In this week's listener mail segment: Old Makalya responds to the hubbub surrounding the tragic death of Peanut the Squirrel. Bones prompts a larger conversation about elections and conspiracies. Anonymous Owl provides a step-by-step guide for saving animals in the wild. All this and more - plus, side note, we absolutely called it on the undersea cable sabotage.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people in the global west aren't too familiar with Myanmar. Formerly known as Burma, the Southeast Asian country has a deep history as a cultural and geographical crossroads -- and this has become both a gift and a curse. In the first part of this special two-part episode, Ben and Matt explore the history of Myanmar, its descent into chaos, and how multiple forces conspired to make it a modern hotbed of instability, crime, and corruption.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1982, in Titusville, Florida, construction worker Steve Vandejagt happened across a skull amid the muck and debris of the job site. And this was only the beginning of the mystery. Steve had accidentally uncovered one of the oldest gravesites in the United States, proof of an ancient, mysterious culture that existed more than 7,000 years ago. Join the guys as they dive into the story of the Windover Bog Bodies.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's strange news segment: In the wake of the recent US Presidential Election, Russian President Putin's aide Nikolai Patrushev releases a bizarre statement about "obligations." A misprint on merchandise for the film adaptation of Wicked takes some consumers to adult content. The US FDA announced a proposal to remove oral phenylephrine from the market, citing evidence that it doesn’t work. All this and more, plus a lot of puns.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On paper, Andreen and her husband Andre McDonald lived a life most Americans would envy - a self-made millionaire power couple, the McDonalds regularly contributed to philanthropic causes in their native community, as well as in their San Antonio community. On March 1st, 2019, Andreen McDonald was reported missing. In tonight's exploration, Ben, Matt and Noel map out the heartbreaking events, while also examining the larger, multigenerational context often left unexplored. Warning: this episode may not be appropriate for all audiences. If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, please don't hesitate to reach out for resources and support. The US Domestic Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 at the following number: 800-799-7233.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don Vee shares on-the-ground experience with Amish millionaires. Wonko the Sane reaches out on the story of Chinese tech espionage. A Phlounder reacts to Ben's earlier question about social media, and the gang gives Dupont Dave some choice recommendations for tourism in Washington, DC. All this and more in tonight's listener mail segment, hurtling headward toward the American celebration of Thanksgiving.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever had the dubious pleasure of watching daytime TV in the US -- possibly in a waiting room -- then you've probably witnessed a particular genre of programming: the TV court show. From far enough away, these shows look a lot like an actual court. You've got the usual courtroom cast, along with an escalated version of actual courtroom events. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel ask: Are these shows real? What exactly do we mean by "real"?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ads are ubiquitous on the internet, and even if you use an ad blocker or two, you're bound to see a few things slip through. Luckily, those ads don't really give advertisers any new information about you unless you interact with them... right? Not so fast. Eye tracking technology can glean an enormous amount about your attention, as well as your reactions to a given image or piece of language, just by watching how you watch, gaze or glance at an ad. So how much can they learn, exactly? Does eye tracking allow companies to, in some sense, read your thoughts? Strap in for the answers to these questions and more in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tragic saga of Peanut the Squirrel becomes oddly politicized. The Feds prevent a massive drone attack on a power station in Nashville. IKEA agrees to pay 6 million euros to East German prisoners. Hackers demand payment in baguettes, and the guys tease a mysterious scandal out in Oklahoma. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Until the day we're able to manufacture affordable, reliable organs from scratch, organ transplants will remain the only hope for millions of sick and dying people across the planet. For this reason, organs have been a big business for decades -- and not all aspects of the business are legal. For years rumors have been brewing about the organ trade in China. Why is the waiting time for a transplant so low? Where are all these organs actually coming from? The answer may terrify you. Strap in as the guys dive into the stuff China doesn't want you to know about the organ trade in tonight's Classic episode -- and don't forget to check out our (extremely creepy) video on YouTube.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viking asks about Ferengi and bank scandals. Solar Boredom follows up on the earlier episode about abuse in Amish communities. Multiple Conspiracy Realists chime in with Letters From Home, and Humorous Harry returns with several absolutely awful jokes. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Southeast Asia, the landlocked nation of Laos remains one of the least-explored areas in the region, even today. And those few outsiders fortunate to travel to this country may encounter a mystery that's baffled investigators for centuries (if not millennia): What is the Plain of Jars? What could have inspired ancient civilizations to build hundreds upon hundreds of giant, stone jars out in northern Laos? Why did the US government spend so much time planting bombs in the area?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flying saucers are perhaps the most iconic genre of UFO -- since the 1940s they've become the mainstay vehicles for extraterrestrials in all sorts of fictional stories. But, according to declassified files, the US Government was intensely interested in building some flying saucers of its own. So far did they get? The answer may surprise you in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russian government fines Google 2.5 decillion dollars. Witch marks baffle investigators in the United Kingdom, police recover thousands of stolen Bluey coins, an ancient city is rediscovered in Mexico. Google AI makes some waves, Des Moines brings back trick-or-treating, elephants may sue for freedom in Colorado. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: this episode contains thoughts and concepts that may endanger your understanding of reality. You can turn back now, or [REDACTED].They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police release new details on the tragic, mysterious death of 19-year-old employee at a Walmart in Halifax. A Boeing-manufactured satellite exploded after experiencing an unexplained “anomaly." The US struggles to determine how -- or if -- to allow Chinese software in the US. The guys apologize to "paint-huffing maniacs." All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of his early life, Paul Bergrin was a success story. A middle-class kid from Queesn, he became a veteran, a lawyer, and a prosecutor. Yet somewhere along the way, he slowly slid into true crime and conspiracy -- an astonishing and disturbing tale explored in-depth in the Wondery's new podcast, Criminal Attorney. In tonight's interview, Ben, Matt and Noel are joined with the legendary Brandon "Jinx" Jenkins, the host of Criminal Attorney, to learn more about the bizarre rise and fall of Paul Bergrin.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Through the process of vaccination, millions of people have avoided serious (at times fatal) medical conditions, but opposition to the practice began almost immediately after vaccinations became widespread. And in the modern day the anti-vaccination movement has seemed to gain more ground than before -- so what's going on here? Join the guys as they dive into the history of vaccination, the claims of the anti-vaxx movement and why some people insist there's a conspiracy afoot. Side note: we recorded this in 2019... right before the Covid pandemic rocked the globe.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Russian oligarch is found dead after an 'unfortunate fall.' North Korea declares holy war on South Korea as it loans out soldiers to Russia. A fake whale makes controversial waves in China (get it?), TD Bank fined $3bn in historic money laundering settlement. Boeing satellite experiences 'rapid unplanned disassembly.' AI radio journalists, the deeply disturbing Abercrombie sex trafficking scandal, ICP and politics -- all this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most people in the United States, the Amish are a sociological curiosity: a group of people motivated by theological imperatives that require them to exist within society, yet separate from all its secular trappings. However, as we dive into this episode, Matt, Noel and I learn there's something rotten within this community... a series of intergenerational, likely ongoing, conspiracies involving sexual abuse, crime and more. Please note this episode may not be appropriate for all audiences.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jasper, DJ and multiple other Conspiracy Realists reach out with first-hand knowledge on the bizarre hybrid sheep conspiracy. Mystery drones swarm US airspace. Max The Unblind hips the guys to an unfolding homicide in Kentucky, and T Bone provides an alternate theory on the exploding pagers attack. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying: golf is one of the world's most popular -- and most lucrative -- sports. In recent years the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has raised global eyebrows as they pour billions of dollars into their own golfing initiative: LIV. Supporters find this move par for the course (get it?), yet critics allege there's a larger conspiracy afoot. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they dive into the strange allegations surrounding Saudi Arabia, golf, and 'sportswashing.'They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the vast majority of people identifying as Satanists don’t buy into the idea of a nefarious, evil entity opposed to the forces of good, there are a few genuine theistic Satanists out there. Join the guys as they explore the strange story of the organization known as “The Nine Angles” in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conspiracy theories proliferate in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, resulting in actionable threats against FEMA contractors. Mysterious goo appears on the shore. Active shooter drills terrify local institutions. An ottoman bed kills an innocent woman, scientists explore Europa; all this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October of 2012 a huge explosion rocked Camp Minden, a little-known government compound located in Louisiana. The explosion shattered windows 4 miles away. A 7,000-foot mushroom cloud contaminated the area and eyewitnesses understandably wondered whether they'd been the victims of a nuclear detonation. So what exactly did happen? Tune in to learn more about the conspiracy afoot at Camp Minden. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As tensions between striking miners, local law and the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company reached a head, all sides of the conflict became increasingly hostile. In the second chapter of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the outbreak of the Ludlow Massacre, along with the aftermath that reverberates in the modern day.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unions and governments have always had a complicated, at-times antagonistic and violent relationship. In the first evening of this week's special two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore a terrifying tale of corruption, crime and conspiracy: What was the Ludlow Massacre?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German immigrant John Jacob Astor was the first multimillionaire in the United States, and his descendants would go on to play prominent roles in the country's history -- but how exactly did he get this enormous fortune? According to the official story, he started off in the fur trade and later expanded into real estate. Yet for more than a century people rumors about the real origin of Astor's wealth have been floating around the fringes of converation -- what if he wasn't a legitimate businessman in the beginning, but instead engaged in less savory endeavors? Learn more in tonight's Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Answering a question... someone must have asked, scientists confirmed potatoes are better than human blood when it comes to building space bricks. The IRS may require hostages to pay back taxes unless Congress intervenes. An APD investigator is shot after breaking into a Douglas County home. The Waffle House Index, spy news, and more in the week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you hear tonight's episode, Leonard Peltier has been imprisoned for the better part of half a century, convicted of murdering two FBI Special Agents -- crimes that he and countless supporters argue he did not commit. Join Ben, Matt, and Noel as they dive into the accusations surrounding Leonard's case, from the official case... to the ongoing allegations of corruption and conspiracy.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa breaks down some of the issues surrounding the fentanyl epidemic. Chef Ben talks microplastics. After encountering a bizarre question at jury duty, Anonymous Owl asks to learn more about state militias. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true: multiple world governments have, at one point or another, experimented with the possibility of psychic powers. These investigations were always considered controversial... but the possibility of discovering something real was just too important to pass up. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel respond to a question from an earlier listener mail segment: If governments did discover psychic powers, what countermeasures would they deploy to defend themselves from these same capabilities?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most people think of pyramids, we imagine the pyramids of Egypt -- but they're by no means the only example of this ancient architecture. In this Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore more stories of strange, lesser known pyramids, concentrating on the increasingly bizarre claims of pyramids hidden in the planet's northern climes, from Alaska to Antarctica.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember when we said it was only a matter of time before robot dogs got guns mounted on them? Well, guess what! Also: a Boar's Head update, the bizarre case of Eric Adams, the push to transcribe the human genome to a memory crystal; that and much, much more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 17th, 2024 thousands of pagers intended for use by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon and Syria. The next, hundred of walkie-talkies detonated in the same manner. This operation was precedented in design, but not in scale -- and across the planet, people began to wonder: Is my own equipment safe? Can you really remotely blow up a mobile device?They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you donate your body parts? Should nuclear facilities feed AI? What do more people need to know about addiction? All this and more in this week's strange news segment -- spoiler: stay tuned for the episode this Friday.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Located in Staffordshire, England, the Shepherd's Monument is a bas-relief recreation of Nicolas Poussin's painting “Shepherds of Arcadia”. However, the sculpture has several key differences -- one of which has baffled historians, experts and others for centuries: What's that mysterious inscription? What on Earth could it mean? Tune in to learn more.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A billionaire's sunken yacht holds sensitive data -- and governments want it. A child abducted in 1951 is found alive. The United States cosigns the execution of Marcellus Williams despite public outcry -- including protests from the original jury, prosecutors and defense. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you ever grow up hearing a story or fact that, years later, you learned wasn't true? The podcast My Momma Told Me, hosted by Langston Kerman and David Gborie, dives deep into the world of conspiracy in the Black community. In tonight's interview, they join the guys for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from ghosts, moon landing conspiracies, fast food, and more. (Also we shamelessly try to score tickets for their upcoming live show.)They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An anonymous listener relates first-hand experience with the dark side of adoption and the state childcare industry. Metagent asks for more information about black sludge. Dockerby -- and many other professional educators -- write in with responses to the recent idea of replacing teachers with 'AI' in so-called teacherless classrooms. Plus, of course, Letters From Home. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out in Micronesia, an ancient civilization rose and fell, leaving nothing but oral history, folklore, and a stunning, ruined, megalithic city. So what exactly is Nan Madol? How did it come to be? What led to its downfall? In tonight's episode, Ben and Matt explore the enduring mystery of Nan Madol.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While serial killers may seem like a relatively new phenomenon, the human species hasn't changed as much as we all might like to think. Join the guys as they dive into the mysterious, grisly stories of proven and suspected serial killers from ancient civilizations across the planet.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the largest covert operations in history occurred in Lebanon, where exploding pagers and walkie-talkies injured thousands - prompting disturbing, dangerous questions. Japan's corporate culture makes it so difficult to resign that people are hiring third-party 'resignation experts.' The US denies allegations that the CIA may have masterminded a failed plot to murder Venezualan leader Nicolás Maduro. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustenance is one of the few things uniting all living beings. Whether we’re talking aristocrats or peasants, celebrities or your typical college student struggling to get by on ramen noodles, everyone needs to ingest some form of energy to survive. So what happens when the population continues to grow and traditional farming methods become less viable? Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they explore the terrifying future of food.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Princess Diana died as a result of a horrendous car crash in Paris, the United Kingdom was shaken to the core. As more details emerged, some people became convinced that Diana's death was not an accident. Why? Tune in and learn more in this Classic episode.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 10, 2001, an explosion rocked a cozy Scottsdale neighborhood. The mother of the family, along with her children, were discovered murdered inside. The father, Robert Fisher, disappeared -- and may still be out there, somewhere. Join Ben and Matt as they welcome Jon Walczak, the creator and host of the Missing series, to learn more about his newest work Missing in Arizona, and the techniques he's using to search for one of the most wanted men in the world.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the United States is home to some of the world's most advanced medical technology, it's no secret that it has a terrible healthcare system -- millions of people are one bad diagnosis away from bankruptcy or death if they cannot pay the insurance companies controlling their access to life-saving treatments, medicines and therapy. Yet the US also has the world's highest incarceration rate, with over 700 people out of every 100,000 currently serving time -- what happens when they get sick? Tune in to learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know about healthcare in prison.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, David Game College has instituted a revolutionary -- and disturbing -- pilot program: What if, they argue, we can just have AI teach students in place of human teachers? "What could go wrong?" Researchers create a biohybrid robot controlled by a King oyster mushroom -- and it just learned to start walking around. Months of turmoil in the small town of Millersville, Tennessee lead to a TBI raid of the local police department. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.