• NYMM 36: 30,000 Demons Under the Sea: Arjuna's Mission Part 3
    Aug 19 2025

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    Arjuna has learnt warfare from some of the best of the best, and has been god -given some the most terrifying weapons ever to exist for the future Kurukshetra war. Time for a test run...?

    Lindsay Ohse joins us for this epic out of this world battle/massacre. Indra has given his son Arjuna all he has asked for and more. But before Arjuna can return to his family on earth, Indra has a small request- to massacre somewhere between three thousand to thirty thousand demons- (whom we hope are either irredeemably evil or are metaphors for something a lot nicer than flat out genocide.)

    It's a fantastical battle with flying horse drawn chariots, a flying city, innumerable demons of various kinds, and of course magical arrows!

    Somehow its another laugh filled episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata.

    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.

    Lindsay Ohse is a professional opera singer who has performed for numerous opera companies across the U.S. since 2014. She will be performing with the MN Opera in the upcoming performance of Cosi fan tutte. Get your tickets at https://mnopera.org/season/2025-2026/cosi-fan-tutte/.

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • NYMM 35: Heavenly Rewards. Arjuna's Mission: Part 2
    Aug 5 2025

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    The Himalayas were great, but not high enough for Arjuna.

    We welcome our friend Laura Tanner to tell her the continuation of Arjuna's bold adventure to another realm- some would argue the 'best' realm. Arjuna'a father Indra once again invites Arjuna to the realm of the gods and this time Arjuna says yes! Aside from magical jeweled palaces and magical flying horses of different colors, Arjuna also learns warfare from his father and other skills from the magical denizens of this heaven. Laura and Azure are also very excited for a very promising tryst ;) But there is a twist to the tryst, an awful awful twist- at least if you're mortal.

    It's another laugh filled episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata.

    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.

    Laura Tanner is the Director of Development for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and has been in non-profit fundraising for the past seventeen years. Laura is an avid reader, enthusiastic traveler, and member of the VocalEssence Chorus, where she sings in the alto section with Azure.

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • NYMM 34: Himalayan Hijinks. Arjuna's Mission: Part 1
    Jul 21 2025

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    We are thrilled to welcome Erika Gesme to the podcast to begin the tale of Arjuna's solo adventure.

    All the Pandavas and Draupadi have come to accept their exile, but they also accept that once they return from it, they will not be given everything back as was promised to them. They need to prepare for the eventual war, and for that, Arjuna needs to visit the Himalayas and speak to the god Shiva.

    Erika and Azure are enthralled as the mighty Arjuna can't seem to gain the upper hand over a seemingly simple tribal hunter.

    After the battle Arjuna, a procession of some of the main gods in Hinduism visit Arjuna with their magical processions in tow, including Arjuna's father, Indra, the king of the devas who proposes Arjuna takes what could be the most awe inspiring journey of his life.

    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.

    Erika Gesme is a hearing instrument specialist and medical sales rep who can also be seen (or heard) moonlighting as a musician through the Twin Cities.
    She is a supporter of End the Back Log

    www.endthebacklog.org is an initiative of the Joyful Heart Foundation

    Every 68 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in the United States.

    After a sexual assault, the survivor can choose to have a medical professional photograph, swab, and conduct an invasive and exhaustive examination of the survivor’s entire body for DNA evidence left behind by the attacker—a process that takes four to six hours to complete. That evidence is collected and preserved in a sexual assault evidence kit When tested, DNA evidence contained by rape kits can be an incredibly powerful tool to solve and prevent future crimes.

    Despite this, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in police department and crime lab storage facilities across the country in what is referred to as the “rape kit backlog.”

    The mission of End the Back Log is that every rape kit booked into evidence and connected to a reported sexual assault should be submitted to a crime lab for testing, and crime labs must commit to testing rape kit evidence in a timely manner.

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • NYMM 33: Special Guest Shambhu Nath Explains What It All Means.
    Jul 7 2025

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    For this very special episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata the tables are turned.

    Satish joins Azure on the listening side of the recording studio to hear from Shambhu Nath. Shambhu shares his own journey with the Mahabharata on how it led him towards healing his anxiety and other ailments. Deeply familiar with the spiritual symbolism within the Mahabharata, Shambhu answers every question that Satish and Azure can fit into the hour.

    It's an extraordinarily insightful episode of Not Your Mother's Mahabharata.

    We recommend listening to the following episodes to better appreciate everything we cover.

    Episode 1. The Old Man and the Young Fish Lady

    Episode 2. The King, His River Queens and the Son Who Gave It All Up

    Episode 8. The Man Named "Bucket"

    Episode 9. The Jungle Kid with Mad Skills.

    Episode 30. What's a Little Gambling Between Murderous Cousins


    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.


    Shambhu Nath is the author of The Manthan Code: Seven Secrets to Emotional Healing under the name Shambhu Sundriyal, a work of fiction that takes us on an exploration of Hindu Philosophy through two young adults. Under the pen name 'Sam Nath' he has also written numerous other self help books with spiritual teachings from Hindu texts and the Bible.

    Shambhu has an extraordinary knowledge base on the spiritual metaphors within the Mahabharata. NYMM is honored to share a fraction of his wisdom with this episode.

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • NYMM 32: Humiliation, Wisdom, and Getting off your Ass. First Years of Exile: Part 2
    Jun 23 2025

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    Satish tells Azure the story of how the Pandavas and Draupadi are doing as we continue seeing how they handle being exiled.

    The Pandavas are visited by the 16 year old Immortal Markandeya, and of course we can't go further without learning how that phenomenon happened.

    Markandaya comforts Yudhistira by telling him more stories from Indian mythology.

    But Draupadi and Bheema aren't having it. They want to understand why Yudhishthira isn't showing more pain and regret from losing everything at the game of dice, and once again push to wage war and take everything back.

    Yudhishthira holds his ground, and maybe, even gains some sympathy from Satish and Azure...?


    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.

    Support the show

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    46 mins
  • NYMM 31: The Joyless Jungle. First Years of Exile: Part 1
    Jun 9 2025

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    Our Season 3 begins with Book 3 of the Mahabharata, Vana Parva, - AKA the Book of the Forest

    We welcome Ben Kopnick to tell him how the Pandavas are dealing with being exiled following Yudhishthira's failure. Spoiler- not well. Yudhishthira is most concerned about how he's going to feed the loyal brahmins who decide to join the Pandava in their exile.

    Duryhodhana in the mean time, swimming in insecurity, wants to deal with the weaponless Pandavas but is stopped by the all knowing Vyasa, whose sage advice he still rejects. Worse, he insults the Sage Maitreya. (D is quite the idiot.)

    The Pandavas are then graced with a visit from Krishna, Balarama and other members of the Yadava clan, as well as Draupadi's twin fire born brother Dhrishtadyumna. Poor Draupadi bawls to Krishna about her recent suffering, and dear Ben coming into this story right now doesn't yet have the highest respect for the Pandavas. Who can blame him.

    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.

    Ben Kopnick is a freelance writer and pet care provider. Ben would like you to know about Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue.

    https://mnpitbull.com/

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • RE-RELEASE: NYMM 02: The King, His River Queens, and the Son Who Gives it All Up
    May 26 2025

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    RE-RELEASE

    For this episode we welcome musician Rhiannon Fiskradatz and tell her the story of the tortured King Shantanu who only manages to catch a single break because of his devoted demigod son. Rhiannon needs moments of silence after Ganga seemingly murders her own children, and yells in defense of Bheeshma keeping his heritage.

    https://spjayaraj.com/nymm-02/

    Rhiannon 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.

    https://www.instagram.com/mamafaeriemusic/

    Check out this and all of the other amazing work she does at www.rhiannon.fiskradatz.com.


    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

    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

    Have an Imaginative Day.

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

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • MOTHER'S DAY RE-RELEASE: NYMM 05: The Five Godly Babies and the Butter Born Boys
    May 12 2025

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    Re-Release

    For this episode we welcome writer Evan Kingston and tell him the origin of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Satish tells the story of his favorite half-celibate, half-sex-crazy couple, Evan is not into buying Vayu's impressiveness because of his own biases against wind, and Azure is proud of Madri's divine threesome.

    Evan Kingston is a writer living in the Twin Cities Metro Area. If you would like a wonderful Christmas gift this year that challenges and honors the spirit of Christmas, email Evan at betternotcry@proton.me

    S.P. Jayaraj is the creator of the mythic world of Adijari that is the setting of his two books, 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.

    spjayaraj.com

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

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

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

    Support the show

    Have an imaginative day.


    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

    Support the show

    Support the show

    Have an imaginative day.


    Artwork and music by Azure Anderson

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    1 hr and 6 mins