Podcasts about Twilight zone

This week, more of our conversation with former Disney Imagineer Joe Lanzisero. We talk about Joe's role in a very important piece of Muppet history, hidden Mickeys and so much more.You can follow Joe on Instagram.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 264 of Nerdery & Murdery is live.On the Nerdery side, Zig travels back to the early days of television to explore the classic 1950s anthology series Science Fiction Theatre. Long before The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits became household names, Science Fiction Theatre was bringing science-based speculative storytelling to television audiences, blending real-world scientific concepts with imaginative "what if?" scenarios and introducing viewers to the possibilities of the future.On the Murdery side, our A–Z Across America series continues with Maryland and one of the strangest cases we've covered so far: Hadden Clark.The murders of six-year-old Michelle Dorr and twenty-three-year-old Laura Houghteling would eventually be linked to a man whose confessions blurred the line between truth and fantasy. Even after his convictions, investigators continued asking the same question: how many of his claims were real, and how many were attempts to create his own mythology?A pioneering vision of tomorrow on one side.A killer surrounded by uncertainty on the other.Just another week of the Nerd and the Murd.Support the show

Join hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they head into The Twilight Zone classic episode, "A Piano in the House." In this chilling tale, a self-centered theater critic buys a peculiar player piano for his wife's birthday, only to discover that its haunting melodies reveal people's deepest, most hidden emotions. Freddy and Joe explore the episode's themes of vanity, vulnerability, and the dark side of human nature while sharing behind-the-scenes trivia and their own insights on why this story remains a standout in the series. Perfect for fans of psychological twists and Rod Serling's timeless storytelling!

The Alaskan Hotel has stood in Juneau since 1913, and the guests who ask for Room 315 by name do not always stay the night.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AlaskanHotelREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4r83875sFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: The Alaskan Triangle is already known for strange and bizarre activity – so it should be no surprise that a hotel located in the triangle might experience a few bumps in the night. (Alaskan Hotel) *** After picking up a sex worker to assault and murder, a serial killer made the mistake of underestimating the determination of his victim to stay alive… and lost his own life in the process. (The Hooker Who Stopped a Serial Killer) *** Chucky the doll isn't real. Neither were any of the dolls that came to life on shows like “The Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits” – but that doesn't mean real haunted dolls don't exist, and it's not just “Annabelle” and “Robert” on the list. (When Haunted Dolls Attack) *** Ilse Koch was a female concentration camp guard and she was so ruthless and evil even the Na*is had her arrested. (Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald) *** They reside atop dizzying heights and are often unnoticed by human eyes but ever watchful of our movements. They have 'observed' us for centuries. We'll look at the history and purpose of gargoyles and grotesques. (In The Protection of Gargoyles) *** Outside of Washington, D.C. lies an abandoned institution with a thoroughly disturbing past. We'll look at the history and horrors of Forest Haven Mental Asylum. (The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = The Foreboding00:00:55.557 = Show Open00:03:02.648 = The Alaskan Hotel00:14:35.519 = The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer ***00:21:01.261 = When Haunted Dolls Attack00:42:30.032 = Ilse Koch, The Witch Of Buchenwald ***00:53:50.963 = In The Protection of Gargoyles01:00:45.633 = The Afflictions of Forest Haven Asylum ***01:08:04.727 = Show Close01:09:07.770 = SONG: “Don't Knock On The Glass Of That Doll” by Crossroads Haint:https://weirddarkness.com/music01:14:36.912 = Bloopers*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:SONG: “Don't Knock On The Glass Of That Doll” by Crossroads Haint: https://weirddarkness.com/music“The Demonic Haunting of the Alaskan Hotel” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w47e9“The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer” by Roger Kim for Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2ffhcv4n“Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald” by Laura Allen for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yr3a4dvy“In The Protection of Gargoyles” by Angela Sutherland for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3j94t765“The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/34p6fe79“When Haunted Dolls Attack” by MD Bastek for Horror Obsessive: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckuhxk6(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: March, 2022LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

We sat down with Disney Imagineer Joe Lanzisero to talk about his career designing worlds at Disney and the process they followed to create worlds and experiences that guests will never forget.You can follow Joe on Instagram.

BEST OF: It is common to hear people talk about how they feel time is speeding up, or that life seems off, or that there is something just ‘wrong'. Besides the context of who say those things, or why, there may actually be a clear answer. Everything today has been transformed into a mental illness just as every topic is rendered to a strategy. The basis for this is psychology and behavioral science, dating back to even a time before Edward Bernays. Many of our lives are the result of psychological-behavioral methodology, which has been employed as a standard in everything from politics to fast food. Every company uses the same strategies. It may be that these methods of persuasion were a bit too effective and that they have created mutations that are the result of an experimental fallout. This is so true that when someone is directly honest or doesn't try to “sell” us on something we often become highly suspicious, which is both a trust issue and an expectation issue. Ultimately it seems that we are living in the Twilight Zone, inside a real Project Artichoke or Operation Climax. A population hooked on stimulants and shocked by momentary notifications are like the patients strapped down, shocked, and drugged in MKULTRA experiments. Those of us walking around in front of televisions with cameras are living a real life Operation Climax, and the repeated messaging every single day is a byproduct of subproject 68. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, subscribe below. 

Step into the uncanny world of classic television with hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they explore The Twilight Zone episode "Kick the Can." In this haunting and heartfelt story, a group of elderly residents at Sunnyvale Rest Home discover that a simple childhood game might hold the key to youth and freedom. When one man encourages his fellow residents to play "Kick the Can," the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the boundary between age and vitality blurs in true Twilight Zone fashion. Join Freddy and Joe as they break down the episode's themes, characters, and the emotional impact that makes "Kick the Can" a timeless favorite for fans of Rod Serling's legendary anthology series.

This week, in Depew, Oklahoma, a scary situation develops, after a strange relationship goes sour between a married woman, and a mystery man who rode a bicycle into town. The results are two very innocent people, brutally murdered in their own home, followed by a crazy rampage of violence that leaves blood all over the area. The killer refuses to give up, wanting to kill even more. But a brave teenager, who refused to be killed leads to his ultimate downfall, with only question remaining being "will he get the death penalty?"!!   Along the way, we find out that when a biker festival says "no kids allowed", there's going to be a lot of nudity, that no one just decides to ride a bicylce hundreds of miles, for no reason, and that sometimes, no matter how much you try to kill someone, they might just refuse to die!!   New episodes, every Wednesday & Friday nights!! Check us out on VIDEO Wednesday and Friday evenings on Netflix! www.netflix.com/smalltownmurder Go to shutupandgivememurder.com for all things Small Town Murder, Crime In Sports & Your Stupid Opinions!   Follow us on... instagram.com/smalltownmurder facebook.com/smalltownpod   Also, check out James & Jimmie's other shows, Crime In Sports & Your Stupid Opinions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!!

A very special occasion (a potentially good dinosaur movie) requires very special company, which is why on today's show, Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin to discuss David Robert Mitchell's ‘The End of Oak Street.' Before transporting back to the Mesozoic era, they cover Mallory's trip to D23 and react to myriad announcements, most crucially the casting for the upcoming X-Men movie. Then, they briefly discuss ‘The Last House' (a film they found utterly dreadful) before diving into ‘The End of Oak Street' (a film they found wildly entertaining and incredibly fascinating). Later, they each provide their top five favorite ‘Twilight Zone' movies. Finally, Sean is joined by actor Will Poulter to discuss his new film, ‘Union County,' and why he's pushing himself out of his comfort zone with roles that scare him. (0:00) Intro (1:07) CR and Mal join the show! (4:28) X-Men casting announcements (21:12) ‘Avengers: Doomsday' trailer reaction (27:42) Mal's ‘Starfighter' trailer reaction (31:47) Other D23 announcements (38:14) ‘The Last House' (48:05) ‘The End of Oak Street' (1:17:16) The top five 'Twilight Zone' movies (1:45:27) Will Poulter joins the show! (2:26:45) End-of-show outro Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Will Poulter, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin Producer: Jack Sanders Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us Fan MailEpisode 262 of Nerdery & Murdery is live.On the Nerdery side, Zig steps into the strange and unsettling world of Night Gallery, Rod Serling's eerie follow-up to The Twilight Zone. From haunting paintings and supernatural tales to psychological horror and dark twists, we revisit one of classic television's most atmospheric anthology series and the unique style that made it unforgettable.On the Murdery side, our A–Z Across America series continues as we head to Louisiana and the case of Ronald Dominique.For years, men disappeared across southern Louisiana. Bodies were discovered near bayous, canals, and isolated roads while investigators slowly realized they were hunting a serial killer targeting vulnerable victims across multiple parishes. By the time the investigation ended, Dominique had confessed to more than twenty murders.Classic television horror painted in shadows on one side. A real-world nightmare hidden in the Louisiana bayous on the other.Just another week of the Nerd and the Murd.Support the show

Step into the world of classic television with hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they dive into The Twilight Zone episode "Showdown with Rance McGrew." In this quirky installment, a Hollywood actor known for his Western roles suddenly finds himself transported into the real Old West, where he must confront the genuine dangers he only pretended to face on screen. Freddy and Joe break down the episode's sharp satire of fame, ego, and the blurred line between fiction and reality, offering insights, trivia, and a few laughs along the way. Perfect for fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and iconic TV storytelling.

Can you believe this is the first Spike Lee movie we've covered on the podcast? Lee is a director who's always had something to say about music, not always complimentary, and his Akira Kurosawa remake Highest 2 Lowest copped some flack for its take on modern hip-hop. It's the story of a legendary record label boss, played by Lee's recurrent collaborator Denzel Washington, who springs into action when his colleague's son is kidnapped.On this week's show, Simon reteams with Graham to talk about this complex, uneven but rewarding film, comparing its narrative priorities to Kurosawa's High and Low and exploring where it sits in Lee's canon. We also discuss its multiple musician cameos, including the weirdly negligible Ice Spice appearance and meatier roles for Princess Nokia and ASAP Rocky. You should listen to it as soon as possible.For the price of an extremely small ransom, you can get a bonus episode of this show - we've just dropped one on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey - as well as other goodies like the end-of-month round-up podcast Last Night..., weekly written articles on The Twilight Zone and Doctor Who, and Graham's other podcast The Arts Hole. For more on that, come back for our next episode in two weeks' time, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bsky and Facebook.

TVC 745.1: Ed welcomes Michael Tove, writer and producer of Yale Saleing, a thirty-minute short with elements of Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone about a young couple that find themselves embroiled in a twenty-year-old mystery after purchasing a strange box at a yard sale. Directed by Tom Logan, and starring Eric Roberts, Yale Saleing was making the film festival circuit at the time this interview was recorded; you can watch the film online at EmeraldOakProductions.com. Topics this segment include filming Yale Saleing on location in San Diego, California; the inclusive environment behind the scenes on the set; and the surreal experience Michael had hearing actors performing the words he had written.

Sometimes it's best not to make eye contact.Please dig us on Facebook and Twitter, and support this and our dives into other media like films of all types and prime Nintendo video games at our Patreon home of Podcastio Podcastius:https://www.patreon.com/podcastiopodcastiusAnd Matt makes music.  In fact, brand new albums include the psychedelic rock of "The Deep Dream Realm," and the binaural head trip of "The Depths of Fieldation."  Hear a few sounds here:https://rovingsagemedia.bandcamp.com/Coming Soon: Night Gallery  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

https://youtu.be/gK2e6ZNrtqc (*watch our YouTube interview Wednesday evening!)On today's episode of the Occult Symbolism and Pop Culture with Isaac Weishaupt podcast we are joined by a very special guest- it's the returning champ Richard Syrett! We're talking about his new book: "Tales From the Rock & Roll Twilight Zone" that gets into the esoteric side of rock history! We'll cover the origins of this project, The Beatles conspiracies, Charles Manson, JFK Trauma Engineering, Robert Johnson's Crossroads Faustian Bargains, a story about R Gary Patterson's trip to the Crossroads ending in disaster, the Rolling Stones at Altamont and much more!Pick up Richard Syrett's new book "Tales From the Rock & Roll Twilight Zone" and read chapter previews here: https://www.therockandrolltwilightzone.comLinks:Listen to our July 2025 interview: Richard Syrett on Coast to Coast AM, UFOs, Orthodoxy, Paranormal Experiences, & A.I. Control! https://illuminatiwatcher.com/richard-syrett-on-coast-to-coast-am-ufos-orthodoxy-paranormal-experiences-a-i-control/Follow Richard Syrett at https://www.strangeplanet.caRichard's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/strangeplanetradioFollow Richard Syrett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardsyrettstrangeplanet/SUPPORTER FEEDS get bonus content AND go commercial free + other perks:*PATREON.com/IlluminatiWatcher : ad free, HUNDREDS of bonus shows, early access AND TWO OF MY BOOKS! (The Dark Path and Kubrick's Code); you can join the conversations with hundreds of other show supporters here: Patreon.com/IlluminatiWatcher (*Patreon is also NOW enabled to connect with Spotify! https://rb.gy/hcq13)*VIP SECTION: Due to the threat of censorship, I set up a Patreon-type system through MY OWN website! IIt's even setup the same: FREE ebooks, Kubrick's Code video! Sign up at: https://illuminatiwatcher.com/members-section/*APPLE PREMIUM: If you're on the Apple Podcasts app- just click the Premium button and you're in! NO more ads, Early Access, EVERY BONUS EPISODE WANT MORE PODCASTS?... Check out my UNCENSORED show with my wife, Breaking Social Norms where we discuss conspiracies, politics, relationships and more!: https://breakingsocialnorms.com/Merch, MushroominatiWatcher Coffee, shirts, signed books: https://occultsymbolism.com/Isaac's Link Tree with links to EVERYTHING: https://allmylinks.com/isaacw *STATEMENT: This show is full of Isaac's useless opinions and presented for entertainment purposes. Audio clips used in Fair Use and taken from YouTube videos. 

Season 6, Episode 773: Replay to get the video version of this episode on Podcast apps. Head in the Woods, Forest Magic, The Strangers Hookup, an erotic romance fiction short story for entertainment, erotic arts purposes, celebrating and enjoying sexuality, and relationships, plus taking self care time. Take it baby, it's yours! Make sure you come today!   The story in a nutshell: A common male fantasy of primal horny sex in the woods, complete with a surprise hookup with a female cock worshiping partner. Logan gets his ultimate fantasy of bumping into a sexy stranger, Meredith, in the woods who is an athletic friendly woman who loves sex. He is elated when she comes on to him. She steps up her game even more when she drops to the forest floor for some sensual cock worshipping. All this hotness explodes before they both launch into juicy big O's from their spicy spontaneous union. How does this stranger meetup start? Meredith has spent the afternoon playing tennis and was walking home on the walking path. She spied something in the woods--someone moving in an odd way. She entered the forest with trepidation, but her curiosity propelled her on and came upon Logan. They met face to face and found each other intriguing. They decide to hike together. Things turn spicy when Meredith's libido erupts, and she gets bold. Ruan's books and audiobooks (affiliate links are in this post): http://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/ Shamelss Summit, Season 3: Reserve your spot in the FREE Shameless Summit, taking place August 24-28, 2026 Neighborhood Secrets: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/neighborhoodsecretssfwcover Wicked & Spicy Tales: Four short stories of erotic paranormal magic and erotic horror, eerie Twilight Zone-ish... not your typical Ruan Willow book as these stories are mystical, devious, and explore the darker side. These stories are not HEA, but instead are wicked and spicy. Audiobook: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/wickedandspicytalesaudiobook in Ebook and paperback: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/wickedandspicytales Hotwife book: An alternative lifestyle book of wife sharing called Servicing the Dryer Repairman, Laney Gives a Tip https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/servicingthedryerrepairman Podcast Merch! Wear Oh F*ck Yeah! Get Oh F*ck Yeah Podcast Merch T-shirts, tank tops, long sleeve shirts, mugs! Wear it sassy and hot! Support the show Join for $3 to get exclusive content Newsletters https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillow https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow

Twilight Zone (Stacey Keach) || (06) The After Hours / (07) Mr. Dingle, The Strong || 2002 ||| 01:36 .. The After Hours| 42:12 .. Mr. Dingle, The Strong: : : : :You can donate to show your support for my podcast and the time I put into creating and posting every week. Donations are through my duane.media PayPal account:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MSL7S8FKCSL94My other podcast channels include: MYSTERY x SUSPENSE -- DRAMA X THEATER -- COMEDY x FUNNY HA HA -- VARIETY X ARMED FORCES -- THE COMPLETE ORSON WELLES.Subscribing is free and you'll receive new post notifications. Thank you for your support.https://otr.duane.media | Instagram @duane.otr#scifiradio #oldtimeradio #otr #radiotheater #radioclassics #bbcradio #raybradbury #twilightzone #horror #oldtimeradioclassics #classicradio #horrorclassics #xminusone #sciencefiction #duaneotr:::: :

What would you sacrifice for the chance to live forever with the person you love? In this episode of Professor Frenzy, we travel into the strange and bittersweet world of The Twilight Zone and examile "The Long Morrow," one of the series' most memorable stories about love, time, sacrifice, and the price of immortality. When astronaut Douglas Stansfield is chosen for a dangerous mission that will take him deep into space, he knows that returning to Earth could mean finding everyone he loves decades older than he is. But a revolutionary solution offers him the possibility of returning without aging. There's just one catch. We'll look at the story, the performances, the science-fiction ideas behind the episode, and that devastating twist that makes "The Long Morrow" such an unforgettable Twilight Zone experience. If you love classic television, science fiction, Rod Serling, and the strange worlds of The Twilight Zone, be sure to subscribe to ProfessorFrenzy and join us for more journeys into television's most fascinating dimension.

This week we are once again joined by librarian and über-geek Shauna to discuss Andy Weir's collection of short stories. As always, Weir gives us enthralling and relatable characters, plausible science fiction, and a few twists that make you immediately want to read the story again.Today's root beer is A&W's Root Beer Float-flavored soda.Intro and Outro music by Stockmusic331 on Pond5Send us Fan Mail

Join Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland on this episode of their podcast as they dive into The Twilight Zone classic, "The Hunt." This haunting story follows Hyder Simpson, an old country man who tragically drowns while hunting with his loyal dog, Rip. When he discovers that he has passed on, Hyder begins a journey through the afterlife, where he encounters a mysterious gatekeeper and learns a powerful lesson about loyalty, love, and the choices we make beyond the grave. Freddy and Joe explore the episode's themes, its emotional impact, and why "The Hunt" remains a memorable entry in The Twilight Zone anthology series.

Twilight Zone (1959) Season 1 Episode 1: Where is Everybody?

In their 500th episode, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb celebrate a decade of The Reformed Brotherhood by diving into one of Scripture's most overlooked parables — the Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26–29. Exclusive to Mark's Gospel, this four-verse passage packs a theological punch that is, as Tony and Jesse argue, unmistakably Reformed in its emphasis. The man scatters seed, goes about his life, and the earth produces — by itself — without his understanding or intervention. From this, the hosts draw out rich implications for evangelism, sanctification, ecclesiology, and eschatology. They argue that the kingdom of God advances by divine power alone, hidden from human sight, moving toward a certain consummation. The episode pairs deep theological reflection with the hosts' characteristic warmth, humor, and 10 years' worth of shared history. Key Takeaways Monergism is embedded in the parable itself. The growth of the seed is entirely God's doing. The man scatters and rests; the earth produces by itself — a picture of divine sovereignty that requires no human management or comprehension. The evangelist's only obligation is to scatter. This parable relieves believers of the anxious burden of producing spiritual fruit. Faithfulness in proclamation is the call; growth belongs to God. Sanctification is gradual, hidden, and God's work. The progression — blade, ear, full grain — mirrors the believer's sanctification, which proceeds by degrees imperceptible to the individual yet certain in God's design. The Kingdom of God is not dependent on any individual. Whether it's a ministry leader, a financial contributor, or a worship musician, no single human agent is load-bearing for the advance of God's kingdom. Primary and secondary causation work together without contradiction. God uses means — the farmer still sows, the earth still functions — but the means are instrumental, not efficient causes. God's providence encompasses and exceeds them. The harvest belongs to God, not the evangelist. Just as the man did not direct the growth, he is not the agent ultimately putting in the sickle. The consummation of the kingdom occurs in God's time and by God's initiative. This parable resists reduction. It cannot be flattened into a simple evangelism lesson or a single eschatological statement. It holds together personal sanctification, corporate ecclesiology, and cosmic eschatology within four verses. Key Concepts The Earth Produces By Itself: Monergism in the Parable The theological center of this parable is the Greek word automate — the earth produces "by itself," without external compulsion or human assistance. Tony and Jesse argue this is not incidental language but the thesis of the entire passage. The farmer is genuinely active — he scatters the seed — but his agency recedes almost immediately from view. He doesn't monitor the soil, apply nutrients, or trace the growth. He simply lives his life. This picture coheres precisely with the Reformed doctrine of monergism: that in regeneration and kingdom growth alike, the decisive cause lies entirely outside human capacity. As Jesse puts it, the mechanism of growth "belongs to God alone." The farmer's ignorance is not a failure — it is the point. We are not meant to understand the how; we are meant to trust the Who. Scatter, Then Rest: A Theology of Evangelism Without Anxiety One of the episode's most practically rich applications concerns the posture believers are called to adopt in evangelism. Tony observes that this parable is rarely preached as an encouragement to evangelists, yet that is precisely what it is. The sower's only active verb is scattering. After that, he sleeps and rises — the rhythms of ordinary life — while God does the work that no human strategy, method, or persistence can accomplish. This directly addresses what Tony calls the "anxiety around trying to ensure some sort of production." The Reformed vision of evangelism is not passive indifference but liberated faithfulness: scatter the seed of the gospel without bearing the impossible weight of manufactured outcomes. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7, "Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." Blade, Then Ear, Then Grain: The Patience of Providence The threefold progression Jesus describes — blade, then ear, then full grain — is not decorative agricultural detail. It is a theological statement about the character of God's work in the world and in the soul. Growth is gradual, ordered, and unhurried. Jesse draws the direct application to sanctification: the believer cannot fully trace the work of grace in his own heart, yet it is real and it is God's doing. This ought to produce, as Jesse summarizes, "patient confidence rather than human striving or anxiety." The church, too, matures through stages. Neither impatience with slowness nor despair at imperceptibility is warranted — both misread the nature of divine providence. God is not behind schedule. He is, as always, working through means, in His time, toward a consummation He has already appointed. Memorable Quotes The earth produces by itself — we might even say the kingdom of God produces by itself. It's not dependent on anything except God's sovereign will and his sovereignty to execute all that he desires. - Tony Arsenal The mechanism of growth is strangely hidden from the human agent, and it belongs to God alone. - Jesse Schwamb The kingdom of God advances by God's own hidden power toward a certain appointed consummation — and this ought to produce patient confidence rather than human striving or anxiety. - Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to the 10th Pentacost episode of the [00:01:00] Reformed Brotherhood. It's number 500. I'm Jesse Tony Arsenal: and I'm Tony, and this is the podcast that's been going for 10 years. Hey, brother.  Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. A happy 500th episode to you.  Tony Arsenal: I know, man. It's kinda crazy. It's kinda crazy, and we're not gonna do anything special 'cause we don't do that, but it is crazy that this is the 500th episode. That's a lot of podcasting.  Jesse Schwamb: It's absolutely wild.  Podcast Memories And Mishaps Jesse Schwamb: And as with any milestone, as I was thinking about this one occurring, it did draw my mind to all the crazy things that have happened on this podcast, some known, some unknown. Of course, there is the very infamous time that I spilled a whole bottle of kombucha on the desk while we were recording, but everybody knows about that. But I was, I was also thinking about the, the lesser-known ones, like the time you and I sat in the downstairs church, like so close to each other on the same side of the table- Yeah ... to record a episode, or the time [00:02:00] that a tow truck showed up while we were recording and I had to go run out and direct the tow truck 'cause I'd called it for the car. Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Jesse Schwamb: And you paused the episode so that we could go do that, or the time that we had our favorite Lutherans on the podcast in what I think was, like, the hottest environment, and I just remember the sweat trickling down Chad Bird's beard. Like, like, like air being- Like the oil gloss ... mixed with oil. Yeah. It was so hot. So those are the ones that come to my mind. I don't know if there are any ones that come to you. We- we've had some great episodes, and by the way, they all live out for free in the world on reformedbrotherhood.com. So don't take our word for it. You can go all the way back to the beginning if you really want to, and you can hear this incredible journey that God has had us on these some 10 years. So I'm curious, like, do any episodes, topics, conversations, weird things come to your mind after all this time?  Tony Arsenal: Uh, the one I remember is when we recorded with Dad and we were waiting for the snow, the [00:03:00]snowplow- ... and we had to, like, wrap the episode up real quick because the snowplow was there and we had to go move cars. That's right. So there's been a fair amount of episodes where it's like something has interrupted us and we need to just get it over with real quick. That's right. Um, hopefully the listener doesn't hear that too much.  Patreon Support Check In Tony Arsenal: The other thing I was thinking about, you know, just as we're kinda thinking about the back catalog, we're not great at this. Uh, we tend to do our, what, what's they call the call to action. The experts call it the call to action. We do it at the very end of our podcast episodes, which is the worst place to do it. Uh, but we're gonna try to land it in the beginning here. So we, we've been supported by a number of, of people, uh, for basically the entire podcast. I don't remember exactly how early on it was that we started doing Patreon, but it's, it's been a long time. And what I noticed the other day, I went in to, to check on a couple things and make sure everything was working the way it's supposed to. There was some, like, account merge I had to do, and I've noticed that several people who've been supporting us, um, pretty much since the beginning- have their accounts listed in a declined status. [00:04:00] And what that means is that their, probably their credit card that they use, uh, has expired, and so now they're not, no longer supporting the show even though they think they are. So if you are a person who believes you're supporting the show, particularly if you've been supporting the show for a long time, and you wanna continue to support the show, uh, we would really appreciate if you took a minute to go into your Patreon account, double-check that the, you know, that you've been, um, contributing for the last couple months. Uh, double-check that the credit card you have on file is not, uh, expired or suspended or anything like that. Um, again, if you've made a decision that it's time to stop, uh, stop the show, or if this is the point where you realize, "I don't care enough to re-support to the show," um, that's fine. We love you. We've appreciated your support. We hope you keep listening. Uh, but if you do wanna continue to contribute, please do check that. And if you've never taken a chance to think through whether or not you want to support the show, uh, Jesse and I are so thankful for all the support we have.  Jesse Schwamb: Yes.  Tony Arsenal: Uh, but things are getting more expensive, and, um, you know, that's, that's [00:05:00] just a reality for all of us, and that includes things like podcasting hosting fees. Um, the cost of our, our editing software that we use has gone up. That's a subscription. Uh, the cost of hosting space has gone up. Um, all of that, uh, all of that has gone up, and so even though we've had steady supporters, it's kinda like we have lost supporters, um, financially because the money doesn't go quite as far. So if you've ever thought, "Maybe I should, uh, maybe I should contribute to the podcast," please do think about it. Even if just, uh, half of our audience went in and contributed $1 a month, um, that would be a substantial amount. That would really help us to keep the podcast going. And there's actually a number of projects and things Jesse have I, and I have wanted to do, um, that we would love to be able to, you know, to take a step on. Uh, we just don't have funding to do it, uh- Right ... because the funding we have is enough to keep the podcast going but not enough to stretch to something else. So I don't wanna, like, preload that too much, 'cause who knows if it's gonna happen, but there's some things that we wanna do [00:06:00] that would involve a little bit of upfront capital that we would need- Right to get some contrib- contributions on. So please do consider that. We appreciate you so much if you've been a supporter. We appreciate you so much if you've even considered it. Uh, and we appreciate you so much just for listening, uh, especially- Yes ... if you've been with us, you know, this is episode 500. That's a lot of podcasting- Yeah, it is ... directly in your ear hole. So thank you so much for that.  Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, we're so grateful.  Why We Keep Doing This Jesse Schwamb: It's fun just to think how many episodes we recorded, but also how many interesting conversations and topics, all the inside jokes. It really is a community. That's in part why we started this, is to sit down together and to bring other brothers and sisters into the fray, as it were, or maybe to bring us into your fray a little bit and to encourage and edify the church, the brothers and sisters, the saints around the world. And it is an around the world kinda podcast, which is remarkable too. So- Yes ... we're just gonna keep being here. As long as the Lord tarries and He allows us to do this, we'll just keep doing it. And again, we've recorded in closets, in cars on the way to things. We've done it at [00:07:00] the beach, and we've done it in cold environs, and we've done it in hot environs. And you're right, you reminded me of that time where we were desperately waiting as we were getting snowed in for the plow to come. And then it was all hands on deck, and we just dropped the recording equipment and said, "We gotta get out of here." And more often than not, the p- joy of this podcast is it just kinda finds its way into our normal rhythm of life. But it- Yeah ... comes out of our life, and out of a life that's been transformed by Christ. And so that's really what we come back to.  Mark Only Parable Preview Jesse Schwamb: In fact, that's the whole thing that we're in right now. We're going through all these parables. And this episode, we can't stop, won't stop. We're gonna continue to hit you with the content that we love, which is talking about Jesus. And so we're in one of the few... Well, it's a Markan parable that only appears in Mark. That's why I called it Markan, I guess. So extra bonus points to you, that's both extra and bonus, if you know which one it is before I say it. But there's a lot for us to talk about- ... because we're getting into this really, really short little story, but it's really chock-full, of course, as Jesus likes to do with all [00:08:00] kinds of spiritual truth. It's about a farmer chucking a seed on the ground, and then he goes about his business. He eats, he sleeps, he binge-watches the Jane equivalent of Netflix. He sleeps again, he wakes up. And while he does this, the seed is doing entirely its own thing without his help or understanding. He didn't make it grow. He can't explain how it grows. He just shows up at the end with a sickle to collect what God has already finished. Man, if there isn't a Reformed theological parable, I don't know what one is. Yeah. So we're gonna get to all of that on this 500th episode. I mean, it's something to be saying that even the US is only 250 years old, and- we've already recorded twice as many podcasts as there are years of experience in the US. But besides all of that, it wouldn't be- It's like- ... Reformed Brotherhood-  Tony Arsenal: I don't know if you've seen this. That reminds me of those things online where it's like, like, "Elon Musk is a billi- is a trillionaire. That means he could give every person on earth $1 billion- Oh, yeah and still would be a multi-billionaire." And you're like, "That's, that's not mathematically true." 'Cause when [00:09:00]you said that, I was like, "You mean the podcast is older than the country?"  Jesse Schwamb: Oh, math. I have a feeling we're gonna come back to that. Oh, math.  Tony Arsenal: Oh, math.  Affirm Or Deny Segment Jesse Schwamb: Now, of course, if you listen for any length of time, you know it wouldn't be an episode if we didn't have a time of affirming with or denying against. Of course, that is that time where we pick something that we like, we think everybody should be a part of, that we wanna recommend, and we affirm with it. Or on the opposite, instead we say, "We deny against this thing because it's just no good." So Tony, on this 500th episode, I'm just gonna keep saying it over and over again, so lest the listeners forget, what are you affirming with or denying against? Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Scammer Payback Recommendation Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming, um, a little YouTube channel that I found. Uh, it takes a little bit of setup to explain it, but the, the channel is called Scammer Payback. Ooh. Um, and it's, it's a... I think most people have probably seen, like, the Gene Fieith- Gene Veith, um, like, where he, he gets a, some sort of scammer on the phone, and he sorta just, like, [00:10:00] trolls them and makes, kinda makes them sound dumb and, you know, pretends to play along just to see how long he can keep them on the phone. Those are really funny. These are funny, but they're on a whole different level of seriousness, which is a weird sentence. Um, basically what this is is a group of professional hackers, um, and there's, this is a serious kinda sting operation they have going. They don't use their real names on the channel. Um, there's one, there's one, um, where they interview, like, a social, um, a social engineer whose job is to... Her- she is a person who basically, uh, does social hacking, and she helps companies who, who their security people think, like, their executives are, um, susceptible to social engineering, social hacking. She'll actually call and, like, mess around with the CEOs and socially hack them. Um, they interviewed her, and the first thing she said when she sat down was the person she was talking to's first name, and the guy was just stunned. He's like, "I- we- we've never used my first name on the channel before." So they're very serious, and what they do is they identify [00:11:00] a scam or a g- usually a group of scammers, and they'll actually hack into and infiltrate the computer systems that they're using. And so they show you everything that they're doing. Um, they're, they're explaining the scam and how it's run. Um, and a lot of times they're actually actively intervening in, uh, in a scam, trying to stop a scam that's in progress because somebody is about to lose a lot of money. I mean, I think one of the things that's important about this is our audience, you know, mostly, mostly guys probably, like, age, I don't know, late 20s, early 30s, maybe early 40s, we kind of grew up and lived, lived in a world most of our adult lives or all of our adult lives where, like, fishing schemes and other kinds of, like, um, data s- data theft, like, that was just in the air. It was just normal. So we're... It's not like we're immune to it, but we're used to it, and we're ready for it, and we're looking for it. That means that most of us have parents that are in a generation who are particularly susceptible to this. [00:12:00] So I think it would be worth, worth people's time to take a look at this, uh, just as a educational piece, and then, yes, share it with your family members who are in this era. People get taken for a ton of money. Yeah. The reason that these older generation sort of bu- builder Boomer generations are targeted is not just because they're somewhat soft targets, but they also have the money. Um, most of, most of the wealth in our country is possessed by people in that generation. It's just an economic fact in a lot of places and a lot of areas, and so that's why they're targeted. So take a little bit of time, watch the show. It's... And it's entertaining. It's really well produced. It's funny. These are non-Christians, you know, who are, are being non-Christian, so there's a fair amount of salty language, especially when they're interacting directly with the scammers that they absolutely hate. Um, but it's, it's worth watching. And, and it... I think it'll... I think it's entertaining. Most of the time it's like a 15-minute video, so it's not too much of your time. Pop that on two times [00:13:00] speed on YouTube and, and you're all set.  Jesse Schwamb: And when you say salty you're not talking about Salty the Singing Songbook, right? Tony Arsenal: Correct. Yeah. Not P-S-A-L-T-Y. S-A-L-T-Y.  Jesse Schwamb: Just in case. I wouldn't want any of the loved ones to go and just be waiting for Salty to show up, like, in the mid- Which would be kind of epic in the midst of this, like, scamming shutdown, the sting operation. Like, Salty s- pops up and starts singing about restorative justice and- Yeah what it means that God restores all things. I mean, that would have a good place in this, but I just want that just to be clear. We don't, we don't want anybody to, to at us on that.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah, for sure. Well, Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight?  Jesse Loves Algebra Jesse Schwamb: I'm going to return to that beautiful intro you gave about mathematics and the whole Elon Musk thing. And so my affirmation is simply, like, just do... Just enjoy all the math you can. Use all the math that you know. So my wife and I were watching some kind of program on YouTube, and it was a program in which there are a couple [00:14:00]people competing in this kind of escape room situation, and as escape rooms are want to do, there came some kind of small math problem. And it goes something like this, is the best I can remember it. It was what number between one and nine when it is tripled and five is added to it is the same as that number being doubled and having one added to it? Now, as soon as that problem was read, we were watching intently, and I turned to my wife and I said, "Why do they need to say it's between, like, one and nine?" And she goes, "Well, how else would they know what the number was?" And I was like, "Well, like, this is a beautiful little algebra thing, like se- series of equations. Like, you have two equations here." And she's like... Just gave me a blank look. So I was like, "Oh, man." So she's like, "Okay. Do it then. Do it." So I was like, "Give me a piece of paper." So I, I was just like, this is gonna be such a beautiful thing. So I was like, "All this is, is, like, it's basically 3x minus five equals 2x plus one. You're solving for whatever this missing number is, and they've given you this beautiful setup, [00:15:00] which you rarely get in real life, but this beautiful setup is a system of equations. We have two things you know are gonna turn out to be the same. They've just been said in different ways, and that allows you enough space to figure out how to solve for them using a little bit of algebra." So I realized then this is why they said between one and nine, because the contestants then proceeded just to iteratively pick numbers until they found the answer, which is not a bad way. Like, that's a way to use, like, all the math you have. Certainly, that's a way. But I showed her how it was like, this is the answer, six, and you don't even need to know where to start because you don't need to start anywhere. You can actually figure this out. Still not really impressed. And then she said something to me that just, like, kind of rocked my world. I said, like, "Well, I'm sure this is familiar to, with, to you." And she's like, "Oh, yeah. Like, I learned algebra." And she goes, "Yeah, I, I know algebra. I just don't do it anymore. I just don't use it anymore." And I was like What, what I heard was, like, basically her saying to me, "I used to brush my teeth, but I just don't do it [00:16:00] anymore." 'Cause I was like, "This is such a beautiful thing." So then I got it in my head, well, well here's the problem. It's just a matter of seeing the results. So I was like, "Well, here's the amazing thing is yes, these are abstract concepts. Yes, it's like each of those is a function. It's, it's a representation of what he just said in the problem. But," and this is my grave mistake, Tony. But I was like, "Really, Descartes showed us that we can think about these not as abstractions, but we can plot them geometrically as lines on a Cartesian plane." And so I was like, "Really we can show that these are two lines and they have a relationship together." And then I was like, "Guess where they intersect? Guess where they intersect?" And she's like, "I w- that's impossible to even know. I have no idea where they intersect." I was like, "No, no. Just, just based on what we're saying, the beauty of this is they have a relationship. They're gonna come together at some point, like you and I in life. They're gonna, they're gonna come together. Guess where that would be?" And she's like, "That would be impossible to know." And I was like, "It's not, actually." So I showed her that, you know, left and right, up and down, X and Y, however you wanna speak [00:17:00] about it, those two lines are gonna intersect, at least on the X. The X spot is gonna be the number six. It's the same thing. Still nothing. So after all of that, I just appreciate my wife is such a brilliant lady, that she just doesn't need algebra. She goes through life just, like, crushing problems without... Like, because she'd like to do it, I think, just the, the more challenging, difficult, iterative way. And, uh, she doesn't use algebra anymore. Just no need for it. So in many ways I respect that. In other ways, again, the affirmation is like, use all the math you have available to you because it's a beautiful thing. I think basically at the end of that I ended up in, like, a very supreme place of doxology, and my wife was like, "Can we just go back to watching TV now?" So but I, I have to say, like, and I, I know you, you share my appreciation for math and stuff like this. Like, it's not even just puzzles. It's just the beauty that, like, we can do this, and that there's such a created order, like a supremely created order, that these rules of ma- mathematics aren't just impounded. They're like the fabric in which God has, [00:18:00] has basically woven all of reality such that we can do this kind of thing, and that even a simple problem in escape room can lead us to appreciate how intensely ordered and beautiful the world is, that we can go after knowledge and solve for explicit things that seem abstract beyond our comprehension and reason to begin with, but have been brought to a place we might understand them. That is, like, an insanely glorious thing to me. So algebra is great, loved ones. I've recommended before, but the side affirmation is go to Khan Academy if you wanna brush up on your algebra skills. I think algebra is, like, some of the most beautiful and intensely practical math ever. I love calculus, but calculus you don't get a lot of, like, use. You can use algebra to solve all kinds of things, whether it's like tips or... Like, it's gonna save you so much time. If you're ever in escape room, I'm just telling you, do not do this iteratively. Just get the, your system of equations down, and you will be, like, tearing out of that room, and then you'll look like a hero. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah.  Math In Everyday Life Tony Arsenal: I mean, I think, like, even the f- even the, the... How do I wanna say this delicately? Uh, [00:19:00] even the idea that we, quote, "don't use algebra" means people don't actually understand that we're using algebra all the  Jesse Schwamb: time.  Tony Arsenal: Exactly. Right. Like, I could buy I don't use calculus or I don't use trigonometry- Right or even I don't use geometry. Um, but to say I don't use algebra, like just basic. I mean, I know like basic equations are, I guess, technically arithmetic, but like how many times does someone have to, have to go, "All right, the tip, the, the bill is X number of dollars. The bill is-" Right ..."$100, and I wanna give a 15% tip, so what's the outcome?" Like, that's an algebraic equation, right? That's right. Um, or a more, I think a more common one would be like, "All right, the bill is this amount. I want my, uh, my final amount that I give billed to me to be an even number."  Jesse Schwamb: Right. " Tony Arsenal: And I also want to give at least 15%, 20%, whatever percent, so what's the number I need to use in order to get to a bill that is, or a [00:20:00] tip that is both 15% or higher and results..." Like, all of those things are algebraic equations.  Jesse Schwamb: Yes.  Tony Arsenal: So I think, yeah. I mean, even like, "I need to get to work by such and such a time. What time do I need to leave?" Right. "I know it takes-" Exactly. "... a certain amount of time." Right. So I think we, we all use algebra a lot more than we, we probably realize, and I think you're right. Like, when people say, "Well, I don't use my math anymore," what they're saying is like, "I don't use, I don't use the stuff that I had to show my work on anymore." Right. "I don't use the stuff that I have to do on paper anymore." But, um, it's funny, we had a, a conversation, by the way, Reformed Tele- Reformed Brotherhood Telegram chat is a thing. Uh, we had a conversation in the Reformed Brotherhood Telegram chat a little while ago. One of our members was trying to figure out some sort of, like- And it was a problem having to do with like a, an air conditioning throttle or whatever it's called. Some sort of like programming in an air conditioner. And we went through it, we figured out that one of the like relatively complex parts of the equation that he was trying to figure out actually no matter what values you [00:21:00] put in, uh, equated to one. And then the other one was like it was ti- and then it was times one. So it was like whatever you put in ended up to that times one was the rest of the equation. It was like a huge, or like a relatively large equation that resolved down to one. So it was like you're trying to figure out all this complicated math and really like that entire, uh, that entire complicated equation was doing nothing in the rest of the equation. Nice. It was doing absolutely nothing. Um, so we were able to sort of like figure out, all right, well now all we need to do is figure out what, what this relationship does. Right. Um, and even something like in that particular situation, there were some values that the equation couldn't possibly balance. Which again, you could plot that on a graph and see like there's a spot... I don't, I'm, I'm making this up, but I think this is probably not wrong. There's a spot where it's like this is a parabolic equation, and so at some point the parable, or the par- parable, I didn't even mean to do that. There we go. At some point the [00:22:00] parabola goes back up, and so like there is no point- Right ... when it reaches this number. So values that would be in that, in that zone or in that range- Right ... they, they don't work in the equation. So yeah, I think math, uh, algebra is, uh, you know, basic arithmetic obviously is, is relatively straightforward. Algebra's probably the most simple, uh, form of math that your average person uses on a regular basis.  Jesse Schwamb: For sure.  Trigonometry And Design Tony Arsenal: But it's funny, I remember the first time, um, the very first time that I realized trigonometry was not just some abstract thing that we would never use. And it's so funny, 'cause it's like the nerdiest, the nerdiest example. I was playing a tabletop RPG with my friends, we were in high school, and we were, we were learning trigonometry at the time. I was playing a tabletop RPG, and we were trying to figure out- Um, it was a, it was like a futuristic tabletop RPG, so we were using like, like laser guns or something like that that have a certain range. And we were trying to figure out if the thing that was flying in the air from us was within range or not.  Jesse Schwamb: Nice.  Tony Arsenal: And what we realized [00:23:00] is that's just a quadratic equation, right? Right, it is. I just need to calculate. I know how far away it is from me in a straight line, I know how high in the air it is, so I need to just- Right now I need to... Or not, not the quadratic. That's Pythagoras' theorem, right? Yep. I need to calculate the Pythag- or the, um, the hypotenuse.  Jesse Schwamb: I'm with you. I  Tony Arsenal: knew where you were going. Yeah. So, like, I remember distinctly, I, I mean, I remember where I was sitting in my friend's basement going, "Oh, my goodness, trigonometry actually has a practical application here." Um, you know, whether that's figuring out how much rope I need to be able to, to attach to a tree and still be able... Like, all of these different things ultimately are math, and, or as the, the Brits say, are maths. And, uh, the, it, it's just a beautiful thing. And I think you're right, like, this is evidence that the universe has a structure- And a designer because- Right you can describe the universe using this- Nice ... sort of universal numerical language that, um, in, for the most part, describes everything we can [00:24:00] see. I mean, obviously, like, they're still learning things. They're still figuring things out. But what we can see with our senses, we can also describe with math on some level. Even something like the colors that we see can be reduced to a, a number, a frequency, a wavelength. So yeah, I'm with you. Use your algebra. Find ways to use it.  Jesse Schwamb: Use it. It's the... I like what you said, that we're using it. We just don't realize it. There's a spiritual lesson in there, I think, as well, that it's, it's present all around us, and it's... I like what you said. It's, like, the, the most, like, grabbable. It's the thing that's pretty easy to grasp, yet has, like, some beautiful outworkings that are super complex. All the time I love to, like, mess with people, even people who are, like, say, like, "Oh, I'm not into math." I'm like, "That's okay." Like, it's... You're, you're living in a mathematical world, and you're certainly using it, but that, that's okay.  Imaginary Numbers Wonder Jesse Schwamb: But like, sometimes I'll just say to somebody, like, "How do you know, like actually know that, like a negative number times a negative number is a positive number?" Like, who came up with that, and how do you know? And why are we just trusting him? Why can't somebody just say, "You know what? For me, it's not. I'm gonna make that a [00:25:00] negative number"? And w- the reason is because algebra provides... There's a lot of proofs, but algebra provides the most simple, beautiful proof. And then once you, once you basically contravene that law, like, everything falls apart. I- it's... And the question we should be asking is why does everything fall apart if we contravene one simple law, wh- which is two negative numbers multiplied, the product of them has to be, must be, is always a positive number. And that's, like, not even getting into, like, the more crazy things. Like, everybody should go look up, like, what imaginary numbers are. That will kind of mess with your mind, but then we found ways to use imaginary numbers, which are exactly what they sound like- Yeah ... to solve, like, incredible problems. Where does that come from? It comes from the Lord. It comes from God's, like, creative ability that He's placed in mankind to go after and to take a dominion over the knowledge and the creative order in such a complex and creative way. It mimics and mirrors the creativity of our Heavenly Father, and it is altogether beautiful. So on this- Yeah ... 500 episode that has a lot of numbers associated with it, I [00:26:00] say go love the numbers. Go enjoy them. Wherever you are in life, whatever your enjoyment of math is, big or small, go try to find some way to enjoy it today. Tony Arsenal: Can I, can I throw in a, a weird relevant sub-affirmation to your affirmation? I  Jesse Schwamb: mean, please.  Tony Arsenal: This is our show, so I'll do what I want to. You can do what you want. First, when you say we live in a mathematical world, all I could think of was some Perry song of Material Girl. Material  Jesse Schwamb: World?  Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Odd Squad Math Tony Arsenal: I am a mathematical boy, and I live in a ma- Anyway, um, there is a show that I watch with August, my son, who is almost five. Uh, he'll be five in March. And, um, it's called Odd Squad. And what Odd Squad is, is it's a sort of a s- like a spy-themed kids show with a touch of like, uh, almost like Twilight Zone. Like, there's so- It's they manage odd. Like, they're the Odd Squad because they, they respond to odd emergencies, so it's a lot of like weird monsters and aliens and like time travel paradoxes and strange stuff. But the answer [00:27:00] to the problem is always related somehow to a math principle. So they will talk about how like multiplication is just addition like many times over.  Jesse Schwamb: Sure.  Tony Arsenal: And that's actually why multiplying a negative number times a negative number is a positive number or, you know, like, or multiplying by a negative number is a negative number, right? And that's because like really what you're doing if you multiply two, uh, two times negative three is you're subjecting, you're subtracting two from two from two, which gives you, you know- Right ... a negative number. So it's, it's not, uh, it, it's for kids, but I actually have realized that I understand math better- because of watching the show.  Jesse Schwamb: I  Tony Arsenal: love it. And it's because they break it down in, you know, the, the audience- Yes ... the target audience is a little bit older than August. I think the target audience is probably like six to seven, maybe eight years old. Um, and so they're talking about math principles geared towards those groups. But they'll talk about things like [00:28:00] using a number line to be able to understand math, and so like visualizing it. Or they'll talk about how multiplication is really just groups of things. So yeah, check it out.  Why Math Matters Tony Arsenal: And again- Algebra is probably the most, uh, easy to grab of the disciplines, but that's because that's the one we are using every day all the time. Tony Arsenal: And we don't realize it. But again, like, calculus is a beautiful, a beautiful thing. Um, and there are some amazing things that exist in the world that can really only be understood and described in a certain sense by something like calculus or trigonometry. Um, my favorite, I, I wish I had, like, kept it up, but one of my favorites is geometry 'cause I think a lot of it is, that's, like, the closest to puzzles. Yes. Um, uh, so, like, I, I used to love doing proofs and axioms and stuff. So, and then of course logic is technically related to math. It's a related discipline to math- It is ... in that it, it's, it's actually, like, the language that underlies a lot of the mathematics is [00:29:00] logical formulas. So it's all relevant. It's all beautiful. It all describes God's creation, and it all redounds to His glory.  Jesse Schwamb: You got that right.  Mark Growing Seed Jesse Schwamb: And speaking of both His creation and His glory, and Jesus teaching of both of those things, we are, as we promised, hanging out in the Book of Mark, and we've got just four sentences. And what I love about this parable that we're about to read is it fits in so perfectly with something I think you and I have been saying from the very beginning, which is it's tempting when we think about the parables to consider, like, a single element or to distill them down to, like, a single word and say, "We hear the kingdom of God is this thing, this noun, this object, this person." But instead, the case we've been making is it's actually generally a series of verbs, or in this case, it's the whole four verses that Jesus is gonna give to us here. So let me just read Mark 4:26-29. That's all it is, loved ones. And it's a good thing because we're already knee-deep into this 500th episode. So this goes by various names. I've heard it called, [00:30:00] like, the Parable of the Growing Seed, or sometimes people call it, like, the Parable of the, The Secret Seed. I'm not sure that's really secret, but I suppose the increase is secret in a way, and that's really what Jesus is communicating to us in these verses. So Mark 4:26: "And Jesus was saying, 'The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil, and he sleeps and he rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, how he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself, first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, he immediately puts in the sickle because the harvest has come.'" Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, this is, um, an interesting parable, and I'll be the first to admit, like, when you said, "Well, why don't we do the king- the parable of the growth next?" I was like, "I don't actually know what Jesse's talking about." So if you're in the same boat as I am and [00:31:00] you, uh, you are like, "Wait, there's the... This is a parable? Like, this exists in the Bible?" Um, you're not alone, and I think part of the reason is that, one, it's so short, but it also sort of, like, connects into the next parable thematically. I don't know necessarily- Hmm ... about the content and the meaning, but thematically it sort of blends into the next parable, which is the parab- Mark's version of, um, of the parable of the mustard seed. So it's, it's hard to delineate unless you're really thinking about it, but I'm glad that we're talking about it because I think this is probably one of those parables that doesn't get a lot of attention because it's so short and because it is, um, it is sort of thematically in a spot where I think it does sort of, I don't know, like seep into the next- Right parable.  Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there's a tendency because you're right, it's sandwiched between the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Mustard Seed, both of which we've talked about from Matthew's perspective, that it seems like maybe the theme is redundant, but [00:32:00] it is altogether different with the emphasis. Uh, there, it's true I guess that all three of these parables are addressing that same underlying question the disciples in the early church were asking, which is, if Jesus truly inaugurates the Kingdom of God, then why does it seem so impressive? Why is it so slow or hidden in contrast to all the expectations that the Jews had for what they thought would be this dramatic, immediately visible rain? And so I like that there is a lot said within four verses. And again, from our perspective, this thing seems so distinctly reformed in its under- Yeah of course the whole Bible is that way, but maybe nothing more so than this, especially because we'll get to it, but the center of this parable being, and there's various translations, that this guy doesn't even know. He doesn't understand. He's totally ignorant to what is going on, and isn't that... I, I mean, I can only speak for my own test- that's the story of my life, uh, spiritually and otherwise. That again, if you wanna talk about God doing all the verbs, I guess Mark had it first. I thought maybe I coined that, but [00:33:00] turns out that Mark, well, actually Jesus, the Son of God himself, says it best here. So let, let's get into this because the beautiful thing is you and I can handle theoretically in the time allotted here, like three or four verses. That, that's theoretically possible for us to do, but we, we're only gonna h- see how far it goes. Um-  Tony Arsenal: Yeah ...  Hidden Kingdom Growth Jesse Schwamb: I think the first thing to say here is that we get that beautiful characteristic, like formula, like the controlling paradigm. It's that Kingdom of God again. And a- as I kinda set up, it's the Kingdom of God, though, launched into a bunch of, uh, verbs. Uh, this idea of like him casting, and then him sleeping, and then him waiting, and then him getting up, and then the growth happens, and then he comes again at the end, this character, this farmer, into kind of the consummation of that kingdom. And I think there's a lot here that's maybe to explain that tension. The kingdom is real and active. It's irresistibly moving towards some kind of fixed end, but it does not appear in its final glory, and that is something you kind of get with the other two parables. [00:34:00] But here it's just like so lovely. It's right in front of you. That, that's like the whole emphasis and thrust of what Jesus seems to be saying in this. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think this one's interesting because, you know, generally in the parables, at least in, in... I, I would have to do a little bit more study to know if this is, like, distinctly Markan or whatnot. But in the, the, um, Matthew's parables, um, or Christ's parables reported in Matthew, um, primarily the main figure of the parable is, uh, is generally is God or, or more specifically is often Jesus himself. Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Right? But in this parable, it wouldn't make sense for us to say that somehow g- you know, God or Jesus scatters seed, and then He doesn't know that it sprouts. Right. Right? So, so the, the parable implies that the one scattering seed, and again, we don't wanna over-interpret parables. Generally speaking, parables are teaching kind of a principle of some sort, a comparison of some sort, not, it's not an allegory. [00:35:00] In, in most cases it's not an allegory where each element has a direct representation of some sort. But it wouldn't make sense for this to be talking about God's perspective on scattering or Christ's perspective on scattering, 'cause obviously God and Jesus, even, even if we're talking about Jesus according to His humanity, um, has some sort of awareness of the workings of the Kingdom of God that is not the ignorance that the parable here seems- Right to present of the one scattering.  Scatter Then Rest Tony Arsenal: So I, I really do think this parable has more to say to us about- Our own perspectives on evangelism and on how the Kingdom of God will propagate. And I think, um, both in terms of, like, evangelism, there's an element here, an encouraging element of, you know, all your s- your job... And what's really funny is I, I don't recall this parable being used in my experience to sort of [00:36:00] encourage people that all, your own, your job is just to scatter. You don't need to worry about the growth. Mm-hmm. There's a, there's a passage in Paul about one person scatters, one person waters, and God brings the growth that is often used to sort of say, like, it's not your responsibility to make sure that the, the, the, um, the bud is, you know, c- comes to flowering and to fruiting. It's just your job to be faithful to scatter or to water or whatever step it's on. This, I think, has even more encouragement for us in that the one who scatters, um, i- is obviously God, but there's also this element that, like, we're scattering. The one scattering is not omniscient. But the one scattering, uh, he doesn't even know how or why or even that, I think, that the, um, that the f- the growth is occurring, and that's the most- Right remarkable part of this. Like, we're not talking about a normal farmer who is aware of how growth [00:37:00] occurs, is aware of the timing. He's constantly checking. He's making sure that he's checking the soil, that he's applying manure, that he's watering the crops. This is literally like some dude who just throws seed out, and then, then just goes back to his daily business of sleeping and rising and going about his day. And then all of the sudden, the earth, quote, "by itself produces." And I think that's the real key here is- There's something about the Kingdom of God and the seed that the Kingdom of God scatters. It's almost like the Kingdom of God itself is the one scattering here.  Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Yep. The Kingdom of God and the seed that is scattered in and as a result of the Kingdom of God, it produces the outcome autonomously. It doesn't require us to input into it, at least in the context of this parable. Now, again, the Parable of the Talents would be very clear to us that we can't just rest on our loyals- laurels. God expects us to work and to be fruitful for the kingdom. [00:38:00] But there is this element here of, like, you are not the one responsible for the production of the seed and the fruiting and flowering of the seed. In fact, you're not even responsible for being aware that it occurs or how it occurs. Your only responsibility, the only active verb in this whole thing is... Well, there's a couple. The, the, the main active verb is the scattering. The other active verb is the sleeping. So, like- Right ... we, we scatter, and then we, we rest and we trust that God is going to do His work. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Even on the face, there's so much in this that does seem mysterious. Like, if you just take this parable and think about the act of agriculture, and I sometimes think about this because I do love plants, and we have a bunch of plants in our house, and I'm horrible at trying to get them to grow. And I think about what still a mystery it is. With all we know about science, just that you can still plant something, a seed, and water it, and the sugars will break down, and the seed will take root, and that something will grow and flower, and you think, "Oh, who is doing that?" And, and w- [00:39:00] I think we'll get into this, the first and second principles, first and second causes here, which are, I think, certainly something that Christ intends for us to consider here. But there is this idea that the man's action is simple and passive relative to what follows. He, like you said, just scatters the seed. And he's a real agent, but as the parable unfolds, it's almost like his entire agency recedes entirely from view. And that's what kind of sets for me, like this whole trajectory of the parable. It's that the mechanism of growth is strangely hidden from the human agent, and it belongs to God alone. And so you already stole it from me, but I'm gonna read 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, which is, coheres directly with what's happening, I think, in this parable. And this reads, or Paul writes, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." And so there is like an extension, I think, of that application inward though as well. Kind of like when you were speaking about that, what occurred to me is that we see in the [00:40:00] farmer's like day and night unawareness, this picture, I think, of this often gradual, imperceptible work of grace in our own hearts, in every believer's heart. Like that, that sanctification process, it proceeds by these degrees, and the Christian cannot fully trace even in himself, yet it is definitely real, and it's definitely God's doing. And then I think as well we might pull out a thread of this, you know, ecclesiological truth. You know, the church's growth is God's work, not the fruit of human strategy. And then by application even further into that, it's based upon a soteriological one, which is like the ordo salutis, which is maybe half of every episode we've recorded talks about the ordo salutis in some ways. That too is unfolding by this divine power, and it's hidden from the creature's full comprehension, and that's consistent in this parable and in all of Scripture, that this regeneration precedes and produces faith rather than the reverse. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, and I, I think too there's also an element in this passage, you know, when you think about... Uh, [00:41:00] I'm not a farmer, uh, and I, I don't know that many farmers, but when you think about how f- how modern farming works, it's very different than, uh, ancient farming, right? Historically, ancient farming was, uh, I think probably a lot of just trusting the world to do what the world does and, and trusting God to do what, what God does. A- and I think that's probably why a lot of like- When you look at, um, pagan religion, the, the fertility cults and the sort of goddesses and gods of the harvest were all related because there was this mystery to it. And so the reason that there's so much, uh, cultic worship around fertility and harvest is because it is so mysterious, and you just kinda have to, like, trust that it's gonna happen. Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Right? You sow your seed in, you sow the seed of your field in, you know, the fall, uh, and, or in the, the, you know, the summer, and then you wait several [00:42:00] months and just hope that the crop comes in. And our modern agricultural world is not all that different. We have better tools and we can measure things that, like the soil, the nutrients in the soil. We can, you know, we can do all sorts of different imaging to see of what's happening underground. But at the end of the day, even with all of the advances we have, the farmer still can't make the crop come in.  Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  Tony Arsenal: Either the crop comes in or it doesn't. And I, I think there's this element of trust here that I think is really useful for us. And again, I think you're right. This is like, uh, it feels almost wrong to say it this way, but it's like this is a super distinctively Reformed parable. Like, of all, all of the parables in the, the Gospels, this one is like, on the face of it, a Calvinist parable. Yeah. Exactly. Like, it's like God just grows the kingdom- Yes and nobody does anything about it.  Jesse Schwamb: Amen.  Tony Arsenal: And I don't need to go into more details than that. But there is this element for us, I think, as, uh, as those [00:43:00] who want to share the gospel, there can be an anxiety around trying to ensure some sort of production, some sort of produce, uh, and productivity from that, that is just not healthy. And I think, you know, we, we have a responsibility as Christians, um, to be faithful and diligent in doing what God has called us to do. But if, if we read this parable as the one who scatters is sort of like the evangelist, then the only responsibility we have as evangelists, and all of us are evangelists, right, lowercase E evangelists, um, all of us, the only responsibility we have is to scatter the seed of the gospel. Jesse Schwamb: That's  Tony Arsenal: right. And we're not responsible for the growth. We're not responsible for even really understanding how growth happens, uh, or even, even doing much about it until it's time to harvest that growth. And I think that's, we need to talk about what that means too, because again, like [00:44:00] this is a parable that I think is maybe not as, as clean and clear as some of the, uh, Methanian parables where it really does seem like there's a pretty clear symbolic representation on some things. This one feels like it's maybe a little muddier in that, um, the main character and the role of the s- the one who's scattering seems to sort of almost shift throughout the parable, which is crazy to say because it's only like four verses long.  Tony Arsenal: But it, it does seem like at some points the scatterer is God, at other points it can't be God, and then it seems like, well, who's harvesting? It's not really us, so it's gotta be God. So I think it's, it's important for us to hold this parable as more of a general principle about the Kingdom of God than it is about any sort of like really direct one-to-one teaching on the, on the Kingdom of God.  Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. That's a interesting distinction.  Providence And Causes Jesse Schwamb: Here's what I would say about that, I think, is let's equate this to, like, coffee. You like a good cup of coffee. I do. I like a good cup of coffee. I think if we were to take, let's [00:45:00] say, the Parable of the Prodigal, that would be for me like a big Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Like, it's delicious, mild-bodied, maybe a little bit light. This parable is like two shots of espresso- Yeah ... 'cause there's a lot in there, and we could probably take a lot of time even t- speaking about, like you're saying, the more shadowy eschatological truths that appear in verse 29 because those, this idea of, like, a sickle in the harvest, I mean, that's imagery drawn from Old Testament eschatological judgment texts. So that could be pretty heavy in its own right. I think what's critical, before we get to that, is to, like, tease out something you said, which is there is a lot in here about this doctrine of providence, like, this spontaneous self-originating action apart from external human causation. And we've talked a lot, like, we distinguish between primary and second causation. You know, the Earth is genuinely or generally has second- secondary causes, like an ordinary means through which God's ordinary providence operates, but the ultimate primary [00:46:00] cause of growth is God himself. And so here we see that. Like, there's no exclusion of the farmer's agency as an explanatory cause. The soil does what it does because God has ordained the natural order to function in this way. That is his prerogative. And so that threefold progression then, blade, ear, full grain, which by the way I had to look up because my understanding of, like, all kinds of different types of grains is very thin and I'm out of my depth here. But- ... I'm led to believe That that development is gradual, and of course it's ordered, but it's not instantaneous. And so the application here, I think, has traditionally been applied in this corporate individual spiritual growth we're talking about. Like, the church advances through stages of maturity, and so does the individual believer's sanctification, without warranting either impatience or despair at the process's slowness. This is how God works. He does it in His gracious and kind way. And again, He's using this, all of this agriculture to illustrate that purpose. So there's, like, this buildup, I think, [00:47:00] in verse 28 about the incredible providence of God, both like corporatively, personally, in His world, how He is the primary cause, but also uses secondary causes, not in a disjointed or divorced way, but in a way that encapsulates and magnifies His glory. And that is then what leads to or will lead to the reemergence in verse 29 of this whole deal of, like, well, if farmer comes back in, and now he returns, but only at the point of consummation, not at the point of growth.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Harvest And Timing Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and, you know, we won't go into all of the ways that this ties into the other parables, but it's worth, uh, it's worth mentioning that in, in both, uh, the parable of the mustard seed, which follows this, and then also the parable of the sort of sower or the seeds, um, there is this element of this, the one who is sowing seeds is not fully cognizant or aware or, and, and absolutely not in [00:48:00] control of the outcome, right? In the parable of the sower, um, he scatters the seed promiscuously, right? And the- Right ... the outcome depends on what kind of ground the seed falls on. And in the parable of the mustard seed, it, it's more of a, like, idea that the, uh, the sower sows a seed that seems so small, but it, the growth of the seed is explosive and expansive because of the nature of the seed, not because of the skill of the sower. Jesse Schwamb: That's  Tony Arsenal: right. Right? In this instance, um- The only thing, again, the only thing that initially the sower is responsible for is the sowing of the seed, the scattering of the seed. But what I also think is interesting is then there is a point where the one who scatters the seed is now responsible to act once he's observed the seed coming to fruition, right? Now, now what exactly that means and how exactly that applies, I think there's a lot of different things we could talk about. Um, but again, [00:49:00] this is a parable that we have to be careful not to, uh, not to restrict just sort of crassly to, like, evangelism. Right. Exactly. Or, or even just to sort of, like, the eschatological harvest. Right. That's what's tricky about this parable, I think, that bears ... And I don't think we'll do it, we'll do it necessarily on the show. It'd be worth having more conversations about. But for our own personal study, it bears deeper reflection because this parable cannot be simply reduced to an eschatology parable about what God does in the end. Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: And it can't be simply reduced to a parable about evangelism because strictly speaking, like, we're not really the ones that harvest when the harvest comes in, right? I've, I have heard this parable, um, preached, you know, like I said, although I acknowledge that I, um, like forgot that it existed. I have heard this parable preached as though, like, "Well, our responsibility is to scatter seed. We're not responsible for [00:50:00] making it grow or making it take root. But when we see that it's taking root, we're responsible for jumping in and harvesting at the right time." I don't think we should draw that conclusion here. Although the, the harvester does see that the ear is ripe, that the grain is ripe, and he harvests it, it would be a weird sort of like shift in the parable to go from the person who scattered seed isn't responsible for its growth, doesn't even know that the growth is happening, but is actually responsible for knowing exactly when to harvest the grain. Right. So we have to think about this again in gen- in terms of general principles of how the Kingdom of God functions. And w- how it functions is it's mysterious, it is, uh, consistent, it happens on a, a scale and on a predictable outcome that we as individuals don't understand and don't have visibility to, and the harvest will occur in its [00:51:00] time, and it will h- occur consistently and reliably. So again, like this is... I hope that maybe like the one or two non-Reformed people that listen to the show aren't terribly offended at this, but like this just is Reformed theology, right? There, there is a seed that is sown, God is responsible for the growth, and the harvest necessarily will help it happen when it's supposed to happen, right? When the r- when the fruit is ripe, it will be harvested. That doesn't mean I'm responsible as the one who sows seed or scatters or m- witnesses to people from making sure that the, quote, "sickle is put in at the right time," or anything like that.  Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: The fact is that the sickle will always come in at the right time. The person who has the final kinda piece of the puzzle in evangelism, I think that's how it often happens. Someone hears the gospel repeatedly from multiple places. They have contacts and relationships that tie into how they [00:52:00]ultimately come to accept the gospel and trust Christ. But ultimately it's the Holy Spirit who brings all that into some sort of coherent, um, execution and application of redemption That will happen in God's time. So I wanna be careful not to, like, put too much responsibility on us. Right. And again, this is just a parable that I think bears a lot more reflection, that I think because, um, I think Mark in general, because it's so short, uh, gets, it gets overlooked by Christians. I think we would all do well to spend a little bit more time in Mark. But especially some of these really short pericopes. I think we just read through it, and it's like we read a chapter of Mark, like Mark 4 comes up in our Bible reading plan. Right. And if we're reading the Bible in a year, like, Mark 4 is one of three or four chapters that we read, and this is four verses of that. Right. We just read over it quick and we c- we just, we don't appropriate any of it.  Jesse Schwamb: Right. It sounds like he's just reiterating a point or he's recapitulating something that he's already said or is about to say, and you're like, "Okay, get on with it." But I'm with [00:53:00] you. This parable, like all of them, is for us. It's for our joy. It's for our satisfaction and our comfort. And I think from this, there is, like, a single controlling point that's emerging from our conversation, which is the Kingdom of God advances by God's own hidden power toward a certain appointed consummation. And this ought to produce, like, patient confidence rather than human striving or a- anxiety. In order to give us a sense of calm, a reminder that God's providence is real in all areas of life. Remarkably, we've gotten this far in the conversation, and neither of us has just, has used the M word, which just came to me, and I think we're contractually obligated to say it as a Reformed podcast, and that is this is a prime example of monergism and the sovereignty of grace. And as in regeneration, the decisive cause of kingdom growth lies outside human capacity and comprehension. I think sometimes the latter part of that seems wrong to us. It makes us fearful because we don't understand it. But the former part should make us feel very happy and [00:54:00] relieved, that the capacity belongs to God and God alone. That doesn't depend on me or you or anybody else that we know. And this parable, I think, is often been paired with John's image of the wind blowing where it wishes as this picture of the Holy

Scott and Julian discuss how we get trapped in our lives and roles. If you enjoy this, please check out our massive back catalogue of reviews and try our patreon for more bonus content www.patreon.com/20cgmedia

Well howdy there! The gang here talk about The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. It's a collection of western tales and as of right now the last film by those Coen Brothers as a duo. Guess everyone gets to the end of the trail. Well see here this here podcast posse have a lot of thought on this here film and how it highlights of them there failings of the brothers. We talk about: Wrath of the Righteous, Pre-Nationals Netrunner, Light Side of The Ring, Racing Games, Molly Moving, Fear & Loathing, Cut A Segment, Why Does This Look Like Shit, Singing Cowboy, Dead Man's Hand, The Meme One, Native Representation, Noah Hawley Is A Better Writer Than The Coens, We Watch A Boring Show, Longest Movie, Kinda Nice And Kinda Evil, CGI Deer, Oregon Trail Adaptation, Uncertainty, Reapers, Their Worst Movie?, Anthology Films,

Over on Matt's other podcast, Time Enough, he's been going over every Jordan Peele produced film after doing the entire Jordan Peele Twilight Zone series. Here Mark and friend of the pod Andrew Shearer (Gonzoriffic) join him to talk about Nia DaCosta's 2021 legacy sequel to a 90's Clive Barker adaptation, and what all of that means to the history of movies, horror, society, and everything. If you like this, then check out Time Enough Podcast for a lot more about Twilight Zone related stuff. We're taking a couple of weeks off for summer break and will be back to the list soon.Support us at our podcasting network, Podcastio Podcastius at https://www.patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.  You'll get early episodes of this and out other podcasts, along with a live chat here and there.Speaking of our other podcasts - seriously, you could only listen to various other configurations of us:Luke Loves Pokemon: https://lukelovespkmn.transistor.fm/Time Enough Podcast (Twilight Zone): https://timeenoughpodcast.transistor.fm/Game Game Show (a game show gaming games): https://gamegameshow.transistor.fm/Occult Disney: https://occultdisney.transistor.fm/Podcast: 1999 (where Mark and Matt rap about 70's tv sci-fi): https://podcast1999.transistor.fm/And Matt makes music here:https://rovingsagemedia.bandcamp.com/Coming Soon: Santa Claus Conquers the MartiansThe Usual SuspectsEnes Batur: Imagination or Reality?

Are we living in the Twilight Zone? The Celtics are dumping stars and the Red Sox are all in? We'll take it. The Sox trade for an All-Star helped lessen the pain of seeing Jaylen Brown wearing his Sixer jersey this week. Plus, is Dillon Mitchell leaving the Celtics already? And we weigh in on the Steph rumors.#DifferentHere #Celtics #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown #StephCurry #DerrickWhite #Kawhi Get all the latest Celtics news from our partners at SportSpyder: https://sportspyder.com/nba/boston-celtics/news

The Mind and the Matter is one of the most thought-provoking episodes of The Twilight Zone, blending clever satire, fantasy, and philosophy into a memorable story. In this episode, we explore the Season 2 episode starring Shelley Berman as Archibald Beechcroft, a man who discovers he can reshape reality through the power of thought. What begins as a dre4am of escaping humanity quickly becomes a lesson about loneliness, individuality, and the importance of human connection. We'll discuss the episode's themes, Rod Serling's social commentary, Shelly Berman's outstanding performance, memorable moments, behind-the-scenes trivia, and why The Mind and the Matter remains an underrated classic more than 60 years later.  Do you think The Mind and the Matter deserves more recognition among the greatest Twilight Zone episodes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! If you enjoy classic television, The Twilight Zone, horror, science fiction, and vintage pop culture, be sure to like, subscribe, and ring the notification bell for more. 

Step into the eerie world of The Twilight Zone with hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they dive into the episode "Dead Man's Shoes." In this chilling tale, a vagrant stumbles upon a pair of shiny dress shoes discarded in an alley, only to discover they once belonged to a murdered gangster. When he puts them on, he inherits the spirit—and the vengeance—of their former owner. Freddy and Joe unpack the episode's suspenseful plot, its moral undertones, and the classic twist ending that keeps fans coming back for more. Perfect for Twilight Zone enthusiasts and anyone who loves a good supernatural mystery.

Welcome to Patty's Video Palace, where we're diving headfirst into the bizarre and mind-bending world of "The Twilight Zone" with a focus on the episode "After Hours." The main point we're tackling today? The shocking twist that our protagonist, Marcia, discovers she's not just a regular gal but a mannequin destined to return to her display after a short stint as a human. It's a wild ride as we chat about the heat wave outside, the kids loitering in the store, and how a simple shopping trip turned into a trip down a rabbit hole of identity crisis. We'll explore the deeper themes of self-discovery and existence, tossing in plenty of laughs and quips about our shared experiences. So, grab your commemorative fan and get comfy, because we're about to unpack some seriously fun and thought-provoking moments from this classic episode!Takeaways:In this episode, we dive into the quirky world of Marcia White, who thinks she's just shopping when she stumbles into a mind-bending reality that reveals her true identity as a mannequin.The hosts share hilarious anecdotes about the chaotic atmosphere in Patty's Video Palace, highlighting the antics of kids who don't quite know how arcade games work.With a playful tone, the discussion touches on the societal shifts in the 1960s, including fashion and cultural changes that the characters humorously reflect upon throughout the episode.As we unravel the Twilight Zone's classic twist, we ponder deeply about identity and existence, asking ourselves, how much of our lives is shaped by our memories and experiences?The episode cleverly juxtaposes the mundane with the bizarre, transforming a simple shopping trip into a philosophical exploration of what it means to be human and the nature of reality itself.Through light-hearted banter and puns, the hosts manage to keep the conversation lively while discussing profound themes like self-identity and how we perceive ourselves in relation to others.Patty's Video Palace invites listeners into a heatwave of conversation where nostalgia and humor collide! It's the height of summer, and the crew is sweating it out in their un-air-conditioned haven, relying on some rickety fans that just might be older than the last blockbuster. As the trio banters about the kids loitering in the store, who've apparently taken to playing games without even inserting a quarter, the episode takes a delightful dive into the absurdities of childhood. Remember the thrill of summer vacations? Well, they're living in it, as they reminisce about those days when boredom sent us out to explore—only to be stuck in the same store while dreaming of our next adventure. From the kids who think they're gaming pros to the hilarious realization that one kid is just mesmerized by a screensaver, the humor is infectious. But it's not all laughs; the conversation shifts to the iconic episode of The Twilight Zone titled 'The After Hours', where a shopping trip turns into a mind-bending exploration of identity. When Marcia, our unsuspecting protagonist, discovers her true nature as a mannequin, it raises the question: How much of our identity is tied to our memories, and what happens when they're suddenly erased? With twists at every corner, the episode is a captivating blend of comedy and existential pondering, perfect for those hot summer days when you just need to sit back and reflect on the mysteries of life.

Spoiler alert: this week we're analyzing the Twilight Zone episode “The Shelter.” It's Dr. Bill Stockton's birthday, and all of his neighbors and friends have gathered to celebrate. But, when a broadcast comes over the airwaves that unidentified flying objects–not of the little green men kind–have been spotted in the area, everyone panics, all except for Bill, who has spent the last few months building a shelter for just this occasion. And when those same neighbors start to come by to see if they can get their families into the good doctor's shelter, that's when harsh words and even fists begin to fly. On this episode of KOI: A Twilight Zone Show, we're going to do our best to figure out if the Stocktons would have even survived an atomic blast in 1961; we'll talk about whether or not things could ever go back to the way they were before the bomb threat; and I'll reveal my moment of awe, some thoughts on why I consider this episode to be one of the scariest in the entire Twilight Zone canon. So, grab your keys, and let's open up this door to the fifth dimension. #twilightzone #thetwilightzone #rodserlingWant to support the KOI show, get extra content, and give money to two awesome charities at the same time? Consider becoming a member in one of our tiers. 50% of every dollar, after the platforms take their fees, will go to charity: 25% to the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation and 25% to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Our goal is to preserve a way of life that Rod Serling himself would be proud of. However, even by just watching the show, subscribing, commenting, giving it a thumbs up, and sharing it with friends, you are doing your part. Thank you. You can learn more about the monetization plan for this channel from this video, which I recorded live from Serlingfest 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhcWe1dK-8&t=89sPatreon account: https://patreon.com/TheKeyofImaginationShow?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkYouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thekeyofimagination/joinWe're walking through Rod Serling's class Twilight Zone series and asking difficult questions about life. So, if you love The Twilight Zone, science fiction, or even just philosophizing about life, consider joining us on this journey. There's always room for more. Google form to rate this Twilight Zone episode: https://forms.gle/ZpK66ptSXiYQxitv7Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheKeyofImaginationShow?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkDiscord: discord.gg/QjNY9jcyFZX Handle: x.com/keyofishowYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thekeyofimaginationHead over to thekeyofimagination.com to learn more about me, check out my Twilight Zone trinkets and collectibles, and to to continue the conversation. Episode outline:00:00 - Introduction00:47 - Plot02:41 - Episode Details03:22 - Episode Tidbits04:26 - Question 115:43 - Question 221:03 - Question 322:48 - Episode rating23:17 - Next episode and questions23:44 - Announcements and comments25:26 - How to support the showNo show did a better job than The Twilight Zone at generating awe and wonder within its audience. It just so happens that awe is exactly what we need in these difficult, divisive times. So, join me, Joe Meyer, and let's walk through the fifth dimension with Rod Serling. Along the way, we'll discuss big questions and relate them back to our Twilight Zone episodes.Background artwork by James Seehafer: https://pixels.com/profiles/j-mark?tab=artworkOpening and Ending theme: by Jacob Williams @jakeproduces on FiverrPictures not belonging to the Twilight Zone show generally come from Pixabay and are under the free use license.#twilightzone #rodserling #scifi #zone #outerlimits #sciencefiction

From pillar to post, take a trip inside the mind of Maller as Benny bounces from one random thought to the next. This episode covers everything from rip currents and mutts to why avocados aren't actually a fruit—and the surprising connection to an Irishman. Plus, a Fifth Hour exclusive featuring Maller Medical Madness, as Ben shares the bizarre story of how he became a human GoPro, powered by what felt like battery acid. Along the way, he dives into Taco Bell's legendary Seven-Layer Burrito, Yiddish proverbs, instant replay, Bob Barker, and how, like a Twilight Zone episode, MLB announcers predicted the future 30 years ago. It's babble, banter, and bull—the way only the Fifth Hour can deliver. Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/grpodcast/the-fifth-hour-with-ben-maller/id1478163837 #BenMallerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the past truly fixed, or is it merely waiting for someone brave enough to rewrite it? The Twilight Zone loved toying with the idea that time itself might bend for the right person, and few episodes explore that temptation as directly as "The Last Flight" and "No Time Like the Past." The post Circular History appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.

What if the scariest part of a horror movie isn't the monster, but the isolation? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) reviews the horror film "Obsession" and unpacks what it reveals about consent, codependency, and what it truly means to love. Topics covered: The Twilight Zone episode that echoes Obsession's premise Why no character in the film is fully consenting to what happens to them Consent, free will, and mortal sin in Catholic moral theology Codependency vs. real love Becoming free to give ourselves as a gift The devil's lie that God doesn't care Even in suffering, we are never without choice, support, or God's presence. Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT

Is the past truly fixed, or is it merely waiting for someone brave enough to rewrite it? The Twilight Zone loved toying with the idea that time itself might bend for the right person, and few episodes explore that temptation as directly as "The Last Flight" and "No Time Like the Past." Both send their protagonists hurtling across decades, driven by guilt and the desperate hope that history can be corrected. On this episode of the podcast, we dig into what these two stories reveal about fate, cowardice, and whether men can ever truly outrun their own choices. In "The Last Flight," a World War I pilot named Terry Decker flies through a strange fog and lands in 1959, forced to confront the cowardly act he committed decades earlier and given one impossible chance to make it right. In "No Time Like the Past," Paul Driscoll travels backward hoping to prevent history's greatest tragedies, only to learn that altering the past comes with consequences he never expected. Two men, two eras, one haunting question: if you could change the past, would you have the courage, or the right, to actually do it? Connect with Entering the Fifth Dimension: Facebook community Follow us on Twitter Contribute Listener Feedback

William Schallert was one of Hollywood's most recognizable and dependable character actors, appearing in hundreds of television shows and films over a career that spanned more than six decades. Although many viewers remember him as Martin Lane, Patty Duke's father on The Patty Duke Show, Schallert's resume stretches far beyond one iconic role.  In this episode, we explore the life and career of William Schallert, from his early years and military service to his remarkable success in television and film. We'll discuss his memorable apperances in classic series including The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, and countless others. We'll also examine his work in films such as In the Heat of the Night, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Joe Kidd, and many more along with his leadership as President of the Screen Actors Guild. If you're a fan of classic television, vintage Hollywood, or legendary character actors, this is a career retrospective you won't want to miss. If you enjoy classic TV and movie retrospectives, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to support the channel.

Welcome to The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between. Today we discuss the great Michael Mann! Our B-Sides are The Keep, Public Enemies, Blackhat, and Ferrari. Our guest is the iconic Blake Howard of One Heat Minute Productions. We discuss the troubled making of The Keep, as well as that incredible Tangerine Dream score. The legendary Twilight Zone episode “The Howling Man” also comes up. There's also mention of how many movies about the French-Indian War there are (spoiler alert: not many!) Blake, Conor, and Dan Mecca discuss the legacy of Mann and his recent output of underappreciated films. Why is it that Michael Mann's films are often released to lesser success than their long-term reputations suggest? There's celebration of Mann's ever-evolving digital aesthetic, conversation about the contentious star-director relationship on the set of Public Enemies, and his demanding, exacting instincts. As legendary producer Amy Pascal once put working with the director: “You forget about the pain of childbirth too. I mean, whatever you go through, you still want another baby. It's like that with Michael too.”

This episode is in the TWILIGHT ZONE, listener! Kevin Atwater is an incredible queer musician who has garnered millions of listens across TikTok and Spotify with his honest songwriting, but today he's in the apartment to honestly tell us one of the freakiest stories we've heard… We discuss otherworldly hookups in haunted houses filled with stuffed animals, writing queer music, getting started as a fan editor, and GHB patches getting you through it all. Ashley heals past trauma with love. Ali is going crazy. FOLLOW KEVIN ATWATER: Listen to his new album, “Blush Red,” right NOW: https://open.spotify.com/album/7fMmi1DkgkI1fdOhRFxUpg  He's on tour! Get tickets here: https://www.kevin-atwater.com/tour  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevatwater  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinatwatermusic  Twitter: https://x.com/kevatwater  FOLLOW ASHLEY GAVIN @ashgavs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashgavscomedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashgavs/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashgavs Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashgavs Tour Dates & Newsletter: https://www.ashleygavin.com/#dates FOLLOW ALI KOLBERT @alikolbert TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alikolbert  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alikolbert/  Twitter: https://x.com/alikolbert  Tour Dates & Podcasts: https://www.alikolbert.com/shows FOLLOW ALEX VRAHAS @alvrahas Mailing List: https://forms.gle/t48AUUEYzrNagU1B9  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alvrahas/   SUPPORT OUR PODCAST: Watch this UNCUT: https://www.patreon.com/WHGS Merch: https://shop.merchcentral.com/collections/ashley-gavin Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13Uhq9pO2Dx799YyWXZvB1?si=f33211ce2c1d4f12 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-having-gay-sex/id1505116116 Watch on this YouTube: https://youtu.be/91HfXUcjqqs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can machines replace people? More than 60 years before artificial intelligence became an everyday topic, The Twilight Zone explored that unsettling question in "The Brain Center at Whipple's." In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of Rod Serling's most thought-provoking stories, examining its themes of automation, corporate greed, job displacement, and the dangers of allowing technology to replace human judgement. We discuss the performances, memorable moments, behind-the-scenes facts, and why this underrated Season 5 episode feels more relevant today than ever. Whether you're a lifelong Twilight Zone fan or discovering this episode for the first time, join us as we explore one of the series' most prophetic tales. What do you think of The Brain Center at Whipple's? Is it one of The Twilight Zone's most underrated episodes? Share your thoughts in the comments. If you enjoy classic horror, science fiction, and The Twilight Zone, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Ring the Bell for more deep dives into classic television and film.

Step into the eerie world of The Twilight Zone with hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they dissect the classic episode "One More Pallbearer." This chilling tale follows wealthy businessman Paul Radin, who lures three people he believes have wronged him—his former teacher, a military colonel, and a reverend—into his fallout shelter. His goal: to force them to beg for forgiveness, using a fake nuclear attack as leverage. But as the episode unfolds, the line between illusion and reality blurs, and Radin's twisted plan takes a dark and unexpected turn. Tune in as Freddy and Joe explore the themes of pride, morality, and psychological unraveling in this unforgettable Twilight Zone story.

On the Friday edition of the Fifth Hour Podcast, Benny clocks back into the audio sweatshop, serving up drive-thru chatter, plant-based drinks, and vintage jokes before getting to the main course. He tells the tale of the Golden U-Haul, being stonewalled from his Happy Place, and the unforgettable moment he "saw the sign"—one involving 500 pounds of explosives, a massive boom, and some bargain-bin psychobabble. Benny also stars in the radio version of The Twilight Zone's "Where Is Everybody?" before a simple mention—not a shout-out—reunites him with a long-lost Fox Sports Radio alum. Plus, radio war stories featuring Pete Rose, "Papa Joe" Chevalier, and the Fabulous Sports Babe. Th-th-th-that's all, folks! Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/grpodcast/the-fifth-hour-with-ben-maller/id1478163837 #BenMallerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott and Julian discuss past glories and the comedy of Buster Keaton.If you enjoy this, please check out our massive back catalogue of reviews and try our patreon for more bonus content www.patreon.com/20cgmedia

Hunter welcomes Lloyd Gilbert on the podcast to talk about the ending of the Old Testament. They discuss God's language being time, slowness vs. silence, and the way that the story of the Old Testament gives us meaning. However, if you know Lloyd you know we'll talk about a lot wild things like ostriches, the Twilight Zone, Finding Nemo, and Lloyd's review of Maeve.Next week we're talking to Andrew Faris about what is to come in the New Testament, so be on the lookout for that!

This week on Fright Mic, we're featuring an underrated movie which gives nods to 50's sci-fi and gives Twilight Zone vibes in the most stylized way possible. Join your hosts, Sam and Liz as they talk about strange radio signals and small town alien abductions in The Vast of Night(2019). Want more screams and laughs? Join our Fright Club at http://patreon.com/frightmicpodcast and get access to tons more episodes, discussions, rankings, watch parties and more!Fright Mic is an independent horror podcast. We would love to have you join our Fright Fam by following us on all our socials!PATREONMERCHFacebookFRIGHT CLUBInstagramBlueskyTwitterTiktokDiscordSupport the show

John Anderson was one of Hollywood's most recognizable character actors, appearing in hundreds of films and television episodes over a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. With his distinctive white hair, commanding voice, and unforgettable screen presence, Anderson became a familiar face in countless Westerns, dramas, and classic TV series. In this episode, we explore the life and career of John Anderson, from his early years and breakthrough in Hollywood to his memorable performances in Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Virginian, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The Waltons, MacGuyver, and many more. We also examine his film work, lasting impact on television history, and why her remains one of the greatest character actors of the Golden Age of TV. If you're a fan of classic television, Westerns, and legendary character actors, this is one career retrospective you won't want to miss. Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and let us know in the comments: What is your favorite John Anderson performance?  

Every org has process that started as protection and calcified into performance: boxes we check to prove nothing bad happened, rather than to help good work happen. In this mini episode, Rodney and Sam respond to a listener trying to resist the "checklistification" of their org. They draw a line where good checklists turn bad and explore the limits for what checklists can—and can't—solve in your team's Twilight Zone. -------------------------------- Ready to change your organization? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mentioned references: "Sunshine and Twilight Zones": The Ready's Depthfinding Atul Hawande, author of The Checklist Manifesto complicated vs complex MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Completely Exhaustive) Sound engineering and design by Taylor Marvin of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coupe Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Step into the shadows with hosts Freddy Morris and Joe Juvland as they explore The Twilight Zone episode "Nothing in the Dark." In this chilling installment, an elderly woman barricades herself in a rundown apartment, terrified of death incarnate—until a wounded policeman appears at her door. Freddy and Joe dissect the themes of fear, mortality, and trust, uncovering the layered storytelling and Rod Serling's masterful twists that make this classic episode unforgettable. Tune in for deep analysis, behind-the-scenes trivia, and a thought-provoking journey into the heart of The Twilight Zone.

In this sixty-first installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins, we return once again to St. Jerome, where Maggie Sambor gets enough evidence to accept that something terrible is truly happening inside of Peterson's Grocery. We also begin to understand why what is happening inside Peterson's is happening, while at the same time,  the mystery around it all deepens.   For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com   Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Phil and Emily are joined by writer Jude Ellison Doyle to open up Richard Kelly's The Box (2009). Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a cash-strapped 1976 couple handed a simple, horrible deal by a scarred stranger (Frank Langella): press the button on the box, collect a million dollars, and somebody you don't know dies. What starts as a Twilight Zone morality test (via Richard Matheson's "Button, Button") spirals into NASA, Mars, and a very literary sense of damnation.The three dig into Kelly's whole deranged sensibility after Donnie Darko and Southland Tales, whether he's fully in on his own material, how he writes women, and why a studio thriller this strange even got made. There's a real case here for reading The Box as a big, glossy panic attack about being broke in America. Heady, funny, and a little unhinged same as the movie.Follow the show & guest:Podcast Like It's... - https://www.instagram.com/podcastlikeitsPhil Iscove - https://www.instagram.com/pmiscoveEmily St. James - https://www.instagram.com/emilystjamsJude Ellison Doyle - https://www.instagram.com/byjudedoyle

Neil Sabatino joins Word Balloon to talk about Open Caskets, a darkly funny and deeply surreal graphic novel created with his longtime collaborator Shaun Simon. Set around a support group where society's misfits, outcasts, and oddballs share stories that feel like lost episodes of The Twilight Zone, Open Caskets blends unsettling horror, offbeat humor, and emotional honesty into a world that evokes Charles Addams by way of Tim Burton. Neil discusses bringing these strange characters to life, reuniting with Shaun after years of creative collaboration that began in New Jersey's indie music scene, and how the pair transformed their shared sensibilities into one of the year's most distinctive graphic novels.