Acid Horizon

Craig offers an enticing peek into upcoming projects, including the innovative Vintagia, which fuses creativity with intuitive practice. Exciting live events are on the horizon, featuring artist residencies and experimental seminars. A new reading group focused on philosophical friendship is set to launch soon. Additionally, the return to Durations Festival promises thrilling collaborations, ensuring a vibrant community engagement that listeners won't want to miss.

In this episode, Will reads Maurice Blanchot’s essay Friendship, a haunting reflection on the impersonal and ineffable nature of true friendship. Blanchot challenges the idea of friendship as mutual understanding, revealing instead a relation marked by silence, distance, and exposure. This reading anticipates our upcoming "Philosophers and the Friend" reading group beginning May 18, featuring works by Blanchot, Foucault, Derrida, and more.Reading group syllabus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VF7IZDocnkoK-vgwFNRFEXCOseBvNQJA/viewSupport the showVintagia Pre-Launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creatives Support the podcast:https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcast Boycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/ Join The Schizoanalysis Project: https://discord.gg/4WtaXG3QxnSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438 LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog): https://revoltingbodies.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/

Follow Vintagia: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creativesIn this special crossover episode of LEPHT HAND and Acid Horizon, we explore the radical mysticism of François Laruelle through his essay Vision-in-One or Unlearned Knowing. Laruelle proposes a mysticism stripped of transcendence and doctrine—one grounded in solitude, immanence, and the irreducibility of lived experience. Our guest, translator Jeremy R. Smith, helps unpack Laruelle’s challenge to Neoplatonism, dialectics, and the pedagogical authority of philosophy. Along the way, we consider how this "unlearned knowing" might offer tools for thinking mysticism on the left, beyond both theology and theory.Vision-in-One or Unlearned Knowing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-i7-kfCt_ykSxrMrUIeNxLwLKcCzcl3LbSJCR_etVQ/edit?tab=t.0 Support the showVintagia Pre-Launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creatives Support the podcast:https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcast Boycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/ Join The Schizoanalysis Project: https://discord.gg/4WtaXG3QxnSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438 LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog): https://revoltingbodies.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/

Cameron Carsten, a blogger at Camtology, delves into Baudrillard's concept of 'absolute advertising' and its pervasive influence on culture and communication. The conversation reveals how advertising distorts reality and shapes societal norms, leading to techno-fascism. They explore the absurdity of modern advertising, the commodification of labor, and the impact of social media on identity. From culinary innovations like air fryers to the paradox of publicity, this discussion unearths the intricate ties between consumerism, identity, and contemporary life.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ben Morsa, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic thinker, explores Melanie Klein's views on symbol formation and ego development. He examines how Klein's controversial case study links to modern perspectives on autism and neurodiversity. Morsa also delves into the complexities of sadism, love, and loss within psychoanalysis, advocating for a therapeutic approach that honors individual experiences. His work at Tide Pools emphasizes inclusivity and challenges traditional diagnostic labels.

Taija Mars McDougall, author of "King Ketamine," dives into the intriguing world of ketamine use among tech elites like Elon Musk. She discusses how this substance acts as a catalyst for disassociation and reflects the bizarre realities of billionaire culture. McDougall explores the political implications of drug use on social movements, critiques AI's ethical dilemmas, and shares her own experiences with altered states of consciousness. The conversation touches on everything from hallucinations to the intersection of psychoanalysis and American culture.

In this engaging discussion, guest Tiger Liu, a fan favorite known for their insights on extinction and philosophy, dives into the serious implications of proposed closures at the Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy. They highlight the battle to preserve humanities in UK academia, emphasizing its broader societal importance. The conversation critiques the shift towards vocational training, explores the emotional toll on the academic community, and underscores the necessity for collective action to advocate for critical thought and community engagement.

Nicolas de Warren, a Penn State University professor, delves into the anarchist imaginary and its ethical implications. He explores how anarchism operates beyond politics, focusing on community engagement and the importance of otherness and mutual aid. The discussion critiques conventional views of anarchism, advocating for multilingualism and innovative reading practices. De Warren emphasizes the role of hospitality and generosity in fostering ethical relationships while reimagining institutions in the digital age. His insights provoke thought on creating a more interconnected and inclusive future.

Gareth Watkins, a contributor to Death Sentence Podcast and New Socialist, joins to discuss the dark marriage between AI and far-right ideologies. He examines how AI serves as a tool for domination rather than innovation, spotlighting examples like Tommy Robinson's fake narratives. The conversation unfolds the aesthetics of fascism in the context of modern art and political deception, while grappling with the challenges of countering right-wing misinformation in today's discourse. Watkins also critiques the impact of AI on creativity, emphasizing its troubling degradation of artistic standards.

Dr. Gregory Sadler, an academic and philosopher known for his work on stoicism, joins the discussion on Peter Thiel's transformative journey from libertarian idealist to a key player in the new right. They dissect Thiel's 2009 essay, which reveals tensions in libertarian thought and his shift towards state-corporate alliances. The conversation explores the growing anger within political discourse, the failures of symbolic politics, and the disconnects of the billionaire class, shedding light on the need for collective action to address contemporary issues.