Programmed to Chill

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode 58 - a Parapolitical Reading of Yours Cruelly, Elvira May 18, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Jun 12, 2023]

Today I'm joined by Cassandra Peterson aka Elvira - jk, I wish. Instead, I read from Peterson's 2021 memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark. It's a genuinely good memoir so you should check it out if she interests you; if not, I've gleaned and summarized the parapolitical elements if you don't.

We're talking about Sus Colorado, the military-industrial complex, Augustus Owsley Stanley III, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Vegas, the Rat Pack, the Osmonds, Elvis as ascended master?, Fellini, Wilt Chamberlain, Briarcliff Manor, ghosts, Borax tycoons, Adnan Khashoggi, Khashoggi's guru Chandraswami and the can of worms that unlocks.

artwork by Dakota

Songs:

Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo

Foxey Lady by Jimi Hendrix

Human Fly by the Cramps

I Put a Spell on You performed by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Bonus Episode 55 - the Finders Operation pt. 2: the Rogue’s Gallery and Deniable Operations, feat. John Brisson of We’ve Read the Documents May 17, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon May 18, 2023]

Today I'm joined by John Brisson of We've Read the Documents (@weve_read) to finish our discussion about the Finders. Brisson explains the flophouses and the day-to-day activities that the Finders seemed to engage in.

Then, we go through the list of Finders members and associates. There was probable pedophile Roy Mason, zany doctor Hunter "Patch" Adams, polyamorous pioneer Michael Versace Rios, Carl R. Schleicher and Mankind Research Unlimited, Christopher Peter Bird, Robert Schwartz, Ken Keyes Jr., Dr. Carl Betz Shapley, Edwin Elkin and potential ties to the CoS, and Mildred Jensen Loomis and her commune. We discuss Norman Mailer's relations with the Finders, Gerry Davis, and the curious case of Steve E. Beltz. Beltz raises the possibilities of ties to Kenneth Grant-style magick.

Finally, Brisson walks us through the events of the Tallahassee Incident of 1987 and why he believes the account of US Customs agent Ramon J. Martinez. We attempt to make sense of what the Finders were based on what can be proven with documentary evidence.

artwork by Dakota

Links:

⁠https://twitter.com/weve_read⁠

⁠https://linktr.ee/weveread⁠

Songs:

Bonus Episode 54 - the Finders Operation pt. 1: Steering the Counterculture from Theosophy to Transhumanism, feat. John Brisson of We’ve Read the Documents May 16, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon May 14, 2023]

Today I'm joined by John Brisson of We've Read the Documents (@weve_read) to discuss one of the most notorious groups in parapolitical history: the Finders. To understand the events of 1987, we need to understand Marion Pettie, his milieu, and ultimately his network. Brisson walked me through his exceptional work digging up that information.

We begin with a high level overview of the group and then drill down into Pettie's early life, anomalous military career, and strange rise to prominence in the counterculture. From there, we discuss Barbara Marx Hubbard and the World Future Society generally. All of this contributes to a more robust understanding of the events of 1987.

[editor's note: John says Ramirez brothers when he meant to say Menendez brothers]

artwork by Dakota

Links:

https://twitter.com/weve_read

https://linktr.ee/weveread

Songs:

Hoyt’s Office by Hildur Guðnadóttir

Defeated Clown by ''

Meeting Bruce by ''

Premium Episode 59 - Novels as Spycraft 9 - 2666, or, Nothing Is Ever Behind Us, feat. Muslim Tom May 15, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Apr 21, 2023; you can also listen to this episode on You Can't Win]

Today I'm joined by Muslim Tom (@MuslimTom_) from the podcast You Can't Win to discuss the novel 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. We go through each of the five sections and discuss characters, plots, vibes, and themes. There's almost everything in 2666, including many spiritual themes and parapolitical moments. Towards the end, we discuss the journalists Bolaño was working with who advance extremely noided theories about the femicides.

Content warning for discussion of sexual assault and murder. Also, spoilers, but spoilers should be less of a concern for this type of novel anyway. I don't think this episode is an automatic skip if you haven't read 2666 and hopefully this might encourage you to read it. Although you would get the most out of this episode if you read the novel, I'd like to think we lay out the plot and also read enough passages to make the episode enjoyable if you haven't read it.

Links:

https://youcantwin.info

https://twitter.com/muslimtom

Songs:

Jugaste y Sufri by Eslabon Armado ft. DannyLux

Apague Mi Mente by Carla Morrison

La Bestia by Junior H

Alcasiles by Isasa y Córdoba

La Llorona by Chavela Vargas

Premium 56 - Rap Snitches and Rats pt. 1, 6ix9ine, COINTELPRO and Tupac, Death Row Records, Wu-Tang, and 50 Cent, feat. Luke Marshall May 13, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Mar 31, 2023; note that this was before the Diddy arrests and allegations lol]

It's time for another rap episode, this time to discuss the hot topic of rap snitches, informants, undercovers, plants, and rats in the rap industry. I'm joined by Luke Marshall (@thingobserver) of Things Observed podcast to examine this thorny issue.

We attempt to examine the topic in general terms through the case of 6ix9ine's words and deeds, and then Luke walks us through the case of Tupac and the possibility of infiltrating rap 'for good', and various COINTELPRO-style tactics used against him. Along the way, we discuss police corruption, whether Death Row Records was an intelligence front, Suge Knight's curious career, LAPD and Rampart scandals, possible Mossad involvement, and many related topics.

We also discuss Wu Tang Clan manager Michael Caruso's snitching, strange things occurring with ODB, and the interesting case of 50 Cent's possible role in related activities.

episode art by Robert Voyvodich @r.voy__

Things Observed podcast:

https://rss.com/podcasts/thingsobserved/

Songs:

Rap Snitch Knishes by MF Doom

Deep Cover by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

Tell Tell Tell by Project Pat

Don't Snitch by Mac Dre

Ruff Ryders Anthem by DMX

Premium 58 - Q&A 7 - Hoosiers: America’s White Russians, or, “finally, the Sus Indiana episode” May 12, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Dec 26, 2022]

It's time to discuss the much-anticipated, much-requested question, "why do you keep raising your eyebrows suggestively at any mention of Indiana?" What follows is necessarily an incomplete attempt, but I cover early Indiana state history, the Indiana Treason Trials, the Knights of the Golden Circle, the curious case of the Ishmael family, Indiana eugenics programs, the weird proto-Christian Identity church milieu there, Terre Haute, some discussion of Charlie Manson's early life, a segment on the Interstate Killer Larry Eyler and the bizarre coverup there, a bit on the Kinsey network and the expat Tibetans, Amoco, Eli Lilly, the Symbionese Liberation Army, various spooks, MKULTRA, talking shit on Parks and Recreation, and a revisit to the conceptual framework of the susness of places in general.

episode art by Dakota

Premium Episode 58 Songs:

Goin’ Back to Indiana by the Jackson Five

Indianapolis by the Bottle Rockets

Indiana Wants Me by R. Dean Taylor

Premium Episode 55 - Trotskyism pt. 3: Leon Trotsky pt. 3, Snitch Shit and the Ubiquity of the Sentiment “Fuck This Guy, feat. Chad May 11, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Dec 18, 2022]

Today's the third episode examining the life of Leon Trotsky, and I'm joined by Comrade Chad. We discuss Trotsky's activities in exile including work with the Soviet Opposition Bloc, terrorist actions, and the ensuing show trials. We particularly discuss the curious case of Genrikh Lyushkov, who overlaps with some of the Japanese intrigue from prior episodes, as well as more about the Promethean League, and everyone's favorite topic: outright collaboration with the fascists.

We cover the French Turn, touch on the Chinese and Vietnamese Trots, try not to relitigate the Spanish Civil War, and introduce the cast of characters (pay attention) who will become important in the US Trotskyist movement. Finally, we discuss Trotsky's time in Mexico, including the very impartial American Committee for the Defense of Leon Trotsky and some outright snitch shit for HUAC. Not the end of the Trotskyism series but the end for Leon Trotsky.

Premium Episode 55 Songs:

Сталину Слава! by Dolmatovsky / Shostakovich

War of the Gods by Amon Amarth

No More Heroes by the Stranglers

Survival by Shakewell and Fat Nick

Premium Episode 54 - Trotskyism pt. 2: Leon Trotsky pt. 2, Lenin’s Death, Russian Gold Reserves, the Opposition Bloc, the Trust, and Trotsky’s Exile, feat. Comrade Chad May 10, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Dec 10, 2022]

Today's the second episode examining the life of Leon Trotsky, and I'm joined by Comrade Chad. We discuss Trotsky's post-revolution and post-civil war activities, the curious case of Soviet gold reserves and Trotsky's much-disputed Opposition Bloc. We also talk about the Trust, aka the honeypot to end all honeypots, and Trotsky's jockeying for power.

Songs:

All Gold Everything by Trinidad James (remixed by Ryan Celsius)

Snakes in the Grass by Waka Flocka Flame

Slidin' by 21 Savage

(the Catch-22 ska album about Trotsky was too cringe to use, sorry)

Premium Episode 53 - Trotskyism pt. 1: Leon Trotsky pt. 1, or, “How far will millionaire uncles get you on the Left?”, feat. Comrade Chad May 09, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Dec 4, 2022]

Today's the first of a new series examining the legacy of Trotskyism through a parapolitical lens, and to kick it off, we examine the life of Leon Trotsky. I'm joined by Comrade Chad to discuss Trotsky's early life and career through the Bolshevik revolution. Particularly of note are the activities of Trotsky's uncles, his revolutionary activities in France, and his interesting residency in New York City.

Songs:

Lev Bronstein by the Redskins

If I Were a Rich Man - Fiddler on the Roof

Bring It Down by the Redskins

Reds Strike the Blues by the Redskins

Premium Episode 52 - Faked Deaths, Mercenaries, Spies, WIGMO, Expat Cubans, OSS / CIA Operations in the Congo, Diamond and Uranium Smuggling, Toxic Dumps, and Wakanda, feat. Roger Peet May 08, 2024

Show notes

[originally published on Patreon Nov 21, 2022]

Today's an interesting one as I'm joined by the artist Roger Peet to discuss family history and the murky world of mercenary work in the African continent. Peet walks us through the story of his father which touches on a dozen interesting topics ranging from faking your own death, mercenaries, factions of Cubans fighting in Africa, spying, colonialism and so-called post-colonialism, uranium mining, and the nuclear arms race.

Links:

https://toosphexy.carrd.co/

https://justseeds.org/artist/rogerpeet/

Songs:

Zombie by Fela Kuti

Sorrow Tears and Blood by Fela Kuti

Beasts Of No Nation by Fela Kuti

V.I.P (Vagabonds In Power) by Fela Kuti