Expanding Mind

Talking to God - 05/17/12

Charismatic Christians, technologies of the spirit, and the legacy of the Jesus Freaks: a talk with anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann, author of When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. www.luhrmann.net

Conscious Festivals - 05/10/12

Intentional partying, neotribal ritual, and building a community of spiritual orphans: a talk with Eve Bradford, writer, performer, and event organizer. www.ladyapples.com

Art and the Occult - 05/03/12

DIY magic, the mysteries of museums, and how art inspires today's esoteric revival: a talk with curator and writer Pam Grossman, co-founder of the Observatory and organizer of the current group art show "Sigils & Signs." observatoryroom.org; www.phantasmaphile.com

Bad Thoughts - 04/26/12

The uncanny body, the pathological sublime, and the stoner noir of 1970s Southern California: a sparking conversation with cultural critic Mark Dery, author of the new collection I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts. www.markdery.com

The Source Family - 03/19/12

Kundalini cults, SoCal spirituality, and the fascinating figure of Father Yod: an exuberant talk with Jodi Wille, director of the new documentary on The Source family. http://thesourcedoc.com/

Growing Virtual Worlds - 04/12/12

Evolutionary technologies, resisting the nonsense noosphere, and the legacy of Terence McKenna: a fascinating talk with virtual worlds designer Dr. Bruce Damer. www.damer.com

Illustrating the Mystery - 04/05/12

Drawing mushrooms, the portals of the childhood, and the difference between darkness and mystery: a chat with artist and illustrator Arik Roper, author of Mushroom Magick. www.arikroper.com

The Empire of Death - repeat program - 10/20/11

The Empire of Death

Bone rooms, morbid kitsch, and Bolivian skull parties: a fascinating chat with Dr. Paul Koudounaris about his beautifully illustrated book The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses.

http://empiredelamort.com/

Science and Experience - 03/22/12

Mars rocks, butterflies, and the cosmic awe of scientific data: A chat with Carlos Seligo, academic technology specialist for the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University.

Occult Technologies - 03/15/12

Seances, the Singularity, and the message of the medium: a talk with Professor Jill Galvan, author of The Sympathetic Medium: Feminine Channeling, the Occult, and Communication Technologies, 1859-1919.