In mini episode 43.1 of Rabbit Hole of Research, the team gathers in the Basement Studio to reflect on Episode 43: Animal Swarms, featuring researcher Josh Fisher. From biblical locusts to Hitchcock’s The Birds, the crew revisits some of the most captivating moments from the full episode.
Listener Alex’s questions spark new discussion on pop culture swarms, biblical ants, and the ethics of swarm-sized DragonCon crowds. Georgia returns with fresh takes on giant cinematic ticks and shawarma preferences, while Nick questions whether he actually witnessed a real-life dragonfly swarm—or hallucinated it entirely.
The conversation drifts into media the crew has been digesting, video game Hollow Knight: Silksong, balancing horror movies with Gilmore Girls decompression. Other pop culture cameos include The Frogs, Batman, Home Alone 2, and HighTown, plus book recommendations like The End of the World As We Know It, set in Stephen King’s The Stand universe.
Also Check out: “Specific Knowledge: Transformation” at From Beyond Press
Joe explores how many calories it would take to transform into monsters across sci-fi and horror—think 222 Big Macs and tubs of Cherry Garcia.
It’s science for Weirdos
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Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all!
Future Events:
Reading Event November 1st at Printer’s Row Wine, Chicago, IL. More details coming soon.
Upcoming Episodes
Episode 44 – “H20MG: Lake Michigan, Life, and Everything in Between”
Guest: Maud Lavin
Dive into the science, stories, and cultural mythology surrounding Lake Michigan. Expect currents of ecological history, shipwrecks, and shoreline social commentary.
Episode 45 – Ghosts/Graveyard (Recorded in the Horror House, Avondale, Chicago)
Guests: Moses and Vinny (Co-owners of Horror House)
The team explores hauntings, graveyard aesthetics, and the sociocultural afterlife of ghost stories. Nick will be testing out a Ouija board during the episode—we’ll see what answers come through.
Episode 46 – Slashers (Recorded at Reeds Local, Avondale, Chicago)
Guests: Jesse Andrus (Slasher Sauces) and Melissa (Co-owner of Reeds)
Blades and booze collide as the crew unpacks the legacy of slasher films—from 80s VHS carnage to modern horror meta-commentary—live from a local bar with some spicy hot sauce.
Episode 47 – Who Goes There? The Thing and The Shape of Paranoia
Guests: Todd Thyberg and Bill Halliar
A deep-dive into the horror of isolation, distrust, and shapeshifting terror through the lens of The Thing. Expect philosophical chills.
Links, Resources, and Topics Mentioned in mini and/or full episode:
Books & Short Stories
The End of the World as We Know It (Edited by Christopher Golden & Brian Keene; introduction by Stephen King)
An anthology set in the world of The Stand, exploring post-apocalyptic human stories.
The foundational novel of a viral apocalypse, mass hysteria, and moral reckoning.
Proverbs (Bible, 6:6–8; 30:25)
Ants are invoked as metaphors for foresight and diligence, a nuance that clarified listener confusion about biblical ant swarms.
Films & TV
The Birds (1963, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
The classic avian horror film that inspired much of the swarming fiction discussion.
Campy horror film about parasitic ticks descending en masse—Georgia found this especially chilling.
An environmental horror flick with amphibious vengeance themes—described as purposedly low-budget and absurd.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Remembered for the memorable pigeon-lady scene, referenced in a discussion about human swarms.
The Batman (2022, dir. Matt Reeves)
Cited for evocative bat swarm visuals and their symbolic weight in the story
Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
The RHR Crew’s go-to comfort show after descending into swarm discussions.
Hightown (2020– )
Dark crime drama set on Cape Cod, recently binged by the hosts.
Twilight Zone (1959–1964, Original Series)
A cultural TV touchstone tied to speculative and sci-fi commentary.
Video Game
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Indie metroidvania featuring swarm-like bug enemies and deep lore—showcased as Nick’s current post-swarm obsession.
Animal Behavior & Swarm Topics
Dragonfly swarms in Chicagoland—Josh Fisher’s personal favorite.
Honeybee swarming patterns and hive dynamics.
Cicada life cycle and edible recipes—science meets culinary creativity.
Locust swarms—biblical analogues vs. modern agricultural reality.
Human crowd behavior—e.g., flow dynamics at Dragon Con.
Fictional swarm metaphors—from zombie hordes to bat colonies.
Tick swarms in horror—discussed via Ticks the movie.
If we missed anything, comment or email us and we’ll get the info to you!
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