This podcast explores Mesoamerican and Southwest pseudohistory, new-age nonsense, archaeological misconceptions, and other tales of adventure! In each episode, we investigate how these very topics have helped inform Chicano/Chicana/Chicanx identity and have resulted in a distorted view of our collective Indigenous past. Your hosts Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl invite you to join them on a fascinating journey through Mesoamerica's past, present, and future!
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Not just another “skeptical” podcast, it’s a show about critical thinking and evidence-based analysis, using science and critical thinking to examine the world around us, from the mysterious and paranormal to the mundane.
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Episode 232 - Brace yourselves. We talk politics.
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Need I even write a summary here? Maybe for listeners who have been in a coma for the past two weeks? Trump was shot at, and conspiracy theories surfaced faster than he could put on his shoes. What are Project 2025 and Agenda 47? What is Trump's appeal, really, and why is it so misunderstood by his opponents? And, with late-breaking news on Biden d…
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Episode 231 - Monster Hunts, then and now, with Daniel Loxton
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First we discuss how the term “Gish gallop” has entered the common vernacular thanks to the recent Presidential debate. Then Ben ponders why conspiracy buffs don’t care about the admitted, real Boeing conspiracy, or why psychics can’t offer up explanations for the Rust killing. Celestia gets excited about folklore in pop culture: namely, “The Crook…
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Episode 61: News From Aztlantis!
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this episode we take a look at recent news concerning the Chicano community, and take a little trip down to Belize with Kurly! Your hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections betwee…
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Episode 230 - Pseudoarchaeology and Misinformation in Chicano Studies, with Kurly Tlapoyawa
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First, Ben and Celestia discuss the epidemiology of extreme heat, mysterious mololiths redux, the latest Real Water lawsuit, and the origins of a 50-year-old rumor about Mama Cass. Then Pascual joins us to interview Kurly Tlapoyawa -- stunt man, filmmaker, archaeologist, and cohost of "Tales from Azlantis." He tells us about cutting through jungles…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! My name is Kurly Tlapoyawa, and I LOVE movies. I spent a good chunk of my childhood being snuck into the drive-in by my parents, where I took in double and triple features of cinematic greatness. And when movies became available on home video in the 1980s, all bets were off. It’s no exaggeration to say …
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Welcome to another Throwback Thursday! In this episode we take a look back at one of Kurly's favorites. Acequias - A Forgotten History! The Acequia is a communal irrigation ditch, and its continued use is a testament to the cultural resiliency of the New Mexican people. But where does this tradition com…
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Episode 60: Borderland Indigeneity w/Carlos Aceves!
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this special episode, Tlakatekatl shares an interview he conducted with Carlos Aceves Yolohuitzcalotl back in 2019. Carlos has devoted his life to advancing Chicano/Mexicano Indigeneity in the U.S./Mexico Borderlands and developing the “Xinachtli Project” which incorporates indigenous pedagogy in chi…
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Episode 229 - Skepticamp, Spiders, and the West Palm Beach Killer Clown Case
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We start with a recap of SkeptiCamp New Mexico, then move on to a laundry list of creepy, crawly creatures: Alex Jones, flying Joro spiders, bug zappers, opposite snakes and Sasquatch Sunset. Our main topic is an update to one of the cases in Ben's "Bad Clowns" book. The West Palm Beach Killer Clown case involves a love triangle, a clown costume, a…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this dispatch, we take a look at Skepticamp New Mexico, and get an Olmec Update from Kurly! Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! My name is Kurly Tlapoyawa, and I LOVE movies. I spent a good chunk of my childhood being snuck into the drive-in by my parents, where I took in double and triple features of cinematic greatness. And when movies became available on home video in the 1980s, all bets were off. It’s no exaggeration to say …
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Throwback Thursday: Aztlan Libre Press w/ Juan Tejeda
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! For this edition of Throwback Thursday, we step back in time to revisit a great interview with Juan Tejeda, an icon of the Chicano Movement, and Publisher of Aztlan Libre Press. Aztlan Libre Press with Juan Tejeda In this episode we are joined by Juan Tejeda, co-owner and publisher of Aztlan Libre Press…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Dr. Herrán Ávila is a historian of the Cold War in Latin America, with an emphasis on conservative, anticommunist, and extreme right movements. After researching the comparative history of anticommunism in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, his current book project seeks to unveil the national and Latin A…
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Episode 228 - The Science of Weird Sh!t, with Chris French
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Celestia and Ben have a lengthy A-segment, between discussing the almost-here SkeptiCamp, Ben's recent folklore convention, and what mischief TV psychic Allison DuBois has been up to. We have thoughts on the recently deceased Morgan Spurlock's legacy, and then talk about two interesting developments from the Catholic Church this week. Professor Chr…
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Subscriber-only episode listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! My name is Kurly Tlapoyawa, and I LOVE movies. I spent a good chunk of my childhood being snuck into the drive-in by my parents, where I took in double and triple features of cinematic greatness. And when movies became available on home video in the 1980s, all bets were off. It’s…
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Throwback Thursday: Peopling the Americas W Dr. Raff!
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! The peopling of the Americas is a touchy subject among many Indigenous people. In this episode of Throwback Thursday, we revisit our discussion with Dr. Jennifer Raff, author of the fantastic book "“Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas" from episode 25. Peopling the Americas with Dr. Jennifer Raff!…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Dr. Herrán Ávila is a historian of the Cold War in Latin America, with an emphasis on conservative, anticommunist, and extreme right movements. After researching the comparative history of anticommunism in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, his current book project seeks to unveil the national and Latin A…
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Episode 227 - Book bans, then and now
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Ben and Celestia roll out an abbreviated history of book bans and the psychology behind them. What sorts of fears manifest into the desire to keep information away from people? And which people? Is the current rash of book challenges a panic, or is the fear of such bans a panic? We start this episode with a solid opinion, then find ways to knock th…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this Dispatch, Tlakatekatl reads and discusses a recent Washington Post article on the troubled legacy of the Texas Rangers along the border communities of South Texas. The article explores the story of ethnic Mexican men on their way down to a to wedding on the Mexican side of the river. State agent…
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Subscriber-only episode listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! My name is Kurly Tlapoyawa, and I LOVE movies. I spent a good chunk of my childhood being snuck into the drive-in by my parents, where I took in double and triple features of cinematic greatness. And when movies became available on home video in the 1980s, all bets were off. It’s…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Ever hear about the Mexican reporter who smuggled a codex back into Mexico? In this edition of Throwback Thursday, we revisit this story from way back in Episode 14! Rescuing the Tonalamatl Aubin A couple of years back, I visited the British National Museum in London, England, with my wife. As we stood …
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! We here at Tales From Aztlantis would like to issue the following public service announcement: PLEASE DO NOT rely on social media posts as your sole source of historical and archaeological information. This should not be a controversial statement. Yet every day, social media feeds are inundated with wel…
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Episode 226 - Dim Mak "the death touch" with Peter Huston
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Can a human being be killed with one well-timed blow? Without question, yes. But is the secret to this fighting style held by ancient Chinese monks, or a flamboyant guy named Count Dante who advertises in the back of comic books? We look at real situations where one punch (or slap, or chiropractic adjustment) can kill a person, either immediately o…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! What is the actual history of Cinco de Mayo, what importance does it hold for Chicana/Chicano/Chicanx communities, and most importantly why is it celebrated in the United States? Well dear listener, if you have ever asked yourself any of those questions, you're in luck. Today's episode explores why we c…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Kurly recently attended the 89th Annual Meeting of the SAA (Society for American Archaeology) in New Orleans. While there, he gave some talks, saw old friends, and drank...a lot. For this special bonus mini-episode, Kurly is joined by Dr. Marijke Stoll to talk about her recent cameo appearance on the Jo…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! This Throwback Thursday we revisit Episode 16 of the podcast, where we talk about the various attacks on Chicano Indigeneity, and ways we can counter them! Chicano Indigeneity Sadly, the latest online trend within the “woke” and “Latinx” crowd is to relentlessly attack Chicanas and Chicanos who identify…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! With the passing of the Spring Equinox, we once again bring another year to a close. “In Xiwitl itlamiliz” The year has ended. This means it is once again time for the annual online arguments over whose calendar system follows the correct correlation. We here at the Tales from Aztlantis world headquarte…
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Episode 225 - The folklore of Scooby Doo, with Mark Norman
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We have a surprise visit from Scooby fan Kenny Biddle, then speak with Mark Norman, folklorist and author of the upcoming "Zoinks!: The Spooky Folklore of Scooby Doo." The show is beloved by skeptics, and for good reason. But did you know the show owes its existence to a panic in the 1960s about violence in kids' shows? Between guest stars like the…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! This Throwback Thursday we return to episode 6 from our first season to talk about the racial pseudohistory of the "Black Olmec" myth, and how it serves to erase, trivialize, and destroy the cultural legacies of Indigenous and African people! Hijacking History (The Problem With The "Black Olmec" Myth) Y…
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Subscriber-only episode listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Find us: https://www.facebook.com/TalesFromAztlantis Merch: https://chimalli.storenvy.com/ Book: The Four Disagreements: Letting Go of Magical Thinking (Amazon)Kurly Tlapoyawa & Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl
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This freebie bonus is us shooting the breeze, thanking folks who deserve kudos, asking some questions about skepticism today, and generally having a good time.
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Throwback Thursday: Graham Hancock & Atlantis Reborn!
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Pseudoarchaeology sucks. Plain and simple. And with the advent of the internet and social media, things are only getting worse. Online conspiracists, pseudohistorians, and pseudoarchaeologists can quickly dissemninate false, often harmful distortions of history with a click of a button. On 4th November …
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this episode we dive into the meaning of eclipses among certain Indigenous communities, and take a look at the various modern eclipse conspiracies being pushed on social media. Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest,…
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Episode 224 - A Grab Bag of Springtime Skepticism
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We chat about several topics in the news recently, from a bright streak of burning space junk over Los Angeles to a very realistic crucifixion reenactment in the Philippines. Ben unravels a weeping Madonna story in the tabloids that also casts some shade on a prominent Italian skeptic, then he gives us his review of "Late Night with the Devil," set…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! With the exciting news of three colonial-era Mexika manuscripts being sold to the Mexican Government on everyone's mind, Kurly takes a moment to cast a critical eye on the fake "Maya" Codex Porrua and how its sexual themes might be weaponized by fraudulent leaders and "elders." Kurly Tlapoyawa is an arc…
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Subscriber-only episode listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this episode, Kurly talks talks about “Fortress," a flick which explores the blurry line that exists between victim and attacker and the tension it incites. Enjoy! My name is Kurly Tlapoyawa, and I LOVE movies. I spent a good chunk of my childhood being snuck into the drive-in…
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! This Throwback Thursday we revisit one of our more controversial episodes! Hunab Ku, Ometeotl, and the Vocabulary of Conquest In 1524, twelve Franciscan missionaries were sent to Mexico from Spain to convert the previously unknown Indigenous people to Catholicism. To help facilitate this, the Spaniards …
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Episode 54: Return to Aztlantis!
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listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Welcome to season FOUR cabrones! Your hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at the Universit…
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Episode 223 - Deception Studies with Curt Anderson
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After some current events involving Brazilian ex-president Bolsonaro, a new study on Havana Syndrome, and migrants with measles in Chicago, we are joined by Curt Anderson. A career magician turned academic researcher, Curt tells us about his pivot to deception studies. Piggybacking on our recent episode about Truth Default Theory, we explore more a…
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Episode 222 - Modifying the Weather
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First, Pascual and Celestia hit recent science news -- a sideways lunar landing, some male-on-male humpback whale action, and recent cell outages. Then Ben and Celestia look at weather modification, from prayer and superstition to very real cloud-seeding efforts. Though in practice almost everywhere for generations, this technology still surprises …
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