Traversing the Strange World with Peace and Toodles

In this episode, Peace sits down with special guest Britt Hartley for a wide-ranging conversation on what spirituality can look like outside the boundaries of organized religion—without dismissing religion entirely.

We explore the idea of spiritual atheism: the search for meaning, transcendence, and moral depth in a secular world, while refusing to “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Together, we examine the positive and formative aspects of religious traditions, even for those who no longer identify with belief in a literal God.

The conversation moves through altered states and the ro...

Tonight, we’re talking about Chanukah—beyond the candles and the familiar traditions.

At its core, Chanukah comes out of a real historical moment: a clash between cultures, pressures to assimilate, and a community struggling to hold onto its identity.

The story survives mainly through the books of the Maccabees and later rabbinic tradition. It includes the rededication of the Temple, accounts of people who were punished or killed for refusing to abandon Jewish law, and, eventually, the tradition of the miracle of the oil.

In this epis...

Today we step into George Orwell’s Animal Farm—a simple fable on the surface, but a razor-sharp allegory underneath. It’s a story where idealism cracks, where revolutions devour their young, and where animals reveal more about human nature than most political textbooks ever could.

In this episode, we’re unpacking Orwell’s warning about power, propaganda, and the cycles of corruption that repeat themselves across history—from ancient empires to modern movements. We’ll break down the symbolism, the psychology, and even some real-world parallels that might hit closer to home than you expect.

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In this careature-packed episode, Peace & Toodles dive into the shadowy corners of ancient scripture to uncover the strangest beings lurking between the lines. From dragons hiding in apocryphal texts to cosmic serpents curled beneath creation, we explore the mythic, monstrous, and mystical side of the Bible—both canonical and forgotten.

Together we read and reflect on selections from the Apocryphal Book of Bel and the Dragon, passages from the Book of Job and Isaiah about Leviathan and Behemoth, and the biblical laws on clean vs. unclean creatures. We wrap by unpacking the strange winged beings fo...

In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we descend beneath the surface of reality itself. We begin with a guided journey through Jules Verne’s classic tale Journey to the Center of the Earth

From there, we spiral outward into the strange and often unsettling world of Hollow Earth theories, hidden civilizations, underground oceans, ancient maps, and the long-standing human belief that something ancient and unknowable exists below our feet.

Peace & Toodles sit down with Astrology Meggie for a wide-ranging conversation about astrology, reincarnation, symbolic doors, Jim Morrison, and the archetypes, and the cosmic patterns that shape our lives. A mystical, thoughtful ride through the zodiac and beyond. Hope you enjoy!

You can contact Meggie at meggie@gmail.com

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In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we open with a Pondering segment where Peace and Toodles explore a provocative question — does bullying have a place in society? They dive into the complexities of human behavior, the importance of open-minded dialogue, and how to stay aware in a world full of ideological noise and propaganda.

From there, the discussion takes a mysterious turn as Toodles shares a haunting story from his late teens — an encounter at a strange bridge marked by eerie visions, unexplainable sounds, and an atmosphere that felt alive with...

In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we dive into the question: What does positive masculinity really look like?

Peace and Toodles explore the timeless balance between hard strength and soft strength — courage, resilience, and protectiveness on one side; compassion, emotional depth, and integrity on the other. Together, they unpack how men can embody both without shame or confusion, and how the cultural narrative around “what makes a man” has shifted through time.

Song suggestions: https://open.spotify.com/track/54iuNoey1HTIM0yNg0CMXj?si=KRAhkiJHSeGBjjq3bdcy6w

In this eerie Halloween special, Peace & Toodles are joined by the one and only Steeley Sawyer for a deep dive into the shadows — exploring how the figure we now call Satan evolved across scripture, myth, and time.

From the Hebrew ha-satan — the heavenly “accuser” — to the fiery rebel of Christian lore, we trace how demons, trickster gods, and cosmic rebels all dance along the same line between chaos and creation. Along the way, we’ll share some wild trickster tales from world mythology, dabble in ancient demon lore, and even question the serpent in the Garden of Ed...

In this episode, Peace & Toodles crack open one of the most overlooked and mysterious books of the Apocrypha — The Book of Tobit. It’s a tale that blends faith, folklore, and the supernatural: an angel in disguise, a young man on a fateful journey, and a demon who must be banished.

From ancient exorcism rituals to Talmudic accounts of spirits and night demons, we explore how this strange little book bridges the gap between Scripture and the unseen world. What does Tobit’s story reveal about ancient ideas of protection, purity, and divine intervention? And how do...

In this episode, Peace and Toodles wander into the world of the Brothers Grimm — where snakes speak, stepmothers scheme, children wander through dark forests, and justice often comes in the strangest forms.

We read The White Snake, The Juniper Tree, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel — four tales that show just how weird, dark, and surprisingly spiritual the Grimm universe can get. Along the way, we unpack hidden meanings, moral twists, and the cultural roots behind these old German folktales.

Why do so many of these stories deal with transformation, death, and rebi...

Step off the beaten path of Sunday school and into the shadowy corners of the Old Testament. In this episode, Peace & Toodles uncover the Bible’s strangest and most overlooked stories — from talking donkeys and human sacrifice to naked prophets, sorcery, and half shaved beards. What do these bizarre tales reveal about the ancient world’s view of God, the cosmos, and humanity’s place in it? Join us!

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What was Jesus like as a child?

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas paints a wild, strange, and sometimes unsettling picture of the boy Jesus — performing miracles, showing flashes of divine power, but also acting with a temper that feels very different from the Jesus we know from the Gospels.

In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we explore:

In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, joined once again by our recurring co-host Steeley, we dive into the heart of what makes us who we are: our core memories. From the earliest struggles we shared in childhood, to the strange and powerful feelings that seemed to follow us through life, to the inspirational and unexplainable moments that changed us forever — we trace the patterns of memory that shape our souls.

It’s part storytelling, part reflection, part exploration of the mysterious threads that run through every human life. Expect laughs, nost...

Shout out to our listeners in Sweden!

In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we dive into one of the most fascinating mythological patterns of the ancient world—the dying and resurrecting god. We begin with the Baal Cycle from Ugaritic myth, where the storm god faces death, descent, and return. From there, we compare other figures like Osiris, Tammuz, and Adonis, exploring how different cultures expressed themes of life, death, and renewal through their deities.

The conversation then turns to Jesus—not from the lens of theo...

In this special episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we welcome back our recurring co-host, Steeley Sawyer. This time, we dive into the deep waters of apocalyptic lore. From the Book of Daniel to the visions of Revelation, we take a more historical and academic lens to these end-times texts.

But that’s not all. We also journey into other cultural visions of the apocalypse—like the Norse myth of Ragnarok—and explore how many ancient traditions saw doomsdays not as a one-time finale, but as part of a cyclical pattern of destru...

Step into the beginning of time as we explore the Greek creation myth—a story that begins with Chaos and unfolds into the birth of Gaia, Uranus, the Titans, and the Olympian gods. In this episode of Traversing the Strange World with Peace & Toodles, we dive into the ancient Greek creation story of the origins of the cosmos.

From the primordial deities to the rise of the Titans and the eventual rule of Zeus, this tale is as much about order versus chaos as it is about gods and monsters. Whether you’re fasc...

This episode is part two of the Gospel of Judas. Much like the gospel of Judas this episode was missing! Peace and Toodles had to put on their Indiana Jones hats, and find it! Alas, it was found!

In the pondering of Peace and Toodles segment, Peace reflects on something that happened that really grounded his gears.

And they continue on reading the gospel of Judas.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for the song suggestions!

In this episode Peace and Toodles interview Professor Northrop, who is a Professor of Religion and Art. He is also a Shaman! And has studied Shamanism in its many different forms. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Johnathan and Jake discuss a wide range of conspiracy theories. They also delve into self-help and discipline!

You can hear more from Jake on his podcast Monte’s Gems!

https://open.spotify.com/show/0FAjHWdlJgGamynvWHICkB?si=yInelieTRBCwPFRnHtzctA

Nate Vizen music

https://open.spotify.com/artist/79zbHiTZyNKJewADAvxXVU?si=9O66sDevRIiz4kbXt9aRTA

In this episode, we do something a little special. We swapped cohosts with Chad and Jake from the podcast Monte‘s gems. In this episode, Isaiah and Chad Abbs having a discussion about various times in their life’s where they struggled with the feeling of being ostracized. They also discuss some remedies they found to that feeling.

You can check out Chad’s podcast on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/0FAjHWdlJgGamynvWHICkB?si=den-s8jlQlaJ2GV_xyIYcQ

In this episode, we introduce a new part-time cohost Mr. Steeley Sawyer.

The topic of discussion in this episode is hell. We discuss and speculate how the mainstream view of hell in Christianity may have developed. We discuss how the concept of hell has had an impact on us personally. We also discuss a few ideas of hell from other cultures.

stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear a sneak peek to a brand new song called “Eternity” by our very own Nate Vizen.

https://open.spot...

In this episode, we interview Brittney Burroughs! She’s owner of the shop “Modern day Witch” in Sturgis MI. In this episode we discuss magic and mysticism, and what does it mean to be a Witch in the modern world?

Follow Brittney on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/share/16fWzg6iip/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In this episode, Peace & Toodles introduce segments to the show, And the topic of the main discussion is dreams! Peace and Toodles discuss dreams they’ve had that are both strange and recurring. They reflect and speculate over some of the ponderings of what the significance of these dreams are.

Song suggestions:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6JqZOB6KrVrEfFKP6hUHA7?si=wsv90x51S7ydt2nF39Rovg

https://open.spotify.com/track/3OtMilBqB4icbrhJjMb3y6?si=Tb2_5KGMQRGX1KdTuHCrsw

https://open.spotify.com/track/1VmYPxD8UQRnrLnT4OwPT0?si=H7xw...

In this episode, Peace and Toodles discuss the Gnostic creation story as well as a deep dive into the forbidden Gospel of Judas, which is believed to be a gnostic gospel. Enjoy!

In this episode, Isaiah interviews a longtime friend and fellow podcaster Phil Brothers from the Phil Brothers journey! In this episode, they discuss were we in a cult? The importance of admitting when you do not know the answer to something and deconstruction from fundamentalist religion, and the journey that entails. Enjoy!

In today's episode, Peace solo interviews Rico Cortes, from Wisdom inTorah ministries. A teacher of God's Word, he answers questions about the Pharisees in his discussion with Peace today.

In this short, but sweet episode, we interview Sunny Sandoval from P.O.D.!!!

In an episode that's special to Isaiah's heart, Peace and Toodles get a lucky interview with Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.! In a short discussion, they talk about the faith and music of P.O.D.'s lead singer at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Battle Creek!

In today's episode, the hosts explore detailed topics of idioms and contradictions in the Bible with Jim DeFrancisco, PHD. They delve into topics of inquiry and look at the actual meanings of original texts.

In today's strange episode, the hosts delve into the ancient story of Giglamesh! - the oldest text we know of! Ancient flood confirmation? Just a fictional work of an ancient writer? Let's take a closer look today with Peace and Toodles!

In today's episode, the hosts interview Pastor Don Smith from the Talk About It podcast, and lead Pastor of Firm Foundation Ministries in Centreville, Michigan! They ask questions about the Bible, possible contradictions in it, and discuss their differing beliefs about God and Jesus.

In this episode, Peace and Toodles explore an in depth part 2 of the Gospel of Thomas. They discuss possible meanings and interpretations of what they read, and share personal opinions, while comparing and contrasting it to the other gospels in the modern canon.

Today, your hosts go verse by verse through the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas, giving their insight and speculations on some of this controversial and mysterious text. At the end, a personal mystery is solved for Toodles that took a decade to finally know.

In this episode, Peace and Toodles explore part 2 of popular conspiracy theories and how believable they seem, from the Philadelphia Experiment to aliens and UFOs! Of course, no conspiracy conversation would be complete without the moon landing being included. Get a glimpse into the minds of your hosts and what they believe right here!

In this episode, Peace and Toodles dive into ten popular conspiracy theories and give an overview of each one. Are they true? That's what they'll be discussing today. From reptilians walking among us to flat earth, join the hosts in part 1 as they rate how believable they each think these theories are!

In this episode, Peace and Toodles discuss their differing views on God, and traverse into other perspectives on who God is in various beliefs around the strange world. Creator of all? Loving God? Unknowable force? Love? Father of Jesus? The very rules the universe itself abides by? Tune in and decide who YOU think God is, and let the hosts know what you believe!

In this episode, Peace and Toodles traverse the strange ideas of the Muse and what it or they could be. They explore the rabbit trails of Revelations and ideas about the end times, and how CERN could play a role in interdimensional ways. It's all part of the strange world that people are in.

In this episode, Peace and Toodles discuss work ethic and the value of discipline. You'll get to hear of Nate Vizen's music, the artist name under which Toodles creates his songs, as he describes his inspiration, album topics and his musical journey. Peace and Toodles talk about memories and fun stories growing up, so you can get a glimpse into their lives behind the mics.

The pilot episode, we discuss Peace's transition of beliefs and break down the trajectory and reasons behind the podcast.