Things I Learned Last Night

Spruce Pine | How One Mineral From NC Protects Taiwan

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever notice how one small town in North Carolina controls the global tech market? Discover how a hidden deposit of ultra-pure quartz runs everything. ...

Snake Oil | The Wild West's Biggest Scam

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesna...

Moltbook | An AI Built Its Own Social Media

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when AI bots create their own secret social network? We dive into the wild story of Moltbook and Clawbot, uncovering the truth behind thi...

Urantia | Sleep-Talking Cult Leader: The Urantia Book & Celestial Seasonings Tea

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder about the story behind your favorite Sleepy Time tea? Discover the shocking connection between Celestial Seasonings and a 2,000-page book ...

The Death Harvest | How 19 Deaths Saved Football

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 1905, Football faced its darkest season. That year became known as The Death Harvest because players were dying at an alarming rate. The game was b...

Was Tom DeLonge Right About Aliens?

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most people know Tom DeLonge as the guitarist and singer from Blink-182. He helped define pop-punk in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But over time, h...

Why Watergate Changed America Forever

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Watergate is one of the most important political scandals in American history. It reshaped how Americans view power, elections, and trust in governmen...

Blue Light | Blue His House With a Blue Little Window and a Blue Corvette

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Blue Light is everywhere today. It shines from our phones, TVs, laptops, streetlights, and homes. Most people never stop to wonder where it came from ...

3I/ATLAS | It's Official the Aliens Are Coming

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, scientists believed space was mostly predictable. Objects followed known paths. Light behaved in expected ways. Then discoveries like 3I/...

Project X Haren | The Real Story Behind 'Project X' Movie

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2012, a teenage girl in the Netherlands planned a simple birthday celebration. She wanted friends, music, and a normal night at home. One mistake o...

Stuxnet | How the US Started Cyber War

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2010, cybersecurity experts uncovered a computer virus unlike anything seen before. This malware did not target personal computers or steal private...

Secret Mall Apartment | They Hid in the Mall for Four Years

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 1990s, a strange housing experiment unfolded in Rhode Island. It was not advertised or permitted. It existed quietly inside a busy shoppin...

Our Funniest Moments From 2025

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a full look back at one of the wildest years in the history of the show. Tim and Jaron revisit their favorite moments, hardest laughs,...

Kevin McCallister | How this Kid Saved Christmas

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The podcast tells the story of Kevin McCallister, a young boy who gets accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas trip to France. Wh...

The Matsukawa Derailment | How the CIA Rigged Japan's Democracy

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the early morning hours of August 17, 1949, a passenger train derailed near the town of Matsukawa in northern Japan. At first, the crash appeared t...

Unknown Number | Cyberbullying Gone WAY too Far

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Strange messages can shake even the strongest people. That is what happened in a small Michigan town when an Unknown Number began sending cruel texts ...

Apollo 13 | This Is the Problem Houston Had

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Apollo 13 mission began as a routine trip to the moon. At first, many people barely paid attention. NASA had already reached the moon twice by the...

Sarma Melngailis | He Told Her He'd Make Her Dog Immortal

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The story of Sarma Melngailis is one of ambition, success, and a shocking scam that pulled her entire world apart. It begins with a bold dream in New ...

Bat Bombs | The Atom Bomb Saved Thousands of Bats

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The bat bomb was one of the most unusual ideas to emerge from the World War II era. It mixed wildlife, explosive science, and creative military strate...

How XI Jinping Took Control of China

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, China has stood as one of the most powerful nations on earth. At the center of that rise stands one man, Xi Jinping. His story isn’t ju...

Lydia Fairchild | This Mom's DNA Didn't Match Her Kids

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Lydia Fairchild applied for child support in 2002, she thought it was a routine process. She was a young mother of two, pregnant with her third c...

The Roofman | Lived in Toys R Us for a Year

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 1990s, a man named Jeffrey Allen Manchester earned a strange nickname: the Roofman. His crime spree would go down as one of the most unusu...

The True Story Behind Moneyball

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When most people think of baseball legends, they imagine home runs, golden gloves, and towering trophies. But Billy Beane became a legend not because ...

Theo Albrecht | How Aldi's Founder Got Kidnapped

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1971, the unthinkable happened. Theo Albrecht was kidnapped outside his office in Germany. The crime was led by Heinz Joachim Ollenburg, a dishones...

Rafael Perez | The Time Aliens Possessed a Pilot

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1976, a student pilot named Rafael Perez took off on what was supposed to be a simple solo flight from Mexico City. The plan was to circle a nearby...

D.A.R.E | The Truth About Dare and Drugs

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 1980s and 1990s were filled with slogans warning kids to “just say no.” At the center of this effort was the Dare program, a nationwide campai...

The Shaggs | This Is the Worst Band Ever

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some stories in music history are stranger than fiction. The rise of The Shaggs is one of them. What started as a father’s obsession with a palm rea...

The Lies About Balloonfest '86

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1986, Cleveland made history with a bold and colorful idea. Organizers set out to release more balloons than anyone had ever attempted before. The ...

Ike Herschkopf | His Therapist Took His House

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 1980s, Marty Markowitz turned to psychiatrist Ike Herschkopf for help. Marty struggled with panic attacks and decision-making. At first, ...

Lou Pearlman | He SCAMMED the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lou Pearlman was one of the most influential and controversial figures in the pop music industry. His story begins far from the stage lights, but it w...

The Yellow Deli | The Truth About the Yellow Deli Cult

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Yellow Deli looks like a cozy sandwich shop at first glance. Its handmade wood furniture, rustic décor, and warm teas attract students, travelers...

Velocity Gnome | The Prank That Lasted 3 Years

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It all started in the early 2000s when a teenager named Collin heard a knock at his door. A stranger knelt before him and handed over a scrapbook that...

Henry Davis | But I Am Telling You Right Now This Man Is Not Real

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the age of viral fame, few stories are stranger than that of Henry Davis and the Deep Fake allegations. Henry Davis became a social media sensation...

Balloon Boy | This Kid Got Stuck in a Balloon

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2009, a strange news story caught the attention of millions across America. A silver balloon was floating through the sky, and many believed a six-...

Phoenix Jones | Seattle's Real Life Superhero EXPOSED

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not all superheroes live in comic books. One of them walked the streets of Seattle, in full costume, calling himself Phoenix Jones. While his origin w...

Elmer McCurdy | Real Dead Guy Found on TV Show Set

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elmer McCurdy was a failed outlaw whose story didn’t end with his death—it only got weirder. After a string of explosive robbery attempts that wen...

Pepsi Jet | Pepsi’s $37 Million Bet, It Almost Backfired

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1990s, Pepsi ran one of the wildest marketing campaigns ever. The company offered “Pepsi Points” for drinking their soda. People could coll...

Hitchbot | The Robot That Died Trying to Make Friends

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2013, two Canadian professors set out to answer a strange question: Can robots trust humans? The result was a robot named Hitchbot. It wasn’t hig...

Zheng He | Did China Almost Rule the World?

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine this: hundreds of massive ships rolling into your harbor. No gunfire, no war, just presence. That’s how Zhang He made nations bow. His fleet...

Conan vs Leno: The Tonight Show Fight

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Late-night TV has always been filled with laughs, interviews, and drama. But one of the biggest behind-the-scenes showdowns happened between Conan O'B...

Alfred Packer Ate Five Guys, No Burgers

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the winter of 1874, six men entered the snowy Colorado mountains. Only one came out. That man was Alfred Packer, and what followed became one of th...

The Cadaver Synod | He Put a Dead Pope on Trial

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 897 AD, a genuinely shocking event occurred in Rome. A dead pope was put on trial. You read that right. A corpse, dressed in full church robes, was...

McDonald’s Monopoly - The One That Jaron Doesn't Want to Do

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years, the McDonald's Monopoly game made people believe they could win big. From free fries to million-dollar prizes, millions of people peeled th...

Justin Posey | Tech Genius Starts Massive New Treasure Hunt

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the world of hidden riches, one man took things to a whole new level. His name is Justin Posey, and he’s not your average tech guy. He’s a soft...

Forrest Fenn and His Deadly Treasure Hunt

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Forrest Fenn was a decorated Air Force pilot, art dealer, and author who lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He collected rare artifacts from around the wo...

Joy Milne | The Woman Who Can Smell Parkinson’s

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It all started at a science conference. A woman named Joy Milne stood up after a lecture on Parkinson’s disease and asked the speaker, “Why do peo...

Who Was the Hollywood Con Queen

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It all started with a phone call. A photographer in Colorado received an offer from a well-known Hollywood producer. She said she needed photos taken ...

Le Corbusier | How This Architect Changed City Life Forever

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you look around your city today, you might notice that a lot of buildings look the same. Fast food restaurants, apartments, and office parks ofte...

Rosie Ruiz | How to Win the Boston Marathon: Cheat

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the Boston Marathon finish line with a smile and a medal. She had just posted one of the fastest female marathon times eve...

Third Wave | Teacher Accidentally Starts a Fascist Cult

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ron Jones was a fun and popular history teacher at Cubberley High School. One day, a student asked him how people in Germany could follow someone like...

Dr. Bronner | This Man Turned Soap Into a Cult?

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Soap may seem like an everyday item, but Dr. Bronner showed us it can carry powerful messages. Using his soapbox—literally standing on it to speak t...

How Vladimir Putin Took Power (and Never Let Go)

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many people know Vladimir Putin as Russia's leader, but not everyone knows how he became so powerful. We must look at Vladimir Putin's journey to trul...

Uri Geller | This Magician Fooled the CIA

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uri Geller was born in 1946 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He said he saw a strange, shiny disc in the sky as a child, and he believed this event gave him psych...

Harold Von Braunhut | How This Man Scammed Kids With His Sea Monkeys

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever heard about the sea monkeys? You might think they're magical pets, but they're tiny shrimp! Harold Von Braunhut was the man behind this ...

Neom | Saudi Arabia’s $1 TRILLION City

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world is changing, and so are cities. A new project in Saudi Arabia, Neom, is leading the way. This city of the future promises advanced technolog...

Paul Kevin Curtis | This Elvis Impersonator Was Framed for Poisoning Obama

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2013, a bizarre crime caught the attention of the entire nation. It involved a local Elvis impersonator, a karate instructor with political ambitio...

Hetty Green | This Woman Saved J.P. Morgan

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one woman defied expectations and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States. Her name w...

Bryan Johnson | Can Science Make You Immortal? Maybe, if You're Rich...

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bryan Johnson is on a mission to stop aging. He isn't just trying to slow it down—he wants to live forever. His journey includes extreme health rout...

Space Cadets | Would You Believe You Went to Space? These People Did

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine stepping onto a plane, believing you're on your way to a top-secret Russian space training camp. You undergo intense astronaut training, compe...

Kony 2012 | How Kony 2012 Took Over the World – And Fell Apart

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2012, a short film took over the internet. It was called Kony 2012, and its goal was clear: make the world aware of Joseph Kony, the leader of the ...

Operation Trojan Shield | The FBI Seized 40 Tons of Drugs in Largest Ever Sting

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Operation Trojan Shield was a joint effort by law enforcement agencies from multiple nations. It targeted organized crime networks using encrypted com...

Ken Allen’s Incredible Escapes from the San Diego Zoo

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zoos are places where animals are carefully contained, but sometimes, a star breaks all the rules. In the 1980s, the San Diego Zoo was home to an oran...

Berners Street Hoax | The Greatest Prank of the 1800s!

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Berners Street Hoax happened in 1810 in London. It all started as a bet between two friends. One claimed he could make everyone in the city talk a...

The Khamar-Daban Mystery | UNSOLVED: Only One Person Survived This Tragic Hike

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Six experienced hikers set out to explore the Khamar Daban mountains. 23-year-old Lyudmila Korovina, a seasoned guide, led them. The group was excited...

Painless Parker | This Circus Dentist Defied the Law and Pulled Teeth for Fame

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What would you do if your dentist wore a necklace made of human teeth? Sounds wild, right? This was the reality for Painless Parker, a dentist unlike ...

Rent a HITMAN? How a Parody Website Catches REAL Criminals

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever heard of Rent a Hitman or rentahitman.com? At first glance, it sounds like a shady, illegal website straight out of a crime drama. But what if I ...

BBBY | Is It a Stock or Cult?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bed Bath & Beyond, once a retail giant, found itself struggling to compete in a changing retail landscape. While competitors like Target and Walmart a...

Theranos | How Elizabeth Holmes Fooled the World

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, few stories have captivated the public's attention like the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Theranos and its founder, Elizabet...

Iraqi Stargates | Was George W. Bush Looking for Portals?

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://tilln.com/support Throughout history, tales of advanced technology and celestial co...

The Consortium | He Cheated and Won 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

\Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In the early 2000s, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”...

Alan MacMasters | How This Man's Joke Led to the Toaster

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast History can sometimes be tricky to unravel. One exampl...

Havana Syndrome | New Evidence in the Havana Syndrome Case

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast There has been growing concern over unusual symptoms e...

The Duck Man | Disney Never Wanted You to Know This Man's Name

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Did you know there was a man known as the Duck Man? He...

Ken McElroy | Why 46 People Witnessed His Murder and Said Nothing

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The story of Ken McElroy stands out as one of the most...

Boys Alone | They Left 10 Kids Alone for Content

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Have you ever wondered what would happen if kids had t...

Worm Wall | The United States Is Building a Wall… Of Worms

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast There’s a quiet battle happening right now, and it’...

G.E. Kincaid | What’s Hidden in the Grand Canyon’s Forbidden Cave?

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Have you ever wondered what secrets the Grand Canyon m...

Roar | The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Roar is not your typical movie. It wasn't made with tr...

Nasubi | This Game Show Left Him Naked for a Year

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Imagine living in a small apartment for almost a year ...

Sergei Krikalev | The First Person Trapped in Space

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Imagine being stuck in space while your country falls ...

Nakita Russian | The Best TV Show That Didn't Exist

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The story of Nikita Russian is a cautionary tale about...

Ed Thorp | How Ed Thorp Beat Blackjack, Roulette, and the Stock Market

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Ed Thorp is a name you should know. He is a math geniu...

Secret Space Program | Are You an Alien Super Soldier?

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The Secret Space Program conspiracy theory is certainl...

Press Your Luck Scandal | How Cheating Won Him the Biggest Game Show Prize Ever

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In the 1980s, Michael Larson became an overnight celeb...

SINA | Animals Should Wear Pants

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In the late 1950s, a political action group called the...

Katko v. Briney | The Famous Booby Trap Case

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Edward and Bertha Briney were a couple who inherited a...

Dan Saunders | How a Bartender Used a Glitch to Take Millions From an ATM

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Dan Saunders was just an average 29-year-old bartender...

How the 2008 Housing Crisis Burst The American Dream | Ep 231

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The early 2000s were a time of prosperity and optimism...

John Birch Society | Conservative Group Behind a Failed Gold Heist

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The John Birch Society was a controversial right-wing ...

John Titor | Did A Time Traveler Really Tell The Future on an Early 2000s Forum?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In the early 2000s, a man named John Titor appeared on ...

James Scott | Man Wrongly Convicted for Causing Devastating 1993 Flood

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In 1993, catastrophic flooding along the Mississippi Ri...

Sandy Jenkins Didn't Make Enough Money, So He Stole

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast A famous bakery in the small town of Corsicana, Texas, ...

Meet Richard McGuire The Man That Tried Disney | Richard McGuire

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast This week's episode covers the story of a man named Ric...

How BlackBerry Took Over the World and Then Lost It | BlackBerry

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast BlackBerry was once the undisputed king of smartphones....

You Won't Believe the Culty Background of The Best Friends Animal Society

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast The Best Friends Animal Society operates one of the lar...

Ning Li | This Scientist Got $450k From The DoD, Then She Disappeared

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast Ning Li was a Chinese-American physicist who made break...

Marilyn Hartman | How She Boarded Over 30 Flights Without A Ticket

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast This episode of the Things I Learned Last Night podcast...

They Had Dirt on the ENTIRE Town | Circleville Letters

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast This episode of Things I Learned Last Night is about th...

They Time Traveled on Accident - The Kersey Time Slip

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In this episode of the Things I Learned Last Night Podc...

This Unsolved Mystery Made Tylenol Hard to Open

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast This comedy podcast episode covers the tragic 1982 Chic...