Conspiracy Theories
Episodes
Stolen Body Hypothesis
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, people have debated whether or not Jesus Christ rose from the dead. From graverobbers, to Jewish High Priests, to Jesus's own disciples...
Shroud of Turin
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Turin, Italy there’s a piece of cloth that has perplexed religious experts for decades. Is the Shroud of Turin one of the greatest antiquities kn...
Who Started the Centralia Fire? Pt. 2
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Locals are sure that big corporations are after their coal, and started the Centralia Fire to smoke them out. Others insist the blaze was nothing more...
Who Started the Centralia Fire? Pt. 1
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly 60 years, a fire has been raging beneath a small town in Pennsylvania. Centralia was once an epicenter of coal mining. But after the blaze ...
9/11 Pt. 6: Legacy
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of our 9/11 series, we examine the legacy of that day, and how its memory impacted — and still impacts — the world. Learn m...
9/11 Pt. 5: Warning Signs
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How much did the U.S. government actually know about the 9/11 attacks before they happened? Was President George W. Bush angling for war since his fir...
9/11 Pt. 4: Coverup
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Throughout the 1990s, a private equity firm called the Carlyle Group began purchasing and investing in a multitude of private defense contracting and ...
9/11 Pt. 3: Fringe Theories
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We trace the path through history to 9/11, then examine how the official 9/11 Commission Report gave conspiracy theorists a foothold. Learn more about...
9/11 Pt. 2: Ground Zero
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The horrific attacks of September 11th come to an end. In the aftermath, rescuers and volunteers clean up while military and government leaders decide...
9/11 Pt. 1: The Attacks
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The morning of September 11, 2001 changed the world. Twenty years later, questions still linger about the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. In t...
Iraqi Dinar Scam
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When U.S. forces invaded Iraq in 2003, investors began buying up Iraqi currency. Some expected a massive payup, others were scammed by unethical deale...
O.J. Simpson Pt. 2
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the case of the century, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of double homicide in 1995, despite a wealth of DNA evidence. Did prosecutors let a cold...
O.J. Simpson Pt. 1
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On June 12th, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were brutally stabbed to death. Today, the homicides remain officially unsolved, but many sti...
The Coup Against Harold Wilson Pt. 2
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1976, Prime Minister Harold Wilson made a daring confession — someone had tried to overthrow him and his cabinet. Was this the work of a media mo...
The Coup Against Harold Wilson Pt. 1
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1976, following an abrupt resignation, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson claimed he was forced out of Parliament. As a socialist, he’d provoke...
The Bilderberg Group Pt. 2
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Where there's a group of powerful world leaders, there's whispers of conspiracy and a New World Order. The Bilderberg Group is no exception. Some beli...
The Bilderberg Group Pt. 1
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Formed after WWII as a way to unite the divided nations, the Bilderberg Group consists of some of the world's most elite politicians, businessmen, and...
Olympics: Russian Doping Scandal
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov was accused of doctoring thousands of urine samples for Russian athletes. He claimed he was ...
Olympics: The Salt Lake City Buyout
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When the 1984 Summer Olympics generated a massive profit for Los Angeles, cities around the world competed to host the next games. Salt Lake City, Uta...
Failed Conspiracies: Catiline Conspiracy
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1st century B.C.E., competition between Roman senators was stiff — even deadly. When a politician named Catiline learned he'd been knocked ou...
Failed Conspiracies: Pazzi Conspiracy
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the 15th century, the Medicis were the most powerful banking family in Italy. Members of a rival banking family known as the Pazzi attempted to ove...
Failed Conspiracies: Gunpowder Plot
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Remember, remember the 5th of November? You might remember it differently had Guy Fawkes and his team successfully blown up Parliament back in 1605. ...
Failed Conspiracies: July 20th Plot
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1944, a group of Adolf Hitler's top-ranking officials devised a plot to kill the Nazi leader and end his reign for good. But things didn't exactly ...
Grand Central Station Pt. 2
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During World War II, hidden power stations below Grand Central Station may have been the target of a Nazi attack. A hidden tunnel might still be reser...
Grand Central Station Pt. 1
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s an American icon, and an important piece of United States history. When Grand Central Station opened its doors in 1913, it stood as an opulent ...
Benjamin Franklin Pt. 2
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Among his many high-profile roles, Franklin still managed to keep some affairs out of the public eye. The figurative and literal skeletons hiding in h...
Benjamin Franklin Pt. 1
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
He’s famous for being a Founding Father and a groundbreaking inventor. But behind his electric experiments, Benjamin Franklin kept dark secrets not ...
Life on Mars Pt. 2
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Twenty years after NASA landed the first rover on Mars, theorists believe there’s more to the Red Planet than reported. Has NASA uncovered hints of ...
Life on Mars Pt. 1
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From the ancient Egyptians to 16th-century scientists to NASA today — fascination with the Red Planet spans thousands of years. But Mars holds endle...
Nostradamus: Seer or Schemer? Pt. 2
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Centuries after his death, Nostradamus is still a household name, but his accuracy, methods, and reputation are all up for debate. What do we know abo...
Nostradamus: Seer or Schemer? Pt. 1
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The deaths of kings. The makings of popes. Famines of entire civilizations. Nostradamus became famous in the 16th century for his predictions of the f...
NBA Conspiracies: Michael Jordan’s Retirement
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After the mysterious death of his father in 1993, Michael Jordan retired unexpectedly. The decision sparked rumors of mob connections, gambling addict...
NBA Conspiracies: Frozen Envelope Draft
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Was the 1985 NBA draft lottery rigged? Facing disillusioned fans and dwindling TV viewers, NBA commissioner David Stern changed how the draft was done...
Psychology of Conspiracy Theories Pt. 2
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When do conspiracy theories stop being theories? Today’s episode visits real accounts of deadly misconduct committed at scale by governments and bus...
Psychology of Conspiracy Theories Pt. 1
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Reptile overlords. Pizzagate. QAnon. What makes conspiracy theories so alluring, and why are some more unshakeable than others? Today’s episode brea...
Bigfoot Pt. 2
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Even expert primatologists can’t agree on whether Bigfoot exists. Is it all a hoax, or is the creature more intelligent — or cosmic — than we gi...
Bigfoot Pt. 1
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the most-glimpsed creature that doesn’t exist. A mysterious ape-man whose legends date back centuries. But while the stories shift and morph,...
Skull and Bones Pt. 2
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They say a Bonesman is for life… Their secret bond might have led to the creation of another clandestine organization: the CIA. Some even wonder if ...
Skull and Bones Pt. 1
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Formed at Yale in 1832, a fraternal secret society counts media moguls, CIA operatives, even U.S. presidents in its roster. But with only 800 living m...
Bitcoin Revolution Pt. 2
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In April 2021, Bitcoin hit its all time high of over 60K per coin — and it's still growing. While Bitcoin's creator still remains in the shadows, th...
Bitcoin Revolution Pt. 1
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An enigmatic creator. A much-hyped cryptocurrency. Bitcoin might be paving the way for a financial revolution, but critics say the digital dollar is a...
Radio Frequency Identification Pt. 2
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
RFID tags have become a paper-thin, barely detectable building block of our economy — but they aren’t without controversy. Skeptics cite concerns ...
Radio Frequency Identification Pt. 1
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A spy device developed during the Cold War has evolved into ubiquity, used for everything from tracking cow medications to locating nuclear materials....
Mexican Music Pt. 2: Disappearance of Luis Miguel's Mother
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After boarding a plane to visit her estranged husband in 1986, Marcela Basteri disappeared. Her whereabouts are still a mystery. Some believe she suff...
Mexican Music Pt. 1: Death of Juan Gabriel
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As one of Mexico’s biggest pop stars, Juan Gabriel’s talent and rags-to-riches story were legendary. But despite his fame, he was able to keep an ...
Rennes-le-Château Pt. 2
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To this day, no one knows what made Berenger Saunier so incredibly wealthy. Some believe he uncovered ancient treasure from the Knights Templar. Other...
Rennes-le-Château Pt. 1
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, thousands of people flock to a tiny French village to solve an ancient mystery. A 19th-century priest acquired a massive fortune while ren...
Global Warming Pt. 2
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is the threat posed by global warming as imminent as it seems? Is it possible that corporations are manipulating data (and exploiting our fears) to ma...
Global Warming Pt. 1
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last century, the fossil fuel industry has exploded. Carbon emissions are at an all time high. Wildfires and hurricanes are on the rise. Our ...
Mysteries of the Vatican Pt 4: John Paul II Assassination Attempt
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world looked on in shock when an assassin shot Pope John Paul II in May 1981. The official story was that a crazed lone gunman was to blame, but s...
Mysteries of the Vatican Pt. 3: Three Secrets of Fatima
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1917, three children in Fatima, Portugal received a series of prophetic messages that were kept secret for decades — first at the behest of the h...
Mysteries of the Vatican Pt 2: Secret Vatican Archive
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the centuries, a stash of secret documents kept by priests ballooned into millions of documents. Known as the Vatican Secret Archive, it’s rumo...
Mysteries of the Vatican Pt. 1: History of the Vatican
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Vatican City is known as an elegant seat of divine power and prestige. But the centuries-long history of the Vatican is marked by bloodshed, co...
PRISM Surveillance Pt. 2
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to government surveillance, most people likely have little to hide. But did a partnership with Silicon Valley unlock unprecedented level...
PRISM Surveillance Pt. 1
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the aftermath of 9/11, the government-approved PRISM surveillance program was meant to help keep America safe from terrorist attacks. But NSA contr...
UFOs from Behind the Iron Curtain Pt. 2
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During the Cold War, many believed the Soviet’s greatest weapon was fear. Did they fake a UFO landing in New Mexico to terrify Americans? Or were th...
UFOs from Behind the Iron Curtain Pt. 1
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Meteor crashes with no remains, metallic objects over small villages, and jellyfish creatures hovering above city centers... These were just a few UFO...
Operation Ajax Pt. 2
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt led a covert operation to overthrow Iran's Prime Minister in 1953. But Operation Ajax didn’t go according to plan. Theori...
Operation Ajax Pt. 1
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After Iran nationalized its oil fields, a seminal coup erupted in 1953. It appeared to be a spontaneous revolution — but many began to wonder if it ...
Cola Wars Pt. 2
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New Coke was one of the biggest commercial flops in American history, and a massive success for Coca-Cola. Executives collected huge bonuses while ori...
Cola Wars Pt. 1
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1886, an Atlanta-area pharmacist created an American institution: Coca-Cola. Seven years later, their rival, Pepsi, debuted. Since then, the soda g...
Frankenstein
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
19th century author Mary Shelley is known for penning the classic horror novel, Frankenstein. But many contest her authorship. Were Mary and other fem...
The Catcher in the Rye
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye has been held as a seminal book of required reading in America. But after multiple acts of violence were link...
The Mysterious Death of Ron Brown Pt. 2
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On April 3rd, 1996, the weather in Croatia wasn't great — but it wasn't bad enough to explain why experienced Air Force pilots crashed into a mounta...
The Mysterious Death of Ron Brown Pt. 1
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1996, during a trade mission to Croatia, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and 34 other passengers died in a plane crash — one that seemed too...
Peak Oil Pt. 2
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many experts believe the world will run out of oil in the next 30 years, and some people think the looming scarcity inspired unconscionable acts — l...
Peak Oil Pt. 1
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1859, a prospector invented modern drilling technology and kicked off an oil rush in the United States. Countless corporations made themselves rich...
Danny Casolaro & The Octopus Pt. 2
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Was Danny Casolaro murdered for getting too close to The Octopus? What had his investigations uncovered? And were his sources framed and defamed for h...
Danny Casolaro & The Octopus Pt. 1
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the early ‘90s, investigative journalist Danny Casolaro claimed he’d stumbled upon a clandestine organization made up of top government officia...
The NFL's Concussion Coverups Pt. 2
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What took the NFL so long to admit the threat of traumatic brain injuries? Some suggest the dangers are widely overblown. Others claim the NFL took a ...
The NFL's Concussion Coverups Pt. 1
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Could one of America's favorite pastimes be a silent killer? For decades, the National Football League overlooked the effects of repeat concussions in...
Deepwater Horizon Pt. 2
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Theories multiplied in online and radio discourse about the true perpetrators of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Was it the oil companies themselves, ...
Deepwater Horizon Pt. 1
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and then sank, kickstarting one of the largest oil spills in history. The companies who ran the rig be...
Brittany Murphy’s Death Pt. 2
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fans believed it was no coincidence that Brittany and her husband Simon died six months apart from the same complications. Some suspected toxic mold i...
Brittany Murphy’s Death Pt. 1
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Her breakout role in 1995’s “Clueless” made her America’s sweetheart. But was Brittany Murphy also a murder victim? The 32-year-old died under...
Operation Gladio Pt. 2
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, the C.I.A. funded Operation Gladio and hid it from the public. They may have also used their weapons and agents in an attempt to assassin...
Operation Gladio Pt. 1
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During the Cold War, a secret military operation hid hundreds of weapons caches throughout Europe. They trained resistance fighters and prepared for a...
Asbestos Cover-Up Pt. 2
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Secret files, vanished reports, called-in favors… How far did corporations, lobbyists, and possibly even high-ranking U.S. politicians go to protect...
Asbestos Cover-Up Pt. 1
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once called a “magical mineral,” asbestos was used in everything from curtains to cigarette filters in the 20th century. But as its health hazards...
Fernald School Pt. 2
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
During the Cold War, the U.S. government funded radiation experiments on unwitting civilians — including a group of boys at Fernald. Who else was su...
Fernald School Pt. 1
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Originally billed as an education center for people with intellectual disabilities, the Fernald School exploited thousands of kids for free labor. The...
Bermuda Triangle Pt. 2
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This patch of ocean is at the center of famous disappearances, from the U.S.S. Cyclops to Naval Flight 19. Are they just coincidences? Or are more mys...
Bermuda Triangle Pt. 1
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ships vanish. Planes disappear. And no wreckage ever seems to surface. The Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic is known for its mysteries and deathly cla...
The Bible Code Pt. 2
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since the Bible code was deciphered, theorists have wondered who was responsible. Was it a gift from extraterrestrial life forms? The work of tim...
The Bible Code Pt. 1
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A hidden code embedded within Hebrew Scripture has predicted some of the world’s biggest events, from the Gulf War and the Great Depression to the 1...
Incident at Fort Benning Pt. 2
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After spending years investigating the alien attack at Fort Benning, John Vasquez only found one other serviceman who remembered the events. Do both m...
Incident at Fort Benning Pt. 1
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the late summer of 1977, Private John Vasquez was allegedly abducted by aliens at Fort Benning, Georgia along with 1500 of his fellow soldiers. Lea...
Shag Harbour Incident Pt. 2
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the decades, numerous theories have been proffered as to what, exactly, crashed in Shag Harbour, Canada. But whether it was a piece of Cold War t...
Shag Harbour Incident Pt. 1
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A sleepy Canadian fishing town gained international attention in 1967 when hundreds of people witnessed an unidentified flying object crash off the co...
The Bush Family Pt. 2
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Three generations of the Bush political dynasty have conspiracy theories swirling around them, involving a connection to JFK’s death, the grave of a...
The Bush Family Pt. 1
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The official story of the Bush family’s rise in America is one of adventure, accomplishment and power. Where does that story begin, and how did they...
Project Beta Pt. 2
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Bennewitz’s 1981 report sparked multiple conspiracy theories, particularly around the Majestic 12 — a secret government group tasked with inv...
Project Beta Pt. 1
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After witnessing multiple UFO sightings around Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, researcher Paul Bennewitz took matters into his own hands — an...
Mysterious Humming Pt. 2
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s distracting at best, and destructive at worst — but what actually causes the Hum? Some say it’s produced by active natural gas lines. Other...
Mysterious Humming Pt. 1
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since it was first reported in England in the 1970s, this low-frequency humming has spread around the world. No one has been able to trace its source....
Iran-Contra Pt. 2
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did the Republican Party plot to hide evidence of Ronald Reagan’s wrongdoing? What was Vice President George H.W. Bush's true role? And did the CIA ...
Iran-Contra Pt. 1
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Throughout the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's administration ran an illegal weapons trade right under Congress's nose. Even today, it's impossible to say for ...
Edgar Allan Poe Pt. 2
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The official story of Poe’s ill-fated final journey isn’t the only story. Some believe he was robbed and died from a resulting injury. Or that he ...
Edgar Allan Poe Pt. 1
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most historians believe literary icon Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849 of alcohol poisoning. But the circumstances of his death are baffling: Four days be...
Aldo Moro Assassination Pt. 2
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
According to a CIA dossier, the Red Brigade was an unimpressive group of barely competent terrorists. Yet somehow, they managed to kidnap former Itali...