Junk and Disorderly: Art • Myth • Oddities From Real and Imagined Worlds
Junk and Disorderly is your backstage pass to art, myth, oddities, and the strange little sparks that fly between real and imagined worlds. Hosted by Michael deMeng — artist, author, instructor, and professional rummager of the beautifully peculiar — this podcast wanders through the stories, symbols, films, folklore, objects, and creative misadventures that inspire his work.
Some episodes dig into the art of transforming found objects into something mythic. Others follow the trail of legends, monsters, rituals, strange histories, haunted places, favorite films, and curious cultural debris. Along the way, Michael talks with fellow artists, makers, collectors, travelers, organizers, and creative oddballs who know that the best stories often hide in the cracks, cupboards, alleys, attics, and junk drawers of the world.
With humor, curiosity, and a healthy dose of artistic anarchy, Junk and Disorderly invites you to embrace the odd, the handmade, the haunted, and the half-forgotten — and to find beauty in the discarded, the mysterious, and the gloriously out of place.
Whether you’re an artist, a maker, a mythology nerd, a film lover, or just someone who enjoys a good tale from the weirder side of the road, this podcast may leave you inspired, entertained, and possibly itching to rummage for your next masterpiece.
Formerly home to Strange Tales of Myth and Magic, the show continues to explore legend, lore, and the stories from around the world that inspire Michael’s art — now with a wider lens and a bigger junk drawer.
Junk and Disorderly: Art • Myth • Oddities From Real and Imagined Worlds
Christmas at the Movies Part One: When Adults Run the Show
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This week, Michael deMeng welcomes special guest Gary Warren Niebuhr for a deep dive into three of Gary’s favorite holiday films: Xmas in Connecticut, White Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life.
These aren’t kid-focused Christmas capers—this trio is pure classic Hollywood, where adults juggle romance, identity crises, wartime memories, career chaos, and one very stressed-out angel trying to earn his wings. Michael and Gary unpack why these films still sparkle, how they shaped the modern idea of a “holiday classic,” and what makes grown-up Christmas stories hit differently.
This is Part One of a festive two-parter.
Next week, Michael returns solo with his picks—Christmas movies where the kids take center stage.
Curl up with something warm, cue the black-and-white glow, and enjoy a holiday hangout with a guest who knows his classics.
Follow Michael deMeng on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content:
• Instagram: @michael_demeng_art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaeldeMeng
• TikTok: @michaeldemeng