Stuff To Blow Your Mind

In this special omnibus episode of the Monstrefact, enjoy the entire eight-part series on the creatures of the "Alien" universe all in a single package. Listen in as Robert outlines some of the details about the franchise’s lifeforms and their connections to science and culture. 

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the historic and psychological origins of necromancy: the ancient practice by which shamans, wizards and sorcerers sought communication with the dead. (Part 1 of 3, originally published 09/28/2023)

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How can the British public possibly survive the ravages of youth biker gangs, unholy rites and frog-based necromancy? In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1973 British supernatural biker film “Psychomania.” (originally published 8/27/2021)

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Spooky cats are an iconic part of Halloween, so in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe dive into the world of Kaibyō: the various strange and supernatural cats found in Japanese tradition. (originally published 10/19/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the classic 1939 Universal horror picture “Son of Frankenstein,” starring Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill.

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In this series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss some of the more noteworthy, fascinating and potentially terrifying gods and demons from the religions and myths of the ancient Mesopotamian world. It’s a who’s who of Pazuzu-adjacent entities. 

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In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Jacob Goldstein speaks with Rebecca Finlay, CEO of Partnership on AI, about the importance of advancing AI innovation with openness and ethics at the forefront. Rebecca discusses how guardrails — such as risk management — can advance efficiency in AI development. They explore the AI Alliance’s focus on open data and technology, and the importance of collaboration. Rebecca also underscores how diverse perspectives and open-mindedness can drive AI progress responsibly.

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In this series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss some of the more noteworthy, fascinating and potentially terrifying gods and demons from the religions and myths of the ancient Mesopotamian world. It’s a who’s who of Pazuzu-adjacent entities. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the amazingly weird and wonderful 1935 horror classic “The Bride of Frankenstein.” Has the doctor put his monster-making days behind him, or can he be tempted to even greater crimes of mad science by an even madder scientist? Find out… (originally published 10/20/2023) 

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Spooky cats are an iconic part of Halloween, so in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe dive into the world of Kaibyō: the various strange and supernatural cats found in Japanese tradition. (originally published 10/17/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe keep the terror train rolling down the tracks with a look at the 1972 sci-fi thriller "Horror Express," starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Alberto de Mendoza, Silvia Tortosa and Telly Savalas.

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore a host of scary, train-related topics, from the Victorian “railway madness” panic to ghost trains and more.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Offspring from “Alien: Romulus” and other xenomorph hybrids from the “Alien” universe.

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore a host of scary, train-related topics, from the Victorian “railway madness” panic to ghost trains and more.

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In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the late-franchise Hammer horror film “Dracula A.D. 1972,” in which Chrisopher Lee’s vampiric prince of darkness rises from the ashes a century later in groovy London. Are hippies and the descendents of Doctor Van Helsing up to the challenge? Find out… (originally published 10/27/2023)

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Kevin Jon Davies about his new book “The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams,” detailing the mind of the author who gave us “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.” (originally published 08/31/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe kick off the Halloween season with the notorious low-budget 1981 Italian slasher film “Absurd,” directed by Joe D’Amato and starring George Eastman.

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Once more, it's time for a dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...

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As the scale of artificial intelligence continues to evolve, open technology like many of IBM’s Granite models are helping enhance transparency in AI and improve efficiency across businesses. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Jacob Goldstein sat down with Maryam Ashoori, the Director of Product Management and Head of Product for IBM’s watsonx.ai, where she spearheads the product strategy and delivery of IBM’s watsonx Foundation Models. Together, they explored the shift from large general-purpose AI models to smaller, customizable models tailored to specific needs.

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with artist and author Tyler Thrasher about the new book “The Universe in 100 Colors: Weird and wondrous Colors From Science and Nature.” 

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In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1979’s “Time After Time,” in which Jack the Ripper steals H.G. Wells’ time machine and travels to modern San Francisco. (originally published 09/17/2021)

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In recent vault episodes of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discussed low-resolution images that have provoked paranormal and fringe explanations, despite convincing and even conclusive expert analysis. In this episode, they continue this line of inquiry through a discussion of Ancient Egyptian pseudohistories and fringe ideas regarding modern technology in ancient inscriptions. (originally published 08/17/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe learn almost too late that man is a feeling creature... and because of it, the greatest in the universe. Tune in as they discuss Roger Corman’s 1956 sci-fi horror thriller “It Conquered the World” starring Peter Graves, Beverly Garland and Lee Van Cleef. 

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The Ig Nobel Prizes once more honor ten studies that make us laugh, but then make us think. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe continue their annual tradition of discussing some of their favorites from this year’s winners. 

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Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a chronicle of Earth’s amazing biodiversity with all the enthusiasm of a fantasy monster book. In this episode, the wizard will consider the mole! 

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The Ig Nobel Prizes once more honor ten studies that make us laugh, but then make us think. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe continue their annual tradition of discussing some of their favorites from this year’s winners. 

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In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe complete their trilogy of 70s Florida Movies with 1977’s “Shock Waves,” featuring Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Brooke Adams and a whole squad of aquatic zombies amid the Florida ruins. (originally published 5/14/2021)

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In the last vault episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discussed the so-called Eltanin Antenna and how it is at once an identified image of a deep sea organism and an icon of paranormal intrigue. In this episode, they continue this line of inquiry with another underwater image. (originally published 08/15/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe enter the magical world of Jim Henson’s 1986 fantasy musical “Labyrinth,” starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of odd and even numbers. How does it factor into our psychology, our art and our culture? Find out… 

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The role of AI in the classroom is evolving rapidly. When students and teachers embrace this technology, it has the ability to democratize access to education through programs like IBM SkillsBuild. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Dr. Laurie Santos, host of Pushkin’s The Happiness Labpodcast, spoke with two innovators in the space. Justina Nixon-Saintil is Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, and April Dawson is an Associate Dean of Technology and Innovation and a professor of law. They discuss the importance of lifelong learning, upskilling, and the ethical implications of AI in education.                              

This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

Visit us at https://ibm.com/smarttalks

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of odd and even numbers. How does it factor into our psychology, our art and our culture? Find out… 

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The bonejackers thought they could jack Alex Furlong, but now he's gone freejack in the future of 2009. Yep, in this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe jack their way into the 1992 sci-fi thriller "Freejack," starring everyone and costing $30 million. (originally published 2/12/2021)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe explore the mind-bending, non-narrative CGI acid trip that is 1992’s “Beyond the Mind’s Eye,” directed by Michael Boydstun and featuring the music of Jan Hammer. 

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow your Mind, Rob and Joe discuss the alleged Eltanin Antenna and the natural-world explanation for the image. What does this case and others like it reveal about our craving for extraordinary explanations of perplexing evidence? (originally published 08/10/2023)

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of odd and even numbers. How does it factor into our psychology, our art and our culture? Find out… 

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Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a chronicle of Earth’s amazing biodiversity with all the enthusiasm of a fantasy monster book. In this episode, the wizard will discuss the Portuguese Man o’ War!

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe chats with physicist Suzie Sheehy, author of "The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbable Experiments Changed the World." (originally published 08/08/2023)

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In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the world of Russian cinema and also to… Middle Earth? Yes, let’s bask in the glory of “Khraniteli” AKA “The Keepers” AKA that 1991 Leningrad Television adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring.” (originally published 8/13/2021)

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Michael Denis Higgins, Professor Emeritus of Earth Science at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and author of the new book “The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Science, Engineering and Technology.” What was the Colossus of Rhodes, why did it impress the ancient Hellenistic world and how might we recreate it in the modern world? (Originally published 07/27/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Ridley Scott’s dark fairy tale “Legend,” starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry.

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In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, open-source models can further accelerate the pace of progress and help expand access to all. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell sits down with Mo Duffy, Software Engineering Manager at Red Hat. 

They discuss InstructLab and the benefits of open-source technology, such as flexible deployment and the ability to enhance transparency, as well as the power of partnerships and collaboration. Mo explains how a community-based approach is essential for developing genuinely open-source AI. 

This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions. 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out… 

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What happens when a solar conjunction allows all ant species to unite against their enemies? Find out as Rob and Joe discuss the delightfully weird 1974 film “Phase IV.” (originally published 01/28/2022) 

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The interaction between oil and water has fascinated us since ancient times, and it has factored into practices as diverse as divination rituals and attempts to calm turbulent waters at sea with storm oil. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. (Originally published 08/03/2023, Part 2 of 2)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe take a street gang odyssey across New York City with 1979’s “The Warriors.” 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out… 

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert shares his thoughts on the latest film in the “Alien” Franchise. This episode contains spoilers. 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out… 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.