Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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.