Adam and Aaron recorded a new episode of Themes & Memes in February. It is posted here as an exclusive to the Patreon bonus podcast feed. 

Tenet, state of entertainment media, Covid, Great Reset, Club of Rome, global tensions, US and China, ethics, technology, artificial intelligence, Elon Musk, lockdowns, changing economic system, online services, QAnon, micro-targeted influence operations, Post Truth World, propaganda, data, algorithms, mistrust of all media, privacy, Capitol siege, Alex Jones, Donald Trump rally, alternate reality games, fringe political groups, War on Terror, domestic terrorism, revolution, fringe mixed with mainstream, puppet masters, denouncing conspiracy mindset while using its very methods to prove your own point, cognitive dissonance, learning from alternative sources

Independent broadcasting legend, Alan Watt, died on March 4th, 2021. In this episode of Themes & Memes, Adam and Aaron remember Alan. A unique voice in the wilderness, his message resounded and permeated much further than most realize. 

topics include: Alan Watt, Cutting Through The Matrix, independent media, patriot radio, RBN, Jackie Patru, disinformation, new age, shortwave radio, internet shows, podcasts, alternative research, music, spiritual views, esoteric religion, callers, Andre Myspace page, Outlaw Journalism, Internet forums, Glen Kealey, Daily Stormer, Canada, sharing information for its own sake, first to talk about certain topics, transhumanism, eugenics, psychopathy, Thomas Sheridan, Jon Ronson, alternative ideas going mainstream, Club of Rome, from overpopulation crisis to fertility crisis, Alan's ideas lifted for profit, Dr Deagle, black helicopter incident, intimidation tactics of the establishment, serious subject matter, effecting mainstream narratives, having the work stand on its own, etymology, occult origins of language 

Adam and Aaron talk about the strange current atmosphere during this global panemic. From the bizarre present, to the unknown future, there are serious changes and moves being made all around us. Some of the more obscure topics that few talked about before, are now becoming undeniably important. 

topics: strange times, Covid19, new normal, America 2.0, mandatory vaccines, police state, comparisons to 9/11, technology, Elon Musk, Neuralink, brain machine interfaces, NIH, CDC, artificial intelligence, big data, Joe Rogan, transhumanism, tracking chips, China’s Ai initiative, NSCAI, national security, surveillance, Bill Gates, disinformation online, Google, Amazon, meat shortage to veggie burgers, sustainability, iPhone health app, predictive programming, medical martial law, pandemic movies, different reactions from people in daily life

Pearse Redmond joins Themes & Memes as a return guest. The Covid19 quarantine classic, Tiger King documentary, is the topic of discussion. A variety of issues such as high control groups, media analysis, and politics are discussed on this different kind of review. 

topics include: Tiger King, Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, big cats, animal rights, tigers in captivity, true crime editing tactics, documentary, entertainment, media analysis, relatable characters, life on the edge, cults, high control groups, free labor, changing names, Bhagavan Antle, undue influence, devotion, Scientology, L Ron Hubbard, repression, Barbara Fisher, disadvantaged people, Rick Kirkham, Joe Exotic’s son Brandon, prison, animal abuse, Saff, Tiger as a symbol, conquest of Nature, fetishizing of firearms, love of power, destructive energy, Jeff Lowe, beastiality light, animal print clothing, Blackfish, Steve-O, no one cares about the animals, reality show techniques, making you hate characters, death threats, Don Lewis death, Carole Baskin’s backstory, disappearance terminology on will, money and greed, Costa Rica sex tourism, psychology, politics, governor campaign, Joshua Dial, Libertarian platform, John Reinke, Walmart guns and ammo, homosexuality in Oklahoma, politics for publicity, 19 percent of vote, Travis accidental suicide, seeing a shaman in lieu of therapy, holistic medicine, story of getting to the zoo, meth amphetamine, audience manipulation, narrative, Alan Glover, video as blackmail, appearance of wealth, making a deal with the Feds, con men, Covid19 atmosphere, self interest, feature film talk

Adam and Aaron return to do a review of Joker. This is a different sort of comic book movie to be sure. What sort of social commentary is this film trying to make? What esoteric themes are there? These questions and more are discussed on this episode of Themes & Memes.

topics include: incels, domestic terrorism, comic book movies, Scorsese, Gotham City, social unrest, poverty, mental illness, anti hero, DC cinematic universe, Tim Burton Batman movie, Dark Knight, Robert De Niro, relationships with media, psychology, psychosis, rite of passage, becoming a man, depression, Wayne family, the Fool, ritual, symbolism, manic run, journey for truth, violence, color, angry mob, creation and destruction, chaos, fire

Adam and Aaron return for a casual, but serious conversation about digital media, censorship, free speech, and many other overused and misunderstood terms. 

topics include: Themes & Memes continues, Alex Jones deplatformed on social media, censorship, fake news, Sandy Hook, lawsuits against Jones, election of Donald Trump, mainstream media, conspiracy ideas going mainstream, more extreme rhetoric gaining more publicity, alt right, alternative media, free speech, censorship, Facebook, YouTube, the Great Purge, social media giants as both public and private entities, Google owning the internet, monopolies, online world, digital media production and distribution, democratization of media, Netflix, military contracts, Apple and FBI, privacy, CIA, big data, targeted ads and searches, mobile device microphones used for targeted ads, normalization over time, Alexa as a character in sitcoms, new advertising, Amazon, 80s cartoons, Ai, convergence, UK Strat Trends report, confusion, Orwellian thought crime, loss of critical thinking, techno-utopians, cybernetics, George W Bush, extreme right and left wing political groups fighting, Lauren Southern and Stephan Molyneux, Surveillance Valley by Yasha Levine

Adam and Aaron review the recent Steven Spielberg film, Ready Player One. The past, present and future of virtual worlds are explored in depth in this book adaptation. What current, real world realities are present in this work of fiction? What occult "Easter eggs" have the filmmakers left for us to uncover? 

topics include: Steven Spielberg director, book adaptation, rights, licensing, special effects, virtual reality, Columbus OH, Easter egg, Steve Jobs, creation, video games, time, corporate gaming companies, MMO games, pop culture, nostalgia, nerds, trivia as knowledge, 80s films, movie magic, IOI like IGN, advertisements, Oasis, debtors prison, The Shining, future of virtual worlds, regret, Atari, revolution, signing away rights, initiation rituals, threes, love, male and female creative aspects, predictive programming, technology, dystopia, value of the real world, immersive artificial environments

Adam and Aaron record their first live show on Ochelli.com. They take the occasion to review season 3 of the Netflix series Black Mirror. 

topics include: live radio, Netflix, new distribution for entertainment, short films, media, technology, futurism, happy endings vs dark endings, Nosedive, social media, polite society, repressed emotions, sexual frustration, superficiality, social status, passive aggression, social networking, ulterior motives, epiphany, transcendence, analytics, denial, San Junipero, virtual reality, period piece, nostalgia, uploading consciousness, choices, Shut Up and Dance, phishing, blackmail, moral ambiguity, Men Against Fire, video games, super soldiers, dehumanizing the enemy, military involvement in video game production, T&M podcast history

Adam and Aaron weigh in on Jim Carrey's recent interviews which have baffled his fans the world over. Apparently there is no such thing as Jim Carrey at all. What might this mean? Has JC lost his mind, or is he onto something?

topics include: identity, psychology, persona, Eastern religion, metaphysics, philosophy, Norm MacDonald, sexual alchemy, occult, Gnosticism, conspiracies, alternative research, truth, woke, E! network, Dionysus, world stage, masks, celebrity culture, prestige, creative freedom, artists, entertainment industry, performance art, manic depressive, depression, actors, feeling empty, fulfillment, ego, mainstream media, Hollywood small talk, cringe worthy, meditation, nothing is real, comedy, humor, epiphany, truth seeking, Andy Kaufman

On this episode we return for a casual discussion on the Hollywood Sex Scandal, looking at the prominent narratives and what they could mean for the future of Hollywood and Pop Culture. 

We look at the issue from a number of different angles, highlighting the numerous ways in which this scandal is stoking outrage over questions of patriarchy, social justice and corruption, and the potential that exists for further polarisation and social breakdown. 

We also look at the symbolic ramifications that these revelations bring to light, particularly in relation to the betrayal of trust and the fall of iconic institutions. We also touch on questions of opportunism on all sides, from those making allegations to narcissistic media pundits who thrive on drama. 

Is this scandal further provoking a war of the sexes? Is patriarchal Hollywood being undermined to make way for a new epoch of open source entertainment? We discuss all of these questions and more. 

Topics discussed include: Hollywood, Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis CK, Media Narratives, Sensationalism, Patriarchy, Feminism, Social Justice, Hypocrisy, Victimhood, Systemic Corruption, Sex Slaves, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking, Bush, Clinton, Conspiracy Culture, Burden of Proof, Celebrity Bandwagon Jumping, Abuse, Social Tension, Bill C-16, Transgender Pronouns, Legal Equality vs Social Negotiation, Vulgarity in Comedy, Degradation of Standards, Loss of Innocence, Betrayal of Trust, Jimmy Saville, Bill Cosby, Hollywood on Trial, Lack of Original Ideas, Awful Comedies, Comic Movies, Wonder Woman, Elevation of Feminist Icons, Death of Old Institutions, Rise of New Media, Ideological Reactionaries, Age of Transitions, Age of Confusion. 

We return with a highly esoteric discussion on Blade Runner 2049, the 2017 sequel to Ridley Scott's cult-classic from 1982. Despite not doing well at the Box Office, this film succeeds in artfully suggesting a number of stories within one, and like the first film, leaves the audience feeling they have witnessed something profound. 

Set in the titular year in dystopian Los Angeles, the film follows the replicant LAPD officer 'K' as he uncovers hidden evidence that replicants are capable of reproducing autonomously. After being ordered by his superiors to investigate and destroy the evidence, K is led to believe that he himself may be the offspring of a union between replicants, and so disobeys his orders in search of his origins. 

We start by summarising the plot and the story, before diving into the multi-layered elements of the film, looking at the heavy use of biblical motifs and creation mythologies in both the script and the subtext. As humanity has fallen from grace in foolishly pursuing godhood, the next epoch of creation is born, and so the film is replete with wordplay and symbolic motifs which elucidate these ideas. 

We discuss the film's focus on feminine imagery, especially following the many negative reviews given by feminist critics. We deconstruct the notion that the film is overtly sexist and gratuitous in its imagery, by pointing out the deeper symbolic significance in these motifs. The film is both critiquing the objectification of women whilst also celebrating the goddess archetype and venerating the full range of feminine principles. 

We also spend time talking about the various characters, in terms of what they represent and how they develop throughout the story. The ultimate journey of K in particular is heavily suggestive of Gnostic principles and ideas, though we also touch on the characters of LUV and JOI, who at various points reveal a higher truth or meaning to his journey into selfhood.  

We touch on a myriad of other topics in this extended podcast, from Silicon Valley execs and the transhumanist demiurge Niander Wallace, to questions of humanity, to the artful cinematography and soundtrack of the film, plus much more. Please excuse the low audio quality. 

Topics discussed include: Blade Runner, Los Angeles, Dystopia, Environmentalism, Synthetic Foods, Synthetic Society, Replicants, Artificial Intelligence, Original Film, Sequels, Artful production, Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, JOI, LUV, Niander Wallace, Wallace Corporation, Tyrell Corporation, LAPD, DNA, Regeneration, Reproduction, Miracles, Biblical Themes, Adam & Eve, Garden of Eden, Genesis, Creation, Gnosticism, Pyramids, Pharaohs, Godhood, Demigod, Demiurge, Light, Symbolism, Geometry, Human Eye, Feminist Critiques, Goddess Archetypes, Sexuality, Objectification, Veneration, Slavery, Oppression, Self Awareness, Las Vegas, Holograms, Earth Mother Archetype, Masculine vs Feminism, Search for Truth, Materialism, Infertility, Revolution, Wordplay, Secret Societies, Sacrifice, Truth, Love vs Joy, Techniques of Cinema and Sound, Quality of film and music. 

Intro & Outro music by Hans Zimmer.