Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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.