Stuff To Blow Your Mind

This week on Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe consider a weird mainstream movie that basically paved the way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with wall-to-wall exploding vampires. Yes, Wesley Snipes puts all blood drinkers on notice in 1998’s “Blade.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss biological asymmetry in the natural world – including various examples of organisms in which side A doesn’t quite match up with side B.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the owlbear of Dungeons & Dragons...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will computers one day write the great American novel? What will the future of human/machine creative collaboration look like – and what came before now? In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, educational technologist Mike Sharples discusses the book “Story Machines - How Computers Have Become Creative Writers.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 information.

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? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss a variety of magical ideas and scientific facts associated with legumes. (originally published 5/11/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dive into a movie billed as "triple distilled horror as powerful as a vat of boiling acid!" Yes, it’s the 1970 Amicus sci-fi conspiracy film “Scream and Scream Again” featuring horror icons Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss biological asymmetry in the natural world – including various examples of organisms in which side A doesn’t quite match up with side B.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advocating for artificial intelligence to be built and deployed ethically is no longer just a compliance issue but more of a business imperative. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell takes on this topic with Dr. Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab, and Phaedra Boinodiris, Trust in AI Practice Leader within IBM Consulting. Phaedra’s team at IBM is creatively tackling the global need to build trustworthy AI by approaching the challenge holistically, implementing design thinking to address problems before they arise. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss biological asymmetry in the natural world – including various examples of organisms in which side A doesn’t quite match up with side B.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, venture into a galaxy far, far away while also considering the science and biology of our home world. Join Robert and Joe as they break down six fantastic alien species from the Star Wars universe. (Originally published 5/6/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to venture into the world of “Star Wars” knock-offs once more, this time with 1980’s “Battle Beyond the Stars!” Join Rob and Joe as they revel in this wonky space opera featuring a number of b-movie mainstays and future stars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Ryan Tucker Jones, author of the new book “Red Leviathan: The Secret History of Soviet Whaling.” Jones discusses the horrific impact of 20th century whaling, the Soviet Union’s place in whaling history and the efforts of scientists and activists to stop the practice – including scientists within the Soviet Union.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Jiang Shi or hopping vampire of Chinese folklore…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Martin Wallen about his 2021 book “Squid,” which covers the history of humanity’s scientific, folkloric and literary interest in cephalopods – from Aristotle’s understanding of the creatures to their treatment in weird fiction of the 20th and 21st centuries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail. Plus this time Seth pops in to chat with Robert about TMNT video games...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, venture into a galaxy far, far away while also considering the science and biology of our home world. Join Robert and Joe as they break down six fantastic alien species from the Star Wars universe. (Originally published 5/4/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1987 Hong Kong supernatural romance comedy “A Chinese Ghost Story,” featuring screaming skulls, a seductive ghost and an evil tree demon. It’s a cult classic!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a mundane level, a cauldron is nothing more than a great cooking pot, but it takes on supernatural dimensions in various myths and legends. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history of cauldrons and their links to tales of witchcraft, rebirth and the mandate of heaven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses a couple of different mud monsters from global traditions…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a mundane level, a cauldron is nothing more than a great cooking pot, but it takes on supernatural dimensions in various myths and legends. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history of cauldrons and their links to tales of witchcraft, rebirth and the mandate of heaven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 information.

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they do it? In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss the sheer scale of the Pacific Ocean and environmental navigation. (originally published 7/13/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Thomerson, Helen Hunt and the always villainous Richard Lynch. Jack Deth contends with psychic zombies, various wives and the not-so-rigorous rules of time travel. (originally published 5/21/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they do it? In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss the sheer scale of the Pacific Ocean and environmental navigation. (originally published 7/8/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the so-called necro-pants...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The original discoverers of the Polynesian Islands traversed a vast ocean, bringing civilization to islands untouched by human activity. How did they do it? In this classic Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe discuss the sheer scale of the Pacific Ocean and environmental navigation. (originally published 7/7/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have some great classics for you to listen to while the show is on summer break!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will we do when robots and artificial intelligences break the law? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the issue of robot moral and legal agency. (originally published 4/15/21)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time on Weirdhouse Cinema, we consider the Florida Movie par excellence: 1971’s “Zaat,” also known as “The Blood Waters of Dr. Z.” Prepare to stalk and skulk through the sargassum in this suitably swampy creature feature. (originally published 4/30/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication and paved the way for our interconnected information age. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the invention of the telegraph.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historically, there have been cultural biases that have complicated the home buying process and made home ownership difficult. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm takes on this subject with Jacob Goldstein, host of What’s Your Problem?, and Bryan Young and Steven Better, the co-founders of Home Lending Pal. These two visionaries are using IBM technology including AI, blockchain and cloud to create a home loan process that’s more transparent, secure, and equitable. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the sargassum seaweed and the many strange and amazing organisms that call it home. (originally published 4/29/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 information.

Smart Talks with IBM returns May 31. This season, host Malcolm Gladwell and a team of correspondents from Pushkin Industries meet with New Creators who are creatively applying technology in business to drive change. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will we do when robots and artificial intelligences break the law? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the issue of robot moral and legal agency. (originally published 4/13/21)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brains attack once more on Weirdhouse Cinema as Rob and Joe discuss the 1958 horror film “Fiend Without a Face,” starring the best stop-motion brain monsters the 50s had to offer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a mundane level, a cauldron is nothing more than a great cooking pot, but it takes on supernatural dimensions in various myths and legends. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history of cauldrons and their links to tales of witchcraft, rebirth and the mandate of heaven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the vampiric giantess from the Capcom videogame Resident Evil Village…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a mundane level, a cauldron is nothing more than a great cooking pot, but it takes on supernatural dimensions in various myths and legends. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history of cauldrons and their links to tales of witchcraft, rebirth and the mandate of heaven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies have found that spending time in nature creates a host of psychological and physiological benefits for humans. But why? In this episode, Robert and Joe explore several competing explanations for the restorative power of natural environments, covering everything from the shape of our ancestral environments to the internal economy of attention and focus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The god of war does not march into battle alone. His sons, embodying panic and terror ride beside him. The same can be said of the planet Mars and its two moons: Phobos and Deimos. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Martian moons as well as a bit of mythology. (originally published 4/22/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for another Spanish monster romp on Weirdhouse Cinema! In this episode, Rob and Joe discuss Amando de Ossorio’s 1973 film “The Loreley's Grasp,” full of Germanic mythology and highly questionable science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is dark inside the human body, but not every denizen of the animal kingdom is such a closed book. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss various creatures with transparent anatomical features and translucent bodies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Germanic siren known as the Loreley…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may think you know yourself, but humans have a striking inability to predict their own behavior in differing emotional states. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the hot-cold empathy gap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 information.

The god of war does not march into battle alone. His sons, embodying panic and terror ride beside him. The same can be said of the planet Mars and its two moons: Phobos and Deimos. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Martian moons as well as a bit of mythology. (originally published 4/20/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of Friday the 13, Rob and Joe dive into one of the sillier entries in the Jason Voorhees franchise with 1989's "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan" on this week's Weirdhouse Cinema.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.