
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
2,012 episodes — Page 7 of 41

Listener Mail: (non-human) Cognition, Diplomatic Immunity, the Cops Tell Us About The Manchester Pusher
Dognition asks for a nickname. Big Randy checks in. Multiple folks in the Greater Manchester area follow up with their opinions on murder. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China Hacked The US Treasury -- And This Is Only The Beginning
With global impact and domestic dissent, the U.S. Treasury remains one of the world's most impactful institutions. What happens when this institution is compromised? In tonight's episode, the guys explore the harsh reality of successful conspiracies against the United States.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Film Conspiracies -- an Interview with Chuck Bryant, From Earlier
Did someone really hang themselves on camera in the Wizard of Oz? Did Stanley Kubrick hide a secret message in Eyes Wide Shut? It's no secret that the world of film is fraught with conspiracy -- both on and off the screen. But do any of these strange rumors and urban myths hold any sand? Join the guys with their special guest and long-time friend, Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant, cohost of Stuff You Should Know and creator of the Movie Crush podcast, as they separate fact from fiction in the world of conspiracies and film in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Love on the Train, Space Updates, AI as G-d, Pre-crime Targeting of Protestors, and More
Updates on space exploration. A seemingly-symbolic quarrel between an eagle and a goose. Large language models try out religion and pre-crime, all as a recent graduate gets deported for his political views. In other news, light becomes solid, prompting Ben and the gang to call for input from a physicist. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astrology and the Government, Chapter Two: Fortune-telling in the White House
While astrology is often portrayed as a belief system of ancient empires and ages past, the popular assumption could not be further from the truth. In the second episode of this series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the times U.S. Presidents looked for guidance from the stars.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: The Prophecy of the Popes, Canada vs. the US, Sovereign Wealth Funds and More
Is the world genuinely witnessing the unfolding Prophecy of the Popes? The Wondering Wizard wants to know. Alpha Flight comments on the growing tension between the United States and Canada. Aaron A Aaronson inspires a future episode on sovereign wealth funds. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astrology and the Government, Chapter One: The Myanmar Move
Astrology! To true believers, this genre of divination provides deep inside to the secret mechanicisms of the Heavens and the Earth. To skeptics, it's bunk -- another mistaken set of beliefs best left to benighted empires of old. And yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in the first part of this special two-part series, astrology still can play a massive role in the modern world. In Chapter One, the guys explore the origins of astrology before traveling to Myanmar, where multiple rulers made extreme decisions based on what they believed was guidance from the stars.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Can weather make you "crazy"?
For thousands of years, people have been convinced that the weather and the position of the moon can wreak profound havoc on human behavior. This belief continues in the modern day, with numerous law enforcement officers, medical professionals and more swearing people act strangely during the full moon. Additionally, science shows certain environmental factors, such as an extended lack of sunlight, can spark measurable changes in mood. So what's the truth here? Can the weather really make people go crazy? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the fact, fiction, and alleged ancient meteorological conspiracies in tonight's Classic Episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Wooly Mice, Severed Hands, and Space Updates (Spacedates?)
The race toward de-extincting mammoths (and other creatures) continues apace, here at what Ben calls "the end of history." The newest step toward this furry resurrection? WOOLY MICE. An unidentified bird drops a severed hand at a school. Also schoolteachers are getting in trouble for "pretending" to sell pills, and forcing kids to fight each other in Juvie. Hoping to end on a positive note, the guys come through with some fantastic space updates (side note: spacedates?) -- anyhow, all this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scam Factory, with Denise Chan
It's a harrowing story, often untold in the West: while everyone's tired of scam calls and texts, we rarely ask about the lives of people on the other side of the call. While it's devilishly easy to make light of the scammers and the con artists, the harsh reality is that thousands of people pushing scams are being forced to do so, often held against their will in what amounts to modern-day slavery. Following up on their earlier episode investigating the terrifying scam compounds in Myanmar, Ben, Matt and Noel welcome special guest, the award-winning journalist Denise Chan, to learn more about the continuing catastrophe in her newest project, Scam Factory, by Wondery.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: The Wide World of Shipping Conspiracies
Look around you as you listen to tonight's episode -- how far did these objects travel to meet you here? In centuries past, the average person would be surrounded by local objects. Today, the most mundane of possessions may have traveled more than halfway across the world to become your fabrics, your electronic components, your favorite snacks. Make no mistake: The world as we know it will collapse if our species stops shipping things across the planet. Global trade is dangerously close to a religion -- literally every nation has a set of laws applying to the passage of goods. So why are these laws so easily broken? Why do the same nations and conglomerates touting 'rule of law' seem to obey another set of rules?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mysterious Star-Shaped Towers of Sichuan Province
True story: throughout China's Sichuan province right along the border with Tibet, the land is riddled with ancient towers of unknown origin. No one knows who built them, nor why. In tonight's episode, Ben and Noel explore the fascinating hidden history of architecture that withstood millennia of chaos -- and how an ancient series of towers survived the rise and fall of empires into the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Closed Cities: Secret Towns Kept Off Your Maps
The majority of human beings currently live in urban areas -- and this trend seems set to continue. According to the most recent estimates, two-thirds of humanity will live in urban areas by 2050. However, not all cities are created equally. In fact, countries throughout the world are home to cities that, in one sense or another, do not officially exist. So what exactly are these secret, closed cities. What goes on there? Why are these areas hotbeds of the stuff they don't want you to know? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they unravel the mystery in today's Classic episode from 2019.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC STDWYTK, Live: Real-life Covens
True story: Ben, Matt and Noel know 'witches.' We’re all familiar with the spooky, stereotypical witch depicted in film, fiction and folklore – a creepy crone with a pointy hat, riding a broom through the sky and cackling at the moon, often accompanied by her animal sidekick. But how accurate are these depictions? Were there ever really any covens, any infernal Black Masses and secret rituals dedicated to the powers of darkness? Join Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know as the guys explore fact, fiction and controversy around the real-life stories of witches and covens. (Spoiler, this is a live show, which means the thing they call Ben is required to stay on the rails.)They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Cryptids You've Never Heard Of
Everyone's heard of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster -- but what about the hundreds of other cryptids rumored to exist around the world? Join the guys as they delve into the stories of cryptids you may have never heard of.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Conspiracy and the Cure: People Who Believe They've Cured Cancer
Each year, millions of people across the planet grapple with some form of cancer. Doctors work around the clock to create better treatments methods, early diagnosis techniques and more, but for many people these innovations will sadly come too late. With so many lives on the line, it’s no surprise that multiple, unrelated individuals have claimed that they possess the cure for cancer — and that powerful forces are conspiring to keep this cure hidden from the masses.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: The Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
On March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpaur to Beijing. While public -- and, later, private -- entities from across the region searched for signs of the craft, no one was able to figure out what exactly happened. Join the guys as they delve into a mystery that remains largely unsolved three years later -- the disappearance of MH370, and why some people claim there's a conspiracy afoot.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: The Bizarre Clown Panic of 2016
It began in August -- five photographs of what appeared to be a sinister figure dressed as a clown loitering in a Green Bay, Wisconsin parking lot went viral. Eight days later, a local filmmaker admitted this was just an attempt to garner PR for an upcoming indie film... but the clowns kept coming. In the space of just a few months numerous people around the world reported being attacked or stalked by clowns. So what exactly was going on?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter Two: The Hidden Hands
While it might sound weird to think of the CIA conspiring to hire magicians, tradecraft and stage magic actually have a lot in common: sleight-of-hand, misdirection, performance -- you name it. With all this in mind, the CIA hired globetrotting magician John Mulholland to teach the world's most dangerous spies the hidden strategies for magic, and how to translate these entertainment skills to real world theft, smuggling, and homicide. The catch? Mulholland could never breathe a word about this for the rest of his life.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: Exploding Headsets, Firefighters, Attention Spans and Elon
Multiple Conspiracy Realists reach out regarding firefighters. Sacremento responds to the exploration of social media and attention spans. A Combustable (and stoned) Coyote ask for more information on the earlier story about exploding headsets. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter One: The Craft and The Art
The US Central Intelligence Agency gets a lot of criticism these days - historically, the institution has a number of missteps. The thing about unorthodox "outside-the-box" approaches is simply this: some ideas work, and some ideas are superb. A few decades back, the CIA hired a magician.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: The Nazi Gold Conspiracy
Toward the end of World War II, German forces realized they were in an unsustainable situation, on the losing side of a war rapidly drawing to a close. In an effort to prop up their wartime economy, the Nazi party stole and fenced tons of gold and other valuables -- and, depending on who you ask, some of that gold remains hidden away and forgotten in the modern day. Join the guys as they delve into the abiding rumors of hidden nazi treasure, as well as the Nazi banking conspiracies that may still be at work in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Renaming Greenland, AI Running the Government, Eric Adams Goes Free, Drone DUIs, Fatbergs, and More
A massive olive oil heist. Some US politicians apparently genuinely want to annex Greenland, and rename it to "Red, White and Blueland." New York Mayor Eric Adams -- who's huge in Türkiye -- will have all corruption charges dropped. An update on Mangione's legal crowdfunding. Corporate chemical giant Bayer fights back against anti-pesticide activists. Sweden rolls out DUI laws for drone pilots. Fatberg updates. All this and more, in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Smart Devices and Surveillance
If you're like more than 90% of Americans, you own a cellphone of some kind -- and it's no wonder. Like tablets or smart speakers, these handy devices are incredibly convenient, providing a universe's worth of knowledge at your fingertips... at a price. What exactly do your smart devices know about you, and where is all that information going? Tune in to learn more with Ben and Matt in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: Exotic Landscapers, Telepathy Tapes, and Chimera Ethics
Colby Jack Cheese continues the conversation about chimeras. Ward invites the gang to a Bigfoot Festival. Mike gives a first-hand account of fighting fires out west. Plebe prompts a conversation about telepathic communication -- all this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Militias: Fact and Fiction
What does the Consitution say about self-armed paramilitary forces? Can a state create its own defense force, functioning under the supervision of a governor rather than the command of the larger armed forces? Inspired by an earlier conversation with Conspiracy Realist Anonymous Owl, the guys explore the bizarre position of state militias in the U.S. -- and what this odd legal arrangement may mean for the future of the country.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: What is Gang Stalking?
Have you ever felt as if somebody was watching, following or even stalking you? If so, you're not alone. Most people have, at some time or another, had an experience like this -- and, tragically, many people are physically stalked every year. Yet there's a strange twist to the tale: More and more people are claiming they're being stalked by a group of people -- a gang. Join Ben and Matt to learn more in this evening's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Elon Musk vs. the USA, The Egg Updates, Google AI Weapons, Pentagon News and More
Unelected "special government employee" Elon Musk continues to lead an unprecedented flurry of changes and cuts to US institutions - supporters call it good budgeting; critics call it an attack on democracy. Rising egg prices lead to a massive heist, and Waffle House is charging a per-egg fee to diners. The Pentagon changes its media stance, Google lifts its long-standing ban on AI weaponry. Oh, and Zombie Spiders. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Social Media Attacks Your Attention Span
What's the longest amount of time you've spent away from social media? For many of us, the answer is "not long." Across the planet, billions of people are caught in an endless cycle of posting, reposting, commenting, liking, and reacting to a constant stream of ephemera -- a never-ending barrage of news, updates, hot takes, memes and viral videos inundating our brains with one shiny thing after another. Most people consider these pursuits harmless... but, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode, a growing number of experts are concerned that this continual short-form theatre may have serious consequences for the human brain. Tune in to learn more about how the age of social media may be affecting your brain in dangerous, often-unacknowledged, and lasting ways.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: Mobile Phone Tracking, the Psychology of Healthcare, The U.S. is Firing So Many People
Anonymous Fed provides a chilling first-hand experience with the US government's recent and sudden moves to fire, lay off, or buy out numerous federal employees amid a flurry of other intensely bizarre moves -- Ben shares aspects of the now-infamous "Fork In The Road" email. Cosmic asks about favorite Magic: The Gathering cards, as well as the psychological effects of private healthcare. Curt prompts a deeper conversation about the fact and fiction surrounding mobile phone surveillance, Faraday grifts, and the nature of secret government programs. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accident or Murder? The Mystery of the Manchester Pusher
Manchester, England is a city with an amazing history and -- according to some -- a terrible secret. For years a rumor has been spreading, first through local circles, and now across the globe. Could all the tragic deaths and disappearances near canals and waterways really be accidents, as law enforcement maintains today? Or could there be something more sinister at work... an active serial killer, operating with dark impunity? Join Ben and Matt as they delve into the harrowing theory of the Manchester Pusher.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: ODESSA: The Secret Nazi Escape Route
As World War II drew to a close, multiple Nazi officials saw the writing on the wall: Germany would lose the war, and members of the Nazi party would have to answer for their crimes -- if, that is, they were caught. In a desperate bid to avoid justice, various factions of the SS and other Nazi officials created secret international escape routes called ratlines. Just how big was the operation? Tune in to learn more about the mysterious organization called ODESSA, and why it remains a subject of intrigue and controversy in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Chinese Corgi Cops, Massive Tuberculosis Outbreak, ICE Cream Trucks, The Doomsday Clock, DeepSeek, and More
A Chinese Corgi Cop loses his bonus. The largest tuberculosis outbreak in US history is occurring, right now, in Kansas. A Las Vegas ice cream truck is mistaken for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- or ICE -- truck. The AI company DeepSeek sparks a massive stock selloff. Pope Frances officially dissolves Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. All this and more in today's weekly strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horror in the Jungle: Crossing the Darién Gap, Chapter Two
As the only land bridge between South and Central America, the notorious Darién Gap is a lawless, unforgiving region through which thousands of people, every year, traverse in search of survival and escape. In the second chapter of this special two-part series, Ben and Matt explore the harrowing reality of making this passage. Beset with bandits, crime, corruption, cartels and danger, innocent people are hoping against hope to survive the horrors of the jungle, and arrive at a better place in the north.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: Chimera, The Bible, A Controversial Salute
Griffin explores the nature of chimera and ethics.Oz Woman prompts the guys to quote the Bible. Marvelous Marvin has questions about salutes. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horror in the Jungle: Crossing the Darién Gap, Chapter One
If you look at a world map, you'll see one tiny stretch of land connecting South, Central, and North America. As the only break in the great Pan-American Highway, the Darién Gap has long been one of the world's most inhospitable places. It's rife with crime, disease, and danger. Yet, in current decades, this single geographic chokepoint has evolved into what some describe as a migration 'superhighway' -- every year, thousands upon thousands of innocent people risk their lives traversing this lawless land on foot, hoping against hope for a better life in the north. In the first chapter of this special two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the history of the infamous Darién Gap.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Secret Rooms, Secret Societies and an Unexpected Guest
When the guys get together to trace the story of secret societies, they aren't expecting a surprise guest to crash their podcast, revealing first-hand experience with some the most elite, secretive organizations in the United States. Wait. How did John Hodgman get in here?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Billionaires are Booming, Elon Musk Cheats at Games, Pardons and Commutations
As one U.S. President leaves and another returns to office, both administrations launch an extraordinary number of pardons and commutations, sparking extreme controversy. Studies indicate the wealth of billionaires is exploding, with at least five trillionaires expected in the next decade. Amid other controversies, Elon Musk is accused of cheating at video games. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever happened to Ambrose Small?
During the turn of the 19th century, a man named Ambrose Small ran Ontario's theatre scene. A known womanizer, gambler and all-around jerk, Ambrose made a ton of enemies with his business dealings. As the rise of motion pictures posed an existential threat to his industry, Ambrose cashed out, sold his business -- and disappeared. More than a century after the fact, people are still asking: What happened?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Inside Scientology with Mike Rinder, Part II: The Future of the Church
How many members does the Church of Scientology actually have? What are they doing in Clearwater, Florida? Perhaps most importantly, what is the future of Scientology? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they continue their interview with Mike Rinder, creator and cohost of Scientology: Fair Game, in the second part of this classic interview segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dangers of the Dark Web: Kill List, with Carl Miller
We've all heard of the Dark Web -- and it's often mischaracterized in popular media. But what happens when you find a site people genuinely think will help them pay for murder? In tonight's special interview, Ben and Matt join the award-winning tech researcher and author Carl Miller to learn more about his harrowing journey into the world of online crime, as he and his team race to save lives across multiple countries in his newest podcast, Kill List.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside Scientology with Mike Rinder, Part I: An Origin Story
Founded in 1953 by L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology describes itself as a religion that puts its adherents on a path toward complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel are joined by Mike Rinder, a former senior official of the Church and cohost of Scientology: Fair Game, for a first-hand, inside look at the organization in this classic interview segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: The California Wildfires Update, Jack the Ripper Breakthroughs, Banning Food Coloring Additives, and More
As California continues to struggle with raging wildfires, the guys explore a proliferation of strange and disturbing allegations related to the ongoing disaster. Cloud-connected sex toys become a new, profitable target for hackers. Recently-discovered DNA evidence in the case of Jack the Ripper may lead to a new inquest -- perhaps finally solving the crimes. The FDA moves to ban certain food coloring additives in a (long-overdue) win for the public. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cults and Catholicism: The Story of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
The Catholic Church is, by any measure, one of the largest religious forces on the planet. Throughout its long, at-times troubled history, it has weathered numerous scandals: accusations of abuse, crime, and cover-ups. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt, and Noel explore the story of a still-unfolding case regarding an apostolic organization called Soladitium Christianae Vitae. Based in Peru, this group billed itself as a wholesome initiative to spread the work of Christ through engagement with the young and the poor. As the guys dig deeper, they uncover a vast, intergenerational conspiracy of abuse.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Mail: The Shepherd's Point, Dream Communication, and the Inevitable Rise of Superpowers
Mr. Wiggles responds to the earlier conversation with The Shepherd on the dilemma of food and monoculture. Cabeza de Vaca prompts a conversation about stunning -- alleged -- breakthroughs in dream communication. Colby Jack Cheese inspires Ben to explore the future of gene modification: Could we, one day, give humans physical attributes once restricted to specific animals? The guys speculate on which powers they'd choose -- and want to hear your picks as well. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Stockholm Syndrome Real?
Doubtlessly familiar to any fan of exploitative true crime shows, the concept of "Stockholm Syndrome" argues that people victimized by kidnappers, hostage takers, or even trapped in abusive relationships will tend to identify with their captors. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the surprisingly hidden origin story of this concept -- as well as discovering why experts worry law enforcement has weaponized this idea to further diminish and dismiss the experiences of survivors in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLASSIC: Psilocybin: Fact, Fiction and Future with Robert Lamb
Evidence indicates human beings have been using psychedelics since ancient times, and a recent paradigm shift has launched a new renaissance in psychedelic research. Over the years psychedelics (and psilocybin specifically) have been the subject of both extremely positive and severely negative claims -- so what's the truth? In this episode, special guest Robert Lamb, host of Stuff To Blow Your Mind and Invention, joins the guys to explore the fact, fiction and future of psychedelics.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strange News: Fake AI Invades Social Media, Taliban Bans Windows, Rent Conspiracies, Airplane Stowaways and the Death of Mike Rinder
Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta sparks massive public outcry as their plan to inundate social media platforms with AI bots backfires -- and, at the same time, the company removes fact-checking. The leader of the Taliba orders that buildings should not have windows looking into places where a woman could be sitting or standing. Investigators find two bodies in the wheelwell of a JetBlue aircraft. China hacks the US Treasury. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Luigi Mangione Story, Chapter Two: The Larger Context
As we record, Luigi Mangione is currently in police custody on suspicion of murdering former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In the second chapter of this ongoing investigation, Ben, Matt and Noel explore recent updates on the case, as well as the larger implications: What does the public reaction tell us about the growing divides in the United States? Why does establishment media and public discourse seem so starkly opposed? Is it possible that this event might inspire others to commit similar crimes? Tune in to learn more, and as always feel free to reach out to us directly: [email protected] 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: Animals At War: Fact vs. Fiction
Whether as beasts of burden, scouts, sentries or attack dogs, animals have been conscripted into human conflict since the dawn of recorded history. This practice hasn't changed in the modern day -- it's only evolved. Join the guys as they delve deep into some of modern history's strangest rumored (and confirmed) tales of animals in warfare, from would-be weaponized bats to tales of cyborg sharks, surveillance birds and more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.