Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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