Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Why did the US government suddenly admit it cannot identify all the strange stuff up there in the sky? It's a fascinating, disturbing question... and one that's haunted Payne Lindsey for years. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel sit down with Payne to learn more about his newest project: High Strange -- a balanced, humanistic approach to one of the enduring mysteries of the modern world. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades after the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, hundreds of thousands of Americans -- and millions of people across the planet -- have had lingering, troubling problems with the US government’s official narrative of the tragedy. Now, recently declassified documents may shed light on the story, either confirming or contradicting the official tale of Kennedy’s death. Or will they?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As constant breakthroughs in aging science make the news and some of the world's wealthiest individuals pour millions in anti-aging start-ups, it seems increasingly likely that humans in the near future may be able to greatly slow -- or even reverse -- the process of aging. In an episode replete with multiple strange conspiracies, Ben, Matt and Noel ask what would happen. Sure, it may be possible to reverse aging, but would it actually be good for humanity?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if believing in success became the same thing as succeeding? Religious figures around the world encourage their followers to equate financial donations with future material gains. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the heart of Prosperity Theology to find the facts, fiction, and the stuff Prosperian Theologists don't want you to know.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank -- as well as other banking institutions -- prompts intense concern about the future. The current Lt. Governor of Tennessee makes embarrassing comments online. A new study finds carcinogenic PFAS, or forever chemicals, are in every major brand of toilet paper. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some people, Witness Protection sounds like a dream come true: the government whisks you away, allowing you to start a new life completely separate from your past. But, as it turns out, there's more to this conspiracy than you might imagine. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the ins and outs of Witness Protection.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brock notes a fascinating aspect of cloud-connected doorbells. Radical Moderate asks for more information about the SL-1 nuclear incident. Dr. Mantis Toboggan plays a dangerous game with ChatGPT -- all this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's tale is the stuff of award-winning fiction and counterintelligence nightmares: What would you do if you learned one of the nation's top intelligence professionals had joined the other side? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the strange, disturbing case of Charles F. McGonigal.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades people around the globe have insisted that they were abducted and, via implants, tagged like animals. Join the guys as they interview documentarian Jeremy Corbell about his experience diving into the strange world of alleged abduction and implants in his new film, Patient Seventeen.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German researchers name a groundbreaking discovery after the legendary Keanu Reeves. YouTuber MrBeast sets his fans upon Walmart. Across the planet, Russia uses a "shadow fleet" of tankers to bypass sanctions -- no one's publicly saying who runs these groups... only that the fleet appears to be growing. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this February a train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. In today's episode, the guys explore what happened, why, and what it means for the future.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunter writes in with some harrowing first-hand experience fighting Super Pigs. An email inspires a deeper exploration of time traveling, subatomic particles. Ben, Matt and Noel discuss horror films. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disney parks receive millions of visitors per year, seeking fun, adventure, and magic... but what happens when something goes wrong? What's the deal with all the rumors that "no one dies at Disney?" In celebration of International Women's Day, guest hosts "Codename: Doc Holliday" and Lauren Vogelbaum take over to explore a strangest, pervasive conspiracy theory about one of the largest entertainment companies on the planet.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017 South Korean President Park Guen-hye was impeached and ousted from power as a result of a wide-reaching corruption scandal touching everything from big business to religion. In the aftermath, the world’s been left asking: What exactly happened? Was this another tragic case of nepotism and bribery, or … something more? Was South Korea’s President the victim of a cult?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Marshalls got hacked. Mexican President Obrador believes in cryptids -- and tweets about it. NASA confirms success in the earlier DART attempt to knock asteroids off course. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in remote forests half a world away from the gilded halls of New York, Michael Rockefeller seems determined to learn as much as he can about one tribal community in particular. After his disappearance and a country-wide search, the theories begin: Did Rockefeller die? Was he murdered, then eaten? And, the strangest of all: Could he be alive today?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays, most people can agree that fascism is, well, a bad thing. But back in the 1930s, life absolutely sucked for most Americans, and fascism still had a sort of new car smell. Wall Street bankers were convinced they could take their country back from the clutches of ‘class traitors’ like Roosevelt, sink the New Deal and put the United States on a better – meaning more profitable – path.  They had the money. They had an army. Now all they needed was a leader.  They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2FAB describes government preparation exercises for disasters in New Orleans. Barefootcowgirl and others break down the great Eggspiracy. Multiple folks reach out to Ben, asking: Should prisoners be allowed -- or mandated? -- to sell their organs in exchange for a reduced sentence? All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Rockefeller was -- or is -- a descendant of one of the most powerful families in the United States. In 1961, he disappeared in a rural part of modern-day Indonesia. Decades later, the mystery remains: What happened to Michael Rockefeller? Tune in for part one of this two-part series.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've probably heard of the infamous (and controversial) Bermuda Triangle, that alleged site of numerous disappearing aircraft and oceangoing vessels... but have you heard of the Dragon's Triangle, its counterpart in the Pacific Ocean? Join the guys as they dive headfirst into the conspiratorial lore surrounding vile vortices, as well as the fact -- and fiction -- surrounding the so-called Devil's Sea.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia confirms it's busted multiple spies, apparently all working for the same country. Fox News faces a defamation lawsuit that may pose a serious threat to the network. Along the US-Canadian border, experts are warning folks to be on the lookout for a new invasive species: a crossbred mix of pig that's smarter, more aggressive, highly resistant to injury -- and wreaking havoc everywhere it goes. All this and more in this week's Strange News segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1912 sinking of the Titanic left an indelible mark on Western culture, so it's no surprise that more than a decade later revisionists and fringe theorists continue to claim there's something more to the tragic story. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they take a closer look at the true story of the Titanic.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do private schools and revolution have in common? The answer may surprise you. Join the guys as they bring on their intern Sam Teegardin and for a firsthand look at an strange and insidious conspiracy reaching from the Eastern US seaboard and journeying through locations across the world to fundamentally rock the political foundations of the Turkish state.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is an out-of-the-way ruin in South Africa the oldest human structure on the planet? Or did something other than humans build it? These are the rumors surrounding a place sometimes called Adam's Calendar -- but how do the rumors compare to the facts? Join Ben and Matt as they dive into the story of strange historical ruins.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even without a Facebook profile, the average internet or smartphone user leaves a massive trail of digital breadcrumbs, from publicly available records to purchasing history, forum posts and GPS data -- so what happens when you try to delete this info? Join the guys as they collaborate with Part-Time Genius to explore the ins and outs of your online identity, as well as what you can -- or cannot -- actually delete from the internet.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States government propagandizes missions to shoot unidentified objects from the sky, while a small town in Ohio goes against rail tycoons in hopes of surviving an ecological catastrophe. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When tech billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter, he also stated he would bring more transparency to the inner workings of the social platform. Partnering with several veteran investigative journalists, Musk shared copious internal documents, requesting only that the journalists publish their findings on Twitter first. The result came to be known as the 2022 Twitter Files. To some, this work proves several long-running conspiracy theories. To others, it seems little more than overblown hype. So what's the scoop? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Conspiracy Realist prompts some serious questions about all the balloons making the news these days. Bobo asks whether politics have become a kind of religion. Another Government Worker shares their first hand experience dealing with conspiratorial family members. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For all official purposes, criminal gangs and law enforcement agencies are natural enemies -- yet for decades, communities across the United States have argued a conspiracy is afoot: the same people paid to combat gangs have, themselves, become the monsters they claim to pursue. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into a disturbing, dangerous question: What happens when cops have gangs of their own?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could any real human beings have genuine superpowers? Join the guys as they take a closer look at extraordinary beings across the planet -- and, most importantly, ask who may be attempting to manufacture and control these abilities.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York's former top FBI counterintelligence agent, Charles F. McGonigal, has been indicted for shady dealings with oligarchs. A man in Singapore attempts, for the second time, to sue a woman for rejecting his romantic advances. As mass media keeps people focused on spy balloons, the top-secret Kosmos 2499 Russian satellite appears to disintegrate in orbit -- no one knows what it was doing up there, or why it began to break up. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most folks these days have never heard of Dag Hammarskjöld, but in his time he was a global mover and shaker. As the son of the Swedish Prime Minister, he grew up in halls of power, teaching at a prestigious university, running a bank and, eventually, heading the newly-formed United Nations. Yet his stellar career was cut short by a tragic plane crash while on a secret mission to stop a war. And, more than 60 years later, Ben, Matt and Noel are increasingly certain he was murdered. Was this death an unfortunate plane crash -- or a genuine assassination? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jingle calls, prompting a conversation about glitter and taggants in tasers. Ghost writes in with a deeply disturbing story of MAID -- Medically Assisted In Death -- programs in Canada. Nial hips the gang to the strange, allegedly Neolithic site sometimes called "Adam's Calendar." Agent Winter writes a joke so terrible that we had to put it on air. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the humble egg was seen as a reliably inexpensive, versatile source of nutrition. While the price might spike occasionally, it would inevitably return to normalcy. Until, that is, quite recently. Across various social media platforms, local chicken owners are reporting that not only have eggs been rising in price -- but something in the feed is preventing their own chickens from laying eggs. Is there a conspiracy afoot? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like pure fiction: A tiny part of the United States, tucked away in Yellowstone, where you can commit any crime you like and never go to trial. So what is this so-called Zone of Death, exactly? How does it work? Perhaps most importantly -- could you really get away with... anything?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bioscience company working to de-extinct the Mammoth and the Tasmanian Tiger (if it's actually gone) sets its sights on a new goal: resurrecting the Dodo. TikTok outpaces the LAPD in capturing a Tesla road rager. The CDC announces a disturbing warning about antibiotic-resistant bacteria in eyedrops. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben has disappeared, giving Matt and Noel the perfect chance to catch up on a slew of voicemails in this special listener mail segment. More Broccoli calls in to ask about what makes our taste change -- do kids detect things adults simply can't? A Conspiracy Realist with experience in fire suppression weighs in on the mysterious NYPD Warehouse Fire. A call asks about the alleged underwater pyramids of of the Azores. Tune in for all this and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

M writes in with some (frankly disturbing) stuff the military doesn't want you to know. Snag Daddy shares a strange tale about haunted planes from over in the Pacific. Kevyn prompts a conversation about the nature of style -- can it be copyrighted? All this and more in this week's Listener Mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all been there - you're at a gathering of friends or family, when someone starts to go off the rails, expounding a strange series of unfounded conspiracies (or worse). How do you connect with this person, and help guide them away from the cognitive brink toward the world of critical thought? In the second part of this two-series, the guys explore the tricky process of navigating Conspiracy Realism without judgement or condescension.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join the guys as they hang out with Lucky Yates, the prolific actor and voice of Dr. Krieger of FX's Archer, to explore everything from the frightening future of biotechnology to the (alleged) resurrection of the dodo and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NATO countries pledge tanks to Ukraine, triggering the Doomsday Clock. Ticketmaster is back in the spotlight, and Congress may intervene on behalf of Taylor Swift fans? Stunning breakthroughs in gene therapy pose a series of amazing -- and potentially horrific -- possibilities. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even if you've never seen her films or know her by name, you will almost certainly recognize Marilyn Monroe. This famous Hollywood icon rose to global fame as a model, actress, and socialite -- only to die, officially from an overdose, at the young age of 36. And ever since that day, people around the world have spent decades asking whether there's something more to the official story: Who killed Marilyn Monroe?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conspiracy Realist Mike describes his first hand experience working in the mental health field in the 1990s. A letter about synesthesia prompts a discussion on the nature of experience -- and whether this particular sensory phenomenon can be taught. Toad reaches out to relay some insider info explaining anomalous sonic booms -- and and a (completely unrelated) listener writes in with some distressing observations about farts. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With all the news about art programs like Midjourney, chat applications like ChatGPT and so on, it's no wonder more and more people are concerned 'AI' -- however defined, may put their jobs in danger. But how true is that? Is 'AI' coming for you? Tune in to learn more in the first part of this ongoing series.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you had a chance to save a loved one, would you take it? How far would you go? It's the gang's collective birthday this month, so as a way of saying thanks to you Conspiracy Realists around the world (and beyond), the guys have teamed up with their extended conspiracy family to present a unique tale of morality, of good and evil, and... fast food.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A letter from the self-described 'ultra rich' argues the rich must be taxed to prevent catastrophic inequality. Getty images files a legal complaint on companies making AI-assisted image software. In an interview on state-funded news, 58-year-old serial killer Mikhail Popkov volunteers to join the Russian military. All this and more on today's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a century since the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk, aircraft still seem like a stunning, new -- and potentially terrifying -- invention. It's no wonder that flight, like so many other forms of transit, has become embedded in the the human psyche. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel delve deep into stories of 'haunted' aircraft.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben follows up on augmented reality and the ongoing communications from protestors in Iran. A caller asks for information about the alleged disappearance of the young inventor Max Loughan. A listener writes in to provide a Peruvian perspective on birthrates in agrarian economies. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a lot of information out there these days -- and, unfortunately, a lot of it isn't true. But how can we learn to discern fact from fiction? In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the basis of critical thought and skepticism, and how your own brain can conspire against you in your search for the truth. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rumors are true -- the US government has multiple, highly-fortified shelters and compounds dotting the American landscape, staffed and fully prepared to protect the President and other federal or state officials from widespread disease, natural disasters, nuclear war and more. But how do these things get built? Where are they and -- perhaps most importantly -- what happens to everyone else when the bombs hit? Join the guys as they interview Garrett M. Graff, the author of "Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die."They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research indicates multiple obscure fungal infections are spreading much further than originally thought. On the heels of the attempted coup in Brazil, former president Jair Bolsonaro remains in the United States. Over in Utah, hapless park officials ask people to stop planting strange electronic rigs in mountains near Salt Lake City (spoiler from Ben: I'm pretty sure this is related to crypto). All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a story you might not have heard much about in the global west. While the world has eyes on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, another international border may be on the brink of exploding into open war. For decades the nuclear-capable nations of China and India have quietly been waging a dispute high in the Himalayas -- a conflict fought with sticks, stones and hand-to-hand combat to determine a border. Problem is, neither side ever agreed to a border in the first place. Instead, they call it the "Line of Actual Control." Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a tale that dates back centuries -- a bizarre, spherical ship washes ashore in Japan, containing a single passenger. Visibly female and humanoid, but clothed in strange garments, with unusual hair and skin. Fast forward to the modern day -- experts still aren't sure what exactly happened. What was Utsuro Bune? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they delve into the mystery.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humanity has always had one biological mission: to grow and expand its population. And, since the days of antiquity, great thinkers have been terrified by the idea that, one day, there will simply be too many people on the planet. In today's episode, Ben and Noel explore the numerous concerns about overpopulation, separating fact from fiction as they delve into one of the most disturbing genres of conspiracy: What if the most powerful people in the world are conspiring to murder the less fortunate, all in the name of the Greater Good?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, thousands of people visit national parks across the US. And, tragically, some of them don't return. Join the guys as they interview David Paulides, the prolific author of the Missing 411 series, to learn more about his work and research into these disappearances.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 2023 -- and more shady companies are selling body parts on the sly. Infrastructure attacks continue across the United States, prompting questions about a larger pattern at play. Canada is banning foreign homebuyers, and Japan is begging people to move out of Tokyo. Join Ben and Matt for all this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the investigation into the brutal death of the Shermans dragged on, seemingly with no solid leads, the public and members of the Sherman family grew increasingly disturbed. Both the authorities and the family searched desperately for clues -- and the court of opinion began drawing conclusions of its own. Could a business rival of Barry Sherman's have ordered a hit? Could a foreign government be involved? What should we make of the accusations levied against Barry Sherman's own son? Tune in to learn more in part two of this two-part series. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many people, the word "pyramid" instantly conjures up images of ancient Egypt -- of pharaohs and mummies, treasure and (maybe) curses. But while the pyramids of Egypt may be the most well-known, they are far from the only example of these structures. Join the guys as they explore the stories of pyramids across the globe, including their alleged uses and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, Canadian billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman were discovered dead in their Toronto-area mansion, in a gruesome tragedy that remains unsolved in the modern day. Police initially declared the case a murder-suicide -- a conclusion no one found accurate. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the troubling details of this crime, from the initial investigation up to the profoundly disturbing details of how the murders were carried out, all leading to a single, still-unanswered question: Who killed the Shermans, and why?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, Elon Musk laid out plans to build a permanent colony on Mars -- one with at least a million human inhabitants. What would this colony look like? How would it work? Most importantly, could we use a Martian colony as an opportunity to improve on the socioeconomic practices of Earth? To find these answers, Ben, Matt and Noel went to the smartest guy they know: Marshall Brain, the founder of HowStuffWorks and author of "Imagining Elon Musk's Million-Person Mars Colony."They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warehouse fire in Brooklyn destroys incalculable amounts of NYPD evidence. The app Lensa prompts a conversation about the future of art (which Ben partially predicted). Human-made nuclear fusion is finally real -- but will it work the way humans hope? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since before the dawn of recorded history, the power of belief has been a driving force for human civilization. Spiritual movements have risen and fallen, only to be replaced by other belief systems. Today much of the developed world is considered increasingly secular -- or is it? Join the guys as they explore the strange and troubling question: What if, instead of becoming less religious, the world has simply switched to another religion… the church of money? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries, cultures around the world have told tales of "wild men" lurking in the woods, and reports of these creatures continue in the modern day. So what exactly is Bigfoot? Join the guys as they interview David Bakara, the creator of Expedition: Bigfoot, to learn more about his search for the creature and the inspiration behind his museum. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts believe that millions of undiscovered species exist in the modern day -- but most are tiny microbes and insects. What if there are much larger undiscovered creatures out there? What would they look like? Where would they be? And, if they exist, will human beings ever find them? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 20th century, Europe was a smoldering powder keg of international tension, imperial ambitions and long-held resentments between great powers. Although extensive diplomatic efforts attempt to reconcile and repair relationships between nations, a single assassination by a secret society launched Europe in all-out war. So what was the Black Hand? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like something straight out of a noir film -- an unidentified killer goes on a murder spree and disappears in a clean getaway, taunting the cops before disappearing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn't limited to the world of fiction. Listen in to learn more about killer who (so far) vanished into thin air. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From fast food to mass media, it can be tough to know who really runs a company. In today's episode, the guys dive into the true stories of companies that are either founded by or run by groups the average person would consider... cults. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the 1980s, Russian and US sources have repeatedly claimed that various groups of terrorists are dangerously close to acquiring a mysterious substance known as 'red mercury.' But what exactly is this stuff -- and why can't anyone agree about its chemical makeup, uses, or effects? Tune in and learn why there might be more to the story. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rumors have been building for years: multiple countries now accuse China of illegally setting up police stations abroad, forcing hundreds of innocent people to permanently return to China against their will. So how much of this is propaganda, and how much is true? Tune in to learn more. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, thousands of people across the planet report seeing unidentified flying objects -- and thousands more believe world governments keep secret information about these objects hidden from the public eye. Join the guys as they interview the founder of CSETI and The Disclosure Project, Dr. Steven M. Greer, about the future of government secrets, UFOs and disclosure. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard of facial recognition technology before, and you've definitely seen some representation of it in films and television shows -- but how does the actual tech work? How pervasive is it, and, most importantly, what don't authorities want you to know about it? Join the guys and special guest Jonathan Strickland as they delve past the fiction and explore the disturbing facts surrounding facial recognition. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Earth approaches another holiday season and the end of one more year, the guys start thinking about the passage of time -- and not in the normal way. In this holiday episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the an alleged conspiracy from centuries past, when people throughout England were convinced the powers that be had literally stolen eleven days from their lives. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever tried to disperse clouds with the power of your mind? What should you do if you stumble across a random firearm in public? In this week's listener mail, Ben and Matt explore these questions and more. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guess who's going to win the 2022 World Cup? We can tell you. Tune in to learn more about the past, present and future of FIFA -- one of the world's oldest, most powerful, and most cartoonishly corrupt NGOs. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, mysterious tiles have appeared in dozens of cities across North and South America, touting a strange -- and strangely consistent -- message. But what are the Toynbee Tiles? What is their purpose and who made them? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a story that sounds straight out of a comic book, German authorities announce the arrest of more than twenty people who were apparently on the cusp of attempting to overthrow the government. The FBI raises public concern that China may have secret police stations -- not just in the United States... but in countries across the world. All this and more in this week's Strange News with Ben and Matt. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that human understanding of history is constantly evolving. Each year, experts across the planet make new connections and discoveries that further our understanding of the past. But what if, through incompetence or conspiracy, everyone got it wrong? This is the concept of 'New Chronology,' a strange theory arguing that the vast majority of what we call human history... kind of never happened. Join Ben and Matt as they dive into the tale. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Depression Dave reveals New York's controversial plan to force the mentally ill into treatment facilities -- whether or not they consent. Michigan lights shares a strange tale of flying lights out in Michigan. V asks for more information about the alleged link between hallucinogens and the formation of religion. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true -- Earth's near orbit is filled with all sorts of stuff. Most of it is mundane, and most people honestly don't think about it too often. But, just recently, a mysterious unmanned craft landed after more than 900 days out there in the inky depths of space, prompting Ben and Matt to ask: What the heck is the X-37B actually doing up there -- and why are other countries building their own versions of this ship? Learn more in part two of this two-part series. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 30th, 1945, one of the most infamous men in recent history died by his own hand as Allied forces bore down on his bunker. At least, that’s the official story. Yet for decades historians and theorists across the planet have questioned this narrative -- so what actually happened to Adolf Hitler? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have spotted a black hole energy beam as bright as 1,000 trillion suns pointed directly at Earth. Major tax-filing websites are secretly sharing income data with Meta. Over in San Francisco, law enforcement is deploying robots armed with explosives. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true -- Earth's near orbit is filled with all sorts of stuff. Most of it is mundane, and most people honestly don't think about it too often. But, just recently, a mysterious unmanned craft landed after more than 900 days out there in the inky depths of space, prompting Ben and Matt to ask: What the heck is the X-37B actually doing up there? Tune in for part one of this special two-part series. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manhattan is home to some of the world's most iconic buildings -- but it's also home to something more mysterious: A looming, windowless skyscraper in the heart of Tribeca. The press doesn't have much to say about it, and neither does the telecom that owns the building. So what exactly is going on inside? Tune in as Ben, Matt and Noel explore bizarre buildings and the future of surveillance in this episode, recorded live in Brooklyn during NYCPodfest. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billions of years ago, something about the size of Mars smacked into Earth, launching tons of debris that later became the moon. This means life on Earth has always existed beneath this natural satellite -- so how can the moon affect us? Are all those stories about full moons and erratic behavior true? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For millenia people across the planet have reported seeing bizarre objects in the sky. However, efforts to collect and analyze these reports have often fallen victim to poor methodology, a lack of funding or an overt agenda. Luckily, the situation has changed for the better in recent years. So what does the latest info tell us about UFO sightings? Where are they occur most frequently? The answer might surprise you. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the human species become the most self-aware, successful primate on the planet? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one of this two-part series, a question from a fellow Conspiracy Realist led the gang to explore the idea of 'dangerous' prisoners -- in this follow-up, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the most fascinating part of this question: Why do so many governments consider people dangerous not for their actions... but for their ideas? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fellow Conspiracy Realist asks whether Google is propping up Mozilla to disguise their search engine monopoly. The Driver asks for more details on secret technology from the Vietnam War. Mologato gets Ben on a rant about how the US became so car-centric, prompting a far-reaching conversation about the past, present and future of transit. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that the world's prison systems have tons of serious, fundamental problems -- yet most people can agree some criminals simply cannot be allowed into the public. When a question from a fellow Conspiracy Realist leads Ben, Matt and Noel into a rabbit hole, they ask: Who are the world's most dangerous prisoners? Perhaps more importantly, how do those in power define "danger" in the first place? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did a group of private assassins use a series of sleazy websites as fronts for their base of operations? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they delve into the mysterious story of Lake City Quiet Pills. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former DEA ageny sentenced to 12 years for a string of corruption-related crimes shares his story with the press. Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX crashes, leading to some interesting -- and unproven -- conspiracy theories. After more than 900 days in space, the unmanned X-37B returns to Earth... but no one's saying much about what it was doing up there in the dark for almost two and a half years. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a government decide who can know what? In the modern day, it comes down to something called security clearances. In today's episode the guys explore how the US decides who's trustworthy enough to get the scoop on stuff the public can't know -- and what happens when things go wrong. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiona hips the gang to the bizarre, disturbing tale of a man called -- occasionally -- "Nicholas Rossi." Plaquetos calls for more information about the ongoing Appalachian belief in a certain type of haunting spirit. RC prompts a conversation about the effects the moon may have on your body and mind. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've seen it in countless works of film and fiction -- a shady operative hands someone a folder, marked 'classified,' or 'top secret.' But what is classification in real life? What makes one piece of information fit for the public, and another piece the kind of thing that has to be buried for generations? In today's episode, the guys explore the fact, fiction and controversy surrounding how the government chooses the stuff it doesn't want you to know. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the US, the 1960s were a crucible of culture -- college students, veterans, the disadvantaged and activists across the country sought to overthrow the status quo and build their own vision of a better world. This period in time produced some of the most influential art, music and prose in recent history, and introduced LSD to the mainstream. So why do so many people think it was ultimately a CIA operation? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An indoor security camera captures a strange, disturbing image. The owners of the "White Lives Matter" offer to sell the trademark for a billion dollars. And, with what appears to be absolute sincerity, the good folks at the US National Parks Service are begging locals to stop licking toads for a hallucinogenic experience. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did a little piece of software meant to organize files become the centerpiece of a global conspiracy? In today's episode, the guys dive deep into a twisting, troubled tale of intrigue, spycraft, and murder. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chen calls in with an extraordinary tale of mysterious government agents detaining him at work. The Baron writes in to ask about ancient metal from the stars. Over on Instagram, an anonymous source gives their first-hand experience working in the world of precrime... and how the technology is much further along than the average person might assume. (That last one, in fact, was so frightening that we decided to end on some jokes.) All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the modern day, many individuals define their lives in terms of large financial purchases -- buying a house, a home, or an appliance. Acquiring debt from higher schooling or a medical procedure, and so on. When you can't pay all at once, you get a loan. When you can't get a loan, you look elsewhere... and, it turns out, there's a multibillion dollar industry waiting to sell you a dream. So, what happens next? In today's episode, the guys dive into the troubling evolution of the "rent-to-own" industry, and what it means for the shift from an ownership society to a world of constant renters. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like most other militaries of the time, the Nazi army conducted extensive classified research into all aspects of warfare, from rocketry to drugs, tank improvements and so on. They also delved into more exotic realms, and their endeavors remain a subject of enduring fascination in the modern age. Perhaps the most famous of these legendary experiments is something known as Die Glocke, or the Nazi Bell. But what is it supposed to be, exactly? What does it do? And, if it is real, where did it end up? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials have arrested a suspect in connection to the harrowing Delphi murders. Three men from the Miami area get caught in a multi-state meat heist scheme. Cynical 'conspiracy theories' proliferate in the wake of the attack on Paul Pelosi. The FBI raids the home of journalist James Gordon Meek -- only to find he's disappeared. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why write a book about conspiracies and conspiracy theories? In today's behind-the-scenes episode, the guys explore how the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know book came to be, how they chose what to leave in -- and what they're saving for the next one. Order a copy here.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fellow Conspiracy Realist writes in with a unique perspective on reincarnation. A late-night modem noise triggers a primal response. Ben remains away on what he only describes as a "secret project." All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ShotSpotter is a private company leveraging audio technology and proprietary algorithmns to locate gunfire with an incredibly high degree of accuracy. It's currently deployed across hundreds of square miles of the US -- many proponents argue it saves lives, but critics allege it has some serious problems... including corruption and conspiracy. In the second part of this two-part series, the guys explore the claims, concerns and controversies surrounding ShotSpotter -- including the stories other media made about the company, before those claims were retracted for inaccuracy. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone knows sugar in excessive amounts can have damaging effects on your health -- but just how bad is it, and why do people in the US still consume so much? Join the guys as they delve into the strange story of the decades-long sugar conspiracy. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An update on the ongoing fallout surrounding Kanye West. Investigators are looking for a Fremont family, worried that no one has seen them for four days after recent, erratic behavior from the father. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the close of the Paris Peace Accords, the US and Vietnam agreed to return any POWs to their home country -- however, for decades after the close of the conflict, people in country reported seeing missing American soldiers, sometimes held by foreign officials, sometimes on their own in the jungle. So what happened to the hundreds of missing soldiers in the Vietnam War... and how much did the US government actually know about i99th? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ShotSpotter is a private company leveraging audio technology and proprietary algorithms to locate gunfire with an incredibly high degree of accuracy. It's currently deployed across hundreds of square miles of the US -- many proponents argue it saves lives, but critics allege it has some serious problems... including corruption and conspiracy. In the first part of this two-part series, the guys explore the fact, fiction and controversy surrounding automated gunshot detection systems. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nutrition is a huge deal. The need to eat is one of the very few things all human beings have in common, and nations have risen and fallen based on this fact. Yet even in 2022, not everyone is getting enough of the right stuff to eat. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the concept of food deserts -- including why some people hate the term, and why others think it's the result of a conspiracy. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays many people are familiar with the US government's bizarre psychic experiments -- but what about China's? Join the guys as they explore the strange phenomenon of China's psychic children. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2013, Canadian college student Elisa Lam disappeared while on a solo trip through California. For weeks law enforcement was at a loss to explain the disappearance -- until, that is, a maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel discovered her body in a water tank. And with that, what should have been the end of a tragic tale instead became the prologue to a mystery that, according to many, remains unsolved in the present day: What happened to Elisa Lam?. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest: propaganda is a bit of a dirty word nowadays. When you hear it mentioned in the media, it's almost always framed as a sinister tool of the bad guys -- but make no mistake: every country on the planet deploys propaganda on a regular basis. And the problem is escalating. In today's episode, Ben and Matt explore a stunning, often-ignored aspect of propaganda in the United States. About ten years ago, Uncle Sam quietly made it absolutely legal to lie to the American public. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener from the world of government regulation writes with surprising insider information about the great glitter mystery. Multiple Conspiracy Realists share differing opinions on the Shotspotter technology. Sources familiar with fishing contests follow up on the latest cheating scandal. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the vast majority of experts can largely agree on the basics of human evolution, from the early days of the first populations migrating out of the African continent to the dawn of agriculture, the written word and, quite recently, industrialization. But what if this isn't the first time Earth was home to an industrialized society? Could it be possible that some other civilization rose -- and fell -- far before our own? Tune in to learn more about the Silurian Hypothesis. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the 1950s, the National Security Agency has been responsible for collecting, analyzing and verifying a vast amount of signals intelligence, ostensibly to protect the people of the United States. Over the decades the agency has grown to become one of the world's premiere repositories of intelligence -- everything from internet search histories to phone calls and texts, as well. In the final days of President Obama's administration the NSA was quietly allowed to share this information with every other US intelligence agency. So what happens next? They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research shows cavity-causing microbes can form superorganisms able to ‘crawl’ and spread on teeth. William Shatner experiences the Overview Effect after Bezos takes him to space. Edmonton police face widespread backlash after they use DNA evidence to make a computer sketch of a suspect, prompting fears of widespread, unfair profiling. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many people, monster stories are just that -- stories. Tall tales and folklore meant to entertain an audience. However, you might be surprised to learn that people around the world still genuinely believe in some supernatural entities. Tune in and learn more in part two of this two-part series. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unwilling Stardust writes in with a harrowing account of Iran's growing protests. Coinkydink asks why peanut allergies seem to be on the rise. Agent Minuteman hips the crew to the strange story of Holy Land, USA. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many people, monster stories are just that -- stories. Tall tales and folklore meant to entertain an audience. However, you might be surprised to learn that people around the world still genuinely believe in some supernatural entities. Tune in and learn more in part one of this two-part series. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From fictional works like the Necronomicon to the all-too-real Key of Solomon, humanity has long been obsessed with the idea of ancient tomes holding hidden, unholy and possibly dangerous secrets. But where do these grimoires come from? How many are hoaxes, and are there any legitimate works out there?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has created a new Ambassador exclusively for plants -- and good thing, too, because plants just learned to use machetes. The world of competitive fishing is rocked by a scandalous cheating incident. A series of murders in California raises concerns that a serial killer may be on the loose. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most of us think of glitter, we think of arts and crafts -- not a conspiracy. But, as it turns out, the glitter industry has a strange, enduring secret. One group is buying the majority of the glitter in the United States... and the glitter companies have vowed never to make this information public. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the strange secrets of the Glitter Conspiracy. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A-Frame asks whether the wildest conspiracies are, themselves, part of a larger conspiracy to bury stories those in power would prefer we ignore. A caller asks for more information about the dystopian Shotspotter system. Knotta Tweaker asks for more information about the nature of facts. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1996, hundreds of thousands of Belgian citizens marched in public protest against an apparent conspiracy of the highest order -- the kidnapper and serial murderer Marc Dutroux was, they claimed, not acting alone. In today's interview, Ben and Matt sit down with special guest Matt Graves, the creator and host of Le Monstre, to learn more about this case. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make no mistake: the United States is a car culture, and the extreme sprawl of the country means the vast majority of citizens can’t realistically live without their cars. This has inevitably led to enormous amounts of pollution and (some would argue) wars over the resources needed to keep the car culture going. So what if there was an alternative? Why would someone cover it up? They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharma company Biogen is on the hook for 900 millions dollars due to allegations of an unethical kickback scheme. Brett Favre is under suspicion of financial corruption in Mississippi. An American Airlines flight was, apparently, haunted by the sounds of a man groaning over the intercom for the duration of the trip -- and no one's sure what happened. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The small town of Circleville, Ohio is, in most respects, a normal place. It has all the usual trappings of a small community: churches, grocery stores... and a few skeletons in the figurative closet. Back in the 1970s, it was terrorized by a series of strange, anonymous letters threatening to expose some of the town's most scandalous secrets. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive into the mystery of the Circleville letters -- a mystery that remains, to some, unsolved in the modern day. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many governments has the US overthrown? In today's special episode, we're sharing an excerpt from our upcoming Stuff They Don't Want You To Know audiobook. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of a horrific civil war, El Salvador found itself confronted with enormously pervasive, deadly gang activity -- it seemed the official law enforcement channels were often incapable of fighting back against the flood of crime. Until, that is, a new organization came out of the shadows -- unaccountable to authorities, unstoppable, and brutal. Today's question: What is La Sombra Negra? They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries self-assured academics believed Troy was a mythological city -- until, that is, the ruins were discovered. Over the span of history, the human species has lost people, cities and entire civilizations. Occasionally, governments don't want these lost empires to be found. So what happens when a controversial linguist claims to discover an ancient people spanning Iran to Southern China? They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story began, officially, in 2017 -- multiple US government employees stationed abroad began reporting eerily similar symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort to intense headaches and debilitating ringing in the ears. Soon this became known as "Havana Syndrome." So what, exactly, is it? This question has fascinated Ben, Matt and Noel almost as much as today's special guest, Jack O'Brien. In today's episode, the guys team up to separate fact from fiction in this strange, ongoing saga. (Bonus: We quiz Jack on conspiracies at the end). They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conman in Kansas has just been sent to prison for a long series of illegal autopsy schemes. Self-appointed technocrats float the idea of poor people functioning as NPCs online. The Pentagon, in a stunning damage control initiative, pledges to conduct a 'sweeping review' of their own, ongoing psyop activities -- spoiler, this last story affects you directly. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven shares his inside experience working in the space industry. Alice writes to explain the tricky issue of translation applied to the Quran. Tyler points out the ocean is littered with shipwrecks... and there may be dangerous consequences for this in the future. We end the whole thing with Humorous Harry's handmade, immensely groan-worthy jokes. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever encountered a place with an inexplicable bad vibe? Do you believe events of the past can leave an intangible mark affecting the present? In some cases, people combat these concerns through spiritually-based cleansing rituals -- but there's more to the story. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries communities in France and Spain practiced a brutal, widely-accepted system of discrimination against a group of families and individuals known as Cagots -- but who were these people? Where did they come from, and where are they now? They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Oklahoma County inmate was found dead while embroiled in a case alleging he had been psychologically tortured by the "Baby Shark" song. An alleged incident of cheating in chess. In international news, the world receives stunning confirmation that the Russian government has been using dark money to twist foreign government for years ... and we still don't know just how much money we're talking. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you're hiking through the Scottish countryside, and hear a low, long hum. You look up to see -- something. You take photos, and send them to the local newspaper. The newspaper, strangely, never publishes the story. And that's only the beginning of the Calvine UFO saga. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bad Ghost hips us to a recent plane hijacking, targeting a Walmart. Roadrunner asks where the world's most dangerous prisoners are kept. Lactrodectus inspires an upcoming episode on conspiracies surrounding food deserts. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes one belief system a religion, and another a cult? How can non-religious organization themselves be cults? In part two of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore modern cultic organizations. Warning: this episode not be appropriate for all listeners. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries various groups claimed they'd discovered the remnants of Noah's Ark, the legendary wooden ship of Biblical fame. Despite controversy, skepticism and numerous dead ends, the search continues into the present day. And, what's more, several Ark hunters believe there's a conspiracy afoot -- the secular world knows the Ark is real, they argue, but work to suppress the truth. Why?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turtles and turkeys attack humans. Kangaroos overrun a small Australian town. A man in Japan loses his hologram wife when a company stops supporting her software. Out in space, NASA's ambitious DART program aims to alter the direction of a near-Earth asteroid. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes one belief system a religion, and another a cult? How can non-religious organization themselves be cults? In part one of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore modern cultic organizations. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first-hand account of finding poop in the mail. A deep dive into the world of spycraft and software. An exploration of the facts behind rare blood types. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever spoken with a spy? How do you use critical thinking to cut past the noise of mass media and propaganda? In today's interview, Ben, Matt and Noel welcome special guest Jordan Harbinger to discuss his incredible adventures in North Korea, his deep-dive conversations with everyone from celebrities to spies and defectors, as well as his approach to critical thinking -- and much, much more. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the old stories of Viking Berserkers to the rise of the Assassins and more, humanity has spent millennia using drugs as a way to explore spirituality, repair the body -- and, sometimes, to gain an edge in combat. But how prevalent was this practice? How does it continue in the modern day?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Governor of Mississippi warns people to avoid drinking any water from Jackson. A Texas law accidentally flags the bible -- and Florida rejects other dictionary donations due to a similar policy. Should plants have legal rights? It's a debate that may be on the horizon. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, locals near England's B3212 spun a strange tale: a pair of disembodied hands might just take the wheel while you're driving -- and you just might crash. But how did this story come about? Why are so many people convinced they've encountered the infamous Hairy Hands? They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janky Jay has a chance encounter with the ghost in her machine, Al sends us down a Swedenborg rabbit hole and the Baron Upon Eaton relays an ancient vision of Venus. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour. q42Jk3hzLwhkSAHQx9CjThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the War on Drugs continues, cartels have grown from street-level gangs to something like corporations, complete with diversified portfolios of criminal activity. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore what happens when organized crime functions as a corporate entity -- and what happens when cartels begin to supplant actual governments. They don’t want you to read our book. They don’t want you to see us on tour.  They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many secret military bases exist around the world? How many of those are active, and how many abandoned? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they explore both the specific discovery of Project Iceworm and the larger practice of building top-secret bases around the globe.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disgruntled man takes revenge on politicians by mailing feces. Meta (formerly Facebook) is under scrutiny after sharing info that led law enforcement to investigate someone for the now-illegal act of abortion. Amazon's proposed purchase of iRobot, the maker of Roomba, has privacy advocates furious -- and they're concerned about something much more dangerous than an automated vacuum. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As humanity pushes ever closer to global catastrophe -- and non-human life on planet Earth struggles to survive -- a growing body of experts argue for any number of strategies to repair and maintain the world's ecosystems. In recent decades, more and more individuals and communities have deployed a new (or very, very old) approach to sustainable life on Earth: a system called permaculture. But what is it, exactly?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades various individuals and organizations with the Catholic Church were dogged by rumors of horrific abuse – and, eventually, it turned out that several of those rumors were true. But how far back does this abuse go, and how widespread is it? Listen in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 2002, the International Criminal Court has served as a "court of last resort" with a jurisdiction that spans the globe from its headquarters in The Hague. It investigates crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity and more. It has a near-global reach -- with some notable exceptions. Back when the court formed, several countries refused to sign on, and the US went even further, passing a law that said "look, if you try to touch any US national, we are invading your court." Today's question: Would they really do it?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tucked away in a stretch of rural land in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, the radio quiet zone is 13,000 square miles of near-total electronic silence. What’s going on in this area where cellphones don’t work and microwaves are illegal? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all seen truth serum in any number of big screen thrillers, or read about it in fanciful crime novels. A spy, a terrorist, even a high-ranking politician gets shot up with a mysterious substance that has them, despite all their efforts, revealing top-secret information: the location of a hidden treasure, the codes to a nuclear weapon, the true identity of a mysterious mob kingpin. But is there a real truth serum -- a genuine chemical that could make you conspire against yourself? In this episode, Ben and Matt find out. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How common are psychopaths? Is it possible that you've met one? Join the guys as they explore the fact, fiction and controversy surrounding one of the world's most widely misunderstood mental illnesses.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These days, it's common knowledge that governments hide any number of things from the public -- but how deep does the rabbit hole go? According to Bob Lazar, the US government has been hiding the existence of extraterrestrials for decades (if not longer). In today's episode, Ben and Matt explore Lazar's claims, his critics -- and the vast conspiracy Bob believes exists, largely unknown to the public, in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wee hours of February 25th, 1942, air raid sirens resounded across LA. Anti-aircraft guns fired the better part of 1500 shells at something. To many people, that mysterious UFO has yet to be identified, more than half a century later. So what really happened?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For nearly half a century people around the world have believed the moon landing was faked. If that were true, how could people possibly perpetrate such a massive hoax? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they interview Matt Johnson about his film Operation Avalanche.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fellow Conspiracy Realist shares first-hand experiences with Big Brother at your Job. K Dubs calls in with more info about the dangers of privatized testing in the private sphere. Naked Mole Rat writes in with a crucial clarification on the guy's earlier conversation about Guinea Pigs. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the politics of Arkansas to the heights of Presidential power, Bill and Hillary Clinton have become one of the world's most influential political power couples -- and, along the way, they've garnered a ton of allegations and accusations. In part two of this series, Ben and Matt dive into the allegations surrounding Whitewater, financial shenanigans and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the politics of Arkansas to the heights of Presidential power, Bill and Hillary Clinton have become one of the world's most influential political power couples -- and, along the way, they've garnered a ton of allegations and accusations. But how many of these are true, and how many are smear campaigns and conspiracy theories? In part one of this two-part series, the guys dive into the world of Clinton conspiracies.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could your favorite sports be fixed? Join Ben, Matt and Noel for their continuing interview with author Brian Tuohy as they explore the murky world behind the sports headlines - a world comprised of illegal gambling, extortion, blackmail and organized crime.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Jones faces the latest legal proceedings regarding Sandy Hook. Rainwater across the world is riddled with harmful chemicals. A mysterious sinkhole emerges in Chile. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true: financial institutions are, indeed, buying up homes and turning them into rentals. But should this be a cause for concern? In the second part of this two-part series, the guys look at the strategy these companies use when choosing homes (or entire neighborhoods), as well as how this came about, and what it means for the average homebuyer competing in the same areas.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A caller prompts a conversation about the booming black market for airbags. It seems some power companies are using smart thermometers to mess with their customer's temperature settings. Over in Australia, multiple Conspiracy Realists are startled to find the infamous case of the Somerton Man might just be solved. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the United States, would-be homebuyers are telling a similar story: after weeks or months of searching, they finally find a home they can afford -- only to be outbid by another buyer, often offering to pay in cash, at thousands of dollars above the asking price. What's going on? According to multiple reports, the answer isn't just wealthy families -- instead, they argue, financial institutions are moving in, buying up not just homes, but entire neighborhoods. Is this just a rumor? Is there something more to the story? Tune in to find out in part one of this two-part series.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could it be possible that your favorite sports are fixed? Join the guys as they interview Brian Tuohy, author of The Fix is In, on the murky connections between sports, gambling, politics and organized crime in the first part of this two-episode series.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers buys a lottery ticket for all 50,000 of his employees. Observers are baffled by a series of mysterious holes in the ocean floor. Perhaps most disturbingly, a new algorithm created over at the University of Chicago seems to accurately predict crimes a week before they occur -- and exposes deep biases in law enforcement. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To some, Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies are the future of finance, deregulated and free from the problems of the existing financial others. To critics, they're little more than a bad investment or an outright ponzi scheme. But what happens when the coins begin to crash? In today's episode, the guys explore what led to the ongoing Bitcoin crash -- and why some believe there's more to the story.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poppy Hotdog asks whether the recent Supreme Court comes from an ulterior motive. Conspiracy Realists share experiences with a brutal -- at times conspiratorial -- housing market. Earth Shaman inspires a realistic exploration of the reality of self-sustaining communities. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, Google engineer Blake Lemoine made international news with his claims that the company's creation LaMDA - Launguage Model for Dialogue Applications - has become sentient. While Google does describe LaMDA as "breakthrough conversation technology," the company does not agree with Lemoine -- to say the least. In part two of this two-part series, Ben and Matt explore the critics' responses -- as well as Lemoine and LaMDA's takes. (Note: shortly after this recording, Lemoine was officially fired from Google.)They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cannibalism is an ancient taboo, but how often has it actually occurred? Join the guys in this classic episode as they explore the grisly rumors and frightening facts behind history’s stories of cannibalism.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon has been giving Ring videos to law enforcement, without the consent of the owners. Someone in LA stole millions' dollars worth of jewelry from a Brinks armored truck. Over in Russia, two politicians are claiming the government of Ukraine, with the help of the US, is experimenting on soldiers. The West keeps calling these alleged supersoldiers 'mutants' -- problem is, that's not what the Russians said, at all. Tune in for all this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, Google engineer Blake Lemoine made international news with his claims that the company's creation LaMDA - Launguage Model for Dialogue Applications - has become sentient. While Google does describe LaMDA as "breakthrough conversation technology," the company does not agree with Lemoine -- to say the least. In part one of this two-part series, Ben and Matt explore the nature of sentience, along with the statements of not just Google and Lemoine -- but LaMDA itself.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Bill, Mark and Neil receive a series of new packages seeming to, for the first time, reveal the true fate of the infamous University Six. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the Quaker Oats company really do experiments on children? Join Matt and Ben as they dig into the checkered past of this cereal monolith.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man in Oklahoma claims he committed murder to prevent the victim from summoning Bigfoot. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is assassinated. It turns out millions of people believe experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider may have pushed reality into "another timeline." All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we better understand the growing, mainstream interest in UFOs? In this interview, Ben, Matt and Noel are joined by MJ Banias, host of Alien State, to explore his anthropological approach to humanity's attempt to understand those things it cannot yet explain. MJ agrees with Ben's description of UFOs as modern folklore -- and expands upon that concept.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is permaculture, exactly? Why does the US have a law allowing them to invade the Hague? Anonymous sources reach out to Ben to ask about a strange conspiracy: is Amazon supporting a Tik Tok grift to swindle writers? All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you had a credit score that measured more than just your wallet? What if it took into account your political leanings, Internet traffic, and social media statements -- and what if the same stuff from your friends could affect your score? These are the concerns of Sesame Credit.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Bill, Mark and Neil receive a strange package with no return address only to find it contains a mysterious video that may, for the first time, reveal the true fate of the infamous University Six. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang reacts to the news about the partial destruction -- and then total demolition -- of the Georgia Guidestones. People get various medical operations to avoid restroom breaks on the trek from Manhattan to Long Island. Other people seem set on using cosplay to make the new Minions film a cult classic. And... could a newly-researched variety of plastic-eating worms save humanity from the looming disaster of plastic pollution? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Months after the murder of Teresita Basa, her former coworker began falling into trances, a voice identifying itself as Teresita issuing from her mouth. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, these statements turned out to be true, leading to the conviction of 32 year-old Allen Showers. But what's the real story? Was this justice beyond the grave or beyond the law?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexandra looks for more information on a cult called the Body. On Instagram, Jessica explores the strange stories of cartels and exotic animals. Travis and Sam in Japan describe their own experiences with blood donation bans. Ben and Matt explore all this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Academic journals are vital to the advancement of science -- and the advancement of scientists' careers. These subject-specific periodicals play a huge role in dispersing the latest knowledge in any given field. In short, they're a good thing. But they're also a huge business, which means they have a dark side. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive deep into the stuff this industry doesn't want you to know.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016 Wikileaks released a cache of internal emails from the Democratic National Committee. "Unnamed experts" trace this event back to Russian hackers. But who are these hackers? What proof exists? And, most importantly, who hacked democracy?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A loophole allows for legal cannabis-like substances in Japan. Unexplained deaths plague the Bahamas and South Africa. Ghislaine Maxwell receives a 20-year sentence, a 'human-flavored' vegan burger wins a marketing award -- and something left mysterious craters on the Moon. It was almost certainly a rocket... so why won't any world government own up to launching it? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the nature of reality? How much of it is objective -- and how much a matter of the ways in which we encounter the world around us? In today's interview, the guys sit down with Jeff Hull, the creator of Nonchalance, the Jejune Institute, the Latitude Society and more for a wide-ranging conversation touching on everything from the splintering of subjective reality to the future of gaming and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the conclusion of their two part interview with Robert Mazur, the guys explore the ins and outs of money laundering. Tune in to learn how dirty money gets clean - and what happens (or doesn't happen) to the bad guys when they're caught.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wagner Group is sometimes described as a paramilitary group, a private military company, or a loose group of mercenaries working directly for Russian President Vladimir Putin. While you may not have heard of them, they've been active in conflicts across the world, earning a dubious reputation for their actions. But what is the group, exactly? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first part of this two-episode series, the guys interview the legendary US Customs and Drug Enforcement agent Robert Mazur. Using the cover identity of Bob Musella, Mazur and his team tracked the shadowy financial dealings of drug traffickers all the way to the international bank that aided them - and brought that bank down. Listen in as Mazur gives an eyewitness account of his harrowing experience, close calls, ultimate victory and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quick-thinking Florida man stops his own kidnapping, prompting a conversation about how to handle these and similar situations. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is detained in Washington, DC. The government of China goes public with their goal of reviewing every single social media comment going forward -- and, in their statement, they ask for comments on the proposed legislation. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you live in the US, you may not have heard of Adnan Oktar. Yet if you live in Turkey or practice Islam, you’re almost certainly familiar with charismatic, controversial figure. Up until recently, he was a well-known media mogul; an author and spiritual leader with his own, distinct take on Islam. In today’s episode, Ben and Noel explore Oktar’s rise and fall, from his origins to his heyday as a cult leader surrounded by scantily-clad followers — to his ultimate arrest on multiple charges, from the sexual abuse of minors to complicity in a coup.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jasper writes in with an excellent explanation of how cancer works -- and how cancerous cells can be stopped. Tall Pockets relays an interesting encounter with an inventor, asking for glamour shots of something that is "most definitely not a bomb." Justin and Joe from Facebook ask for more information about a recent groundbreaking innovation: Could humans, one day soon, acquire a bootleg form of telekinesis? All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can history teach us about the present? How can the average person use critical thinking to avoid being taken in by slick infographics and ardent pundits? In today’s interview, Ben, Matt and Noel sit down with legendary economist, author and podcaster Tim Harford to learn more about the importance of critical thinking, economics, and empathy.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Modern civilization relies on the concept of debt. Wars are fought over it, loves lost and revolutions launched. So what would happen if, one day, it disappeared? Is it even possible? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google employee Blake Lemoine is on leave after going public with his belief that the company's "Language Models for Dialog Applications," or LaMDA, is alive. A high-ranking member of Mexican law enforcement has been sanctioned for his long-standing, deeply illegal arrangement with a drug cartel. Over in Utah, a bank has been flagged for issuing 189% interest loans through auto repair shops. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may sound hard to believe, but a great deal of Earth's modern electronics -- everything from jets to your smartphone -- depend on just a few substances, things called rare earth metals, or rare earth elements. While you might not hear about them too often, they're one of the hottest commodities on the planet. As you check out today's episode, countries, companies, and a few very powerful people across the world are scrambling to get a piece of the profits -- and they're increasingly less concerned with who might get hurt along the way.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An instagram user hips the guys to a bizarre, frightening study of fish off the coast of Florida -- they're testing positive for pharmaceutical drugs, in huge amounts. A caller asks for more information on a little-understood spike in brain tumors in New Jersey. Ben and Matt share phone calls from across the United States responding to recent episodes. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each and every year, billions of children take some form of standardized tests. In theory these tests help measure how much a child has learned, allowing educators to gauge each kid's progress. Yet standardized testing in the US has a troubling origin story, one that's not often talked about. Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public wifi can be an enormously convenient thing -- it helps people dodge data charges in coffee shops, airports and other places around the globe. But how safe is it? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CEO of Axon thought he had a solution to mass shootings in schools: putting taser-equipped drones in public facilities. Axon's ethics board resigned, but the story's not over yet. Researchers reveal an unprecedented finding -- it seems a new drug has completely eliminated all traces of a very specific type of cancer. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Americans can agree that society isn't perfect -- in fact, most people in other parts of the world can say the same about their own societies. But how can we attempt to address these issues? Is there genuinely a conspiracy between the world's wealthiest people to keep the disadvantaged divided? This week, the guys welcome special guest, author, comedian and philosopher Baratunde Thurston to explore these questions and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the majority of human history, a failing vital organ was a death sentence. Yet hard-won lessons from countless tragic medical experiments have given modern humans the amazing ability to swap a failing organ from a healthy one, often with good odds of surviving the operation. So where do the organs come from? Is there really any truth to the rumors of an illegal organ trade?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some, outsourcing is perfectly fine -- for others, it's dangerous. In today's episode, the guys dive into the ins and outs of outsourcing, from the advantages to the drawbacks... to the conspiracies and corruption surrounding it.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For millennia humankind has dreamed of reaching the heavens, and in recent decades several countries have begun turning these dreams into reality. Yet the path to the stars isn't all altruism and noble scientific advancement -- in fact, human activities in space have often been shrouded in secrecy, and the practice continues today.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brazen thieves make off with priceless religious artifacts in Brooklyn. AI pushes the boundaries of art. Recent sleuthing reveals the US government has a collection of contingency plans for any imaginable number of apocalyptic scenarios. Congress has no idea what they are -- which means American voters have no say in what might go down. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Past and current philosophers often argue the future of humanity is found not on Earth, but in the stars. In recent decades, private entities have pushed the boundaries of technology, achieving milestones once relegated to the scope of state-level powers. As organizations like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin reach historic breakthroughs, more and more people wonder: Should humanity's exploration of the cosmos be beholden to profit-driven entities? To paraphrase Alfred E. Neuman -- "What, me worry?"They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like many inventors, Thomas Midgeley Jr. was certainly driven -- but he seemed driven to constantly create increasingly dangerous, deadly substances. As more and more Americans become concerned about various Supreme Court rulings being overturned, people across the country are trying to figure out just what happens when a trigger law goes into effect. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Dr. Charles Scudder and Joey Odom moved to a remote location in rural Georgia, they sought to create their own, personal paradise — complete with drugs, sex and occult symbolism. Locals agreed the men were eccentric, but, by all accounts, friendly and non-threatening. They seemed set to continue living out their strange social experiment in peace — until one violent day changed everything.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How reliable are your memories? Is it possible that, somehow, history is changing? People around the world believe the past isn't as static as it might appear. Join the guys as they delve into the strange phenomenon known as the Mandela effect, touching on allegations of the multiverse, conspiracies and the tricky nature of memory.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital product placement may be the future of cinema. Police in Highland Park seize a building an demand two cars as payment. The UN and multiple experts warn the planet that we have about 9-10 weeks before global food supplies reach a critical shortage. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By almost every metric imaginable, China is a huge country -- and its government works around the clock to control the flow of domestic and international information. As Hollywood studios become increasingly dependent on profits from the Chinese market, they're forced to obey China's exacting guidelines regarding what can or can not be shown on screen. In today's episode, the guys explore the evolution of China's censorship regime -- and how it's changing the world of blockbuster film.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever searched for something online, only to find an eerily related series of ads popping up at each website you visit afterward? If so, you've encountered the Brave New World of targeted online advertising. But is it a force for good? For ill? Join the guys and special guest Jonathan Strickland as they explore the facts, fiction and controversy surrounding online ads.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As speculation over multiple reports of bizarre phenomena in the sky grows at an unprecedented pace, the United State Congress recently held a public hearing on the nature of UFOs. In today's interview, the guys sit down with returning guest Jeremy Corbell for an insider's view on the nature of the hearing, the substance of the things Congress did (or did not) address, as well as what this hearing may mean for the future of UFO research. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look -- up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a ...chemtrail? You've probably heard of these allegedly poisonous strips of stuff streaking across the sky, but what are they, exactly? Tune in to learn more in this classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent studies indicate fecal microbial transplantation may mitigate age-related disorders... and no one's sure how it works. In Canada, a self-declared Queen is in hot water for telling people not to pay utility bills. A Congressional investigation reveals a conspiracy between the largest meat producers in the United States. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memory is, when you think about it, a super power. The ability to relive past experiences can help inform and shape our decisions about the present and the future. Yet memory is unfortunately, surprisingly malleable. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the art of changing memories -- and why some people spend a lot of time attempting to control what people and society think of as "history."They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple bodies surface as drought lowers Lake Mead to unprecedented levels -- and locals seem sure more will be uncovered. Uhura prompts a conversation about lucid dreaming techniques. Chance hips the gang to the strange story of Paul Amadeus Dienach. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2014 a group of people looking for their missing coworker stumbled across a run-down building in Ibadan's Soka forest. While they didn't find their coworker, they did find a horrific scene: multiple body parts, personal possessions, decaying corpses, and people alive -- barely -- in chains. It appeared someone had been kidnapping and butchering innocents... but that's just the beginning of the story. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed to investigate paranormal phenomena, confronting the forces of darkness with the power of faith. They've inspired numerous films and become a part of American folklore -- so how much of their story is true?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three tourists were found dead at Bahamas resort, and a woman was also airlifted to Miami-area hospital. A copy of the infamous 'Wicked Bible' was just found in New Zealand. In an historically unprecedented leak, an anonymous source revealed what appears to be a US Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It happens every year as tax season comes around in the US. Numerous media outlets publish excoriating investigations of wealthy corporations and individuals that, somehow, don't seem to be paying taxes. And the majority of American citizens believe the system is, in one way or another, broken. But what gives? Why are so many people convinced the wealthy conspire to avoid paying their taxes? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's listener mail, the gang shares stories from Conspiracy Realists across the planet, each of whom weighs in with their own experiences regarding unions. Some love them, some hate them, some consider them a necessary evil -- and every story creates a new conversation.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may not have heard of Love Canal, but it remains one of the most disturbing environmental tragedies (and cover-ups) in US history. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into a real-life conspiracy that fundamentally changed how the country approaches the consequences of pollution. Tune in to learn how the Love Canal tragedy is partly true crime, partly parable, and partly a harbinger of future tragedies... possibly coming to a town near you.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 1979 to 1986, an unknown serial killer assaulted and murdered at least 10 people. As of 2016, he was still uncaught. So who was he? Is it possible to find the Original Night Stalker? Find out with Ben, Matt, and Noel in this classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the country, a series of bizarre disasters -- from fires to outright plane crashes -- prompts public speculation that someone, somewhere, may be conspiring to destroy the US food supply. A woman is found dead after a run-in with a cop accused of corruption. A megadrought in the western US forces communities to consider some extreme decisions: water, or electricity? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like something straight out of a noir film -- an unidentified killer goes on a murder spree and vanishes, taunting the cops before disappearing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn't limited to the world of fiction. Learn more about murderers who remain on the loose in in the second part of this two-part update on serial killers who, as of today, seem to have escaped justice.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget everything you learned about 'genies' from Aladdin - tales of the Jinn, also called Djinn, are ancient and not at all as family-friendly as Disney might have you believe. So what are these mysterious creatures, exactly? Join the guys as they delve into the strange story of smokeless fire, parallel worlds and hidden, sentient life.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like something straight out of a noir film -- an unidentified killer goes on a murder spree and vanishes, taunting the cops before disappearing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn't limited to the world of fiction. Learn more about murderers who remain on the loose in the 2022 update to this continuing series.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've probably heard of shell companies, tax havens and offshore trusts. But how common are they? How many people use these techniques as a way to squirrel away money from the prying eyes of taxpayers, governments and non-billionaires? What exactly did these Panama Papers reveal?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deaths of 2 Russian oligarchs within 48 hours add to wave of executives found dead in ‘suspicious’ circumstances. Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter prompts a discussion about the nature of a privately-owned public sphere. A definition of 'girl' prompts one man to send internet death threats to the staff of Merriam-Webster. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the days before and during World War II, German tycoons make billions off the horrors of the Third Reich -- and largely got away with profiting from those atrocities. In today's interview, Ben and Matt are joined with special guest, author and journalist David de Jong, who spent years researching the disturbing, hidden story of business dynasties that actively collaborated with Nazi powers and continue to profit from that relationship today. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An anonymous healthcare professional outlines the ways in which your own medical info may be used against you. S emails to follow up on vaccine questions and alien pregnancies. A caller asks for more information about the bizarre case of Georgia's Corpsewood Manor. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legend sounds like something out of The Twilight Zone. A group of renegade Ivy League scientists gather in secret, in a small, abandoned town, to conduct bizarre experiments... and they discover a path to an alternate universe. But where, exactly, did this legend come from? What's the line between fact and fiction? Tune in to learn more about Ong's Hat.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2015 alone more than 300 million people visited the US national park system. Some stayed for a few hours, others for a few days - and, occasionally, some never make it out. Join the guys as they take a closer look at the fact, fiction and conjecture surrounding disappearances in national parks.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech giant Google has reportedly unblurred several formerly secret Russian military sites on Google Maps. A self-driving car in San Francisco attempts to escape police. Long-running conspiracy site Infowars files bankruptcy as Alex Jones continues to fight Sandy Hook defamation charges in court. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every town has its own rumors, tall tales and legends, and Springfield, Missouri is no exception. This idyllic American city is home to US Highway 66, some great barbecue, a vast underground of tunnels -- and, allegedly, vampires. So how did this rumor start, exactly? Is there any truth to the stories? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samurai provides a heartbreaking experience with body brokers, prompting an exploration of unique, alternative funeral rites. Colonel Buffington describes phishing scams run amok. Jolly Green Giant calls in with an intriguing question about the effects of cannabis on human dreams. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays, almost everyone knows the trope of the tinfoil hat -- it's common in all sorts of fiction, often meant as visual shorthand to indicate the person wearing this hat is... weird. But how did something as mundane as tinfoil become associated with paranoia and conspiracy? In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel get to the bottom of this strange, strange story.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's in the water in Flint? Did city officials really cover up a potentially deadly situation? Tune in as Ben, Matt and Noel look into the Stuff They Don't Want You to Know about the Flint water crisis.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report released by the Pentagon appears to indicate at least one witness in an alleged alien abduction believes she became pregnant as a result. Two mysterious men successfully faked being Federal agents. Over in Europe, one guy may have set the record for most vaccinations ever, as part of a vaccine card scam. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April of 1964, a police officer in New Mexico named Lonnie Zamora halted a high speed chase when he saw something strange fall from the sky. As he got closer to the crash site, things became stranger and stranger -- he was convinced he'd seen something extraordinary. Soon after, the FBI, the Air Force, and the Army agreed with him. So what makes the Lonnie Zamora incident so famous in the world of UFOs? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brett from Facebook hips the gang to the story of Marcus Hutchins, a hacker who singlehandedly saved the internet. Justin responds to Ben's earlier questions about the sticky -- and dangerous -- ethics of medical impants, especially when they become outdated. Talbot asks for more details about the mysterious, controversial Killenworth Mansion, currently functioning as a country house for the Russian government. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While they're not as common as they once were, labor unions are back in the news as employees of companies like Amazon, Starbucks and more choose to organize, pushing for better pay, more rights and so on. In part two of this two-part episode, Ben and Matt explore the present -- and future -- of unions and union busting.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Given the sheer size of the universe, it's overwhelmingly likely that some form of alien life exists - so where the heck are they? Tune in to this classic episode to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and multiple eyewitnesses state Russia is actively committing war crimes. The pandemic led to a baby bust, rather than a baby boom. The rise of male birth control seems on the horizon. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While they're not as common as they once were, labor unions are back in the news as employees of companies like Amazon, Starbucks and more choose to organize, pushing for better pay, more rights and so on. In part one of this two-part episode, Ben and Matt explore the history of unions (which can themselves be conspiratorial)... as well as the powerful forces seeking to destroy unions, or prevent them from forming in the first place.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent mishap in Kingsport, Tennessee highlights a long history of brushes with industrial disaster. Riding around with a gas mask in Idaho just might land you a long interview with the FBI. Hank calls in with some fantastic show ideas. All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many nuclear weapons exist? Since the days of the Manhattan Project, nuclear weaponry has redefined war -- and the global order. So how many nuclear weapons exist? The answer, it appears, is the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the guys welcome returning special guest Damien Patrick Williams (aka @Wolven) as they explore the bizarre confluence of the occult and technology in the modern age, from AI oracles to the nature of consciousness, secret codes of cities and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out UFOs are real. Declassified documents make Uncle Sam sound even shadier. A company attempts to alleviate workplace woes by giving all employees a specific sort of private time. Over in Los Angeles, California, average citizens wonder about gangs infiltrating law enforcement. All this and more in this week's Strange News.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever known someone who donated their body to science? On paper, it's an extraordinarily noble act. Yet in the US, this form of donation is chock-full of Stuff They Don't Want You To Know. In this episode, the guys dive headlong into the tragic, often disgusting reality of what happens to people who consign their bodies to the greater good, only to be sold off piece by piece, monetized and exploited by an industry of folks collectively known as 'body brokers.' Trigger warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions of desecration, and may not be appropriate for all listeners.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do so many people have a problem with the current leader of the US Postal Service? What's it like to visit the Center of the Universe (the Tulsa version) firsthand? Will anyone ever catch the Halifax Toe Tickler? All this and more in this week's listener mail.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's grab-bag interview, the guys catch up with actor, comedian and returning guest Lucky Yates. Tune in as they explore conspiracies, catch up on the pandemic, and pose questions from the audience. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's classic episode, the gang joins forces with special guest Damien Patrick Williams (aka @Wolven) as they explore the origins of alchemy, as well as its strangest secrets, famous practitioners and effects on the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists partially resurrect the brains of long-dead pigs, paving the way for potentially astonishing (and terrifying) breakthroughs in neuroscience. Hackers post a deepfake video that appears to show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surrendering. A comprehensive study finds incredibly dangerous chemicals in... just about every consumer beauty product you can imagine. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world struggles through an ongoing mass extinction, scientists across the planet are getting closer and closer to bringing entire species back from the dead -- a process known as de-extinction. Inspired by an earlier episode on the thylacine, Ben and Matt dive into the fact, fiction, and surprising controversy surrounding the idea of bringing mammoths, Tasmanian tigers, and other extinct creatures back into the world, even as the creatures who live here now continue to die off at alarming rates. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the US government have a secret internet? Who's out there flying drones at night? How can we explain sonic booms and sky trumpets? All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last known thylacines, or Tasmanian tigers, passed away in captivity in the 1930s. Yet ever since that time, people in Tasmania and the Australian mainland have reported seeing these distinct, doglike marsupials in the wild. Why do so many people seem certain the thylacine never went extinct? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In ancient days civilizations across the world believed Earth was some sort of plane, a flat space in the absolute center of the universe. In recent days some celebrities have revived the concept, alleging a vast conspiracy exists. Is this a genuine belief or a marketing ploy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humanity is closer than ever before to bringing back extinct species, from the mammoth to the dodo and the Tasmanian Tiger. In South Korea, the President-elect made waves by openly using an AI avatar to reach voters. One private company thinks they have the solution to the world's ongoing energy issues -- digging the world's deepest hole. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true - scientists around the world are increasingly concerned that antibiotics are losing their effectiveness, leading to a future filled with unstoppable bacteria. But could it actually happen? How did we get here, and what happens next? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on at the Center of the Universe in Tulsa, OK? How does the fraud triangle help us understand when people are likely to commit crime? What makes counting nuclear weapons so tricky? All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people can agree that identification is important. But what happens when you have a single ID for everything? And not just a physical ID, but an intangible, virtual one -- a form of identification that follows you wherever you go. In today's episode, Ben and Matt explore the convenience, the controversy, and the dangers of a unified digital ID system. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are nefarious forces really moving through ranches in the night, mutilating livestock? How? Why? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone has stolen a box of human heads from Denver's Central Park. Speculation grows regarding the 'Z' worn by supporters of the Russian invasion. Over in Japan, some locals worry that damage to an ancient 'Killing Stone' may be an ill omen for dangerous supernatural events on the horizon. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's globally-connected financial system, it's pretty easy to send money from one place to the next, across most of the planet -- and that's all thanks to a system called the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, or SWIFT. Many people outside of the world of finance only heard about SWIFT recently, when the US and Europe declared they'd remove Russian banks' ability to access the system. What does that mean, exactly? Why was it described as a 'nuclear' option in economic warfare? And why did some European countries hesitate to pull the plug? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben, Matt and Doc Holliday plan escapades on Elden Ring. K writes in with reliable information about the Sonic Boom described in a previous show. A letter from Anthony prompts a discussion about the terrifying Red Summer of 1919. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Russian forces recently invaded Ukraine, many members of the public seemed taken by surprise. But for the people of Ukraine and others living in the region, this conflict was brewing for a long, long time. In the first of several episodes on the war, the guys explore the deep historical context behind Russia's invasion -- as well as the bizarre Russian conspiracy theories espoused by Vladimir Putin. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of Marines has been convicted of participating in a long-running human trafficking scheme. Terrified by the possibility of government-induced sickness, some protestors have resorted to donning tinfoil hats to exposure to nebulous 'rays.' A new study suggests our lives may actually flash before our eyes when we die. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most people, learning any skill is a long, at-times challenging journey. Humans struggle to acquire expertise and, after attaining it, they must regularly use this knowledge or risk losing it. But what if you woke up one day, after an injury, to find you suddenly understood a certain skill? What if you never needed to practice? What if you just 'got' math or music? Tune in to learn more about acquired savant syndrome. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honey Badger relates a story of international explosives smuggling, possibly involving one of the world's largest retail chains. Anonymous calls in after receiving a mysterious book about a club called The Brook. K shares one of Ben's favorite stories from the world of JFK conspiracy lore -- the long-standing allegations that actor Woody Harrelson's father was involved in the Kennedy assassination. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if, one day, you no longer needed your hands to interact with computers? What if you didn't need to type anything to access the cloud? These are just a few of the potential uses of future implant technology, the most well-known of which is called the Neuralink. In today's episode, Ben and Matt explore the ins and outs of the system as it is today... along with the amazing (and terrifying) potential future of brain implants. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gnosticism may be one of the oldest conspiracy theories in human civilization - but what is it, exactly? Join Ben, Matt, Noel and special guest Joe McCormick as they take a closer look at Gnostic mysteries, myth and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive leak reveals the secret owners of £80bn held in a Swiss bank. A raunchy counterprotest song goes viral. Out in California, Disney wants you to make the move from storytelling to Storyliving, the new, planned community where everything is run by Disney... and we mean darn near everything. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is free and open to the public. It's located outside of Denver, Colorado on a windy, picturesque plateau. However, this unassuming site has a long -- and controversial -- past, one with disturbing nuclear incidents. Critics claim the government is actively covering up the full extent of the danger. Why? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Boy shares a strange tale of sonic booms over New Mexico. Chip explores the idea of time travel via the metaverse. Lionel Putz wonders why honest examinations of US history have become so controversial. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard of sanctions before -- the term pops up pretty often in international news. Country A does something Country B finds objectionable, but neither country wants to be embroiled in a full-scale hot war, so they have to find some other way to change their opponent's behavior. This is where sanctions come into play. In today's episode, the guys explore the ins and outs of sanctions -- as well as why critics think sanctions don't always work as intended. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no two ways about it: oil spills and gas leaks are disastrous, causing massive amounts of ecological damage in a matter of days or hours. So how many occur each year? How many are actually reported, versus covered up? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An elderly woman may well owe her survival to Wordle. Another recent Bitcoin scam is called the 'heist of the century.' Over in Texas, Qanon has found a new target... a non-profit butterfly center. Find out why in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While it may not be especially great for you, there's no denying that junk food is delicious. Nowadays, all the salty, fatty, sweet and savory stuff humans evolved to covet is both cheap and easy to access -- your brain is hardwired to seek those sensations out. Most adults understand the importance of moderation when it comes to junk food, but what about the kids? In today's episode, the guys explore the ins and outs of exactly how junk food manufacturers target children. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smitty relates a strange childhood story from his time growing up near the Pisgah National Forest. Kyle notes the metaverse offers tremendous potential for terrorists. Canadian trooper calls in to ask about media bias in reporting around the current protests in Ottawa. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people can agree the proverbial writing is on the wall: Earth's climate is in trouble, and its degradation will have profound consequences of later generations. However, no one seems to have figured out what to do about the problem, and multiple groups have grown tired of sticking to legal means of fighting for the environment. To some, these groups acting outside the law are heroes. To others, they're ecoterrorists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While humanity has yet to generate any universally-accepted proof of ghosts or hauntings, millions of people around the world report seeing apparitions or experiencing ghostly encounters every year (and sometimes these events cluster around specific areas). Why? Is there any possible explanation for the purported appearance of ghosts? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a rare decision, China reverses an earlier act of censorship. Those dogbots Ben and Matt are so concerned about are deployed on the US-Mexico border. One anonymous hacker claims he, in a fit of resentment, single-handedly took down the DPRK's internet. Plus Build-A-Bear goes... sexy? All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the USSR lost a powerful submarine, the US scrambled to make the most of a grisly opportunity. In today's episode, the guys explore the strange series of events that led Uncle Sam to, in secret, heist a submarine -- prompting questions that remain unanswered in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener learns their grandfather was on America's Most Wanted. Will shares his adventures at museums in North Korea and Tehran. Anon calls in to relate her own spooky experience with Facebook somehow knowing her thoughts, and selling ads off them -- without her speaking into a microphone or Googling anything. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the Revolutionary War didn't happen the way it's described in textbooks? Tune in and learn why some people believe the UK still controls the US in this special collaboration with our friends at AllTime Conspiracies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that voters distrust Washington, D.C. In numerous polls, citizens of every political overwhelmingly disapprove of Congress. But why? What's the source of this distrust and, perhaps most importantly, is there something Congress doesn't want you to know? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities have made an arrest related to multiple suspicious explosions in Sacramento. Celebrities are officially in the NFT game. And while cartels may make you think of guns and drugs, they're also branching out into a number of other industries. In fact, their latest conspiracy is centered on -- true story -- avocados and limes. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook recently made waves in the press when it announced plans to create a more immersive online experience, something it described as the 'metaverse.' Facebook even changed its name to 'Meta' as part of this initiative. But what exactly is the metaverse? That depends on who you ask. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel look at the facts, fiction and controversy surrounding the rise of the metaverse. (Update from Ben - just a few days after we recorded this, Facebook stock tanked. Maybe the market agrees with us?) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An anonymous caller wants more people to know the bizarre story of the Oculus Temple. Mr. Tin Mouse recounts how he discovered his father worked for The Company. Lady Ferox reaches out with more details on the mysterious disease surfacing in New Brunswick. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that being President is a stressful job (to say the least). A sizable amount of the domestic population will hate you regardless of what you do in office, and various groups around the world will actively hope you die. So how do these incredibly stressed individuals blow off steam? In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the strange story of Presidents and substance abuse. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with safeguarding the country and its citizens from environmental harm. But how well is the agency actually doing at this incredibly important job? Join Matt, Ben and Noel as they explore the facts and fiction behind the EPA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A short passage buried in recent legislation will require all automakers to introduce extreme surveillance equipment in new vehicles -- but the details are troublingly, disturbingly vague. You can now clone a pet, and instagrammers are all about it. A Georgia pastor is in hot water after authorities found several people locked in his basement. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who doesn't love a good museum? In these repositories of art, history, the natural world and so on, human beings can connect with the past, discover inspiration, and learn more about the world around us. With this in mind, it may surprise you to learn some museums are off-limits. They're real, they're open, and there's almost no chance you will ever get inside. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listeners respond to an earlier episode exploring the controversy of the Havana syndrome. Organized crime rings are robbing Union Pacific trains with apparent impunity. An anonymous listener writes in with proven, detailed, and deeply disturbing information about predictive analysis in the world of child services and the justice system. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When retired Marine General Smedley Butler told Congress a group of wealthy business tycoons were scheming to overthrow the U.S. government, people weren't sure what to make of him. Over the course of his life, Butler had been called a war hero, an activist, a monster and a crackpot. What was this so-called Business Plot, and why was Butler blowing the whistle? Were any of his accusations true? In today's episode, the guys join investigative journalist Jonathan Katz, author of Gangsters of Capitalism, to learn more about Butler's life, his controversial career, and a shocking allegation of conspiracy that, if true, could have ended democracy in the United States. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Bank stated that climate change may push more than 100 million people into poverty by 2030, and innovations in robotics may eliminate the need for millions of human workers. But how much of this is alarmism, and how much is inescapable fact? Find out in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major US airlines warn the government that an upcoming 5G rollout could lead to disaster. A medical school in Pakistan is under fire after a string of mysterious deaths are ruled suicides. Crows have taken over Sunnyvale, California -- and, after trying every reasonable dispersal strategy, the increasingly desperate city authorities are turning to lasers. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's long been common knowledge that people at the top of an organization will make more money than people at the bottom. But many folks don't seem aware of just how extreme the situation has become -- while wages have stagnated for many Americans, CEO pay has skyrocketed. For some, this is just a natural aspect of the business world, but for a growing number of critics it indicates serious trouble on the horizon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why don't more people know about the Rocky Mountain Flats Nuclear Site? Can listeners help the guys figure out what caused a mysterious explosion at the US Navy boot camp in 1999? From deep in the depths of Amazon, an anonymous employee reaches out with information on the world of Amazon -- and the hazards of working in retail in general. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the most intense nightmare you've ever had? Have you ever felt trapped in one? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they explore the phenomenon known as sleep paralysis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mysterious illness plagues New Brunswick. An internet celebrity sells NFTs and farts. The first full transplant of a pig heart into a living human prompts international legal and philosophical concerns. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decades after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a vast swathe of the American public still doesn't buy the government's official conclusion. Why? In today's show, the guys sit down with Bill Klaber, the creator and host of The MLK Tapes, to get a deeper understanding of the allegations of conspiracy that continue to surround the life and death of Dr. King. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story started in 2016, when US and Canadian embassy staff in Havana began reporting mysterious medical symptoms -- headaches, vertigo, strange sounds and more. As time went on, more employees in other embassies started reporting similar experiences, causing international concern. But what was actually happening? Was this the result of widespread panic? A side-effect of arcane spying equipment? Something else? Tune in to learn more about the controversy that continues today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TV, film and fiction have given the public a set of stereotypes about serial killers -- one of the biggest being that they always get caught. Join Ben, Matt, Noel and special guest Christian Sager as they explore the disturbing stories of uncaught serial killers in the second episode of their series on true crime. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people agree that no system of justice is, in practice, perfect -- courts are often backed up with cases, officials are overworked, and human bias all too often affects a verdict. The government of China may have a new solution to some of these issues: artificial intelligence. But how far does the system go? Why are some critics concerned this technology may be dangerous? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades women have been abducted, murdered and forgotten along an isolated stretch of Canadian highway. Join the guys and special guest CarStuff's Scott Benjamin as they explore the terrifying history - and disturbing future - of Canada's serial killer hunting ground. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why have rumors of dark arts so often dogged musicians? Have any of the rock stars of yesteryear ever actually believed they contacted the underworld? Join Ben, Noel and Matt as they explore the murky relationship between music and the occult. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of course your bosses keep tabs on you -- it's an old idea, and not, in itself, a sinister thing. Yet critics allege the rise of continually connected technology, combined with a pandemic forcing millions to work from their homes, triggered a dangerous explosion in the scope of workplace surveillance. Tune in to learn how much your employer can potentially know about you -- and why they may know you're listening to this show, right now. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there really entire towns created as 'decoys'? Why are parents being billed for foster care? What exactly is the national debt, and how is it different from an individual's debt? All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that the War on Drugs is controversial -- and millions of people have found themselves on the wrong side of often draconian drug laws. In today's episode, Ben and Matt are joined with Ethan Nadelmann, the founder of the Drug Policy Alliance and creator of Psychoactive, to learn more about the past, present, and -- most importantly -- future of drug policy in the US. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When US forces finally tracked down terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden -- living in Pakistan, likely with support of the ISI -- he was killed and, according to the official story, buried at sea. So why doesn't everyone believe this is true? When did Osama Bin Laden actually die? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disgruntled Tesla owner blows up his car rather than paying thousands of dollars for a new battery. In an equally explosive development, technology allows a paralyzed man to post a tweet... simply by thinking about it. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nostradamus. Edgar Cayce. Baba Vanga. Have any of history's alleged psychics successfully predicted the future? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as look at humanity's efforts to predict the future, from ancient oracles to the bleeding edge of science. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is China doing on the African continent? How can we best interpret near-death experiences? Why did one listener happen to come across a ghostly episode of Stuff They Don't Want You To Know on the radio? All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Pharma gets a bad name in the press, and the actions of multinational pharmaceutical companies are often the subject of various conspiracies – but are any of the allegations true? Learn more about theories behind political corruption, tainted medicine and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When oil is traded in US cash, the currency is called a petrodollar. It's a fundamental part of international trade -- but it's also a continual source of conspiratorial allegations. Join Matt and Ben as they explore the fact and fiction surrounding the petrodollar. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of disaster, Amazon employees petition to keep their phones with them as they work. Biologists conclude mass poisoning is the best way to combat an island's invasive population of mice. Scientists are, apparently not for the first time, making some pretty serious breakthroughs in the art of getting pigs to breathe through their rectums -- and these scientists are wondering if, one day, humans could breathe the same way. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newport law enforcement seemed anxious to cover up the true story of Eduardo Tirella's death, but Tirella's family -- as well as residents of Newport -- refused to forget the story. In the second part of this two-part episode, journalist Peter Lance explains what happened in the aftermath of his new investigation into the death, as well as his earlier investigations into other cold cases across the course of his career. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall Pockets hips the guys to a creepy doll named My Friend Cayla. Trusty Otter explores the potential dangers of Tornado Cash. Dark Sky asks for more information about that time Sears got involved in the global arms trade. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did billionaire heiress and socialite Doris Duke get away with murder in 1966? In the first part of this week's two-part episode, the guys join award-winning investigative journalist Peter Lance to explore what led him to dive into this decades-old cold case -- and learn how his discoveries led to a new investigation in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death - the most mysterious, unknowable, and terrifying event in human experience. Some philosophers believe society is shaped, ultimately, by the fear of death. So what actually happens when you die? Is there anything after? Learn more in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian police plan to use DNA sequencing to predict a suspect's physical appearance. In New York it appears someone is secretly listening to prisoners' phone calls. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have resulted in new discoveries in the field of mathematics... at the same time that AI is also making stunning, disturbing breakthroughs in weapon design. All this and more in this week's Strange News, Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're like most people, you've interacted with a countless number of memes -- screenshots, gifs, classic pop culture moments in film and so on. While society often regards these ephemeral units of information as little more than a passing fad, it turns out memes have enormous potential. They can influence thought and behavior. They can become weapons of war. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why was Gandhi convinced one woman had truly been reincarnated? Are memes actually alive? What's going on at the Steelcase Pyramid? All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, most people associate asbestos with health risks, expensive removal operations and specific forms of cancer. However, for much of human history this substance was thought to be miraculous -- a perfect, fire-resistant additive to everything from cement to household products and toys. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the tragic, multigenerational story of a sweeping cover-up -- one with consequences that still affect us in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1980s, a mysterious organization terrorized candy companies in Japan - then disappeared. What was the Monster with 21 Faces, and what happened to it? Are any members alive today? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honolulu's Board of Water Supply shuts down Oahu's largest water source when a fuel leak contaminates drinking water. China's lunar drone is approaching a mysterious object on the moon's surface -- experts aren't yet sure what it is. Scientists are building a 'black box' for humanity in Tasmania, meant to document the events leading to the decline of current civilization. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Doris Duke get away with murder? Who was really behind the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina? What led to the death of General Bond in Groom Lake, and why did the US try to keep it a secret? Tune in for all this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who can put a price on art? Every year, anonymous buyers and sellers across the planet move works of fine art for millions of dollars, with no questions asked. It's a playground of the well-off -- and, it turns out, one of the best places in the world to launder dirty money. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive into the conspiracy surrounding fine art and money laundering Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For millennia, indigenous communities in North America and other parts of the world told stories of a gigantic, predatory bird with the ability to alter the weather, punish the wicked, and sometimes aid the righteous. In the modern day, most people consider these bits of folklore to be just that -- legends and myths. But could the story of the Thunderbird be based on some grain of truth? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 1st, 1948, Somerton beachgoers discovered a well-dressed, anonymous corpse. More than 50 years later, investigators still aren't sure what happened. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the heels of a recent report on UFOs (or UAPs), the Pentagon officially announces plans for a new, acronym-littered initiative to investigate mysterious things in the sky. QAnon supporters continue to wait for revelations in Dallas. The CIA director warns Russias spies that there will be consequences if it turns out they are responsible for the rash of 'Havana syndrome' incidents occurring across the globe. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Houston authorities knew Travis Scott's annual Astroworld festival was going to be a huge deal, and spent a great deal of time planning for any possible contingency. However, this planning wasn't able to prevent tragic deaths and multiple injuries as the crowd descended into pandemonium. And, even before the dust settled, thousands of people began circulating strange claims on social media, arguing that this was not actually a concert, but, instead, a massive occult sacrifice. So what exactly happened, and why are so many people making these claims? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener relates the strange story of a name that came to him during an intense hallucination. Listeners ask whether anyone else has felt they've predicted the future via their dreams. A caller relates several funny (and occasionally dangerous) stories of real-life spycraft. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you look around, how much plastic can you see? The answer might surprise you. Current civilization runs on plastic -- it's in everything from the depths of the ocean to the heights of Mount Everest, and it will remain long after we are gone. In today's episode, the guys ask: Can humanity end its addiction to this miracle material? What would the planet look like without plastic? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that DC is home to numerous conspiracy theories -- but how many are true? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An NGO called the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has classified the United States as a backsliding democracy. A list of popular passwords may indicate people are increasingly less cautious than they should be. Multiple cities are falling prey to crowdsourced looting, thought to be coordinated in advance via social media. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, the horrors of addiction claim thousands of lives -- but what if some substances can break the cycle of drug abuse? Join Ben and Matt to learn more about hallucinogens and addiction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anvil Alf relates his experience with lucid dreams. A caller asks for more information about the Knox Mine disaster. Skippy wants to know what exactly is going on over at the Idaho National Laboratory. All this and more in this week's listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antarctica is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. If the ice melted, what would we find beneath? Find out in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The digital age has revolutionized propaganda - how can you really know who's writing what online (and why)? Join the guys and special guest Joe McCormick as they explore the future of online manipulation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As millions of people continue to work from home, experts raise concerns about a new era of pervasive surveillance by employers. As net-based crypto scams continue to proliferate, digital vigilantes fight back to expose the criminals involved. An enterprising artist feeds thousands of hours of pornography into a neural network to learn -- for better or worse -- what kind of sexual content generative AI can create (hint: it's... weird). All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pundits have predicted the beginning of WWIII since, essentially, the end of the last World War. But could it really happen? How? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ZZZ asks for more details about Astroworld. Starlight calls in with questions about LEDs and planned obsolescence. ChickenGuy prompts an investigation into the bizarre story of a Church's Chicken that, according to official sources, doesn't actually exist. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a Vardøger? Why does the CIA so desperately need electricians? In this special edition of listener mail, the guys dive into phone calls on everything from sleep paralysis to the devil's lettuce and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear about this mysterious force all the time in fiction and film -- but what is it actually supposed to be? Is there any evidence that it might be real? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists discover that the endangered California Condor is capable of producing offspring without the presence of male condors, prompting troubling questions for the future. A new AI program crowdsourcing ethical quandaries provides surprising answers to humans. Facebook promises to close down its facial recognition system, deleting billions of faceprints. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second part of our deep dive into the assassination of John F. Kennedy, we examine some of the more plausible theories of what really happened on that fateful day in 1963. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anne asks for more information about the weird world of memetic warfare. Voodoo shares a strange story about a recurring dream that just might have predicted some events in the waking world. Bronze Ranked Boomer wonders about the efficacy of blue-blocking cosmetics. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 60 years have passed since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. A 1992 law mandated all records of the assassination be made public. In 2017, many documents were released — but not all of them. What doesn’t the government want us to know about JFK’s death? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there really a secret hotspot of paranormal and UFO activity just southeast of Ballard, Utah? Join Ben and Matt as they explore the fact (and fiction) surrounding the bizarre Sherman Ranch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man in Luton learns his identity was stolen -- and someone sold his house. In Shinjuku, a man dressed as the Joker unsuccessfully attempts mass murder. Despite Project CETI's puntastic name, AI may genuinely allow human beings to speak with sperm whales -- and no one knows what they'll say (perhaps "so long, and thanks for all the fish"). All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most people hear the word "cult," they immediately think of people like Charles Manson, or any number of controversial organizations strewn across the planet -- but what exactly makes something a cult? How do cultic groups acquire new members, and what can we do to help a loved one steer clear of this manipulation? In today's interview the guys join Liz Iacuzzi and Tyler Measom, the creators and hosts of the new Was I In A Cult?, to learn more about how cults work, how people find themselves involved, and -- most importantly -- how they get out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What actually happened to Bitcoin tycoon Gerald Cotten, and why do some people believe he faked his death? Could there be a relationship between lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis? Ben closes out the world of ghost stories with one last collection of tales from around the world. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the height of its success, Canada's QuadrigaCX was the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the country, perfectly positioned to ride the booming mainstream interest in Bitcoin and altcoins. On the backend, the operation was largely run by a single man: Gerald William Cotten. Yet there was more to the story; facts that, once revealed, indicated Quadriga was a Ponzi scheme. As the authorities closed in, Cotten took a trip to India in Decamber of 2018, where he suddenly passed away, taking with him access to millions of dollars in crypto. At least, that's the official narrative -- you see, many people seem convinced, to this day, that Gerald Cotten never actually died. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often do you think news outlets bury, skip or distort an important story? The answers -- or, at least, the accusations -- might surprise you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US once again declines to declassify documents related to the JFK assassination, citing fears of 'identifiable harm.' Scammers get away with an audacious crypto-related heist using a fake food delivery service. Robot artist Ai-Da is detained by Egyptian authorities at the border. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever followed a ghostly light into the woods? For many, it sounds like a story straight out of the world of folklore -- yet these strange lights have been reported across the world. In Mexico, they're sometimes considered evidence of witchcraft. So what exactly are these things? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if part of known history never actually happened? What can Santa teach us about the power of language in folklore? Multiple Conspiracy Realists write in with their own otherworldly, sometimes disturbing experiences. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays, the word 'witch' conjures a few common images for most people: a crone, clad in all black, perhaps wearing a pointed hat, astride a broomstick in the dark of night. However, this image is more than a little misleading, and even people who wouldn't identify themselves as witches may participate in traditions and practices that come from belief systems generally regarded as occult -- so what exactly is 'witchcraft,' and why does it appear, in the modern day, to be on the rise? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assassins murdered President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Five years later, his brother Robert was assassinated. Coincidence? On the anniversary of RFK's murder, Ben, Matt and Noel take a closer look at the events surrounding the tragedy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has officially fired its state wizard after the 88 year-old made a series of controversial comments that finally crossed the line. Over in the US, critics are both vindicated and disturbed by the recent development in unmanned warfare -- quadrupedal bots are being fitted with sniper rifles, and they may be out in the wild sooner that you think. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do people become spies -- and why do some people end spying against their will? In the second part of this two-part series, Ben and Matt dive into the present state of spying, along with the troubling trends looming on the horizon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A caller asks for more information about the infamous Phoebus cartel. Road Dog asks about what people are supposed to do with all that urine collected from potty-trained cows. Mario, Schneider and Kevin write in with their own strange, disturbing stories. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people know the life of a real-life spy bears little resemblance to the stories of fictional agents like James Bond -- but what exactly is spying? In the first part of this two-part series, the guys explore the world of tradecraft from the ancient past to the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the future of online privacy? Filmmaker Alex Winter joins Matt and Ben to talk about his new documentary "Deep Web", following the story of the infamous Silk Road and its creator, Ross Ulbricht. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A would-by spy is caught by the FBI, attempting to trade nuclear secrets for cryptocurrency via a peanut butter sandwich. A Canadian principal sparks controversy with her Iron Maiden t-shirt. New York announces plans to gas the subways as a way to learn more about how bioweapons might disperse underground. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15-year-old Leah Freeman's body was discovered near her hometown of Coquille, Oregon, in 2000, and her former high school boyfriend Nick McGuffin was convicted of the murder. However, a reexamination of the case uncovered new evidence that ultimately led to McGuffin being released to prison -- and raising a new, disturbing question: Who actually murdered Leah Freeman? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick asks his fellow Conspiracy Realists for help explaining mysterious handprints. Becky asks why more people aren't talking about the death of Winston Smith. Ben continues his obsession with your ghost stories, and, in a rare personal moment, shares the story of a bizarre encounter somewhere in the rural Gulf Coast. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunglasses are enormously popular these days, and even prescription spectacles have evolved into fashion accessories -- people routinely spend hundreds of dollars in efforts to either look cool, be able to see, or both. So what happens when a single company controls the market? This is the accusation critics levy against manufacturing giant EssilorLuxottica. Today's question: how much of this is true? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news about the so-called "EM Drive" was all over the headlines in 2015... but was it true? Join Matt and Ben to learn more in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reporters reveal a new, massive leak detailing a shadowy international network the rich and powerful use to squirrel away billions -- but will this information change anything? Streaming giant YouTube begins pulling anti-vaccination videos. In his suicide note, French ex-police officer François Verove confesses to a string of unsolved serial murders. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays comics are considered anything from light-hearted entertainment to a unique art form and genre of literature all their own. Yet for decades they were considered a gateway to sin. Join Ben and special guest Christian Sager as they explore the moral panic, censorship and collusion that led to the rise of the comics code. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple listeners in the entertainment industry write in about a looming, massive strike as TV/Film professionals fight for better working conditions. Another Conspiracy Realist asks whether a monopoly controls sunglasses. And here's a question -- if a UFO could travel intergalactic space, why would it need lights? All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you've just seen a UFO. A few days later, mysterious men appear on your doorstep in anachronistic black suits, cryptically warning you: if you tell anyone what you saw, there may be consequences down the road. This is the story of the Men In Black, one of the strangest tales in the world of UFOlogy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Modern historians generally mark the beginning of the Armenian Genocide as 24 April, 1915. However, people and nations still can't seem to agree on whether it actually was a genocide. Why? And why do both sides accuse the others of a conspiracy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rolls Royce is considering using nuclear power to mine the moon. A Singaporean academy comes under fire for hiring clowns to promote classes to children. Mining companies are intent on plumbing the seabed for new resources, but critics fear it will lead to disaster. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you ever experienced an earthquake, you remember the terrifying feeling of the ground beneath you shifting, shaking, and trembling. Scientists still can't predict the day and time of an earthquake, but one thing's for sure: more are on the way. Tune in as the guys explore the strange world of seismic anomalies with acclaimed actor, writer and director Sarah Wayne Callies, the creator of the stunning podcast "Aftershock", a harrowing tale of struggle and survival in a dystopian California, rocked by a massive earthquake. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener with experience in China breaks down the cultural context of the Guan Yu statue. A caller asks to learn more about the Tytler cycle, which proposes all democracies have an expiration date. As Halloween approaches, the guys get increasingly into ghost stories. All this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the US government confirmed it had been secretly monitoring reports of UFOs for years, the news caught many people by surprise. However, for some members of the UFOlogy community, this was just another smokescreen disguising the truth: aliens are real, Uncle Sam met with them, and decades ago the President formed a secret group of scientists, politicians and military officials to figure out what to do next. The name of this strange brain trust? Majestic 12. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine if a government disguised its operatives as members of some other organization -- and then attacked itself. While this might sound crazy, several historians have argued that false flag attacks are more than just conspiracy theories. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities discover a body they believe to be the remains of Gabby Petito. Scientists wonder whether toilet training cattle may help the environment. Google goes full sci-fi with the creation of "time crystals," which appear to maintain a state of constant change without using energy. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, people across the United Kingdom have been reporting something strange: enormous, cat-like beasts popping up on the edges of cities, only to disappear without a trace. In today's episode, the guys dive into one of the strangest cryptid tales of the modern day -- ABCs, the Abnormally Big Cats of Europe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes California's almond industry so controversial? Is Fitbit gamifying physical fitness? What more can people learn about video game addiction (and why is this research so important)? Ben and Matt explore all this and more in this week's Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will happen to one of the world's most infamous modern prisons? How long can a person be held without trial -- and what happens when the government sets those people free? In the second part of this two-part series, the guys explore the future of Gitmo. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear about "big data" more and more these days - but how much of it is sensationalism, and how much is true? The answers may surprise you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the UK, Prince Andrew's legal team attempts to dodge US rulings regarding Virginia Giuffre. In China, local protests trigger the relocation of a massive statue. Facebook and Ray-Ban team up to deploy their own spin on the controversial Google Glass. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the word "Guantánamo" is, for most people, synonymous with one of the world's most infamous prisons -- but, as it turns out, the troubled story of this location dates back much further. In part one of this two-part series, the guys explore the history of Guantánamo Bay, from the 15th century to the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the close of WWII, US allies created secret, "stay-behind" armies, designed to protect the population in the event of a Communist invasion. So why are they linked with terrorist groups? What were these secret armies actually doing, and - perhaps more i Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people are aware of maple syrup -- it's a welcome addition to pancakes and waffles on breakfast tables across the planet. Other than that, you might not think of maple syrup often, unless you're in the industry, or live in a region that produces it. But it turns out there's something brewing out there in the world of Sugar Maples and syrup... and it may be something Big Maple doesn't want you to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 9th, 1965, multiple witnesses saw a bright object shoot through the sky and - allegedly - land in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. So what actually happened? Find out in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Satanic Temple challenges the controversial new abortion law in Texas. The Biden administration pushes to release still-classified documents concerning 9/11. Over in west Africa, the Guinean military has overthrown the government -- and no one's sure what will happen next. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the span of just a few decades, video games have moved from a niche pursuit to the mainstream, growing into a multibillion dollar, continually-evolving industry. As technology also continues to involve, becoming increasing immersive -- and, according to some critics, invasive -- more and more critics are concerned video games may be built to be dangerously, purposely addictive. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.