Weird Studies

Phil Ford, J. F. Martel

Booking Overview

An arts-and-philosophy interview and co-hosted discussion show focused on difficult ideas, literature, art, horror, and the uncanny, with occasional external guests who are established scholars, writers, and researchers. Credible pitches include academics, authors, and subject-matter experts in literary studies, occult history, psychology, philosophy, horror, and related arts topics; booking difficulty is medium because guests need distinctive intellectual expertise and a strong connection to the show’s themes.

Metrics

Episodes: 243

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10,000 - 100,000

Listener location: USA

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

admin@weirdstudies.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Host

Phil Ford - Professor, writer, and co-host whose work examines art, music, philosophy, and unusual approaches to culture and reality.

J. F. Martel - Writer and co-host focused on art, philosophy, horror, literature, and uncanny or anomalous ideas.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium

Typical Credentials:

Scholars, researchers, writers, and authors with specialized expertise connecting literature, art, philosophy, psychology, horror, occult history, or related subjects.

Required Achievements:

Published books or substantial original research, Advanced academic credentials or recognized specialist expertise, Work connecting scholarship with literature, art, philosophy, or the supernatural

Recent Guest Discussions

Asti Hustvedt - Reading, Nineteenth-century Neuroscience, Spirit Mediumship, Hysteria, Spiritualism, Literature, And The Supernatural.

Recent Topics

Art, Philosophy, Horror, Occult, Literature

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

Weird Studies

Episode 220: The Dream of a Ridiculous Man: Live at the Dream Mapping Symposium

October 07, 2026

On September 26, JF and Phil took part in the Dream Mapping Symposium, a three-day event organized by the Dream Mapping Project and the Dream Library Foundation, and held at the Brooklyn Public Library. Their mission was twofold. First, Phil was to read Dostoevsky's short story "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man," and then, he and JF were to have one of their conversations about it. Despite inclement weather, exploding lighting equipment and the labyrinthine NYC subway system, it went off like a ...

Episode 219 – Composing the Cosmos, with Meredith Rigby

September 23, 2026

In this episode, JF and Phil are joined by their beloved assistant and invaluable collaborator Meredith Rigby (formerly Meredith Michael) to discuss her recently completed doctoral dissertation, Composing the Cosmos: 20th Century Musical Mythologies of Outer Space. Meredith explains how classical music, in the last century, became a privileged zone for exploring the meaning, threat, and promise of the starry void after the collapse of the old cosmologies. Music: "Fogcutter" from Pierre-Yves ...

Episode 218 — A Mighty Matter of Legend: On J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Two Towers'

September 09, 2026

Having taken up the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in episode 207, Phil and JF turn to part two, The Two Towers. Together, they peel back the husk of familiarity to reveal the strange object underneath: a story about stories, about life and destiny in a storied world. Music: "Wotan Hangs" from Weird Studies Vol. 1 and "For the Sun" from Weird Studies Vol 3. Support Weird Studies on Patreon. Upcoming Events: JF's course on the metaphysics of the horror genre, The Awf...

Publicly listed emails

admin@weirdstudies.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Get your clients booked on top podcasts

Try us risk free with a FREE 3 days trial.

Start Your Free Trial

Join hundreds of PR teams using Podseeker to pitch and land bookings