Authors J David Osborne and Kris Saknussemm discuss animist magic in an era of archonic secularism. A psychogeographical exploration of culture, art, language, men, women, and the power of creativity.
On this special Thanksgiving episode, Kris and I discuss constructing your own tribe, the importance of the drunk uncle, calories, holiday depression, the Macy's Day Parade, the bizarre reason behind stuffing a turkey, and Paul Tillich's thoughts on grace.
Welcome to the new feed!
On this episode, Kris and I discuss the agency of oceans, the Nazca lines, head jars, microchips as the dream of a city, Stonehenge, the Blythe Intaglios, projects across time, the arch as a concept, apprenticeship, art as an ascetic practice, how it's all one meditation, Charles Fort, self-expression, and mystery panthers.
Our producer: ous/li
On this episode, I share some exciting news with Kris and the audience, which leads us to a conversation about Darwin, what happens when we die, and where the "real" America is.
Then, Kris brings up an idea that really got my brain firing on all cylinders: the concept of "the frame." What are our artistic frames, the frames through which we see the world, the frames for our everyday life? Is there a way outside the frame?
Along the way we talk simplicity, drug dealers, clay, and Cape Horn. This conversation opens another path of thinking for the show. It's one that I'll be excited to come back to.
On this episode, I relate the story of losing power in my home due to an historic Oklahoma ice storm. After recounting the creeping slow horror of an ice storm, Kris and I discuss the concept of power and electricity. How dependent are we on this modern miracle? How sustainable is it?
We talk James Clerk Maxwell, the mystical power of electricity, the work of David Lynch, Kris's close encounter with high voltage, the Spark Ranger, Manly P. Hall, step-down transformers, grounding, and the Insane Clown Posse.
On this episode, Kris and I continue our discussion of empathy. We start off by talking about Spinoza's Ethics, then we cover the ideas of understanding our claws, violence and the sacred, personal sovereignty, response-ability, knowing what day it is, and Peter Singer's tithe.
Kris tells a great story about a group of Muslims and a Buddhist monk in Kuala Lumpur, which leads to a dive into the etymology of "alms."
How do we break the edicts handed down to us from the modern managerial caste? How do we learn to understand people as the complex, contradictory individuals they are?
There must be some kind of way out of here.
On this episode, Kris and I discuss: James Wright, the etymology of empathy, you can’t take my shoes, a kind moose, difference between empathy and kindness, the wisdom of Vida Blue, is empathy respectful?, the case against middle management, the value of sincerity, swordsmanship without a sword, and Do Every Thing Wrong!
Follow JDO on Twitter: @brbjdo
Follow Kris on Twitter: @KrisSaknussemm
Music and mixing for this episode: ous/li
On this episode, Kris and I talk the equation of mental health with mental illness, rats in cages, the seductive allure of circumstance, the meaning of aftermath, JDO's sordid history, practical suggestions for dealing with depression, and The Archaic Torso of Apollo.
On this episode, Kris and I discuss my mescaline-induced alien encounter and strange synchromystic adventures at a mime school in Korea. We also talk the deathbed poetry of Dutch Schultz and the parallels with AI-generated song lyrics. Rounding out the episode is a deep dive into Koro/Shuk Yang ("head of the turtle" syndrome), Marian apparitions, The Jumping Frenchmen of Maine, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, and Joni Mitchell.
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
The music and mixing for this episode is from ous/li.
The image for this episode is Kris's own "Devil's Details" (2010)
Email us with thoughts and stories at: thebutterflyinyourmouth@gmail.com
On this episode, Kris and I talk about the work of Gregory Bateson, schizmogenesis, breaking the barriers of language, hypnosis, the play nature of paranormal phenomena, the magic of dingos, A Pickle for the Knowing Ones, ecstatic states in art, and the pain of initiation.
If you enjoy this episode, please follow us on Twitter:
David: @brbjdo
Kris: @KrisSaknussemm
The music and mixing for this episode was performed by ous/li.
On this episode, Kris and I are back to the ongoing conversation about magic and art. We discuss the earth’s blood, the business of metaphor, The Throne of the Third Heaven, a face-tatted trench coat in a house of monsters, free advice about gambling addiction, Terence McKenna, and a Crossroads Man.
Follow JDO on twitter: @brbjdo
Follow Kris on twitter: @KrisSaknussemm
Keep your fingers crossed for a Reverend America reissue at some point.
Artists mentioned:
If you like the music and mixing in this episode, check out ous/li.
