Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

CLASSIC: The Dark Alliance: Did the US government and druglords kill Gary Webb?

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stubborn, determined and tenancious, Gary Webb was the quintessential investigative journalist. In his work for a newspaper called The Mercury News, G...

Strange News: CERN Wants a New Collider, Deepfake Scam, Bears on Crack, A Toothbrush Hack, and More

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CERN wants to spend the next two decades -- and twenty billion euro -- building a new collider. AI seems to escalate warfare in strange, unpredictable...

Squonk: The World’s Saddest Cryptid

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's Cryptid Time! On the heels of a somewhat... titillating social media video, the guys dive into the story of the world's saddest cryptid. Out in t...

Listener Mail: Massive Reaction to Oklahoma Cannabis and Human Trafficking, the Apple Vision Pro, Music Inspired by STDWYTK

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Divine Bovine prompts a conversation about the Apple Vision Pro. Moons of Athos shares some of the (awesome) music he creates while inspired by Stuff ...

Thailand's Worst Serial Killer is a Woman: The Story of "Am Cyanide"

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thailand's authorities recently closed an investigation on the most notorious serial killer in the country's history: Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, commonl...

CLASSIC: The Strange Story of the GhostNet

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The rise of the Internet Age allowed billions of people to access virtually endless stores of information, but it had a dark side -- one of which was ...

Strange News: Mexican Cartels Carry Heavy US Ordnance, Taylor Swift, Bayer to Pay More than 2 Billion in Latest Roundup Trial, Woman Non-consensually Running for Presidency

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mexico demands answers as cartels seem to wield massive amounts of US-manufactured military ordnance. Pop musician Taylor Swift inspires bizarre, pani...

Did A Harvard Astronomer Find Wreckage From Outer Space?

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Storied Harvard theoretical physicist Avi Loeb made some waves with his recent discoveries: through a deep search of astronomical records, he and his ...

Listener Mail: Carbon Monoxide Crisis in Utah, Hunting Ghosts, Ghost Kitchens

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mama Dino prompts an examination of carbon monoxide poisoning in Utah. Veteran ghost hunter George shares a guide to exploring Electronic Voice Phenom...

The Project For The New American Century: Part Two

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of unimaginable disaster, the supporters of the PNAC saw their chance to transform their theories into policy. At least, that's how critic...

CLASSIC: Ancient Civilizations in Antarctica?

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Among all the continents of Earth, Antarctica remains both the most inhospitable and the most mysterious. Today the only humans on the landmass are re...

Strange News: A Human Trafficking Conspiracy in Oklahoma, Kansas City Update, the Nicholas Rossi Saga Continues

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A federal jury has convicted two men of a drug trafficking conspiracy -- yet that's only the beginning of this twisted, disturbing tale. An update on ...

The Project For The New American Century: Part One

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Think tanks are pretty common in the United States, and not all are created equally. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben and Matt dive deep...

Listener Mail: Missing in Missouri, Corruption in Illinois, Australian Insight

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cody hips the gang to a disturbing death in Missouri. Mysteria writes in to respond to the earlier questions about small-town corruption. LJB provides...

Venezuela Versus Guyana

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The current president of Venezuela made global headlines when he seemed on the cusp of invading the neighboring country of Guyana -- why would a count...

CLASSIC: Real Life Super Powers Part II

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does someone have real-life superspeed? Can people telepathically control machines? When the guys originally began investigating real-life superpowers...

Strange News: Three Deaths in Kansas City, AI Does Carlin, Corporate Sex Trafficking

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Furious family members, community and friends demand answers when three men are found dead in Kansas City days after watching a football game. AI crea...

Introducing: The Godmother

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1930s, Lucky Luciano, one of American history’s most notorious mobsters, was finally taken down by a rookie prosecutor. Eunice Carter was one...

Radical, with Mosi Secret

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Before converting to Islam, Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin was a Black Power activist named H. Rap Brown. Like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, he was t...

Listener Mail: A Humble Farmer, A Blood Scandal, Aliens in Miami

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A Humble Farmer writes in with a stunning story of a still-unexplained UFO encounter. Zack asks for more information on a blood donation scandal. TyDj...

Hearing Ghosts: What is electronic voice phenomena?

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever heard something strange on the other end of the phone, or an inexplicable whisper in a recording. Most folks might dismiss this is as li...

CLASSIC: The Bunyip and Beyond: Meet the Cryptids of Australia

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over the years, the guys have explored stories of cryptids across the planet, but in all their podcast journeys they somehow never made it to Australi...

Strange News: US Couple Dead in Smoldering Home, China Regulates Gaming, Hundreds of Families Discover Missing Loved Ones Buried in Mississippi

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In South Carolina, authorities find an elderly couple dead in a home with an astonishing temperature. The government of China proposes regulations on ...

Does India have assassination rings?

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Indian government ordering assassinations on foreign soil? At first it sounds like a wingnut conspiracy theory -- yet over the past few months,...

Listener Mail: Smuggling Snacks, Missile Silos and the Paranormal, Letters From Home and More

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Foxillion Fastfoot reacts to the earlier story about items banned in the UK. Duke Nukem relates some of his experience in underground silos, prompting...

The Rise of the Ghost Kitchen

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During the pandemic lockdown, food delivery services exploded in popularity -- and, in most major cities, you could order any grub you imagined. Howev...

CLASSIC: Sex Cults and Rocket Science: The Jack Parsons Story

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Parsons was a rocket engineer and rocket propulsion researcher responsible for astonishing breakthroughs in his field. However, Parsons had a dou...

Strange News: The Mouse Moves Public -- or Does He? An AirBnB Scam, a Tale of Two Secret Spacecraft

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With a cavalcade of hot takes and further questions, Steamboat Willie debuts in the public domain. A long-run, unethical Air BnB grift nets profits an...

CLASSIC: The Beatles Conspiracies

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As one of the biggest musical acts in human history, the Beatles didn't just fundamentally change the course of music -- they also affected society at...

Listener Mail: First-Hand Experience with the Red Sea Conflict, Burner Credit Cards, AI Questions

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fickle Pickle prompts a discussion about AGI and non-human minds. Oz shares a concern about companies making burner credit cards. In a beautifully-wri...

Space Fungus!

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Since the early days of human space programs, every single space endeavor has encountered a continual hitchhiker: fungus. In tonight's episode, Ben, M...

CLASSIC: The Secrets of the Hidden Chinese Pyramid

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pyramids aren't just for Egypt! Join Ben and Matt as they dive into the strange story of a hidden pyramid in China, an ancient lost civilization that,...

Strange News: Zombie Deer, We Need to Talk About The Supreme Court, Cigarettes and 'Terrorism'

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The danger of the current Supreme Court poses an actionable threat to the American public. Authorities warn of 'zombie deer,' and a border security gr...

CLASSIC: Behind The Scenes of Atlanta Monster and Up and Vanished with Payne Lindsey

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they interview Payne Lindsey, the creator of Atlanta Monster and Up and Vanished, for a behind-the-scenes look at Payne's p...

Listener Mail: PB Pills, Free Tablets, Community Takeovers?

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whatnot is suspicious of a 'free tablet' offer from a company with unfavorable customer reviews. Anon and Kimo respond to the earlier conversation abo...

What if plants are cultivating YOU?

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The story of human history is also a story of symbiosis -- since ancient days, humans and plants have grown in step with each other. Yet more and more...

CLASSIC: Is the Ark of the Covenant Hidden in Ethiopia?

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Ark of the Covenant is the legendary wooden chest said to hold Ten Commandments, engraved on stone tablets. For thousands of years people have sea...

Strange News: Mortgage Company Hacked, Operation Prosperity Guardian, Dolphin with 'Thumbs'

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mortgage company Mr. Cooper goes public with a cyber attack that compromised millions of customers' personal data. Scientists in the Mediterranean spo...

CLASSIC: Do angels have a language?

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Belief in supernatural, divine beings like angels dates back into antiquity and occurs throughout numerous religions. Even in the modern day, numerous...

CLASSIC: The End Of The World with Josh Clark

23 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How long do humans have left on Earth? As species go, humanity has had a brief, incredibly transformative run here on Earth. We've mined resources, fa...

CLASSIC: Italy's Satanic Murders

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're an American, you're probably familiar with the famous 'Satanic Panic' of the 80s and 90s -- but did you know Italy experienced something ext...

Listener Mail: One For The Witches, Cochlear Implants and Hearing Voices, The Hidden Lithium War

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RedScotWitch replies to the witch hunt episode, and prompts a conversation about speaking with the dead. Kitty asks for more information about the rel...

Mysterious Inventors, Part I: Crazy Cars and Creepy Islands

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Humans are phenomenally inventive creatures -- problem is, some of their inventions may end up disrupting the status quo. As we explore the history of...

CLASSIC: The Control Group with Bret Wood

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the era of the Cold War, intelligence agencies on both sides of the iron curtain desperately raced to secure any possible technological advantage, ...

Strange News: Alabama's Fast Food Slave Trade, US Sweets Banned, Congress Draws A Line

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A recent lawsuit alleges the state of Alabama actively conspires to force incarcerated people into slavery under a crooked 'work release' program -- a...

What Happened to Glenn Miller?

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Glenn Miller was an international superstar when he abruptly decided to dissolve his band and join the US military during WWII. While his songs were s...

Listener Mail: UK Disaster Prep, Airplane Safety, and North Sentinel Island

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mark writes in with information about dangerous chemical exposure to veterans. North Ireland Fan asks why her government wants everyone to buy candles...

Ghost Minds and Grief Tech: Should We Bring Back The Dead?

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All of human history is, at heart, a tale of people attempting to cheat death -- and, up to now, everyone has failed to do so. But what if emergent te...

CLASSIC: The Hollywood Sex Cult - NXIVM

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the surface, NXVIM seemed like any other multi-level marketing company or self-help group. It offered numerous development seminars and executive s...

Strange News: Long-term US Official Exposed as Cuban Spy, QAnon Queen Trolled, the 23andMe Hack

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

23andMe reacts to a massive hack compromising information of customers across the world. Benevolent trolls infiltrate the telegram channels of the QAn...

Extraordinary Rendition: Yes, The Government Can Kidnap You

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While there are many forms of government they all have one thing in common: they make the rules. In theory, they maintain order and safety as well. Bu...

Listener Mail: Did OpenAI Build a Non-human Entity? Water Treatment, Mandela Effect and Google Maps

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Turd Herder calls in to speak about UV light and water treatment. Agent 907 asks about the Mandela effect. Anonymous describes issues with Google ...

What is Exercise Flintlock?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since 2005 -- officially -- the United States has conducted a training program known as Exercise Flintlock. This program, which has multiple partners ...

CLASSIC: Henry Kissinger, America's Darth Vader

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Henry Kissinger has worn many hats over the course of his long life. To some, his geopolitical career is a study in the ruthless, brilliant applicatio...

Strange News: The UK Has A Monster Problem, Saudi Arabia Conspires to Hook You on Oil, A Naked Guy at Disney.

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A naked man causes chaos at Disney. Saudi Arabia courts controversy with a program meant to hook developing countries on fossil fuels. A recent UK inv...

CLASSIC: What is Agent Orange?

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Named for the orange stripe lining the 55 gallon barrels containing this herbicide and defoliant, Agent Orange was one of the most widely-used "rainbo...

CLASSIC: Stanley Kubrick: The Man and the Myths

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary auteur Stanley Kubrick is considered one of the most important single individuals in the history of modern film. There’s no question that ...

Hypnosis: Fact and Fiction

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most people are familiar with some version of "hypnosis" -- at least as it's portrayed in fiction. But what is hypnosis, exactly? Why did this fancy n...

CLASSIC: The Mystery of North Sentinel Island

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

India controls numerous islands in the Indian Ocean, and they have a strange set of rules for North Sentinel Islands -- a tiny, remote place most peop...

CLASSIC: Who created the opioid epidemic?

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the U.S. doctors often prescribe opioids for pain management, and it's no secret that these substances are a big business for pharmaceutical compan...

CLASSIC: The Ariel School UFO Encounter

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On September 16, 1994, teachers and school officials at the Ariel School in Ruwa, Zimbabwe were amazed when the school's students reported that a flyi...

Listener Mail: Massive Recalls, Chicken Nuggets, the Balfour Declaration and the Shadow of Upton Sinclair

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lord of Enjoyment calls in with some additional context on the Tyson chicken nugget recall. A letter prompts a conversation about the controversy surr...

Who Killed JFK? with Rob Reiner

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sixty years ago this week, US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. In tonight's conve...

CLASSIC: The Kennedy Curse

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Kennedy family is one of the most well-known and influential dynasties in US politics, and the family members are enormously wealthy. Yet despite ...

Strange News: Volcanic Eruptions on the Rise, Emergency Pizza, Superpigs and Missing Window Planes

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Minnesota braces for an invasion of superpigs. Domino's emergency pizza promotion backfires. A plane flies to 13,000 feet before people discover missi...

CLASSIC: What is the Key of Solomon?

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine that you could possess a genuine, real-life spellbook -- something that could enable you to summon and command otherworldly powers, to accrue ...

Listener Mail: The Mushroom Update, Bizarre Schuylkill Messages, Desalination, Colorado Bigfoot

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Conspiracy Realists from across the world hip Ben, Matt and Noel to updates on the Australia mushroom poisoning case. A new example of desalination. C...

Will Plants Stop Photosynthesis?

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pretty much every living thing relies on plants. Through the superpower of photosynthesis, they function as the great translators of solar energy, pow...

CLASSIC: The Hidden Tomb of Genghis Khan

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Genghis Khan was one of the world's most successful conquerors, and his empire left an indelible mark across Eurasia. Yet upon his death his body was ...

Strange News: The Great Chicken Nugget Recall, Blinding Lasers at NFT Concert, Tires Are Killing Salmon

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Food giant Tyson recalls 30,000 pounds of chicken nuggets due to possible metal contamination. Bored Ape partygoers wake to find laser light may have ...

CLASSIC: How can you become a ufologist?

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

UFO researchers, also known as ufologists, make frequent appearances in pop culture, and many are professional, full-time experts in their field. But ...

CLASSIC: Can a President pardon himself?

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

According to the U.S. Constitution, the President of the United States has the power to pardon pretty much anyone. This is a broad, sweeping power tha...

CLASSIC: Will Google start impersonating you?

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're like millions of other people, you hate making phone calls. "Why can't I just text," you might think, "and only call if there's an emergency...

CLASSIC: Conspiracies That Turned Out To Be True

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Often in the mainstream media the term "conspiracy theory" is used as a way of dismissing a claim or idea immediately -- and it's a technique that wor...

Strange News: Eyedrops, Real Estate, Site 512 and Celine Dion

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Updated studies confirm the danger of certain eyedrops. A groundbreaking class-action suit prompts disturbing questions about commercial real estate. ...

CLASSIC: Did Buzz Aldrin see a UFO?

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of his career with NASA, legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin changed the course of human history. From his groundbreaking work with EVA te...

Listener Mail: DARE, Abyssal Zones, Eat More Insects

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

No One in Particular raises a fascinating point about the old-school D.A.R.E. program in US schools. Corporations want you to eat more bugs. Beeswax, ...

A Hacker Saved The Internet

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From a young age, Marcus Hutchins had a preternatural talent for code. As his online renown grew, he found himself at a series of ethical crossroads—...

CLASSIC: Expats and Espionage: The Story of Operation Chaos

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. government was desperate to maintain order and combat the growing domestic opposition to the war effort -- both the U...

Strange News: Massive Dime Heist, Big Bang Science, US Drug Stores Close

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A crew of professional heisters accidentally hits a truck from the US Federal Mint, and struggles to unload hundreds of pounds of dimes. Scientists ve...

Earwitness: The Toforest Johnson Case, with Beth Shelburne

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One July night in 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G. Hardy was shot behind the Crown Sterling Suites hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. While law enforcement ...

Listener Mail: E-girls and Military Recruitment, Diego Garcia, A Horror Story

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is the US military using 'E-girls' to manipulate young men into joining the armed forces? What is life really like at Diego Garcia? Have you sent us a...

How Witch Hunts *Actually* Worked

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nowadays people talking about "witch hunts" are usually referring to something in the realm of politics -- but not too long ago, church and state auth...

CLASSIC: What is Multi-level Marketing?

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever spent time on Facebook or Instagram, you've probably seen a few strange posts advertising tremendous opportunities to start your own bu...

Strange News: Drug Cartels Ban Fentanyl, A Cure for Forever Chemicals, Bigfoot in Colorado and a Catalytic Conspiracy

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel bans fentanyl -- promising gruesome consequences for anyone who doesn't comply. Traingoers may have encountered Bigf...

Who Wants To Live Forever?

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since the dawn of human history, the great leaders of civilization sought the one thing they could neither buy nor steal: immortality. In tonight's ep...

Listener Mail: DEFCON, the QAnon Queen, a Haunted House and Divine Intervention

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A letter from a Canadian listener fleshes out disturbing information about the QAnon queen. The Beekeeper shares a story about DEFCON. Green Garnet en...

The Boy Scouts Abuse Scandal

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For around a century, the Boy Scouts of America was considered one of the country's top youth organizations -- millions of children went through some ...

CLASSIC: From Rock to UFOs: The Tom DeLonge Story

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At the height of their success, the band Blink-182 became a key force in the development of pop punk. Despite their worldwide fame, guitarist and voca...

Strange News: Gaza Evacuation, Social Media Misinformation, and the Rise of New Weight Loss Drugs

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, the world wonders how a proposed evacuation plan will actually work. Social media -- X in p...

Companies Started By Cults, Part II

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From fast food to mass media, it can be tough to know who really runs a company. In tonight's episode, the guys return to more true stories of compani...

Listener Mail: The Return of Order of Nine Angles, Letter From a Hydrologist, and the Dangers of Drug Analogs

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An FBI investigation in New York leads to the discovery of 764, an online offshoot of the occult Order of 9 Angles, dedicated to pushing vulnerable ch...

The Tartarian Conspiracy

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What if most of what we know about history is false? According to proponents of the Tartarian conspiracy, not too long ago Earth was home to an incred...

Strange News: Thailand's Most Prolific Serial Killer, Space Junk, Tupac, Resource Extraction and the QAnon Queen

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's QAnon Queen is back in the news, this time for occupying a rural, abandoned grade school. Someone has finally been charged in Tupac's murder....

CLASSIC: The Cult of the Garbage Eaters

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In small towns, neglected glades and college campuses across America, small groups of bearded wanderers in homespun clothes are spreading a message --...

Cosmic Conspiracy: The New Space Race

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As more and more countries -- and corporations -- make astonishing breakthroughs in space exploration, the public becomes increasingly convinced the w...

Listener Mail: Hearing Voices, Hacking Everything, and Med Beds

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Samurai shares his perspective on hearing voices. Anon relates the strange story of medbeds. Glass Gate reveals a terrifying look into just how easily...

Have You Experienced Divine Intervention?

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Could some supernatural or spiritual forces really speak to human beings, or intervene on their behalf? While there is no scientific proof of God, hum...

CLASSIC: Children and Prison

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Compared to other countries, the US has a massive incarceration rate. While the prison system has passionate supporters and ardent opponents, there's ...

Strange News: Saltwater Invades New Orleans, Danish Artist Forced to Repay Museum, Germany Raids Occult Neo-Nazi Sect

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The US Army takes action as saltwater further compromises Louisiana, threatening hundreds of thousands of people in New Orleans. Danish artist Jen Haa...