This week we take you behind the scenes of the Journey of the Monkey King Podcast. If you're not quite ready to go full enlightened after our last chapter, then listen to Caoimhe and Emjay give you the Chinese classic from a whole new angle.  Follow them on social at: https://twitter.com/monkeykingpod https://twitter.com/oakreef https://twitter.com/taoiseachotrash https://instagram.com/emjaystokes/

This week marks the conclusion of our Journey to the West! Monkey King and friends become buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats. But Tathagata has a special surprise waiting for Wuneng the pig... Thank you all for joining us on this trek, may you all know the root of happiness and be free of suffering!

Guanyin does some quick math and realizes that the pilgrims, including Monkey King and his master, are one ordeal short of the set needed to achieve enlightenment. So they get dumped on a turtle who reminds Tripitaka of a promise he once made...

The Monkey King has arrived! But first, Tripitaka must cast off his earthly body and cross the river that lies before Thunderclap Mountain, and then just before they get their scriptures, the librarians want a bribe. Could this journey get any harder? Find out this week!

After the pilgrims' awkward parting last chapter, a group of bandits descend on their hosts' home and kill Squire Kou! Kou's wife blames Wukong and the gang in her grief and everyone gets arrested. No demons and no fighting, yet this is the favorite chapter of JourneyToTheWestResearch.com Find out why this week!

This week we are excited to welcome back one of our favorite guests, Daoist and Martial Artist Scott Park Phillips. In addition to enlightening us on many more fascinating aspects of Journey to the West, Scott is also launching a new course and newsletter. Sign up for fascinating insights at ScottParkPhillips.substack.com 

When you're the last 4 monks to be fed by a philanthropist who's vowed to feed 10,000 monks, some partying is bound to ensue. But when everyone but pig Wuneng is tired of all the feasting and try to hit the scripture trail, they offend their host's wife. Ruin a party or scrap the holy mission? Find out this week!

Tripitaka's bride-to-be is unmasked as the Jade Hare, her divine owners come calling, and we get a heartfelt reunion between the royal family with the real princess. Plus, we discuss gender dynamics and catcalling during Monkey King's time. Don't miss it!

With the wedding of Tripitaka to the fiendish princess arranged, the feasting begins! Wuneng's having the time of his life with daily banquets, despite Wujing's disapproving jibes. Tripitaka's composing poetry to deal with his anxiety. But all is not lost, for Monkey's got a plan. Find out what it is this week!

This week Wukong the Monkey King and the gang hear about a princess who mysteriously turns up at the monastery they're staying in. Later, Tripitaka visits the capital where he's marked for marriage by her doppelganger. What's going on? Find out this week!

The epic conclusion of Wukong's war with the sacrifice-demanding, oil-stealing, Buddha-impersonating rhino fiends. Dragon kings, divine forces, and all the brothers get in on the action. But after they've won, can the victors control their forces? Perhaps the most realistic portrayal of cosmic war yet, this week!

This week the crew attend an annual lantern festival that's so expensive that the townsfolk must starve to afford it. We wonder about what happened to old religious traditions and whether they ever really go away.

The exciting conclusion to Monkey and friends' fight with the lion kingdom! What started as a dispute over some stolen weapons has turned into an all-out war as the Yellow Lion gets his grandpappy, nine-headed lion and self-proclaimed, "Nine-fold Numina Primal Sage" involved. Will Tripitaka survive being a POW? And where did this lion come from? Find out this week!

Wukong, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk discover the stealer of their weapons is none other than the Yellow Lion spirit! Are there other kinds of lions? Apparently so! When the smoke clears, the thief escapes, and returns with more felines than the cast of Cats!

Wukong and the gang show their martial magic to three princely challengers who immediately ask to become their disciples. Crisis averted, right? But just because they didn't use violence, doesn't mean they're free from bad karma. More this week!

Having finally arrived in India, the pilgrims must make it rain, literally. After a fight with his wife, the local prefect knocked over some sacrificial offerings and fed them to his dogs. It hasn't rained ever since. Can Wukong navigate heaven's various departments and proper protocols or will everybody starve? Find out this week!

The evil Great King of South Mountain is prepping Tripitaka for dinner and he's got a plan to get rid of the elder's disciples: convince them that he's already eaten the Tang Monk! Can the Great King outwit the Monkey King? Find out this week!

This week, we find out what happens when you shave the heads of everyone in a kingdom that's vowed to kill monks, Wukong decides to fight fair by tricking Wuneng into doing it for him, and Tripitaka meets a fellow menu item in the demon's lair. Don't miss it!

Our pilgrims find themselves outside a kingdom that's vowed to kill 10,000 monks and just needs 4 more to complete the mission. Monkey steals some merchants' clothes and even convinces the innkeeper's wife to let them sleep in their wardrobe. Just then, bandits! How much worse can the monks' luck get? Find out this week!

The Fair Girl steals Tripitaka and tries to marry him, again! Monkey's had enough so he takes the Fair Dad, Devaraja Li, to court. The father's response? "I am NOT the father, now die!" Somebody's lying, but who? Find out this week!

Tripitaka's getting married! Or, at least he would be if the Fair Girl had her way. This week's over-sexed fiend seeks to take the Tang Monk's virginity, and it's up to Monkey to, ah, explore her bottomless cave and sneak his fruit into her garden. Another innuendo-and-action-packed episode that you won't wanna miss!

What did Tripitaka think would happen when he brings a gorgeous demoness into a monastery? After six young monks are found "bone-dry", Monkey pulls a bait and switch. The fiend grabs hold of more than she bargained for this week!

Tripitaka's got a bad feeling about the dense pine forest they're stuck in. But when they find a beautiful maiden tied to a tree, it's Monkey who calls for caution. Will they save the damsel, even though she's a demoness? Tune in to find out!

When a befuddled king under the influence of an evil Daoist asks to devour your heart, who are the pilgrims to say no? Monkey's only got one question: which one? Two can play at the magical deception game, but when the dust settles only one will be left standing!