Notes from the Oracle: A Percy Jackson and Mythology Podcast

Podcast by Connor Stacey

Notes from the Oracle: A Percy Jackson and Mythology Podcast

"Notes from the Oracle" is a chapter-by-chapter read-through and breakdown of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, and the rest of the Riordanverse that kickstarted our love of reading and mythology. In each episode, Connor and Jack recap and discuss that week's chapter before deep diving into the mythology and real-world history that inspired the gods, monsters, and other details from the chapter. Sources referenced during the myth section will always, always be listed in the show notes. New episodes of "Notes from the Oracle" will release bi-weekly on Sundays at 6 pm EST. If you're enjoying our show, share your favorite episode with a friend. It's the best way to support us, and it's totally free!

Listen onApple Podcasts

Listen onSpotify

Latest episodes

05 October 2025

Chapter 20: I Battle My Jerk Relative | The Lightning Thief

Sword-fighting with Ares, giant boars, and two myths that feature the goddess of love? Things are heating up around here! But that might just be from Connor and Jack are getting fired up in this episode. Wanna know why? You'll just have to listen and find out! Hopefully we don't boar you with today's myth section which discusses Ares's association with pigs by means of violent revenge in the myth of Adonis...

Programming Updates:

As mentioned in today's episode, we plan to release our episode discussing the movie adaptation of The Lightning Thief after our full-book recap episode. Episodes of Notes from the Oracle will continue to release bi-weekly through the final two chapters and any remaining content we produce related to The Lightning Thief.

We have also started recording episodes for the second book in the series, The Sea of Monsters! We hope you enjoy our remaining episodes for book one as we prepare ourselves to continue our collective journey into uncharted waters...

This Week's Myths:

Ares and Boars/Adonis
Ichor

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:37:07

22 September 2025

Chapter 19: We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of | The Lightning Thief

Join Jack and Connor as they follow Percy Jackson and his friends deeper into the underworld. Which of course means Connor has a bunch more to tell you about Hades and its inhabitants! This week, we're discussing the Fields of Elysium and the Asphodel Fields as well as an abridged version of the myth of Hades and Persephone...

This Week's Myths:

Hades and Persephone/Persephone’s Abduction
Elysium/The Elysian Plain
Hades's Helm of Darkness
Fields of Asphodel

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:43:40

07 September 2025

Chapter 18: Annabeth Does Obedience School | The Lightning Thief

On this week's episode of Notes from the Oracle, join Percy Jackson and his friends as they begin their descent into the underworld! Listen in as Jack tries to convince Connor that this chapter is better than he originally thought it was and enjoy the vivid descriptions that mix the ancient depictions of death with the worst parts of modern life. And to cap it all off, Connor is talking about Greek mythology's favorite dog, Cerberus, as well as Charon, the ferryman of the dead, Erebus, and the River Styx!

This Week's Myths:

Charon
Cerberus
The River Styx
Erebus (the Place)

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:37:03

24 August 2025

Chapter 17: We Shop for Water Beds | The Lightning Thief

I hope you're ready for a chapter that is absolutely packed. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover finally make it to LA, Percy has an emotional moment on the beach at Santa Monica, and Jack loses his shit as the group is delayed one final time before they can enter the underworld. Hopefully this chapter isn't stretched too far by the time Connor arrives at this week's myths. (See what I did there? It's a Procrustes joke.) This time we're talking about the surprisingly interesting epithets of Hades and the trope of katabasis as well as some of the defining mythology for Athen's founder hero as Connor details the labors of Theseus!

Follow @Shakespearean.Sam on Instagram!!! Tell her we sent you. (And that she should read more Percy Jackson!)

This Week's Myths:

Epithets of Hades: The Silent One and The Rich One
The Labors of Theseus
Katabasis

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:54:20

10 August 2025

Chapter 16: We Take a Zebra to Vegas | The Lightning Thief

Jump in as Connor and Jack talk about the most elusive myth they've covered yet: zebras! But don't worry, they also take the time to talk about how the chapter furthers the characterization of our trio of protagonists with great heartfelt moments before they arrive at the Lotus Casino. Of course, we'll be discussing the mythological origins of the Lotus Eaters and how Poseidon became known as the Father of Horses!

This Week's Myths:

The Lotus Eaters
Poseidon, the Father of Horses

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:55:53

27 July 2025

Chapter 15: A God Buys us Cheeseburgers | The Lightning Thief

In this week's episode, Connor and Jack discuss Percy Jackson's first meeting with Ares, the god of war! Percy sends his first ever Iris message, so in this week's myth section we're talking about Iris, the messenger goddess. And since our group of heroes finds themselves caught in a trap set by Hephaestus for Ares and Aphrodite, Connor also deep dives into the original myth that inspired the chapter, the repeated misfortune surrounding the birth of Hephaestus, and the marriage of Hephaestus and Aphrodite.

This Week's Myths:

Iris, Introductions and Her Role as a Messenger Goddess
The Birth of Hephaestus
Ares' Shield
Hephaestus Winning Aphrodite's Hand in Marriage
Hephaestus Traps Ares and Aphrodite

The Oracle's Visions! (Links to sources)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-oracle/id1792459969

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGNB8zoWnCGh6eVLMv1ah

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80e263d0-d879-4a42-9e33-4dfc0ce4b96c/notes-from-the-oracle

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromtheOracle

Want to connect with us? Please direct all business inquiries to notesfromtheoraclepodcast@gmail.com

00:00

01:28:47