Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

An astronaut writes a Tripadvisor review of life in space. King John calls in to prompt an excellent conversation about food as medicine... and how private insurance may help you eat healthy. A European Conspiracy Realist provides context on the idea of mandatory speed limiters -- and why people in the US seem more bothered by it than people across the pond. Charlie describes bizarre experiences with targeted advertising. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. 

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If you live in the US, you've heard the tone before: a staccato series of beeps followed by an oddly neutral voice disclosing any number of warnings or disasters. This is known as the Emergency Alert System. In the event of an emergency, this system can save lives by immediately getting information out to the public ... but what happens if someone hacks it? How easy is it do so?

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If you met a person from the year 1019, they would be, in many ways, much like you. But what if you met a person from 3019? How different will human beings be one thousand years from today? Will humanity as we understand still be around? Join the guys with special guests John Goforth and Brent Hand, hosts of Hysteria 51, as they explore the strange twists and turns the future may hold for our species... assuming, of course, that we survive.

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33 year-old Collins Jumaici Khalusha has been arrested in connection to multiple murders in Kenya -- he himself has testified to killing 42 women in the past two years. Guillermo Söhnlein, the co-founder of the Titan submersible company Oceangate, says he has plans for a moon colony. Officials claim an interstate 'Fentanyl Robbery Gang' lured victims with sex work and drugged them, leading to at least 4 deaths. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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It's a weird -- and weirdly common -- story throughout history: a storm that carries not just rain and thunder, but any number of strange animals dropping along in the ground. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the fact and fiction surrounding historic rains of frog and fish... only to discover there are serious problems with the conventionally-accepted explanation.

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Do you anthropormorphize inanimated objects? Ben has a pantheon of them. Side Pocket Kid writes in about the concept of alternative power and microgeneration. On Instagram, Rebel reveals Nazi-branded drugs are sweeping Europe. A new UAP sighting in California. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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On 13 July, 2024, a person later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former US President and current Republican Presidential candidate Donald J Trump at a rally held on the Butler Farm Show Grounds near Butler, Pennsylvania. Two civilians were greviously injured, and another civilian was fatally shot. In tonight's breaking episode, Ben and the guys explore what we know so far, what questions remain unanswered, and more.

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The Panama Papers are a collection of over 11 million leaked documents exposing shady financial dealings from more than 200,000 offshore entities, some dating as far back as the 1970s. When Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia began connecting the dots between corruption in her home country and information in the Panama Papers, she may have finally crossed a line organized crime wasn't willing to tolerate -- in October of 2017, she was killed by a car bomb outside of her home. Today, the murder remains officially unsolved.

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A massive password hack compromises 10 BILLION passwords -- and no one's sure what will happen next. As of July 7th, all new cars sold in the EU and in Northern Ireland will require mandatory speed limiters onboard. Over in South Korea, civilization may have witnessed the first 'robot suicide.' All this and more (pants smuggling, Taco Bell retirement, et cetera) in this week's strange news segment.

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So why would the US government push so hard for people to get vaccinated domestically, then turn around and wage an anti-vaccination propaganda war on the Philippines? In the second part of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the bizarre motivation behind this insidious scheme: the idea that allowing China to supply vaccines could upset a delicate balance of geopolitical power. It wasn't that they planned to kill innocent people -- they just didn't care whether those people died.

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Geist writes in from Germany, with a fascinating and conspiratorial first-hand look at the potentially insidious end goal of 'surge' and 'flex' pricing -- using personal info to determine how much you should pay for a purchase. Ralph prompts a re-examination of long-term underground living. The gang confirms that yes, Google search is indeed getting worse. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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How far would you go to maintain control of the world? It's a question militaries across the planet ask themselves, every single day. In the first part of this special two-part episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore a genuine conspiracy by the US Department of Defense -- at the same time they were urging people to get vaccinated, they were running a huge information war across the Pacific, convincing folks not to receive vaccinations... and almost certainly leading to the deaths of innocent people.

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Playwright William Shakespeare is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential writers in the English language, and his plays have been read or performed millions of times around the world. He was also quite prolific: Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more. Yet for more than a century various researchers known collectively as anti-Stratfordians have argued that Shakespeare didn't actually write some -- or all -- of his work.

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In a stunning and genuine conspiracy, the US Supreme Court rules a President should have the powers of a Monarch. Scientists warn about the slow burn of a future bird flu pandemic. Recent analysis finds AI makes unprecedented demands on energy -- and creates a huge amount of emissions. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Have you ever seen a weird pattern in a field? Grain, grass, swamp or wheat, all bent toward some sort of spiritual-mathematical attempt at communication? Since ancient human times, primates built all sorts of strange stories about how, where, and why unseen beings would create crop circles. In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt delve into this strange agricultural phenomena -- sifting the chaff of fiction from the wheat of fact.

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Cabeza de Vaca prompts a conversation about private drones and home insurance. Skippy shares terrifying first-hand experience with the consequences of 'off-label' drug use. In an email about Philadelphia bombing civilians, Ryan inspires future episodes on the abuse of state power. Ben, Matt and Noel receive an official warning against their discourse on the nature of sandwiches. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Imagine a stunning amount of biodiversity amid one of the most densely-populated nations in the modern world. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel continue an exploration into what Western science deems "cryptids of India." Spoiler: Ben solves a few mysteries, and gives you the clues to solve a few more as you listen along at home.

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What if you could travel outside your body at will, sending your consciousness across the planet and beyond? While it may sound like a tale of science fiction to some, the phenomenon known as remote viewing was the subject intense government scrutiny for years. Join the guys as they interview physicist and author Russell Targ, creator of the new film Third Eye Spies, to learn more about his experience researching remote viewing, his work with the government, the future of remote viewing and more.

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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange secures "freedom" in Australia. The Pentagon planned a massive anti-vaccination scheme to discredit China. The US Surgeon General wants warning labels on social media. Private health companies get busted peddling medicine -- and some folks are going to jail. All this and more in this week's Strange News segment.

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Every Presidential election brings with it a virtual army of advisors, donors, academics, think tanks and policy wonks. They're often full of ideas about how the country should be run -- and they spend a great deal of time and money trying to sell their messages. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore one of the most controversial policy bibles in modern-day America: a set of proposals known collectively as Project 2025. Is this just the normal think tank process... or is there something more sinister at work?

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Higher education offers millions of people the opportunity to pursue their dreams and make meaningful contributions to civilization -- but it often doesn't come cheap. At $1.5 trillion, the student loan debt in the United States alone is worth more than the value of Facebook and Microsoft combined. So how did we get here? Why do so many people believe the government and private financial interests have conspired to put people under the thumb of life-long, crippling debt? And, perhaps most disturbingly, what will happen if the debt bubble bursts?

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For the vast majority of humans, freeports don't really matter, nor impact their lives. But make now mistake: for the well-heeled and criminals alike, these international storage sites can provide mission-critical loopholes for money laundering, tax dodging and more. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the strange, international web of conspiracies surrounding these obscure -- and technically legal -- storage facilities.

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On Thursday, February 5, 1987, two men were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping six children and transporting them to Tallahassee, Florida. While the children were reportedly filthy and hungry, initial reports of abuse didn’t hold up. The mothers confirmed they knew the men, and the charges were eventually dropped. But this isn’t how the story ends -- instead, this is where the story of the Finders cult begins.

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Smart phones have fundamentally changed the world -- at times, it's difficult to imagine life without one of these handy computers. There's a world of people you can call, a universe of information at your fingertips and millions of specialized programs to make everyday life that much easier. In fact, it sounds too good to be true... and, according to some critics, that might just be the case. So how do we separate the fact from fiction when it comes to smart phones and cancer?

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Do you live near a mysterious cavern, pit, or abandoned mine? In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the wide world of mysterious holes, spanning the globe from the remote wilds of Canada all the way down to Antarctica.

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A real estate expert weighs in on the discussion of proprietary valuation/pricing software. A conversation about the failed Superconducting Super Collider in Texas. C shares a first-hand account of life in the Two by Two spiritual movement. The favorite poop joke of the week -- and more -- all in this week's listener mail segment.

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What if you could take a pill, an injection, or a series of substances to make you fundamentally smarter? To gift yourself with eidetic memory, superior reasoning skills, and higher cognitive function? In the second part of this continuing series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the bleeding edge science, grifts and innovation within the world of nootropics -- better known as 'smart drugs.'

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The Black Panther Party For Self-defense was founded in Oakland, California in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. They originally wanted to protect local residents from police brutality. One prominent Black Panther activist, Fred Hampton, was killed during an FBI/Chicago Police Force raid on December 4th, 1969. Officially speaking, his death was an unfortunate accident. However, 50 years later multiple scholars, journalists and historians believe there’s more to the story.

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The state of Missouri has set a date for the execution of Marcellus Williams -- despite emerging evidence overwhelmingly indicating his innocence (and the prosecutor who wants to reverse the conviction). A Baby Reindeer update. Banana giant Chiquita is once again in court -- this time for funding the far-right paramilitary/terrorist organization AUC. Over in California, a 71 year-old man has been busted for running a massive LEGO heist ring. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Global civilization depends on the power of flight. Yet over the past few decades, planes seem to keep disappearing or meeting with disaster. In tonight's episode, the guys give a 2024 update on missing planes, as well as the theories surrounding what went wrong.

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Brett the Hitman shares a bizarre story about Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift and Paris. Tree Forts shares the mystery of TwinRay in Ashland, Oregon. Chickenado explores the stuff Big Chicken doesn't want you to know. Plus: Is a Big Mac technically lasagna? All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Reality is philosophically terrifying. What is it, exactly? Where does it come from? Why are we, humans and everyone else, stuck within this thing no one seems to understand? In this special episode, Matt and the one they call Ben wrestle with the nature of existence in the face of new, so-called "virtual environments."

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The nation of China recently made international news by successfully completing an unmanned landing on the far side of Earth’s moon, marking a pivotal point in the resurgent space race. So why do some observers believe there’s more to the story?

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Atlanta's water disaster prompts a conversation about the conspiracies that led to it and the larger threat of crumbling infrastructure across the US. Google's AI search is pretty terrible. One company may be to blame for America's soaring rent prices. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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An email hips the guys to the global conspiracy of the Atlas Network -- a think tank that creates think tanks. Fun Crusher looks for more information on allegations of a serial murderer in Austin. Wayne makes a great point about Ben and Matt's earlier 'get out of trouble with scopolamine' idea. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Death is one of humanity's great unifiers. Before the dawn of recorded history our species and others like it venerated, feared and honored the dead. The practice of commemorating our loved ones continues today -- and it's become a big business. Join the guys as they delve deeper into the fact, fiction and controversy of the funeral industry to determine whether or not a secret monopoly is at play.

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Years after his death, Charles Manson remains one of the most infamous cult leaders in US history. While the mainstream public seems pretty satisfied with the official narrative, people still struggle to understand how Manson could have held such an iron grip on the minds of his followers. To some researchers, he wasn't acting alone. Instead, he had help from some world-class experts in mind control -- the CIA.

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In recent history more and more analysts have been concerned about the rise of privately-owned, multinational corporations wielding the type of geopolitical power once relegated to states and nations. These concerns usually name drop the best known large companies, such as Nestle, Unilever, Halliburton and so on -- but many more companies operate just as effectively in relative obscurity. Tune in to learn more about the controversies surrounding the prestigious and murky world of the global management consulting group McKinsey and Company, an organization so powerful it's often referred to as, simply, "the Firm".

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Why is North Korea sending balloons filled with trash and poop over the border? A new poll reveals most Americans consider fast food a luxury. A former mayor in South Dakota is charged with three murders. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Trolls! These mythical creatures are -- nowadays -- beloved. Most folks think of trolls as creatures of myth, up there with the minotaur, the kraken, the selkie. And yet. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the history of troll folklore, ultimately separating fact from fiction and posing a fascinating question: What if troll legends are an oral remnant of early encounters with a previous thing almost-yet-not-quite-human?

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How have notable historic figures been affected by dangerous chemicals? Did the US really suppress secret goggles that allow you to see auras? Why has Pornhub banned itself in Texas? In Letters From Home, the guys learn more about the Food Cube Theory. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Civilization only exists as a result of global trade. Without countless trucks, trains, cargo ships and aircraft, the world as humans understand it will collapse. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt, and Noel explore a particularly fascinating aspect of global shipping -- the freight brokers. These companies are logistical giants: in theory, they intervene to make sure everything gets from Point A to Point Z in the most efficient manner possible. This evening, we ask: What happens when these industries conspire?

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On November 11, 2018, seismologists began puzzling over a weird low-frequency rumble that rang through the entire planet. The wave wasn’t connected to any known events, and scientists remain mystified by the mysterious phenomenon. Join the guys as the explore the theories behind the world’s weirdest earthquake.

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At a recent conference for high-dollar investors, a prominent retired Colonel bluntly states "non-human intelligence" is real, world governments know, and they've been interacting with it for a long time. An update on Karen Reed. A statement about Baby Reindeer. A horrific arson prompts questions about surveillance and the law. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Have you ever wondered whether some secret group genuinely runs the world? Ben, Matt and Noel finally explore the concept that hybrid reptilians change shape at will, dictate the path of human civilization, and -- for some reason -- seek to keep the entire mission a secret.

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Is there an international conspiracy to certify rigged elections across the planet? What's with the Coast to Coast story of "Mel's Hole?" Fiona writes in for more information about the extremely real -- and dangerous -- phenomenon of "Active Fitness Clubs." All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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You've heard of Bigfoot, but what else is out there? In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the fact and fiction of cryptids in India.

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In an earlier episode, the guys delved into the modern mystery of Genghis Khan's hidden grave, and found he was far from the only famous historical figure lost to secrecy and the inevitable march of time. Travel with the gang as they unravel more stories of humanity's famous lost tombs, hidden corpses and more in the second part of this two-part series.

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Country music legend Randy Travis approves an AI-generated song based on his voice. The guys explore the double-edged sword of hidden cameras. Bumble executives envision a world where "AI concierges" handle the hazards of online dating -- by dating each other. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Warning: this episode is not appropriate for all audiences.

Anyone with an internet connection can find -- well, almost anything they wish. In a way, it's an autobiography of the human species, with all its interests, concerns, weaknesses and horrors. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the ongoing crime, corruption conspiracy riddling the world of online sex sites.

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In an earlier episode, the guys delved into the modern mystery of Genghis Khan's hidden grave, and found he was far from the only famous historical figure lost to secrecy and the inevitable march of time. Travel with the gang as they unravel more stories of humanity's famous lost tombs, hidden corpses and more in the first part of this two-part series.

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The internet is amazing, terrifying, hilarious and, as you read this, still evolving today. We genuinely don't know if humans are ready for it. Tonight's episode examines a troubling accusation -- what if the internet today has already moved past humanity? What if the internet you encounter is now populated by not humans but bots? This is the Dead Internet Theory. Tonight, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into to see how much of this strange conspiracy may be true.

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You can find phrases touting "natural" flavoring on products throughout most modern supermarkets, from beverages to cereal to more -- but what exactly does this mean? Join the guys as they delve into the fact (and fiction) surrounding the use of "natural" in advertising... and why there might be more to the story than you think.

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What's going on with all these tornado clusters-- and what does it tell us about the future of natural disasters? The gang weighs in on the larger context of recent rap beefs. Ben calls in from an undisclosed location, with the latest updates on brain worms and Presidential candidates, with a special message for Mother's Day. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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What would happen if you built an almost-perfect world, limited in terms only of space? How would people react -- could you create a utopian society? These are the questions John Bumpass Calhoun asked himself during his career as an ethologist, which led him to create tiny 'universes' for rodents... only to find that, time and time again, these perfect civilizations collapsed. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they delve into the parable of Universe 25 and behavioral sinks.

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J Conner and Ben bond on the concept that technological breakthroughs may lead to the creation of real-life telepathy. Scootch weighs in on the pickle of voting age limits -- and age limits in general. Plant Queen reports on bird flu in America's farm animals, and Tonks shares a down-right wholesome conspiracy for kids at school. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Ah, cannabis! That oft-vilified, oft-worshipped source of so many creative snacks, amazing music, and... legal chaos. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel return to the world of "drugs as weapons," exploring the allegations that cannabis ingestion can lead some people to extraordinary psychotic breaks, resulting in dangerous breakdowns -- up to and including murder.

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Also known as the Security Service, MI5 is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, dealing with threats inside the kingdom. However, recent revelations have shown that, in some cases, the organization may have helped to aid and abet some crimes in the course of (theoretically) preventing others. Tune in to learn more about the morally grey world of covert operations and MI5.

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A sex-trafficking inquiry targets the New Orleans archdiocese. An explosion in Michigan's Clinton Township triggers an investigation. Widespread anti-war protests across the United States place the country at a crossroads. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Join Ben and Matt as they interview Aaron Mahnke, the creator of the world-famous Lore podcast, about Unobscured, the new series where he dives deep into the true story of the Salem witch trials. How many people were tried? How many actually died? What does Hollywood get wrong and, perhaps most importantly, was there something the people of Salem didn't want future generations to know?

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Secret Soup Can hips the guys to the newest 'Big If True' -- aka alleged -- breakthrough in alternative propulsion. Matt the Firefighter shares a widely-unacknowledged danger of fighting fires. GP Scootch prompts a conversation about Superfund sites. Rob provides a mission-critical update on the continuing adventures of a certain humble farmer. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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How far would you go in pursuit of a Greater Good? How much evil would you permit -- how many crimes would you commit -- if you believed the result was beneficial to the world overall? These are the kind of questions the US government wrestled with at the height of the Cold War, when they considered launching a number of false flag and terror campaigns to shore up support for a hot war with Cuba. Join Ben, Matt and Noel to learn more.

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Out of all the states in the Union, it seems like Florida is home to the craziest shenanigans. Every few days another story about a weird, madcap crime in the Sunshine state makes the circuit in mass media, and it’s created a nationwide stereotype about the state and its residents. But how did we get here? Is there any truth to the bizarre stereotype?

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Colorado moves to protect human thought. Chechnya restricts all music to a certain amount of beats per minute (spoiler: it's super weird). In protest against an alleged conspiracy, a man self-immolates in front of a Manhattan courthouse. Ben, Matt and Noel learn their prediction about robot dogs proved correct. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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On June 5, 1968, Sirhan Sirhan fatally attacked Robert Kennedy -- he was tackled, disarmed and arrested immediately. Yet for decades after the murder, the arrest, and the trial, people still wonder exactly what happened. Could it be possible that Sirhan was not acting on his own -- or of his own free will?

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Jace wonders whether he's haunted by a dearly-beloved, farting ghost. Skippy prompts a conversation about growing miniature organs, and the larger future of biotech. Phoebe writes in with a crucial conversation about the 4B movement and patriarchal conspiracies, which Doc and Ben agree are closer to home than a lot of Americans may like to assume. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Toward the end of 2023, a US judge decreed the public had a right to know the names of multiple people listed in court documents pertaining to the crimes of notorious financier and human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. This list of his known associates includes tycoons, royalty, celebrities, and more than one president. But what about the allegations that Epstein was supplying victims to sexual abusers -- will any of these other people, if guilty, be brought to justice? Tune in as Ben and Matt explore the Epstein files.

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Jeffrey Epstein made a name for himself as a mysterious money manager with friends in very high places, from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump, British royalty and more. His firm refused to do business with anyone worth less than one billion dollars, and Epstein traveled the globe, often throwing exclusive parties on his own private island. Yet this jet-setting money whiz was also dogged by rumors -- rumors of ongoing sexual abuse with multiple victims. At least some of these rumors turned out to be true. Any other person would have spent years in jail ...so why is Jeffrey Epstein walking free today? Tune in to learn more.

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Did you know wealthy people can easily buy citizenship in numerous other countries (and they're doing it at an unprecedented rate)? Plus the ongoing Cybertruck debacle. In two different countries, criminals get caught wheeling corpses to banks for loans and withdrawals. The notorious grifter Patrice Runner is finally convicted in a stunning, long-running global scheme to grift people with 'psychic powers' through the mail. All this and much more -- like FBI agents going broke -- in this week's strange news segment.

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For some, drugs represent the downfall of civilization, despite the fact that drug creation and ingestion is one of the oldest discoveries in human history. In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt explore a bizarre genre of conspiracy: What happens when drugs are weaponized?

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P Brain asks for more information about the health effects of the recent solar eclipse. Anonymous in Central Illinois asks Ben, Matt and Codename: Doc to debate the best -- or worst -- candy. Scoop Murphy drops some knowledge about earmarking certain government positions. Keith the Plumber uses McDonald's for lucid dreams, and GGP Scootch shares an amazing, surely true, story about the perils of human cloning. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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At some point in your life, your health becomes your number one concern. Everyone knows a balanced diet and regular exercise leads to a longer, healthier life -- but what if you could juice the odds a little? More extreme: If modern medicine fails, could an alternative supplement be the answer you need? In the first part of this continuing series on supplements, Ben and Matt explore some of the benefits, concerns -- and conspiracy -- surrounding this multibillion dollar industry.

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When controversial transhumanism activist and erstwhile CEO Aaron Traywick was found dead in a sensory deprivation tank on April 29th, 2018, many of his critics and colleagues suspected there was more to his death than an apparently accidental ketamine overdose. Was there foul play? Suicide? Pseudocide? Listen in to learn more about the life, times and mysterious death of Aaron Traywick.

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LA witnesses the largest heist in its history over Easter. South Korean companies seek to combat population collapse by paying families to get pregnant. A multi-decade identity theft case finally comes to light. Drug dealers in Sierra Leone are robbing graves to make drugs from human bones. Zombie cicadas, Norfolk Southern and more in this week's strange news segment.

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For millions of people across the planet, fertility treatments make families possible. Each year in the US alone, procedures like IVF allow thousands of children a chance at life -- so long as everything is conducted in an ethical manner. However, as Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the dark side of this multimillion dollar industry, they discover these treatments can also result in some deeply disturbing crimes and conspiracies. Tune in to learn more about fertility fraud.

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B7 hips the gang to the West Lake Landfilll. Rev Devl prompts a strange exploration of the future of AI. Byron asks about cloning (and flame retardants). Agent Atari and Chef Ben have some hot takes on supplements. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Could the US really possess a top-secret space program leveraging suppressed or extra-terrestrial technology -- and have kept the existence of this program hidden from the public for the better part of a century? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they explore the allegations of Gary McKinnon... and the legend of Operation Solar Warden.

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In 2007, a new father in the small Czech town of Kurim installed a baby monitor only to find that, instead of picking up the feed from his own home, he was receiving a camera signal from his neighbors’ house. The feed showed two young, filthy boys locked in a cellar, being tortured. This was only the beginning of the strange and twisted tale of the Kurim cult.

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A multiyear investigation discovers high-level Western accusations that the controversial Havana Syndrome may have been caused by Russian weaponry (accusations that remain officially unconfirmed today). Harvard finally takes the human skin off of one of its more controversial books. A murder related to the Three Body Problem. And what exactly is Operation Skyhawk? All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Did a race of red-haired, not-quite-human, cannibalistic giants really terrorize the Paiute people in ancient America? For a long time, according to the story, this tale was thought to be little more than a piece of imaginative folklore -- until, that is, the fall of 1911, when guano miners stumbled upon a thousands of artifacts hidden in a mysterious cave just outside of Lovelock, Nevada.

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Skeptical Dark Horse hips Ben, Matt and Noel to the Society for American Civic Renewal. Lex has a curious encounter with a certain company. Desthiny asks the gang for road trip recommendations. The government of Canada lowkey agrees with the gang's previous predictions, and Chelsea sends a letter from home. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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In December of 1984, Bhopal, India became ground zero for the largest industrial disaster in all of human history -- it's a story still largely unknown in the west. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into what happened, how it happened, and whether there's a cover-up afoot. Most importantly, will there ever be justice for the tens of thousands of victims of the Bhopal disaster?

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Located just a few miles away from Alice Springs, Australia, Pine Gap is known as one of the country's hotbeds of surveillance and secrecy -- but what exactly goes on there? What is it these over 800 Australian and U.S. employees do every day? Join the guys as they delve into the fact and fiction surrounding Australia's Pine Gap.

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A cargo ship hits the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, utterly destroying the bridge. Over in Japan, the notorious curse of the Colonel may have finally been lifted. Lastly -- and perhaps most disturbingly -- a horrific attack on a Moscow music venue leaves more than 100 dead. IS terrorists claim responsibility, Putin accuses the West, and the story grows ever stranger the deeper you dig. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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Continual drought in Nevada led to some firghtening an unexpected consequences in recent years. As the waters of Lake Mead fell, ruins of Native sites, abandoned towns and forgotten cars emerged from the waters. And then, one by one, visitors started discovering the bodies... some of whom have yet to be identified. Join Ben, Matt and Noel to learn more about the mysterious Lake Mead bodies.

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Anonymous in Oz shares a disturbing story about paid actors rigging a corporate vote in Australia. The Mitch Doctor shares more news about the the UK's royal family. Several Conspiracy Realists give Ben, Matt and Noel the scoop on refrigerant costs. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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What is the nature of good and evil? For some, it’s a matter of shifting perspective. For others, there are absolutes – clearly defined right and wrongs, good guys and bad. In tonight's episode, the guys explore one of history’s most extreme symbols of evil: the opposite of divinity, a dark oppositional messiah – the eternal enemy of God and Jesus; known, for millennia, as the Antichrist. What exactly is this? Where did it come from, and how does its story continue to evolve in the modern day?

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Non-stick pans are incredibly convenient -- they save hours of time, and make cooking less labor-intensive. Some might say the technology sounds too good to be true! As it turns out, that just might be the case. Tune in to learn how 3M, DuPont and other corporate entities conspired (for decades) to suppress research indicating serious medical dangers posed by Teflon and related substances.

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A new docuseries brings long-standing allegations of gruesome abuse at Nickelodeon to the mainstream. An airport executive dies in a bizarre shootout with the ATF. A man purposely loses his legs to frostbite in a strange insurance scam. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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For many farmers in rural 1990s China, it seemed like a godsend: new businesses promised to pay a full month's wage for just a few hours donating plasma. The Plasma Economy campaign swept the nation, making blood brokers and biotech companies tons of cash... and then the reports started arriving: multiple small communitites suddenly had HIV and hepatitis. What went wrong? Tune in to learn more.

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HeyLee shares the disturbing history of a cult called the Two by Twos. A-Frame reveals first-hand experience with firearms and cartels. Big Shucks returns with a story about credit card skimming. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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You've heard of things like Agent Orange, but what about PB pills? During the Gulf War conflict, PB pills were billed as a way to combat the looming threat of nerve agents in the field. However, according to veterans and their advocates, this substance may have actually caused more harm than good. Could this be the explanation for Gulf War Syndrome? If so, have powerful forces attempted to cover up the truth? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the story.

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Spies aren't just relegated to the Cold War and James Bond -- in fact, spycraft played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. One of the government's most effective spies was so accomplished that, even in the modern day, their identity remains a mystery. Join the guys as they unravel the strange story of the enigmatic Agent 355.

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Former Boeing employee and whistleblower John Barnett was found dead. A string of druggings and robberies in Atlanta's posh Buckhead neighborhood prompts concerns -- and disturbing questions. The internet goes nuts investigating Kate Middleton. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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J. Edgar Hoover was a legendarily paranoid man -- but what if there was a reason for his intense, myopic obsession with surveillance and privacy? How about this: Did you ever wonder why the guys have done so many episodes about satellites and space fungus recentlly? In tonight's special episode, the guys present an episode from The Passage, a new podcast that takes you on a ride into the land of the dead, traveling with the Ferryman as he collects America’s most illustrious spirits and delivers them to the hereafter. This episode -- Hoover's Confession -- was written by Ben and executive produced by Matt. We hope it keeps you up at night.

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Multiple Conspiracy Realists share their personal experiences with polio. PoodleCrab responds to the ongoing conversation about potassium. Concerned Citizen asks for more information about the Winchester Dam. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

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Have you ever heard someone described as going "beserk"? Turns out there's a ton of strange history behind this phrase. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the bizarre phenomenon of berserkers, the elite Viking fighting force that remains shrouded in myth and controversy in the modern day.

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The recent film Above Majestic is look at the origins, history and conspiracies behind the "Majestic 12", an alleged, secret group of military and corporate figureheads charged with reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology. Join the guys as they interview the creator of the film, David Wilcock, about his theories, his beliefs, and the experiences that inspired him to create the film in this classic episode.

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Where should you park a helicopter? The conversation over the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow continues. London economists realize wealth inequality is booming, and someone snipped those undersea cables the guys warned about earlier. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

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