Shows / ‘funny,’ not funny
‘funny,’ not funny
Conversations about books, music, films, history, tech, and culture. Jim is a songwriter and leader of the band Jim’s Big Ego. He is also an author of The Wakeful Wanderer’s Guide series. Lionel Cassin is an IT security specialist and a voracious reader of Science Fiction and History. They enjoy lively conversations and are now sharing those with you. We are an independant podcast and we rely on your support. Subscribe at patreon.com/jiminfantino for as little as $3 per month for live webcasts…
Episodes
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Phone Books & Landlines | topic: All The President's Men, The Conversation, 3 Days of the Condor | with Jim & Lionel
In this episode, Jim Infantino and Lionel explore classic 1970s films like All the President's Men, Three Days of the Condor, and The Conversation…
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“We've seen this movie before.” | topic: Comic-Con, Dark Knight, Disclosure Day, & TESCREAL | Lionel & Jim
Comic Con Insights and Thoughts on Disclosure DayExploring the vibe of Comic Con and a Spielberg film reviewJim and Lionel dive into their recent experiences…
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Big Men! In Sandals! | topic: Coen Brothers films: Hail, Caesar & Barton Fink, also Reacher | with Jim & Lionel
Jim prepares to honor his late Uncle Carmine with a Harvey Award at Comic-Con. They then move on to discuss 2 Coen brothers films, Hail, Ceasar and Barton…
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American Dharma & Dark City | topic: Bannon, McNamara, propaganda, culture, media | Jim & Lionel
In this episode, Jim Infantino and Lionel explore a wide range of topics including the intricacies of touring, the themes of the films Dark City and American…
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Ben Franklin: What a real genius looks like | topic: Benjamin Franklin, Franklin's experiments, Franklin in France, American history | Jim & Lionel
In this episode, Jim Infantino and Lionel explore the fascinating life of Benjamin Franklin and the British side of the American Revolution, delving into his…
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Swarms of Invading Killer Agents! | topic: Hugging Face: views of Harari, Cotra, and Newport | w/ Jim & Lionel
Jim and Lionel delve into the recent hack of Hugging Face and the broader implications for AI technology. We examine recent presentations by Cal Newport, Ajeya…
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Thinking: Fast, Slow, and Why. | topic: Daniel Kahneman, Turi Munthe, Cognitive Theory, Making Decisions | a conversation with Jim & Lionel
In this season 7 opener, we discuss Turi Munthe's book Why We Think What We Think and Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow. Jim Starts with a…
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From Sodom to Hope | topic: Upstate New York, Climate Change, Wine Industry, Technology | a conversation with Julian Fisher
In this episode, Julian Fisher, photo journalist and neurologist, shares his insights from his upbringing and travels and explores the fascinating revival of…
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The ultimate disaster preparedness checklist | topic: Pema Chödrön, The Bardo, Reincarnation | Jim & Lionel
This week we discuss How We Live Is How We Die by Pema Chödrön. This is a Buddhist handbook for entering the Bardo of death calmly and mindfully. We…
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“It's both intellectual and Rock & Roll” | topic: The Expanse, science fiction series | Lionel & Jim
In this episode, Lionel and Jim delve into the intricate world of 'The Expanse,' exploring its rich language, realistic space physics, compelling…
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Zardoz, Logan's Run, THX 1138, Silent Running | topic: four 1970s science fiction films | Jim & Lionel
This week we take some time off world politics and highfalutin ideas and hunker down with 50 year old science fiction. We start with Zardoz, a film we were…
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“Crimea River” | topic: Technofeudalism, Economic Theory, Ukraine Victories, Data Cost | with Lionel & Jim
AI Summary: In this episode, Jim and Lionel explore a wide range of topics from the nature of digital information and its physical costs, to the complexities…
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“Holding off the Red Army with golf carts” | topic: Adam Neely, Yuval Harari, Ed Zitron, Ukraine, AI personhood | with Lionel & Jim
In this episode, Jim and Lionel delve into the complexities of AI, geopolitics, and the future of technology, exploring how power, cooperation, and innovation…
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Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and AI Music | topic: Symphony Four, Rite of Spring, Petrouska, Suno and Udio | with Lionel and Jim
Today we talk about the world of classical music, the creative process of composers like Stravinsky, and the impact of AI on music creation and authenticity…
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Marcionite Fan Fiction | topic: Christ Before Jesus, The Historicity of the Gospels | with Lionel & Jim
This week we dive into a fascinating book by Jaaron Wingo and Matthew Britt titled Christ Before Jesus: Evidence for the Second Century Origins of Jesus. This…
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The inexplicable Béla Tarr | topic: The Turin Horse, Werckmesiter Harmonies, religion in post Soviet film | with Lionel & Jim
Well, we did it. After years of swearing off the films of Béla Tarr; a director recommended to us by Bob Loy, we bit the bullet and watched two of his…
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Solaris & Stalker | topic: The films of Andre Tarkovsky | with Lionel & Jim
This conversation explores the depths of Andre Tarkovsky's films Solaris and Stalker, delving into their themes, production challenges, and philosophical…
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“The Forgotten People” | topic: Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life and Daughters of the Dust | with Sara Elkins
Sara joins the podcast again, and we discuss two documentary films Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life by Merion C. Cooper, and Daughters of The Dust by…
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“Too much Vérité” | topic: Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Shoeshine, Umberto D, 8 1/2 | with Jim & Lionel
This episode explores classic Italian cinema, focusing on Vittorio De Sica's masterpieces 'Shoeshine' and 'Umberto D.', and contrasts…
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Scams and the scammy scammers who love them | topic: Popular Scams, Scambaiting, Cyber Security | a conversation with Jonathan Copper
This episode features cybersecurity expert Jonathan Cooper discussing the latest scams, phishing tactics, and how to protect yourself in a digital world. Learn…
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AI Bubble Trouble - Clip - full episode on Patreon | topic: Thoughts from Corey Doctorow, Ed Zitron, & Rick Beato (not guests) | Jim & Lionel
This is the first episode I'm releasing only for paid members on our Patreon channel. In this episode Jim responds to news and opinion from AI skeptic…
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Project Hail Mary & Minneapolis | topic: Andy Weir, The Martian, Music for Film, ICE | with Ben Burnes
Ben Burnes (Abstraction on Bandcamp) joins the pod again as a guest host and we talk about the movie Project Hail Mary based on the book by Andy Weir. We talk…
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“East of Eden & Ford vs. Ferrari” | topic: John Steinbeck, Elmore Leonard, Matt Damon, Christian Bale | Lionel & Jim
We begin by discussing arts and crafts as evidenced in our parents, our children and ourselves. Then we move on to the main topic, a discussion of East of Eden…
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“In The Mood For Love” | topic: the films of Wan Kar Wai, Hong Kong cinema | with Adam Schartoff
Adam Schartoff of Filmwax Radio joins us once again to discuss the cinematic world of Wong Kar Wai. We focus on two of his films 'In the Mood for…
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“I just say what's in my head” | topic: The Hunters, Heart of A Dog, Jeanine Pirro | Jim & Lionel
We start out by thinking we don't have anything to talk about, and Lionel begins spoiling the following week's episode by talking about In The Mood…
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“Lighten Up Francis” | topic: Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, The Viking & Mongol invasions | Jim & Lionel
In this episode, Jim and Lionel discuss various topics ranging from technical difficulties in live streaming to the complexities of PCI compliance. They delve…
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Ratcatcher & Morvern Callar: the films of Lynne Ramsay | topic: indie films, cinematic style, storytelling | with Adam Schartoff
Jim, Lionel and Adam Shartoff of Filmwax Radio delve into the works of Lynne Ramsay, focusing on her films Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar. They explore the…
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History Happy Hour & The Ghost Army | topic: Documentary filmmaking, deception in warfare, inflatable tanks | with Rick Beyer
Jim Infantino, Lionel, and Rick Beyer delve into Rick’s podcast History Happy Hour and the fascinating history of the Ghost Army, a unique World War II…
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“It's all totally mental” | topic: Bernardo Kastrup on Schopenhauer and Analytic Idealism | with Sarah Elkins
The conversation delves into the philosophical ideas of Schopenhauer and Kastrup, exploring themes of consciousness, the nature of reality, and the historical…
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"The Power of Presence Fundamentally Changes Everything" | topic: Buddhism, Meditation, Shambhala | Sarah Lipton
Sarah Lipton, podcaster, author, and meditation teacher joins us to talk about her path in, and experience with Vajrayana Buddhism. They discuss the Shambhala…
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"Deliver Me From Nowhere" | topic: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan | A conversation with Chris Chandler
Chris Chanlder joins us once again to talk about the movies "A Complete Unknown" and "Deliver Me From Nowhere." The conversation explores the potential for…
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Tokyo Story | topic: Filmmaking, Japan, Yasujirō Ozu | a conversation with Jim & Lionel
We begin by announcing the live stream of the podcast on Patreon for subscribers. This is a new direction for the pod and we encourage anyone who wants to…
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“Do Not Be Distracted” | topic: a look at Kundun and Hugo by Martin Scorsese | Lionel & Jim
We begin with an embarassing discussion of Jim's relationship with his bidet without being overly disgusting. Somehow, we move to Martin Scorsese’s…
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“The Batcolyte” | topic: critical thinking, the socratic method, questioning beliefs | a conversation with Thrayle
Thrayle joined us this week to talk about his TikTok channel The Batcolyte, where people are invited to question their beliefs. Thrayle talks about the origins…
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“Rebellion Happens in the Mind” | topic: Living off the grid, SLC Punk, Moulin Rouge, The Socratic Method | a conversation with Kat In A Vat
Kat joined us from the jungles of Hawaii where she lives off the grid. She picked 2 movies for us to discuss, Moulin Rouge, and SLC Punk, which are two of her…
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“Perfect Days” and “Anselm” by Wim Wenders | topic: cassette culture, art, photography, zen | Jim & Lionel
Lionel and Jim dive into two of the more recent Wim Wender's films "Perfect Days" and "Anselm" and discuss the common themes of his style of filmmaking…
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Assemble Yourself | topic: Jim's New Album, Glenn Gould, The Secret Life of Machines | Jim & Lionel
In this conversation, Jim discusses the upcoming release of his album 'Assemble Yourself', reflecting on the challenges of the music industry…
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“How Did You Like Them Apples?” | topic: Trent Reznor, Moneyball, The Red Sox, Album Titles | Jim & Lionel
This episode was recorded on September 17, 2025 and is being released late, because of an oversight. Jim starts with an inane idea for a rewrite of the song…
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History of Buddhism, the Journey Continues | topic: Buddhism, Yoga, History | Lionel & Jim
Jim starts by explaining his micro-yoga routine, if it can be called a routine. Once we dispose of this ridiculousness, we return to Donald S. Lopez's…
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“A Perfect World” | topic: A Day In Music, Music Production, Songwriting | Phil Broikos
Phil returns to talk about the latest public release from his A Day In Music Project which is available on bandcamp under the project name. Lionel and I once…
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Buddhism Through History: An Exhausting Journey | topic: Buddhist History by Donald S. Lopez Jr. | Jim & Lionel
Lionel and I read part of the book Buddhism: A Journey Through History by Donald S. Lopez Jr. This ended up being the first of two discussions we would have…
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Tom Burris of Jabbering Trout | topic: Songwriting, Music, Tragedy & Inspiration | a conversation with Tom Burris
In this, the 4th episode of our 6th season, Lionel, Jim, and Tom discuss various themes in music, focusing on Tom Burris’ songwriting process. We talk…
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“A Rollicking Bad Time” | topic: Dominion by Tom Holland, Fallout TV show, NY State Fair | Jim & Lionel
Lionel talks about his visit to the New York State Fair and bringing his Big Brother companion. Jim admits that he misunderstood the direction to read the book…
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Music & the Robots | topic: Navigating the Future of Music: AI and Authenticity | a conversation with Jonathan Wyner
In this episode of Funny Not Funny, hosts Jim and Lionel welcome mastering engineer Jonathan Wyner to discuss the evolving landscape of music in the age of…
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“This DID happen to me!” | topic: Jim's new place, new Star Treks, The History of the Twentieth C, Flat Earthers | a conversation with Jim & Lionel
We have begun Season 6 of ‘Funny,’ Not Funny with Jim & Lionel.Jim talks about his recent major life upheaval, watching the new Star Trek shows on…
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“You are not connected to the internet” | topic: Photography, Surveillance Capitalism, Creative Life | a conversation with Liz Linder
This week, photographer and creative visionary Liz Linder joins the podcast. Liz’s work has appeared in dozens of leading publications, including Rolling…
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The Pan-America Challenge | topic: cycling, fitness, it security | a conversation with Leigh Weber
This week we talk with IT security expert and avid cycler Leigh Weber. We talk about his epic ride across the country, mostly. Next time he joins us, perhaps…
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“Hi Henry!” | topic: Black Flag, St. Augustine, Stanley Tucci, Andor 2 | a conversation with Lionel and Jim
We start by talking about Newbury Comics on Newbury Street in Boston, and then a bit about Jim's adventures bringing a teenage crowd to see Black Flag…
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ENCORE EPISODE: “The Modern I Ching Oracle” | topic: Book of changes, graphic design, inspiration deck | a conversation with Catherine Pilfrey
Catherine Pilfrey returns to the podcast to talk about her new creation: The I Ching Oracle card deck: a 64-card illustrated deck and guidebook. Catherine…
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“Wheels Up In 5!” | topic: Lights On by Annika Harris, Revisionist History & The Nazi Olympics | a conversation wth Lionel & Jim
Jim touts the fun of assembling furniture from Ikea. His coat stand was BONDSKÄRET and the lamp was VIDJA. Lionel scores a victory in pinpointing the very…
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Lonesome Brothers | topic: the band, the songbook, the history, the songs, & Drunk Stuntmen | an interview with Scott Hall
Scott Hall paid us a visit to talk about the Northampton, MA band Lonesome Brothers (no the!) He has been working on a songbook based on his own charts…
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“Bartleby, the Sailor” | topic: Melville, Coetzee, Camus, Stuyvesant High | a conversation with David Partikian
David Partikian rejoins the pod to talk about his new Substack under the moniker "Bartleby The Sailor." We start with a bit of Melville, and then discuss his…
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“The Hugos” | topic: Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Stars Wars Hotel, Flow, 2025 Nominees | Sarah Elkins and Julia Tenney
This week we talk about the Hugo Awards with Sarah Elkins, who is a judge, and Julia Tenney, who is a reader and viewer of Science Fiction. We talk about…
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ENCORE EP: “Not for Toddlers” | topic: music, horticulture, art, maine | a conversation with Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball, songwriter, performer, singer, horticulturalist and landscape designer joins the pod. One upon a time, she was in a legendary band called The…
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“I've learned to live with a lot of things.” | topic: Darkman, Dark City, D&D, Star Trek, Information Security | Jim & Lionel
There are some politics in this episode, but we manage to get that under control. Jim starts by comparing Severance to the Labyrinth of Greek mythology. Lionel…
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“The Utica Train Station” | topic: Severance, Signal, Stargate, GenX memes | Severance Theory with Julia Tenney
We start by talking about Ketamine, Signal, and the protest in Somerville over the seizing of the Tufts student: Rumeysa Ozturk. At the time of this recording…
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“Updating your immune system” | topic: bird flu, influenza, mRNA vaccines, measles in TX, music, | a conversation with Dr. Bill Hanage
Dr. Bill Hanage is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard T. H. Chan School of…
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“Ask Your Grocer” | topic: Dopesick, Brian Aldiss, Arcane | Jim and Lionel
Jim starts by sharing his excitement about his new super minimal reading glasses, wallet, and bank account. Lionel talks about how music gear reviewers are…
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ENCORE EPISODE: “Not Everything Ends with the Iron Maiden.” | topic: Our conversation from two years ago | a conversation with Lionel & Jim
Lionel and Jim discuss email woes, Bitcoins and Blockchains by Antony Lewis, Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson, more Neal Stephenson, The Cloud, Jim’s…
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“African Royalty Games” | topic: Card Games, movie reviews | a conversation with Nyadenya Inyagwa
We welcome Jim's friend Nyadenya Inyagwa to the podcast to talk about his interests and ventures. We touch on a bunch of video stories at first, following…