Finger-pointing and cloaks and daggers around the origin of COVID as new whistle-blower documents show earlier understanding (and possible cover-up) of COVID than we understood. We’re discovering a large variety of conflicts of interest in our pandemic response. Also, over-building has lead to bespoke ghost towns and demolitions around the world. Who’s going on the new Blue Origin manned capsule according to rumor? Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” After Things will return next week! Picks: Andrew: Foundation Justin: Heels Brian: Foundation Bryce: Deathloop

What non-fiction have you been reading? Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” Andrew: Chaos Monkeys Justin: Anarchy, State, and Utopia Bryce: Freedom from Anxious Thoughts and Feelings

The longest gets longester! Penguins attacked by what? Jupiter caught one to the face and SpaceX did their own space tourism last week! Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” Picks: Andrew: You Only Live Twice and Mustard on YouTube Justin: Heels Bryce: Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time

Fake Wal-Mart and litecoin rumors. Firefly Alpha launches a big, bright explosion machine. What’s in the latest Mars rock samples? Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” After Things is off this week and will be back next week! Picks: Andrew: What If…? Justin: Anarchy, State, and Utopia Brian: Oathbringer Bryce: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Listener Nick has a question: how do you set long-term goals? Breaking down big ideas and concepts into smaller, doable actions. Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.”

We’re skeptical of a bandit and the reporting around it. Havana syndrome: if it’s real, what is the danger? Is it a new sonic weapon? Amid the star contract wars, Blue Origin is working on a new, impressive upper stage booster. What would happen if Blue Origin shacked up with another nation–and would that ever happen? Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” Picks: Andrew: Congo from Michael Crichton Justin: The White Lotus Brian: Hacks Bryce: Formula 1: Drive to Survive

How do you gauge how you should present yourself for different audiences? Code-switching, basically? The pressures of being “on.” Corporate versus casual environments. Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” Picks: Justin: Quiz Show Brian: Ted Lasso Bryce: Freedom From Anxious Thoughts and Feelings from Scott Symington

NASA has paid SpaceX for the Human Landing System (HLS) and removed the stop-work order. SpaceX says we’ll get a human to the moon before its 2024 deadline. Do you want to buy a black site? Facebook redesigns the meeting in virtual reality. As we return to society, so too does wilderness. Tesla’s bot: a joke or a vision? Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” Picks: Justin: The White Lotus Brian: The Game Bryce: Formula 1: Drive to Survive

Bad jobs! Everyone’s got stories, but what can we learn from them as employees and employers? Lynyrd Skynyrd corners, cougar feeding, and Keebler elves. Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” Picks: Andrew: Ripley’s Game Justin: Guardians of the Galaxy Brian: Free Guy Bryce: The Silence of the Lambs

Everyday Astronaut got a first-hand tour with Elon Musk at the SpaceX Starship launchpad. How does three hours of seemingly-unfiltered conversation about space affect the public image of SpaceX and Musk? Mechazilla, a real UFO catcher shaped liked a friend. Boeing hits more snags and Blue Origin goes to court. Got something weird? Email [email protected], subject line “Weird Things.” Picks: Andrew: Everyday Astronaut on YouTube Justin: The Suicide Squad Brian: Star Trek: Lower Decks Bryce: The White Lotus