This week's show is a journey aboard the virtual Pequod as Joe Matheny and returning guest Leah Prime join AP in a discussion about the Herman Melville classic Moby Dick; or, The Whale- its esoteric qualities, the influence throughout literature and culture, and its personal effects on everyone in conversation here. They discuss works of art and literature as initiation, and the timeless impact of books such as Moby Dick on readers over 150 years after its initial release. The philosophical nature of the text, as a treatise on life, existence, and man's place in the world are less obvious than the titular whale and the attempt to hunt it down, and in the course of talking about it here Joe, Leah, and AP unpack some of the more mystical implications of the book. 

While discussing themes such as monomania, revenge, man vs nature, and fate each of the voices in the show shares a bit about their personal journeys with the text and how it has informed some of their views, inspired them, or led them on paths of discovery. It's a conversation worth listening to whether or not you've read the book.

Joe is the creator of Ong's Hat, and author of several books- follow him on substack here: https://substack.com/@josephmatheny

Leah can be found on bluesky at leahprime.bsky.social

This week, Jeremy Vaeni joins AP to talk about his lifetime of strange experiences and his new book, Kundalini and the Secrets of Silence. Vaeni has a long history within the realms of the paranormal and ufology, having been the co-host of Paratopia and the host of various other podcast and YouTube projects such as Wise Ask and He's so Vaeni. In addition to that, he has authored several other books about his experiences, such as Urgency and I Am to Tell You This, and I Am to Tell You It's Fiction. As an outspoken and often humorous voice within the wide subjects of the weird, he lends a perspective to such concepts as alien abduction that cause one to reconsider what's actually behind the phenomenon-- and this far-ranging conversation opens doors to plenty of such questions.

Among the subjects covered are Vaeni's encounters, the usefulness of such terms as "experiencer" and "abductee", how his experiences differed from that of his Paratopia co-host, Jeff Ritzmann, and what it was like to share their respective strange stories at the time. From there, he and AP discuss Kundalini, how it is presented and characterized in his newest book, and what we can learn from the non-human intelligences all around us-- many of whom, in this case, happen to be ducks.

Kundalini and the Secrets of Silence is an engaging read, which shows through examples of nature and heart rather than telling through technical terms how consciousness and mysterious life energies connect us all. It is available for purchase in January of 2026, but is available for pre-order now.

Follow Vaeni on YouTube at @jvaeni
...and check out his website here: https://www.ourundoing.com/

This week, magical artist Joe Ledoux joins AP for a whimsical exploration of stage magic, fine art, and skateboarding- and how Joe combines these interests in his work. They talk about Joe's journey in learning how to skate and how to perform magic, the importance of creativity and persistence, and the actual magical effects of art and performance. They also discuss Muhachi, a companion figure Joe uses to express himself in his zines, animations, and paintings, and Joe's inspiration and mentorship under Ralph Bakshi. If that's not enough, they also discuss sleight of hand in relation to shamanistic magic, Joe's personal synchronicities in his journey as a magical artist, and that time he cast a spell over Boston to summon UFOs, sea serpents, and fairies!

Joe is an accomplished magician from The McBride Magic and Mystery School out of Las Vegas, and performed with Le Grand David, the world's longest-running magic show. In this conversation he and AP dissect why stage magic need not necessarily be distinguished from "real" magic, or from fine art for that matter.

Check out Joe's website here: https://www.joeledoux.com/
...and give him a follow on instagram @joeledouxmagic

This week, Michael M. Hughes returns to the show to talk about the recently released second edition of his book Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change. Hughes is an author, game designer, activist, journalist, and magician, and in this episode he talks about the genesis of his book on magical resistance and the need for a second edition. For listeners unfamiliar with the background, he and AP discuss his original trump-binding spells that went viral online and led to the creation of the book in 2018. From there they discuss the inspiration for some of spells, using historical examples which are covered in the book, and get into the nitty-gritty of what constitutes magic in its most efficacious form.

The conversation also provided an opportunity for no small amount of political venting about the stupidity, cruelty, and evil in our current world. This lends itself to humor but also underlines the necessity for self-care and community, which is also covered in the book in a variety of spells outside of the notable trump binding ritual. From art as magic to humor as a tool against totalitarianism, inflatable frogs and the rippling effects of small acts of kindness, a lot of ground gets covered in this conversation.

Check out Michael's website here: https://www.michaelmhughes.com/
...and order the revised and expanded edition of his book here: https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop-crossed-crow-books/p/magicfortheresistance 

This week, returning guest Charles Lear joins AP and guest co-host Blackwolf John Oates for a lighthearted discussion of the state of UFOlogy in the 1980s, and how it influenced the 90s and beyond. In Charles' first appearance on the show, the focus was on his book The Flying Saucer Investigators, where this one focuses more on Crashed Saucers and Malevolent Aliens: The Emergence of the Popular Modern UFO Mythos in the Late 20th Century. Charles, Blackwolf, and AP discuss figures such as Bill Moore, Richard Doty, Richard Hoagland, Ray Stanford, Art Bell, Whitley Strieber, and many more voices who added to the crazy cacophony of 80s UFOlogy.

Discussed also is the TV special UFO Cover-Up? Live!, early internet forums, Deep Underground Military Bases, Roswell, the legacy of Coast to Coast AM, and controversial figures such as David Jacobs and Wendelle Stevens. It was a fast-paced and joke filled chat, and a celebration of weirdness in the form of conspiracy and UFO cultural relics. 

You can find Charles' books on Amazon, and read his regular blog posts at http://podcastufo.com

This week, multidisciplinary artist and researcher Caitlin Fitzgerald joins AP for a conversation about her art, the stories behind her work in various mediums, and folklore which infuses storytelling down through the ages. Caitlin creates visual art in the form of ceramics, stained glass, illustration, mixed media, and digital art- all of which she does very well, and all are informed by a sense of mystery and inspired by obscure legends. 

In this episode she explains the background and research for some of her subjects, such as the jackalope- for which she creates and sells bedazzled sculptures- and her longtime efforts in reviving the devotions to Saint Guinefort, a 13th century folk saint who just happens to be a dog. She does excellent original illustrations based on the design of illuminated manuscripts of the past, and the particulars of this kind of design as well as her sources are examined in conversation. They also talk about a mermaid saint, snails, and various other marginalia.

If all of that wasn't fascinating enough, Caitlin also talks about her work with the Boleskine House Foundation- a group which has, over the years, built and restored the legendary manor house near Loch Ness which Aleister Crowley once owned. Caitlin talks about her contributions to the restoration and her work with the foundation, which includes a stained glass light fixture which you can view on her instagram!

Check out her work at https://caitlinfitzgeraldart.com/
And for more on Boleskine House look at https://www.boleskinehouse.org

On this week's show Jay Shenk joins AP for a discussion about art, magic, and technology and how the history and methods behind these subjects intertwine in the 20th century. Jay is a self-described student of the strange, advertising professional, and tech hobbyist who is also pursuing a Masters degree in Art and Technology at the University of Oklahoma. In this conversation, he brings his knowledge of the highly weird to point out connections between subjects as seemingly disparate as Theosophy, surrealism, radionics, Spiritualism, parapsychology, outsider art, and technological advances in mass communications. 

The far-ranging scope of this episode allows for discussion of plenty of fun subjects, such as the outsider art of Howard Finster, Tony 'Doc' Shiels and his Monstermind experiments, Elvis seances, art as modern shamanism, and also Mothman's butt. Yes, you read that correctly. 

Follow Jay on Bluesky at @synoisia.bsky.social

As of this month, The AP Strange Show has been around for one whole year! This is a brief bonus for listeners, a thank you to all who have tuned in or appeared on the show, and some thoughts about where it's headed.

Along with that stuff, there's a few horror movie recommendations for your spooky season pleasure, and even a seance! 

Thanks to everyone who has supported the program, there's much more to come... and Happy Halloween!

This week, AP catches up with Adam Sayne, longtime host of the Conspirinormal podcast and organizer of the Strange Realities conferences in Tennessee. The show has been on hiatus, but Adam assures us in this conversation that Conspirirnormal will return- they start off by talking about his thirteen years of hosting, interviewing, and presenting ideas about all manner of weird subjects as well as examining the ever-changing landscape of media and what's generally referred to as "content creation". 
From there, the discussion becomes more of a paranormal jam session, with lighthearted chat about some of the more insane conspiracy theories, personalities within ufology and ghost hunting, and the ways these narratives overlap and inform beliefs more broadly. From Flat Earth and Tartaria to organic robotoids, the Nephilim, and Bigfoot, they run the gamut of fringe topics- and end with a look at demonology, and the long shadow cast by Ed and Lorraine Warren over paranormal investigation.
Check out https://conspirinormal.com/ to see the back catalog of shows Adam has done over the years, and, if you're not already, make sure to subscribe so you're there when the show returns!

This week, returning guest Solomon Pakal joins AP to discuss Mayan Astrology, and how one can use it to enhance their magical and mundane existence. Solomon is a longtime magical practitioner, a historian of Mesoamerican culture and magic, and Brujo through his Guatemalan ancestral lineage. In this episode, the conversation centers around his work with Mayan Astrology, which he will soon be offering a course on through his Substack. In the episode he outlines how the Maya conception of astrology differs from versions in the west, or in the Vedic tradition, involving more terrestrial and spirit based calendars that overlap in multidimensional ways. He further explains the benefits of using such a system for both personal and global predictions, for personal development, and magical timing.

Solomon is currently writing and sharing video content on his Substack that is well worth your time, and available to free subscribers. Beginning in November paid subscribers will have access to his course on Mayan Astrology, and listeners are encouraged to check it out here: https://substack.com/@solomonpakal