and senior living communities using music to foster connection, creativity and learning across cultures. Learn more about how VocalEssence uses the power of singing together to build community and check out the upcoming concert schedule at vocalessence.org
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."
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.
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
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FAQ
How many episodes does Not Your Mother's Mahabharata have?
Not Your Mother's Mahabharata currently has 21 episodes available.
What topics does Not Your Mother's Mahabharata cover?
The podcast is about Mythology, Fiction, Comedy Fiction, Indian, Hindu, Hinduism, Religion & Spirituality, Adventure, Podcasts and Fantasy.
What is the most popular episode on Not Your Mother's Mahabharata?
The episode title 'NYMM 15: The Fire Born Woman Burning Every Man's Loins. Featuring Draupadi, Kunti, and the Pandavas.' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Not Your Mother's Mahabharata?
The average episode length on Not Your Mother's Mahabharata is 63 minutes.
How often are episodes of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata released?
Episodes of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata?
The first episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata was released on Feb 2, 2024.
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