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by AP Strange
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- 2 days ago1h 16m
Living the Weird Life with John E. L. Tenney
This week, the one-and-only John E. L. Tenney joins AP for a conversation about a wide range of weird subjects including witches, Bigfoots, frogs, comedians, and much more! As a longtime investigator of and lecturer in a variety of highly strange topics, Tenney brings a wealth of knowledge and presents it in a warm and funny way through his works and on his podcast, What's Up Weirdo. In this episode, he discusses his recent zine dedicated to Gundella the Green Witch, as well as other larger than life characters. From there the chat covers a lot of weird ground, as they discuss fictional media representations of high strangeness, the importance of humor in considering paranormal subjects, and baffling moments of sometimes useless psychic abilities.A central theme in the discussion is about how to live one's best weirdo life, and how these interests can connect people who otherwise might never have met. Whether this is as simple as wearing your weird interests on your sleeve or as extravagant as becoming your area's local cryptid, Tenney's words and thoughts provide a great foundation for considering the strange and unusual.Tenney was also one of the first guests on this very podcast, so if you missed it and enjoyed this one, go back and find that one as well!Check out more of John's work at https://weirdlectures.com , and make sure you subscribe to he and co-host Jessica Knapik's wonderful podcast What's Up Weirdo! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-up-weirdo/id1557205678
- 1 weeks ago1h 37m
Embracing the Sacred Chao with Bobby Campbell
This week, comic creator and teacher Bobby Campbell returns to the show for a wide-ranging chat about Discordianism, Maybe Logic, and navigating the strange and often scary world we find ourselves in now. Bobby has been working on a comic book adaptation of the classic Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea novel series Illuminatus!, with issue number 3 on the way and a collected volume this summer. In conversation on this episode, he and AP cover a lot of ground; everything from the study of psychedelics as medicine to the encroachment of AI to the life and theories of Wilhelm Reich are discussed! In a fun and freewheeling chat, he and AP attempt to offer optimistic visions of holistic approaches to systemic issues that affect all of us. They also discuss creativity, the pitfalls of social media for promoting and distribution of art, and the value of in-person events and interactions.Check out Bobby's Tales of Illuminatus series (and other fun projects) here: https://talesofilluminatus.com/
- 2 weeks ago1h 0m
Spreading Good Vibes with Mark Winters
This week, singer-songwriter Mark Winters joins AP to discuss protons, poetry, and positivity as he continues his Good Vibes Highway Tour along the Pacific Coast. Having a bit of an unconventional background for a touring musician, he discusses his journey from an interest in science and a career in aerospace engineering to the creative endeavors he came to enjoy, which culminated in several albums full of his own songs. This leads to an interesting discussion about the nature of creativity, how curiosity and scientific inquiry are related to artistic impulses, and the various ways one can apply their intellect.The underlying message in Mark's music and creative output is one of positivity, and in the episode he talks about using the proton as a symbol for the good vibes he hopes to engender. Throughout the show there's discussion about everything from learning how to sing to Einstein's daydreams, the importance of frequencies and vibrations, and more!Check out Mark's music here: https://markwintersmusic.com/
- 3 weeks ago1h 13m
Saving Gotham City with Virgo Blade (3xtC)
This week, Virgo Blade joins AP in a Third Time's the Charm (3xtC) discussion about the third Batman movie, Batman Forever- but, considering the rich cultural history around the character of Batman and his hometown with its resident Rogue's Gallery of villains, it became a great discussion of the DC Comics property more broadly. Virgo was the perfect guest to discuss the Dark Knight with; as a scriptwriter and content creator who spends a lot of time discussing comic books and associated media, his particular affinity for the Caped Crusader (and the Boy Wonder) made him an ideal choice for the chat.Discussion begins with Batman Forever, from its cast and direction to it's general aesthetic and questionable costume choices. From there the conversation quickly expands to cover various permutations and incarnations of the denizens of Gotham's underworld, through various media and time periods. Virgo gets into the dynamics of some of these iconic characters, their motivations, and how they've been interpreted over the years. Comparisons are made between the darker, more realistic versions of the heroes and villains in Gotham and the campy flip side of them, exemplified well in the third movie. Also discussed are the.ways comic book narratives mirror our world, how these stories can help us contextualize the madness of the modern day, and how we might save our own proverbial Gotham Cities. Follow Virgo Blade on TikTok, Instagram, or BlueSky to keep up to date on the movies and comics he covers!
- Apr 19, 20261h 18m
Considering Cryptids with Sharon Hill
This week, writer, researcher, and "strange claims adjustor" Sharon A. Hill joins AP for a wide-ranging discussion about those curious specimens called cryptids- what they are, how we define them, and how stories about them define us. Sharon approaches cryptozoology from an academic perspective, and is at once skeptical and simultaneously sympathetic to reported zoological anomalies. The interview begins with a bit about her background, what draws her to the study of highly strange claims, and the various approaches she has taken toward such subjects in over two decades of writing about them. In particular, the role of science is discussed as it pertains to investigation, and the distinction is made between scientific inquiry and what Hill calls "scientifical" methods. This leads to a broader discussion of skepticism, and the pitfalls of disbelief.From there they get into a wild sampling of cryptozoological oddities and narratives, from the changing definition of the term "cryptid" itself to festivals based on the mystery creatures and more. They talk about concerning trends of associating the creatures with tragic events as well as exploitation of cultural legends as well, and if that's not enough also discuss recent revelations about the Patterson Gimlin Film and what it says about the state of Bigfootery in our current cultural landscape.Be sure to check out Sharon's prolific body of writing here: https://sharonahill.com/
- Apr 12, 20261h 40m
Going Down the Rabbit Hole with SMiles Lewis
This week, SMiles Lewis joins AP for a wide-ranging discussion about fringe and conspiracy narratives and the ways in which many of these ideas have mutated as they have made their way into mainstream culture. SMiles is the founder of Anomaly Archives, a Texas-based collection of over 7000 titles related to UFOs, parapsychology, and other unexplained phenomena. He is a longtime researcher, writer, and podcaster with a valuable perspective on the topic at hand. In 2023, he was featured in a New York Times Op Ed by Dr. Annie Kelly, which analyzed the rise of QAnon and the prominence of conspiracy theories in public discourse. Times being as they are, it seemed a fruitful line of inquiry to revisit the topic and discuss how this has progressed in the few short years since Dr. Kelly wrote her article.In conversation here, SMiles discusses his history with fringe topics and various turning points in the last few decades that have helped formerly fringe ideas proliferate. They manage to find room for levity in what might seem a dark topic, as they discuss everything from 9 / 11 truthers to Bohemian Grove and more. Also discussed is the balancing act of remaining simultaneously critical and open to ideas, and the importance of preserving one's sanity when diving into rabbit holes.Check out SMiles' work at Anomaly Archives here: https://anomalyarchives.org/ , and consider joining the Patreon for it to help support a tremendous lending library in need!
- Apr 5, 20261h 20m
Meeting Natural Born Performers with Aaron Smith
This week's show is a fun and fascinating discussion with author and journalist Aaron Smith about his book, Natural Born! Circus, Sideshow, and the Art of Being Human. In the book, he interviews and profiles working performers in the world of sideshow that would have once been called "freaks"- now largely preferring the term "Natural Born"- about their experiences, lives, philosophies, and ambitions. Before he began his career in journalism, Aaron had worked for the circus as a cotton candy vendor and a roustabout, giving him a unique insider perspective and credential that leads to enlightening conversations with those profiled about humanity and finding one's place in the world. In conversation here, Smith explains the inspiration for the book and the methods he undertook to find these performers, providing a snapshot of the modern version of a sideshow- something many would assume is a thing of the past. He and AP talk about several of the performers featured in the book, such as Jackie the Human Tripod, Short E. Dangerously, The Bendable Girl Camille Zamboni, and many more. Actor and natural Mat Fraser, aka Seal Boy, comes up frequently both in the book and discussion; he was among the stars of the TV series American Horror Story in the Freak Show season, which leads to talk of media representation and common perspectives about people who are born differently. This provides a through line for the history of the subject, from the early days and the ever presents specter of exploitation, which makes the points of view of these modern day performers all the more valuable. Check out Aaron Smith's book from Outside Talker Press here: https://outsidetalkerpress.bigcartel.com/product/natural-born-circus-sideshow-and-the-art-of-being-human
- Mar 29, 20261h 28m
Returning to Oz with Rachel Nelson
On this week's episode, Rachel Nelson joins AP for an in-depth and thoughtful discussion about the merry old land of Oz and the many ways the mythic realm has impacted our culture since L. Frank Baum first created it. Rachel is a researcher, a poet, and a presenter of the strange over at Ufo Sunset, a multimedia project she works on with Jeff Knox. In this conversation, Rachel discusses what ultimately led her to the UFO subject through a variety of other strange interests, where her interest in Oz began, and how these two interests often overlap. More than that, though, they discuss how ubiquitous the Oz narratives are which inform us all in some way or another.The discussion covers a bit about Baum and his life, and his influences which include his mother-in-law, the activist Matilda Joslyn Gage. The 1985 movie Return to Oz is also discussed, with a focus on the character of Princess Ozma. The freewheeling conversation frequently alludes to concepts in the field of anomalies such as the Oz Effect, and attempts to contact ET civilizations, while also dipping into the almost subliminal qualities of tropes and narratives within the Oz cannon in the cultural subconscious. Further, there's discussions about semiotics, David Lynch, and finally, Rachel's current efforts with a large scale poetry project. Of course there's also lions and tigers and bears along the way!Check out the awesome videos by Ufo Sunset at https://www.youtube.com/@UfoSunset1947
About The AP Strange Show
A show about Weird Stuff, hosted by AP Strange. AP interviews cool weirdos about their work, and invites friends on to discuss second sequels in franchises in a series called "Third Time's the Charm". Other fun surprises await...
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