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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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From UFOs to psychic powers and government cover-ups, history is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know ... an audio podcast from iHeartRadio.

  • 21 episodes
  • Updated Today

Episodes21

  • Today · 1 hr 10 min

    Strange News: AI and the New Age of 'Book Burning', eBay and Stalking, Fauci Rides Again, and More

    Online commerce giant eBay gets in deep, hot water for stalking and harassing a pair of trade journalists -- and some actual eBay employees got in trouble. Dr. Fauci has a tense hang session with Congress. The great data center debate continues. Stunning revelations find 'AI' companies have been secretly buying up non-digitized books to feed their models -- and destroying the books afterward. New Jersey becomes the first state to ban grocery stores from jacking up prices based on your personal info. Join Ben, Matt, and Noel for 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.

  • Friday · 48 min

    The Hidden Horrors of Elephant Shows

    Elephants are amazing. In addition to being huge, they're also some of the smartest land animals out there (seriously, they have the biggest brains). Yet despite their unique nature, humans have historically mistreated elephants -- and continue to do so today. In tonight's episode, Ben, Noel and Dylan explore the hidden horrors of 'elephant shows'. 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.

  • Thursday · 1 hr 1 min

    Listener Mail: Wrestling From the Inside, The Rise of Jimothy, the Guys Call Monsanto and More

    Sasquatch's Stunt Double provides an in-depth look at Pro Wrestling. Stoned Coyote inspires a conversation about the short-spined, viral raccoon Jimothy. The Truest Lock shares a story about helicopter repairs, the draft -- and whether the U.S. would be better with mandatory community service. Plus, the guys call Monsanto's Seed Snitch line. 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.

  • Wednesday · 1 hr 10 min

    The Devil's Quarry, with Paul Solotaroff

    In the fall of 1995, hunters in rural Carmel, New York discovered the remains of 12-year-old Josette Wright. The discovery set the town and local law enforcement into a frenzy, desperate to close the case even if doing so meant bending the law. In this exclusive interview with Paul Solotaroff, the award-winning investigative journalist and creator of the hit podcast The Devil's Quarry, Ben, Matt and Noel learn more about this harrowing tale of crime, cover-up and corruption. Tune in to learn how Paul's investigation may have just solved the case... and what happens next. 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.

  • Tuesday · 52 min

    CLASSIC: Ancient Flying Machines

    Tales of ancient, advanced technologies have flourished in the last few decades. Is it possible that the stories of flying gods and machines contained in the Vedas — texts written in India over 3000 years ago — are based on real, now lost technological advancements? Join Ben, Matt and Noel to learn more in this week'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.

  • July 27 · 1 hr 4 min

    Strange News: No Elections in Nicaragua, Japan's New Refrigerators, The Death of Daniel Siad, Journalists Imperiled, and More

    Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega pitches pausing elections -- causing Ben, Matt and Noel to wonder about the future of the United States. Japan invents a new type of 'human refrigerator' to combat growing heat. Former Epstein collaborator Daniel Siad passes away under mysterious circumstances in Paris. Uncle Sam desperately searches for the the sources behind recent journalists' reports at The New York Times. A bizarre incident outside of a federal building in New York. 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.

  • July 24 · 1 hr 11 min

    What Really Happened to the U.S.S. Liberty? Chapter Two: Conspiracies and Questions

    In 1967, under circumstances that still seem incredibly murky, Israeli air and sea forces attacked the USS Liberty, killing 34 crewmembers and injuring more than 170 others. The official story, agreed on by both the United States and Israel: this was a mistake in the fog of the Six-Day War. Perhaps a result of communication breakdowns. Yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in the second chapter of this two-part series -- survivors, politicians, and activists aren't buying the official story. So what actually happened? Is there a cover-up afoot, even 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.

  • July 23 · 52 min

    CLASSIC: Contaminants in Baby Food

    From formula to pureed carrots, baby food is a massive -- and necessary -- industry. Each year millions upon millions of families search for the best, most nutritious food to feed their children, and there's no shortage of advice from experts and parents alike. However, it appears there's a secret to this industry: Numerous baby food products contain ingredients parents can't see on the label, including contaminants like mercury, lead, arsenic and more. How long has this been occurring? What did the manufacturers know, and when? 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.

  • July 22 · 42 min

    What Really Happened to the U.S.S. Liberty? Chapter One: Trouble Brewing

    An open secret: cover-ups are nothing new to the world's militaries, and the United States is no exception. In the first chapter of this special two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deep into the standing controversy -- and accusations of conspiracy -- surrounding the nation of Israel's 1967 attack on the USS Liberty. Everyone acknowledges the facts of the attack. And both countries issued statements indicating this was an accident. But... decades after the fact, even now in 2026, multiple survivors and investigators are convinced there's much more to the story. 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.

  • July 21 · 1 hr 8 min

    CLASSIC: What is Falun Gong?

    The movement known as Falun Dafa or Falun Gong began in China in the 1990s, and today people across the planet consider themselves practicioners. Adherents claim this combination of meditation, breathing exercises, mindfulness and moral philosophy is a path to enlightenment -- but the government of China disagrees. For decades Chinese authorities have considered Falun Gong a dangerous, subversive element. Since 1999 the government has made concerted efforts to suppress this spiritual practice -- but why? 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.

  • July 20 · 1 hr 5 min

    Strange News: Financial Shenanigans, Penis Crimes and Mouths Sewn Shut, Nolan Wells, the Explosive Diarrhea Crisis, the End of Daylight Savings Time and More

    ROK's SK hynix raises 26.5 billion dollars in the United States, prompting a conversation about the tricky nature of the 'AI' bubble. A woman castrates her husband in Russia, and a lady in Japan sews someone's mouth shut. Taco Bell releases a statement on America's epidemic of explosive diarrhea. Ben, Matt and Noel always like to end the weekly strange news segment on a good note, so get this, folks: the U.S. may finally be done with Daylight Savings Time. 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.

  • July 17 · 1 hr 6 min

    The Return of Conscription

    On six separate occasions during its relatively short history, the United States has practiced conscription: forcing certain members of the public to join the military. In the States, we often just refer to this as 'the draft'. Ever since the close of the Vietnam War, Uncle Sam's fighting forces have been entirely voluntary... yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode, that may change -- and sooner than we'd all like to admit. 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.

  • July 16 · 53 min

    Listener Mail: Inside the Pentagon, Child Abuse in Ohio, the Guys' New Favorite Politician (LONG LIVE COUNT BINFACE!), and More

    Hannah shares their experience exploring the inner workings of the Pentagon. Hidalgo prompts a conversation about the terrifying child abuse case unfolding in Vinton, Ohio. CominginhotfromtheUnited Kingdom, K introduces the guys to a darkly hilarious political scandal... and their new favorite MP candidate, Binface. Join Ben, Matt Noel for 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.

  • July 15 · 52 min

    Wrestling is Full of Conspiracies

    Fellow Conspiracy Realists: Ben, Matt, and Noel love pro wrestling. It occupies a distinct niche in American culture from Canada to Mexico -- and it's a huge business. However, as the guys learn in tonight's episode, this multi-billion dollar industry is also riddled with accusations of corruption, crime, 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.

  • July 14 · 1 hr 10 min

    CLASSIC: What is Adrenochrome?

    In this week's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel tackle Adrenochrome: it's a real substance, and one sold openly online to labs with the proper paperwork. It's also mentioned in numerous works of literature, from Huxley's "The Doors of Perception" to Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and more. But what exactly is it? Why do people believe it's a sinister, evil drug used by hopelessly addicted elites in the worlds of finance, politics and entertainment? 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.

  • July 13 · 1 hr 9 min

    Strange News: Sun Valley's Billionaire Summer Camp, Daredevils Scale Skyscrapers, an Iranian Funeral, PFAs, and We Just Created Synthetic Life

    Ben, Matt and Noel learn about the mysterious, secret 'billionaire summer camp' in Sun Valley Idaho (oh, to be in the 'room where it happens!'). A daredevil couple gets in hot water for scaling the Empire State Building. Explosive diarrhea takes over Michigan. An Iranian funeral. Uncle Sam says PFAs are fine. Oh, and for better or worse, we just created synthetic life. Tune in for 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.

  • July 10 · 1 hr 13 min

    Where are the Next Pandemics?

    Before the breakout of COVID-19, Ben, Matt and Noel predicted a pandemic was on the way. Fast forward to 2026, and many of the same experts the world earlier ignored are raising new alarms: across the world, multiple infections may break through the old checks and balances of evolution to create new pandemics. Some of these could be far deadlier than COVID... and humanity is thoroughly unprepared for a new disaster. 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.

  • July 9 · 52 min

    Listener Mail: How News Works, IGU Returns, Cooking Salamander Tacos, and More

    In this week's listener mail segment: Colin inspires a conversation about the nature of understanding the news -- and why 'triangulating' conflicting news sources remains crucial. Newly-hired to Illumination Global, Unlimited, Calamatiy Chris weighs in with some work notes. Dory plays ShotSpotter. A Certain Chef walks through the science of cooking tacos with salamanders. In response to the guys' two-chapter on series on Flock, W.M. Bacon hips fellow Conspiracy Realists to a show called "Person of Interest". 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.

  • July 8 · 1 hr 5 min

    CLASSIC: The Philadelphia Experiment

    Here's the story: In October of 1943, hundreds of people watched a top secret experiment go horribly wrong. The US Navy, attempting to create a kind of invisibility cloak for ships, accidentally transported the USS Eldridge through time and space, with disastrous consequences for the crew. It's a thrilling tale, but how much of it is true? Tune in as the guys explore the origin of this bizarre legend (and bust some myths about cream cheese along the way) in this week'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.

  • July 8 · 1 hr 4 min

    What is Mirror Life?

    Earth is teeming with life, and despite these billions of organisms seeming so different -- it turns out that pretty much all life has surprising commonalities science still hasn't figure out. All our molecules follow the same basic 'directions'. And, recently, experts realized it may be possible to 'flip' these directions, and create cells with opposite or mirrored directions. This could provide massive medicinal and research benefits -- yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel learn in tonight's episode, those same experts are increasingly concerned that creating mirror life could also end 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.