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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

2,045 episodes — Page 29 of 41

Listener Mail: Ancient Mercury, Flu or COVID, Why the Marshall Islands Matter

In this week's Listener Mail, Ben and Matt explore the mystery of ancient liquid mercury in burial sites across the planet. A listener asks about influenza, Covid and cover-ups. The guys share messages from your fellow Conspiracy Realists about the long-term, often unexplored, consequences of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. 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.

Feb 25, 202145 min

Contaminants in Baby Food

From formula to pureed carrots, baby food is a massive -- and necessary -- industry. Each year millions upon millions of families search for the best, most nutritious food to feed their children, and there's no shortage of advice from experts and parents alike. However, it appears there's a secret to this industry: Numerous baby food products contain ingredients parents can't see on the label, including contaminants like mercury, lead, arsenic and more. How long has this been occurring? What did the manufacturers know, and when? 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.

Feb 24, 202148 min

CLASSIC: What are you actually eating?

Whether you're sipping a soda, grabbing some fast food or eating ready-made snacks from the local grocery store, chances are that you're ingesting a number of "barely-food" chemicals used to preserve color, taste or texture. But what are these, exactly? Are they dangerous? 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.

Feb 23, 202133 min

Strange News: The Pentagon May Have Experimented with UFO Wreckage, The Skelecaster Hoax, and the Collapse of the Texas Power Grid

Did the Pentagon just admit it's been secretly experimenting with wreckage from UFOs for decades? Did a Florida man really build an electric guitar from his uncle's skeleton? What exactly caused the collapse of the Texas power grid, and why were so many people left without power or clean water? 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.

Feb 22, 20211h 3m

What's Going On with the Falun Gong?

The movement known as Falun Dafa or Falun Gong began in China in the 1990s, and today people across the planet consider themselves practitioners. Adherents claim this combination of meditation, breathing exercises, mindfulness and moral philosophy is a path to enlightenment -- but the government of China disagrees. For decades Chinese authorities have considered Falun Gong a dangerous, subversive element. Since 1999 the government has made concerted efforts to suppress this spiritual practice -- but 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.

Feb 19, 20211h 5m

Listener Mail: Parler and Social Media, Mattress Firm Update, the (Potentially Terrifying) Future of Augmented Reality

A caller asks the gang to explore more of the larger dilemmas posed by social media censorship. A listener writes in to shed more light on the ongoing Mattress Firm enigma. An email about more augmented reality games inspires the gang to speculate about the increasing role of AR outside of gaming -- what happens when it becomes part of everyday life? 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.

Feb 18, 202153 min

What is Adrenochrome?

Adrenochrome-- it's a real substance, and one sold openly online to labs with the proper paperwork. It's also mentioned in numerous works of literature, from Huxley's "The Doors of Perception" to Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and more. But what exactly is it? Why do people believe it's a sinister, evil drug used by hopelessly addicted elites in the worlds of finance, politics and entertainment? 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.

Feb 17, 20211h 7m

CLASSIC: When the Police Become Your Army

No, not the band featuring Sting. What if the actual, local law enforcement in the your neck of the global woods started using military-grade weaponry, patrolling the streets with the same door-to-door tactics used in occupied countries? According to some concerned advocates, this is a worldwide trend -- and it shows no signs of slowing. 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.

Feb 16, 202142 min

Strange News: Hacking into Your Water, Naked Mole Rat Accents and the Cop who Hired a Hitman

The small town of Oldsmar, Florida barely escapes disaster when a hacker remotely compromises the system, creating dangerous levels of chemicals in the drinking water -- implying potential for other disasters like this in the future. Scientists prove naked mole rats have accents. Officer Valerie Cincinelli stands accused of hiring a hitman to murder her ex-husband, as well as a teenage girl. 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.

Feb 15, 202153 min

The Philadelphia Experiment

Here's the story: In October of 1943, hundreds of people watched a top secret experiment go horribly wrong. The US Navy, attempting to create a kind of invisibility cloak for ships, accidentally transported the USS Eldridge through time and space, with disastrous consequences for the crew. It's a thrilling tale, but how much of it is true? Tune in as the guys explore the origin of this bizarre legend (and bust some myths about cream cheese along the way). 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.

Feb 12, 20211h 4m

Listener Mail: Radioactive Brine, Australia's Stolen Generation, and an Inside Scoop on Fracking

Why are there billboards warning about radioactive brine in parts of the US? What exactly is Australia's Stolen Generation? What's the insider scoop on the fracking industry and earthquakes? 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.

Feb 11, 202150 min

Mystery, Mayhem and Nukes: The Story of the Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a relatively tiny, remote place -- it's about halfway between Hawaii and Australia, with nothing but ocean on the horizon. And, for decades, this nation has been home to a terrifying secret. As the world entered the atomic age, the United States realized it needed a place to test its new weaponry, and to store the waste these nuclear experiments left behind. Tune in to learn more about US nuclear experiments in the Marshall Islands, and how the consequences of this conspiracy remain 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.

Feb 10, 202158 min

CLASSIC: Was Thomas Henry Moray the Next Nikola Tesla?

You've probably heard about Nikola Tesla, but what about Thomas Henry Moray? Join Ben and Matt to learn why some people believe this little-known electrical engineer may have discovered a revolutionary zero-point energy device 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.

Feb 9, 202138 min

Strange News: The Myanmar Coup, Solving the Mystery of Dyatlov Pass and Saying Goodbye to Adobe Flash

The military of Myanmar institutes a coup (and later internet blackout). Scientists believe they may have finally solved the mystery of Dyatlov Pass -- and their argument is pretty convincing! More and more organizations realize they need to be prepared for the end of Adobe Flash. 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.

Feb 8, 20211h 6m

What is the Latitude Society?

For many, the story began with the receipt of a mysterious card, which led them to a nondescript address in San Francisco. From there, new members of the Latitude Society found themselves living through a complex, enigmatic adventure in a secret society somewhere between a philosophical group, a city-wide theme park and a real-life conspiracy. But what exactly is The Latitude Society? What are its real origins, and where are the members 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.

Feb 5, 20211h 1m

Listener Mail: How to Talk About QAnon, The Mattress Store Conspiracy, Private Contractors and the Military

One listener explains ways to communicate about QAnon with relatives and friends. Another writes in to explore the difference between private contractors and US soldiers. And someone finally asks a question that's bugged the guys for years: Why are there so many Mattress Firms? 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.

Feb 4, 20211h 1m

Reddit vs. Wall Street: Peasants invade the casino?

How did a handful of otherwise unremarkable stocks become some of the most closely watched things on Wall Street? In today's episode, the guys explore the strange series of events that led to massive price fluctuations in GameStop and more. The media portrayed this as the 'little guys' -- amateur traders -- banding together to take revenge on heartless hedge funds. But how much of this is true? What's the real conspiracy, exactly? 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.

Feb 3, 202155 min

CLASSIC: The World Beneath Our Feet

From hidden catacombs to wild rumors about a hollow earth, the world is full of subterranean stories. But which are total bunk, and which have the ring of truth? Tune in to learn more with Ben and Matt 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.

Feb 2, 202138 min

Strange News: Has someone stolen the Ark of the Covenant? Chinese COVID-19 Conspiracies and Mexico Exonerates Corrupt Military Official

Locals near an Ethiopian church claim encroaching rebels aren't just waging a war agains the government--they've come to steal the legendary Ark of the Covenant, which has allegedly rested in this spot for more than 3,000 years. Members of the Chinese government have doubled down on their own brand of COVID conspiracy theories, accusing the US of creating the virus. International observers are in an uproar as Mexico exonerates a former high-level government official accused of multiple counts of massive smuggling offenses. 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.

Feb 1, 202157 min

Ireland's Vanishing Triangle

Inspired by a listener mail, the guys explore an enduring, disturbing mystery from across the Atlantic: Between 1993 and the late 1990s, multiple women disappeared in an 80-mile area outside Dublin, which came to be known as the "Vanishing Triangle." But what led to these disappearances? Could one or more of them be connected? 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.

Jan 29, 202151 min

Listener Mail: Parler and Cambridge Analytica, A Spectre in the Bed, and Berlin's Horrific Experimental Child Placement Program

Was Parler a long con funded by the same people responsible for Cambridge Analytica? A listener shares her disquieting story of an inexplicable encounter with a spectre. Over in Germany, the nation's public is in an outcry over revelations regarding a long-running program intentionally placing children in the care of known sexual abusers. 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.

Jan 28, 202154 min

The Open Skies Treaty

On November 22, 2020, the United States withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies. This treaty, signed in 1992, allows 34 member countries to perform unarmed aerial observations over foreign soil. Imagery captured is shared with the member countries. The U.S. cited Russia's activities with regards to the treaty as their reason for withdrawing. 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.

Jan 27, 202157 min

CLASSIC: Alternative History and You

Why do some people believe the Middle Ages never happened? Can we really trust our calendars? Do current world powers have a compelling interest in suppressing our knowledge of the past? Listen in and learn more with Matt and Ben 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.

Jan 26, 202138 min

Strange News: Putin's Secret Hideout, Nebraska and Ethanol, Buying the Lizzie Borden House

While detained by Russian authorities, opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a bombshell report on a secret, opulent compound allegedly owned in secret by Vladimir Putin. The Lizzie Borden house is officially for sale (as an AirBnB). And Mead, Nebraska struggles with largely unacknowledged, widespread contamination from a local ethanol plant. 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.

Jan 25, 202153 min

Psychedelics, Machine Elves and Kesha

In this interview, award-winning musical phenomenon Kesha joins the guys on a wide-ranging exploration of everything from UFO disclosure to deep-dive studies of the human brain on psychedelics, allegations of paranormal activity, her new podcast "Kesha and the Creepies" 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.

Jan 22, 202153 min

Listener Mail: A 14-Minute Death, the Online Alt-right Pipeline, the Terror of Issei Sagawa

David recounts how he died for 14 minutes, only to return with an astonishing new outlook on life. Lucas asks about the true story of the notorious, unrepentant and unimprisoned cannibal, necrophile and murderer Issei Sagawa. Amy asks about the proposed recruitment/radicalization pipeline from gaming to social media. 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.

Jan 21, 202145 min

Secrets of Livestock Industry, Part II: The Animals and the Bug

In the second part of this series, the gang dives into another aspect of the global livestock industry: the lives of the animals and humans involved. Learn more about the hidden reality of life for livestock--and how it could eventually impact the entire world, giving rise to superbugs. 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.

Jan 21, 20211h 13m

CLASSIC: Can human beings create disaster?

It sounds like the plot of a James Bond film: Some shadowy supervillain holds the world for ransom while threatening to destroy civilization with an earthquake, floods or volcanic eruptions. But some believe that humanity has more control over Earth's than ever before. Why? Could someone really create a natural disaster -- and use it as a weapon? 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.

Jan 19, 202132 min

Strange News: COVID-19 Relief and UFOs, Armed Forces and the Inauguration

The COVID-19 relief bill contains some surprising-- and possibly groundbreaking -- new directives for UFO disclosure, along with a 180-day timeline that has UFOlogists across the planet freaking out. The guys examine the warnings and speculation regarding the possibility of more violence as the date of the Presidential inauguration approaches. 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.

Jan 18, 202156 min

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.

Jan 15, 202157 min

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.

Jan 14, 20211h 8m

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.

Jan 12, 20211h 1m

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.

Jan 11, 20211h 7m

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.

Jan 8, 202153 min

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.

Jan 7, 202148 min

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.

Jan 6, 202155 min

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.

Jan 6, 202141 min

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.

Jan 4, 202149 min

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.

Jan 1, 20211h 38m

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.

Dec 31, 202050 min

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.

Dec 30, 202042 min

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.

Dec 29, 202036 min

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.

Dec 28, 202053 min

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.

Dec 25, 202033 min

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.

Dec 24, 20201h 4m

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.

Dec 23, 202048 min

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.

Dec 22, 20201h 0m

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.

Dec 21, 20201h 0m

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.

Dec 18, 20201h 3m

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.

Dec 17, 202055 min