Stuff To Blow Your Mind
Episodes
The Venom Lab, with Mark Mandica
Host Robert Lamb visits the new headquarters of the Amphibian Foundation in Decatur, Georgia, to tour their specialized venom lab with Executive Director Mark Bendica.
The Monstrefact: The Kratt
Host Robert Lamb explores the Kratt, a Baltic household spirit that grants wealth by stealing from neighbors in exchange for a blood pact and the owner's soul.
STBYM Listener Mail: The Dog Days are Over
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick read listener emails covering a wide range of topics, including science fiction references to Mercury, the…
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: The Boxer's Omen
Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick analyze the 1983 Shaw Brothers film The Boxer's Omen, a chaotic blend of martial arts and black magic.
From the Vault: Transporters and Consciousness in Star Trek
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the philosophical implications of Star Trek’s transporter technology, debating whether teleportation…
Weirdhouse Cinema: Star Trek - First Contact
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick analyze 1996’s Star Trek: First Contact, highlighting its status as the most horror-leaning Trek film and its effective standalone narrative for new viewers.
Star Trek Week: The Borg, Part 2
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick continue their Star Trek Week series by analyzing the Borg as a complex villain.
The Artifact: The Klingon Bat'leth
This episode explores the Klingon Bat'leth, a fictional curved sword from Star Trek, detailing its design origins and cultural significance within the Klingon warrior society.
Star Trek Week: The Borg, Part 1
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss the Borg in Star Trek, focusing on their introduction in the Next Generation episode "Q Who" and the film First Contact.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Wrath of Khan
In this Star Trek Week episode, the hosts analyze *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*, arguing it was the pivotal film that saved the franchise from cancellation.
From the Vault: The Salt Vampires of Star Trek
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss "The Man Trap," the first aired episode of Star Trek, analyzing its shapeshifting salt vampire and the show's early character dynamics.
Weirdhouse Cinema: Warriors of the Year 2072
This episode of Stuff To Blow Your Mind analyzes Lucio Fulci’s 1984 sci-fi film *Warriors of the Year 2072*, also known as *The New Gladiators*.
Mercury: Inner Messenger, Part 4
This episode concludes the Mercury series by exploring the planet's mysterious formation, discussing theories like giant impacts or solar evaporation…
The Monstrefact: The Hollow of Scavenger's Reign
Host Robert Lamb analyzes the 2023 animated series *Scavengers Reign*, focusing on the telepathic creature Hollow.
Mercury: Inner Messenger, Part 3
This episode explores Mercury’s heavily cratered surface, unique "hollows" formed by volatile evaporation, and its ongoing thermal contraction.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: The Time Machine (1960)
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1960 film adaptation of H.
From the Vault: Cats of Cyprus
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the oldest evidence of domesticated cats, found in a 9,500-year-old grave on Cyprus.
Weirdhouse Cinema: In the Dust of the Stars
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick analyze the 1976 East German sci-fi film *In the Dust of the Stars*.
Mercury: Inner Messenger, Part 2
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the challenges of reaching Mercury, detailing how spacecraft like MESSENGER and BepiColombo use gravity assists to counteract the Sun’s gravitational pull.
The Monstrefact: The Mercurians of Marvel Comics
Host Robert Lamb explores fictional alien species from Mercury in Marvel and DC comics, including genetically engineered humans and two-headed giants.
The Photo Ark, with Joel Sartore
Host Robert Lamb interviews National Geographic photographer Joel Sartori about his "Photo Ark" project, which documents Earth’s biodiversity through stark studio portraits.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Empire of the Dark
Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1991 cult horror film Empire of the Dark, praising its passionate, amateur production and swashbuckling charm.
From the Vault: Folkloric Cats of the British Isles
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the magical and folkloric cats of the British Isles, discussing creatures like the Cat Sìth and the ritual of the Tagurum.
Weirdhouse Cinema: Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, contrasting its chaotic plot and dated CGI with the stronger first film.
Mercury: Inner Messanger, Part 1
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick launch a series on Mercury, exploring its extreme heat, lack of atmosphere, and unique sodium tail.
The Monstrefact: Ogres
Host Robert Lamb explores the origins and cultural significance of the ogre in this episode of The Monster Fact.
STBYM Listener Mail: Stone Foxes
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick address listener mail, featuring a technical correction on diatom imaging and recommendations for 1960s Japanese horror films.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Quatermass and the Pit
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick analyze the 1967 British sci-fi horror film *Quatermass and the Pit*.
From the Vault: Saint Swithin's Revenge
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the folklore of St.
Weirdhouse Cinema: Adam and Eve (1983)
Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1983 Italian film *Adam and Eve*, a bizarre blend of biblical epic, survival romance, and cannibal exploitation.
The Shocking Vastness of Prairie , Part 4
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick conclude their prairie series by examining the prairie dog as a keystone ecosystem engineer, detailing its…
Animalia Stupendium Revisited: The Giant Clam
The Shocking Vastness of Prairie , Part 3
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick continue their prairie series by examining bison as ecosystem engineers.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick revisit the 1971 classic *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*, dedicating the episode to Lamb’s late mother.
From the Vault: The Extreme Maneuverability of Hummingbirds, with Roslyn Dakin
Host Robert Lamb interviews Rosalind Dakin, a hummingbird researcher, about their extreme maneuverability and high metabolic rates.
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Bronx Warriors
Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1982 Italian sci-fi film *The Bronx Warriors*, directed by Enzo G.
Are We Doomed? with Ben Bradford
Host Robert Lamb interviews Ben Bradford about his new NPR podcast, *Are We Doomed?
The Monstrefact: Blood Clot Boy
Robert Lamb explores Kotoyus, a Blackfoot mythic hero born from a bison’s blood clot.
The Shocking Vastness of Prairie , Part 2
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the psychological phenomenon of "prairie madness," analyzing how 19th-century homesteaders reacted to the…
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Deerskin
Host Joe McCormick and guest JJ Pauseway discuss the 2019 French absurdist comedy *Deerskin*, directed by Quentin Dupieux.
From the Vault: Dinner with King Tut, with Sam Kean
Host Robert Lamb interviews author Sam Keane about his book *Dinner with King Tut*, which explores experimental archaeology.
Weirdhouse Cinema: The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick analyze the 1953 classic *The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms*, discussing its Ray Harryhausen effects and Ray Bradbury origins.
The Shocking Vastness of Prairie , Part 1
Smart Talks with IBM: Trust Needs Proof: Who Really Controls Your AI?
Malcolm Gladwell discusses digital sovereignty with IBM’s Ana Paula Assis and AXA’s Giovanni Daniello, exploring how businesses regain control over critical third-party systems.
Listener Mail: The Summer's Out of Reach
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick read listener emails discussing Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer,” Boards of Canada, and the heat death of the universe.
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Uninvited (1988)
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick review the 1988 B-movie *Uninvited*, concluding their "Cat Week" with this tale of a mutant feline terrorizing a yacht.
From the Vault: Lost Wonders, with Tom Lathan
Host Robert Lamb interviews author Tom Latham about his book *Lost Wonders*, which chronicles 11 species that went extinct in the 21st century.
Weirdhouse Cinema: In the Mouth of Madness
Hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss John Carpenter’s 1994 horror film *In the Mouth of Madness*, prompted by the recent passing of star Sam Neill.
Dog Days and Death Stars, Part 4
In the final episode of their "Dog Days and Death Stars" series, hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore folklore scholar Eleanor Long’s theory…
The Monstrefact: Marvel’s Sphinx
Host Robert Lam explores how ancient Egypt influences Marvel Comics, citing characters like Apocalypse, Rama Tut, and the mutant wizard Sphinx.