Stuff To Blow Your Mind
Episodes
From the Vault: The Moses Illusion
26 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How many animals of each kind did Moses take on the Ark? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss The Moses Illusion, one pe...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the greatest vampire snooker movie of all time. Yes, it's Alan Clarke's 1985 rock musical "B...
Sailor on a Sea of Lava
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To sail down a river of lava in a boat is surely a thing of pure fantasy, but in this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the a...
The Monstrefact: Akhlut
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Akhlut of Inuit traditions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
From the Vault: Dissolver of Worlds
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss the nature of the Alkahest, the universal solvent of alchemy. (original...
Listener Mail: Supernaut
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Gold, Metal of the Sun
19 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the nature of gold, humanity’s history extracting it from the Earth and t...
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Mr. Vampire
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1985 Hong Kong comedy horror film “Mr. Vampire,” in which our heroes use kic...
From the Vault: Monsters of the Shān Hǎi Jīng, Part 2
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Shān Hǎi Jīng or “Classic of Mountains and Seas,” an ancient Chi...
The Monstrefact Redux: Chiseltooth
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the monster Chiseltooth from Chinese mythology… (origianlly published 10/20/2...
From the Vault: Monsters of the Shān Hǎi Jīng, Part 1
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Shān Hǎi Jīng or “Classic of Mountains and Seas,” an ancient Chi...
Listener Mail: Hand of Dog
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Brain and Head Theft, Part 2
12 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First they came for their heads. Then they came for their brains. In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss the weird...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Brain Eaters
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1958 sci-fi movie “The Brain Eaters,” which doesn’t actually feature brain eating ...
Giants in the Earth: The Paleoburrows
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Enter the paleoburrows of South America, where evidence suggests construction not by human hands or tools but by giant claws – and for purposes we’...
The Monstrefact: The Gruenak of Thra
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses one of the doomed species of the planet Thra in “The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resista...
Thirst, Part 3
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is thirst? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe dive into the biological, cultural and mythological answers to this broad quest...
Listener Mail: Kuleshov Kul-Aid
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Brain and Head Theft, Part 1
05 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First they came for their heads. Then they came for their brains. In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss the weird...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Beast With Five Fingers
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What has five fingers and is an absolute beast? A disembodied crawling hand, of course! In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the ...
Thirst, Part 2
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is thirst? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe dive into the biological, cultural and mythological answers to this broad quest...
The Monstrefact: Baba Yaga
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses one of the most famous Russian fairy tale characters of all time… Learn more about y...
Thirst, Part 1
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is thirst? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe dive into the biological, cultural and mythological answers to this broad quest...
Listener Mail: Bowling Alleys On The Moon
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: The Tempest Stele
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
During the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Ahmose I erected a stele detailing a great storm that destroyed tombs, temples and other structures....
Weirdhouse Cinema: Phase IV
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a solar conjunction allows all ant species to unite against their enemies? Find out as Rob and Joe discuss the delightfully weird 19...
The Kuleshov Effect, Part 2
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is the character in the film looking at? How does the object of their vision color how we interpret their countenance? In this episode of Stuff t...
The Artifact: Rotten Brooms Bleeding Black Blood
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses connections between rotting wood and the supernatural… Learn more about your ad-choices...
The Kuleshov Effect, Part 1
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is the character in the film looking at? How does the object of their vision color how we interpret their countenance? In this episode of Stuff t...
Listener Mail: The Braid of Nastenka
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: The Bonsai Tree
22 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spanning centuries of human history, the iconic bonsai tree is a widely recognized example of Japanese mastery. Each miniature tree speaks to the beau...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Hercules (1983)
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe contend with the glittering, cosmic glory of Luigi Cozzi’s 1983 film “Hercules,” starring Lou ...
Do ants make traps?
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The trap is insidious. But of course it is. It was designed and executed… by ants? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, the ant wars continue...
The Monstrefact: Donkeys of Dune
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the oft-forgotten Kulons of the planet Arrakis… Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
The Silurian Hypothesis
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If an advanced civilization existed on earth several million years ago, would we actually be able to detect that they were here? It may sound like con...
Listener Mail: Goat of a Tumbleweed
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Funeral for a Bug
15 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do insects factor into our traditions of death -- and how do insects handle their own burials? Find out in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Y...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Lift
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe take a ride in Dutch filmmaker Dick Maas’ 1983 killer elevator movie “The Lift.” Learn more a...
Tumbleweeds, Part 2: Riddles and Radiation
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe explore the world of tumbleweeds. While it’s easy to dismiss these amazing plants as over...
The Monstrefact: The Manticore
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the legendary Manticore… Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
Tumbleweeds, Part 1: The Wind Witch
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe explore the world of tumbleweeds. While it’s easy to dismiss these amazing plants as over...
Listener Mail: Time Crabs
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: The Invention of the Lock & Key
08 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The lock and key are such a central part of modern life, both technologically and metaphorically, but when and how did this technological advancement ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Son of the White Mare
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe explore Marcell Jankovics’ hallucinogenic animated masterpiece of Hungarian mythology: Fehérlófi...
From the Vault: Sinkholes, Part 2
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the science and history of sinkholes. How have these impressive geographic ...
The Artifact Redux: Edible Currencies
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses money you can eat or drink... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
From the Vault: Sinkholes, Part 1
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the science and history of sinkholes. How have these impressive geographic ...
Happy New Year
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Robert and Joe are still on break, but here's an update on what you'll hear this week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
From the Vault: Heavy Water
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nope, “Heavy Water” isn’t the new bottled beverage for headbangers. It’s actually an alternate form of water called deuterium oxide that plays...
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Robot Jox
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if the nations of the Earth solved all their problems with giant robot gladiatorial battles? That’s the concept behind 1990’s “Robot Jox,”...
From the Vault: The Toaster Not Taken
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s obvious that our preferences guide our choices, but do our choices also determine our preferences? In this classic episode, join Robert and Joe...
The Artifact Redux: Stone Mushroom Clouds
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe talks about mind-boggling prehistoric mineral formations. (originally published 2/10/2021) Lea...
From the Vault: Toy Guns
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, toy guns were part of our childhood, but how are we to think about them today? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Rob...
Holiday Break
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stuff to Blow Your Mind is off for the week, but Robert and Joe take a few minutes to discuss the classic episodes that will be showcased in the feed....
From the Vault: Holiday Inventions
25 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, Stuff to Blow Your Mind leans into the holidays -- this time for an invention-minded episode about some of the technologies that bring the ...
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Battle for Endor
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Star Wars franchise is home to many cinematic entries some consider to be unnatural. In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dis...
A Major Award: The Ancient and Occult History of the “A Christmas Story” Leg Lamp
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The 1983 holiday film “A Christmas Story” warned us of the dangers associated with BB guns, bar soap and frozen flag poles – but it also introdu...
The Monstrefact: Holiday edition
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses a surprise holiday monster... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...
Time Traveler Zero, Part 2
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, time travel fiction is everywhere – and we understand the cosmos enough to even speculate what is and isn’t possible. But how old is the no...
Listener Mail: Holidays on Ice-Nine
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Like a Circle in a Spiral, Part 2
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You might consider spinning around in a circle either great fun or a one-way ticket to barf town, but spinning and whirling are also tied to childhood...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Morozko (aka Jack Frost)
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the classic 1960s Russian fairy tale spectacular “Morozko,” better known to many fans as “Ja...
Music and Memory
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all know music can influence our moods, but can it actually boost our memory? How do musical memories emerge at the borders of identity, experience...
Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: Managing supply chain volatility in the height of the shopping season
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Global supply chains have made headlines this year, with businesses in every industry and consumers all experiencing unprecedented volatility. How can...
Time Traveler Zero, Part 1
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, time travel fiction is everywhere – and we understand the cosmos enough to even speculate what is and isn’t possible. But how old is the no...
Listener Mail: Crab Walking Down Human Street
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Like a Circle in a Spiral, Part 1
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You might consider spinning around in a circle either great fun or a one-way ticket to barf town, but spinning and whirling are also tied to childhood...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Bloodbeat
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe consider their first holiday horror film selection: 1983’s “Bloodbeat.” Filmed in Wisconsin, t...
Daniel Whiteson, Time Traveler
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe welcome back Daniel Whiteson, particle physicist and co-host of Daniel and Jorge Explain th...
Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: What does the future of sustainability look like for your company and your customers?
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, consumers, businesses and governments are united in their sense of urgency about the sustainability of the planet. But how do we go about achie...
2021 Ig Nobel Prize Grab Bag, Part 2
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, Robert and Joe consult the winners of the Ig-Nobel Prizes for a few examples of the hilarious and the weird from the world of legitimate sc...
Listener Mail: The Funk of 40,000 Years
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Airships Over Venus
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Planet Earth a bit much for you right now? Well venture back out to Venus on Stuff to Blow Your Mind. Join Robert and Joe as they discuss recent news ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Super Infra-Man
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to dive back into the Shaw Brothers cinematic treasure chest, this time for the sci-fi action film “The Super Infra-Man” starring Dann...
2021 Ig Nobel Prize Grab Bag, Part 1
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, Robert and Joe consult the winners of the Ig-Nobel Prizes for a few examples of the hilarious and the weird from the world of legitimate sc...
The Artifact: Malaysian Spirit Boats
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses a most nautical form of exorcism... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...
Crab Content is King
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stuff to Blow Your Mind is back from Thanksgiving break, so Robert and Joe discuss even more crab science and mythology. Learn more about your ad-cho...
Listener Mail: The Chosen Few
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Turkey, Wishbones and Gravy
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In recognition of Thanksgiving, Robert and Joe devote this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind to the very topics that might float through your...
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Zaat
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In celebration of MST3K Turkey Day, this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema from earlier this year explores a film from a beloved episode of MST3K. We consi...
From the Vault: Melt With Me
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From the horror of “melt movies,” in which the melting human takes on nightmaric qualities, to far more benign and even sublime takes on the conce...
The Artifact Redux: The Sword of Gōu Jiàn
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses an ancient Chinese sword noted for its unusual sharpness and resistance to tarnish...
From the Vault: Invention of the Bed
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We sure do spend a lot of time in bed, but what exactly IS a bed and what were ancient beds like? In this classic invention-based episode of Stuff to ...
Turkey Day Break
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're off this week, but don't let that stop you from having seconds on some classic content from last year. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
From the Vault: Mushroom Foraging, Part 2
20 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are more people identifying and even foraging wild mushrooms than in previous years? If so, why is this? In these classic episodes of Stuff to Blow Yo...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Dunwich Horror
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for a hippie necronomicon extravaganza as Rob and Joe crack open 1970’s “The Dunwich Horror,” starring the late, great Dean Stockwel...
Crabs Eat Everything Around Me, Part 2
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe talk about crabs eating things. Do YOU have what it takes to become a delicious entree for ...
Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: How a Human-Centered Approach is Building Trustworthy AI
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Creating trust and transparency in AI isn’t just a business requirement, it’s a social responsibility. In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm tal...
Crabs Eat Everything Around Me, Part 1
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe talk about crabs eating things. Do YOU have what it takes to become a delicious entree for ...
Listener Mail: Let the Lamp Affix its Beam
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: Mushroom Foraging, Part 1
13 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are more people identifying and even foraging wild mushrooms than in previous years? If so, why is this? In these classic episodes of Stuff to Blow Yo...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Venom (1981)
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe wrestle with their first full-blown snake movie: 1981’s “Venom.” It stars Oliver Reed, Klaus K...
Dune: The Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this Dune-inspired episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe pick up where they left off in the last episode discussing the politics, phil...
The Monstrefact: Chairdogs of Dune
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses one of the less known creatures from Frank Herbert’s “Dune” books… Learn more ...
Dune: The Bene Gesserit
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Bene Gesserit of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” use advanced mental and manipulative tactics to further their ends across the galaxy. In this episod...
Listener Mail: Halloween Final Processing
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
From the Vault: I Want a New Blood
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From fictional tales of vampire thrust to to real-life medical research, the notion of synthetic blood brings with it a lot of possibilities. In this ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Highway to Hell
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe take a very MTV-fueled jaunt into the underworld via the 1991 film “Highway to Hell,” an enjoyab...
Barbara Blatchley on Why We Believe in Luck
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Barbara Blatchley about her book “What are the Chances? Why We Believe in Luck.” Le...
Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: Quantum Computing is Tomorrow’s Computing, Today
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the next decade, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize the way we work and live. In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm talks to ...