Stuff To Blow Your Mind
iHeartPodcasts
Deep in the back of your mind, you’ve always had the feeling that there’s something strange about reality. There is. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they examine neurological quandaries, cosmic mysteries, evolutionary marvels and our transhuman future.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 20, 2023 • 4min
The Monstrefact Redux: The Hooden Horse of Kent
Explore the origins and practices of the Houdon Horse, a Christmas Eve tradition in Kent and Southeast England dating back to the 1800s, possibly with roots in ancient pre-Christian rituals involving horse sacrifice.
Dec 19, 2023 • 51min
From the Vault: Animals Throwing Stuff, Part 1
The hosts discuss animal throwing ability, including examples of throwing in non-human animals, octopuses using tools and weapons, and the defensive behaviors of octopuses. They also explore the potential for octopuses to communicate through color displays and analyze criticisms of octopus throwing behavior. Join future episodes for more on the fascinating world of the octopus and throwing behavior in animals.
Dec 18, 2023 • 23min
Listener Mail: Christmas at Tannhäuser Gate
In this podcast, the hosts discuss various fascinating topics including the phenomena of Rat Kings, the credibility of eyewitness sightings, a ghostly chimney in Derbyshire, UK, the hypothesis of the Hoth paper, research on the Kuroshio current, and a canceled research cruise to find evidence of a civilization in Beringia.
Dec 16, 2023 • 36min
From the Vault: The 99% Invisible World, with Roman Mars
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Roman Mars, host of the podcast "99% Invisible" about design, podcasting and life in the created world. Plus, they discuss the 2020 book “The 99% Invisible City” by Mars and his co-author Kurt Kohlstedt. (originally published 01/31/2023) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 16, 2023 • 46min
The Nutcracker
The decorative holiday nutcracker has become a staple of holiday decor and it also constitutes a specialized tool, so in this Christmas themed invention episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the gadget’s European history, its analogs in other cultures and the general history of humans and other animals cracking nuts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 15, 2023 • 1h 16min
Weirdhouse Cinema: Santa Claus (1959)
In this special holiday episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1959 Mexican Christmas movie “Santa Claus,” also known as “Santa Claus vs. the Devil.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 13, 2023 • 4min
The Monstrefact: Of Knots and Monsters
This episode explores the relationship between knots and monsters, including knot magic, folklore, and defeating mythical creatures through knotting. The influence of knots on various aspects of culture and nature is also discussed.
Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 2min
The Rat King
The nightmare vision of black rats tangled by the tail continues to intrigue and revolt us, but what is its origin? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe venture into the sewers of history to seek answers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2023 • 26min
Listener Mail: Crockett's Theme
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.
5 snips
Dec 9, 2023 • 42min
From the Vault: The Origins of Games Workshop, with Sir Ian Livingstone
Sir Ian Livingstone, co-founder of Games Workshop, discusses the origins and impact of the company. They explore the evolution of gaming from board games to immersive experiences like Dungeons and Dragons. The chapter also delves into the origins of Citadel miniatures, personal experiences of the individuals involved, and the innovation of dice in Games Workshop. They also discuss the transition from game books to computer gaming and touch on various products and causes.
