The $30 million mythic revival

KPBS has invested $30 million to revive the classic 1988 PBS series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth for modern audiences,bringing the conversations between mythologist Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers to a new generation of viewers.

The updated series has been meticulously curated by the KPBS programming team and made available across a wide range of platforms, from Roku and smart televisions to mobile devices.

Twenty-five years after the groundbreaking conversations

Twenty-five years after the groundbreaking conversations that began on a small PBS studio, the dialogue between mythologist Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers has been revitalized for a new generation of viewers.

The original 1988 series captured the imaginations of millions by exploring how ancient stories illuminate the deepest parts of human experience.

From Classical literature to contemporary blockbusters

The heart of the series lies in the vibrant exchange between Campbell and Moyers as they dissect the timeless hero's journey, a narrative pattern that recurs in everything from Classical literature to contemporary blockbusters such as Star Wars.

Campbell invites viewers to view their own lives as heroic quests, encouraging a personal re-examination of challenges, growth, and transformation .

Myths for the modern world

The duo also delves into creation myths from the Bible , Hinduism, Indigenous traditions and other cultures, arguing that mythic structures must evolve to remain meaningful in an ever-changing world.

Their discussion of death as a form of rebirth-drawn from the myth of the buffalo and the Christian story of Christ-highlights the universal human need for rites of passage,a need that contemporary society often overlooks.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

KPBS has integrated the series into its on-demand library, enabling locals in San Diego to watch at any time while also providing live feeds of the station's four main channels-KPBS, KPBS 2, Create, and KPBS Kids-plus the newly added First Nations Experience (FNX) channel.

The platform is tied to the KPBS Passport account system, allowing members to explore a broader catalog of educational and cultural programming without encountering a paywall.