
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
2,016 episodes — Page 29 of 41

Child Soldiers: A Hidden Horror
War is an ugly, abhorrent thing--and it's been with humanity since the dawn of our species. While the practice itself is chock-full of conspiracy, corruption and horror, one aspect of war is often ignored: the practice of forcing children to participate. In today's episode, the guys dive into the disturbing stories of children forced into conflict--how the children are taken, how they are indoctrinated, and what happens afterward. 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.

Listener Mail: UN Abuse Scandal, Mushrooms as Medicine, Getting Kidnapped by the CIA
An anonymous caller asks for more details on the infamous UN and Oxfam sexual abuse scandal. A listener describes their transformative experience using psychedelics as medicine. Another caller shares an Orwellian story of being kidnapped to work for the CIA. 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.

Strange News: Julian Assange, Tensions in Iran, Dippin' Dots and COVID
The UK has ruled against extraditing Julian Assange to the US--not because they disagree with the merits of the accusations, but because they feel Assange has no reasonable guarantee of safety if sent to a US prison (paging Mr. Epstein). The technology used to keep novelty ice cream Dippin' Dots fresh could soon be used to store the Pfizer COVID vaccine. International tensions rise as Iran plans to further enrich nuclear material and a divided US seems unable to project a coherent policy message abroad. 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.

The Attack on DC, Part II: The Aftermath -- an End or a Beginning?
On January 6th, 2021, the Capitol of the United States was attacked in an effort to disrupt the process of certifying the recent Presidential election. As authorities eventually received reinforcements, observers across the country and around the world drew stark contrasts between the way police treated the group invading the Capitol and the way they treated earlier protestors in 2020. In the aftermath of the events, observers, journalists, politicians and citizens alike raised questions about the 25th Amendment, the role of the current President--and to what degree this was planned in advance. Perhaps the biggest question on the world's mind is this: 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.

The Attack on DC, Part I: Breaching the Gates
On January 6th, 2021, the Capitol of the United States was attacked in an effort to disrupt the process of certifying the recent Presidential election. As chaos mounted, Congress was evacuated and insurrectionists, self-identified 'revolutionaries' roamed freely through the building for hours after overwhelming the woefully understaffed authorities on the scene. Footage and images from the day appear to show some authorities assisting with the breach. Bombs were found at the local RNC and DNC offices. In the first part of this two-part episode, the guys explore the timeline of events--along with the evidence that everyone (except, apparently, local law enforcement) knew a storm was brewing well in advance. 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.

Listener Mail: Randonauts, Reality, Magic and the Transmundane
A Conspiracy Realist arrives to defend Cyberpunk 2077. A caller's shoutout to Randonautica inspires Matt and Ben to delve into the nature of reality, intention, entropy and quantum physics. A mysterious letter from a practicing Discordian Magician sends the gang into a rabbithole of philosophy and phenomenology. All this and more in today's dizzying 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 Disturbing Origins of Generally Good Things
It's often said there's a great crime at the heart of every great fortune, but what about institutions, inventions and other noble pursuits? In today's episode, Ben and Matt take a closer look at the deeply disturbing origins of some of the world's most lauded endeavors, from the world of medicine to environmentalism, academia and more. Get an up-close look at the skeletons in the closets of these generally good things. 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.

CLASSIC: How could aliens contact us?
Could alien life forms really contact human beings? How would they do it? Is it possible that other humans could intercept the message -- and keep it secret? Listen to this classic episode 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.

Strange News: The Nashville Explosion and Super Gonorrhea
Authorities continue to investigate a massive explosion that took Nashville, TN temporarily off the grid on Christmas Day. Experts warn that the pandemic has played a role in the rise of a powerful STI often referred to as "super gonorrhea." Join Ben and Matt for all this and more in the first Strange News of 2021. 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.

CLASSIC: It's Our Lucky Day, With Archer's Dr. Krieger
Would you clone yourself to make your own personal organ farm? What are the odds that aliens or cryptids might actually exist? Join the guys as they hang out with Lucky Yates, the prolific actor and voice of Dr. Krieger of FX's Archer, to explore everything from the frightening future of biotechnology to the (alleged) resurrection of the dodo 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.

Listener Mail: Vaccines and the Military, Microwave Energy and How to Teach Intuition
A conspiracy realist from the military reveals a harrowing story about mysterious medical conditions, and circumstances that may mean he can never receive a vaccine again. A listener asks just how much energy we're inundated with on an average day. The gang explores the US government's bizarre research into hunches, vibes and intuition. All this and more in the final listener mail of 2020. 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.

Secrets of the Livestock Industry, Part I: Why is meat so cheap?
The global livestock industry employs millions of people in one way or another -- meat is a big business, and business is booming. In communities across the planet meat is often seen as a status symbol, a way to impress friends and announce one's own success -- but how much should meat actually cost? Critics argue every piece of meat, from a fast-food burger to high-end steak and everything in between, is actually riddled with hidden costs that will eventually be paid by everyone, whether or not they personally eat meat. Join Ben and Matt to learn more secrets of the livestock industry in part one of this series. 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.

CLASSIC: What is the Octopus?
It sounds like something out of a paranoid political thriller - one journalist stumbles across a vast international conspiracy involving the world's most important leaders and corporations. But could it be true? What is the Octopus, and what happened to Danny Casolaro? Join Ben and Matt for more in this week's 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.

Strange News: The Al Jazeera Hack, the Future of Aging and the Wide, Weird World of Gaming
Dozens of journalists working for Al Jazeera were hacked in an unprecedented cyber-attack. Emerging studies indicate there may, one day, be a way to not only prevent age-related cognitive decline -- but to reverse the effects of aging entirely. Ben, Matt, and Doc Holliday explore the weird, wide world of gaming. All this and more in the gang's last Strange News of 2020. 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.

STDWYTK Presents: How May I Help 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.

Listener Mail: A Photo of a UFO, a Zodiac Cipher and a Nazi Conspiracy to Tune Music
What's the most likely explanation for the recently-revealed photos of pilots encountering UFOs? What can investigators learn from the recent decryption of the Zodiac cipher? Keith from Chicago asks whether Nazis conspired to change our understanding of music. 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 Port Chicago Disaster
On July 17, 1944, over 300 people died in a massive explosion. These weren't soldiers fighting overseas -- they were sailors and civilians near the pier, where hurried loading operations inevitably went wrong. To this day, no one knows what triggered the explosion -- but, in a terrible way, this was only the beginning of the story. 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.

CLASSIC: The Future of Death
Will someone alive today live forever? Can science create real-life zombies? Are there any real examples of the 'walking dead' around today? Tune in to learn more in this week's 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.

Strange News: Counterfeit COVID Vaccines, Coups Happen All The Time, and Everyone Just Got Hacked
There's a growing industry dedicated to forging proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. Another attempted coup goes widely unreported in the west -- and it's part of a larger pattern. Hackers -- Ben thinks Russian in origin -- just successfully cracked into multiple systems across the planet, including agencies of the US government. All this and more in this week's Strange News segment. 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 Ghislaine Maxwell Update: Who killed Robert Maxwell?
Ghislaine Maxwell, long time associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, is currently incarcerated, charged with helping recruit, groom and abuse minors as young as 14 as part of a sex-trafficking ring allegedly operated by Epstein. Observers around the world have voiced concerns that, one way or another, Maxwell might never see a day in court. Part of this fear comes from the fact that Epstein died while in prison -- but there's another thread here, as well: Years earlier, Ghislaine Maxwell's father Robert Maxwell also passed away under mysterious circumstances. Could these deaths be related? If so, what does this mean for the future of Ghislaine Maxwell? 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.

Listener Mail: Microwave Weapons, the Vanishing Triangle and Kazakhstan's (possibly) Illuminati-inspired Capital
New reports confirm the mysterious symptoms exhibited by State department employees in Cuba were not psychosomatic, but something else entirely. A caller from Ireland sets the guys on the tragic, unsolved case of the Vanishing Triangle. An anonymous email prompts an exploration of Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan -- why does the capital seem riddled with bizarre occult symbols? 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 happened to Rebecca Coriam?
At just 24 years old, Rebecca Coriam had her whole life ahead of her. Her love of physical fitness and knack for teaching made her perfectly suited for her job in Youth Activities aboard the Disney Wonder, an enormous, high-class cruise ship. On March 22nd, 2011, Coriam vanished from the vessel. The distraught parents and friends of Rebecca puzzled over the cruise line's official explanation -- that a rogue wave had swept her overboard. Almost a decade later, the mystery remains: What happened to Rebecca Coriam? 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.

CLASSIC: Were there really 'lost races' of man?
We've all heard about Neanderthals -- but what else was out there? Join Ben and Matt as they take a closer look at the facts behind the folklore, digging deeper to see if there's any grain of truth to the legends of giants, gnomes and 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.

Strange News: Monuments, Surveillance and Secret UFO Contracts
More monuments continue to appear across the planet -- and there may finally be an answer to the mystery. US law enforcement in communities throughout the country may soon use footage from home security cameras as a tool to fight crime (opponents worry this may spell trouble for privacy). And the former head of Israel's space program claims aliens are real, have made contact with us, and signed an agreement to keep their presence a secret. 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.

Secrets of the Founding Fathers, Part II
It's true that the founders of the United States all too often failed to live up to the values they espoused in the Constitution and other related documents -- but it appears they were up to even stranger things. In the second episode of this two-part series, the guys delve deeper into some of the strangest, most obscure alleged secrets of the founding fathers, including one terrifying story that is absolutely 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.

Listener Mail: Weather Modification, the Denver Airport and a Bizarre Leap through Time
A meteorologist writes in to break down the (very real) science of cloud seeding, as well as chiming in on Ben's dream of lightning achieving sentience. A listener provides updates on the bizarre art of the Denver airport. In a moment straight out of the Twilight Zone, a man finds himself slipping through time. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. 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.

Secrets of the Founding Fathers, Part I
Today, the Founding Fathers of the United States are some of the most well-known figures in the country's history. They're memorialized in monuments, museums, currency, holidays -- the list goes on. For more than a century they were deified, held up as paragons of statecraft. Yet the way they've been portrayed in textbooks often skips over details that ran counter to the shining image sold to generations of school children. You see, the Founding Fathers had secrets... so many, in fact, that we had to make this a two-part 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.

CLASSIC: Is taxation legal?
Every year tax activists of one sort or another try to avoid paying federal or state levies -- but why? The answers get... pretty weird. Join Ben and Matt as they dive into the strange world of tax conspiracies in this week's 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.

Strange News: The Amazon Protests, the Disappearing Monument and (Another) Murdered Iranian Nuclear Scientist
The monument in Utah that went viral has disappeared - and a copycat monument has surfaced in Romania. Amazon workers in 15 different companies coordinated a massive protest during Black Friday. Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was recently assassinated as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East... and observers make troubling speculations about the timing. All this and more in this week's Strange News segment. 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 Wide World of Food Conspiracies, Part II
Food is one of the few things that unites the human species -- so it's no surprise the world of food is chock-full of conspiracies. In today's episode, the guys return to the world of conspiracy and cuisine, fielding some of the strangest, most disturbing urban legends and rumors about everything from fast food to livestock 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.

Listener Mail: Occult Rocket Science and the Mystery of the Lake Vostok Squid Monster
What exactly was renowned rocket scientist Jack Parsons getting up to in his free time... and how did he know Aleister Crowley? Whatever happened to those Russian scientists rumored to have discovered a super-intelligent, squid-like cryptid in Antarctica's subglacial Lake Vostok? 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.

Putin's Strange New Law
The Russian government may soon pass an unusual law giving any former Russian president legal immunity -- not only from any crimes committed while in office, but for any acts before or after their presidency, as well. This lifetime immunity proposal has international spectators scratching their heads in confusion... and diving into conspiracy. 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.

CLASSIC: The Great Game
Over 200 years ago the British and Russian empires waged a largely silent war across Eurasia, vying for influence, power and access to resources. In what became known as "The Great Game" British and Russian forces would ultimately leave indelible marks on the face of the modern world. And, according to some, The Great Game never ended. Join Ben and Matt for more in this week's 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.

Strange News: The Future of Cannibalism, Green Slime in Canada, and a Mysterious Monument in Utah
Would you eat a steak grown from your own cells? The question may become increasingly plausible in the next few years. What's the story with the bizarre green slime flowing beneath Toronto? And who on (or off) Earth created that mysterious monument in Utah? 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 the prison industry push gangster rap?
What makes a genre of music successful? Ideally, the art connects on a personal level with the audience, speaking truth to power, tapping into a universal experience.... but what if that isn't always the case? In 2012, an email from someone claiming to be a former music industry executive alleged that gangster rap was not an organic success. Instead, they claimed, the success of this genre was the result of a secret, high-level meeting in 1991, between members of the music industry's elite and representatives of the private prison industry. Making this music successful, they argued, would ensure the prison system became even more profitable for investors. It's a profoundly disturbing idea -- but could it be true? 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.

Listener Mail: Standardized Testing, the Terrifying Tale of Georgia Tann, and the Amazing Minds of Corvids
An anonymous caller shares their story about learning how to learn. A voicemail inspires the guys to explore the terrifying career of Georgia Tann, and they explore bizarre, first hand stories of mysteriously intelligent crows. 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 on Earth is happening to Britney Spears?
World famous pop icon Britney Spears has sold millions of records, performed countless times, and regardless of whether you care for her music, you've certainly heard her hits. She also has an enormous, fiercely loyal fanbase that's convinced something is amiss, behind the scenes. You see, for years, Spears has been the subject of a legal conservatorship -- this arrangement, which the singer has described as voluntary multiple times, means Spears must have approval from several people for any financial decisions she wishes to make. In short, she does not control the financial side of her music empire. Some fans allege the singer sends coded messages to them via Instagram, asking for help. Others argue this conspiracy theory, as well-intentioned as it may be, will only make things worse for one of the world's most famous living musicians. 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.

CLASSIC: Neuromarketing: Science or Science Fiction?
Neuromarketers claim that their techniques provide new and profound insights for consumers buying everything from soda to new cars. But can they really interpret data in a way that allows them to nudge a user's subconscious mind? And, if so, what does this mean for the future? 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.

Strange News: Laser-guided Lightning, Election Fraud, and Putin Wants to Give Himself Lifetime Immunity?
Humans may soon be able to control lightning, pointing it at targets. Voter fraud (but not the vote you're thinking of). Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving himself lifetime legal immunity from, well... anything. 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.

The 1969 Berkshire UFO Incidents: What actually 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.

Listener Mail: Veterans Targeted, Bitcoin Billionaires
US veterans find themselves unfairly targeted as they pursue post-combat careers. Questions remain regarding one of the world's largest Bitcoin wallets. 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.

Foreign Investment and the Housing Crisis
In cities across Canada, the US and other parts of the world, the cost of living continues to rise -- and housing becomes increasingly unaffordable. Rental rates outpace inflation. Owning a home becomes virtually impossible for millions. Economists have debated the usual causes of this crisis for years... but it appears there's a variable many people haven't considered, something a little stranger than domestic supply and demand. Investors from across the planet are pouring money into real estate, not for a home, but as a safe haven for storing cash. 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.

CLASSIC: Deep Underground Military Bases
Is the world really littered with underground military bases? How many are active today? Is it possible to find them on your own? Join Ben and Matt as they dive deep (underground) in today's 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.

Strange News: Immortal Worms Invade Virginia, Cruise Lines Begin to Reopen
Some cruise lines begin to reopen. In Virginia, locals were astonished to find a bizarre, potentially immortal creature invading -- the infamous (and alien-like) Hammerhead Worm. Tune in for more in this week's Strange News segment. 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.

Operação Prato: Brazil's Bizarre UFO Investigation
From 1977 to 1978 the Brazilian Air Force investigated a series of alleged UFO sightings, with multiple witnesses, in and around a city called Colares, located in northern Brazil. The official investigation closed without concluding anything unusual was afoot -- but that may actually be where the real story begins. Tune in to learn more about the strange claims, the oddly specific commonalities between witness accounts... and the mysterious events that haunted the investigators, inspiring them to continue their own investigation after the official operation was shut down. 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.

Listener Mail: A Mysterious Curse, Conversion Therapy, and the Murder of the Notorious B.I.G.
A caller shares a strange story of a possible curse. The guys explore the dark side of so-called conversion therapy. And a voicemail inspires the gang to finally begin exploring the controversial, conspiratorial death of the Hip Hop legend, the Notorious B.I.G. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. 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.

QAnon and Conflict Journalism, with Jake Hanrahan
EIn this episode, the guys sit down with seasoned conflict journalist Jake Hanrahan to hear his first-hand accounts of covering stories all too often ignored or misrepresented in the west -- as well learning more about his work exploring QAnon in his newest podcast, Q Clearance. 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.

CLASSIC: Cults (You’ve Never Heard Of)
What's the difference between a cult and a religion? What are some of history's strangest cults? Are there any secret cults in the modern day? In this week's classic episode, Ben and Matt are (accidentally) prescient. 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.

Strange News: How To Drop Your Own Charges, The Oreo Doomsday Vault, and City-wide Exorcisms
Confronted with multiple criminal charges, one New Hampshire woman came up with an innovative -- and bizarre -- plan: she impersonated a prosecutor and dropped the charges against herself. Nabisco has reportedly planned to create their own Oreo doomsday vault. In several cities across the US, Archbishops have performed city-wide exorcisms. All this and more in this week's strange news segment. 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 does the US let Saudi fugitives flee the country?
On August 19th, 2016 Saudi national and college student Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah was charged with first degree manslaughter for fatally hitting a 15 year old girl named Fallon Smart with his car in Portland, Oregon. Two weeks before his trial, he disappeared from the United States. Today, federal agents suspect he escaped with the help of the Saudi Arabian government -- and it seems he's not the only one. In fact, over the years, it seems dozens of Saudi nationals accused of various crimes in the US and Canada have illegally escaped prosecution, and will likely never see jail time or justice. And the US government hasn't done much to address this ongoing pattern of conspiracy. 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.