Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Sixty years ago this week, US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. In tonight's conversation, Ben, Matt and Noel join the legendary director, actor, writer, and activist Rob Reiner to explore the assassination -- in his newest project, Rob finally answers the question: Who killed JFK? They don'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 Kennedy family is one of the most well-known and influential dynasties in US politics, and the family members are enormously wealthy. Yet despite successfully seeding nepotism at the heights of government, functioning as pseudo-celebrities and racking up substantial profits over the generations, the family has historically been fraught with personal tragedy. Join the guys as they crack the case of the Kennedy curse.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minnesota braces for an invasion of superpigs. Domino's emergency pizza promotion backfires. A plane flies to 13,000 feet before people discover missing windows. Ben's recent travels prompt a conversation about global volcanic eruptions: Are they on the rise, or are we simply noticing them more often? 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.

Imagine that you could possess a genuine, real-life spellbook -- something that could enable you to summon and command otherworldly powers, to accrue riches and shed light on the dark mysteries of the heavens. People who believe such a thing is possible often point to the legendary Key of Solomon as proof that genuine grimoires exist. But what is this book, exactly? Tune in as the guys attempt to separate the fact from fiction surrounding the Key of Solomon.They don'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 Realists from across the world hip Ben, Matt and Noel to updates on the Australia mushroom poisoning case. A new example of desalination. Callers weigh in on Bigfoot. Over in Schuylkill, locals find themselves plagued by a continuing series of bizarre messages hidden in products sold at various stores. 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.

Pretty much every living thing relies on plants. Through the superpower of photosynthesis, they function as the great translators of solar energy, powering the planet. Yet like any other living thing, they are vulnerable to changes in the world around them -- and scientists are increasingly concerned that, one day, plants may cease photosynthesis entirely. So... what happens when it stops?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genghis Khan was one of the world's most successful conquerors, and his empire left an indelible mark across Eurasia. Yet upon his death his body was spirited away to an unmarked grave, and everyone associated with the burial -- so far as we know -- was put to death in an effort to keep the location secret. So what exactly happened to Genghis Khan? Could it be possible that someone actually knows where it is, and has somehow kept the location hidden for almost 800 years?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food giant Tyson recalls 30,000 pounds of chicken nuggets due to possible metal contamination. Bored Ape partygoers wake to find laser light may have permanently injured their eyes. Scientists and native communities raise the alarm about a common chemical in tires, which may spell doom for salmon populations. 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.

UFO researchers, also known as ufologists, make frequent appearances in pop culture, and many are professional, full-time experts in their field. But how exactly does one become a ufologist? Join the guys as they dive into this question, searching for the most (and least) credible paths to becoming a genuine ufologist.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the U.S. Constitution, the President of the United States has the power to pardon pretty much anyone. This is a broad, sweeping power that past administrations have used in a variety of ways, some more controversial than others. However, in recent years scholars, voters and politicians have wrestled with a strange question: Can a standing President pardon him- or herself? In today's episode, the guys speak with Professor Brian C. Kalt, the author of “Constitutional Cliffhangers: A Legal Guide for Presidents and Their Enemies” to learn about the history and future of pardons -- and what to expect if a standing President attempts to pardon themselves.They don'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 millions of other people, you hate making phone calls. "Why can't I just text," you might think, "and only call if there's an emergency?" Google may soon have a solution with Duplex, a new technology for conducting natural conversations to carry out “real world” tasks over the phone. For many this feels like a startling and innovative convenience -- no more awkward conversations making appointments or routine check-ins, right? Yet critics of this concept warn we may be approaching something much bigger, and much more dangerous, than a simple piece of helpful software. If computers begin effectively impersonating you, how will you be able to prove your own identity?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often in the mainstream media the term "conspiracy theory" is used as a way of dismissing a claim or idea immediately -- and it's a technique that works more often than you might think. However, despite the ardent efforts of various powerful groups across the planet, numerous events initially called conspiracy theories turned out to be conspiracy facts. Join the guys as they explore conspiracies that turned out to be 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.

Updated studies confirm the danger of certain eyedrops. A groundbreaking class-action suit prompts disturbing questions about commercial real estate. US action at Site 512 raises questions in the Negev desert. The music of Celine Dion raises controversy in New Zealand. All this and more as Ben, Matt and Codename: Doc Holliday explore 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.

Over the course of his career with NASA, legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin changed the course of human history. From his groundbreaking work with EVA techniques to his walk on the moon with Apollo 11 mission commander Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin has seen and done astonishing things. In 2018, news outlets claimed Buzz Aldrin had one more astonishing achievement under his belt, an event kept secret until the modern day: Apparently, he had seen a UFO in space. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No One in Particular raises a fascinating point about the old-school D.A.R.E. program in US schools. Corporations want you to eat more bugs. Beeswax, notyours writes in with a harrowing tale of an escaped federal detainee -- 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 a young age, Marcus Hutchins had a preternatural talent for code. As his online renown grew, he found himself at a series of ethical crossroads— and always on the right side of the law. Yet everything changed in 2017, when a US-created weapon went public: he was the only one who could stop the spread of the WannaCry virus. Doing so would require him to go public.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. government was desperate to maintain order and combat the growing domestic opposition to the war effort -- both the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. waged a war of ideas, of propaganda that could, in its own way, wield as much power as a bullet or a bomb. When U.S. deserters fled the war and traveled to the U.S.S.R. or neutral countries, they became a propaganda tool of immense proportions -- and the U.S. wanted them back, regardless of what laws might get broken, or how many people might be injured along the way. Join the guys as they explore the strange, secret story of Operation Chaos.They don'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 crew of professional heisters accidentally hits a truck from the US Federal Mint, and struggles to unload hundreds of pounds of dimes. Scientists verify certain cosmic explosions create ingredients of organic life. In the US, thousands of pharmacies close. All of 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.

One July night in 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G. Hardy was shot behind the Crown Sterling Suites hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. While law enforcement had almost nothing to go on, prosecutors used shaky earwitness testimony to convict Toforest Johnson of the crime. Despite repeated appeals from multiple legal experts, he remains on death row to this day. In tonight's interview, award-winning journalist Beth Shelburne discusses how her new podcast Earwitness explores the ins and outs of this profoundly disturbing case -- and what it tells us about the US justice system.They don'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 the US military using 'E-girls' to manipulate young men into joining the armed forces? What is life really like at Diego Garcia? Have you sent us a scary story? All of 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.

Nowadays people talking about "witch hunts" are usually referring to something in the realm of politics -- but not too long ago, church and state authorities really did hunt down, torture, and execute people suspected of trafficking with infernal powers. In this special Halloween episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the fact and fiction surrounding witch hunts... and why they still occur 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.

If you've ever spent time on Facebook or Instagram, you've probably seen a few strange posts advertising tremendous opportunities to start your own business -- along with a friend or acquaintance -- selling anything from cosmetics to nutritional supplements. And the opportunities don't stop there! You can also recruit your friends, loved ones and complete strangers to sell these products for you. It might sound too good to be true... and often it is. Join Ben and Matt as they delve into strange world of multi-level marketing, and the stuff its supporters 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.

Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel bans fentanyl -- promising gruesome consequences for anyone who doesn't comply. Traingoers may have encountered Bigfoot in Colorado. A California family is busted for running a multi-million dollar catalytic convertor smuggling ring, and a promising startup may have the cure for forever chemicals. 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.

Since the dawn of human history, the great leaders of civilization sought the one thing they could neither buy nor steal: immortality. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the astonishing, troubling conspiracy afoot -- the first immortal may have already been born.They don'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 a Canadian listener fleshes out disturbing information about the QAnon queen. The Beekeeper shares a story about DEFCON. Green Garnet encounters a possible haunted house. Lezlee prompts a conversation about meditation and divine intervention. 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.

For around a century, the Boy Scouts of America was considered one of the country's top youth organizations -- millions of children went through some part of scouting, and numerous public figures, former scouts themselves, would constantly praise the organization. However, scouting had a dark side, one that was an open secret for generations, and has only recently entered public 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.

At the height of their success, the band Blink-182 became a key force in the development of pop punk. Despite their worldwide fame, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge eventually left the band. Why? Join Ben, Matt and special guest John Goforth of Hysteria 51 as they explore the story behind DeLonge's new mission -- a project he and his supporters believe could change the 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.

In the wake of the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, the world wonders how a proposed evacuation plan will actually work. Social media -- X in particular -- seems to be a growing source of weaponized propaganda and misinformation. The rise of injectable weight loss drugs leads syringe companies to operate beyond their normal capacity. 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.

From fast food to mass media, it can be tough to know who really runs a company. In tonight's episode, the guys return to more 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.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An FBI investigation in New York leads to the discovery of 764, an online offshoot of the occult Order of 9 Angles, dedicated to pushing vulnerable children into self harm and sexual abuse. A hydrologist writes in to answer some of Ben, Matt and Noel's earlier questions about saltwater intrusion. A fellow Conspiracy Realist explores the dangers of drug analogs. 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 most of what we know about history is false? According to proponents of the Tartarian conspiracy, not too long ago Earth was home to an incredibly advanced civilization based in Eurasia, and extending around the world -- until a series of catastrophic mud floods and enemy powers destroyed it, and spent centuries trying to cover up their crime. That's the gist of the theory -- but the actual conspiracy theory about this so-called ancient empire is surprisingly recent. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada's QAnon Queen is back in the news, this time for occupying a rural, abandoned grade school. Someone has finally been charged in Tupac's murder. The FCC issues its first fine for space junk. In a disturbing, developing story: Thai authorities have apprehended the most prolific serial killer in the country's modern history -- "Am Cyanide" appears to have operated with impunity for nearly a decade. All this and (much) 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.

In small towns, neglected glades and college campuses across America, small groups of bearded wanderers in homespun clothes are spreading a message -- that the End of Times is upon us, and only the truly righteous shall be saved. Living primarily off the grid and on the fringes of society, this group has proven extremely effective at hiding its converts from law enforcement and concerned relatives. In fact, it's difficult to get a grip on exactly what this group is and what they wish to do. Join Ben and Matt for a closer look at the mysterious group 20/20 called "The Garbage Eaters".They don'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 more and more countries -- and corporations -- make astonishing breakthroughs in space exploration, the public becomes increasingly convinced the world has entered a new space race. In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt explore the dangerous future of this journey to the stars... and why powerful forces may conspire to turn this space race into a genuine space war.They don'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 shares his perspective on hearing voices. Anon relates the strange story of medbeds. Glass Gate reveals a terrifying look into just how easily gate codes and digital entry barriers can be compromised -- as well as why this won't be fixed anytime soon, and why your own personal security is way less... well, secure... than you might have assumed. 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.

Could some supernatural or spiritual forces really speak to human beings, or intervene on their behalf? While there is no scientific proof of God, humans throughout history have claimed divine forces were on their side. In tonight's episode the guys dive in, asking: Why is this belief so common?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Compared to other countries, the US has a massive incarceration rate. While the prison system has passionate supporters and ardent opponents, there's another aspect to the story -- one often ingored and forgotten: What happens to the children of prisoners? Join the guys and special guest Julian Wyatt as they explore the untold story of children caught in the web of the prison industry.They don'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 Army takes action as saltwater further compromises Louisiana, threatening hundreds of thousands of people in New Orleans. Danish artist Jen Haaning is forced to repay the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art after submitting two blank canvases. As domestic instability grows, German authorities ban the cultish Artgemeinschaft network, a secretive far-right network in an unprecedented, nation-wide raid. All this and more in this week's strange news network.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to its supporters, The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center -- known locally as Cop City -- will be a crucial training ground for law enforcement and fire departments. However, critics claim this facility will wreak untold havoc on local neighborhoods, green space and the city overall as it further militarizes the police. In tonight's episode, the guys explore the ins and outs of Cop City... and why a growing number of Atlanta locals seem certain there's a conspiracy afoot.They don'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 conversation with paranoid family members prompts Saturday Mourning Cartoons to ask whether the government really does tap people's phones. Bro Dude Man searches for more information about the Reedley Biolab. RJ shares some thoughts on Fyre Fest, and asks where to hang out in Atlanta. 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 casinos work around the clock to create a glitzy, glamorous, spontaneous feeling, it turns out they are some of the most tightly-controlled environments on Earth. Every possible variable is accounted for. Every conceivable psychological tendency is leveraged -- even the geography of the casino has been the subject of intense research. This is all done to keep you there, playing, for as long as possible. Because the longer you play, the more money the casino stands to win. In tonight's special live episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deep into the Stuff Casinos 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.

Google -- or, more properly, Alphabet -- is a huge company, and is at the bleeding edge of numerous technological innovations. So, while it wasn't necessarily a surprise that Uncle Sam wanted Google's help building AI, it certainly disturbed a great many people, some of whom were Google's own engineers. So what exactly happened? Join Ben and Matt as they dive into the strange story of Project Maven 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.

Azerbaijan wages war against Armenia -- and from the US to Europe, from Russia to Iran, it seems no one will intervene to protect civilians. The US loses and later recovers an out-of-control fighter jet. In Los Angeles, two suspicious deaths cause locals to wonder whether there is an active serial murderer on the loose. 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.

Have you ever been convinced you heard a voice -- shout, a whisper, someone speaking directly to you -- only to turn around and realize no one was there? This experience is more common than we might comfortably imagine. For millennia, people who heard voices in their heads were considered prophets, lunatics, or vessels of infernal forces. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the nature of this particular paracusia -- ultimately learning modern science still struggles to understand what may well be a conspiracy within your own brain.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Hill recounts a disturbing story of Chinese forces buying up family farmland in the United States, prompting a conversation about the multibillion dollar shady practice of international real estate. Anon asks for help figuring out what appears to be a case of meditative, multiversal travel. Rice asks whether it's possible to voluntarily trigger the release of adrenaline through thought alone. 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.

How does the internet get information from across the planet to your house? While many people might guess it's a matter of satellites and synchronous orbits, they'd only be partially correct -- the vast majority of data zipping around online moves through a network of undersea cables. In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt explore how these cables work... and why more people should know about them.They don'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 years residents of Windsor, Ontario have been haunted by a strange, disruptive noise. Sometimes compared to a truck idling or distant thunder, numerous residents say the noise has damaged people’s health and quality of life, But what exactly is the Windsor hum? Join the guys as they dive 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.

The FDA concludes the primary active ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants may be nothing more than the placebo effect. A retired secret service agent goes public with his recollection of the JFK assassination in advance of his upcoming memoir. Ben dives into the news from Mexico, asking: Why did the Mexican Congress hold a hearing to examine purported alien corpses, knowing the people making these claims have an established track record of hoaxing the public? 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.

With Yevgeny Prigozhin and the rest of Wagner leadership apparently confirmed dead in a suspicious airplane explosion north of Moscow, the merc army Wagner finds itself adrift. So what happens next? In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the speculation, analysis, and numerous conspiracies surrounding the "complicated fate" of this notorious PMC... and why what happens next will affect people across 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.

Harvard luminary Avi Loeb rocks the world with his discovery of bizarre, tiny objects off the coast of Papua New Guinea -- objects that don't just appear to be from outside the solar system... but may have been created by an intelligent force. An update on the European version of superpigs -- spoiler: radiation. Over in the US, there may be a massive auto recall on airbags. 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.