Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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.