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Recorded live at the historic Boston Armory, join hosts Paul and Stephen for a thrilling conversation on werewolves, from ancient myths to modern interpretations. Go back in time to break down the great werewolves of the past: Jan Thys of Livonia, Peter Stump, and of course…the Beast of Gévaudan, a mysterious creature in 18th-century France.

Later, Paul and Stephen dive into were-hyenas, were-crocodiles, and a man who thinks he transformed into a buffalo! And of course, it wouldn’t be a Chinwag without getting a little philosophical! Are werewolves just an allegory for puberty? For addiction?

Find out in this special live edition of the Chinwag!

Chin-Word of the Week: LYCANTHROPY 

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

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🧿🧿🧿

More Chinwag with DEVO’S co-founder, and author of the beautiful new book “Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti”, Mark Mothersbaugh. Mark shares his earliest memory of AI which happened to involve Timothy Leary’s AI therapist! Then, DEVO’s frontman takes us back to a memorable church trip when he hears people speaking in tongues. And what’s all that got to do with The Flintstones?

What’s the importance of collecting stuff, and how does it contribute to AI? Also, a discussion on the significance and symbolism of the evil eye, which is the most reliable and important sense, and Mark’s incredible personal mail art collection. Paul reveals his recurring dreams while Mark wraps up this Chinwag with a wild tale of a 12-movie acid trip. Get on board!

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Mark Mothersbaugh is an artist, composer, and co-founder of the influential rock group DEVO. His latest art book titled “Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti” is a collection of neo-dada streams of conscious visual poetry.

Note: Headshot for this week's cover art is courtesy of Brent Broza 📸

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🤖🖼🎸

This Chinwag welcomes Mark Mothersbaugh, DEVO’s co-founder and author of the fascinating new book “Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti.”

Come along and reminisce about DEVO’s first live appearance on SNL, thanks to the legendary Blues Brothers, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Mark is tickled to learn Paul and Stephen were spooked by DEVO as kids, and Mark explains why he thought rock ‘n’ roll was dead by 1964. Then, the art movements that inspired DEVO, and Mark shares a pivotal moment during the Kent State protests that gives a heartfelt glimpse into DEVO’s roots.

So what is it about DEVO’s unique flair that sets them apart? And is that really Mark as the art teacher on Yo Gabba Gabba!? Things get deep as Mark talks devolution, science vs. religion, early Homo sapien artifacts, and the eerie reasons behind holes in ancient skulls. The conversation then shifts to AI and we’re off to the Chinwag races!

Chin-word of the Week: APOTROPAIC

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Mark Mothersbaugh is an artist, composer, and co-founder of the influential rock group DEVO. His latest art book titled “Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti” is a collection of neo-dada streams of conscious visual poetry.

Note: Headshot for this week's cover art is courtesy of Brent Broza 📸

🤖🖼🎸

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🦾🐕‍🦺🦻🏼

On this riveting Chinwag, Paul and Stephen speak to Riva Lehrer, an award-winning artist, writer, and curator with an unconventional approach to portraiture.

Together they explore the nuances of living with a disability, stigma, defining beauty, and the complexities of human interactions. Riva shares the importance of representation and the burden of standing out in a world that often overlooks diversity. Talk then turns to “inspiration porn”, reclaiming narratives, and an overview of what language is pejorative when discussing the disabled population.

In true Chinwag fashion, the conversation moves to Frankenstein, and Riva’s connection with Mary Shelley's monster and the concept of the golem, a protective creature made from clay. And of course, stay tuned for an incredible ghost story from Riva’s haunted school-hood days. We’re Chinwaggin’ over here!

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Riva Lehrer is an award-winning artist, writer and curator who focuses on the socially challenged body. She is the author of the memoir Golem Girl, and her work has been featured at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Yale University, and The United Nations. For more information, visit rivalehrerart.com.

🦾🐕‍🦺🦻🏼

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📰🛸🕵🏼‍♀️

Fortean Times has been bringing weirdness into people’s lives for over 50 years and Paul’s been reading its pages since he was a mere Chin-cub. Now join Paul and Stephen as they meet the man behind the mag, esteemed News Editor, Ian Simmons.

What follows is a mind-bending exploration of the weird and wonderful including a colorful sketch of the life and work of Charles Fort—a guiding spirit of this humble Chinwag podcast. Fort, known for his unique style of collecting and presenting ‘damned data,’ delved into phenomena excluded by mainstream science. Hear Fort’s own words about outcast phenomena and delve into the positivism movement and notable figures like Ken Campbell.

How has a narrow view of science shaped our understanding of the unexplained? Will mysterious occurrences like rains of blood, fish, and frogs ever find a place under the umbrella of respectable sciences? Ball lightning and cryptids also get their time in the sun, as do vomiting pelicans, Bigfoot’s petrified poop, and more and more obscure poltergeist outbreaks. And don’t miss Gef—the talking mongoose—a particular favorite of Paul’s! Plus, we explore Fort’s connection to Jacques Vallee and bizarre outbreaks like the Goblins in Zimbabwe. This Chinwag explores the delicate balance between skepticism and belief, the joy and complexity of embracing strangeness, and all from a Fortean point of view!

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Ian Simmons is the News Editor of Fortean Times, the world's leading magazine for weird news. He has written for Fortean for over 30 years.

📰🛸🕵🏼‍♀️

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👨🏼‍🏫🍏🕰️

The Professor is in for Chinwag Office Hours! Professor Stephen Asma offers his rarefied time and detours into more of the unusual topics you crave.

This week on Office Hours, Stephen drops his knowledge on the Mothman and the psychology of creepiness. What is the purpose of creepy feelings and eerie sensations? Are they interdimensional beings of energy that exist to warn and protect us? Hear the first sightings of the Mothman, classic stories of Mothman, and question whether this legend is a cryptid or a demon or something else entirely?

Maybe it’s really a creature developed in human imagination, as posited by Fortean author John Keel. And what’s the connection to Jacques Vallee, UFOs and fairies? Are Mothmans just the domain of human thought, products of collective consciousness or ultra terrestrials? Brace yourself for firsthand accounts of Mothman that may make you rethink your skepticism! Or maybe the Mothman is just a Blue Heron…either way, we’re glad you swung by the Chinwag basement for our inaugural Office Hours!

Chin-word of the week: TULPA

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

👨🏼‍🏫🍏🕰️

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🏐🏐🏐

Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma were delighted to speak with the wonderful Kathryn Hahn in this early Chinwag gem.

They were fascinated by Hahn's deep knowledge of cults, con men, hypnosis, brainwashing dogs, and the power of late night volleyball sessions. Hear about Travis the chimpanzee, radical nuns, lice couches, whether the Popes "Netflix and chill," and that time Paul fought off kidnapping Krishnas in Northern Ireland!

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Kathryn Hahn starred in Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things and next she’ll reprise her iconic role as Agatha Harkness in the Marvel Disney Plus series Agatha All Along.

🏐🏐🏐

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📚🧐🏛

Paul’s been studying up on Western philosophy and has even more burning questions for our exceedingly patient resident expert, Professor Stephen Asma.

Lean in to these bite-sized lessons about rationalists, empiricists and idealists, and Stephen’s explanation of the notoriously difficult to understand German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Then it’s on to romantic thinkers like Arthur Schopenhauer, or as Paul describes him “the pessimist.” Next are key figures in the philosophy of existentialism like Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre and Nietzsche, and don’t forget that famous nihilist Albert Camus. All that and Martin Heidegger, the they-self, and a discussion of what it means to be authentic in the world.

If you have even a passing curiosity of philosophy, even in the name of dinner party fodder, this is the Chinwag for you. It’s Ask the Philosopher: Part Deux!

Chin-word of the week: PHENOMENOLOGY

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

📚🧐🏛

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😊🎙️👽

It’s the audience’s turn to ask Paul, Stephen and the hilarious Bill Hader anything at this Chinwag recorded live from Dynasty Typewriter in L.A., and things go off the rails pretty quick!

If aliens land on Earth, what movie would this trio show them first? Then at the audience’s prodding, hear their favorite alien abduction movies, which cryptids they’d most want to be, and their most common soup order. Is it Split Pea? Tomato? Borscht? You know you want to know! Also the guys meet a surprising number of fans sporting their faces on T-shirts. 

Later, Bill and Paul discuss working with legendary makeup artist Rick Baker— and Bill admits he did Men in Black 3 just so he could ask about the transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London. And stick around ‘til the end to uncover the truth: did Ryan Gosling steal Bill’s Elephant Man story?

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

Bill Hader is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. He rose to fame on "Saturday Night Live" and co-created and starred in the acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning series "Barry."

😊🎙️👽

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