Agitator

98 - Way of the House Husband, Dead Monk Magic, & Dream World with Reverend Janglebones & Kurt Huggins

The Way of the Househusband (2021) by Kousuke Oono
 
On this episode we finally have our good friends from the Soapbox podcast on to chat about retired yakuza, the spirit world, and Thai occult magic.
Alligator car crashes, Willacochee or won’t it, alligator facts, taste of reptile, green things, sound board fail, shows that feel like manga, cut off from Netflix, trying to be normal after experiencing trauma, being a father with face tattoos, closets full of sneakers, the crazy rights issues with the character of Hannibal Lecter, spirits inhabiting archetypes, Unforgiven and The Hurt Locker, transformation as a new way to tell stories, Wreck-It Ralph, the four-act structure of kishotenketsu, no sex in John Wick, the holistic approach to archetypes, Pikachu as a god, becoming an attract vessel for the idea, 3 hours of morning writing routine, 0-1 thinking vs. 1-10 thinking, the history of Aeon office chair and letting artists cook.
 
PATREON SEGMENT:
 
Muzzling the Tourette’s, the difficulty of not saying the funny thing, humor as exorcism, responsibility to the idea, the blog post disaster, losing friends, John Dick, e-mailing Kurt every day to tell him what to think, Rev’s introduction to the Thai occult, astrological timing, ghost energy, selling curses online, the karmic risks of cursing, arguing on GameFAQs, the tea tree dick chemical burn, when to use curses and when to use alternatives, Backwoods Witchcraft, sending riddles back to the universe, Jodorowsky’s sexual psychomagic, Dune, metaphor as spirit language, where ideas come from, summoning angels, talking to ghosts, Jeffrey Kripal’s The Flip, saint power, carrying subjective experiences into material reality, the Dominant of Wider Inclusions, Twitter’s War of Witches, the pain of identifying with your thoughts, already having everything you need, Kelby’s tarot message to JDO, gripping swords, the wisdom of Dilbert, writing and reading as an altered state, the job of artists, books as a good hang, what amulets the boys are wearing, Eternal Jing shoutout, the odor of volcanic rock, JDO desk show and tell, Reservation Dogs, watching Deadwood while painting a house, 3D-printed Hermanubis, Rev’s magic courses, why spirit ancestors might be holding you back, where people go when they die, Kelby’s shamanic healing, the oblique angle of intention, capital-R Reality, and how to use Merit.
 
“From Unsavory to Sweet” by Reverend Janglebones
Kurt Huggins’ website and portfolio
Chapbooks and Amulets
Rev on Twitter
Soapbox podcast

97 - Parabellum: Is JOHN WICK 4 Irresponsible or a Masterpiece?

Today, we have fellow Broken River novelists David Simmons and Grant Wamack on the show to talk everything John Wick 4.
In this episode: 
Waiting on Grant, Baltimore accents, Anthony Hopkins - y'all think he's a good actor? For real?, Bill Skarsgård's acting range, when your homies act out in odd ways, when snitching isn't snitching anymore, John Wick's speaking vs killing ratio, Colored People Time, top 3 cities in the world, the difficulty pitching John Wick to studios, Kelby gets details wrong, what the dog represents, good parenting routines, does John Wick 4 earn its 3-hour runtime?, getting our kids into Gorillaz, "Japanese" is a vibe, favorite kills, freestyle choreography, the brilliance of the German club scene, the humor of John Wick, incendiary shotgun shells, Simmons breaks the whole series down in 15 seconds, syncing soundtrack beats up with the fights, are these dance films or action movies?, the practical reason for implementing judo and jiu jitsu, Keanu's clip ejection technique, the nunchaku joke, John Wick as a fairy tale, parts worth rewinding, video game influence, YouTube as the new prestige cinema hub of inspiration, Harmony Korine's Hoff Twins, upcoming releases from Simmons (Ghosts of West Baltimore) and Grant (Melancholy's Finest) and what makes their stories slap so hard, alchemizing syntax with clarity for mainstream readers while maintaining style, and...
over on Agitator Z (patreon.com/agitator)...
The language and origin of mushrooms, alien and Mormon abductions, the pipeline from MK Ultra to Adderall, this legal weed ain't right, Super Weed Gummy Bear, paranoid high, paranoia as a writing tool, myth-busting gun lover stereotypes, gun show manners, gun fetishism, Kel-Tec PLR as a concealed carry firearm, what's the source of the mass shooting epidemic?, would John Wick get the v-word?, comedic callbacks, The Buttercream Gang, exploring the mythology of the John Wick universe, Broken River bodyguard services, how to get a seat at the High Table, not having any opps, our predictions for John Wick 5, and Cliff Martinez beat-boxing. 

96 - REJECTED by CD Projekt Red! Too Hard for the Cyberpunk Sequel

In loving memory of Kahlua.
Our Broken River collaborator and good friend E Rathke joins us to talk about how all three of us were recently shot down in an open call to work with CD Projekt Red. What do you do with rejection? Is there a point to the effort even if it doesn't turn out how you'd hoped? We explore all this as well as chop it up a bit about Cyberpunk 2077 and some things we would like to see added in the sequel. We also talk a bit about the work of Stephen Graham Jones, whose opinions matter and whose don't, the pitch vs the product, writing filler but making it gourmet, and looking at art through beer goggles. For hours upon hours of bonus content, access to the Agitator Discord, serialized novels, and to support the show's endeavors into original films and online storytelling courses, go to patreon.com/agitatorSign up for E Rathke's incredible newsletter WOLF at radicaledward.substack.com

95 - OccultPunk 2077: CyberGod

We're on a path of healing and fulfilling our purpose. We're learning what it means to pay back karmic debt. We're performing magic rituals with our hearts and ears open to the universe. We're also talking Lara Croft S&M hentai, AI boyfriends joining ISIS, our progress in Cyberpunk 2077, the tension sustained through every mission and errand in the game, playing on Hard mode, impossible NCPD gunfights, Kelby's emergency room wake-up call, when thugging it out goes too far, shared visions in group intention sessions, Reiki healing, magic is real, merit economy, and our new perspectives on purpose, art, money... basically everything. We also get into exactly how a lot of occult rituals work. This episode marks the closing of a chapter and the beginning of a new arc of the show. We're killing egos, manifesting a better world, and adapting a more service-based mindset.
 
Go to patreon.com/agitator for the full episode plus access to Ghost in the Tome (our new book club where patrons can read along and guest on the show to discuss a book each month), Yugen Junk Weekly (our weekly serialized novels), access to the Agitator Discord, and more.

94 - Lady Snowblood and Suicidal Self-care with the Millionaire Mindset

This episode was recorded the night before Kelby had a major health emergency. He is currently undergoing treatment for erosions in his stomach and bouncing around doctors to find the root cause of what's tearing up his insides. If you'd like to support a hard-working father and an irreplaceable writer and co-host of this show, you can do so by clicking HERE.
Lady Snowblood (1973) Dir. Toshiya FujitaStarring Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimonm, Miyoko Akaza, & Ko Nishimura
Today on the show: selling food stamp cards to buy scratch tickets, synthesizing different parenting styles, SSRIs, skater dads and the problem with helicopter parenting, encouraging risk, our gnarliest scars, where did our time memory go?, how time travel is real and how it works, correcting false memories of what happens in Lady Snowblood, standing by your statement, how to win the cleanest whips in Cyberpunk 2077, film that is beautiful to look at, defining the '70s style of movies, pinpointing the best decade for movies, ninja stars as screwdrivers, in praise of film grain, E Rathke's article on who to blame for movies sucking, market research, parents who bring you fresh meat, how to make digital look good, is John Wick in the same camp as MCU?, the end of snobbery, arterial lead-based paint spray, how Lady Snowblood influenced Kill Bill, favorite bits from Lady Snowblood... and on the extended episode:
Mass State Lottery, stealing IP, avenging your own death, the selflessness of revenge, Kelby's fast-track legacy plan in the face of his health issues, creating your own pantheon of gods, pulling value from ideas on the other side of your own logic or belief system, Millionaire Mindset, breaking out of poverty habits and mindsets to become rich, forgiveness and healing circles, cosplaying happiness, the drink that makes you instantly jacked, "sign up for my SEMENar," placebo power, the anti-guru psyop, feminist Agitator, SpaceGhostPurrp vs A$AP Rocky, being the pop version of ourselves, surprising vs trolling your audience, why Lost was great until it sucked, hating on Marx and questioning unions, being anti-corporate (but for real), necessary pain points, company men vs independent artists, and climbing the mountain by disappearing from the trail.
For extended episodes, serialized novels, Discord access, and more, go to patreon.com/agitator

93 - Nu Metal Life: Sick New World, No Guns Life, & Last Ditch Efforts

Today on the show, JDO and Kelby discuss everything nu-metal: the history, the appeal, and how it's the perfect template for a radical movement. Also, David recaps Sick New World and Kelby's health and mental state continue to rapidly deteriorate.Over on the Patreon: Inside scoop on some Broken River/Hollywood happenings, how to break into the mainstream independently, brand sponsorship face tattoos, Tasuku Karasuma's No Guns Life, and more. Go to patreon.com/agitator for full uncut episodes, weekly serialized manga lit, and access to the Agitator Discord.

92 - Rare Candles: Finding a Light in the Darkness with Glen & Psi

We did this one extremely last minute, and life is crazy right now, so the description will be short.
The first hour, Kelby and I talk about anime. I tell him about Gantz: O, The Way of the Househusband, and Demon Slayer.
Then we had on Glen & Psi from the Rare Candy podcast to talk about whether or not the moon was installed by aliens, Heaven's Gate cult, how to make a successful podcast, among many, many other things.
As always, for the full 3-hour conversation, head on over to our Patreon.

91 - The Voice of a King with Vinland Saga Dub Star Luis Galindo

Today on the show, we're talking the art of acting, the process of dub, occult stage practices, and much more with actor/writer Luis Galindo, our H-Town homie and the voice of Vinland Saga's King Sweyn. Topics discussed:
Performing in Je'Caryous Johnson's stage rendition of New Jack City, tour life, tripping on cough syrup in school, dealing with sickness, meeting through Rune Soup, writing The Snake Handler with Cody Goodfellow, one creative outlet is never enough, "write drunk and don't edit," powerful vibes, Luis's hundred-plus stage roles, physical acting, the impulse to get swol, insane Planet Fitness contracts, Bronson and Solitary Fitness, Scottish and Irish accents, coast-to-coast cholos, journey from the stage to Sentai and Crunchyroll, so much anime,
and on Agitator Z...the humble badass Luis reads his own IMDb to remember all the roles he's played, the dubbing process, impression of King Sweyn as a cholo, the one-take creation assembly line, Taika Waititi's live-action Akira, our casting choices for the Judge in Blood Meridian, the coolness of the Japanese language, cultural walls, Lone Wolf and Cub, to live and die by the samurai code, Jim Jarmusch, indecipherable ideas and engaging with art that goes over our heads, the Western urge to understand, the undercurrent of perversion in Miike films, watching Raging Bull and The Shining as a kid, Haruki Murakami's 1Q84, Fuminori Nakamura, the effecient but confusing nature of the English language, dyslexia, Vinland Saga, discovering anime through being part of it, Japanese Vikings, Daniel Day-Lewis, being a film extra, acting techniques, roles that get in your bones, the rhythm of motion, Grand Kabuki Theatre, culture of discipline, ritualizing artistic practice, juggling acting and teaching, and moving into film and TV.Go to patreon.com/agitator for the full episode, bonus episodes, Discord access, and serialized manga lit novels. 

90 - Samurai Jesus & Sand Land: Sacred Totems, Blissful Rain, and the Style of Constraint

Big time ASMR episode this week. David drives in the rain to pick up breakfast for his family, while Kelby tells him about Sand Land. Then, the boys talk about the process behind Kelby’s serialized cyberpunk book, Samurai Jesus.
On this episode, we talk:
Getting in the car to get some breakfast, adjusting the levels, two tracks, black hole episodes, talking about writing, petrichor, Kelby’s love for mountains, David’s self-loathing, ordering food, lowkey panicking over not working, survival mentality, the fear of being poor, learning Amazon Ads, drive-thru etiquette, tailoring books to be sold, the Gantz model, erotic cyberpunk art, Kensington, Maryland, covers sell the book, Mad Max anime with demons, the history of Akira Torayama, pages crammed with detail, tank battles, readers who like variety vs. readers who like comfort/relatability, Kelby’s propensity for putting naked dudes in his books, the once-a-month model, getting AI to draw a manga, the missing pencil holder, getting tired of being in trouble, the writing utility of ChatGPT, using platforms before they become bad, needing time to develop ideas, the Seinfeld model, what we do over on the Patreon, Samurai Jesus recap, constraints develop style, short books vs. long books, the popularity of self-publishing in the UK, the love of prestige, sloppiness as a style, style follows circumstance, and assuming the reader understands what you mean.

89 - Vampire Hunter Dandy: Future Fantasy, Space Pirates, and Losing Touch with the Youth

On this episode, Kelby and David try something new. They each focused on a different piece of media, and during the episode, we tell the other about it.
David read Hideyuki Kikuchi's 1983 novel Vampire Hunter D, and Kelby watched Space Dandy.
We talk:
Scottish accents, people falling is hilarious, Kelby’s sleep schedule, David’s spooky dream, tax talk, only keeping 72% of what you earn, Mary Kay drug dealers, tax loopholes, Grant hitting the top of the Black Horror charts, Broken River’s power, changing our perspective on money, bad job interviews, advertising dollars, professional long hair, the lessons to be found in the plot structure of action films, Vampire Hunter D, Kikuchi’s lineage, David’s interpretation of the innuendo in the book, the freedom of setting your book 10,000 years in the future, the hotness of D, vampires that eat c**, the YA formula, dimension warping, faces in hands, one-note characters, gradual change over dozens of book, directly speaking to the reader, getting back to looking at paper books, the strange warping of time when you look at your phone, the pressure to respond to texts, basic manners, acting professional, losing touch with the youth, Space Dandy, finding aliens to catalogue them, art style similarities to Redline, a restaurant called “Boobies,” Beetlejuicians, the new way of doing Agitator, potential Youtube documentaries, paying back karmic debt,  and being motivated by money.
 
On the Patreon (dropping Monday), Kelby and I talk about the first book in the Cradle series, Unsouled. How can we adopt the lessons in cultivation novels and LitRPGs for our own writing? Big shop talk episode.