Duncan Trussell Family Hour - Episode 678: Soloooooooooooo

Release Date: April 1, 2025

In Episode 678 of the Duncan Trussell Family Hour, hosts Pete Holmes and Josh delve into a myriad of intriguing topics ranging from technology and urban exploration to deep philosophical discussions about time, consciousness, and spirituality. This summary captures the essence of their expansive conversation, highlighting key points, notable quotes, and the insightful conclusions drawn throughout the episode.

1. Introduction and Tech Talk ([00:00] - [00:54])

The episode commences with a light-hearted exchange about Josh's new camera setup, setting a casual and engaging tone.

• Pete Holmes: "Hello. Is that a new camera, Josh?" ([00:00])
• Josh: Explains the camera as a "black magic camera with a screen in the back," differentiating it from more basic models ([00:23]).

Their banter underscores the duo's camaraderie and sets the stage for deeper discussions ahead.

2. Promoting the Denver Event & Bicycle Day ([00:54] - [06:08])

Pete enthusiastically announces an upcoming event in Denver celebrating Bicycle Day, intertwining historical anecdotes about LSD with personal reflections.

• Pete Holmes: "Bicycle Day is the day that we celebrate the first intentional LSD trip taken by Albert Hoffman... It was this insane trip where he saw demons and didn't have anyone to help him come down." ([00:54])

He emphasizes the therapeutic potential of LSD when used responsibly, contrasting past misconceptions with modern understandings.

3. Exploring Meow Wolf and the Convergence Station ([06:08] - [07:07])

The conversation shifts to Meow Wolf's Convergence Station in Denver, an immersive art experience that Pete praises for its creativity and dimensionality.

• Pete Holmes: "Everything. You can project anything you want anywhere. The people running Meow Wolf are fucking just hyperdimensional geniuses." ([06:50])

They discuss the unique features of the venue, including 360-degree laser projections and the collaborative spirit with guests like Reggie Watts.

4. The Mysterious Box of Tapes ([09:07] - [13:58])

Josh shares an unsettling story about receiving a box of creepy tapes and a hard drive labeled "DTFH."

• Josh: "I plugged it in. No pornography, unfortunately." ([09:25])
• Pete Holmes: Expresses concern, saying, "You might as well have, like, gone to a fucking porno theater and stuck your cock in an anonymous puckered butthole." ([09:34])

The duo listens to the ominous audio, featuring an Urban Explorer's narration about illegal underground tunnels, which heightens the episode's suspense.

5. Urban Exploration and the Dead Mall Phenomenon ([13:58] - [22:28])

Delving deeper into the tapes, Pete and Josh discuss the allure and eerie nature of abandoned missile silos and dead malls.

• Pete Holmes: "These dead malls, urban decay, as they call it. Just these ulcers on the carcass of America." ([19:18])
• Josh: "They have all these dead buildings... they let it rot. It represents a dead dream." ([17:54])

They explore the sociopolitical implications of urban decay, pondering why these structures are left to deteriorate rather than being repurposed for community use.

6. Ghosts, Dreams, and Paranormal Encounters ([22:28] - [40:35])

The dialogue transitions to supernatural experiences, with Pete recounting personal ghost encounters and theoretical musings.

• Pete Holmes: "I believe there are countless entities and forms of life around us at any given moment. They're just all there. You just can't see them." ([38:09])
• Josh: Shares a terrifying childhood experience where his deceased grandmother appeared, reinforcing their discussion on ghosts and spirits ([40:11]).

They delve into theories about ghosts being residual energy or echoes of past events, drawing parallels with philosophical concepts of consciousness and existence.

7. Philosophical Perspectives on Death and the Afterlife ([40:35] - [52:26])

Pete shares his volunteer experience at a hospice, providing profound insights into the transition between life and death.

• Pete Holmes: "People die as they lived. So the entire pattern of your life reemerges as you approach death." ([51:49])
• Josh: Relates a friend's experience where near-death entailed confessing infidelity, linking personal guilt with paranormal phenomena ([52:12]).

Their conversation touches on the emotional and psychological facets of dying, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life patterns and the importance of confronting mortality.

8. Initiation Rituals and Secret Societies ([52:26] - [65:37])

The hosts explore the obscure rituals of societies like Skull and Bones and Freemasons, blending humor with curiosity.

• Pete Holmes: "The Masons... you have to take your wedding ring off... you're basically reborn." ([55:14])
• Josh: References pop culture portrayals of these rituals, highlighting their mysterious and often misunderstood nature ([55:50]).

They speculate on the symbolic meanings behind these ceremonies, connecting them to broader themes of rebirth and transformation.

9. Christian Cosmology, Time, and Philip K. Dick's Theories ([65:37] - [91:17])

A deep dive into theological and philosophical discussions ensues, with Pete articulating complex ideas linking Christianity, time perception, and the multiverse.

• Pete Holmes: "Time is not real... the Bible is a literally Real but veiled landscape, never changing, but usually hidden from our sight." ([71:58])
• Philip K. Dick: Discussed through audio clips, Dick's theories propose that time on Earth is stuck in 50 AD, hiding the true biblical timeline beneath the apparent modern reality ([71:49]).

They explore notions of time as a non-linear construct, suggesting that our perception is limited and that multiple realities may coexist simultaneously. The hosts connect these ideas to concepts like quantum entanglement and the illusion of linear time, contemplating the possibility that our existence is part of a grand, multifaceted simulation.

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts ([91:17] - End)

Wrapping up the episode, Pete and Josh reflect on the interconnectedness of time, consciousness, and reality, encouraging listeners to explore these concepts further.

• Pete Holmes: "You're stuck in time... playing around with all these bizarre new ways of conceptualizing time is so fun, even if it's not real." ([86:10])
• Josh: Concludes with a humorous nod to YouTube memberships, blending the episode's heavy themes with light-hearted banter ([91:17]).

The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to engage with the broader community, reinforcing the show's themes of exploration and understanding.

Notable Quotes:

• Pete Holmes ([00:54]): "Bicycle Day is the day that we celebrate the first intentional LSD trip taken by Albert Hoffman... [He] saw demons."
• Josh ([09:25]): "I plugged it in. No pornography, unfortunately."
• Pete Holmes ([19:18]): "These dead malls... represent a dead dream. It represents someone at some point invested a shit ton of money."
• Pete Holmes ([38:09]): "I believe there are countless entities and forms of life around us at any given moment. They're just all there. You just can't see them."
• Pete Holmes ([65:37]): "Time is not real... the Bible is a literally Real but veiled landscape, never changing, but usually hidden from our sight."

Final Thoughts:

Episode 678 of the Duncan Trussell Family Hour navigates through an eclectic mix of topics, seamlessly blending humor, personal anecdotes, and profound philosophical inquiries. Pete Holmes and Josh offer listeners a thought-provoking journey, encouraging a reevaluation of reality, time, and existence. Whether debating the nature of ghosts, the construction of society through abandoned structures, or the very fabric of time itself, the hosts invite their audience to ponder deeply and explore the multiverse of ideas presented.