Adam Riches Explores Belief, Narrative, and "Confounding the Gods" - Episode Hero Image

Adam Riches Explores Belief, Narrative, and "Confounding the Gods"

We Can Be Weirdos · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

TL;DR

  • Believing in UFOs is driven by the sheer scope of the universe and the odds against Earth being unique, but skepticism arises from the lack of concrete proof and the potential for conspiracy industries to distract.
  • The concept of immortality, particularly through consciousness uploading or preserving one's brain, is attractive for its potential to satisfy a deep desire for knowledge and experience, even if it means a non-biological existence.
  • Deliberately acting out of character, like taking a different route with a dog, serves to "confound the gods" by disrupting predictable patterns, fostering a sense of aliveness and agency in a potentially preordained world.
  • The profound impact of grief expands one's perspective, making everyday problems seem smaller and fostering personal growth, making the wisdom gained from loss more valuable than avoiding the pain.
  • The narrative of life, especially for performers, becomes a conscious pursuit of leaving a mark, where personal ambition drives the creation of work that contributes to a lasting career and legacy.
  • The human tendency to seek narrative extends to interpreting unusual experiences, such as seeing a ghost, where the mind may construct a story to make sense of an event, even without tangible benefit.
  • Sports figures' superstitions, from kissing the turf to meditating at ancient pyramids, highlight a cultural acceptance of religious or mystical practices in a highly visible industry, often overlooked by broader society.

Deep Dive

Adam Riches' performance and comedic persona are deeply intertwined with the exploration of belief systems, superstitions, and the desire for narrative. His work, particularly his live shows and the play "Jimmy," delves into how individuals, especially athletes, construct meaning and control through these unconventional frameworks, suggesting that embracing the "batshit" aspects of human nature can lead to profound personal and creative insights.

The core of Riches' exploration lies in the human need to find patterns and explanations, even in the absence of concrete proof. This is evident in his discussion of sports superstitions, UFOs, and cryptids, where he acknowledges his own fascination and willingness to believe, yet ultimately circles back to a pragmatic demand for evidence. This tension between belief and skepticism fuels his creative output, allowing him to explore the "why" behind these phenomena. The implications are that Riches' work prompts audiences to examine their own relationship with belief and the narratives they construct to navigate the world, demonstrating how these abstract concepts can manifest in tangible ways, from athletic performance to artistic creation. His emphasis on "confounding the gods" through unexpected actions suggests a broader implication: that actively disrupting predictable patterns, both in life and performance, is essential for feeling alive and for challenging the perceived inevitabilities of fate.

Ultimately, Riches suggests that confronting and even embracing the inexplicable aspects of existence, rather than dismissing them, enriches one's understanding of oneself and the world. His creative process, characterized by a drive to explore narrative and a deep-seated fascination with the unusual, allows him to continuously generate new material and maintain a vibrant artistic career, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between personal belief, creative output, and the ongoing human quest for meaning.

Action Items

  • Create a "confound the gods" habit: Implement one unexpected, out-of-character action weekly to challenge predictability and foster personal growth.
  • Document personal narrative drivers: Identify and list 3-5 core beliefs or theories that shape your approach to problem-solving and creative work.
  • Analyze belief system influences: For 2-3 recurring "weird" topics discussed, research their historical or cultural origins to understand their persistence.
  • Test "out-of-character" impact: For 1-2 routine tasks, intentionally deviate from your usual method to observe and record the outcome.
  • Draft a "batshit" theory exploration framework: Outline 3-4 steps for investigating a personal "batshit" theory, focusing on evidence gathering and logical consistency.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I am going to live forever. I am an immortal. I'm afraid, and I'm not joking about that. We laugh and we smile about it, but I'm like, yeah, we'll see."

Adam Riches expresses a profound belief in his own immortality, a statement that immediately sets a "weird" tone for the podcast. This declaration, made with apparent seriousness despite its extraordinary nature, highlights the show's premise of exploring unconventional beliefs. It suggests a personal conviction that transcends typical human understanding of life and death.

"The play takes the form of this first match of this first tournament where he was only allowed in as a wild card. Everybody well not even anybody had written him off; he hadn't even figured on anybody's radar."

Adam Riches describes the premise of his play about Jimmy Connors, emphasizing the underdog status of the tennis player at a pivotal moment in his career. This quote illustrates Riches' interest in narratives of resilience and unexpected comebacks within sports. It shows how he uses specific historical events to explore themes of perseverance and defying expectations.

"I think in sport, like, it's probably the most visual place that you see religion. If you think about the amount of the amount of times if you watch sport, the amount of times you see people cross themselves or you see people kiss the turf or all of that stuff."

Adam Riches observes the overt expression of religious and superstitious behavior in sports, noting its prevalence and lack of societal judgment. He contrasts this with how religion might be perceived in other public spheres. This highlights Riches' keen observation of cultural norms and how they manifest in different contexts, particularly in the high-pressure environment of professional athletics.

"I don't think I believe in any of it, but I'm interested in all of it. I have rituals before I go on stage. I think you'd probably phrase them as talking for myself; like, my brain must need something in the moment to be able to suggest control over something which patently I have zero control over."

Adam Riches discusses his personal approach to superstition and ritual, distinguishing between belief and interest. He explains that his pre-performance rituals are a way to exert a sense of control in a situation where he feels he has none. This reveals Riches' introspective nature and his method of managing the psychological demands of live performance.

"I have to think that there is something more than just us in the universe because of just the sheer scope and all of that stuff and the nature of bits and bobs of life that they found on other planets water, you know, amoeba or whatever they they found."

Adam Riches articulates his reasoning for believing in extraterrestrial life, based on the vastness of the universe and the discovery of basic life elements on other planets. He finds the odds of Earth being the sole instance of life improbable. This quote showcases Riches' logical approach to a speculative topic, grounding his belief in scientific possibility and statistical reasoning.

"I try to do something out of character if I can. Something to shift the algorithm, confound the gods."

Adam Riches explains his personal philosophy of intentionally acting out of character to disrupt predictability and fate. He likens this to confounding the gods in Greek mythology, suggesting a desire to introduce an element of surprise into the universe. This principle reflects Riches' creative approach to life, aiming to break free from routine and explore new possibilities.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Theory of Everything Else" by Dan Schreiber - Mentioned as the source of a document containing various theories and ideas.
  • "A History of Tennis Players' Superstitions" (Author not specified) - Mentioned as containing a chapter on sports superstitions and specific details about Monica Seles.
  • "Djokovic's Interesting Beliefs" (Author not specified) - Mentioned as a book discussing Novak Djokovic's visits to a pyramid in Bosnia.
  • "Highlander" (Film) - Referenced as an inspiration for the belief in immortality.
  • "Back to the Future" (Film) - Referenced for its depiction of using sports almanacs to bet on future events.
  • "Alien" (Film) - Referenced in the context of space travel and potential demise.
  • "Total Recall" (Film) - Referenced in the context of choosing physical attributes for immortality.
  • "Heavenly Creatures" (Film) - Mentioned as a real-life story about teenagers creating and inhabiting a fantasy world.
  • "Return of the Jedi" (Film) - Referenced for its depiction of using sports almanacs to bet on future events.
  • "Blair Witch" (Film) - Mentioned for creating a real-life myth that spread online.
  • "Star Wars" (Film) - Referenced for the juxtaposition of Luke Skywalker's belief and Han Solo's skepticism regarding odds.
  • "Independence Day" (Film) - Referenced as a scenario for an alien invasion.

Articles & Papers

  • "Adam Riches's Sean Bean: The 12 Beans of Christmas" (Time Out London) - Listed as the number one show to see during the Christmas period.

People

  • Adam Riches - Award-winning comedian and actor, guest on the podcast, discussed for his shows and performances.
  • Dan Schreiber - Host of "We Can Be Weirdos," author of "The Theory of Everything Else."
  • Dean Frenkel - Aussie speech therapist, proposed a theory about the origin of the Australian accent.
  • Aubrey de Grey - Scientist who believes that the first thousand-year-old person has already been born.
  • Monica Seles - Tennis player, mentioned for her scar tingling before rain.
  • Jimmy Connors - Tennis player, subject of Adam Riches's play.
  • Patrick McEnroe - Tennis player, brother of John McEnroe, mentioned in relation to Jimmy Connors's match.
  • Bjorn Borg - Tennis player, mentioned for coming out of retirement and employing a karate expert as a coach.
  • Novak Djokovic - Tennis player, mentioned for his belief in a pyramid in Bosnia.
  • Rafael Nadal - Tennis player, mentioned for his superstitions.
  • Alex Lowe - Comedian who does Clinton Baptiste, mentioned for performing the same pre-stage ritual as Adam Riches.
  • Luke Skywalker - Character from Star Wars, represents belief.
  • Han Solo - Character from Star Wars, represents skepticism about odds.
  • Peter Mayhew - Actor who played Chewbacca, mentioned in relation to filming "Return of the Jedi."
  • Jane Goodall - Primatologist, claimed to have stopped rain by staring at it.
  • Nick Lennon - Mentioned as a special thanks.
  • John Noel Management - Mentioned as a special thanks.
  • Emperor - Artist of the theme tune "Cosmos."

Organizations & Institutions

  • Global Player Original - Production company for the podcast.
  • Detectorists (TV Show) - Mentioned as a show Adam Riches has appeared in.
  • Horrible Histories (TV Show) - Mentioned as a show Adam Riches has appeared in.
  • 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (TV Show) - Mentioned as a show Adam Riches has appeared in.
  • Game of Thrones (TV Show) - Mentioned in relation to Sean Bean's character.
  • US Open (Tennis Tournament) - Mentioned in relation to Jimmy Connors's match.
  • Secret Weirdo Committee - Mentioned as members.

Websites & Online Resources

  • linktr.ee/adamrichescomedy - Provided for tickets to Adam Riches's tour.
  • Instagram (schreiberland) - Host Dan Schreiber's Instagram account.
  • Instagram (adamrichescomedy) - Guest Adam Riches's Instagram account.

Other Resources

  • "Everyone Has a Theory" (Google Docs document) - A personal document containing various theories.
  • Inside Forward (Football formation) - Mentioned as a modern football tactic created by Adam Riches and his brother.
  • Greek Mythology - Referenced for its stories of confounding fate.
  • Time Jutter Beach - Location mentioned in relation to a ghost or time glitch experience.
  • Cosmos (Theme tune) - The theme tune for the podcast.
  • Confound the Gods (Concept) - The idea of acting against predictability or fate.
  • Weirdo of the Week (Podcast segment) - A segment suggesting ways to change outlook by tweaking habits.
  • The Quickening (Concept from Highlander) - Referenced in relation to immortality.
  • Immortality Button (Concept) - A hypothetical option for extending life.
  • Uploading Consciousness (Concept) - The idea of transferring consciousness into simulations.
  • Cryogenics (Concept) - The preservation of a body or head for future revival.
  • The Bends (Physiological condition) - Referenced in relation to decompression from deep-sea diving.
  • Telekinesis (Paranormal ability) - Mentioned as one of the "big three" paranormal abilities.
  • Levitation (Paranormal ability) - Mentioned as one of the "big three" paranormal abilities.
  • Psychic Powers (Paranormal ability) - Mentioned as one of the "big three" paranormal abilities.
  • Savalas (Paranormal ability) - Mentioned as a paranormal ability.
  • Four-Four-Two (Football formation) - A conventional football formation.
  • The Algorithm (Concept) - The idea of shifting one's habits to confound fate.

---
Handpicked links, AI-assisted summaries. Human judgment, machine efficiency.
This content is a personally curated review and synopsis derived from the original podcast episode.