This week, Ali Baughman joins AP for a discussion about and celebration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Ali is a self described theater nerd, being an educator and director in theater as well as an actor, writer, and podcast producer. She is currently playing the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a shadow cast of Rocky Horror in her hometown of Hagerstown, MD, and in conversation she discusses the cult legacy of Rocky Horror as well as that of the original Frankie, Tim Curry. She gets into her own history with the musical, as well as with acting generally, framing Rocky Horror as an initiation of sorts for theater kids- leading to broader discussions about the various ways people have become attached to the film, and the phenomenon of audience participation that has developed over the decades since its release.

Also discussed are some of the inspirations that went into the writing, filming, and character development of the original story which allows for a chat about cult movies, B-movies, and science fiction / horror cinema more broadly. AP and Ali also talk about her podcast The Vampire Talk Show, currently on indefinite hiatus, in which she plays the role of Val the Vampire- which once featured a certain AP Strange Show host as a guest clown- leading to a very fun conversation about Ali and AP's shared affection for weird monster movies and the creativity that goes into making various forms of media. If all that's not enough for you, Ali shares experiences with various ghosts she's encountered in her theater career- including some that seem to look out for her interests when she's directing a production!

Ali was a terrific guest, and the perfect person to talk RHPS with this spooky season. To find out more about the theater work she does with the Potomac Playmakers, check it out here: https://www.potomacplaymakers.org/

This week, Joseph L. Flatley returns to the show for a wide-ranging discussion touching on themes of magick, psychology, and subjective synthesis and how these threads weave through his recent works- including his latest book, The Occult Timothy Leary: The Tarot, Magical States, and Post-Terrestrial Evolution and his podcast series The Inner Empire. Flatley was last on the show in June of 2026 to discuss his book about Gabriel of Urantia, New Age Grifter, and in conversation this time around expand on some of the themes from that episode- and more! They discuss various forms of channeling, ideas about extraterrestrial intelligences and Leary's eight-circuit model, the legacy of Western magical organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and the role of technology in our societal evolution.

The conversation also gets into varied opinions about Leary and his legacy, and the wildly divergent points of view that inform public memory of him. There are plenty of avenues here to discuss the history of eccentric or controversial ideas, and this episode runs the gamut- and provides a nuanced look at where we are now, and where we might be headed as a species.

Check out Flatley's new book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Occult-Timothy-Leary/Joseph-L-Flatley/9798888500842
...and check out the Inner Empire, whereever you find podcasts!

On this week's show, back by popular demand, the one-and-only Tim Binnall joins AP to recount various adventures (and possible misadventures) from this past summer. Tim presented at two different conferences in two weeks- the Cryptids in the Mountains conference in Chester, VT, and at the Exeter UFO Festival in New Hampshire- and in conversation here he talks about the subjects he covered, the people he met, and the overall experience of seeking out weird venues like these. He and AP get into the nitty gritty of his Vermont presentation, which focused on the case of the Dover Demon, a mysterious creature seen in Massachusetts by multiple witnesses in the 1970s. He also talks about his history with the Exeter UFO Conference, how it has grown over time, and the sense of community which has informed the very popular regional event.

That's not all though! Tim's adventures also took him to Wisconsin, where he checked out some weird museums covering everything from circus history to architecture and even mustard! Tim's travels and experiences show that there is no shortage of weirdness out there to discover and engage with, and gives advice and encouragement to listeners to find adventures for themselves.

Tim's podcast, Binnall of America: The Revival, is currently on a brief break but will return soon- if you're not already, go and subscribe!