

Podcasts – Weird Things
Andrew Mayne
How would you fight a Yeti in hand to hand combat? Would you attempt to sell your soul to the devil in the interest of science? How can you prepare for a zombie apocalypse? Find out all of this and more every week on the Weird Things podcast, where your hosts, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood probe the most challenging questions about the paranormal, supernatural and fringe.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 21, 2025 • 0sec
Asteroids, AI, and the Art of Avoiding Armageddon
A looming asteroid dubbed ‘Kanye’s next album’ has a 2.2% chance of colliding with Earth, prompting lively discussions about potential nuclear mitigation strategies. The hosts humorously navigate the frustrations of AI in creative fields and explore the cultural significance of Bigfoot. Insights on the evolution of superhero films shine through as they share cautious optimism for the latest Fantastic Four trailer. They also critique contemporary shows like 'Severance,' blending entertainment with thoughtful commentary on modern storytelling.

Feb 5, 2025 • 0sec
The AI Frontier: Deep Dive into DeepSeek, O3, and Beyond
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the rapid advancements in AI, focusing on DeepSeek’s R1 model and its cost-effective training methods. They discuss the skepticism and excitement surrounding DeepSeek’s claims and the broader implications for AI development and compute needs. The conversation shifts to OpenAI’s release of the O3 model, highlighting its reasoning capabilities and potential to accelerate the path to AGI. The trio also explores the role of open source in AI innovation, the significance of AI in mainstream discussions, and the future of AI-driven content creation and problem-solving.
Picks:
Andrew: Severance
Brian: Severance
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250201212530_250131_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250201212530_250131_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3

Feb 1, 2025 • 0sec
AI’s Latest Leap: Operator and the Future of Internet Browsing
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the rapid advancements in AI, particularly highlighting the Chinese AI model Deep Seek and OpenAI’s latest creation, Operator. They discuss the technical achievements and controversies surrounding Deep Seek, its implications for the AI community, and the groundbreaking capabilities of Operator in controlling a browser to perform tasks. The conversation also touches on the broader impacts of AI on society, the internet, and how these tools could change our interaction with digital spaces.
Picks:
Andrew Mayne: Operator
Justin Robert Young: Operator
Brian Brushwood: Operator
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250201201846_250124_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250201201846_250124_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3

9 snips
Jan 24, 2025 • 0sec
The AI Frontier: Hitting Walls and Vaulting Over Them
Three hosts explore groundbreaking advancements in AI, highlighting OpenAI's O3 model and the emergence of the Chinese AI, DeepSeek. They discuss the potential for artificial general intelligence and the ethical quandaries tied to AI training data. The conversation also touches on the reshaping of creative fields by AI tools, the dynamics of wealth and innovation access, and the evolution of tech talent practices. Insights into neuroscience and innovative tools add depth to their analysis, making this an engaging exploration of the AI landscape.

Jan 23, 2025 • 0sec
A Timeless Dive into the Future and Past of Entertainment
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood take listeners on a fascinating exploration of entertainment’s past, present, and future. They kick off with a nostalgic look at how theme parks like Universal Studios have evolved, highlighting the technological advancements in attractions such as the Born Stunt Spectacular. The conversation then shifts to the potential of AI in creating immersive experiences, with Andrew sharing insights into reasoning models and the concept of AI agents. They also touch upon the importance of classic sci-fi literature, like ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’, in understanding the roots of many modern narratives. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the implications of AI in programming and the potential for AI to revolutionize how we interact with technology and each other.
Picks:
Justin Robert Young: DEF CON Plan about Audio and Electronics
Brian Brushwood: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Andrew Mayne: Nosferatu by Robert Eggers
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250115204407_250115_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20250115204407_250115_-_weird_things_podcast.mp3

Jan 23, 2025 • 0sec
The AI Frontier: Robotics, Simulators, and the Future of Labor
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood discuss the recent flurry of AI announcements from OpenAI’s Shipmas event and Google’s AI developments. They explore the implications of advanced AI models like GPT-3 and OpenAI’s O3, touching on their potential to revolutionize coding, problem-solving, and even the future of robotics and labor. The hosts speculate on how these technologies could lead to a new era of automation, where tasks from coding to physical labor could be handled by AI-driven robots. They also touch on the concept of physics simulators and their role in advancing robotics by allowing for more efficient testing and development.
Picks:
Brian: The Good Place
Justin: We Have Never Been Woke by Musa al-Gharbi
Andrew: What We Do in the Shadows
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241223155519_2024-12-20-Weird-Things_mixdown.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241223155519_2024-12-20-Weird-Things_mixdown.mp3

Dec 20, 2024 • 0sec
Magic, AI, and the Future of Video Generation
In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the cutting edge of AI technology. Andrew kicks things off with a magic trick performed for an AI, showcasing the interactive capabilities of current AI models. The trio discusses the recent advancements in AI, including live video features and the implications for content creation. They also delve into the capabilities and limitations of video generation tools like So, offering tips for users to get the most out of these platforms. The conversation highlights the rapid pace of AI development and its potential to revolutionize various industries.
Picks:
Brian Brushwood: Lower Decks
Justin Robert Young: OpenAI announcements on YouTube
Andrew Mayne: Not specified, but discussed disappointment with a certain sci-fi show and recommended Skeleton Crew
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241218161529_2024-12-13-Weird-Things_mixdown.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241218161529_2024-12-13-Weird-Things_mixdown.mp3

Dec 20, 2024 • 0sec
The Future of Robotics and Sky Quakes
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a brief chat about the latest addition to Justin’s family and the implications of raising a child in today’s tech-saturated world. The conversation quickly shifts to Elon Musk’s recent showcase of Tesla’s advancements in robotics, including the Optimus robot and the Cyber Cab. The hosts speculate on the impact of these technologies on the future, from personal robotics to autonomous transportation networks. Additionally, they touch upon the phenomenon of sky quakes, debating their possible explanations and expressing skepticism about their origins. Throughout, the trio maintains a slightly irreverent tone, mixing in personal anecdotes and broader societal observations.
Picks:
Brian Brushwood: Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life by Rory Sutherland
Justin Robert Young: The Peripheral (TV Show)
Andrew Mayne: The 13th Warrior (Movie)
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241017204616_2024-10-11-Weird-things-mixdown.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241017204616_2024-10-11-Weird-things-mixdown.mp3

Dec 18, 2024 • 0sec
Space Catchers and the Future of Robotics
In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the advancements in AI, marvel at SpaceX’s successful catch of the Starship’s first stage, and ponder the future of robotics, including Tesla’s Optimus. They discuss the implications of these developments and share their excitement for what this means for the future. The conversation also touches on the potential for AI and robotics to revolutionize industries and personal capabilities, with a nod to the importance of keeping up with these technologies.
Picks:
Andrew Mayne: Tribalism is Dumb by Andrew Heaton
Brian Brushwood: The Apprentice movie
Justin Robert Young: Civil War by Alex Garland
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241019203145_2024-10-19-weird-things_mixdown.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241019203145_2024-10-19-weird-things_mixdown.mp3

Oct 10, 2024 • 0sec
The AI Revolution Marches On
This week, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young explore the forefront of AI technology, from OpenAI’s Dev Day revelations to Meta’s video AI marvels. They discuss the practical applications and implications of these advancements, such as customer service bots and AI-assisted video production, while also pondering the ethical and professional impacts on fields like medicine. The episode veers into a critique of current content production costs and praises for shows that manage to do more with less. Picks from the hosts include AI-related resources and entertainment that captures the spirit of innovation.
Picks:
Justin Robert Young: Agatha: Coven of Chaos on Disney+
Brian Brushwood: Only Murders in the Building
Andrew Mayne: Awillow.com/book by JF Dubeau
Support Weird Things on Patreon
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Download url: https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241010183614_2024-10-3-Untitled_Session_5_mixdown.mp3
[podcast]https://weirdthingspodcast.com/uploads/20241010183614_2024-10-3-Untitled_Session_5_mixdown.mp3