Weird Studies

25/06/2023

We're beyond excited for the new batch of our WEIRD STUDIES Black IPA with Comet & Zappa hops that we brewed yesterday.

If you don't know, Weird Studies is our homage to the Weird Studies podcast, a wonderful bi-weekly stroll into the shifting commons of the Weird. Ranging from topics like Phillip K. Dick to David Lynch, the I Ching, Tarot & Aleister Crowley, Stanley Kubrick and Zen Buddhism, the hosts Phil Ford & JF Martel are the proper congenial, smart and unblinking guides you need on tricky journeys like these.

For this new batch we've got 4 sexy new labels which we're incredibly proud of. Each 4 pack will have one of each of these labels. I've put one of the 4 labels in the post here, I'll post the other 3 over the coming weeks. And, yes, expect some posters of these labels to be available for purchase as well.

Weird Studies Black IPA drops in Chicago mid-July & we'll be bringing some cases of it to gift to folks at the Lilly Dale event that the incredible photographer Taggart is hosting the last week of July. Tickets are limited, so, if you are interested in the strange, the Fortean, the difficult and the beautiful, don't sleep on this and get your tickets now. We'll be hosting an after party on Saturday July 29th at a Masonic Temple in Fredonia, NY to help capstone this exciting week of talks and connections, too. Get your tickets at https://www.shannontaggart.com/events

Check out Weird Studies at www.weirdstudies.com

See you there!

21/03/2023

In a strange turn of events, our episode released last week didn't appear on Apple podcasts for several days. But don't let the forces of evil keep you from this episode. I don't mean to brag but this is going down in history as one of our best.

Phil and JF discuss the Icelandic's composer posthumous science fiction film.

19/05/2022

Here's the awesome poster for our live event designed by Jason Pritchett.

10/05/2022

Attention fans in the Chicago area! Ever wondered what Weird Studies would taste like? Illuminated Brew Works is making a Weird Studies beer, and to celebrate the launch we are having a live event on May 23. Come drink beer and hear a live show (Phil and Meredith will be there in person and J.F. will join remotely).

Tickets are $12 or $20 if you want a cool poster.
See you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illuminated-brew-works-weird-studies-beer-launch-and-live-show-tickets-337365287657

Illuminated Brew Works and Weird Studies join forces for the launch of the Weird Studies black IPA!

02/03/2022

This week we tackle a serious topic: play and games. https://www.weirdstudies.com/117

Phil and JF discuss the mystery of games and the play function in culture and cosmos.

19/01/2022

Aaaand we're back! As the wheel of the year begins yet another turn, something new enters: a Weird Studies episode on the Wheel of Fortune card of the tarot.
https://www.weirdstudies.com/114

JF and Phil continue their occasional series on the major trumps of the Tarot with a discussion on the tenth major arcanum, the Wheel of Fortune.

27/12/2021

If you haven't had a chance to listen to this latest episode, give it a listen! It features guest Shannon Taggart discussing her experience of photographing mediums and seances. She has included a companion website with photographs picked exclusively for this episode!

https://www.weirdstudies.com/113

Phil and JF talk spiritualism and photography to American artist and paranormal researcher Shannon Taggart.

12/11/2021

This week we released part two of the conversation on The Glass Bead Game! This one delves more into the difficulty in harmonizing the life of the mind with the impulse to have a meaningful contribution to the world. For those of you who do academic or intellectual work, how do you reconcile these questions? https://www.weirdstudies.com/110

JF and Phil resume their discussion on Hermann Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game," this time with a focus on what the novel reveals about the value of culture in our times.

27/10/2021

Today we drop the first installment of a long-anticipated exploration of Herman Hesse's often misunderstood but extremely rich novel, The Glass Bead Game. https://www.weirdstudies.com/109

Phil and JF discuss Hesse's final novel, a quiet masterwork of science fiction about a game that encompasses all of reality.

15/10/2021

Latest Weird Studies episode centers on James P. Hansen's "The Trickster and the Paranormal" and the meaning of "skepticism." Are you a true believer or a skeptic? Or are the two not so mutually exclusive as they seem?
https://www.weirdstudies.com/108

JF and Phil discuss modern skepticism in light of George P. Hansen's "The Trickster and the Paranormal."

29/09/2021

Weird Studies returns after a brief hiatus with an extra special guest episode featuring Connor Habib, host of the podcast "Against Everyone." I hope you enjoy!
https://www.weirdstudies.com/107

01/09/2021

And it's out! https://www.weirdstudies.com/106

JF and Phil discuss consciousness, free will, and podcasting in context of the artwork that is Weird Studies.

01/09/2021

New episode is going to be out this evening, later than usual but it is coming!

18/08/2021

Weird Studies and Twin Peaks go together like David Lynch and red drapes. And this time we were joined by special guest Tamler Sommers from the Very Bad Wizards podcast!

https://www.weirdstudies.com/105

Phil and JF are joined by philosophy professor Tamler Sommers to discuss the film "Fire Walk with Me."

22/07/2021

I forgot to post yesterday, but a new episode was released! This one is part of a continuing series on the tarot. Who knew the Tower card could hit so close to home? https://www.weirdstudies.com/103

Phil and JF continue their series on the major arcana of the tarot with a discussion on The Tower.

07/07/2021

New episode just dropped - a fascinating conversation with guest Gyrus about the mythical figure of Pan. Check it out: https://www.weirdstudies.com/102

Writer and independent scholar Gyrus joins JF and Phil to talk about Pan, the Greek god of fear and desire.

23/06/2021

New episode just dropped! In the midst of the brightest time of year for the northern hemisphere, it's good to remember the other side of reality - darkness and shadows. https://www.weirdstudies.com/101

Phil and JF discuss Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's meditation on the aesthetics of darkness.

21/06/2021

https://twitter.com/JF_Martel/status/1402637917802147848

Weird Studies is now 100 episodes old, which means it's old enough to join Facebook!

“Our hundredth episode of just dropped, and it’s about the films of John Carpenter: In the Mouth of Madness, The Thing, They Live, and more. https://t.co/bxrj06gyR3”

21/06/2021

21/06/2021