Patreon-only preshow: Do people have to cite their sources at ITT Tech? Steven says no. Steven got some Marvel Studios blind bag LEGO, gave a Patreon member one of his 80s Storm minifigs. Ben waxes poetic on the joys of opening trading cards, and rails against collecting things that are “maybe” worth money. Was 90s collectible culture a manifestation of the side-hustle? How cool is it to make indie films?
This episode contains: Morning podcasting is a very different vibe than evening podcasting. Twitter is dead, long live notes. Will these notes be a novel? If you’re interested in reading a novel about bounty hunting, touch base with Steven. Bounty hunters are cool. How do they work? Cowboy Bebop live action is good, but if you’ve seen the anime, don’t watch it! It’s terrible compared to the anime.
What a trip!: Psychedelic Therapy May Be Coming To A VR Headset Near You. Hallucinogenic drugs may have positive effects in fighting depression, PTSD and substance use disorders. What if psychedelic drug-based therapy didn’t require drugs at all? A small study published in March 2023 found that those who spent time using a VR program called Psyrreal, which attempts to mimic the hallucinogenic experience in virtual reality, had significant decreases in depressive symptoms two weeks after treatment. Ben tried the VR program Psyrreal, as a 45 minute experience, and felt a distinct connection to all things. What an incredible experience, only using visual and auditory sensations. You can try it too, for free, if you have a VR headset and a computer capable of running it.
https://www.inverse.com/health/psychedelic-therapy-in-virtual-reality
Psyrreal VR: https://psyrreal.mozellosite.com/
Be Naked Like a Mole Rat: Longevity gene from naked mole rats extends lifespan of mice. We need to live longer. In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers at the University of Rochester have successfully transferred a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse’s lifespan. Naked mole rats, known for their long lifespans and exceptional resistance to age-related diseases, have long captured the attention of the scientific community. By introducing a specific gene responsible for enhanced cellular repair and protection into mice, researchers at Rochester have opened exciting possibilities for unlocking the secrets of aging and extending human lifespan. Did you know that naked mole rats live up to 41 years?!?! The researchers previously discovered that HMW-HA is one mechanism responsible for naked mole rats’ unusual resistance to cancer. Compared to mice and humans, naked mole rats have about ten times more HMW-HA in their bodies. After good results adding HMW-HA in mice, we’re almost ready to test on humans. Would this break society? Almost certainly, but it probably will break it for the better! We dream about societal impacts from genetic modification.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230823165402.htm
Patreon-only midshow: Star Trek Lower Decks season 3 is now free on Youtube and a few other places, in prep for season 4. Ben describes Psyrreal in greater depth. Steven’s kids love Ralph Breaks The Internet. Disney Dreamlight Valley is a gateway to all the Disney. Ben and his kid loved Ron’s Gone Wrong, even though it’s similar to Next Gen.
Science Fiction: Starfield: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/starfield Ben can’t play yet because he’s cheap. Steven says SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY. Steven waxes poetic about his new galactic-sized timesink. The music in Starfield is the best part. Except for paying 500 credits for lemonade. 10/10 game of the year.
Secret Little Haven: https://ristar.itch.io/secret-little-haven Ben was captivated by a visual novel that replicates using an operating system circa May 12, 1999. You take the role of Alex, a young trans girl that discovers herself through fandom, chats, and the early internet. It takes about an hour and a half. It helped Ben contextualize the challenge of being your authentic self, from a Trans perspective. You can also get it on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/827290/Secret_Little_Haven/
We chat about episode three of Ahsoka, which really opened things up a bit in terms of characterization. The journey has began. Could Star Wars have a story with the scope of Foundation? Steven doubts it.
The Flash is now on Max. Ben says watch it! It’s a movie that has nothing to lose. You’ll like it, especially if you know about Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future. Is it time for a Batman Beyond project with Michael Keaton? We cast the project with a bunch of previous Batmen.