Weird Horizon

History of the Vampire: Literary vampires before Dracula

March 11, 2024 12:00 - 32 minutes - 37.1 MB

Continuing our series exploring the vampire, the ever-popular figure and symbol against which we can define our own humanity. Today we will be looking at a sample of the literary vampire treatments before Dracula, and particularly the ways in which they expanded on the vampire as product of the Enlightenment to create a figure with drives and motivations, as cursed as much as it curses others. Many of the countries most captivated by the historic vampire cases would take up the figure and wea...

History of the Vampire: the body and the blood in metaphor and society

February 13, 2024 12:39 - 29 minutes - 66.8 MB

Continuing our series exploring the vampire, the ever-popular figure and symbol against which we can define our own humanity. Looking today at the myriad of religious, social and political associations around blood and the body in the Age of Enlightenment. As our views of our interior world changed, own body and how it functioned, they interacted with our view of our exterior world of society and faith. All of which fed into the enduring symbols of the body and blood at the centre of the Vam...

History of the Vampire: historic vampire cases and their reception

January 29, 2024 15:00 - 27 minutes - 50.9 MB

Continuing out series exploring the vampire, the ever-popular figure and symbol against which we can define our own humanity. Looking today at some of the most famous and influential historic 'vampire' cases and panics, as well as the discourse and reporting surrounding them. These cases would form the foundation of the evolving vampire myth, and continue to this day to serve as the most cohesive origin for the figure. In coming weeks we will talk in more detail around the body and blood i...

History of the Vampire: origin of the word 'vampire' and folkloric bloodsuckers

January 15, 2024 15:00 - 22 minutes - 41.3 MB

Back with a new series exploring the vampire, the ever-popular figure and symbol against which we can define our own humanity. We will be beginning by attempting to find the origin of the word 'vampire' as well as exploring some of the folklore that melded with and was absorbed into the figure of the modern vampire. In the coming weeks we will take a deeper look at some historical 'real' vampire cases and panics, as well as exploring blood and the body and how our changing attitudes to and ...

Artificial Intelligence: How do we measure 'human level' AI? Is 'talking' like a human enough?

August 01, 2023 15:14 - 24 minutes - 57.1 MB

Starting a new series on AI or Artificial Intelligence by beginning to question how we measure for 'human level' or general Artificial Intelligence. Does simply 'talking' or responding like a human imply understanding and therefore machine intelligence? Exploring some of the 'classical' AI theories which seek to answer how we would practically measure this. Is understanding even necessary for intelligence? We will be continuing to explore other 'tests' for human-level AI, before looking a...

'Reality Shifting': a kind of 'digital spirituality', a New Religious Movement, or a cult?

June 14, 2023 20:02 - 34 minutes - 79.9 MB

Concluding our series discussing the phenomenon of Reality Shifting, a practice part spirituality, part supernatural, and rising to prominence in the perfect storm of covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns and the rise of TikTok. We have discussed whether we can see it as a response or an answer to a world in the midst of a global pandemic, a form of expression for (predominantly) school age adolescents dealing with a world eerily depopulated, socially and physically isolating, and in need of a...

'Reality Shifting': as a form of Maladaptive Daydreaming, or as a viral mental health crisis

May 15, 2023 19:37 - 37 minutes - 86.9 MB

Continuing our discussion (still) on the phenomenon of Reality Shifting with a question of where it falls on the spectrum between 'normal' imaginative escape, and something more damaging. Exploring a related (and seemingly overlapping) phenomenon that surged in severity during covid, maladaptive daydreaming, and questioning once again the long term effects of the global pandemic. Exploring a few more recent case studies investigating the conflagration between acquired tics and tremors and ...

'Reality Shifting': as an evolved form of Tulpamancy, or as a symptom of the post-covid mental health pandemic

May 05, 2023 19:39 - 30 minutes - 234 MB

Continuing our discussion on the phenomenon of Reality Shifting by exploring some of the potential psychological underpinnings of an emergent practice. Can we view Reality Shifting as an evolved form of Tulpamancy and explore it from the same psychological standpoint? Are there certain traits that make one more susceptible to a belief in 'shifting', such as hypnotizability or one's level of immersion. Did the covid-19 pandemic create a specific psychological situation that lead many to a bel...

‘Reality Shifting’: shifting symptoms and scripting for a shift

April 04, 2023 18:29 - 52 minutes - 120 MB

Continuing our discussion on the phenomenon of Reality Shifting by looking at some of the ‘symptoms’ that may indicate being close to, or achieving a shift, as well as a deeper look at ‘scripting’ for shifting. What are the kinds of thing people desire to ‘script’ for in their Desired Reality, ie: what kind of control do people wish to have over their new reality in order to hopefully shield themselves from trauma?

‘Reality Shifting’: shifting techniques and supporting behaviours

March 15, 2023 20:33 - 36 minutes - 83.5 MB

Continuing our discussion on the phenomenon of Reality Shifting by looking at some shifting techniques, certain behaviours and habits thought to enhance the brains innate ability to shift, and some of the overlap between shifting practices and existing spiritual and pop culture beliefs.

‘Reality Shifting’: the offered scientific proofs for the TikTok phenomenon

March 06, 2023 15:00 - 36 minutes - 265 MB

We are beginning a new series today on the topic of ‘reality shifting’, RS or simply ‘shifting’. It is a method of transferring one’s consciousness to a desired reality in the multiverse. This is a method used by mostly teens to try to transport themselves to fictional universes to spend time there and have a form of escape. Today we are going to look as some of the scientific proofs offered by the community to support the claims on the methods efficacy and why they know it to work…

History of Witchcraft: Wicca and witchcraft post Salem

February 11, 2023 16:41 - 34 minutes - 78 MB

Rounding out (for now) our exploration of the history of witchcraft with a look at New Religious movement and esoteric order Wicca as well as the unfortunate truth that witchcraft accusations persist into the current day…

History of Witchcraft: the New England witch craze of Salem, Massachusetts

January 17, 2023 19:08 - 45 minutes - 105 MB

Continuing our discussion on the witch and witch hunt throughout time by exploring the witch in colonial New England. What was crucial to Salem, Massachusetts that resulted in one of the most ferocious witch hunts in modern history? We will be looking at the use of spectral evidence in law and the belief in the convicted witches’ accusations to implicate others… We will round out the series with one more episode next week, looking at the modern witch.

History of Witchcraft: the New England witch craze before Salem

January 09, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 74.2 MB

Continuing our discussion on the witch and witch hunt throughout time by exploring the witch in colonial New England. What transformed the satanic witch as it existed in Europe into demonic witch conspiracy of Salem? What influences fanned the flame of a fire which had largely burnt itself out in Europe? Looking at Puritan theologian William Perkins on witchcraft, as well as the debate around spectral evidence as cause for conviction. This is part 1 of 2, 2 will be coming in the next week. :-)

History of Witchcraft: the European witch trials

December 14, 2022 17:53 - 44 minutes - 102 MB

Deeping our discussion on the satanic witch panic by exploring a few influential European witch trials. Witch trials from their inception have a startling level of uniformity, aspects of even the earliest organised trials would be echoed in later ones, across Europe and beyond. At the same time, responses to the trials, both good and bad influenced the shape of them as they were happening... We will be continuing next week with the case of the American witch trials, before moving to some mo...

History of Witchcraft: the 'persecuting society' and the creation of the satanic witch

November 23, 2022 21:44 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MB

Continuing our series on witchcraft by exploring the transformation which took the idea of the 'witch', a magical practitioner with varying cultural contexts and qualities, and turned it into an archetype of a person capable of being hunted... Where the Witch Trials inevitable, or part of a process by which a demographic is intentionally marginalised and demonised? Let's find out... Next week we will be exploring the trials themselves in more detail, so we hope you'll stick around for that...

History of Witchcraft: the creation of the 'witch' archetype

November 05, 2022 10:54 - 31 minutes - 29 MB

Continuing our series on witchcraft, by taking a deeper look at what social and literary ideas merged to form the idea of the 'witch'. We also begin to answer the question of why the idea of the witch came into being at this time, if, as some believe, it is a reflection of an innate archetype or a reaction to Christianity in general. Next we will be exploring what specific legal and political forces combined to create not only the idea of the 'witch', but the urgent need to eradicate the...

History of Witchcraft: a brief overview

October 09, 2022 20:30 - 38 minutes - 70.1 MB

Back with a new season, we are beginning a new series exploring the history of witchcraft, with a particular focus on the vulnerable women whose treatment by society at large informed the kinds of magic they were often accused of. We will be covering the topic in more depth in coming weeks, but this week serves as a foundational knowledge from which to build up. Glad to be back and excited for the topics lined up for the spookiest month, and beyond.

Intro to Cryptozoology: the UAP connection and the vanishing 'frontier' of science and the mind

September 14, 2022 20:49 - 40 minutes - 74 MB

Concluding (for now) a lengthy series exploring the various things Bigfoot, Sasquatch and related creatures mean to various peoples and in various contexts. Today, rounding out our investigation with a look at the overlap between Bigfoot and UFO or UAP encounters. Are they connected, are they one and the same? Or is there something else that can explain the universality of experience inherent to these different contexts, something intrinsically human? Bibliography and transcript coming soon....

Intro to Cryptozoology: the Sasquatch-like creatures of Native American & First Nations oral history

August 29, 2022 16:42 - 51 minutes - 94.6 MB

Continuing a two-part series on the oral history and legends of Sasquatch-like creatures. Following on from a look at the context around how the stories reach non-indigenous peoples, and looking at some more specific creatures and the many many ways they differ from the Sasquatch or Bigfoot we’ve known so far… Bibliography and transcript coming soon.

Intro to Cryptozoology: ‘Monsters of the frontier’, Native American Legends transformed

August 22, 2022 20:57 - 39 minutes - 71.9 MB

Continuing a series on Cryptozoology by looking at the changing context in which Native American and First Nations legends were re-interpreted by European audiences. Exploring some of the ways in which the personhood of Sasquatch-like encounters was downplayed for an ‘ape-like’ creature more suited to pop culture audiences. Bibliography coming soon, check out ‘Raincoast Sasquatch’ by J. Robert Alley, ‘Tribal Bigfoot’ by David Paulides and ‘The Evolution of “Monsters” in North American Expl...

Intro to Cryptozoology: Illusion, delusion, hallucination or hoax, potential encounter explanations

August 09, 2022 19:41 - 50 minutes - 92.7 MB

Continuing a series on Cryptozoology by looking at an overview of some of the potential explanations for the Bigfoot/Sasquatch encounter experience. Are they some form of hallucination, a simple hoax, or some other animal encounter misinterpreted? Or are they a blend of all the above? Bibliography coming soon, check ‘The Locals, A Contemporary Investigation of the Bigfoot/Sasquatch Phenomenon’ by Thom Powell as well as “The ‘Truth’ about the Bigfoot Legend.” by Linda Milligan, published in ...

Intro to Cryptozoology: Potential hoaxes and the responses to them

July 31, 2022 15:41 - 47 minutes - 86.5 MB

Continuing a series on Cryptozoology by looking at a selection of the more notable hoaxes that dogged the community from day one. Ultimately though, many hoaxes turn out to be as hard to prove as hoaxes as they do the real deal… Bibliography coming soon, check out Jeff Meldrum’s analysis of the Patterson-Gimlin prints here: https://youtu.be/VLL48HkSgqE, with special reference to ‘Searching for Sasquatch, Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology’ by Brian Regal and ‘The Locals, A Contemporary I...

Intro to Cryptozoology: The Pacific Northwest research effort and the career of Grover Krantz

July 24, 2022 14:12 - 47 minutes - 87.7 MB

Continuing a series on Cryptozoology by exploring the second wave of ‘anomalous primate’ research, and how it delineated itself and reacted to the expedition’s that came before them. Exploring a few of the reactions to the ‘Yeti Hunting’ craze and the directions anomalous primate researchers attempted to take the field, with examples from nemeses, Grover Krantz and René Dahinden. Bibliography coming soon, check out Jeff Meldrum’s analysis of the Patterson-Gimlin prints here: https://youtu.b...

Intro to Cryptozoology: Yeti hunting, the early study of anomalous primates

July 09, 2022 17:40 - 33 minutes - 61.7 MB

Continuing a series on Cryptozoology by beginning to explore the various contexts in which bipedal hominids are studied, starting with the Western Yeti craze of the 1950s and the tensions and motivations that informed the foundation the Pacific Northwest Sasquatch Expedition. Bibliography coming soon, check out Jeff Meldrum’s analysis of the Patterson-Gimlin prints here: https://youtu.be/VLL48HkSgqE, with special reference to ‘Searching for Sasquatch, Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology’ b...

Intro to Cryptozoology: ‘anomalous primates’ in context

July 03, 2022 12:23 - 28 minutes - 52 MB

Beginning a probably lengthy series on Cryptozoology, focusing more specifically on the study of ‘anomalous primates’, the elusive Yeti, Sasquatch, Bigfoot et al. Setting the foundation for a deep drive into what people believe about these creatures, and what these theories say about their cultural context.

Tarot, pt.4: A brief history of Tarot, from card game to esoteric tool and beyond…

June 27, 2022 21:37 - 57 minutes - 106 MB

Concluding this discussion on Tarot with a brief look into Tarot’s history. From its origins as a medieval Italian parlour game, to its reimagining as a lost goldmine of Hermetic wisdom, Tarot has taken a variety of forms and meanings as a reaction to its historical context. Tracing a little about where it came from can help us to fully understand some of its more evocative imagery, as well as theorise what kind of form it may take in the future.

Tarot, pt.3: Tarot as a framework for measuring personal growth and fulfilment

June 18, 2022 13:59 - 30 minutes - 56 MB

The concluding part to our loose discussion exploring Tarot and applying it to our personal lives. Using Tarot to help answer the big personal questions that we know the answer to deep down, but need a little push in the right direction.

Tarot, pt.2: Exploring our first card pulls and getting introspective.

June 11, 2022 14:00 - 30 minutes - 56.2 MB

In this episode we continue our exploration of Tarot with some simple card pulls and interpretations, asking some deep questions and questioning what exactly it is we want from life and how we measure our own success. A lighthearted exploration of the spiritual practice, by three people who are interested but not hugely knowledgeable. Be kind to us.

Tarot, pt.1: A brief history of Tarot and its representation in popular culture

May 28, 2022 14:00 - 43 minutes - 79.4 MB

In this episode I am joined once again by my good friends Lee and Lewis, as we start to explore another aspect of Spirituality and esoteric beliefs, Tarot and its application as a form of spiritual development. This is a slightly more relaxed discussion on the topic, but will be followed up by a more in-depth history if you're interested in that. Join us as we chat Tarot and our ideas around it. If you want more like this, please check out the series on Astrology which takes a similar appro...

Cyber culture, pt.4: Dead Internet Theory, 'most of the Internet is fake'

May 21, 2022 14:00 - 45 minutes - 84.2 MB

In this episode we will conclude our discussion on Internet culture and the philosophies that surround our changing relationship with it. So far we have explored all the ways in which the Internet may be classed as 'alive', or at least share similarities with other living structures and networks. In this episode we look at a more modern theory, that the Internet of the 2020s is in fact much less alive than we would think. Have the bots officially taken over, have we reached the point that ...

Cyber culture, pt.3: The ageing internet brain and Transhumanism

May 14, 2022 14:00 - 29 minutes - 53.5 MB

Deepening or discussion on the ways in which the structure of the brain mirrors the structure of the internet. Is the internet brain simply ageing? Is a human-less internet the natural culmination of it maturing? Are humans themselves heading towards a post-human future?

Cyber culture, pt.2: Wired for Thought, similarities between the internet and the brain

May 07, 2022 14:00 - 29 minutes - 54.8 MB

Continuing on with our discussion and moving into the early 00s, we explore some of the theories surrounding the structural similarities between the maturing internet and the human brain. If the Internet is indeed similar to the human brain, is it capable of the emergent product of said structure: thought? If so, does that mean the brain and body are divisible? Transcription available here soon.

Cyber culture, pt.1: 90s internet philosophy

April 30, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 57.5 MB

Exploring some of the theories and philosophies springing from the meteoric rise of the internet. What does it mean for our species that we are connected in ways we never where before? What emergent properties are displayed by this man-made ‘superorganism’?

'Men In Black', pt.4: The conclusion of the Bennewitz affair and the effect on the wider community

April 23, 2022 16:00 - 43 minutes - 80.3 MB

The conclusion to our discussion on the Bennewitz affair. Rejoining the campaign against him and the community at large at the point the plan is in full swing. We look at the wider effects on the community as well as the extent to which modern UFO lore is directly descended from stories as penned and controlled by AFOSI agent, Richard Doty. Transcription available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B2dpqPf5nuuZmJbpLTDoZOGoCS9d5kyN/view?usp=sharing Selected bibliography available here...

‘Men In Black’, pt.3: The Paul Bennewitz affair

April 08, 2022 14:00 - 32 minutes - 58.9 MB

Continuing our exploration of the ‘men in black’ myth, with the disinformation campaign levelled against the UFO community coming to a head in a complicated and dangerous hall of mirrors. Transcription available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oDSgxtoRijTFhKBNsrkmgw8SzsVFib8P/view?usp=sharing

‘Men In Black’, pt.2: complications…

March 25, 2022 15:00 - 32 minutes - 58.7 MB

Continuing our look into the ‘men in black’ myth and starting to untangle the complicated web make up these stories. Government and military involvement, SF authors and counter-espionage agents all leave their marks on the evolving narrative. But what is it evolving into? Transcription available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13RIhD_eJdnd65RqjtyBVDjPwYd5xg36G/view?usp=sharing

Bonus: Cryptid Interlude with Cameron from Florida Men on Florida Man

March 19, 2022 22:57 - 11 minutes - 21.2 MB

Talking regional cryptids with Cameron from Florida Men on Florida Man. How to attract a Skunk Ape and how we’d run away from the Beast of Bodmin Moor… Transcript coming soon.

Special: UFO news with Cameron from Florida Men on Florida Man

March 18, 2022 19:03 - 1 hour - 113 MB

Cameron from Florida Men on Florida Man Podcast joins me to talk Florida specific UFO news and stories, abduction accounts and Google Earth. Transcription coming soon…

'Men In Black', pt.1: the origin of the theory...

March 11, 2022 15:00 - 28 minutes - 51.6 MB

Taking a look at probably the first widely documented visitation from the 'men in black', the case of Albert Bender and the International Flying Saucer Bureau. Talking the distinction between 'men in black' and MIBs, the different theories around who or what they may be as well as exploring one of the ways the US military and government seemed to have influenced the UFO field in its infancy, as well as the myths around it... Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s6tIS...

Bonus Episode, The Disappearance of Elisa Lam - Collab. with Love & Murder

March 04, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 39.3 MB

In this special bonus episode, we cover a few extra details around the Elisa Lam case that didn't quite fit into the main episode. If you are joining me from Love & Murder Podcast, it also contains some exclusive paranormal stories of our very own, and the ways in which we've had experiences we couldn't quite explain... If that sounds good to you, stick around and hang out with us for a bit. Find Love & Murder @NoConductRadio on Twitter and online at murderandlove.com.

The Disappearance of Elisa Lam - Collab. with Love & Murder

March 04, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 125 MB

In this special collaboration with Love & Murder Podcast we explore one of the most widely publicised true crime cases of the decade, the disappearance and death of 21 year old student, Elisa Lam from a hotel in downtown LA. Little did she know when she checked into the re-branded hotel, that the building had a long and chequered past. As soon as the police appealed for help in this case with the release of the security footage showing her confusing last known moments, internet sleuths worke...

Astrology, pt.4

February 18, 2022 18:15 - 56 minutes - 103 MB

The concluding episode on a series on applying astrology fundamentals, via awkward questions, champagne and coming to grips with our inauthentic selves…

Astrology, pt.3

February 11, 2022 19:57 - 54 minutes - 99.8 MB

I am joined by two very good friends of mine as we start to put into practice some basic astrology concepts. Exploring ideas such as modality and cardinal signs via Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a healthy dose of wine. Sceptics that we all are, it's hard to deny there's something persuasive about astrology...

Astrology, pt.2

February 04, 2022 21:21 - 51 minutes - 94.8 MB

Bridging the gap between ancient astrology and modern astrology with our good friend Carl Jung. We'll also be taking a look at some of the modern services that serve similar needs to astrology for those who are spiritually averse.

Astrology, pt.1

January 28, 2022 18:09 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MB

Taking a speedy tour through the history of western astrology, how it’s focus has changed through the years and all the different forms it takes. Research for this episode would not have happened without the oceans of amazing content put out there by Chris Brennan at The Astrology Podcast. He’s an undeniable expert in the field and now a favourite of mine. A special thank you to Nix from Sounds Creepy Podcast for their advice for potentially expanding the podcast into video content. I now fee...

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