The AP Strange Show

AP Strange
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

A show about Weird Stuff, hosted by AP Strange. AP interviews cool weirdos about their work, and invites friends on to discuss second sequels in franchises in a series called "Third Time's the Charm". Other fun surprises await...

  1. Getting Aggressively Scandinavian with Rowdy Geirsson

    4d ago

    Getting Aggressively Scandinavian with Rowdy Geirsson

    This week's show is a fun one, as author and viking historian Rowdy Geirsson joins AP for a discussion about his humorous work in writing about Scandinavian history and Norse Mythology. His recent book, The Impudent Edda, is a unique version of familiar Norse tales translated by Rowdy "from the original Bostonian"- showcasing gods like Odin, Loki, and Freya within the distinctly modern realm of New England. Such writings (in the original Bostonian) have been featured as a regular column on McSweeney's Internet Tendency and elsewhere, and despite their obvious playfulness and humor offer insights into the cosmology of Yggdrasil and the social dynamics of otherworldly beings. In conversation, he and AP have a wicked fun time discussing these as told by the mysterious, and likely drunk, South Boston poet who brought them to light. Rowdy also discusses his history with the subject of vikings and Norse mythology, his fascination with 19th century claims about Leif Ericksson, and some of the New England locales from Boston to Maine which inspired his writings. This leads to further chat about the ways myths endure and can be adopted through works of fiction, but also as emblems for often problematic ideological groups. They also discuss the long-running social media collaboration that is Wyrd Wednesday, a weekly online event in which anyone can share folkloric tidbits on the theme presented by Rowdy and his co-organizers. All of that plus the origin of the Chahlie Cahd, Wattersonian physics, and more are included in this interview. Check out Rowdy's work at https://scandinavianaggression.com/

    1h 28m
  2. Exploring Wild Houdini History with John Cox

    May 24

    Exploring Wild Houdini History with John Cox

    On this week's episode of The AP Strange Show, Houdini historian John Cox joins AP for an in-depth discussion about the legendary magician, escape artist, and arch debunker of Spiritualist phenomena, Harry Houdini. John's incredible breadth of knowledge about the larger-than-life figure stems from a childhood fascination, and has culminated in several books and appearances on TV shows such as The UnXplained with William Shatner. Throughout his career as a screenwriter, he has continued pursuing the life story of the man whose name has become synonymous with stage magic and escape artistry. In this conversation, he and AP discuss some of the lesser known history of Houdini in AP's hometown of Worcester, MA, including his last outdoor performance and the mystery surrounding the coffin he used during his "buried alive" performances. From there John talks about what got him into the rabbit hole of Houdini's life, the work he's done to attempt a balance between the legends and facts about the man, and the various projects he's worked on in preserving Houdini's legacy. They also discuss his complicated history with séances, the evolution of the handcuff and jail escapes, and conjecture about Houdini's alleged involvement in espionage. The conversation is a real deep dive into entertainment history, and John Cox is an unparalleled source of information and enthusiasm on the matter! Keep up with John's work at https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/ , where you can find an unbelievable amount of information as well as links to purchase his books- and if you're eager for even more, join his patreon!

    1h 20m
  3. Living the Weird Life with John E. L. Tenney

    May 17

    Living the Weird Life with John E. L. Tenney

    This week, the one-and-only John E. L. Tenney joins AP for a conversation about a wide range of weird subjects including witches, Bigfoots, frogs, comedians, and much more! As a longtime investigator of and lecturer in a variety of highly strange topics, Tenney brings a wealth of knowledge and presents it in a warm and funny way through his works and on his podcast, What's Up Weirdo. In this episode, he discusses his recent zine dedicated to Gundella the Green Witch, as well as other larger than life characters. From there the chat covers a lot of weird ground, as they discuss fictional media representations of high strangeness, the importance of humor in considering paranormal subjects, and baffling moments of sometimes useless psychic abilities. A central theme in the discussion is about how to live one's best weirdo life, and how these interests can connect people who otherwise might never have met. Whether this is as simple as wearing your weird interests on your sleeve or as extravagant as becoming your area's local cryptid, Tenney's words and thoughts provide a great foundation for considering the strange and unusual. Tenney was also one of the first guests on this very podcast, so if you missed it and enjoyed this one, go back and find that one as well! Check out more of John's work at https://weirdlectures.com , and make sure you subscribe to he and co-host Jessica Knapik's wonderful podcast What's Up Weirdo! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-up-weirdo/id1557205678

    1h 16m
  4. Embracing the Sacred Chao with Bobby Campbell

    May 10

    Embracing the Sacred Chao with Bobby Campbell

    This week, comic creator and teacher Bobby Campbell returns to the show for a wide-ranging chat about Discordianism, Maybe Logic, and navigating the strange and often scary world we find ourselves in now. Bobby has been working on a comic book adaptation of the classic Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea novel series Illuminatus!, with issue number 3 on the way and a collected volume this summer. In conversation on this episode, he and AP cover a lot of ground; everything from the study of psychedelics as medicine to the encroachment of AI to the life and theories of Wilhelm Reich are discussed!  In a fun and freewheeling chat, he and AP attempt to offer optimistic visions of holistic approaches to systemic issues that affect all of us. They also discuss creativity, the pitfalls of social media for promoting and distribution of art, and the value of in-person events and interactions. Check out Bobby's Tales of Illuminatus series (and other fun projects) here: https://talesofilluminatus.com/

    1h 37m
  5. Spreading Good Vibes with Mark Winters

    May 3

    Spreading Good Vibes with Mark Winters

    This week, singer-songwriter Mark Winters joins AP to discuss protons, poetry, and positivity as he continues his Good Vibes Highway Tour along the Pacific Coast. Having a bit of an unconventional background for a touring musician, he discusses his journey from an interest in science and a career in aerospace engineering to the creative endeavors he came to enjoy, which culminated in several albums full of his own songs. This leads to an interesting discussion about the nature of creativity, how curiosity and scientific inquiry are related to artistic impulses, and the various ways one can apply their intellect. The underlying message in Mark's music and creative output is one of positivity, and in the episode he talks about using the proton as a symbol for the good vibes he hopes to engender. Throughout the show there's discussion about everything from learning how to sing to Einstein's daydreams, the importance of frequencies and vibrations, and more! Check out Mark's music here: https://markwintersmusic.com/

    1 hr
  6. Saving Gotham City with Virgo Blade (3xtC)

    Apr 26

    Saving Gotham City with Virgo Blade (3xtC)

    This week, Virgo Blade joins AP in a Third Time's the Charm (3xtC) discussion about the third Batman movie, Batman Forever- but, considering the rich cultural history around the character of Batman and his hometown with its resident Rogue's Gallery of villains, it became a great discussion of the DC Comics property more broadly. Virgo was the perfect guest to discuss the Dark Knight with; as a scriptwriter and content creator who spends a lot of time discussing comic books and associated media, his particular affinity for the Caped Crusader (and the Boy Wonder) made him an ideal choice for the chat.Discussion begins with Batman Forever, from its cast and direction to it's general aesthetic and questionable costume choices. From there the conversation quickly expands to cover various permutations and incarnations of the denizens of Gotham's underworld, through various media and time periods. Virgo gets into the dynamics of some of these iconic characters, their motivations, and how they've been interpreted over the years. Comparisons are made between the darker, more realistic versions of the heroes and villains in Gotham and the campy flip side of them, exemplified well in the third movie. Also discussed are the.ways comic book narratives mirror our world, how these stories can help us contextualize the madness of the modern day, and how we might save our own proverbial Gotham Cities.  Follow Virgo Blade on TikTok, Instagram, or BlueSky to keep up to date on the movies and comics he covers!

    1h 13m
  7. Considering Cryptids with Sharon Hill

    Apr 19

    Considering Cryptids with Sharon Hill

    This week, writer, researcher, and "strange claims adjustor" Sharon A. Hill joins AP for a wide-ranging discussion about those curious specimens called cryptids- what they are, how we define them, and how stories about them define us. Sharon approaches cryptozoology from an academic perspective, and is at once skeptical and simultaneously sympathetic to reported zoological anomalies. The interview begins with a bit about her background, what draws her to the study of highly strange claims, and the various approaches she has taken toward such subjects in over two decades of writing about them. In particular, the role of science is discussed as it pertains to investigation, and the distinction is made between scientific inquiry and what Hill calls "scientifical" methods. This leads to a broader discussion of skepticism, and the pitfalls of disbelief.From there they get into a wild sampling of cryptozoological oddities and narratives, from the changing definition of the term "cryptid" itself to festivals based on the mystery creatures and more. They talk about concerning trends of associating the creatures with tragic events as well as exploitation of cultural legends as well, and if that's not enough also discuss recent revelations about the Patterson Gimlin Film and what it says about the state of Bigfootery in our current cultural landscape. Be sure to check out Sharon's prolific body of writing here: https://sharonahill.com/

    1h 18m
  8. Going Down the Rabbit Hole with SMiles Lewis

    Apr 12

    Going Down the Rabbit Hole with SMiles Lewis

    This week, SMiles Lewis joins AP for a wide-ranging discussion about fringe and conspiracy narratives and the ways in which many of these ideas have mutated as they have made their way into mainstream culture. SMiles is the founder of Anomaly Archives, a Texas-based collection of over 7000 titles related to UFOs, parapsychology, and other unexplained phenomena. He is a longtime researcher, writer, and podcaster with a valuable perspective on the topic at hand. In 2023, he was featured in a New York Times Op Ed by Dr. Annie Kelly, which analyzed the rise of QAnon and the prominence of conspiracy theories in public discourse. Times being as they are, it seemed a fruitful line of inquiry to revisit the topic and discuss how this has progressed in the few short years since Dr. Kelly wrote her article. In conversation here, SMiles discusses his history with fringe topics and various turning points in the last few decades that have helped formerly fringe ideas proliferate. They manage to find room for levity in what might seem a dark topic, as they discuss everything from 9 / 11 truthers to Bohemian Grove and more. Also discussed is the balancing act of remaining simultaneously critical and open to ideas, and the importance of preserving one's sanity when diving into rabbit holes. Check out SMiles' work at Anomaly Archives here: https://anomalyarchives.org/ , and consider joining the Patreon for it to help support a tremendous lending library in need!

    1h 41m
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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

A show about Weird Stuff, hosted by AP Strange. AP interviews cool weirdos about their work, and invites friends on to discuss second sequels in franchises in a series called "Third Time's the Charm". Other fun surprises await...

Information

  • Creator
    AP Strange
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AP Strange

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