Stuff To Blow Your Mind
2,394 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★ - 5.4K ratingsDeep 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.
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Episodes
The Eltanin Antenna
August 10, 2023 23:21 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBIn this 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? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: DC Comics' Doomsday
August 09, 2023 21:56 - 4 minutes - 3.98 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Doomsday, slayer of Superman… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Matter of Everything, with Suzie Sheehy
August 08, 2023 22:10 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBIn this 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." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: The Color of the Fire
August 07, 2023 19:30 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: Of Humans and Squids, with Martin Wallen
August 05, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBIn this classic 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. (originally published 06/21/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Maze
August 04, 2023 21:23 - 1 hour - 74.5 MBIn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe venture into 1953’s “The Maze,” a 3-D haunted castle film with an incredibly weird twist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oil and Troubled Water, Part 2
August 03, 2023 21:50 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThe 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 episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. (Part 2 of 2) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: DC Comics' Killer Croc
August 02, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.07 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses one of the most monstrous characters from Batman’s rogues' gallery: Killer Croc… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cave of Bones, with Lee Berger
August 01, 2023 19:14 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBIn this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with paleoanthropologist Lee Berger about his team’s amazing discoveries in South Africa's Rising Star cave system and previously unknown extinct species of hominin named Homo naledi. His new book is “Cave of Bones” and it’s also the subject of the Netflix documentary “Unknown: Cave of Bones.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: White Cyclosa
July 31, 2023 20:11 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: Fantastic Numbers, with Antonio Padilla
July 29, 2023 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBIn this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with theoretical physicist and cosmologist Professor Antonio Padilla, author of the new book "Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them." Strap in for big numbers, fantastic numbers, black holes and more. (originally published 07/28/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Chronicles of Riddick
July 28, 2023 22:25 - 1 hour - 93.1 MBIn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the 21st century to discuss the 2004 space opera sequel “The Chronicles of Riddick,” starring Vin Diesel and a powerhouse supporting cast. It was a Flash Gordon for a new generation, even if they weren’t ready for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Colossus of Rhodes, with Michael Denis Higgins
July 27, 2023 21:09 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn this 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? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: DC Comics’ Mister Mind
July 25, 2023 19:15 - 5 minutes - 5.02 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Mister Mind, a Venusian supervillain mind-control worm from the pages of DC Comics… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From the Vault: The Atomic Scar
July 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBThe creation of atomic weaponry changed human civilization forever, but it also left its mark on the Earth itself -- in both obvious and subtle ways. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss some of the ways in which the world would not be the same. (originally published 9/24/2020) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: Aloysius Devadander Abercrombie
July 24, 2023 19:29 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: The Fall of Valerian, Part 2
July 22, 2023 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBHistory. Science. Dethroned emperor. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe travel back to the third century CE to discuss the Battle of Edessa, in which the Sasanian Empire not only defeated the Roman army but also took its Emperor as a prisoner of war. How did the emperor’s capture impact the already crisis-ridden Roman Empire, what do scientists make of his alleged grisly fate and how was Valerian’s fall possibly mythologized by Christian historians? Find out… ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
July 21, 2023 21:09 - 1 hour - 78.1 MBIn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 masterpiece “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” an environmental post-apocalyptic anime fantasy full of weird bugs, warring factions and terrifying, technological remnants of humanity’s greatest mistakes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oil and Troubled Water, Part 1
July 20, 2023 20:25 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBThe 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 episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: Marvel’s Ulvar the Giant
July 19, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.24 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Ulvar, a most peculiar giant from the Marvel Comics universe… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mud, Part 4
July 18, 2023 21:54 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBWhat exactly is mud? Where does it occur and how does it factor into animal behaviors and human activities? In this multi-episode Stuff to Blow Your Mind exploration, Rob and Joe immerse themselves in the mysteries of mud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: SquareHouse Cinema?
July 17, 2023 12:06 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: The Fall of Valerian, Part 1
July 15, 2023 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBHistory. Science. Dethroned emperor. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe travel back to the third century CE to discuss the Battle of Edessa, in which the Sasanian Empire not only defeated the Roman army but also took its Emperor as a prisoner of war. How did the emperor’s capture impact the already crisis-ridden Roman Empire, what do scientists make of his alleged grisly fate and how was Valerian’s fall possibly mythologized by Christian historians? Find out… ...
Weirdhouse Cinema: Night of the Werewolf
July 14, 2023 19:41 - 1 hour - 79.6 MBOn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the world of Spanish horror with another Paul Naschy movie: 1981’s “Night of the Werewolf.” This time, Naschy’s tragic werewolf character Count Waldemar Daninsky goes up against vampire Countess Elizabeth Báthory! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mud, Part 3
July 13, 2023 20:31 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBWhat exactly is mud? Where does it occur and how does it factor into animal behaviors and human activities? In this multi-episode Stuff to Blow Your Mind exploration, Rob and Joe immerse themselves in the mysteries of mud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact Omnibus: The Tyranids of Warhammer 40K
July 12, 2023 18:04 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this special episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, enjoy an overview of the alien Tyranids of Warhammer 40K, the Tyrannic Wars and the threat of the Genestealer Cults... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mud, Part 2
July 11, 2023 20:51 - 55 minutes - 51 MBWhat exactly is mud? Where does it occur and how does it factor into animal behaviors and human activities? In this multi-episode Stuff to Blow Your Mind exploration, Rob and Joe immerse themselves in the mysteries of mud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: Gotta Dream Them All
July 10, 2023 19:07 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: The Skybridge, Part 2
July 08, 2023 10:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBIn this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the architectural element known as the skyway or skybridge – typically an enclosed bridge connecting the upper stories of two buildings or skyscrapers. (originally published 07/14/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema: Creature with the Atom Brain
July 07, 2023 22:03 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBWhy is he acting so strange? Do you think he's one of them? In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe experience 1955's "Creature with the Atom Brain," starring Richard Denning and Angela Stevens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mud, Part 1
July 06, 2023 21:45 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBWhat exactly is mud? Where does it occur and how does it factor into animal behaviors and human activities? In this multi-episode Stuff to Blow Your Mind exploration, Rob and Joe immerse themselves in the mysteries of mud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: Marvel’s The Thing
July 05, 2023 15:19 - 5 minutes - 5.34 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Fantastic Four’s own Ben Grimm from Marvel Comics… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From the Vault: The Invention of Fireworks
July 04, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 68 MBFireworks are a staple of celebrations around the world, but where does this invention come from and what’s the basic chemistry of their combustion? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe light the fuse and find out. (originally published 6/23/2020) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: Dracula on the Moon
July 03, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBOnce 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.
From the Vault: The Skybridge, Part 1
July 01, 2023 10:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBIn this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the architectural element known as the skyway or skybridge – typically an enclosed bridge connecting the upper stories of two buildings or skyscrapers. (orignally published 07/12/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema: Purana Mandir
June 30, 2023 21:03 - 1 hour - 78.4 MBIn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dive into the Bollywood horror films of the Ramsay brothers with 1984's “Purana Mandir.” Can Suman and Sanjay overcome an evil curse and a monstrous warlock to save their relationship? Find out… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Machine Speaks
June 29, 2023 22:13 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBLong before such things were possible, our ancestors envisioned artificial heads that were capable of speech. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the journey from ancient tales of artifice and wizardry to the early breakthroughs in speech synthesis technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: Marvel's Symbiotes
June 28, 2023 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.13 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Venom and the other various symbiotes from the Marvel Universe… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dreamfall into the Dark, Part 4
June 27, 2023 20:20 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBThe wonders and terrors of the dreaming mind do not always flee completely with the dawn. At certain times and places in history, it seems that dreams suddenly ascend to new heights of cultural fascination. In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe explore periods when the eye of culture fixes on the dream world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: An Un-remembered Dream
June 26, 2023 21:19 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBOnce 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 Lesser of Two Crab Claws, Part 3
June 24, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBIn 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. (originally published 07/07/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Black Hole
June 23, 2023 20:22 - 1 hour - 81.8 MBIn this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Disney’s 1979 answer to “Star Wars,” 33 years before they just went ahead and acquired Lucasfilm. It’s “The Black Hole” and it promises to take us to a place beyond all human vision. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dreamfall into the Dark, Part 3
June 22, 2023 20:33 - 38 minutes - 35 MBThe wonders and terrors of the dreaming mind do not always flee completely with the dawn. At certain times and places in history, it seems that dreams suddenly ascend to new heights of cultural fascination. In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe explore periods when the eye of culture fixes on the dream world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Monstrefact: Marvel’s Mystique
June 21, 2023 15:25 - 5 minutes - 5.29 MBIn this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the mutant Mystique from the Marvel Universe… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dreamfall into the Dark, Part 2
June 20, 2023 22:39 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThe wonders and terrors of the dreaming mind do not always flee completely with the dawn. At certain times and places in history, it seems that dreams suddenly ascend to new heights of cultural fascination. In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe explore periods when the eye of culture fixes on the dream world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: Making Mr. Right
June 19, 2023 16:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBOnce 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.
IBM and HBCUs: Fueling a New Generation of Cybersecurity Experts
June 19, 2023 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBEducation has the power to show students a path they’d never considered before. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Dr. Laurie Santos take on tech education at HBCUs with Dr. Derrick Warren, Associate Dean at the Southern University College of Business. They talk about the partnership between IBM SkillsBuild and Southern University to co-create a cybersecurity leadership center for HBCU students and discuss how exposure to first-experiences inspires creativity. ...
The Lesser of Two Crab Claws, Part 2
June 17, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBIn 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. (originally published 06/30/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Blade
June 16, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 87.4 MBIn this classic episode of 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.” (originally published 07/08/2022) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dreamfall into the Dark, Part 1
June 15, 2023 21:18 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBThe wonders and terrors of the dreaming mind do not always flee completely with the dawn. At certain times and places in history, it seems that dreams suddenly ascend to new heights of cultural fascination. In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe explore periods when the eye of culture fixes on the dream world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.