Level 13 | Podcast on Podbay

Level 13

Stephen T. Harper

Level 13 is about popular culture and the evolution of consciousness. Deep-dive conversation and commentary on the stories we tell ourselves to teach ourselves. From Star Trek to Tolkien, the BBC to the MCU, the Muses are still with us, still guiding us toward the next mystery and the door to the next level. 13 is the number of transcendence in our science and in our myths. The 13th hour is the moment of return, of a new beginning. As is the 13th month. The 13th card in the Tarot is Death. It means only that "change" is coming, bringing rebirth and the next level. Always. So fear not. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stephen-harper9/support

"Mutants and Mystics"

Writer, publisher and scholar Jeremy D. Johnson Joins Level 13 for a conversation on Dr. Jeffrey Kripal's 2011 book "Mutants & Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and Paranormal.  In this episode, we go over Prof. Kripal's basic premise that the stories we've been telling ourselves since the beginning of the human race all the way up to the science fiction tales of the 20th and 21st centuries represent a continuous message of paranormal origin, leaked to artists (of various forms) and disseminated through popular culture (in its various forms throughout history). Kripal breaks this transmission down into 7 levels of realization of what he calls the Super-story, meaning the higher ("super") story which encompasses the overarching message.   And what is that message? The long answer is the 7th realization of the super-story, namely that we are not only "being written" by some higher force, but that we are, in fact, the writer or author of our own story, our own fate.  Or, the short version: We are gods. Or perhaps God.  We haven't quite figured it out yet.   Also, sorry about my microphone. Jeremy sounds great in this one, I sound like I'm broadcasting from a shark cage. We'll get that fixed for next time.  Find Stephen T. Harper @ www.kingsXsaga.com Follow Jeremy D. Johnson @Jdj_writes --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stephen-harper9/support

Apr 3, 2020

1 hr 11 min

The 2 Bladerunners

I'm joined by author, publisher and Jean Gebser scholar Jeremy D. Johnson to dig and dive as deep as we can into two phenomenal films of gnostic  cinema, Ridley Scott's 1982 Sci-fi noir classic, "Bladerunner," and Denis Villeneuve's stunningly worthy 2017 sequel, "Bladerunner 2049."  Find Jeremy D. Johnson on his podcast "Mutations" and @JDJ_writes on Twitter Find more Stephen T. Harper @ www.KingsXSaga.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stephen-harper9/support

Mar 25, 2020

1 hr 9 min

Groundhog Day

I asked Jeff Salzman of the DailyEvolver podcast to re-watch the Bill Murray classic, "Groundhog Day," so we could give it the Level 13 treatment. We dig deep into the lasting influence of one of the most surprisingly rich films of all time.   Find more Jeff Salzman @ www.dailyevolver.com Find more Stephen T. Harper @ www.KingsXsaga.com  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stephen-harper9/support

Mar 25, 2020

51 min