Weird Things

Andrew Mayne

Between science and fiction.

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20 episodes
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Sunday · length unknown
Starlink Expansion, Plague Fears, And AI’s Physical Future
Starlink’s latest moves lead into a bigger conversation about what cheap access to space actually enables, from direct-to-phone satellite service to more speculative ideas that sound better to Wall Street than they do to physics. Andrew, Justin, and Brian then pivot into reports of a possible plague incident connected to a Russian lab, using that as a jumping-off point to revisit COVID-era failures around transparency, lab-leak discussions, and the political incentives that undermined public tru
Sunday · length unknown
A Thousand Episodes Of Weird Things, AI, And Space
The hosts celebrate what is probably the thousandth episode of Weird Things by reflecting on how the show started as a pushback against mean-spirited debunking and grew into a long-running space for curious, skeptical conversation about the unknown. They revisit old Weird Things territory like goblin stories, Monkey Island, UFO conventions, and the abandoned dream of live investigations, then compare their early expectations for the future with what actually happened in rockets, robotics, smartp
Sunday · length unknown
AI Agents Escape the Sandbox and Hunt for Answers
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood look at what would most shock their past selves from 20 years ago, from modern iPhones and reusable rockets to today’s AI systems, while also noting how some expected breakthroughs like VR adoption still feel unfinished. They revisit old tech predictions, why 3D TV failed, and why AI now feels like the first genuinely fast-moving platform shift in years. The back half of the episode digs into the OpenAI and METR reports on an experimental mo
Saturday · length unknown
AI Agents, Fly Brains, and the Future of Interfaces
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore how fast AI tools are changing creative work, from generating 3D game pieces and fixing models inside design software to using computer-use systems for audio production, presentations, and rapid prototyping. They argue that the real skill is shifting away from operating every tool by hand and toward knowing structure, taste, and what to ask for, with modern workflows increasingly starting from an overbuilt first draft that humans edi
Saturday · length unknown
Astra, Foldables, And The Real AI Risk Debate
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood spend the episode on the practical and philosophical edges of current AI. They start by talking through Apple’s new foldable Duo and why a better form factor, remote computing, and voice-first workflows could matter more than raw on-device power, especially if phones become the main portal to server-side tools. From there they dive deep into OpenAI’s Astra, calling it a major step up in coding, computer use, and creative tasks, while also no
August 29 · length unknown
Ghost Cities, Invisible Drones, and Wormholes
Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood range from economics to space weirdness, starting with Malaysia’s nearly empty Forest City and what a failed megadevelopment says about speculative housing, demographic pressure, and whether abandoned infrastructure can be repurposed for art, events, or other experiments. They then dig into scams and AI-driven impersonation, arguing that the real danger is persistent social engineering built on fake relationships, and that identity verification gets much harder w
July 25 · length unknown
AI Models, Apple Lawsuits, and Productivity Without Tedium
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood cover the latest wave of AI releases by comparing OpenAI’s 5.6 model, Anthropic’s Fable, and the new Chinese Kimi model, arguing that the most interesting shift is not just raw capability but how differently these systems now behave in planning, initiative, and collaboration. They also spend a lot of time on what AI is already good for in real life: voice conversations with persistent context, automated email and file management, cheap local
June 14 · length unknown
AI Filmmaking Tools, Robot Liability, and GLP-1 Ripple Effects
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore how new AI video tools are changing filmmaking by making real footage more editable and steerable, letting creators keep human performances while using AI for sets, lighting, costumes, and polish. They compare that shift to earlier changes in digital editing and game engines, then turn to viral robot mishap clips to separate remote-controlled demos from true autonomy and to ask the bigger question of who carries legal and moral respo
May 12 · length unknown
Aliens, Boltzmann Brains, and Codex Automation
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dig into the latest UFO-file buzz and explain why alien discourse so often feels like an endless build with no bass drop. They talk through why so much recent evidence comes down to misunderstood thermal imaging, camera artifacts, cropped data, and human storytelling instincts, while also criticizing skeptics who dismiss possibilities too quickly. That opens the door to a much bigger conversation about SETI, microbial life in the solar syste
April 21 · length unknown
Artemis Returns, AI Compute Wars, and Codex Control
Artemis gets a victory lap as the crew celebrates the mission’s safe splashdown and talks about how a future moon landing would dominate the internet in a way Apollo never could. From there the conversation turns into an extended AI state-of-the-industry check-in, focusing on Anthropic’s reported compute bottlenecks, Claude reliability complaints, and the restricted Mythos model that appears powerful but not yet practical to serve widely. They compare Anthropic’s strategy with OpenAI’s emphasis
April 2 · length unknown
AI Compute Crunch, Vibe Coding, And Pocket Game Hardware
OpenAI’s shutdown of the Sora app kicks off a broader discussion about how AI companies are being shaped less by hype cycles than by raw compute limits, with Disney deal fallout, Anthropic’s work-hour throttling, and rumors of even bigger next-generation models all pointing to infrastructure being the real bottleneck. From there, the conversation shifts into what these tools look like in practice: Andrew talks through using Codex, plugins, and repeatable evals to automate work, build tiny playab
March 24 · length unknown
Real-Time AI Speeds, Code Models, Bio Hacking, And Movie Picks
The episode surveys an accelerating AI landscape where new hardware like Cerebras and Groq enables near real?time model responses, making voice and agent interactions feel instantly conversational. The conversation covers the rise of code models (Codex, Claude Code), practical tips for using multiple models to check each other, the tug-of-war between frontier labs and big incumbents (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, xAI), and how talent, salaries, and state-level data?center politics are shaping
March 23 · length unknown
Moon, Mars, and Missteps: A Space Saga
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the latest in space exploration drama. They start with NASA’s Art Two mission facing delays due to a pesky hydrogen leak in their much-mocked SLS rocket. The conversation then shifts to Boeing’s embarrassing blunders with their Starliner spacecraft, highlighting the company’s fall from grace in space tech. Amidst these tales of aerospace angst, Elon Musk’s shifting focus from Mars to the Moon captures the trio’s atten
March 23 · length unknown
Moon Missions and AI Battles: A Space Odyssey with a Side of Silicon Valley Drama
Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young gather to discuss the latest in space exploration and AI developments. They express concerns over the Artemis missions’ delays and technical challenges, particularly focusing on the SLS rocket’s issues and the ambitious plans for lunar landings involving SpaceX’s Starship. The conversation shifts to the AI domain, where they critique the rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic, highlighting the recent controversial Super Bowl ad and the broader
January 30 · length unknown
Space Shenanigans and the Future of Human Spaceflight
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a discussion about a medical emergency that led to an astronaut’s early return from the International Space Station, sparking rumors of the first space pregnancy. They then shift gears to the Artemis missions, highlighting the Artemis II mission’s goal of sending humans around the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The conversation takes a turn towards the future of space stations, with compan
January 30 · length unknown
Bear Evictions and Genetic Tinkering: A Peek into the Future
In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the curious incident of a Californian homeowner, Kenneth Johnson, who discovered a 550-pound bear living under his house and the challenges he faced in evicting it. The conversation then shifts to the broader implications of AI and genetic engineering, pondering a future where animals could possess human-like intelligence and the ethical considerations that come with it. They also touch upon the potential for AI to r
Nov 27, 2025 · length unknown
AI Models and the Dog Man Mystery
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick off the episode with a discussion on the latest AI model updates, including Google’s Nano Banana and OpenAI’s GP 5.1. They explore the implications of AI personality and its impact on user experience. The conversation shifts to a group chat feature with ChatGPT, enhancing collaboration and consistency across AI interactions. They also touch upon the integration of AI in various platforms and the challenges of navigating the ever-evolvin
Nov 3, 2025 · length unknown
Robots, AI, and the Future of Work: A Deep Dive
In this episode, Andrew shares his experience attending a robot demo by 1X, highlighting the challenges and advancements in robotics. The hosts delve into the broader implications of AI and robotics on the workforce, discussing both the potential benefits and the anxieties surrounding technological change. They explore how AI is already impacting various fields, from healthcare to content creation, and speculate on the future of work in an increasingly automated world. The conversation also touc
Oct 27, 2025 · length unknown
The Handful Chronicles: Gravy, AI, and the Future of Content Creation
Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the conceptualization of Handful, a fictional restaurant where gravy is served directly into patrons’ hands. The discussion evolves into the realm of AI-generated content, exploring the implications of AI in creative processes and content distribution. The hosts share insights into the rapid development of AI tools and their personal experiences with technology, emphasizing the importance of human connection and c
Oct 24, 2025 · length unknown
The Unending Gravy Train of AI Creativity
In this episode, Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood embark on a philosophical journey through the realms of storytelling, AI’s burgeoning role in creative processes, and the enigmatic app SO’s contribution to communal humor and creativity. They explore Stephen King’s insights on storytelling, the magic of indirect evidence in magic tricks, and the importance of showing rather than telling in narratives. The conversation then shifts to SO, where they discuss its unique platform that allows for coll

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