The Uncanny County Museum

Episode 139: 9 to 5 Chads: Teaching Art in Higher Ed.

Sat, 25 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On today's rather unconventional tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, return to the Uncanny County Museum to lead a drawing workshop, where they discuss their experiences teaching Drawing in higher education, along with the joys and difficulties attached to teaching art. Meanwhile, they also give insight into the unexpected slow down of their tours at the UCM and hint at their new Podcast project.

Episode 138: Assassins Cuisine

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the museum's hall of Middle World history where Joe recounts the history of the infamous group known as the Assassins. They both discuss the impact this group had from the 11th to 13th century on middle world history, their downfall, along with wondering what kind of food they may have eaten.

Episode 137: Chicxulub Asteroid City

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in the Museum's voided exhibition hall where Xan recounts the events of the devastating KPG extinction event that destroyed the Dinosaurs, and most life on Earth, while also discussing just how long our planet has been around, and all it has endured.

Episode 136: Poor Things in Margaritaville

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the Museum's gift shop where they discuss the impact, reasons, and purpose of why we enjoy fiction. Pulling from numerous examples such as Stoner by John Williams, the recent film Poor Things by Yorgos Lanthimos, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, and even the AMC series Breaking Bad, they deep dive into how we can identify with fictional characters, and take away powerful messages from reading/consuming fiction.

Episode 135: Parthenogenesis Evangelion

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe inside the Museum Chapel of the Holy Stingray, where Xan discusses the hot gossip behind the pregnancy of Charlotte the lone stingray and breaks down the science as to how and why this is possible without her having a mate. Meanwhile, Joe opens with his thoughts regarding Dune 2.

Episode 134: Soccer Punch

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the Museum's replica 16th-century Florentine arena, where Joe discusses the history, rules, and story that makes up the Florentine sport, Calcio Storico Fiorentino. All the while, they discuss the role of sports in society and their greater physical and psychological impact.

Episode 133: Scuba Certified Fresh

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join Xan and Joe for a relaxed tour as they re-visit the infamous Tampa Triangle Dead Zone, where Xan recounts the perplexing story surrounding the lost wreckage of German submarine U-166, and a boat-load of mercury.

Episode 132: Pyramid Scheme to Divinity

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in the Museum's hall of ancient Egypt where Joe recounts the history surrounding an important figure in the ancient Egyptian world, Imhotep, along with describing some of the evidence for his existence, and some of the speculative conspiracy theories surrounding his existence.

Episode 131: Wolf Dispensary

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the Museum's hall of Predator Animals where Xan discusses the recent news concerning the reintroduction of wolves into the state of Colorado by conservationists, while also discussing the environmental impacts wolves have in their given ecosystems, and how their absence in the East Coast of the United States due to colonization has led to environmental devastation.

Episode 130: Hallmark or Ballpark?

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Happy holidays from all of us at the Uncanny County Museum!

On today's tour, we join our tour guides in the Hall of Hallmark at the Museum where they discuss the purpose and cultural impact of Christmas movies. All the while, Xan talks about his recent experiences in liminal Florida.

Episode 129: Overfished and Under Surveillance: The Tampa Triangle

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe in the dark as Xan brings to light the mysteries and misinformation surrounding the infamous Tampa Bay Triangle Dead Zone regarding missing persons, UFO sightings, and bizarre conspiracy theories. All the while, providing insight into why hammerhead sharks have a hammer-like head.

Episode 128: Languages in Languish

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the Museums hall of extinct and endangered languages where they discuss the ongoing event of language death throughout the world, while Joe emphasizes why it is essential that endangered languages be preserved so we may gain insight from their cultural knowledge, and history to better our future.

Episode 127: New Philadelphia: Post Truth

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, for an in-depth discussion concerning realism/illusionistic representation within two-dimensional art, both in contemporary trends and throughout art history, while using Hanneke Grootenboer, The Rhetoric of Perspective, which is primarily focused on the history of Dutch still life painting, as a point of entry into this topic.

Texts mentioned:

The Rhetoric of Perspective by Hanneke Grootenboer

The Experience Machine by Andy Clark

Episode 126: Oil Royalties: a Brief History of the Osage Nation Oil Boom

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

*DISCLAIMER* Please visit the Osage Nations website for more information about their history and culture. Osageculture.com

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they go over a brief history of the Osage nation, covering their discovery of petroleum on their reservation, as well as their tumultuous history with settlers and the United States government looking to take advantage of their situation. All of which lead to the real events covered in the book by David Grann, and now film by Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon.

Episode 125: Aztecs vs Spaniards: All Mexed Up

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

In advance of Indigenous Peoples Day this Monday, for today's tour we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in an exhibit focused on the clash between the Aztecs / Mexica people and the Spanish Conquistadors, while clearing up some of the often misrepresented history about Moctezuma II, and the bizarre failures of Panfilo Narváez.

Sources used:

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs by Camilla Townsend

The Secret of Our Success by Joseph Henrich

Episode 124: Phantom Time: Coming Soon

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe, inside the hall of Tartaria where they return to the Museum's roadside roots as they discuss conspiracy theories surrounding missing historical time periods. All the while, poking logic holes in them while discussing the arbitrary nature of dates and time.

Episode 123: Big Whale if True

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, after a month-long hiatus our tour guides, Xan and Joe, return to the Uncanny County Museum and join us in the museum’s Big Hall, where Xan takes us through the history of Earth's largest animals, both living and extinct, while also bringing some insight into the recent news surrounding Perucetus.

Episode 122: Step by Step: A Brief History of the Aztec Empire

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as Xan leads a tour focused on the history of the Aztec empire and how they rose to prominence. Meanwhile, they briefly discuss the ways human civilizations have developed through kin-based relationships and the role rituals play in bonding people together.

Sources used:

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs by Camilla Townsend

The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich

Episode 121: Parking Spaces and Non-places

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the museum's parking garage where Joe leads a discussion focusing on the 2020 book, Unofficial Britain: Journeys through Unexpected Places by Gareth E. Rees, with a focus on the overlooked histories embedded within mundane spaces and their cultural/psychological effects on the populations living alongside them.

Episode 120: Prehistoric Panel 2

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, Xan and Joe once again bring in esteemed science communicators to discuss the newest season of the groundbreaking docu-series, Prehistoric Planet. @CrikeyitsChristian, @ThePaintPaddock, and @DinosaurComics bring their knowledge (and opinions) to dissect where the show has been and where it can go!

Episode 119: Get to the Point: Armor and Armaments Throughout History

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the UCM’s armory where they explore the different types of weapons and armor used throughout history, their purpose and uses, and why they were made to be so artistically appealing.

Episode 118: An Hour for a Minute: Waiting in Line for Fine Art

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they wait in line to enter the museum. Joe recounts his recent experience at the recent Yayoi Kusama exhibition at David Zwerner, I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers, and both him and Xan bring up critical points regarding spectacle vs art, and our relation to time.

Episode 117: Cider? I Hardly Know Her

Sat, 20 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe at the Uncanny Valley Orchard where Xan recounts the origins of apples in America, the science behind producing them, and the history that they are attached to that has had major impacts on our world today.

Our source and recommended reading is American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historical Beverage by Dan Pucci & Craig Cavallo

Episode 116: Mammoth Steppe Escalator

Sun, 07 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join Xan and Joe as they transverse the North American continent to investigate the untold origins of paleontology and its roots in Native American traditions of fossil collection.

Our sources and recommended reading include:

“Otherlands” by Thomas Halliday and “Fossil Legends of the First Americans” by Adrienne Mayor

Episode 115: From Mjölner to Monasteries

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside an exhibit that focuses on deconstructing some of the myths behind the Scandinavian people's transition from Norse paganism to Christianity in the early middle ages through archeological and art historical evidence.

Episode 114: Partridge Run: The Mystery of Flight

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they focus on the mystery surrounding how birds achieved flight. Xan gives us a broad evolutionary overview of this history and later explains the science and creative strategies behind the more recent theories surrounding flight evolution.

Episode 113: The Last of Us: Useless in the Apocalypse

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, next to a diorama of cordyceps infecting ants for a conversation surrounding the science of HBO and Naughty Dog's The Last Of Us, while also discussing the show/games role in current popular culture.

Episode 112: Croc of Ages Feat. @crikeyitschristian

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as well as special guest expert Christian Flores, aka @crikeyitschristian, in the “Croc of Ages” exhibit hall for a part 2 exploration of crocodilians through time; focusing on the prehistoric ancestors of modern-day crocodilians.

Episode 111: Crocs are Back

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on an exhibit focused on the Saltwater Crocodiles' return to their natural habitats, and consequently the conflicts that have been reignited between them and Humans. Meanwhile, Xan provides a brief history of Crocodilians and how old they really are.

Episode 110: Biennale Bouncer: Can Fanart Get in?

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they navigate how fanart fits in with the contemporary art world and within the context of the history of art.

Episode 109: Hot Geologists Feat. @geoknowledgy

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, are joined by special guest expert Dr. Daniel Babin aka @geoknowledgy who talks to us about his research, what geologists are like in academia, as well as in the field, and pitches us some interesting branding strategies to save the earth.

Episode 108: Waterhouse's Dinosaurs are Down

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

For our first tour of 2023, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the paleo art wing of the museum where Xan recounts the story of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and his paleo art career, along with the drama that unfolded during his commission in 19th century New York City.

Episode 107: Our Moon Will Go On

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the UCM’s planetarium where they discuss the geological origins of Earth's Moon and its similarities and differences.

Again, we apologize for the episode delay, but we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and we hope to see you in the new year!

Episode 106: Chicken Noodle Synth for the Soul

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 14:20:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in a room filled with vintage synthesizers ranging from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s where Joe takes the lead on describing the history and concepts behind the most popular synths of the late 20th century.

Episode 105: Xan and Joe Go Over the Top

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they discuss the new Netflix Film, All Quiet On The Western Front, alongside its previous versions, while also investigating the cultural impact World War 1 had on Art, Literature, and Fashion.

Episode 104: White Whale Redemption

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, take us through an exhibit focused on the history of whaling, and humanity's connection to whales that is curated through the lens of Herman Melville's Magnum Opus, Moby Dick. They quickly summarize the plot of the novel and discuss the impact the novel has had on our world, along with thoughts concerning the industrialization of the whaling industry, materiality, and humanity's war against nature.

Episode 103: Dinosaur Cancel Culture

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the hall of invalid dinosaurs where Xan discusses the origins of classifying species, its usage, and which species are no longer considered valid due to new discoveries, and accidental duplicates.

Episode 102: Clairvoyant Annoyance: The Future of AI Art

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside an exhibition of paintings created by AI and they discuss the potential consequences as well as possible benefits that artificial intelligence will have on the art world.

Episode 101: Weapons of Mammoth Destruction

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour at the museum, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, back from a short sabbatical, discuss the recent news regarding the attempted Thylacine and Wooly Mammoth being cloned and what its consequences could bring.

**Episodes will be coming out bi-weekly for now

Episode 100: Battle to the Dylan

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's special 100th tour and a celebration of two years of the Uncanny County Museum, Xan and Joe are joined by returning special guest, Allison Dempsey, who is residing as judge while our tour guides defend bands/musicians of their choosing in the Uncanny County Courtroom.

Episode 99: Reelin’ In the Fears: Lost in the Arctic

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on a recreated 19th-century arctic voyage vessel where Joe recounts the story of Sir John Franklins' lost expedition to discover the Northwest passage.

Episode 98: Quantum Leap: The Occult and Modern Science

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, at the center of the universe where Xan leads us on a journey through time focusing on science's strange and intricate relationship with hermetic teachings and philosophies.

Episode 97: Meta for You

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, discuss Nathan Fielder’s new HBO show, The Rehearsal, and focus the conversation on the topic of metafiction in our modern-day media.

Episode 96: Rosetta-Mancing the Stone

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in front of two crucial linguistic artifacts to history. That being, the Rosetta Stone and the Linen Book of Zagreb. While sharing the stories behind these relics, they discuss how one can decode an ancient language when there are no native speakers left.

Episode 95: You Otta-Know

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe back inside the museum's ocean voyage simulator, where they focus on the infamous Piri Reis map. Through recounting historical evidence tied in with practices of the time, they slowly unravel the mystery of the map to reveal its true nature.

Episode 94: Phoenicia and Ferb

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on a replica Phoenician merchant vessel from 600 B.C.E where Joe recounts the story of the infamous journey of the Phoenicia across the Atlantic ocean. Meanwhile, they discuss the impact of replicas on our contemporary world.

Episode 93: Searching for Leatherman

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we Join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in a recreated cave-like shelter, also known as a Leatherman Cave, where they talk about Upstate New York and Connecticut's favorite vagabond legend, the Leatherman.

Episode 92: A Psalm for the Wild Martha

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, at the Uncanny County Museums' first-ever book club where they will be leading a discussion around the 2021 sci-fi novella, a Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers.

Episode 91: Low-Res Mammals

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in an exhibit hall dedicated to the history of cats. From the origins of cats to later their relationship with humans, Xan describes their evolution over thousands of years and how they obtained some of their very unique features.

Episode 90: Jurassic Worldwide: Cretaceous Critics

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's special tour, our tour guides Xan and Joe are joined by special guest experts @crikeyitschristian (Christian Flores), @dinosaurcomics (Andy Cruz), and @paintpaddock (Charles Nye) for a round table discussion regarding the science, plot, and overall cultural reverberations present in the recent entry to the Jurassic Park saga, Jurassic World Dominion.

Episode 89: 2 Prehistoric 2 Planet Feat. Hillary McLean

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe are reunited with special guest expert, paleontologist, and UCM legend, Hillary McLean, in discussing the science, research, and accuracy behind the latest Apple+ documentary series, Prehistoric Planet.

Episode 88: Avant Gardner

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they describe their experience exploring the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum together in Boston, and they recount the history of the museum while discussing its curatorial and cultural impact on the United States art scene, and the infamous heist that occurred in 1990.

Episode 87: Protestants and Catholics Part 4: Buckle Up!

Sat, 21 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

In wrapping up our exhibition on Protestants and Catholics, Xan and Joe pick right back up from part 3 by focusing on the reasons why the Puritans left England and later the Netherlands for the new world, what it resulted in, and why the United States is so prone to cults. Meanwhile, they reflect on the positive/negative reverberations that both these religions’ politics and values have inflicted on our world today.

Episode 86: Protestants and Catholics Part 3: A Cross-Road

Sat, 14 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Continuing on with our extended exhibition focused on the history of Protestants and Catholics, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they pick back up from part 2 by discussing the iconoclasm in northern Europe during the reformation and Martin Luther's take on arts place in one's faith. Meanwhile, Joe examines the Baroque Art movement and the church's hand in it while Xan recounts the impact of puritanical views embedded in the idea of minimalism affecting us today.

Episode 85: Protestants and Catholics Part 2: Hugue-Knows?

Sat, 07 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Continuing on with our extended exhibition focused on Protestants and Catholics, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they pick right back up from part 1 by discussing the creation of Calvinism and its effect on northern European art and culture. Meanwhile, Joe recounts the story of the Huguenots' existence in France and their intense conflict with the Catholic church over faith and power.

Episode 84: Protestants and Catholics Part 1: The Origin Of The Theses

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Uncanny County Museums’ special exhibition on the history of Catholicism and Protestantism! For part 1 of our exhibition, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, next to one of Gutenberg's printing presses, where they discuss the origins of Roman Catholicism and its role in medieval Europe. They also explain what the Protestant Reformation was and how it shaped the European continent, and its independent nations, that we are familiar with now.

Episode 83: Mullet at the Dawn of Time

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On this tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, at the center of the universe…just kidding it's one of our museum halls. They discuss how creation myths from different cultures connect to the scientific explanations regarding the creation of Earth.

Episode 82: Bible 2: Double Cross Feat. Rayce Peters.

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 23:16:26 +0000

Happy Easter, Passover, and Ramadan from all of us at the Uncanny County Museum!

On this very special tour, we catch our tour guides Xan and Joe, joined by special guest Rayce Peters, outside the museum's screening of the movie, Black Easter, where they give their thoughts, opinions, and confusion about the film.

Episode 81: It Takes Guts to Make Music

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in an exhibition room featuring a series of obscure musical instruments from throughout history.. Starting from 43,000 years ago to the late 1980’s, they discuss the impact musical instruments have on the types of music that was created over time.

Episode 80: Pontoons and Lagoons: Archeology in Polynesia

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on a raft in the middle of the open ocean where Xan discusses the complex maritime navigation of the Lapita people in ancient Polynesia.

Episode 79: Midwest Eno

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, back in the Museum's music archives where they discuss how people found out about music historically and how we learn about contemporary music today. From the Radio, Tiktok, and streaming services, how do these applications influence the way we find new music and how might it change in the future?

Episode 78: Dungeons Drive-Ins and Dives

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, at the UCM’s Dungeons, Drive-ins, and Dives D&D festival and they take this opportunity, in full cosplay, to explore the intricacies, difficulties, and nuances of Fantasy-based media.

Episode 77: Sundog Millionaire

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in the museums' hall of maps depicting the different regions of Italy and Joe takes this opportunity to explore the history of dialects and languages from the Island of Sardinia. Meanwhile, Xan discusses the nuances of different languages and the complexity of the English language.

Episode 76: Jon Alba Has an Emmy

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides Xan and Joe are joined by special guest expert Jon Alba (@jon_alba) who gives us a closer look into the world of wrestling and the entertainment side of professional sports.

Episode 75: Debriefing Debris: Historical Collecting

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the museum's hall of Rococo paintings, where they will be talking about the history of museum display and collecting. Upon discussing the history of the French Revolution and its consequences on the art world, Xan describes the collecting style of Edmond de Goncourt, A French private collector and curator. Meanwhile, Joe discusses his run-ins with the Museum of Anthropology in Florence, Italy, and the issues with removing context from historical objects.

Episode 74: Ich bin der Lorax

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on the outskirts of an eerie forest inside the museum where they take this opportunity to talk about natural borders. Joe talks about the history of the ancient Hercynian Forest and how it repelled Roman legions advancing into Germanic tribal lands as well as the wildlife it contained. Meanwhile, Xan discusses the impact natural borders, like the Mediterranean sea, have on cultures and natural environments.

Episode 73: Crikey! It's the AZA Feat. @crikeyitschristian

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, are joined by special guest expert Christian Flores (@crikeyitschristian) who takes this opportunity to discuss a brief history of conservation in zoology and contemporary examples of this practice today.

Episode 72: Hock of Ages: David Hockneys Secret

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside a rather large camera obscura where they talk about the documentary, David Hockneys Secret Knowledge, regarding the use of rudimentary projectors by 15th century artists. As curious and profound this discovery is, Xan and Joe theorize whether or not it discredits the artist's talents in mastering perspective, or enhances it…

Episode 71: Ethically Sourced Dad Rock

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they navigate the aesthetics, values, and contradictions inherent within Conservitave art. Ranging from oil paintings to flag designs, they break down some reasons as to why this type of art/design exists and where it potentially originated from.

Episode 70: The Uncanny Cabinet Part 3: A Dragon Named Hozier

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

In our final exhibition covering the mythological creatures held in the Uncanny Cabinet, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, focus on the history of Dragons. In covering their historical origins to their role in contemporary fantasy/visual pop culture, they attempt to understand how the concept of dragons came to be; discussing what they might mean within different religious and cultural contexts.

Episode 69: The Uncanny Cabinet Part 2: Attack on Bunyan

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

In continuing with our series of exhibitions regarding mythological creatures on exhibit in the museum's Uncanny Cabinet, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, turn our attention to the history of giants. They talk about giants throughout mythology, history, and pop culture while also breaking down the reasons why they appear in many traditions around the globe.

Episode 68: The Uncanny Cabinet Part 1: The Yassification of Mermaids

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

In kicking off the start of 2022, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in the Uncanny Cabinet where they will be launching a new series of tours focusing on mythological creatures through history, starting off with Mermaids/Merfolk. They discuss the origins of the mythology surrounding Sirens throughout history while attempting to investigate the psychological inner workings the stories might be alluding to. In contrast to the past, they also talk about the impact and fascination we have with mermaids/merfolk in our contemporary society and how it has changed/stayed the same over time.

Episode 67: Twenty-Twenty Fun: Best of the Year

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Happy holidays from all of us at the Uncanny County Museum! As a last minute gift and ode to the end of the year, Xan and Joe go through some of the best moments from their tours in 2021.

We will be taking a short winter break at the Uncanny County Museum and will be resuming our tours on January 8th.

Episode 66: Italian State of Mind

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, discuss the topic of memory by recalling their own memories from childhood, pondering if memory was ever considered to be important by our ancient ancestors. They discuss the continuity of human beings, comparing their memories to the most advanced technology from their time and theorize what we will compare ours to in the future.

Episode 65: Trolly Problems

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the neutral void space within the museum where they will be talking about the concept of utopias. Realizing the difficulty of discussing the idea of a perfect system of living, they provide examples throughout history where utopias succeeded or fell apart. Joe recounts the story of the failed Libertarian utopian town of Grafton while Xan proposes recent ideas surrounding Mesoamerican ideas on self sufficiency.

Episode 64: Ya Like Jazz? Sounds of Modernity

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in a featured exhibition of artworks by the sound artist Steve Reich, and use it as an opportunity to talk about sound art. Xan explores the history of sound art through examples from past artists, musicians, and movements while Joe brings in some contemporary artists of mention and musical techniques to the conversation.

Episode 63: Creative Warfare

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe outside the museums’ double feature screening of Dune (2021) directed by Denis Villeneuve and Come and See (1985) directed by Elem Klemov. They discuss and theorize why we are still interested in viewing war films today, and how it connects to contemporary art?

Episode 62: Dinosaur OC’s Feat. @Dinosaurcomics

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, Xan and Joe are joined by special guest @Dinosaurcomics, who talks about his origin story as a paleo-illustrator.

Episode 61: Godzilla vs Khan

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in line for the Museum's new boat ride attraction, which focuses on the Mongol invasion of Tsushima and Iki Island. During the ride, Joe recounts the events leading up to the invasion, focusing on a brief history of Kublai Khan's politics and what was happening with the Japanese Shogunate in the mid 13th century. Meanwhile, they both question what the outcome would have been if the invasion had gone as planned...

Episode 60: The Violent Act of Painting

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe in an exhibition space curated by Xan that is filled with objects that were placed as “Modern art” in museums to trick tourists. Stemming from Joe reading excerpts from the Essay, The Theory of the Cursed Brush by Shozo Shimmamoto, they discuss the power of materiality in everyday things and whether or not we should consider their elements in art making.

Episode 59: Immortal Meat loaf: A history of Halloween

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Halloween from your favorite audio fabricated museum!

Today we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, at the Uncanny County Halloween/October festival to discuss the origins of Halloween and how it has transformed into the holiday we know and love today.

Episode 58: Mission impossible: Dybbuk Protocol

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, back in the Cabin of Curiosities where they will be continuing their series of eerie exhibitions by focusing on specific folklore from their cultures. Joe talks about the Sardinian festival of the Mamathones from Mamoidia and the theories surrounding its origin story. Meanwhile, Xan examines the legend of the Golem and recounts a haunting story that involves a Dybbuk, a wine cabinet, a mysterious curse, and Post Malone's collection of curiosities.

Episode 57: Doctor of Vampirology

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Continuing with our spooky themed exhibits, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside the abandoned castle on the hill, located on the museum grounds, where they will be leading an exhibit focusing on vampires and werewolves. Joe goes into detail about the origins of the European vampire myths and its transformation through the centuries. While Xan brings in some additional information regarding vampires in the 19th century, as well as a possible theory for how werewolf stories came to be.

Episode 56: Panic! At Pablo Beach

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we are joined by our tour guides, Xan and Joe inside the Cabin of Curiosities where they take us through a series of strange rooms that focus on legendary cryptids and conspiracies surrounding them. Guided by the book, “Florida's Unexpected Wildlife,” Xan curates and discusses the many different cases of sea monster sightings on Florida's coastlines and provides details on these encounters. Meanwhile, they both theorize the reasons behind these conspiracies and sightings, putting into question the relationship these stories have with beachfront tourist towns...

Episode 55: Sharks With Chainsaws: A History of Teeth

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, inside a realistic recreation of a sand worm's mouth where they will be leading an exhibit on the history of teeth. They talk about the origins of teeth ranging from the evolution of sharks, to horses, and eventually humans and discuss early dental practices and myths surrounding tooth decay. All the while, discussing the drastic impact a species' diet and environment can have on their teeth and how our food has become too soft...

Episode 54: Xan’s Labyrinth

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we get lost inside the museum's labyrinth joined by our tour guides, Xan and Joe, who use this opportunity to explore the connection between the story of Atlantis and its theorized connection to the Minoan civilization. They briefly recount the history of the Minoans and shine light on its disastrous end and possible influence it had on Plato's story of Atlantis. If you are a longtime visitor here at the Uncanny County Museum, a bit of this tour will sound familiar to our very first exhibit.

Episode 53: Make it Make Cents

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in front of a large bank vault where they will be leading an exhibit about medieval and contemporary currency. Xan goes into detail about the Floren, a currency implemented by the Medici family of Florence in the 15th century while Joe takes us back north to talk about Iceland's 11th century currency system. All the while, they propose the idea that perhaps Cosimo de’ Medici sounded like Don Corelone from the Godfather.

Episode 52: Xan and Joe Recognize Their Mortality

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

It's been one full year that the Uncanny County Museum has been open! As a special exhibit, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, celebrate this occasion by interviewing each other about their art practices. They share some insight into their own artworks, art process, and personal history that formed their arts careers.

Episode 51: There's Dinosaurs in Them Hills Feat. Bradley Strock

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, Xan and Joe are joined by special guest Bradley Strock, who recounts his journey from inside the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, a throwback to our first ever exhibit! They discuss the exhibits in detail, including the layout, artwork and exhibition design the museum employs for displaying their creationist vision of prehistory. At the same time, Bradley tells his stories of being out on a dig in Glendive and the adventures that ensued during his quest for some fossils.

Episode 50: T. rex is Overrated Feat. Hillary McLean

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe sit down with fossil preparatore extraordinaire, Hillary McLean to talk about the complicated issue of collecting dinosaur fossils and the role of the museum in the public's perception of value. All the while, discussing why fish paleontology gets a bad rap, Jurassic Park 3, and why T. rex is an overrated dinosaur.

Episode 49: Broken Clock Theorem

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we journey underneath the museum to explore the catacombs that were found during the construction of the Uncanny County Museum and left intact. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe, take this opportunity to talk about the pseudoscience of phrenology and focus on a scientist named Samuel George Morton who measured the inside of human skulls. Before diving deep into the racist theroies and unethical display of human remains during this time, they also talk about how sometimes, old science was actually right. Like they always say, a broken clock is right twice a day...

Episode 48: Old Time Croc and Roll

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, in what seems to be a room filled to the brim with artifacts from the past. Ranging from Dorthys Ruby slippers to Dustin's hat from Stranger Things, Xan and Joe, take this opportunity to talk about the effects of nostalgia in our society today. While talking about the history of the word as well as its relationship to commodification, Joe brings up the question on what is the function of nostalgia when there is no longer a place or object to be nostalgic about? All the while, they discuss the latest gossip about Greta Van Fleet, The Suicide Squad, and the potential new fashion trend, Croc-martens.

Episode 47: Going Off the Rails: NFTs in the Art World

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they take us into one of the UCM’s auction halls where they will be selling NFTs. In taking the opportunity to talk about the recent crypto buzz, they discuss the impact of reproducible art in the past with printmaking and its benefits and later consequences. From Goya's print subscriptions to contemporary illustrators on Twitter, they question how and if digital artists can safeguard their artworks when displaying them on the Internet?

Episode 46: Bad Art: The Greatest Hits

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe as they lead us through the Uncanny County Museums’ hall of “bad art”. They talk about famous unpopular artworks from popular artists, such as Michelangelo's Night and break down why we consider certain works from great artists to be bad in comparison to what is considered their masterpieces. All the while, Xan and Joe finally have their long awaited debate on whether Bob Dylan was better during his Electric or Folk years.

Episode 45: The World's Fair: Crushed Pennies and Crushed Dreams

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe at the Uncanny County Fair where Joe thought they would be displaying their artworks…Instead it is actually them, who are on display. They use this opportunity to talk about the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition held in Chicago and list the numerous things that made their debut there, as well as the amount of racism and horrors that were also implemented at the event. Furthermore, through looking at this example, they question how America will confront and deal with its past...

Episode 44: The Vikings Part 3: Normal Norman Business

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In bringing our three week long exhibition on the Vikings to a close, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe as they wrap up the Viking age. Joe finishes up presenting his research by ending with the Normans and highlights their origin and political entanglement with the Frankish crown. He also breifly discusses the 11th century rulers of the Kingdom of Denmark who will attempt to revamp the old raids of the 9th century. All the while, they discuss the end of the Viking age, Hagar the Horrible's arch nemesis, and Viking Businessman.

(Part 3 of 3)

Episode 43: The Vikings Part 2: Vikings World Tour

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Continuing on our three week long exhibition on the Vikings, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe as they discuss the Viking age and the exploration that takes place during the late 8th to 9th centuries. Joe leads the discussion by focusing on where the Vikings went, highlighting their travels from the British Isles all the way east to the Kievan Rus, Constantinople, and even as far south as the Mediterranian sea. All the while, wondering just how much influence they had in the areas they traveled too as a part of their world tour.

(part 2 of 3)

Episode 42: The Vikings Part 1: The Vibe-Kings

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Uncanny County Museums special exhibition on the Viking age, skål! This exhibition will take place over the course of 3 weeks and led by your co curators and tour guides, Xan and Joe. They take us through this largely unknown but popular history and investigate just who these seafaring peoples were. After being hinted at countless times, Joe finally leads the research he's been hoarding regarding the Vikings and leads us through halls of Vikingr weapons, clothing, hairstyles, longships, and even recent research regarding what they possibly would have looked like. So grab a drink and join in on this first part regarding the Vikings and their travels through the medieval world!

(part 1 of 3)

Episode 41: The Inka: An Empires New Groove

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head above sea level to the Andes mountains to join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, where they will be discussing the formation and rise of the Inkan empire, pre 1492. Xan goes into detail and illustrates how their empire was formed from bureaucracy and trade tactics rather than warfare, the peoples that inhabited the area, and what life was like during that time. All the while, discussing anti calvary flame slings, llamas, and The Emperor's New Groove.

Episode 40: Grapes and Beards: Vikings in North America

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe in the museum's interactive exhibit on Vinland from the old Norse sagas. In presenting the story of “Vikings'' in North America, Joe will be covering a brief overview of this profoundly interesting topic in History. He recounts the tales of adventurers Erik the Red, Leif Eriksson, and Thorfinn Karlsefni in their roles in finding the North American continent as they're told in the Icelandic and greenlandic sagas. Nevertheless, investigating why they would have traveled so far west at this time and why they never told anyone...

Episode 39: B-Side Dinosaurs

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head to the Uncanny County Museum's Dinosaur Hall where we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as Xan leads a discussion regarding the representation and illustration of Dinosaurs since their discovery. Ranging from dramatic paleoart to the Disney movie Dinosaur, Xan maps out a timeline that illustrates where the images of these creatures come from. All the while, they discuss buddy cop movies, Jurassic Park, and the Dinosaur movie head finger puppets from McDonalds.

Episode 38: True Gritty

Sat, 29 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head to the Uncanny County Museum’s old saloon where our tour guides, Xan and Joe, while dressed in their cowboy cosplays, investigate the depiction of the American West presented in Cinema and its impact on the United States' cultural mythology. They survey the use of audio, visual, and literary tropes in Westerns through the decades ranging from The Great Train Robbery to True Grit (2010). All the while, discussing the costumes in Back to the Future Part III, Dude Ranches, and making a Western starring Phildelphias own Gritty...

Episode 37: Sensual Censorship: Exploring Erotic Art With Florizel

Sat, 22 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On todays tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, are joined by guest curator Florizel to discuss erotic art and the censorship that often looms over it. Through discussing Florizels artistic practice and her methods of making and researching, they discuss the censorship and shadowbanning that takes place on social media today as well as historical moments were erotic art was embraced. All the while, questioning the impact of social media sites acting as the final say on what art is or is not allowed to be.

*CW: brief mention of sexual assault (1 hr 28 sec to 1 hr 11 min)

Episode 36: A Rebar Angel's Thesis

Sat, 15 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, our tour guides, Xan and Joe, talk under a model of a rebar angel from Chernoybl and discuss recent events in which people have returned to live on the abandoned land. They discuss the return of wildlife and the absorption of radiation by mushrooms, as well as how long it will take before the radiation reaches its halflife. All the while, they wonder if either of them could move and survive in the wild...

Episode 35: Biblical Kaiju

Sat, 08 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we journey to the depths of the sea, the tallest peaks of the realm, and the lush valleys of the land to explore the monsters from Judaic/christian mythology. We join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they lead a discussion about the origins, history, and possible real versions of the famous Leviathan, Ziz, and Behemoth from these sacred texts. They describe their own theories for what these monsters may or may not represent and Xan presents a theory regarding the possibility of the behemoth actually having existed...

Episode 34: That Skunk Ape Show

Sat, 01 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today’s tour, we return to the infamous Cryptid hall where our tour guides, Xan and Joe, discuss the origins of Florida's beloved cryptid, the Skunk ape. Through exploring how it came to be known in popular culture they present a timeline of the first primate sightings in the U.S. While ultimately trying to wrap their heads around what came first; Bigfoot...or the Skunk Ape? All the while, being greeted by Florida man, talking about apple stealing orangutans, and wondering if Skunk Apes can swim freestyle...

Episode 33: Prime Time Slime: Art on TV

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe as they take us through a curated exhibition of art from TV and movies. Ranging from shows such as the Office, ICarly, How I Met Your Mother, Broad City, and the Film, Velvet Buzzsaw, they explore the artist and curator tropes presented in these productions. All the while, discussing Xans first cup of coffee, vegan Chicken and Waffles, and Slime...

Episode 32: Close Encounters of the Kitsch Kind

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head back to the infamous Gossip Lounge at the UCM to join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, as they talk about “Kitsch”. Ranging from a $12,000 painting of Goofy surfing to the work of the infamous painter, Thomas Kinkade, they discuss where kitsch is positioned in the context of contemporary art and the global art scene. All the while, they talk about Billy Joel, cruise ship art, and the weirdest things they've received in the mail...

Episode 31: Bare Bear Bones

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to the Uncanny County Museums' recreation of a realistic cave complex. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe lead a discussion regarding early humans and their relationships with art, animals, and living spaces. They speculate the possible reasons as to why early humans would have painted animals and explore other theories that provide entirely different explanations and rationals. Nevertheless, considering the bias we may have towards this time period due to media/entertainment depictions and questioning if early humans even did live in caves…

Episode 30: Art in the 20th Century, Part 3

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Bringing our 3 week long exhibition of Art in the 20-th Century to a close, we Join our tour guides Xan and Joe as they finalize our journey by bringing us into a recreation of a subway station.They discuss the late 1970s and the beginning of commercialism within art and the implications that it brings, following it all the way to the end of the 90’s. As they wrap up this exhibition we take a closer look at neo-conceptual artworks, the return of painting, and even Woodstock 99.

This timeline will cover works from 1970 to 1999. This is our final part of Art in the 20th Century.

Episode 29: Art in the 20th Century, Part 2

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Continuing on our three-week long exhibition of art in the 20th century, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe as they take us through the different artistic movements that occur post World War 2. Ranging from conceptual artists working in South America, to the Japanese Avant-Garde, they focus on artists who have been left out of the Western European art canon in order to give more perspective and a broader context to where the foundations for contemporary art come from.

This timeline will cover works from after 1945 to 1970.

Episode 28: Art in the 20th Century, Part 1

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Uncanny Museums first ever exhibit of art in the 20th century! This exhibition will take place over the course of three weeks and each of our tours will be led by your trusty curators and tour guides, Xan and Joe. They will be taking us through art in the 20th century, although by means of looking at what was happening on the edges of the art scene at the time, rather than just the main western European art canon. This tour presents a timeline of works of art and art objects from the late 1800s to around 1935.

Episode 27: Xan and Joe Go Down With the Ship

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Have you heard about the legend of the Titanic? On this rather strange tour, we head to the Uncanny County Museums planetarium (virtually and in person) for another one of our (in)famous watch along events! Our tour guides, Xan and Joe give their commentary live while watching the classic children's film, The Legend of the Titanic.

*This is a different episode from our normally scheduled ones and it is encouraged to listen to this while watching the movie (available on YouTube). In the beginning segment of the episode, Xan and Joe explain how to best set up this experience and where to pause/start the watch along.

Episode 26: Octopus Shell Collection: The Half Year Special

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +0000

On this special tour, we head to the Uncanny County Museums Aviary where we will be joining our tour Guides, Xan and Joe as well as our special guest Michelle Cimino, for an in depth discussion regarding animal intelligence. In narrowing down this rather large scale topic, they examine the possibilities of collective intelligence within animal species as well as consider how we can measure the intellect of animals without necessarily projecting human traits onto them. All the while mentioning an octopus's shell collection, tool wielding corvids, and talking plants.

Episode 25: Old Three Toes...

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we are returning to our roots as a roadside museum here at the UCM and we will be heading to our newly installed cryptid exhibit. Here, we listen in as our tour guides Xan and Joe tells us the story of one of the lesser known infamous Florida cryptids, old three toes. During this tale, they discuss the origins and revealed mystery surrounding this cryptid and look at potential reasons as to why certain people are attached to this myth. All the while, discussing doctor names, emperor penguins, and what Florida was like in the 80’s...

Episode 24: It's a Documentary Now

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head to one of the Uncanny County Museums lecture halls where Joe is presenting a lecture regarding questioning the narratives presented in documentary films. From the Edison company to actuality films, Joe weaves us through a quick overview of the history of documentary filmmaking and how it has come to influence the contemporary versions we see now. During this presentation, Xan joins in for an in depth discussion regarding documentaries in contemporary media and how we consume them when faced with spectacle over facts. Specifically, focusing on the documentary series Tiger King compared to Making a Murderer, and more recent documentary films. All the while asking the real question, which is if Borat is a documentary?

Episode 23: Yoko, Oh No!

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we take a closer look into the life, career, and importance of the artist/musician, Yoko Ono. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe lead a discussion about the history and significance of Yoko Ono's contribution to art history and attempt to perform the actions that are mentioned in her Instruction paintings. All the while, discussing frustrating fans, Wings (the band) themed dipping sauce, and how to pack a Super Bowl...

As a precursor to a future exhibition, this tour serves as a prologue to the Fluxus art movement of the 1960s and the lineage that leads to contemporary art today.

Episode 22: Pete Best of the Beatles

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head to a rather unusual exhibit within a small room at the UCM, which contains a recreation of a stereotypical fans shrine to the Beatles. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe join us here for a discussion regarding dad rock, purple ketchup, JFK, and of course the Beatles. Like the Smithsonian (but more fun) this exhibit includes actual copies of all of the Beatles albums, bobbleheads, t-shirts, mugs, and any and all tacky merchandise you can think of. However, one cassette tape stands out from the rest and it reads, Everyday Chemistry...

Episode 21: Wilderness as a Concept

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe, in one of the (famous) Uncanny County Museum’s landscape wings. After inspecting the dioramas on display, they lead a discussion regarding representing wilderness in visual art. Ranging from Flemish landscape painting to more contemporary takes on American landscape painting. As well as taking a look at other ways of how landscapes are represented in different cultures and how we can balance both the beauty and the heavy weight of the histories attached to this lineage; specifically, within American landscapes. All the while, talking about Florida's plains, the pine barrens of New Jersey, future Latin, and pizza...

Episode 20: Mega Morphin Morgans

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we head to the Uncanny County Museums Wax hall, filled with all types of famous and life-like uncanny figures. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe lead a discussion focusing on the origins of the uncanny valley and why we have it. They Consider a multitude of possibilities ranging from our ancestors encountering other types of hominid species in the past, or perhaps, that it's because our brains like to play tricks on us. All the while, they talk about anatomical Venuses, lawyer billboards, the Boston Dynamics robots, and real dolls...

Episode 19: The Yarn Prince

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

On this tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe as well as our special guest, Kolbe White from the podcast Forced Football Facts in the museum's infamous Gossip Lounge. They lead a series of discussions dealing with museum scandals and the mishaps associated with acquiring artifacts. These topics range from Hobby Lobby's infamous museum scandal, Sue the t-rex, Archeoraptor, and other paleontology drama. All of which, tie back to this question of how to properly handle and follow through with the acquisition of ancient objects/fossils. As well as how to not rush into a new found hobby, such as antiques acquisition and whether or not Hobby Lobby is what purgatory looks like.

Episode 18: Apocalypse, How?

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Continuing from our previous tour trapped in the fallout shelter, we join our tour guides Xan and Joe as they continue a discussion regarding the apocalypse. Specifically, bringing up a multitude of examples ranging from historic moments such as the fall of the Roman empire, to literary ones like H. G Wells’ book, War of the Worlds. Investigating further this western approach to the end of the world (as we know it) and what place would creatives and philosophers have in a post-apocalyptic landscape?

This is part 2 of 2 part series.

Episode 17: Same as It Ever Was

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to the Uncanny County Museum in this new year! On today's tour, we run into our tour guides, Xan and Joe as they are in the middle of transporting holiday/party decorations to the museum's basement(s). Joining in as volunteers for this excursion, we head to the sub-sub basement in order to find room to drop off these items. While in the middle of catching up and recapping the previous year, we stumble upon an abandoned fallout shelter from the 1950s. Mystified by this relic of the past, our tour guides begin a conversation regarding post apocalyptic literature and its impressions now. As well as discussing the British planet in BattleStar Galactica, the talking heads, watching isolation movies in quarantine, and Thomas the Tank Engine. All the while, the door to the fallout shelter begins to close...

This is part 1 of a 2 part series.

Episode 16: Xan and Joe Save Christmas

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Holidays from your favorite audio fabricated museum! On this rather strange tour, we tune into the Uncanny County Museums holiday special, via virtual streaming. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe lead a live director's commentary track alongside one of the lesser known, bizarre Christmas movies; Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas.

*This is a different episode from our normally scheduled one’s and it is encouraged to listen to this while watching the movie (available on YouTube). In the beginning segment of the episode, Xan and Joe explain how to best set up this experience and where to pause/start the watch along.

We will be back in the new year with a brand new tour!

Episode 15: Bird Wars

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour we head to the Uncanny County Museum’s petting zoo where a recent memorial has been placed. We join our tour guides, Xan and Joe at this specific site in order to pay homage in remembering the Emu War. In particular, recollecting how humanity has fought and lost two notable campaigns against different species of birds. They discuss both the absurdity and interesting points of the Emu war and why it feels like it's taken right from the plot of FernGully. All the while, discussing trading with corvids, roadside petting zoos, and war birds.

Episode 14: They Came From the Sea...

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we join our tour guides, Xan and Joe, on board a life size reconstruction of a warship that is theorized to have been used by the mysterious Sea Peoples. While on board this vessel, they discuss the impact these unknown peoples had on civilizations along the coasts of the Mediterranean sea during the bronze age collapse. As well as the reasons for why we know so little about them. Further investigating what it means to never get a full picture of what happened in the past, and the fear attached with never knowing. All the while, discussing conquistadors’ marching into the jungles of South America, what it means to have sailing in your blood, and the importance of being specific when writing things down.

Episode 13: Liminal Target Space

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On this rather unusual tour, we venture into uncanny counties' infinite local Target to take care of some errands. Here, we run into our tour guides Xan and Joe who do an impromptu tour regarding the documentary, Missing 411: The Hunted. A film that is about the amount of people who go missing in the United States national parks, focusing primarily on hunters. While leading both a summary and critique on the documentary, they Investigate this question concerning how we deal with missing persons situations and the lack of closure that can come with it. All the while, exploring the strangeness of cryptid documentaries, the hit band Boston, alien abductions, and the mystery of Bigfoot.

Episode 12: Born in the U.S.A

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to one of the museum’s grand halls which has an installation depicting numerous thanksgiving day dinner tables from across the years. Here, our tour guides Xan and Joe discuss the birth of Americana and its origins within the United States. Including its help in forming a new mythology for Americans to look to. Questioning its hand in creating our holidays, as well as navigating the complicated and difficult topic of Thanksgiving. All the while, further investigating the origins of New England based holiday representation, advanced and complex indigenous farming techniques, western films and their mythologization, and what it means to be born in the U.S.A...

Episode 11: Knowledge as a Flex

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to the Uncanny County Museum's life sized recreation of the library of Alexandria. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe each give a lecture regarding the question of what happens to information and artifacts lost to war and time? Bringing up different stories ranging from, the rise and fall of the famed library, to a story regarding a German paleontologist and the loss of Spinosaurus. Nevertheless, circling back to this question of how to best preserve and protect knowledge for all?

Episode 10: Farm to Table Twitter

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On Today’s tour, we will be heading to the opening reception of the Uncanny County Museums exhibition on Internet culture. Curated by our returning guest curator Allison Dempsey, we take a look at the artistic choices made to explore the depths of internet culture. All the while, hanging out with our tour guides Xan and Joe as they discuss the exhibition with Allison. Bringing up both past and more recent developments on social media. Ranging from Tumblr’s censored IHOP pancakes, conservative graphic design/memes, Yik Yak, chaos on Twitter, and the existential threat that is Cars 2.

This is part 2 of a 2 part series.

Episode 9: Xan and Joe Journey Through The Ball Pit

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we pass by our tour guides Xan and Joe preparing and installing a new exhibition on internet culture. Amidst the construction and installation, they take a moment to reflect and discuss what they remember about the internet, primarily focusing on tumblr. Looking back at some of the most famous and bizarre moments on the popular social media site. Ranging from shipping wars to censorship, and recalling the absolute failure of Dashcon. All of this, while staring at the infamous ball pit…

This is part 1 of a 2 part series.

Episode 8: Spooky Soup: A Halloween Special

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On this very special Halloween tour, the Uncanny County Museum is hosting its first ever Horror Film Festival! Featuring our guest curator David Neal, we take a look into some of the most famous and infamous horror films ever made. Discussing the impact horror films have on society, viewing them in a theater versus by yourself, film quality, and the deeper meanings embedded within them. All the while, waiting in line for the film festival to begin...

Episode 7: Who Is It For? Art in the Public Sphere

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be visiting a one day only exhibit, featuring an installation based on Roman Ondaks work titled Loop. Taking the museum's outdoor landscape and placing inside the exhibit. Within this seemingly unreal space, our tour guides Xan and Joe lead a discussion regarding artwork in public spaces, versus the museum or gallery space. Focusing on artists such as Adrián Villar Rojas, Mary Mattingly, Stefania Galegati, and others working in the contemporary art world. Contrasted against monuments and other popular public works. A major question arises which asks, for whom is this for?

Episode 6: Get Me an Imagine Dragons!

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to the Uncanny County Museum’s music archives, a crowded space filled with filing cabinets that contain any and all music storing devices, such as vinyl, cassettes, cd’s, ect. Our tour guides Xan and Joe lead a discussion on how music should be archived and exhibited in a museum. All the while, sharing their musical tastes and opinions, discovering music by streaming vs. vinyl, and if Oasis is in fact better than Nickleback...

Episode 5: Dead Parrots Society

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to one of the Uncanny County Museum’s underground cellars to take a look at some rare and preserved taxidermied animals. Our tour guides, Xan and Joe will be leading a lecture and discussion regarding human caused animal extinctions throughout history. Taking a closer look at animals such as the dodo, the great auk, the thylacine, and other less familiar animals lost to time.

Episode 4: Xan and Joe Get Baked

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be heading to the Uncanny County museum’s bakery for a chilled out, pastry filled discussion regarding the creation of bread. We look at how bagels became the ultimate travel food, how multiple cultures figured out baking by trial and error, and how bread is essentially alive...

Episode 3: Jesus Chrysler! An Exploration Into Coding

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On today's tour, we will be visiting an exhibit on the musical, Starlight Express! Featuring guest curator Allison Dempsey, we take a closer look at coding in musical theater, science fiction, fantasy genres in pop culture, and the impact it leaves. All the while, questioning why Pixar's Cars seem to have organs...

Episode 2: Show Me The Cursed Facts!

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

On this spooky tour, we will be visiting the Uncanny County Museum's haunted auction! Where we have a very peculiar and haunted artifact on display for one day only. While leading the auction, our tour guides Xan and Joe share some insight on cursed objects throughout history, crystals, and their own ghost stories.

Episode 1: A Whole Land Bridge Full of Lemurs

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

For today's tour, we will be headed to a remote jungle to take a look at some leftover dinosaur bones and an ancient Olmec sculpture. All the while, discussing Creationist and Ancient Alien theories, secret Christopher Columbus conspiracy theories, and the power of human creativity. Make sure to pack some bug spray.