Stuff To Blow Your Mind

The Ig Nobel Prizes once more honor ten studies that make us laugh, but then make us think. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe continue their annual tradition of discussing some of their favorites from this year’s winners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is changing cybersecurity and raising hard questions about how fast organizations can respond. Earlier this year, IBM and Red Hat launched Lightwell, a $5 billion initiative backed by a force of 20,000 engineers with the goal of securing the open source software that powers a great deal of modern life — from banks and payment systems to transportation and critical infrastructure. Malcolm Gladwell speaks with cybersecurity leader Jen Easterly, Wells Fargo Chief Information Security Officer Munish Sharma, and Red Hat’s Gunnar Hellekson about how AI is transforming vulnerability discovery, how open source software can introduce risk, and what it will take to secure the shared digital infrastructure much of the world depends on. If this episode sparks a question you’d like to ask an IBM technical expert, submit your question at ibm.com/smarttalks This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions. See…

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with author and journalist Michael Pollan, author of “How to Change Your Mind” and “A World Appears" about the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking 2006 book “The Omnivore's Dilemma.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans can only hurt the environment so long before nature fights back -- and that’s just what happens in 1972’s “Frogs,” starring a young Sam Elliot and a whole bunch of reptiles and amphibians. It’s a Florida movie through-and-through in this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema. (originally published 4/16/2021) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert and Joe's second installment of Grimoire of Horror from last year, in which they’ll each present a horror short-story of note and discuss its connections to science and culture at large. In this volume, they discuss “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream’ by Harlan Ellison and "The Crevasse" by Nathan Ballingrud and Dale Bailey. (originally published 10/30/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the ghoulishly hip 1981 horror comedy anthology “The Monster Club,” directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Vincent Price, John Carradine and Donald Pleasence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert and Joe return with a third installment of Grimoire of Horror, in which they’ll each present a horror short story of note and discuss its connections to science and culture at large. In this volume, they discuss Jorge Luis Borges’ "There Are More Things" and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Wife’s Story.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses “The Devil’s Country,” the fabulous haunted tiled-wall mosaic room in Clive Barker’s 2001 novel “Coldheart Canyon.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Six Labors of Theseus through the modern lens of slasher movies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1980 supernatural zombie film “City of the Living Dead,” directed by the legendary Lucio Fucli, scored by Fabio Frizzi and starring Christopher George and Catriona MacColl. (originally published 10/31/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic, sinister episode from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss different folkloric and legendary monsters tied to mine shafts and mining... (originally published 10/9/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1988’s “Ghosthouse,” directed by schlock-master Umberto Lenzi and starring Lara Wendel. Think of it as “Poltergeist” in Boston, as told by the director of “Cannibal Ferox.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here it comes! It’s pulling off those shades. Oh here it comes! A creature with no face! Join Robert and Joe as they discuss various creatures from folk tradition, urban legend and popular media that frighten us with their smooth-skin visages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Pokémon Sableye, its connection to the Hopkinsville Goblin UFO encounter and the great horned owl… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with author Sam Kean about some of the spooky contents of his new book "The Museum of Lost Things." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this clasic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Mario Bava’s “Black Sunday," a blood-chilling tale of witchcraft, punishment and revenge from beyond the grave, starring Barbara Steele and John Richardson. (originally published 10/24/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic, sinister episode from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss different folkloric and legendary monsters tied to mine shafts and mining... (originally published 10/7/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1974’s “Evil of Dracula,” starring Toshio Kurosawa, Mariko Mochizuki, Kunie Tanaka and Shin Kishida. It is the third film in Michio Yamamoto’s “Bloodthirsty Trilogy” of standalone, Hammer-inspired Japanese horror films. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe discuss examples of haunted house stories and traditions from Ancient Greece and Rome. What do they reveal about ancient peoples and human nature? Find out… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses the trick-taking origins of the tarot deck… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe discuss examples of haunted house stories and traditions from Ancient Greece and Rome. What do they reveal about ancient peoples and human nature? Find out… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1943's "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," starring Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. (orignally published 10/10/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the idea of Egyptian tomb curses, how they actually factored into ancient Egyptian practices and where the myth of the Pharaoh's curse meets reality. (originally published 10/02/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Ron and Joe discuss the dreamlike 1973 American supernatural horror film “Messiah of Evil,” written and directed by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck. It stars Michael Greer, Marianna Hill, Joy Bang, Anitra Ford and Royal Dano. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with author, artist and educator Geo Rutherford about her new book “Spooky Rivers: 25 Strange and Mysterious Rivers that Snake Across Our Planet.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses Thomas Edison’s creepy, singing phonograph doll… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scarecrow watches over the field, but does it watch us back? Does it keep the birds away, or does it deter darker fiends from these haunted lands? Join Robert and Joe for a Halloween-season look at the science, culture and folklore of scarecrows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1988 horror comedy creature feature Killer Klowns From Outer Space, produced by the Chiodo brothers and starring Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson and John Vernon. (originally published 10/3/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the idea of Egyptian tomb curses, how they actually factored into ancient Egyptian practices and where the myth of the Pharaoh's curse meets reality. (originally published 9/30/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Halloween season episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe unwrap 1932’s “The Mummy,” the film that introduced Ancient Egyptian reanimated corpses into the Universal Monsters canon. Directed by Karl Freund, it stars Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners and Edward Van Sloan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scarecrow watches over the field, but does it watch us back? Does it keep the birds away, or does it deter darker fiends from these haunted lands? Join Robert and Joe for a Halloween-season look at the science, culture and folklore of scarecrows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the the sinister entity from Stephen King’s 1977 short story “Children of the Corn” and its mythological and folkloric predecessors…. (originally published 1/8/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scarecrow watches over the field, but does it watch us back? Does it keep the birds away, or does it deter darker fiends from these haunted lands? Join Robert and Joe for a Halloween-season look at the science, culture and folklore of scarecrows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the wild realm of Mexican horror with Juan López Moctezuma’s 1977 cult classic “Alucarda,” starring Tina Romero, Susana Kamini, David Silva and Claudio Brook. (originally published 9/26/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the psychological, economic and decision theory phenomenon known as ambiguity aversion. Find out how it relates to the Ellsberg paradox, madman theory and the balance of power in our world. (orignally published 8/28/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic Weirdhouse Cinema two-parter, Rob and Joe enter the arena to discuss the 1995 video game adaptation “Mortal Kombat,” directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and featuring show favorite Christopher Lambert as Lord Rayden. (originally published 8/16/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the psychological, economic and decision theory phenomenon known as ambiguity aversion. Find out how it relates to the Ellsberg paradox, madman theory and the balance of power in our world. (orignally published 8/26/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special omnibus episode of The Monstrefact, Robert discusses several creatures from the imagined worlds of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the faunal boundary line between Asia and Australia known as the Wallace Line and the British naturalist it was named for, Alfred Russel Wallace. (orignally published 8/21/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic Weirdhouse Cinema two-parter, Rob and Joe enter the arena to discuss the 1995 video game adaptation “Mortal Kombat,” directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and featuring show favorite Christopher Lambert as Lord Rayden. (originally published 8/9/2024) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the faunal boundary line between Asia and Australia known as the Wallace Line and the British naturalist it was named for, Alfred Russel Wallace. (originally published 8/19/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1983 Canadian rat thriller “Of Unknown Origin,” directed by George P. Cosmatos and starring Peter Weller. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert sits down with Mark Mandica inside the the Amphibian Foundation's brand new Venom Lab to discuss the science of reptile venom. Full video of the interview available on Netflix. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the Kratt from Estonian folklore… 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 dive into the grisly black sorcery and mind-bending Buddhist magic in the legendary Shaw Brothers film “The Boxer’s Omen,” directed by Kuei Chih-Hung. (orignally published 9/19/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic Star Trek Week episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss teleportation in the Star Trek universe and the questions it raises about human identity and consciousness. (originally published 9/11/2025) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Star Trek Week episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe are off to see the Borg Queen in 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact,” directed by Jonathan Frakes and also starring Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, LaVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell and Alice Krige. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Star Trek Week episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the culture and technology of the enigmatic Borg. Resistance is futile. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Artifact, Robert discusses the famous Klingon Bat'leth weapon from the Star Trek universe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.