Hello Furious Curious listeners. We will be back in ’25 with a slate of new epic episodes and a few suprises.  In the meantime, we will continue to surface the best of our previous episodes in our feed for you to enjoy, ya know… just in case you missed them the first time. Enjoy your Q4, we’ll see you soon. And stay curious.

In this episode, The Furious Curious dives into the world of altered states of consciousness and their potential to enhance creativity and problem-solving. Hosts David and Britt discuss techniques for achieving these states without substances, including Gnostic states—altered consciousness reached through singular focus. They explore methods such as holotropic breathwork, sleep deprivation, polyphasic sleep cycles, lucid dreaming, binaural beats, and hypnagogic light sessions. The hosts...

Summary In this episode, The Furious Curious delves into the world of online gurus, discussing how to avoid becoming a “fluffluencer.” They explore the reasons behind the rise of online gurus, including the demand for simple answers in a complex world and the accessibility of social media. An online guru is defined as an internet personality who offers simple or secret solutions to complex problems. The hosts highlight red flags to watch out for, such as overblown promises, lack of...

Exploring empathy fatigue and its impact on creators. Understanding the differences between empathy, sympathy, and compassion, as well as the symptoms of empathy fatigue. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Recognize that your audience is likely exhausted, so consider creating calming content. Embrace in-person experiences to counter digital overload. Avoid empathy fatigue as a creator by being selective in where you invest your emotional energy. Cultivate empathy through writing exercises and...

The Dead Internet Theory is an online conspiracy theory that asserts much of today’s internet activity is generated by bots and AI rather than real people. This week, Chase, Harper, and Alexander break down Dead Internet Theory, why it’s important, and what it means to create in the age of AI. This is The Furious Curious podcast, where we explore culture to inspire creators. TIMESTAMPS: 00:20 - Definition 06:00 - Examples 07:40 - Suspending Disbelief 10:10 - Youth and the Digital...

Evoking emotions through your craft doesn’t happen by luck. This week, we’re breaking down the essence of methodically communicating fear via Creepypasta and some horror theory. But, what is Creepypasta, and why are we talking about it? We’ll explore that and we’ll explore what fear and horror actually are, and why we experience them. Plus! We’ll dive into some tips and techniques for crafting spine-chilling tales. TIMESTAMPS: 00:45 - What is Creepypasta? 09:55 - Ostension 13:34 -...

Everyone loves a success story. But what about tales of failure? This week Alex, Alexander, and Chase unpack some of tech’s most marvelous misses. Th en we'll ask ourselves, as creators, what can we learn from history’s almosts. Because if failure is the best teacher, may these disasters be our Yoda. TIMESTAMPS: 00:50: Intro 03:30: Failed Future #1: Nuclear-Powered Cars 13:36: Nuclear-Powered Cars - Lessons for Creators 19:10: Failed Future #2: General Magic Smartphone 31:08:...

This week, Brit and Harper talk with designer Jon Delman about creative leadership. Jon Delman has had a diverse and influential career in design over the past 27 years. He is currently leading the Design Systems team at Workiva, focusing on helping product and engineering teams build world-class enterprise software. Jon has a wealth of experience working with major brands such as Google, Apple, Splunk, and Samsung. His prior roles include Executive Creative Director at Ueno, Group...

This week Brit talks with Chase Domergue and “I’m a Snake guy” and comedian Matt Keck about why now is the Golden Age of Comedy. This is The Furious Curious where we explore culture to inspire creators. SOURCES:...

Where logic fails and the odd prevails, let's embrace the strange and get inspired by the tales. Today we're talking about High Strangeness: Why Studying the Bizarre Can Make You A Better Creative. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00: Intro 09:21: Synchronicities 21:54: Thin Places 33:04: Cryptids 46:41: Intent 1:03:44: Tulpas 1:13:42: Partnering with ChatGPT Creatively 1:19:06: Childlike Creativity MUSIC: "Teen Angst (M83)", "A Spell A Rebel Yell" (Coldplay), My Bloody Valentine (Only...

Larger-than-life characters, thickening plots, fan engagement, vivid characters, clear messages, emotionality, overcoming adversity… This week we’re talking about pro wrestling and the power of narrative. This is The Furious Curious podcast, where we explore culture to inspire creatives. I’m joined by recurring guest Matt Keck. Matt is the stand-up comedian behind the infamous and viral “I’m a Snake” video. He’s also one of the brilliant marketers behind the award-winning Wendy's Twitter...

The term "Barbenheimer" is a portmanteau of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," two films that were released in theaters on the same day in July 2023. The term has been used to describe the cultural phenomenon of these two films competing for attention from audiences. This week, we drop #5ReasonsWhy #Barbenheimer is a thing and what it says about current culture.  MUSIC: "Aqua Barbie Girl Tiësto Remix (Tiësto)," Barbenheimer Song" (Sleeper). SOURCES: Wikipedia ©2023 Britton Rice, Chase...

This episode dives into the fascinating world of adaptations, exploring how stories and characters are reimagined across different mediums. We'll discuss successful adaptations like "The Last of Us" and "Fallout," where the core strengths of the source material are translated effectively. We'll also explore the flip side of the coin, examining infamous flops like the "Super Mario Bros." movie and "The Emoji Movie." We'll ask what makes a good adaptation and what pitfalls creators need to...

Gems, flops, and a new relationship with your moviegoer. This week, we're talking about A24 and the future of filmmaking. SOURCES: ⁠https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/09/01/the-rise-and-rise-of-a24-a-champion-of-storytelling-on-screen⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/into-it-a-vulture-podcast-with-sam-sanders/id1634687152?i=1000574986502⁠ ⁠https://www.vulture.com/article/a24-movies-ranked.html⁠ ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A24#Notes⁠ ⁠Cinema Is Not Dead: The Rise Of A24 –...

Today we're talking about Sleep's New Frontier, with reoccurring guest, writer Chase Domergue."Sleep expert Matthew Walker on the secret to a good night’s rest" (Janan Ganesh, Finacial Times, 01/11/2019), "17 Proven Tips to Sleep Better at Night" (Rudy Mawer, MSc, CISSN, Healtline, 02/28/2020), "Why we're sleeping less" (By Madison Park, CNN, No date mentioned), "Working Americans Are Getting Less Sleep, Especially Those Who Save Our Lives" (10/28/2019), "Why are we so sleep deprived, and why...

Hyper-niche styles and sub-cultures at the speed of social. Today talking about “The Core-Era." What’s a core? Why? And how does it define our styles in a new digital age. TIMESTAMPS: 5:20 - Cores definition 8:54 - Reason #1: You and your people 13:52 - Reason #2: Going Bygone 15:28 - Rocking roll as a "culture" 18:28 - Men in finance loving Metal 19:47 - Punk Prep 21:31 - Reason #3: Going Counter Cult 22:45 - People who create culture 24:54 - Reason #4: Traveling at the speed of...

“Chin up.” “Brush it off.” “Everything happens for a reason.” Today, we’re talking about Toxic Positivity. SOURCES: ⁠https://www.betterup.com/blog/toxic-positivity?hs_amp=true⁠ ⁠https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/toxic-positivity-during-the-pandemic#So,-how-do-you-deal-with-toxic-positivity?⁠ ⁠https://www.usatoday.com/life/⁠ MUSIC: "Toxic" (Britney Spears), "Don't Worry Be Happy" (Bobby McFerrin). ©2022, ©2023 ©2024, The Furious Curious, Tin Whisper Media. ---...

Today Brit and Alexander talk about Internet Outrage, decoding the drama. They explore the deeper reasons why, unpacking some amazing examples, and key ways to turn online dumpster fires into creative firepower. TIMESTAMPS: 01:40 - Introduction 05:46 - Reason 1: The Megaphone Algorithmic 12:05 - Reason 2: In Your Head 14:53 - Reason 3: Computer Screen Veil 17:05 - Reason 4: Easy Keys-y 18:27 - Reason 5: Sans Nuance 24:55 - Reason 6: Virtue Signals 28:10 - Five Reasons Why...

Brit and Chase return to unpack why #EatTheRich has (re)risen to prominence. SOURCES: ⁠https://www.gq.com/story/eat-the-rich-digital-generation⁠ ⁠https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/12/your-money/tax-refund-decrease.html⁠ ⁠https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/entertainment/a38481460/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-succession/⁠ ⁠https://www.phillyvoice.com/cherry-hill-school-district-lunch-debt-donation-prom-field-trips/⁠ ...

Matt Keck is a creative director who worked on the Wendy's account for over a decade and is also known for the old YouTube meme "I'm a snake." This week, Brit and Chase tracked down Matt to talk about what he learned about going viral, turning online beefs into social gold, creating "Stans," and humanizing brands, including helping Wendy take her crown as the Queen troll of the internet. Plus, his new podcast, #RoastMe: the story of the Wendy’s Twitter account, and his upcoming comedy...

Today we're continuing out conversation about the mechanics of storytelling [Part 2]. SOURCES: "How to Structure a Story: The Fundamentals of Narrative - article" (Author Learning Center), "How to Write a Better Novel: The 4 Most Common Story Structures" (MasterClass. 08/30/2021), "Story Structure: 3 Proven Templates for Timeless Storytelling" (Self-Publishing School, R.E Vance, 11/09/2021). Second City, accelerated writing (levels 1-3) under Jay Steigmann, February - April, 2019....

This week, Emily Phillippi of Flourish Coaching sits down with Brit as she discusses the Enneagram as a tool for personal and team development, highlighting its roots in ancient wisdom traditions. She explains the process of using the Enneagram, from taking the test to understanding reading styles and the importance of coaching, emphasizing its role in enhancing interpersonal connections. TIMESTAMPS: 2:06: Enneagrams for teams 8:32: What got Emily into Enneagram 14:20: "Enneagram as a...

Today we’re talking about The Mechanics of Storytelling: Part 1. I’m Brit, he’s Ben Santoriello and this is The Furious Curious. SOURCES: "How to Structure a Story: The Fundamentals of Narrative - article" (Author Learning Center), "How to Write a Better Novel: The 4 Most Common Story Structures" (MasterClass. 08/30/2021), "Story Structure: 3 Proven Templates for Timeless Storytelling" (Self-Publishing School, R.E Vance, 11/09/2021). Second City, accelerated writing (levels 1-3) under Jay...