Weird Studies
SpectreVision Radio
Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art that opens up rifts in what we are pleased to call "reality."
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring the anomalous, the luminous, and the numinous. We’re a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
spectrevisionradio.com
linktr.ee/spectrevision
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring the anomalous, the luminous, and the numinous. We’re a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
spectrevisionradio.com
linktr.ee/spectrevision
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 33min
Episode 209 – At Home in the Labyrinth, with Murakami and Borges
They read Murakami’s eerie “Cream” and Borges’s maze-like “The Garden of Forking Paths.” They wander through time as a labyrinth, retrocausation, and stories that loop back on themselves. They explore indeterminacy, double-thinking, and how meaning emerges in wandering rather than at an end.
23 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 1h 20min
Episode 208 – Unbridled Creation: On Kenneth Batcheldor's Theory of the Paranormal
A deep dive into Kenneth Batcheldor's radical theory that paranormal events arise from an abstract creative principle. They explore pockets of indeterminacy, table‑tipping experiments, and whether these phenomena show intent or agency. Medieval categories, Meillassoux’s hyperchaos, and imaginal creation are woven into a debate about belief, skepticism, and how impossible effects might emerge.
22 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 1h 32min
Episode 207 – Magic Mirror: On J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
A close read of The Fellowship of the Ring that highlights Tolkien's limpid prose and immersive imagery. They probe language as worldmaking and Tolkien’s blend of pre-modern myth with modern perspectivism. Conversations explore magic’s tragic ambivalence, the elves’ fading time-sense, and hobbits’ moral growth through loss and attachment.
32 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 21min
Episode 206 – On Ken Russell's 'Altered States': Live at Indiana University Bloomington
A live, raucous deep dive into Ken Russell’s cinematic fever dream and its mashup of mysticism, psychedelics, and institutional science. They riff on Lovecraftian dread, alchemy vs. experiment, and cinematic spectacle. Conversations pivot to love as a corrective force, initiation rituals, and how imaginal phenomena might materialize.
65 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 1h 33min
Episode 205 – Discipline and Delight: On the Hierophant Card in the Tarot
They examine the Hierophant tarot card as a bridge between tradition and inner transformation. Music, especially Bach, and Tolkien illustrate disciplined practice yielding delight. They debate ritual, transmission, and how exoteric forms can open into inward gnosis. Zen, Deleuze, and Dogen appear to show practice as repetition that reveals novelty and spiritual depth.
73 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 16min
Episode 204 – The Perilous Realm: J.R.R. Tolkien's 'On Fairy Stories'
Dive into the realm of Faerie where fairy stories reveal deeper truths rather than mere escapism. Explore Tolkien's radical views on imagination and reality intertwined with myth. Discover the dynamics of language and story as fundamental to human experience. Unravel how history and myth blend in Tolkien's metaphors, and engage with the idea of sub-creation versus magic. The podcast also touches on how fantasy mirrors human desires and critiques modernity through the lens of mythic archetypes.
17 snips
Dec 31, 2025 • 33min
Holiday Bonus: Scavengers in the Ruins of Heaven
This discussion dives into the nuances of imposter syndrome, particularly within academia. The hosts explore how increased knowledge often amplifies feelings of inadequacy. They also reflect on the limits of preparation for teaching and the importance of trusting one's creativity in the moment. The conversation touches on practical experiences, like podcasting, which help confront self-doubt. Finally, they frame human finitude as a source of creativity, encouraging listeners to embrace the imperfections in their artistic journeys.
28 snips
Dec 10, 2025 • 1h 27min
Episode 203 – Distant Early Warnings: A Return to Marshall McLuhan's 'Book of Probes'
Dive into the intriguing world of McLuhan's aphorisms as the hosts explore themes like tourism versus transformative experience, advertising as art, and the impact of media on our senses. They discuss how McLuhan's 'probes' can provoke thought and spur personal change. The debate on orality versus literacy reveals how communication shapes culture, while reflections on the 'electric light' question its social implications. Prepare for a lively conversation that intertwines philosophy, art, and modern life.
30 snips
Nov 26, 2025 • 1h 22min
Episode 202 – The Human is Two: On 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'
Delve into the duality of human nature with a discussion on the Gothic classic that forever changed our view of identity. Explore connections between Jekyll and Hyde and modern themes in media like 'Severance' and 'Mulholland Drive.' Discover the uncanny power of doppelgangers and the moral quandaries of splitting one's conscience. Unpack the story's prophetic implications with psychoanalytic theories and the anxieties of Victorian society. Reflect on the interplay of fog, urban nightmares, and the deeper truths of existence.
Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 11min
Episode 201 – On James Whale's 'Frankenstein' and 'Bride of Frankenstein,' with Peter Bebergal
In this discussion, independent scholar Peter Bebergal, known for his works on culture and the occult, delves into James Whale's iconic Frankenstein films. He explores themes like Gnosticism and alchemical creation, contrasting it with scientific methods. The conversation highlights the moral implications of playing God and connects the films' narratives to modern challenges posed by AI and synthetic biology. Bebergal also examines the cultural confusion surrounding the monster's name and draws parallels with Golem traditions and contemporary bioethics.
