OCCULT BLAH BLAH: Podcast Week Collection!
All 'Wrinkle In Tom' April 29 - May 2 Amateur Podcasts Compiled Here
“Podcasts will never make a significant cultural impact.” — Howard Stern
“Podcasts are like the Wild West of media—anyone can stake a claim, and the best ones rise because they’re raw, real, and resonate with people. They’re not just significant; they’re driving the conversation in ways radio never could.” — Conan O’Brien
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I’ve compiled all four days of the originally daily Substacks that I shared last week, promoting ten podcasts total. I don’t want them clogging up the Substack overall. One podcast post is enough.
I have also moved over all the most relevant comments; if you complimented or praised me, I appreciate it, but I did not want to so glory in your accolades that I needed to bring it here. Please know that I am grateful for your kind words, and my deferral is rooted in keeping my ego at bay, not dismissing your sincere plaudits .
Here they are, in order. The title and title cards for 002 and 003 were apparently inverted. I’ve repeatedly tried to fix it, but with zero success. I’m an amateur:
003 - Is Film an Inherently Dark Art?
004 - Beyond ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’
006 - The Gay Agenda Is Now the Trans Agenda
007 - Media & the Hierarchy of Evil
009 - The Gay Agenda is the Trans Agenda is the CIA Agenda
Podcasting is more fun than writing, but not as satisfying. More fun doesn’t mean better. Cheetos are more fun than spinach, but we should all be eating spinach not Cheetos. Not that I want to be spinach (though I like spinach), and not that you shouldn’t be allowed to eat Cheetos once in a while (I do).
Talking extemporaneously does provide an exhilarating surge, and the time passes remarkably fast. But I also feel like podcasts are a slightly dumbed-down version of my writing, and I can’t go back and amend things when I make a mistake, like how I twice called Revenge of the Sith “Revenge of the Jedi” instead in 005.
Anyway, thanks for riding this out this week, if indeed you did. It was a good time. I hope there was some value communicated to those who watched ‘em.
DAY THREE - Beltane, Canada, Robert de Niro & Holly Wood Cliché Son, and Blah Blah Blah
Emumundo - I thought I posted here- not sure where the comment went.... I love your writing and your podcasts. I understand the writing is more labor intensive and we can get more Tom in short podcasts. I see today that you’re rethinking the podcasts. Maybe not 10 in a week? It takes a while for people to “ stumble” on you. I can’t remember how I did, but I’m sure glad I did. You have so much knowledge and people are thirsty for it. Also, I hope at some point I hope you’ll address the pope and Beltane. Who knows where the Catholic Church is going now, but they sure don’t have a MAGA movement ( or even a Jesus movement). Regardless of what you decide I’ll be looking forward to your content.
A WRINKLE IN TOM: Thank you for your complimentary comment. Podcasting is too easy and seductive and kinda sloppy. That's not to say I won't do it again because I will. But not right away.
I don't recall seeing and earlier comment from you, but I've heard that things have gone a bit screwy on Substack since I started podcasting.
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Alex - You are my favorite Substack writer with a unique style to say the least. I always wait for your posts. This is not to detract from the podcasts as I understand why you have begun emphasizing them. Party on Garth!
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MAGA_From_Heaven
De Niro was one of my heroes until he got political. I wouldn't say Raging Bull ruined or changed him as he still did good work after (Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, A Bronx Tale). I would say he was great up until Rocky & Bullwinkle. It seems like doing that sucked out his soul. He obviously did it for the money and justified it as "doing one for his kids" and it destroyed him. He's been heavily compromised since his arrest in France and it's well known he was dating Naomi Campbell while she was underage. His button was finally pushed when he was going to show an anti-vaxx documentary at his TriBeCa Film Festival. There was outrage by the usual suspects and he said he wasn't backing down... until he suddenly did.
A WRINKLE IN TOM - I won't deny de Niro did good work after RAGING BULL, but it wasn't the same kind of work. It became affected, influenced by how impressed he'd become with himself. He's good in GOODFELLAS and CASINO especially, but in CAPE FEAR he's rather a caricature. I'd have to go through his IMDB, but he just seemed to lose something.
He did get swept up in that under-aged prostitution network, they did a good job keeping that mostly off radar. Not sure if you can even still find it online.
The craziness around VAXXED at the TriBeCa film festival...if it hadn't been such a controversy, the vaxx thing might not've ever blown up. I'm not sure what was going on there, or why he held out for so long and then folded. The longer he waiting and the more controversy was buzzed until he finally folded...it inverted the censors "success" and put VAXXED on the map. I'm not going to criticize him for that.
MAGA_From_Heaven - Cape Fear was meant to be over the top. Scorsese wanted Cady to be like Freddy Krueger. Why does Daniel Day Lewis get a pass? Everything he does is over the top now. Where do you stand on Keitel?
A WRINKLE IN TOM: It was definitely over-the-top, but I didn't want it to be over-the-top. Not Scorsese's worst film (that would be SHUTTER ISLAND), but near the bottom.
Keitel's a great actor and seems far less compromised and more wise and self-aware than de Niro. I loved him in SMOKE, that's a great under-rated movie. Not seen as many of his movies as I have de Niro's. Any man who would walk out on Kubrick because he felt he was being abused (verbally & psychologically) has got some mighty big balls; gotta respect that.
Speaking of Kubrick, I saw BARRY LYNDON yesterday on the big screen, third time in my life, first time since the mid-1980s and first time I liked it. Funny how one's views of stories and characters can change as you age and realize things aren't quite as you thought in your youth.
MAGA_From_Heaven - 1. Harvey was a Marine - he ain't taking shit from nobody
2. He already went through many lean years and survived, then went on to succeed with his 90s resurgence, so there was not much fear of repercussions... he already knew how bad things could get.
3. He did a movie with Johnny Rotten.
4. I don't know why I numbered these.
I like Harvey, but am always trying to figure out why I don't think he's great actor. It seems like something is missing, but I can't put my finger on it.
I love Jay Mohr's impression of Harvey Keitel. It's weird somebody actually figured out how to do one, and because he cracked the code, I am now able to do one.
I used to know the Nun from Bad Lieutenant. She said she would rehearse with Harvey at his apartment and that he was a perfect gentleman. One day, she had to use the bathroom, only Harvey's toilet was broken, but she could use the bathroom in his neighbor's apartment across the hall -- it was Robert De Niro's apartment. She said just using his toilet felt like an honor, but wanted to commemorate the event so she'd have a story to tell, so she took a swig of his mouthwash.
My favorite Keitel performance is his tiny part in Point of No Return. It's so subtle and understated, but mesmerizing. There's something so real going on there. I also think he did a great job in The Irishman.
Also, De Niro's parents, who were both painters, didn't live together when he was growing up. It only came out about 10 years ago, many years after his death, that his father, Bob, Sr., was gay. I guess Bob, Jr. didn't have much Pride until recently since he kept his dad in the closet for 20 years after his death.
A WRINKLE IN TOM: I was unaware of Bob Sr.'s preferences. Karl Rove's dad was gay, too, and committed suicide. If only his son had been so inspired!
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Heather Boylen: I like your writing too Tom but I understand if you want to try something new. What about adding a transcript to your page? I know some people do that.
COLLECTED COMMENTS FROM DAY TWO: Beyond 'Good' and 'Evil'
COLLEEN: I enjoy your writing Tom, and I hope you get back to it. I know I am in the minority, but I prefer to read rather than listening to people speak. But I wish you great success in your podcast endeavors
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SLAMY: Your long form pieces are great reading. Your short podcast pieces activate a different part of the brain. Both please.
This wind in central Texas is why no one can sleep through the night. It seems… unnatural.
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Marla: You look like Mark Twain
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EntangledWeb: What a loooong strange trip it’ll be
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MAGA_From_Heaven - It's a good time to get on Rumble. Try to network with some of the bigger accounts: Badlands Media, Doug Hagmann, Greg Hunter, Patriot Underground, and NewsTreason to name a few. I can see you making friends with Patrick Gunnels.