STBYM Listener Mail: The Joy of Fish

In this listener mail episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick respond to a rich tapestry of audience contributions centered on caves, cacti, and cultural oddities. The episode opens with heartfelt messages about the Karchner Caverns series, including a claustrophobic listener’s harrowing yet transformative experience at Kentucky’s Lost River Cave—once a Prohibition-era nightclub called the Cavern Nightclub. Listeners share personal adventures in show caves like Lehman Caves with their 'shield' formations and Onondaga Cave’s lily pad room, while also reflecting on the environmental impact of tourism. A French horn ensemble’s improvised performance in Luray Caverns’ stalactite pipe organ becomes a highlight, blending music and geology in a unique sonic experience. The conversation shifts to the Saguaro cactus, with listeners sharing stories of the cactus’s cultural misrepresentation in Texas, its use in cell phone tower disguises, and even a comic book superhero version. The episode also features a deep dive into the science of malic acid, its role in cactus metabolism and its surprising use in sour candies. Listener mail includes a nostalgic look at Pokemon’s ecological themes, a critique of microplastic research contamination, and a passionate recommendation for the bizarre yet beloved film 'The Lair of the White Worm.' The episode closes with a curated list of film suggestions for the show’s Weird House Cinema segment, underscoring the podcast’s enduring love for the strange and the overlooked.