Let's talk about a mythological creature called The Axehandle Hound.

Main image from "Cryptid Wiki."

There’s a common mistake people make when they look at ancient epics, especially Greek ones. They assume these stories are just primitive attempts to explain cruelty. Bad things happen because the gods are petty. Lightning strikes because Zeus is angry. Suffering gets shrugged off as fate.

But that reading misses the point.

When we teach folktales, we often treat them like containers.

Open the story. Extract the lesson. Close the book.

Be kind. Be brave. Don’t lie.

Message received. Next story.

But what if that’s the least interesting thing a folktale can do?

In 2003, The Mars Volta released De-Loused in the Comatorium — an album that didn’t just enter the world of rock music… it detonated inside it.

A chaotic, beautiful, terrifying journey through addiction, hallucination, and rebirth.

Part punk, part jazz, part cosmic meltdown.

This was no ordinary debut.

Cover art from Gold Standard Laboratories / Universal Records / Strummer., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1661149

I'm going to look at Trump the pirate. Also: How Nancy Reagan actually helped create the scenario we are in, and how her story reflects conservative or right-wing hypocrisy. Also also: I look at one of the unique scandals of Charlton Heston and how that issue could be unifying between both traditional conservatives and the far left...but sadly isn't.

I get into how thinking about magical realism as a narrative mode is fascinating, and how it encourages a person to think about narrative modes in general, and the almost magical (and sometimes bizarre, powerful, and potentially frightening) nature of words.

Apologies if I covered some pf these Yooper topics before...but I also don't have that many regular listeners anyway, so it probably works out.

The big lie is still a big lie.

Reviewing America's Surveillance State, a 2014 TV mini-series that takes a hard look at the extent of government surveillance in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11.

Talking about A Christmas Story 2, the direct to video sequel to the 1983 classic A Christmas Story. It arrived almost thirty years after the original and came from a completely different creative team. My honest thoughts...and a few dishonest ones, just to keep you on your toes.