Episode 175 – At the Mouth of (March) Madness, Part I

You ever see a perfect circle in nature and think, “Whoaaaa”? If so, this episode is for you! And if not, we’ll let you have this episode on a probationary basis!Talkin’ ’bout fairy circles – large, evenly spaced and perfectly round bare patches found in the grasses of the Namib Desert – and fairy rings, the eerie patterns of dead grass, extra luscious grass, or mushrooms, all three of which are almost certainly not caused by elf ejaculate. Almost.Brought to you by Japan: it’s less than half as far away as maps think!EPISODE LINKSGaza GoFundMeAll-purpose show linksFairy CirclesAerial viewCloser view 1Closer view 2Right next to oneLive Science articlePerspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics review articleAustralian fairy circlesPhotos of Aussie fairy circlesFairy RingsFairy ring examples 1 and 2Example 3 (forest fairy ring)Example 4 (spookier forest fairy ring)UWM Extension articleToads and Toadstools, by Adrian MorganIMA Fungus articleDanish Undersea RingsThe solution (and the photo)Up-close photo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yeah I’m thinkin’ we’re back.Use promo code JAKEHALLOWEENGOOF for 15% off any order in our store before the end of November! The episode made us do this!EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksMUTUAL AID HUB: https://www.mutualaidhub.org/Wyatt’s native plant biznass: https://www.myhomepark.com/The show Jake writes: https://www.youtube.com/@BizarreBeastsOur shop, wherein you may use the aforementioned promo code: https://www.superduperstitious.com/shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maybe the real Havana syndrome was the friends we made along the way.EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/Wyatt’s storyEpisode 5: https://www.superduperstitious.com/episodes/5-hooked-on-sonicsEpisode 34: https://www.superduperstitious.com/episodes/34-bah-hum-buzzEpisode 53: https://www.superduperstitious.com/episodes/53-potc-part-a-billionEpisode 76: https://www.superduperstitious.com/episodes/76-mos-scotiaEpisode 142: https://www.superduperstitious.com/episodes/142-still-sounds-bad60 Minutes Russian conspiracy: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-russia-evidence-60-minutes/NIH Study: https://bit.ly/4a1DyxpScientific American article: https://bit.ly/3WnCzEvJake’s storiesPhantoms and Monsters 5/19/2023: https://bit.ly/3Urrpw7Phantoms and Monsters 1/3/2023: https://bit.ly/3ws22CdPhantoms and Monsters 1/9/2023: https://bit.ly/3wszhoWUFO Clearinghouse 1/16/2023: https://bit.ly/3y4dAfxUFO Clearinghouse 1/17/2023: https://bit.ly/4dADKXJUFO Clearinghouse 2/7/2023: https://bit.ly/3UrrkIPPhantoms and Monsters 11/10/2023: https://bit.ly/3UwafO2Phantoms and Monsters 1/19/2024: https://bit.ly/4dnHag7Bald eagle basics: https://avianreport.com/what-is-the-bald-eagle-size/Bald eagle comeback story: https://bit.ly/4aXDpMFChicagoland eagle population growth: https://bit.ly/4aYRIRdWinter bald eagle migration: https://bit.ly/4dmkpJu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

STOP LOOKING AT THE DATE.Anyway, what a wild way for you to find out that Wyatt’s leaving the show.EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/Humanoid creature CCTV footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xNlnmhjj0Contact form: https://superduperstitious.com/contact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS. WHATEVER THE HELL THIS IS.EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/JOIN OUR CURSE EXPERIMENT HERE: https://forms.gle/vWJomLttdvXd7tmX7The Gaykoslavie experience: https://englishrussia.com/2010/02/17/russian-gadget-hackwrench-religion/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the WCCW creeps ever closer to crowning an ultimate victor, what new and exciting ways can we find to totally ruin your bracket? There’s only one way to find out!EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE BRACKET HERE: https://superduperstitious.com/march-madnessJOIN OUR CURSE EXPERIMENT HERE: https://forms.gle/vWJomLttdvXd7tmX7I AM Come: https://vimeo.com/352872112St. Germain: https://bit.ly/40B8SPdHeaven’s Gate logo: https://bit.ly/42GFp8x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The utter ridiculousness continues as we round out the WCCW regionals with all 16 contestants in the Global and Planetary Divisions of the NCAAA. These words and letters all mean something and make sense! You’re in the right place and everything is fine!EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE BRACKET HERE: https://superduperstitious.com/march-madnessJOIN OUR CURSE EXPERIMENT HERE: https://forms.gle/vWJomLttdvXd7tmX7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a whole episode about the biology of The Last of Us in an attempt to tap into the zeitgeist! What’s the deal with Cordyceps? Could this happen in real life? Are we doing SEO right??*Originally scheduled for release BEFORE the start of our whole March Madness seriesEPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms: https://www.fourphantoms.net/FILL OUT YOUR MARCH MADNESS BRACKET HERE: https://superduperstitious.com/march-madnessSourcesBasic fungal biology: http://bit.ly/3ZRi4ieCordyceps controlling a cicada: https://youtu.be/FAVAVHAptyQCordyceps controlling a beetle: https://youtu.be/EBQNpyAdmfcEntomophthora muscae example: https://www.flickr.com/photos/anxoresua/6867594070Entomophthora muscae and its released spores: https://bit.ly/3EV6pXJEntomophthora muscae range map: https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Entomophthora+muscaeSnail with nematode parasite (PRETTY GROSS): https://youtu.be/Go_LIz7kTokParasitic barnacle: https://youtu.be/sCvTHrzI-SkBody temperature vs. fungi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19827944/Climate change is selecting for heat-resistant fungi: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/mBio.00061-10Climate change is increasing fungal infections: https://www.wired.com/story/fungi-climate-change-medicine-health/Not a lot of medical solutions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6549129/We breathe a lot of spores and it’s okay: http://bit.ly/3JusTkRMost fungi aren’t infectious: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5453709/No spores for the show: http://polygon.com/entertainment/23562421/last-of-us-cordyceps-spores-tv-show-hbo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No podcast about the strange and unusual would be complete without a month-long, four-part tournament of 32 different cults competing head to head! NOT ONE SUCH PODCAST. Here’s the first of those four parts!EPISODE LINKSAll-purpose show links: https://superduperstitious.com/linksFour Phantoms email: [email protected] Phantoms website: https://www.fourphantoms.net/Four Phantoms store: https://four-phantoms-brewing-company.square.site/FILL OUT YOUR MARCH MADNESS BRACKET HERE: https://www.superduperstitious.com/march-madness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our ultimate March Madness cult competition, the WCCW, begins March 9th!Submit your predictions here: https://www.superduperstitious.com/march-madness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.