In this mini recap of Episode 48, Nick, Georgia, and Joe reflect on the themes of perception and perspective that shaped their conversation with Katie from the DC Punk Archive. They revisit how shifting realities, sensory limits, and narrative framing influence what we believe is true. They discuss the listener-suggested film, Inception, and its infamous spinning top. The discussion turns toward real-world implications, from the disorienting realities of Alzheimer’s and dementia to the tension between truth and comfort when someone’s perception no longer aligns with shared reality.
Drawing inspiration from the Creative Pep Talk podcast, the crew unpacks the difference between distress and eustress, exploring how mindset and framing can turn pressure into motivation or overwhelm. They also connect these ideas to scientific research, where breakthroughs often come from shifting vantage points or letting non-experts ask unexpected questions. The episode wraps with each host sharing the movies, books, shows, and games they’ve been consuming. From alien-invasion dramas and Stephen King to classic video games.
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Chicago Writers Association Podcast:
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
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 to Hang with the Crew:
Nothing Scheduled.
Upcoming Episodes
Episode 49 – The Heart of a Superhero
Guest: Rengasayee (Sai) Veeraraghavan
We crack open the anatomy of heroism—where courage, biology, and myth converge to forge the modern superhero.
Episode 50 – Gremlins and Holiday Science
Guest: Chris Guzman
A festive dive into creature chaos, thermodynamics, and why Gremlins might secretly be the smartest holiday movie ever made.
Episode 51 – Season 2 Recap: PJs and Holiday Movies
Guests: The whole Rabbit Hole crew (and whoever wants to celebrate two great seasons!)
Pull on your pajamas, pour a drink, and join us for a cozy season-ender filled with laughter, reflection, and hints of what’s brewing for Season 3.
What the Crew is Digging, Links, Resources, and Topics Mentioned in mini and/or full episode:
Podcasts
Movies & TV Shows
Inception (2010, dir. Christopher Nolan)
The Sixth Sense (1999, dir. M. Night Shyamalan)
The Matrix (1999, dir. The Wachowskis)
John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)
New Apple TV+ alien-invasion series (Plur1bus)
Books & Authors
Kurt Vonnegut — Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle, Sirens of Titan (works referenced in full episode)
Anthology set in Stephen King’s The Stand Universe — The End of the World as We Know It
Psychology & Neuroscience Concepts
Perception vs Perspective
Eustress vs Distress
AI Conversational Delusion Case (from Episode 48)
Schizophrenia-simulation audio experiment
Memory degradation in Alzheimer’s & dementia
Predictive Coding (from Episode 48)
Time perception and mental-context drift
Video Games
Ghost of Tsushima
Wolfenstein
Doom (“can it run Doom?” meme)
Organizations
Technology & Media History
Commodore 64
ADAM computer (cassette-tape media)
Dot matrix & daisy wheel printers
If we missed anything, comment or email us and we’ll get the info to you!
Love Y'all! Don’t forget to Rate the show!
