Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Episodes
CLASSIC: The Surprisingly Unboring Story of Farm Subsidies
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Make no mistake -- being a farmer is hard work. Farming outfits often have to carry a huge amount of risk from one season to the next, and any number ...
Strange News: Tuvalu is Drowning, Chinese EVs, Eating Cheese and More
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia is astonished as a full one-third of all residents of Tuvalu apply for the new, limited 'climate visa,' sparking concerns about the future o...
The Terrifying Tale of Aum Shinrikyo, Chapter Two: "Save The World By Ending It"
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the Aum Shinrikyo movements gains national, then global, attention, the founder Shoko Asahara begins to move his followers in a darker direction. C...
CLASSIC: Who killed the Jennings 8?
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Located in Jefferson Davis Parish, the town of Jennings, Louisiana wasn't a particularly well-known place -- in fact, many people in the US would prob...
The Terrifying Tale of Aum Shinrikyo, Chapter One: The Rise of a Cult Leader
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Modern-day Japan is often lauded as one of the safest countries on the planet -- but that doesn't make this nation immune to the danger of cults. In t...
CLASSIC: Citizenship and the Census
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every ten years, the United States conducts the census, a crucial survey of the country’s population meant to help Uncle Sam figure out how to p...
Strange News: Mosquito Drones, the Pharoah's Curse, Alligator Alcatraz, Giant Asteroids, New Blood Types and More
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget fake birds: China unveils the newest iteration of microdrones, which look almost exactly like mosquitoes. A Russian soldier turns cannibal. Fre...
Interview: Alive Again, with Dan Bush
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did you get here? What happens when you die? These questions have fascinated (and terrified) human civilization since the dawn of time, and often ...
Listener Mail: Gas Station Ding Dings, Synthetic Estrogen and Fish Populations, Palantir and Train Hopping (and More)
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anne Ominous shares their own experience with sketchy gas stations, and introduces the guys to a new slang phrase for gambling machines. Maximus weigh...
What is diplomatic immunity? Part III: Shadow Diplomacy
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone knows that diplomatic positions come with a variety of perks and protections, as well as serious responsibilities. But what if you were able ...
CLASSIC: What is 'Skunkworks'?
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For almost 80 years, Lockheed Martin has been working hand in hand with the US government to create cutting-edge, classified tech and craft, working i...
Strange News: Iran, Hidden History, Ghana, Corruption in Office, and More
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Things are heating up in the Middle East -- as the world studies a possible correlation between pizza orders and US military activity, the United Stat...
Cults You've Never Heard Of, Part II: Rise of the Zizians
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, the "C-word" can be pretty tricky. The word "cult" is usually applied by outsiders toward some group of individuals existing in opposition t...
Listener Mail: Leon Klinghoffer, a Strange Class Project, A Journey within Palantir.
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John in Connecticut uncovers a bizarre story about one -- or maybe two -- Leon Klinghoffer. The guys' earlier conversations about data aggregation and...
The Stuff Gas Stations Don't Want You To Know
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As avid fans of the Great American Roadtrip, Ben, Matt and Noel love gas stations. They're a fundamental part of US culture -- and, holy smokes, do th...
CLASSIC: Colorado's Mystery Drones
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In December of 2019 the Denver Post began reporting a strange pattern over the night sky of northeast Colorado. Around 7pm each night, at least 17 dro...
Strange News: The National Guard in LA, Costco ID, Japanese Escalators, Germany's Military Expansion and More
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Massive protests in LA (not to mention many more US cities) prompt the federal government to send in marines and activate the California National Guar...
Let's Learn Simple Sabotage!
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel travel back to the chaotic days of World War II. The newly-minted Office of Strategic Services, which would l...
Listener Mail: Agroterrorism, Dreams of the Future, Cattle Mutilations and More
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clever Innuendo gives a first-hand account of the US Military being super cheap with new tech. 2FAB shares premonitions from the dream state. Goat get...
Is there a lost civilization beneath the Persian Gulf?
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As one of the world’s most historically important bodies of water, the Persian Gulf is home to fascinating evidence of ancient humanity. In toni...
CLASSIC: Why do some people think cannabis can cure cancer?
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into a decades-long, surprisingly disturbing conspiracy: with a growing number of Western countr...
Strange News: Suspicious Bodyguards, the Resurrection of Walt Disney, Palantir Will Know EVERYTHING About You, and Why That Is Bad.
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The notorious tech giant Palantir may soon create history's most comprehensive -- and controversial -- database on all US residents. Why? Descendants ...
Crime on the Rails: What is the FTRA?
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To some, the Freight Train Riders of America is a vast, secretive criminal network -- deadly ghosts, haunting the country's rails. To others, the FTRA...
CLASSIC: Why don't nations trust NGOs?
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On paper, non-governmental organizations often sound like something everyone can get behind: these institutions are often dedicated to addressing some...
Hunting For the Yeren: A True Story
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard of Bigfoot, the Swamp Ape and so on. Western science largely dismisses the existence of these cryptids. Yet: Did you know there's anot...
CLASSIC: A World Without Cash
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The last time you bought something, did you use a card, cash or something else? If you automatically thought "who uses cash nowadays", you're far from...
Strange News: Ditch the Penny, Transparent Skin, The CIA and Star Wars, ChatGPT Refuses to Shut Itself Down, and More
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The United States may FINALLY ditch the inconvenient and terrible penny (Ben here -- can you tell I write the descriptions?). A popular food coloring ...
The Super Soldier Update
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While it may sound like science fiction, human militaries throughout history have always sought for an edge over their enemies -- and, in this search,...
Listener Mail: Gas Station "Casinos," Cannabis, Cryptids, Airport Disasters and Missing Faberge Eggs
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beuford breaks down the mechanics of gas station casinos. Josie explores the science of cannabis and oil-based products. Kangaroo fight updates. Frost...
The Bizarre World of Dream Experiments
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple animals dream -- and, even now, people have little understanding of why dreaming occurs. In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt explore the newes...
Strange News: Regeneron Bought Your DNA, CA Birdpocalypse, AI Job Cuts, Free El Gato
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roundup pesticides get a pass from Georgia. CrowdStrike joins the AI craze. A mysterious birdpocalypse in California. Regeneron buys the bankrupt 23an...
CLASSIC: The Wide World of Food Conspiracies
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether rich or poor, young or old, everyone on the planet has to eat. Government institutions monitor the safety, cleanliness and consistency of our ...
What happens in a nuclear war?
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since the US bombing of Japan in World War II, the world entire has remained terrified of nuclear weapons. Even as scientists and scholars spent decad...
Listener Mail: Dreaming Aloud, Beyond Time
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this evening's weekly listener mail segment, "Ben," Matt and superproducer Tennessee Pal welcome in-depth explorations of dreams from a first-hand ...
Can we really break physics?
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Why does stuff happen? Can we predict it -- and if so, what do these predictions tell us?" Loosely described, the concept of "physics" is the First S...
CLASSIC: The Smiley Face Murder Conspiracy
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could a group of serial murderers be kidnapping, drugging and drowning young men across the United States? Scores of young male college students have ...
Strange News: Octopus Civilization, Newark Goes Dark, Habeas Corpus, and the New Resource Arms Race
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Afghanistan suspends chess due to religious concerns. Newark goes dark -- for just long enough to prompt serious questions. The world witnesses new es...
Interview: Cancellation Island, with John Cameron Mitchell, Part Two: Action, Praxis, Presence and Poetry
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world where everyone feels divided by identity politics, ideology and the fear of cancellation, how does an individual navigate a cultural minefi...
Listener Mail: Global Rare Earth Unrest, Fears of Martial Law, the Guys Hire an ICP Expert
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could growing regional conflicts be driven by the race to control certain mineral resources? Could the United States slide into martial law -- if so, ...
Interview: Cancellation Island, with John Cameron Mitchell, Part One: The Lost Art of Gnostic Nuance
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to be 'canceled'? How do we collectively navigate the baffling, complex and contradictory world of an 'always-on' society? In the fi...
CLASSIC: Is the Dead Sea copper scroll an ancient treasure map?
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Odds are you've heard of the Dead Sea scrolls -- when the first of these ancient texts were discovered in the 1940s, the scrolls revolutionized our un...
Strange News: AI Lovers, Cannabis Burns, Mineral Deals, Underground Cities and Nbiriu Rides Again
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Concerns rise over human relationships with sycophantic chatbots. A town in Türkiye burns confiscated cannabis, prompting controversy. Former US ...
CLASSIC: What is "Qanon"?
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the stories and narratives you hear in the average mainstream media reporting aren't the entire truth? What if there's something else going on...
Listener Mail: Backmasking, More Meat Heists, and New England Murders
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Twenty Novel Hotels prompts a re-exploration of earlier conversations regarding backmasking and moral panics. Fellow Conspiracy Realists respond to Be...
The Prophecy of the Popes
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It seemed the world paused on April 21, 2025, when 88-year-old Pope Francis passed away after a long struggle with multiple health issues. As the Cath...
CLASSIC: The Story of Atlantis
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The legendary civilization of Atlantis was first mentioned in the works of Plato, in dialogues that claimed to recount information from translations o...
Strange News: The Power Goes Out, Fluoridation, Rampant Masturbation, Disney, anti-Narcocorridos, and More
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What caused the massive power blackout in Spain and Portugal? Anti-fluoridation activists gain ground in the wake of RFK Jr's newest statement. A form...
What exactly is diplomatic immunity? Chapter Two: How To Get Away With Murder
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OK, it's no secret that the law can apply differently to high-level diplomats and other government employees. But how far does this concept of immunit...
Listener Mail: Australian Cinema, The Barksdale Bubble, El Salvador and Dictators
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cake writes in with recommendations for Australian cinema. Spooky Pants prompts a conversation about the infamous Barksdale Bubble. Starship Home (aka...
What exactly is diplomatic immunity? Chapter One: "A Gentleman's Agreement"
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In modern English, we often say "don't shoot the messenger." As Ben, Matt and Noel discover in the first chapter of this week's special two-part serie...
CLASSIC: Interview: Radio Rental, with Payne Lindsey
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever experienced something bizarre -- some unexplainable coincidence, chilling interaction or even a run in with what some might call the sup...
Strange News: One Card To Rule Them All, Pop Culture and Space, Horrors of Kenyan Death Cults, and More
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
History's largest credit card merger looms on the horizon. Commentary on not-quite-space and a celebrity named Katy Perry. Ben takes the crew around t...
What is Shock Incarceration?
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: you're a bad kid. You've made a serious mistake, and may be facing incarceration. Yet Lo, and Behold! The US court system decrees you ma...
Listener Mail: Signal vs. Telegram, Supply Chain Raids, Everyone Hates EvilCore
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Privacy Guy continues the conversation about encryption and state-level powers. Art Vandelay notes recent issues with tariffs and supply chains. Multi...
Operation Ghost Stories
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you had the perfect spy? Not some glitzy James Bond-type, but instead a person -- or an entire family -- spending decades in a hostile country...
CLASSIC: What really happened to the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke?
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's one of the most enduring enigmas in American history -- how did an entire colony disappear from Roanoke island? Join the guys as they explore the...
Strange News: US on The Brink, North Sentinel Island, a Monster in Maryland and More
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Domestic and international tensions grow as US courts square off with the administration over the rendition of innocents. A hapless, would-be internet...
STDWYTK Presents: A Conspiracy of Sound, Live in Brooklyn
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
True story - for years, Ben, Matt and Noel have wondered about the concept of sensory experience. Turns out On Air Fest was listening, and called them...
CLASSIC: Was Samuel Little America's Most Prolific Serial Killer?
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Born in 1940, Samuel Little was known in multiple states as a drifter, petty criminal and man occasionally capable of violence. Like many people livin...
What happened to Harold Holt?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On 17 December 1967, Harold Holt, the immensely popular prime minister of Australia, went for a swim -- and vanished. In the decades since, his family...
CLASSIC: The Afghanistan Papers
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7th, 2001 and remains embroiled in the conflict almost two decades later, making this the longest war...
CLASSIC: What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In his day, American labor union leader James "Jimmy" Riddle Hoffa was one of the most well-known figures in the US. On July 30th, 1975, Hoffa disappe...
Interview: Up and Vanished Weekly, with Maggie Freleng
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alien abductions. Unexplained disappearances. Unsolved murders. In tonight's interview, the guys join the legendary, award-winning journalist Maggie F...
Listener Mail: Science and Astrology, Secrets of the Pyramids, and "Chicken Tax"
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Astrolojon prompts an exploration of a possible scientific basis to astrology. Flea asks for more information about the viral claims concerning purpor...
The Prior Authorizations Conspiracy: EviCore
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's a story sadly all-too familiar with so many people in the United States: you're on the cusp of receiving medication, surgery or treatment that co...
CLASSIC: Interview: Dark Waters: Corporations, Corruption and Pollution with Rob Bilott
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When corporate defense lawyer Rob Bilott first learned about Wilbur Tennant's dying livestock, the frustrated West Virginian farmer was at his wits' e...
Strange News: The Massive Tennessee Meat Heist, Roblox and Privacy, the CIA and the Ark of Covenant, Chemicals in Your Food and More
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A massive meat heist in Tennessee leaves Ben, Matt and Dylan asking: "Who needs 80,000 pounds of off-the-books meat?" A babysitter learns there really...
Big Chicken: A Fowl Conspiracy
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chicken! It's one of the world's most popular food stuffs, and nowadays it's a global, multibillion dollar industry. But a dark side comes with all th...
CLASSIC: The Far-out World of Deep Fakes
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, it was often understood that "seeing was believing" -- while people might embellish a story, and write whatever falsehoods they wished,...
What is the Disposition Matrix?
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that all powerful countries have used assassination as an aspect of statecraft. Yet in the wake of 9/11, the United States sought to be...
CLASSIC: What really happened to Amelia Earhart?
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amelia Earhart was a living legend -- this high-flying aviation pioneer garnered international acclaim and accolades for her daring flights across the...
Strange News: Signal Leaks Worse than 23andMe, Bird Jokes, Japan Bans Moonies
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Birds are fighting. A pilot loses a passport. Boeing scores a big win with a contract that will surely work out great. Let's hang out on Signal. All t...
Interview: OBSCURUM, with Gabe Lenners
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beginning in 2019, locals in rural areas of Nebraska and Colorado were astonished to witness multiple mysterious lights and objects in the sky. Everyo...
Listener Mail: The Piasa Bird, Bots and the Post Office, and Horoscopes for AI
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The guys explore the legend of the mysterious Piasa Bird. A Conspiracy Realist at the US Post Office inspires an exploration of post-human automation....
Why are so many spies getting busted?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget pretty much everything you've heard about James Bond. While loosely based on espionage tactics of yesteryear, actual human-based tradecraft is ...
CLASSIC: What are "Black Sites"?
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the United States, people accused of crimes are entitled to certain well-known protections under the law. And, in the international sphere, global ...
Strange News: "Freedom Cities" are the New Company Towns, Sackler Family Doesn't Go To Jail
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A phenomenally powerful international lobbying group -- Freedom Cities -- pushes the idea of US communities run by corporations. An opioid update reve...
The Trouble With Tariffs: the Smoot-Hawley Act
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tariffs! If you're like most people in the US, you probably didn't think much about the concept until recently -- it's always been one of those histor...
Listener Mail: (non-human) Cognition, Diplomatic Immunity, the Cops Tell Us About The Manchester Pusher
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
China Hacked The US Treasury -- And This Is Only The Beginning
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With global impact and domestic dissent, the U.S. Treasury remains one of the world's most impactful institutions. What happens when this institution ...
CLASSIC: Film Conspiracies -- an Interview with Chuck Bryant, From Earlier
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Strange News: Love on the Train, Space Updates, AI as G-d, Pre-crime Targeting of Protestors, and More
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Astrology and the Government, Chapter Two: Fortune-telling in the White House
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Listener Mail: The Prophecy of the Popes, Canada vs. the US, Sovereign Wealth Funds and More
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the world genuinely witnessing the unfolding Prophecy of the Popes? The Wondering Wizard wants to know. Alpha Flight comments on the growing tensio...
Astrology and the Government, Chapter One: The Myanmar Move
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
CLASSIC: Can weather make you "crazy"?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 beli...
Strange News: Wooly Mice, Severed Hands, and Space Updates (Spacedates?)
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Scam Factory, with Denise Chan
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
CLASSIC: The Wide World of Shipping Conspiracies
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
The Mysterious Star-Shaped Towers of Sichuan Province
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 k...
CLASSIC: Closed Cities: Secret Towns Kept Off Your Maps
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
CLASSIC STDWYTK, Live: Real-life Covens
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
True story: Ben, Matt and Noel know 'witches.' We’re all familiar with the spooky, stereotypical witch depicted in film, fiction and folklore &n...
CLASSIC: Cryptids You've Never Heard Of
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 guy...
CLASSIC: Conspiracy and the Cure: People Who Believe They've Cured Cancer
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, millions of people across the planet grapple with some form of cancer. Doctors work around the clock to create better treatments methods, e...
CLASSIC: The Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpaur to Beijing. While public -- and, later, private -...
CLASSIC: The Bizarre Clown Panic of 2016
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 wen...
Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter Two: The Hidden Hands
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Listener Mail: Exploding Headsets, Firefighters, Attention Spans and Elon
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple Conspiracy Realists reach out regarding firefighters. Sacremento responds to the exploration of social media and attention spans. A Combustab...
Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter One: The Craft and The Art
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The US Central Intelligence Agency gets a lot of criticism these days - historically, the institution has a number of missteps. The thing about unorth...
CLASSIC: The Nazi Gold Conspiracy
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...