Michael Taggart Mythic Tales: Progression Fantasy and LitRPG

Season 1

1. 1. Orphans | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 1

   Episode 1

   Show notes

   In a world where power is everything, being "coreless" is a death sentence. Join author Michael Taggart for the premiere of his hit Progression Fantasy series, Coreless Cultivator.

   In this opening chapter, we meet Alric at his lowest point—unawakened, underestimated, and facing a world that has already counted him out. Narrated by the author himself.

   "Note: This episode features an 'AI Voice Clone' of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs to bring you the most consistent and immersive listening experience possible. Every word was written by Michael, and the narration is powered by his own voice."

   Apr 15, 2026 19 min

2. 3. Blessed Mother | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 3

   Episode 3

   Show notes

   Faced with the divine selection ceremony, Alric must confront a brutal truth: the great gods of cultivation have no place for the coreless. In Chapter 3: "Blessed Mother," witness Alric’s descent into the halls of the divine as he is rejected by one patron after another.

   Just as despair sets in, an ancient, "barbaric," and long-forgotten method of Body Cultivation offers a final, grueling path for the underdog who refuses to break.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Cultivation, Underdog, Magic School, Academy, Body Cultivation, Xinxia, Grimdark.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   Apr 16, 2026 14 min

3. 2. Chosen | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 2

   Episode 2

   Show notes

   As the town's selection ceremony reaches its final, heavy moments, the spotlight shifts to the last orphan: Alric. In Chapter 2: "Chosen," Alric must step onto the platform and face the reality of his situation. The Town Elder recounts the tragic story of how Alric burned out his core at age seven to save his brother’s life—a selfless act that left him coreless, physically stunted, and with a drastically shortened life expectancy.

   Witness Alric’s first steps toward a new name—Alric Core—and a dangerous, uncertain path at a school where power is everything.

   Follow Alric’s journey weekly as he discovers that even a "broken" life is a future worth fighting for..

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs to bring you a consistent and immersive listening experience. Every word was written by the author.

   Discover More: Find Michael's books on Amazon and Audible, or visit his Etsy shop, MichaelTaggartPhoto, for digital art inspired by these mythic worlds.

   Apr 16, 2026 15 min

4. 4. Broken Path | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 4

   Episode 4

   Show notes

   Five gods, five rejections. In Chapter 4: "Broken Path," Alric faces the ultimate silence of the divine—until the Blessed Mother reveals a secret pact. Enter the Broken Method, a mischievous and unconventional deity who claims those the traditional paths have cast aside.

   Forced to abandon the dream of a traditional core, Alric must now embrace a journey of raw creativity and grueling physical effort. He is no longer just a coreless orphan; he is Alric Core, the first to walk a path that demands he forge his own destiny from the fragments of his past.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Cultivation, Body Cultivation, Underdog, Broken Method, Xinxia, Grimdark, Training Arc.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   Join the Journey: Subscribe for weekly chapters, and visit MichaelTaggartPhoto on Etsy to see the digital art behind Alric's transformation.

   Apr 26, 2026 20 min

5. 5. Examination | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 5

   Episode 5

   Show notes

   Think your last physical was awkward? Try having a god send a thousand tiny "ants" on a field trip through your internal organs.

   In Chapter 5: "Examination," Alric finds out that being in "immaculate health" might actually be his biggest problem. The Broken Method uncovers the surprising reason Alric hasn’t hit puberty yet, and it’s not just bad luck—it’s a "leaky bucket" that needs to be plugged. It’s time for Alric to stop playing it safe and start the grueling process of tempering. The path to power is about to get a lot more uncomfortable.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Cultivation, Magic School, Training Arc, Gamelit.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   May 3, 2026 21 min

6. 6. Tempering | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 6

   Episode 6

   Show notes

   The path of the Body Cultivator isn't for the faint of heart. In Chapter 6: "Tempering," Alric discovers that his own innate healing ability is actually his biggest obstacle. To move forward, he must do the unthinkable: convince his own body to let the fire in.

   Experience the "Author's Cut" as Alric enters a high-stakes meditative battle with his own instincts. The result is a breakthrough that defies the laws of cultivation, leaving even a god scratching his head.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Cultivation, Training Arc, Gamelit, Xinxia.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   May 10, 2026 21 min

7. 7. Attributes | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 7

   Episode 7

   Show notes

   Welcome to the longest, weirdest, and most repetitive day of Alric’s life. In Chapter 7: "Attributes," Alric discovers that his "leaky bucket" healing is actually a secret weapon for endurance, allowing him to push through trials that would break a normal cultivator.

   From fitting into impossibly small crates to testing his mental speed, Alric unlocks over two hundred attributes—only for the Broken Method to simplify them into three simple numbers. But the real fun begins when the testing gets physical. Facing giant spiders and charging boars, Alric learns the hard way that in a divine realm, "death" is just a messy learning experience.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Cultivation, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Training Arc, Gamelit, Xinxia.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   May 17, 2026 20 min

8. 8. First Weapons | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 8

   Episode 8

   Show notes

   Finding a weapon that doesn't kill you is harder than it looks. In Chapter 8: "First Weapon," Alric faces a lethal gauntlet of giant spiders, boars, and scorpions, only to realize that "legendary" swords and spears are a disaster in his twelve-year-old hands.

   Just as frustration peaks, a happy accident lead Alric to an unconventional fighting style that actually works. Watch as our sarcastic hero starts his first real dance of combat, proving that a hero isn't defined by a sword, but by the will to turn a broken tool into a deadly advantage.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Martial Arts, Stick Fighting, Gamelit, Xinxia.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   May 24, 2026 20 min

9. 9. Inventory | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 9

   Episode 9

   Show notes

   Forget everything you know about inventory management. Since Alric lacks a core, he must anchor his "pocket universe" directly to his soul—a high-stakes gamble that grants him the lethal ability to summon weapons instantly. From hilarious lessons on the dangers of "exploding manure" to a secret storage slot hidden in his own earlobe, Alric is finally gearing up for the real world. The training wheels are off, and the path to power is just getting started.

   Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Inventory System, Soul Anchor, Gamelit, Xinxia.

   Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

   May 31, 2026 23 min

10. 10. Inventory Slots | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 10

    Episode 10

    Show notes

    The smaller the anchor, the sharper the sting. In Chapter 10: "Inventory Slots," Alric pushes his soul-anchored storage to its limits. After stunning his deity with an intuitive "soul-coating" technique, Alric must tackle his greatest challenge yet: anchoring a massive main inventory to his sternum. To survive the crushing pressure, he must abandon brute force and discover a unique, fluid way to breathe life into his own soul-space.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Underdog, Inventory System, Soul Anchor, Gamelit, Xinxia.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jun 7, 2026 22 min

11. 11. Benjamin | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 11

    Episode 11

    Show notes

    The divine training wheels are officially off as Alric returns to the real world with a pocket universe, a new path, and a lot of attitude. His celebration is cut short by profound feline judgment from a mysterious, energy-thrumming white cat named Benjamin Billows Banks. But the cozy homecoming doesn't last; Alric and his fellow students are abruptly abandoned at the town gates by their grumpy, bronze-rank sponsor. Forced to brave the dangerous road to the Viridian Core entirely on his own, the school’s slowest underdog must find a way to keep up or be left behind.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Magical Cat, Road Trip Arc, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Cultivation School.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jun 14, 2026 23 min

12. 12. The Road | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 12

    Episode 12

    Show notes

    Barely a twig at Wood Level One, Alric faces the grueling reality of a foot journey along the empire's enchanted, multi-lane highway. Guided by his charismatic Stone-rank companion, Angen, Alric struggles to survive the relentless pace while keeping his potent, innate healing a secret. As the pair trades cultivation wisdom and tests the limits of their endurance, Alric learns that mastering proper running form is just the first step on a very long road.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Cultivation Road, Training Arc, Body Cultivation, Sarcastic Protagonist, Magical Highway.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jun 21, 2026 22 min

13. 13. Running | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 13

    Episode 13

    Show notes

    Alric officially unlocks his Level 1 Running skill, learning from a sarcastic system prompt that he is finally "flailing with purpose". Left alone on the midnight highway, he pushes his body to the absolute limit before Angen finds him from the dark. But the real shock comes at camp, where a famished Alric defies all cultivation logic by devouring three cups of high-grade spirit stew without exploding.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, System Prompts, Training Arc, Spirit Food, Body Cultivation.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jun 28, 2026 21 min

14. 14. Growth | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 14

    Episode 14

    Show notes

    One massive feast of spirit stew triggers a bizarre, overnight transformation for Alric. Thanks to a mystical cat's intervention and an accelerated system breakthrough, he wakes up a level higher, a year older, and much taller.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Growth Spurt, Cultivation Breakthrough, Magical Cat.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jul 5, 2026 24 min

15. 15. Side Road | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 15

    Episode 15

    Show notes

    Left behind to master his clumsy new legs on a side detour, Alric hits his stride only to face a lethal midnight crisis after devouring four cups of high-grade spirit stew. As the overflowing power threatens to tear him apart, he must learn to violently compress the roiling energy, unlocking a vital new skill to survive.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Energy Compression, Cultivation Breakthrough, Running Skill, Sarcastic Protagonist.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jul 12, 2026 24 min

16. 16. Attacked | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 16

    Episode 16

    Show notes

    Before the orphans can even finish stretching for their grueling daily run, a crazed boar with glowing green eyes charges out of the underbrush. With Runa down and their companions rapidly burning through their remaining vim, Alric is forced to deploy his new, enhanced body to keep the beast at bay. As both Angen and Valer collapse from the overwhelming toll of the fight, the ultimate survival of the group rests entirely on Alric’s batons.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Monster Attack, Cultivation Combat, Growth Spurt, Sarcastic Protagonist.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jul 19, 2026 19 min

17. 17. Boar Spirit | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 17

    Episode 17

    Show notes

    Pouring every ounce of his compressed chi into a final, skull-cracking strike, Alric brings down the corrupted beast and witnesses its grateful spirit ascend to the River of Souls. With Runa and Valer critically gored and Angen completely drained of vim, a freshly leveled Alric must master a new pace of survival—jogging and healing simultaneously—to chase down their cold-hearted sponsor before time runs out for his friends.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Soul Manifestation, Magical Healing, Level Up, Batons, Sarcastic Protagonist.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Jul 26, 2026 21 min

18. 18. Confronting Corvus | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 18

    Episode 18

    Show notes

    Desperate to save his dying friends, Alric sparks a terrifying divine intervention that exposes their cold-hearted sponsor's political fraud and forces a high-speed rescue mission.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Divine Intervention, High Stakes, Sect Politics, Cultivation School.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Aug 2, 2026 19 min

19. 19. The Deal | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 19

    Episode 19

    Show notes

    Facing divine ruin, Corvus uses high-level alchemy to save the injured orphans and strikes a mutually beneficial deal—arming the "mediocre" squad with real weapons and introducing them to the secrets of refining raw chi.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Underdog, Cultivation Weapons, Chi and Vim, Bronze Rank, Sarcastic Protagonist.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Aug 9, 2026 27 min

20. 20. Good Times | Coreless Cultivator Chapter 20

    Episode 20

    Show notes

    Fueled by nightly rounds of spirit stew, Alric undergoes a staggering physical evolution, rapidly outgrowing his high-water robes as his body catches up to a fully matured, sixteen-year-old cultivator frame. With his attributes skyrocketing, he faces deep identity whiplash until a powerful moment of group connection grounds him—just in time for Valer to ask Alric to serve as his trusted anchor through a brutal purification ritual.

    Keywords: Progression Fantasy, LitRPG, Growth Spurt, Cultivation Breakthrough, Purification Ritual, Emotional Anchor, Sarcastic Protagonist.

    Note on Production: This episode features an AI Voice Clone of the author, Michael Taggart, created with ElevenLabs. Every word was written by the author.

    Aug 16, 2026 32 min