Stuff To Blow Your Mind
Episodes
Listener Mail: When Twilight Falls On NGC 891
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: A Game of Telephone, Part 2
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the so-called “telephone game,” in which a whispered message travels th...
Weirdhouse Cinema: House (1977)
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss one of the towering monoliths of Japanese weird cinema: Nobuhiko Obayashi’s “House” AK...
Meteoric Metal and Alien Iron, Part 3
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this very-metal ep...
The Monstrefact: The Ceti Eels of Star Trek
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Ceti eels of the Star Trek universe, a form of fictional brain parasite… See omn...
The Well-Connected Animal, with Lee Alan Dugatkin
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with evolutionary biologist and historian of science Lee Alan Dugatkin about his new book “...
Listener Mail: The Prophet's Song
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: A Game of Telephone, Part 1
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the so-called “telephone game,” in which a whispered message travels th...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Psycho Beach Party
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob is joined by Seth Nicholas Johnson of Rusty Needle’s Record Club to discuss 2000’s “Psycho Beach Party...
Meteoric Metal and Alien Iron, Part 2
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this very-metal ep...
The Monstrefact: The Tribbles of Star Trek
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the prolific and adorable tribbles of the Star Trek universe…See omnystudio.com/liste...
Meteoric Metal and Alien Iron, Part 1
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this very-metal ep...
Listener Mail: Dirge for the Assassins
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Thar She Blows, Part 2
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the science of whale spout, as well as various misconceptions about just ho...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Highlander II, Part 2
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the original theatrical cut of Russell Mulcahy’s “Highlander II: The Qu...
From the Vault: Mutational Meltdown
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Asexual reproduction has its advantages, but organisms that depend too much on it also face potential extinction. In this classic episode of Stuff to ...
The Monstrefact: The Andorians of Star Trek
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the blue-skinned, antennae-equipped aliens of the Star Trek universe… See omnystudio...
Space Warfare, with Paul Szymanski
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with space strategies expert Paul Szymanski, co-author with Jerry Drew of the new book “The...
The Monstrefact Omnibus: Creatures of Myth and Legend
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, enjoy an assortment of six previously-published Monstrefact episodes concerning the mummy, knots...
From the Vault: Thar She Blows, Part 1
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the science of whale spout, as well as various misconceptions about just ho...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Highlander II, Part 1
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the original theatrical cut of Russell Mulcahy’s “Highlander II: The Qu...
The Very Dust, Part 5
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff t...
Animalia Stupendium: The Common Kingfisher
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a...
The Very Dust, Part 4: Mythology in Dust
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff t...
Listener Mail: The Ripe Program
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Before You Could Remember, Part 3
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our personal memories only extend back so far in life, and before that, there is a void. Why don’t we remember our early childhood and what does it ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: On the Silver Globe
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1988 Polish science fiction film “On the Silver Globe,” directed by Andrzej Żuławs...
The Very Dust, Part 3
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff t...
The Monstrefact: The Flight of Dragons
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses a curious proposed method of dragon flight proposed by author Peter Dickinson in the 19...
The Very Dust, Part 2
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff t...
Listener Mail: Ephemerol
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Before You Could Remember, Part 2
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our personal memories only extend back so far in life, and before that, there is a void. Why don’t we remember our early childhood and what does it ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Dragonslayer
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the heels of Monday’s solar eclipse, Rob and Joe devote this week’s Weirdhouse Cinema episode to 1981’s “Dragonslayer.” The film features...
The Very Dust, Part 1
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff t...
Smart Talks with IBM: The Power of Collaboration: How IBM Teams Up with Microsoft
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Entire industries are being reshaped around the new capabilities of generative AI. In this special bonus episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Tim Harford ...
In the Name of Osiris
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe follow up their two-part series on the Egyptian god Osiris with a look at various scientifi...
Listener Mail: Vale's Lonely Walk
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Before You Could Remember, Part 1
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our personal memories only extend back so far in life, and before that, there is a void. Why don’t we remember our early childhood and what does it ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Wolf Devil Woman
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1982 Taiwanese fantasy wuxia film Wolf Devil Woman, starring and directed by the amazing...
The Cult of Osiris, Part 2
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Ancient Egyptian deity Osiris, an underworld fertility god and judge of the dea...
The Monstrefact: Marvel’s Man-Thing
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Man-Thing from the world of Marvel Comics…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...
The Cult of Osiris, Part 1
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Ancient Egyptian deity Osiris, an underworld fertility god and judge of the dea...
Listener Mail: Realm of Refraction
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: The Minimal Group Paradigm
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Humans obviously don’t have any difficulties finding division and tribalism, but just how little is required for factions to form? In this classic e...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Dr. Phibes Rises Again
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dive back into the weird, wild world of Dr. Phibes with 1972’s “Dr. Phibes Rises Again,” starr...
Authenticity, Part 3
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the topic of authenticity. What is it? Why do we place such value on it? They discu...
Smart Talks with IBM: AI in Healthcare: How Generative AI Is Expanding Fertility Treatment
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As artificial intelligence progresses, healthcare providers are exploring how the technology can be used to offer personalized care at scale. In this ...
Asgardians: Odin, with George O'Connor
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with author and illustrator George O'Connor, creator of the popular Olympions graphic novel s...
Listener Mail: Trip the Light
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Washing of the Waters, Part 4
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of healing via immersion in sacred or special waters dates back to prehistory, and it’s still alive and well in the modern world. In this c...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Dead Mountaineer's Hotel
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1979 Estonian sci-fi thriller “Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel,” based on the novel by Ar...
Authenticity, Part 2
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the topic of authenticity. What is it? Why do we place such value on it? They discu...
Animalia Stupendium: The Glass Frog
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a...
Authenticity, Part 1
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the topic of authenticity. What is it? Why do we place such value on it? They discu...
Listener Mail: The Reflecting Chamber
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Washing of the Waters, Part 3
16 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of healing via immersion in sacred or special waters dates back to prehistory, and it’s still alive and well in the modern world. In this c...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Dune (1984), Part 2
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the planet of Arrakis in their discussion of David Lynch’s wild 1984 ad...
Life in the Hypogean World, Part 4
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are creatures of the epigean world: the world of light on Earth’s surface. But there is another world – a world beneath the surface. In this ep...
The Artifact: Ornithopters of Dune
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the ornithopters of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and its cinematic adaptations… See omn...
Life in the Hypogean World, Part 3
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are creatures of the epigean world: the world of light on Earth’s surface. But there is another world – a world beneath the surface. In this ep...
Listener Mail: Breathing the Pulse
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Washing of the Waters, Part 2
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of healing via immersion in sacred or special waters dates back to prehistory, and it’s still alive and well in the modern world. In this c...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Dune (1984), Part 1
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the planet of Arrakis in their discussion of David Lynch’s wild 1984 ad...
Life in the Hypogean World, Part 2
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are creatures of the epigean world: the world of light on Earth’s surface. But there is another world – a world beneath the surface. In this ep...
The Monstrefact: The Hecatoncheires
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Hecatoncheires or hundred-handed warriors of Greek mythology… See omnystudio.com...
Life in the Hypogean World, Part 1
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are creatures of the epigean world: the world of light on Earth’s surface. But there is another world – a world beneath the surface. In this ep...
Listener Mail: Trip the Light
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Washing of the Waters, Part 1
02 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of healing via immersion in sacred or special waters dates back to prehistory, and it’s still alive and well in the modern world. In this c...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Head
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Seth Nicholas Johnson of Rusty Needle's Record Club joins Joe to discuss 1968's "Head" starring the Monkees and ...
A Delicacy from Realms of Insufferable Fetor
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe is joined by Anney Reese and Lauren Vogelbaum, hosts of the food podcast Savor, to discuss the mysteri...
The Monstrefact: Marvel's Puff Adder
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Puff Adder from the world of Marvel Comics… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
What’s Hidden Inside Planets, with Dr. Sabine Stanley
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe chats with planetary scientist Sabine Stanley about her 2023 book, “What’s Hidden Inside Planets?”...
Listener Mail: Hasten Down the Wind
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: The Gray Whale, Part 3
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the enigmatic gray whale, noted today for its vast oceanic migrations and c...
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Scanners
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the ultimate mind-blowing cinematic experience: David Cronenberg’s 1981 horror thr...
From the Vault: The Gray Whale, Part 2
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the enigmatic gray whale, noted today for its vast oceanic migrations and c...
The Monstrefact Redux: Shad-Havar
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Shad-havar, the Persian unicorn with the fluted horn… (originally published 0...
From the Vault: The Gray Whale, Part 1
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the enigmatic gray whale, noted today for its vast oceanic migrations and c...
Listener Mail: Piano Fighter
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Because It Is My Heart, Part 2
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Robert and Joe in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind as they discuss heart removal rituals, supernatural concepts of the heart and t...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Flash Gordon (1980)
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Dino De Laurentiis’s 1980 sci-fi comic book extravaganza “Flash Gordon,” directed by M...
The Illusion of Control, Part 3
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss our psychological tendency to overestimate our control over events, with implicatio...
Animalia Stupendium: The Deep Sea Anglerfish
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a...
The Illusion of Control, Part 2
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss our psychological tendency to overestimate our control over events, with implicatio...
Listener Mail: Learning to Flinch
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
Because It Is My Heart, Part 1
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Robert and Joe in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind as they discuss heart removal rituals, supernatural concepts of the heart and t...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Tsui Hark's 1983 supernatural wuxia fantasy film “Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain,” ...
The Illusion of Control, Part 1
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss our psychological tendency to overestimate our control over events, with implicatio...
The Monstrefact: Jade Rabbit
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the moon rabbit of East Asian and indigenous American folklore… See omnystudio.com/l...
Our Moon, with Rebecca Boyle
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, science journalist and author Rebecca Boyle discusses her new book “Our Moon: How Earth’s Celestial Co...
Listener Mail: Desperados Under the Eaves
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Tea, Part 3
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history, mythology, culture and nature of tea. So start a kettle and p...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Blacula
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1972 horror film “Blacula” directed by William Crain and starring William Marshall a...
Strange Ice, Part 2
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss a handful of novel ice formations and how scientists believe they form -- as well a...
Animalia Stupendium: The Mantis Shrimp
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a...
Strange Ice, Part 1
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss a handful of novel ice formations and how scientists believe they form. See omnyst...
Listener Mail: The Reflex
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
From the Vault: Tea, Part 2
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this classic series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history, mythology, culture and nature of tea. So start a kettle and p...
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Magic Sword
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the filmography of Bert I. Gordon with his 1962 fantasy adventure “The Magic Sword,” s...
The Nature of the Diamond, Part 4
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore various historical interpretations of the diamond, from divine tears to both a pote...