Programmed to Chill

[originally published on Patreon Dec 10, 2022]

Today's the second episode examining the life of Leon Trotsky, and I'm joined by Comrade Chad. We discuss Trotsky's post-revolution and post-civil war activities, the curious case of Soviet gold reserves and Trotsky's much-disputed Opposition Bloc. We also talk about the Trust, aka the honeypot to end all honeypots, and Trotsky's jockeying for power. 

Songs:

All Gold Everything by Trinidad James (remixed by Ryan Celsius)

Snakes in the Grass by Waka Flocka Flame

Slidin' by 21 Savage

(the Catch-22 ska album about Trotsky was too cringe to use, sorry)

[originally published on Patreon Dec 4, 2022]

Today's the first of a new series examining the legacy of Trotskyism through a parapolitical lens, and to kick it off, we examine the life of Leon Trotsky. I'm joined by Comrade Chad to discuss Trotsky's early life and career through the Bolshevik revolution. Particularly of note are the activities of Trotsky's uncles, his revolutionary activities in France, and his interesting residency in New York City. 

Songs:

Lev Bronstein by the Redskins

If I Were a Rich Man - Fiddler on the Roof

Bring It Down by the Redskins

Reds Strike the Blues by the Redskins

[originally published on Patreon Nov 21, 2022]

Today's an interesting one as I'm joined by the artist Roger Peet to discuss family history and the murky world of mercenary work in the African continent. Peet walks us through the story of his father which touches on a dozen interesting topics ranging from faking your own death, mercenaries, factions of Cubans fighting in Africa, spying, colonialism and so-called post-colonialism, uranium mining, and the nuclear arms race. 

Links:

https://toosphexy.carrd.co/

https://justseeds.org/artist/rogerpeet/

Songs:

Zombie by Fela Kuti

Sorrow Tears and Blood by Fela Kuti

Beasts Of No Nation by Fela Kuti

V.I.P (Vagabonds In Power) by Fela Kuti

[originally published on Patreon

Today I'm joined by Trash (@bidenbigboi) to discuss the French novel, the Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell. The novel follows an SS officer through WWII which provides various opportunities to discuss various aspects of the Eastern Front and the Holocaust. Then, later, we discuss Littell's background which points to this being an entry in the Novels as Spycraft series. 

*note, I accidentally refer to Friedrich Flick as “Frick”, what are you gonna do

Songs:

Into Warmer Air by Hildur Guðnadóttir

Ascent by ‘’

Erupting Light by ‘’

Overcast by ‘’

De tes yeux bleus perlés by Celeste

[originally published on Patreon Nov 7, 2022]

Today's the second of two episodes on the hardboiled novelist Dashiell Hammett. Today I discuss several Hammett's wartime experiences, his tuberculosis, the tail end of his private detective career, and his writing career. Hammett went to Hollywood and became a committed communist, and was targeted by McCarthy and HUAC. Fundamentally, though, we can learn much from Hammett.

Songs:

I'm No Communist by Lulu Belle & Scotty

When I'm Gone by Phil Ochs

[originally published on Patreon Nov 1, 2022]

Today's the first of two episodes on the hardboiled novelist Dashiell Hammett. Today I go through the first half of Hammett's life, including his early life and family history, his time as a Pinkerton operative, and what being a Pinkerton op entailed. I discuss the Mining Wars and tell the story of Frank Little, an IWW organizer. I finish the episode with a discussion of the novel, Red Harvest. 

Note: the Hammett episodes are, I believe, the last episodes with annoying sound quality issues, for which I apologize.

Songs:

There is Power in a Union by Utah Phillips

The Ballad of Frank Little by Dusty the Kid

[originally published on Patreon Oct 24, 2022]

Today's the last of the horror movies for CrackpotoberFest 2022 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995) aka Texas Chainsaw Massacre IV. I'm joined by the unrivaled Dakota to discuss the film. We go through the weird vibes and the increasingly paranoid themes. Then, we cover the existence of comparable blackmail and murder rings that have been exposed in the past.

Songs:

Blood in the Streets by the Jasons

Longhaired Redneck by David Allan Coe

I’ve Seen Footage by Death Grips

[originally published on Patreon Oct 17, 2022]

Today's the third of four horror movies for CrackpotoberFest 2022 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) aka Halloween 6. I'm joined by Blauer (@blauer_geist) to discuss the film. Blauer helps me walk us through the plot to Halloween 6, the cult of Thorn, and especially contextualizes the film within the Halloween franchise as a whole. Then, I discuss the Matamoros cult in relation to the film, and hopefully point out some things which go under-discussed when Matamoros comes up.

episode art is the remains of Mark Kilroy

Links:

https://twitter.com/blauer_geist

https://apocalypse-confidential.com/ 

Songs:

Halloween Theme

Brujerizmo by Brujeria

el Padrino by Church of Misery

[originally published on Patreon Oct 9, 2022; you can also find the episode on Tanner's blog Getting Spooked]

Today's the second of four horror movies for CrackpotoberFest 2022 - Ghostwatch (1992), and I'm joined by Fortean expert Tanner Boyle (@TannerFBoyle1) to discuss the film. Tanner walks us through the plot and we discuss the film and its themes, which include spiritualism, baby farming, psychological operations, Jimmy Savile, the Society for Psychical Research, and even, yet again, a Jonestown connection.

Links:

https://twitter.com/TannerFBoyle1

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-fortean-influence-on-science-fiction/

https://tannerfboyle.substack.com/

Songs:

Con Clave Con Dio by Ghost

Satan Prayer by Ghost

Ghost Song by the Doors

[originally published on Patreon Oct 1, 2022]

Today's the first of four horror (or quasi-horror) films for CrackpotoberFest 2022 - Girl, Interrupted, both the memoir and the film. I discuss Susanna Kaysen and her father, a very interesting figure. I talk about McLean Hospital, Jim Watson, spies at McLean, and Kaysen's later career. 

Then, I go over some interesting themes that Girl, Interrupted the film injects into the narrative - some potentially spurious, some maybe not. To wrap up, I discuss the history of MKULTRA projects at McLean and the general area. CrackpotoberFest only gets weirder from here.

Songs:

Knockin’ Round the Zoo by James Taylor

White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

Downtown by Petula Clark

Angel Baby by Rosie & the Originals