Stuff To Blow Your Mind

The Fish Had Fur, Part 1

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fish covered in thick coats of fur, fish with strange spines, fish with the beard or chin whiskers of a wise old sage… The water offers up many myst...

Listener Mail: The Face That is Gazed on as it Gazes

23 Aug 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: Orcs in the Deep

21 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this classic episode of STBYM, Robert and Joe discuss the orcs of Middle Earth and their origins both in the dark corners of the human imagination ...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Return of the Blind Dead

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the stand-alone, second installment of Spanish director Amando de Ossorio’s “Blind Dead'...

From the Vault: Tomato, Tomato, Part 2

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the so-called “golden apple” has at times been viewed with suspicion, it has become a staple of summertime cuisine and may one day follow us...

The Artifact: The Bazooka

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the bazooka and whether it is ever OK to bring one on a commercial flight… Learn more a...

The Invention of the Mirror, Part 4

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Smoking pools of dark reflection. Propagator of uncanny doubles. Gateway to inverse kingdom. It’s time for Stuff to Blow Your Mind to venture into t...

Listener Mail: Near-death by Saxon

16 Aug 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: Tomato, Tomato, Part 1

14 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the so-called “golden apple” has at times been viewed with suspicion, it has become a staple of summertime cuisine and may one day follow us...

Weirdhouse Cinema: The Keepers (Russian Lord of the Rings)

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for Weirdhoues Cinema to return to the world of Russian cinema and also to… Middle Earth? Yes, let’s bask in the glory of “Khranitel...

The Invention of the Mirror, Part 3

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Smoking pools of dark reflection. Propagator of uncanny doubles. Gateway to inverse kingdom. It’s time for Stuff to Blow Your Mind to venture into t...

The Artifact: Sharur the Talking Mace

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses Sharur, the talking mace from Sumerian mythology… Learn more about your ad-choices at h...

The Invention of the Mirror, Part 2

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Smoking pools of dark reflection. Propagator of uncanny doubles. Gateway to inverse kingdom. It’s time for Stuff to Blow Your Mind to venture into t...

Listener Mail: Stormbringer

09 Aug 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: Astronomical Suffering and the Terran Diaspora

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For many futurists, the long term survival of humanity depends on its ability to become a true interplanetary and even interstellar species. But what ...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Cannibal Apocalypse

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can John Saxon resist the viral hunger for human flesh? In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1980’s “Cannibal Apocalypse,” ...

The Invention of the Mirror, Part 1

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Smoking pools of dark reflection. Propagator of uncanny doubles. Gateway to inverse kingdom. It’s time for Stuff to Blow Your Mind to venture into t...

Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: An Open Conversation about Open Innovation

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm talks to Jim Whitehurst, senior advisor at IBM and an expert in open source software and innovation. During th...

Regression to the Mean

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss regression to the mean, a phenomenon that occurs when a random sampling point is an...

Listener Mail: Gremlins Have Pictures

02 Aug 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: Pykrete

31 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Whether plotting to build a great northern wall or an aircraft carrier made of ice instead of steel, the substance you’re looking for is Pykrete. In...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Deep Blue Sea

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1999 shark film “Deep Blue Sea” in which super-smart sharks run wild in a sea base. ...

Whispers of the Speaking Sword

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Weapons capable of thought, speech and autonomous action appear throughout multiple myths and legends. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Rob...

The Artifact: The Horse Skull Under the Floor

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the practice of placing horse skulls underneath your floorboards… Learn more about your...

From the Vault: The Monoliths of Lalibela

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lalibela, Ethiopia is home to one of the true wonders of the world: a series of 11 rock-hewn monolithic churches -- all interconnected by tunnels and ...

Listener Mail: Centaur on Fire

26 Jul 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: The Spotlight Effect

24 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like everyone in the Zoom call is looking at you? Ever astonished to find your contribution to a project goes unrecognized, or that your lat...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Spontaneous Combustion

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe celebrate legendary weird actor Brad Dourif by watching his talent burn through in Tobe Hooper’s f...

The Waiting, Part 3

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss waiting in line and psychology of queuing up. Learn more about your ad...

The Waiting, Part 2

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss waiting in line and psychology of queuing up. Learn more about your ad...

Listener Mail: It's a Cold Night For Alligators

20 Jul 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://...

The Artifact: Boiling Tar and Murder Holes

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the meurtrière or “murder hole” found in the ceiling of a a fortress’s gateway or p...

From the Vault: Volcanoes of Life

17 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From our earliest experiences with paleoart to tales of Pompeii and visions of modern catastrophes, it’s easy to associate volcanoes with death and ...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Godzilla vs. Hedorah

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1971’s “Godzilla vs. Hedorah,” also known as “Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.” The ...

The Waiting, Part 1

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss waiting in line and psychology of queuing up. Learn more about your ad...

The Artifact: The Blood Gutter

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the fuller, a groove found in many blades that you might have heard referred to as a “bl...

Ancient Pacific Navigation, Part 3

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they ...

Listener Mail: That Sweaty Horse Light

12 Jul 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: Heaven and Hell with Bart Ehrman

10 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Majorities of Americans believe in the literal existence of Heaven and Hell, but where did these concepts originally come from, and how have they chan...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Mr. Vampire

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1985 Hong Kong comedy horror film “Mr. Vampire,” in which our heroes use kicks, furn...

Ancient Pacific Navigation, Part 2

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they ...

Ancient Pacific Navigation, Part 1

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they ...

The Artifact: The Sugar Light

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe reads by the light of a sugar cube and a sweaty horse. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www...

Listener Mail: Hurdy Gurdy Man

05 Jul 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: The Invention of Fireworks

03 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fireworks are a staple of celebrations around the world, but where does this invention come from and what’s the basic chemistry of their combustion?...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Devil's Express

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An ancient demon haunts the subways of New York City. Only one man has the martial arts skill to battle the creature in the depths. On this episode of...

The Plague of Mucus

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the organic substance that has been referred to in the scientific literature as “...

The Artifact: The Shining Pyramid

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the Great Pyramid of Giza and its original luster. Learn more about your ad-choices at ht...

A Chat About Sea Turtles with Christine Figgener

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss sea turtle mysteries, biology, research and conservation with sea turtle researcher...

Listener Mail: Veteran of the Psychic Wars

28 Jun 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: The Tide of Gold

26 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gold from the ocean? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the basic idea behind the accumulation of oceanic gold...

Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Doctor X

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the medical academy where EVERYONE is a suspect in the cannibalistic “Moon Killer” slayings. Yes, from the director of “Casablanca”...

From the Vault: The Interior World

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us have spent far more time at home this year, which raises the question: Just what sort of artificial interior environments have we created? ...

The Artifact Revisited: Stone Mushroom Clouds

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe talks about mind-boggling prehistoric mineral formations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...

From the Vault: How does travel engage the senses?

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Travel has long inspired the mind and engaged the senses, but just what's going on in the human body when we venture near or far? In this classic epis...

Please Stand By

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert and Joe jump in a for a short update on this week's programing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...

From the Vault: Kimchi

19 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is kimchi and what is the chemistry of its deliciousness? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore this...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Deathmoon

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of movies filmed in Hawaii, you probably think of vacation flicks and dramas, but has the Aloha state ever given us a werewolf film? Ye...

Where do numbers come from?

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Robert and Joe as they continue their discussion on numeracy and the origins of numerals on Stuff to Blow Your Mind. Learn more about your ad-ch...

The Artifact Revisited: The Psychedelic Blindfold

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe talks about a 2004 study of blindfolding and visual hallucinations. Learn more about your ad-choices a...

The Origins of Numeracy

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are numbers and where does our number sense come from? Is numeracy an innate part of our biology, or is it a cultural invention? In this episode ...

Listener Mail: Fume Cupboard

14 Jun 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: Cancer and Evolution with Kat Arney

12 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe chats with Kat Arney about her upcoming book "Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution, and the New Scien...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Metalstorm

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to get Road Warrior-esque! In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe consider Charles Band’s 1983 3D sci-fi film “Metalstorm: ...

Musical Frisson with Seth of Record Store Society

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe is joined by producer and host of the Record Store Society podcast Seth Nicholas Johnson to talk about...

Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: Couch vs. cubicle: is the future of work hybrid?

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Remote working has kept many businesses afloat over the last year, but has it kept employees productive, enthusiastic, and inspired? In this special e...

The Moonless Skies of Mercury and Venus

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Moons are a popular accessory for the outer planets in our solar system, but Mercury and Venus are suspiciously unadorned. In this episode of Stuff to...

Listener Mail: Cat Comfort

07 Jun 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: Ant Wars, Episode 3

05 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The war has raged for at least 100 million years. Armored warriors boil up out of the ground and surge across the battlefield. Mandibles clash. Bodies...

Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Without Warning

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss "Without Warning," a perfectly serviceable sci-fi horror film directed by Greydon Cl...

From the Vault: Ant Wars, Episode 2

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The war has raged for at least 100 million years. Armored warriors boil up out of the ground and surge across the battlefield. Mandibles clash. Bodies...

Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell: Can AI be empathetic? Reinventing client experiences

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a time that’s been challenging for everyone, perhaps no other industry has been hit harder than healthcare. Anthem, one of America’s leading he...

From the Vault: Ant Wars, Episode 1

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The war has raged for at least 100 million years. Armored warriors boil up out of the ground and surge across the battlefield. Mandibles clash. Bodies...

Summer Vacation!

31 May 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: Into the Egg Chamber

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eggs are amazing and some of the varieties we find in nature are wonderfully weird, riveling or exceeding anything you’d ever find on a fictional de...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Hanuman vs. 7 Ultraman

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe consider the 1974 Thai co-production "Hanuman vs. & Ultraman," in which the hindu god Hanuman te...

Aniconism, Images and the Divine: Part 2

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Examples of aniconism -- the avoidance of images or idols -- can be found across multiple religions But what does it DO? What does it mean to employ r...

The Artifact: The Theropod Gap

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe looks at an intriguing question about missing carnivorous dinosaurs. Learn more about your ad-choices ...

Aniconism, Images and the Divine: Part 1

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Examples of aniconism -- the avoidance of images or idols -- can be found across multiple religions But what does it DO? What does it mean to employ r...

Listener Mail: Sole Survivor

24 May 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: Subterrenes

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The notion of a subterrene, or underground drilling vehicle, is well established within the realm of science fiction, but what are the real-world poss...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Trancers II

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s sequel time once more on Weirdhouse Cinema! Join Rob and Joe as they jump right into Charles Band’s 1991 sequel to Trancers, starring Tim Tho...

Comfort in the Box: Human Edition

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why do cats like to sit in boxes? Why did humans use box-beds and are enclosed wooden beds really making a comeback? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind t...

The Artifact: Edible Currencies

19 May 2021

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...

Comfort in the Box: Cat Edition

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why do cats like to sit in boxes? Why did humans use box-beds and are enclosed wooden beds really making a comeback? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind t...

Listener Mail: Princes of the Universe

17 May 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: Invention of the Book, Part 2

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Books are one of humanity’s greatest inventions, but where do they come from? In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe exp...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Shock Waves

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe complete their trilogy of 70s Florida Movies with 1977’s “Shock Waves,” featuring Peter Cushin...

Reconsider the Bean, Part 2

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are beans? Do they contain the souls of the dead? Can they be used to drive demons from the household? How important are they in the human diet? ...

The Artifact: The Toad Vomit Miracle

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe discusses amphibian vomit as failed technology and natural wonder. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

Reconsider the Bean, Part 1

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are beans? Do they contain the souls of the dead? Can they be used to drive demons from the household? How important are they in the human diet? ...

Listener Mail: The Quickening

10 May 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: Invention of the Book, Part 1

08 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Books are one of humanity’s greatest inventions, but where do they come from? In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe exp...

Weirdhouse Cinema: The Humanoid

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of Star Wars week, this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema explores one of the many films that sought to cash in on the popularity of George ...

Star Wars Alien Necropsy, Part 2

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of May the 4th, this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind ventures into a galaxy far, far away while also considering the science and bio...

Smart Talks with IBM and Malcolm Gladwell – Reshaping the Future with Women in AI

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, women represent approximately 22 percent of the AI workforce. But IBM is out to change that by increasing diversity not just in hiring but thro...

Star Wars Alien Necropsy, Part 1

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of May the 4th, this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind ventures into a galaxy far, far away while also considering the science and bio...

Listener Mail: Phobos Rising

03 May 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: The Invention of Soap

01 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all probably using a lot more soap these days, but… what is it exactly? How does it work? Who invented it and how has it changed the world? ...

Weirdhouse Cinema: Zaat

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This time on Weirdhouse Cinema, we consider the Florida Movie par excellence: 1971’s “Zaat,” also known as “The Blood Waters of Dr. Z.” Prep...