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We skip the off-top to talk about swooping which turned out to be the off-top all along. Swooping is a skydiving discipline involving high performance parachutes and parachute pilot and the crowd-pleasing act of exercising serious parachute energy management. Wow, I just made something really thrilling sound really boring. So after that skydiving-related discussion, Josh talks about how he is TOTALLY not an assassin and like, totally doesn't even WANT to be an assassin man. He just thinks if he WAS an assassin, it MIGHT be kind of cool. Hypothetically. He's talking about the thrilling Greg Hurwitz book series: Orphan X.   Off-top Links and References: Canopy Coach Nick Batsch   Content: GH Talks his Writing Process Real Life Assassins More Real Life Assassins Even More! YIKES Blackwater Massacre   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

Move over ya dumb, outdated IQ test. On today's episode, Josh shows support for the theory there are nine intelligences that should be considered in all school curricular. Things like Logical-Mathematical, Linguistic, Interpersonal... but don't read about them here ya dumb dumb! Hear Josh talk about it! And also check out the infographic. Then Brett wraps up with some Muay Thai ropes so he can finally get a good content beatdown on one of his all-time favorite shows of, um, well all-time. Yes I said that already but he really, really likes this show. And so does everyone else right now thanks to some recent related MCU easter eggs! He's talking the heroic growth of Karen Page, the whiny bitch turned badass Foggy Nelson and the blind lawyer "devil-of-Hell's-Kitchen" Matt Murdock, all thanks to the Netflix Marvel TV Series: Daredevil.   Off-top Links and References: 9 Intelligences Infographic   Content: Karen Page: The Future Voice of the MCU’s everyday Heroes Daredevil Stunt Double Chris Brewster Interview Hallway Fight Scene   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

On today's episode, Brett finds his way back to the show to spread the word about a supremely haunting and incredibly poignant robot art piece that was slowly "dying" despite its best efforts to survive by continually shoveling hydraulic fluid back into its leaky reservoir.  Then Josh takes on a similarly challenging task to convince the world of one thing: Andrew Garfield is the BEST live-action Spider-Man in a world filled by both Spidered-Men (new and old) and fans filled with Spider-Mania. The ultimate source for this potentially Spider-Earth shattering revelation? The Marc WEBB (ha) directed film, The Amazing Spider-Man... or as Josh calls it: TASM. (The first one not the second one, the second one sucked Spider-Balls.)   Off-top Links and References: Can't Help Myself by Sun Yuan & Peng Yu Why the Internet Is Feeling Sorry for a Robot 'industrial robot continusouly sweeps blood-like fluid'   Content: The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer Why was Spider-Man rebooted so often? How Spider-Man Conquered the World   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

And we're back! Sometimes. On this episode, Josh dives into the dark history of the Shaka hand signal, how its origin is based in brutal hand mangling and how it has been adopted by the terminally cool and the socially awkward alike. Then Nick discusses the not-so-widely-known world of the mid-nineties multiplayer text-based games hosted on standalone servers. Anyone could dial into one of these servers, called "BBSes," as long as they had a modem. Guest host (and the world's third contentologist) took advantage of these super computer nerd's network and became quite fond of several of these games. Nick walks us down memory lame, covering these simple yet great BBS Door Games and ultimately asks the question, what makes a game good? The answer may lead Josh and Nick to burn their XBoxes and PlayStations! He's talking: Barren Realms Elite (BRE) and Legend of the Red Dragon (LORD).   Off-top Links and References: Dark History of the Shaka   Content: BBS Door Wiki Legend of the Red Dragon Barren Realms Elite Synchronet BBS List What Makes a Good Game?   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

According to Nick, there is a major problem with our modern society. Not quite sure what he means... all seems to be running smoothly; no cause for concern. Psych! It's a shitshow! And Nick believe on possible reason why is both somewhat obvious and yet also rarely recognized. The conflicts within our society do not see the two opposing sides on the same page as to what is even being discussed and adding to the problem? Our rapid-fire low-bandwidth modern forms of "conversation" boiled down to 240 character limits on Twitter, comment-based dialogue on social media posts, 24/7 news headlines, and sound bites. No real solutions are being proposed. Maybe Keanu and FlipSixThreeHole can solve all our problems! After that, Josh covers one of his favorite shows featuring one of his favorite actors playing one of his favorite vigilantes. It's justice time. Vengeance time! SKULL TIME! Josh reveals his man crush (although we knew all along it is Jon Bernthal) when he dives into the Netflix Marvel show: The Punisher.   Off-top Links and References: Bobby Yeah: Stop-Motion Horror Short Tremors - Making Perfection (The Podcast)   Content: Jon Bernthal, The Ultimate Punisher That time Jon Bernthal threatened to kill Oliver Stone The punisher is sacred to Jon Bernthal History of the Punisher Skull   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

It is safe to say that probably everyone has heard about the tragic news that happened on the set of "Rust" after an accidental fatal shooting occurred. On today's episode, Josh discusses a prop gun technology that does not sacrifice authenticity but undoubtedly improves safety. Unfortunately, this product was shelved but recent events just might be the catalyst that inspires funding to bring back the simulated firearm: the "Violette." After that, Brett talks about a book that captured his imagination as a youth and still provides some philosophical inspiration (and aeronautical information) as an adult. We talk seagulls and skydiving, both relevant to the Richard Bach novella: Jonathan Livingston Seagull.   Off-top Links and References: The Story of Violette   Content: Jonathan Livingston Seagull Top Five Regrets of the Dying   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

What rhymes with ass murveillance? You guessed it, mass surveillance! On today's episode, Josh and Nick discover "totally-not-a-robot" Mark Zuckerberg and the recent news about Facebook's rebranding to Meta. Are the roots of the Meta concept ripped straight from a sci-fi novel? And does this have the potential to change the world of video games, connectivity, communication and more? Also, are we doomed?! After that, Josh deep dives into the art collective that revolutionized the Santa Fe art scene and went on to create three unbelievable art installations unlike anything else on the planet. This content we speak of could only be one thing: Meow Wolf.   Off-top Links and References: What is the Metaverse? Snow Crash Wiki   Content: Meow Wolf Santa Fe Las Vegas Meow Wolf Meow Wolf Wiki Fascinating and Unparalleled Meow Wolf Denver Future of Storytelling: Vince K. Meow Wolf and George RR Martin QR Code Links The Uncertain Heavens My Qpass Links   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

It's almost Halloween and we're celebrating the best way a trio of Contentologists knows how, a fright-filled special episode of all the most frightening content! WARNING: the content we are recommending is spooky, it's scary, sometimes it is downright terrifying! This week we're turning The Content Clearinghouse into the Content TERRORhouse. Also, there will be puns. We just can't help ourselves.   Off-top Links and References: What is fear? Four Fs of Stress Paul Ekman on Fear   Josh's Terrifying Content: Nightmare on Elm Street Martyrs Megan is Missing   Brett's Horrifying Content: Se7en The Sixth Sense The Descent Honorable Mention: Sunshine   Nick's Petrifying Content: Howard the Duck This Podcast Will Kill You   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Hydra Vu-whatnow? Is this some kind of nearly immortal fresh water polyp? Actually... yes. That's exactly what it is. This weird looking creature has quite an enviable superpower (immortality) and a biological trade off that might make you question whether you’d want to live forever. After Josh talks Polyps, Nick talks People! Well one person in particular, J. Bach. No, not Johann Sebastian Bach! The other Bach. Cognitive scientist with a focus on cognitive architectures, models of mental representation, emotion, motivation, sociality... dang. He's no polyp but he's pretty Bachtastic: Joscha Bach.   Off-top Links and References: Hydra Vulgaris Article   Content: Joscha Bach Website Edge Questions Progress in AI TEDx Bach Epstein Foundation Bach on Twitter   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Have you ever wondered how individual units interact to create highly complex and interconnected processes that sometimes give the appearance of intelligence? Think ant colonies... fungal networks... Insane Clown Posse gatherings...   Well, guess what Juggalo, there is a science for that! And Nick is going to talk about it. (Or are the organized molecules that make up Nick and everything else pre-determined to discuss the science of complex systems? Who knows). After that deep dive, Josh dives even deeper while discussing content that expertly walks the line between hardcore horror and universal appeal. This popular TV series utilizes the 9th season to deconstruct the 80s slasher genre while dipping it's big content toe into the real-life world of American serial killers as major characters. The Content Clearinghouse is talking American Horror Story: 1984.   Off-top Links and References: Complexity Explorer Santa Fe Institute Harvard: Embracing Complexity   Content: AHS: 1984 Trailer Deconstruction in Horror All the real life horrors in AHS Rolling Stone on the Golden Age of Serial Killers   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Looks like there's a new Contentologist in town. (It's a real thing.) Nick is sitting in for Brett in a Content Clearinghouse first but the format will remain! On today's off-top, Josh is talking about a bizarre book, an encyclopedia in fact of things that don't exist. Then Nick knocks it out of the park for his first episode as a full-on content co-host by discussing a sci-fi classic of epic (and campy) proportions. It's original, it's entertaining, and it features Kevin Bacon. Nick is discussing the 1990 film that some would call "flawless:" Tremors.   Off-top Links and References: Codex Serephinianus   Content: Stampede Entertainment Website Seeking Perfection Book Rare Pre Production Concept Photos 48-Hour Film Project My Team's 48-Hour Film Project Entry Liquified Sand w/ Air (Cavitation!)   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Brett talks feral kids on this episode... probably not surprising but the reality of the "real-life Mowgli" did not have the happy life or Hollywood ending portrayed in Disney's The Jungle Book, content inspired by the feral child Dina Sanichar. Josh then gets into conspiracies, war profiteering, future tech and all the things that make sci-fi both awesome and terrifying. He's discussing (and highly recommending!) Linda Nagata's book trilogy: The Red.   Off-top Links and References: The Feral Boy Who Inspired ‘The Jungle Book’ Dina Sanichar Photo Mirador II Drone Skate Vid   Content: (Very Profitable) Business of War Defense Contractors and Congressional Spending Future Tech: Ballistic Computer Future Tech: Combat Goggles Mind Reading and Neuralink Musk Mind Reading Prediction   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Josh and Brett discuss behind-the-scenes stories related to Jurassic Park's hydraulic Tyrannosaurus rex and it's scares both on and off screen. Then Brett tackles "background" content that is so prevalent, it's well-known twists and laughs are memorable and yet rarely thought of as an entertainment genre of its own. We're keeping this reveal a surprise (à la Nolan and his unreliable narrator style) so today we're just calling this piece: CMDEs.   Off-top Links and References: T-Rex Robot Story Netflix: The Movies That Made Us S2E3   Content: Some CMDEs Some More CMDEs Holy Crap! CMD lists are great. How MD really feels being in TA. Simu Liu AMA   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving  

Will your cute little kitty cat consume your corpse? On today's episode, we discuss this morbid but surprisingly popular question. Chances are, you already know the answer. Spoiler alert, it's "yes." Then Josh talks "biters," "walkers" and "lurkers" while discussing the long-running cultural phenomenon that mainstream audiences (plus seemingly the internet) has turned its collective back on: The Walking Dead.   Off-top Links and References: Will My Cat Eat Me If I Die? Will Your Cat Eat Your Corpse Horrifying Stories of Animals Eating Their Owners   Content: TWD on AMC+ All MCU actors in TWD Walking Dead Controversies Why is TWD ending?   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

On today's episode, Josh takes another long, hard look at famous UFO/UAP footage due to the convincing skeptical VFX experts attempting to find a more down-to-earth explanation for the anomalous objects caught on film. Josh... how dare you doubt the obvious fact: extraterrestrials are here! Then Brett tackles a book that's been on his list for awhile, one that shockingly not everyone has read, yet. This incredible piece of literature has had an enormous impact on the world and undoubtedly every single person who has consumed this content has been changed in some significant way. The author tells his real-life story, one of a psychiatrist who ends up in WWII concentrations camps, looking for meaning despite being surrounded be seemingly nothing but suffering and death. We're discussing Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.   Off-top Links and References: VFX Artists Debunk UFO Videos   Content: Man's Search for Meaning One of Frankl's Last TV Interviews Viktor Frankl Bio   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

How can Coca-Cola make you millionaire? Well if it's the 1920s and you're in Quincy, Florida, I'd go ahead and take that investment advice from your banker Pat. After the podcast's shortest ever off-top, Josh brings the heat with a triple feature triple threat! These three terrifying thrillers don't feature your run-of-the-mill ghost, alien or boogeyman ... these films truly petrify because they star our  real-life monsters that lurk in the woods, under water or worst of all: Florida. So get ready to take off to terror-land with some thrills that are eerily grounded with Backcountry, The Reef and Crawl. It's time for Josh's Monster Movie Triple Feature!   Off-top Links and References: The Town of Coca-Cola Millionaires What “Coca-Cola Millionaires" Can Teach You About Investing   Content: Real Bears in Backcountry Mark Jordan Bear Attack Making of The Reef 1 Making of The Reef 2 Real Sharks in The Reef Making of Crawl   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

On today's episode, Josh gets into Disney's Spiderman robots, Jeff Bezos' big ol' rocket and we even do some chit-chatting about his weekly off-top topic of discussions, old times pistol dueling and the (almost) Olympic status the sport achieved. After that, Brett offloads his fervent and only partially organized thoughts about what a naughty man Walt is... a fact only clear to Brett after a second viewing of one of the infamous Neo-western crime dramas (and one of the best television shows to date). It just so happens that the bylaws in the contentology contract clearly communicate the conditions of a consecutive cumulative rewatch when it comes to content of a such a celebrated standing and as contentologists, we heed the call. We're talking Vince Gilligan's masterpiece: Brettking Bad. Oops, that's a typo. We mean Breaking Bad.   Off-top Links and References: Disney Spiderman Robots Pistol Dueling in the "Olympics" History of Dueling Hitler (probably) on Amphetamines   Content: Fan Made Breaking Bad Trailer (Season 1) MetroGnome's Breaking Bad REMIX! Interesting Article about the Ricin in BB   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

Aaaand we're back! After catching up, Brett discusses sound baths and specifically the GONG: the ultimate noise maker for producing healing vibrations to bathe in. Then Josh gets into not ONE piece of content, but the entire content library from one of his favorite writers that he can't (and won't!) stop talking about (and for good reason). Gravity belts, angel teeth and realistic skydiving moments... this week is all about the author: Daniel Suarez.   Off-top Links and References: How does a sound bath work?   Content: DS Bio World's Worst Designed Website (Sorry Daniel...)   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

We've all heard Quentin Tarantino is passionate about more than just making great films... he loves feet, cocaine and connecting his movie universes with plenty of easter eggs. On this week's episode, Josh explores the tangled web of the "Tarantino-verse," a place few would be keen to visit. Brett then tackles some fantastic educational content known for asking big questions while still keeping a focus on minimalism. Check out the stunning animation and binge-worthy big-brained deep dives with the YouTube Channel: Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell.   Off-top Links and References: Tarantinoverse Article 1 Tarantinoverse Article 2 Tarantinoverse Article 3 Tarantinoverse Article 4 Cracked: Mind-Blowing Movie Universes Jackie Brown Not in Universe XLaunch App Analyzing Evil After the Revolution Podcast   Content: Kurzgesagt YouTube Channel TRUE limits of Humanity The Ultimate Guide to Black Holes What do Alien Civilizations look like? Why Alien Life Would Be our Doom Is Reality Real? What are you doing with your life? Loneliness The Origin of Consciousness Milk. White Poison or healthy drink? The Most Gruesome Parasites Universe in a Nutshell App   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving

It's hot one in Brownsville, Texas! When is it not?! We somehow manage to push through it so that we can continue our most important mission in life: delivering content recommendations indirectly into your earholes. On second thought, this "we" is really just "me" because Josh was sitting in an air conditioned house in Colorado, the way God intended. I'm so warm. Someone send help. So on this week's off-top, we bring you an inspiring personal story from local Colorado skydiver Jim Armstrong. Despite (or maybe because of?) his battles with depression, Jim decided to GO JUMP OUT OF A FUCKING PLANE... his words, not mine. After watching video of a wingsuit BASE jumper on YouTube, a clip he suspected might actually be a digitally edited fake, Jim was soon preparing for his first tandem at 52 years old. I have the pleasure of jumping with him regularly and can personally attest: Jim is a bonafide badass. I know our listeners will appreciate his candid honesty; we sure did! After that, Josh looks past the glitches (and even embraces some) while playing and discussing a newer piece of content that was widely anticipated, well over-hyped and a catalyst for Covid-era video game drama. This week is all about the cybernetically enhanced characters and the detailed dystopian world that makes up the game: Cyberpunk 2077.   Off-top Links and References: How Skydiving Changed My Life   Content: Architect's Review of Night City Making of Night City Making of Cyberpunk   SPECIAL PLUG: (...seriously, these dudes and their show are awesome...)   The Don't Assume Podcast   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Discord Sponsor: Best Maps Ever   Other Podcast Appearances: Josh on Have Not Seen This: Ep. 66 - Devil's Rejects Josh on The Don't Assume Podcast: Ep. 24 - Skydiving