Sidetracked – Ong’s Hat, Incunabula, and Online Legend Trips

This episode deviates slightly from the stories of ghosts and demons featured in most episodes to discuss one of the internet’s earliest conspiracy theories. This story contains travel to alternate Earths, encounters with paranormal phenomena, mysticism and chaos magic, shadowy government agents bent on stripping humanity of freedom, and lots of drugs and sex. It… Continue reading Sidetracked – Ong’s Hat, Incunabula, and Online Legend Trips

Unfolding Alternate Realities, Ong’s Hat, Synchronicity and more with Joseph Matheny

LINK: https://consensusunreality.podbean.com/e/unfolding-alternate-realities-ongs-hat-synchronicity-and-more-with-joseph-matheny/ A deep and roving interview with the great artist and writer Joseph Matheny. We talk: the origins of his legendary Ong’s Hat project in the very early days of the internet; mail art, collaboration,  and finding new media; the trajectory of ARGs and the internet; the power of synchronicity and art in driving a… Continue reading Unfolding Alternate Realities, Ong’s Hat, Synchronicity and more with Joseph Matheny

Ongs Hat Compleat – Official Soundtrack

LINK: https://polypores.bandcamp.com/album/ongs-hat-compleat-official-soundtrack Also, a great write-up of this project: https://moonbuilding.substack.com/p/issue-73-1-august-2025 The soundtrack to the audiobook version of Ong’s Hat: Compleat New addition: Hat Complete soundtrack! The dl now includes a PDF of the text version of the book, kindly provided by Joseph Matheny. It’s full of links to take you down that rabbithole. If you’ve already got it, just… Continue reading Ongs Hat Compleat – Official Soundtrack

An interview with Joseph Matheny, recorded 08-07-03 from Radio Alchymy- KPFK – Los Angeles. Radio Alchymy

I have decided to dig through the old archives and periodically present some media from the past here on Substack. Today’s radio interview is from 2003 in LA. Yeah, I was thinking about AI even then. If you read COMPLEAT, you know my interest dates back to the late 1980s. Have a great weekend. An interview… Continue reading An interview with Joseph Matheny, recorded 08-07-03 from Radio Alchymy- KPFK – Los Angeles. Radio Alchymy

The Mysterious Egg in Ong’s Hat – The First ARG

Ong’s Hat is a real place.  But the stories about it aren’t.  That didn’t stop tales about a dimension hopping, scientific, transcendentalist, sadomasochistic cult from spreading across the early internet.  This is credited as the first ever ARG and boy, is it weird Episode: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-saspu-1831e0e

Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT

Where to get it PDF only on Google Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT audio sample FAQ The guide to experiencing this interdisciplinary work. The guide to experiencing this multidisciplinary work. Introduction to Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT is a multi-layered work designed to be experienced in various ways, depending on the experiencer’s preferences and level of… Continue reading Ong’s Hat: COMPLEAT

Ep.232 – Portals to Other Dimensions & Peanut the Squirrel – Theories Thursday

We discuss multiple topics on this Theories Thursday Episode. Throughout history individuals have claimed they had created or had access to portals that led to other dimensions. We dive down that rabbit hole and discuss various sites where portals supposedly once existed. The Gate of the Gods and Ong’s Hat. We also discuss an individual… Continue reading Ep.232 – Portals to Other Dimensions & Peanut the Squirrel – Theories Thursday