Stuff To Blow Your Mind

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 mighty Coconut Crab. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe build on last month's episode on ice skates with a discussion of their wheelbase spin off: the rollerskate! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1940 American horror film “The Devil Bat,” starring Bela Lugosi and Suzanne Kaaren. Watch out, because giant bats are coming for your aftershave! (originally published 7/12/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss Japan’s beloved yuru-chara, corporate and governmental mascots that are undeniably cute but with deeper connections to other aspects of Japanese culture. (originally published 7/9/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe dive into Akira Kurosawa’s gorgeous and surreal 1990 anthology film, "Dreams." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Tom Lathan, author of “Lost Wonders: 10 Tales of Extinction from the 21st Century.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses a curious proposed method of dragon flight proposed by author Peter Dickinson in the 1979 book “The Flight of Dragons.” (originally published 4/17/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once more, it's time for a dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Kinji Fukasaku’s weird 1968 super-criminal romp “Black Lizard,” starring Japanese drag queen Akihiro Miwa, based on the novel by Edogawa Ranpo and the stage adapation by Yukio Mishima. (originally published 5/31/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with evolutionary biologist and historian of science Lee Alan Dugatkin about his new book “The Well-Connected Animal: Social Networks and the Wondrous Complexity of Animal Societies.” You'll learn about the complex social networks of vampire bats, dolphins, bees and more. (orignally published 5/14/2024) See omnystudio.com...

In this classic two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the original theatrical cut of Russell Mulcahy’s “Highlander II: The Quickening,” starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Michael Ironside. Long live the Zeist cut! (originally published 05/03/24) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this NEW episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Adam Weymouth, author of “Lone Wolf: Walking the Line Between Civilization and Wildness” about the European wolf, its recent comeback and the similarities between the human and lupine world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special omnibus edition of The Monstrefact, join Robert for all five episodes of his recent look at the werewolf of myth, legend and media – from prehistoric wolf interactions and the ancient world to modern media incarnations of lycanthropy. Draw blood… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with shark scientist Jasmin Graham about her new book “Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist.” (originally published 7/16/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the original theatrical cut of Russell Mulcahy’s “Highlander II: The Quickening,” starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Michael Ironside. Long live the Zeist cut! (originally published 04/ 27/24) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on STBYM, we’re bringing you an episode on the Cosmos from a new podcast: Smart Girl Dumb Questions . In each episode, host Nayeema Raza asks simple questions to big thinkers. This one is with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Nayeema asks him: what happened before the Big Bang? Would wormholes save us from ever going to the airport again? Do aliens exist? And, oh yes, are horoscopes...

Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this classic and very-metal episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss various examples of meteoric metal artifacts, including several precious sky-weapons of antiquity. (originally published 5/16/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

In this classic two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the planet of Arrakis in their discussion of David Lynch’s wild 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary novel “Dune.” The sleeper must awaken. (originally published 3/15/24) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this classic and very-metal episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss various examples of meteoric metal artifacts, including several precious sky-weapons of antiquity. (originally published 5/9/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

In this special omnibus edition of The Monstrefact, join Robert for a collection of past Monstrefact episodes about the Marvel Comics characters Man-Thing, Colossus, Puff Adder and Medusa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the dawn of the iron age, ancient humans had but one source of workable iron for their artifacts and weapons: meteorites. In this classic and very-metal episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss various examples of meteoric metal artifacts, including several precious sky-weapons of antiquity. (originally published 5/7/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

In this classic two-part episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the planet of Arrakis in their discussion of David Lynch’s wild 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary novel “Dune.” The sleeper must awaken. (originally published 03/08/24) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, author of “Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature” and Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum. (originally published 4/9/25) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1958’s “The Crawling Eye” starring Forrest Tucker, Jennifer Jayne and Janet Munro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the origins and physics of skating on ice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.