Myths and Legends, Episode 431: Turkish Folklore: "These Dreams"
Podcast Hosts: Jason Weiser, occasional commentary by Carissa Weiser
Date: March 25, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Jason Weiser retells two tales from Turkish folklore, both centered on men named Ahmet and the pursuit (or avoidance) of dreams and ambition. Through humor and sharp modern commentary, Jason explores the perils of following one's dreams—sometimes leading to misery, sometimes to unexpected good fortune—and the social pressures and absurdities that come with ambition. The episode also features a segment on the bizarre creature Wapaloosi, a fantastical mix between a caterpillar, squirrel, and dachshund.
1. Introduction & Main Theme
Timestamps: [00:00–02:40]
- Theme Setup: "On the first, you’ll see how you should follow your dreams, even if those dreams mean forsaking everyone you love and starving in a faraway land. On the second, you’ll see how you should never follow your dreams…" —Jason Weiser [00:17]
- Jason’s Tone: Playful, with a focus on the contradiction inherent in advice to "follow your dreams."
- Stories: Two different Ahmets living very different dreams in Turkish folklore.
- Creature Preview: A "squirrel-dachshund-caterpillar"—the Wapaloosi—will be discussed at the end.
2. Story One: Ahmet the Junkman & the Voice from Egypt
Timestamps: [02:41–19:12]
Plot Summary:
- Ahmet's Life: Ahmet, a junkman in Istanbul, exhausts himself daily and escapes into indulgent dreams at night, where he’s wealthy and happy. He rushes to sleep early ("Bed already?" - Ahmet's wife [01:31]) to chase these nightly joys.
- The Dream is Interrupted: A faceless stranger in Ahmet’s dream rudely wakes him up, telling him, "Wake up." [03:40]
- Mysterious Message: The stranger then appears in real life, telling Ahmet, "Go to Egypt and your night shall be your day." [06:24]
- Struggles at Home: After a week of "dream nonsense," Ahmet's increasing obsession with Egypt strains his relationship. [07:12]
- Ahmet Departs: In a moment of resolve (and public weirdness), Ahmet runs off, leaving his family to journey to Egypt.
- Getting to Egypt: He manages free passage on a boat to Egypt due to “otherworldly summons”—or at least people not wanting to mess with the possibly holy/crazy. [09:20]
- Ahmet's Life in Cairo: His expectations of wealth are dashed. He begs and starves, haunted by dreams.
- Despair at the Pyramids: In utter defeat, he lies down, ready to die. There he meets another Ahmet—a desert wanderer who shares that his own dream told him to leave for Istanbul, but he wisely ignored it. [15:18]
- Full Circle: The two Ahmets realize their dreams were pointing to each other’s homes. Ahmet returns home, slightly transformed.
- Discovery at Home: Eventually, he realizes the details of wealth in the desert Ahmet's dream match his own home. He tries to dig for treasure beside his tower’s tree—nothing is there.
- The Aftermath:
- Ahmet remains a junkman but becomes mysteriously lucky, regularly finding gold or jewels. He and his wife continue to eke out existence, Ahmet somewhat wiser, though Jason sharply questions what lesson this story really imparts.
Key Insights & Commentary:
- On Following Dreams: "I'm not sure what this story is saying. Actually: follow your dreams, but also don't, because you'll starve in a foreign land and condemn your spouse to abject poverty. And the true riches were at home the whole time? ...Yeah, I'm back to not knowing what this story is saying. Sorry." —Jason Weiser [18:22]
- Memorable Quote: "That luxury of not needing to focus on money is only brought about by having money." —Jason [18:45]
- Humorous Aside: "Yes, those famously rickety pyramids that had stood for thousands of years" [12:52]
3. Story Two: Ahmet the Cobbler and the Reluctant Astrologer
Timestamps: [22:12–45:26]
Plot Summary:
- Ahmet's Contentment: Ahmet is a humble cobbler who enjoys his simple, predictable life.
- Spousal Ambition: His wife suddenly demands, “Why are you not the chief astrologer to the Sultan?” [22:25]
- Wife’s Motivation: She was displaced at the public baths by the astrologer’s harem, fueling envy. [23:02]
- Pressure & Resentment: Wife refuses to call him her husband until he attains the high court position; she mocks his work and threatens him with disrespect in front of children. [24:16]
- Ahmet’s Reluctant Career Change: He sells his tools, buys an astrologer’s supplies, and sits by the road, faking astrology. [26:13]
- Serendipitous "Success":
- He lucks into finding a noblewoman's diamond ring, not via stars, but because of his tailor's eye for a tear in her trousers. [27:17]
- The grateful noblewoman rewards him lavishly.
- Unwelcome Fame:
- His "astrological powers" become legend. High nobility and eventually the sultan enlist his help, especially after conveniently timed lucky guesses or confessions by the guilty.
- He is pressured into increasingly perilous "divinations," including recovering a pasha's lost necklace and the sultan’s treasury.
- Escalation: Ahmet uses stalling tactics, fortune-cookie wisdom, and increasingly creative ploys (counting beans for 40 thieves, proverbs) to keep his head. [37:42, 41:18]
- Final Escape: When cornered by the sultan, Ahmet dodges exposure by quoting a proverb, impressing the sultan beyond measure. [44:21]
- His Wife’s Triumph: His wife enjoys her new role as "the harem of the chief astrologer," booking the whole public bath for herself. [43:44]
Key Insights & Commentary:
- On Spousal Pressure & Ambition: "There is something to be said for pushing your spouse to be the best version of themselves. This is not that. It's not like Ahmet wants to set aside a career to, say, see where his mythology podcast goes..." —Jason Weiser [24:22]
- On Fate vs. Skill: "Did Ahmet have some sort of latent gift, or was he just extremely lucky?...but I also feel like Ahmet would be the first person to tell you no, he’s just lucky.” [45:12]
- Envy Satire: "If you think a feeling of discontent and resentment...is wrong, then maybe you need to take a look at yourself." —Ahmet’s wife [42:17]
- Memorable Moment: “The harem of the chief astrologer for the Sultan. Party of One. That’s me.” —Ahmet’s wife, triumphing at the baths [43:44]
- Quick Quotes:
- “I cobble, I fix shoes. It’s a completely different skill set.” —Ahmet [22:55]
- “Having the right tools, even good ones, does not make you good at something.” —Jason talking about Ahmet's astrology career [25:41]
- “The stars—they don’t always cooperate.” —Ahmet, dodging the sultan’s final test [45:06]
4. Creature of the Week: The Wapaloosi
Timestamps: [52:23–54:56]
- Description: A squirrel the size of a small dachshund, with a long caterpillar-like body, woodpecker talons, and a spiked tail.
- Folkloric Role: Climbs trees in a “disjointed, humpy” style; was once hunted for its plush pelt.
- Lumberjack Woes: Gloves made from its fur would “reflexively climb” up axes, leading to glove disposal and supposed extinction.
- Jason’s Commentary: “Saying caterpillar squirrel doesn’t really communicate just how off-putting it would be to see a wapaloosi.” [52:30]
5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Following Dreams:
"I'm not sure what this story is saying. Actually: follow your dreams, but also don't, because you'll starve in a foreign land and condemn your spouse to abject poverty. And the true riches were at home the whole time? ...Yeah, I'm back to not knowing what this story is saying. Sorry."
—Jason Weiser [18:22]
On Miscommunication in Marriage:
"If she was with child, and she prayed she wasn't, she would make sure the child didn't respect him either."
—Jason (paraphrasing Ahmet’s wife) [24:29]
The "Astrologer’s" Lucky Strike:
"Do you converse with the stars?"
"Well, you could say that I’m compelled to."
—Noblewoman and Ahmet [26:46]
On Fate vs. Luck:
“Did Ahmet have some sort of latent gift, or was he just extremely lucky?...but I also feel like Ahmet would be the first person to tell you no, he’s just lucky.”
—Jason Weiser [45:12]
6. Timestamps for Key Segments
- Start & Theme Introductions: [00:00–02:41]
- First Story (Ahmet the Junkman): [02:42–19:12]
- Second Story (Ahmet the Cobbler/Astrologer): [22:12–45:26]
- Creature of the Week (Wapaloosi): [52:23–54:56]
7. Episode Tone & Language
- Modern, Witty, Sarcastic: Jason adapts these old tales with humor, skepticism, and relatable, modern language.
- Biting Social Commentary: Especially on dream-chasing, class, and marital expectations.
- Accessible Retelling: Even for listeners unfamiliar with Turkish folklore, the stories are vivid and resonant.
8. Conclusion
Episode Takeaway:
Turkish folklore, as recounted by Jason Weiser, raises as many questions as it answers—about luck, dreams, envy, and the value of humble work. The show’s charm lies in exposing the absurdity and complexity of "follow your dreams" in a world where dreams often mislead and fortune is as much about luck as effort.
Memorable Closing:
"To keep falling backwards into wealth and status and not being executed so flawlessly does feel like something more than just Ahmet uttering several lucky phrases. But I also feel like Ahmet would be the first person to tell you no, he’s just lucky. Can he please go back to making shoes?" [45:12]
For fans of myth, dry humor, and the unsolvable paradoxes of life, this episode delivers both folkloric intrigue and delicious irony.