Lost Xplorers

On this bonus episode, Kris and I talk about the potential link between Language and Paranoia. Kris also introduces a new dichotomy: terror and delight. The creative challenge on this one was a lot of fun…definitely one of our better episodes all around.

David tells of his recent tornado adventures, followed by a discussion of the term "Two Spirit" as it's commonly used in modern discourse. This leads to a bigger discussion of the rich histories and traditions of Native peoples (timely talk for Indigenous Peoples' day). How do we view these cultures respectfully while still granting them the agency? What are ways to express culture without becoming a neoliberal subject?

Kris recounts the story of a giant lizard in a tub. We are so focused on the nouning of everything, but people are verbs. We want to understand people as dynamic oscillations between modes. We also cover using cons for good, sexual intimacy, chicken guts in the street, revisionist history, and we round out with a thought exercise: what if you could see five minutes into the future? Would you have a future at all?

On this episode, Kris and I talk about the recent story out of LA County, in which schoolkids may be encouraged to pray to Aztec gods. As fans of syncretism and blood sacrifice, Kris and I wrestle with the idea that there may be too much happening too fast. We also talk about the modern trend of couching personal grievances in broad social justice frameworks, giant mollusks, and physical confrontations. I recount a recent performance piece I witnessed that completely blew my mind and restored my faith in art.

Show notes:

California parents request judge block public schools from asking students to pray to Aztec gods

Tezcatlipoca

Tibetan Book of the Dead’s Karmic Mirror

Pink noise

Cooper’s hawk

Steps to an Ecology of Mind by Gregory Bateson

Biathlon

NON GRATA

What does it mean to control the narrative? Is there a narrative to control at all? What are good and bad optics? How about the difference between surface and substance? Pride and hate?

We ask a very important question: are you the hero of your life?

Can empowerment erode agency?

And finally, David tells a story of a time when his life might have been saved by a bad case of diarrhea.

Better Call Saul

Vince Lombardi

Annie Dillard

David Copperfield

Steve Ditko

Little Dorrit

We talk about Freak Power and Hunter S. Thompson in order to explore the difference between the counterculture of the 1960s/70s and the current culture of activism/wokeness/progressivism? Did cancellation exist in the 60s? What’s the difference between ideas and beliefs. David and Kris discuss their lines in the sand when it comes to free speech and offense: is there anything that goes too far? It seems like when I was growing up (David) it was the right who were the censors. Now it comes from both sides depending on the issue.

Show Notes:

The Disappearance of Rituals

Van Life

Elizabeth Holmes

Hunter S. Thompson

Fear and Loathing ’72

Connecticut Yankee

Encino Man

Freak Power

Angela Davis

Bobby Seale

G Gordon Liddy

William F Buckley

Jonathan Evison Censorship Call

Dan Savage

Are fictionalized depictions of child sacrifice release valves for the actual act, or symbolic representations that take the place of the act itself? We discuss the tension between the mythology of children as a swarm of demons and children as innocents to be protected, and come to a surprising conclusion to our conversation of child sacrifice. David also follows “The Path of the Spider” as a mind exercise during the episode.

The Child Eater of Bern

Moloch

“Lamia” by John Keats

Resident Evil 2 Remake

Black and Blue Magic by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

What about the Gabby Petito story is capturing the American consciousness so powerfully? What symbolic truths are revealed? Kris and I look at it through the symbolic lens of “women in trouble” and the darkening of the ubiquitous documentation of our lives on social media.

Atlas Obscura

The Elf School in Reykjavik

The Icelandic Sagas

Blackbird Targa

Perfume by Peter Suskind

Grand Tetons, Wyoming

Slenderman

The Green River Killer

David Bottoms

We explore the idea that American pop culture can be seen as ritual magical child sacrifice. If we live as perpetual children, does that create a necessity to vampirism the energy and spirit of the young?

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

Amanda Bynes

Mickey Dolenz

W.C. Fields

Alan Parker

Bugsy Malone

Cuties

Elizabeth Báthory

The Osmonds

The Sylvers

Tim Matheson

Ron Howard

In the River by Jeremy Robert Johnson

Lake Tahoe

“’Til the Money Runs Out” by Tom Waits

On this episode, Kris and I attempt to tease out the general malaise we’ve been feeling culturally as of late. We begin by discussing 9/11, taking it as an opportunity to talk about the shift we’ve made ideologically in the past 20 years. Why don’t we consider ourselves “left” anymore? We go into 9/11 conspiracies and how our thoughts have evolved. Whatever happened to intellectual humility? What is the mythopoetic story of 9/11?

Note: Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled album came out in 1992, not 1998.

Zanesville by Kris Saknussemm

Bizarrocon

McMenamin’s Edgefield

Bali Bombings

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

Morrisoncon

BIGBANG

Freemont Street

Donald Trump interview on 9/11

Loose Change

Leos Carax

“The Architects of Fear” episode of The Outer Limits