Almost Certainly Not

On a lonely stretch of highway in New Hampshire, Betty and Barney Hill's peaceful road trip home turned into a nightmare that defied explanation. A strange light in the sky. A sudden lapse in time. Fragments of impossible memories—figures with dark, staring eyes, cold metal instruments, a mysterious star map. Were they abducted by beings from beyond our world, or were their minds playing tricks on...

In this Almost Certainly Not companion series, we examine each episode's origins, production process, behind-the-scenes, personal thoughts, and most likely go off on some tangents in spite of our best efforts. In this episode, we examine Double Attack: The Maneuvers of Manipulation. Every move is calculated, every sacrifice intentional. Manipulation, like chess, is a game of control—of positioning...

Every move is calculated, every sacrifice intentional. Manipulation, like chess, is a game of control—of positioning others without them realizing they're being played. The most skilled manipulators don't force; they guide, nudging their pawns forward until checkmate feels like their opponent's own doing. How does this happen, why is it so consistent in its method and execution and where is the li...

In this Almost Certainly Not companion series, we examine each episode's origins, production process, behind-the-scenes, personal thoughts, and most likely go off on some tangents in spite of our best efforts. In this episode, we examine     • The Man Who Died Twice: An Arkansas Folktale   . In the remote Arkansas hills, the brutal murder of Connie Franklin shocks a small town—until he inexplicabl...

In the quiet of 1929 Arkansas, the tale of Connie Franklin gripped the nation. A drifter with a devil-may-care charm, Franklin disappeared just before he was to marry a young farm girl. Soon, whispers of a gruesome murder surfaced, with accounts of violence, betrayal, and a body burned in a fiery pit. As a trial of the accused unfolded, shocking twists and dark secrets blurred the lines between vi...

In this Almost Certainly Not companion series, we examine each episode's origins, production process, behind-the-scenes, personal thoughts, and most likely go off on some tangents in spite of our best efforts. In this episode, we examine Common Parlance.  How often do we pause to examine the words we use, the phrases we repeat, or the idioms that slip into our conversations? From "shouting fire in...

How often do we pause to examine the words we use, the phrases we repeat, or the idioms that slip into our conversations? From "shouting fire in a crowded theater" to "good fences make good neighbors," our common expressions are relics of history, reshaped by time. As we question their evolution, we reflect on how language mirrors our collective thinking, and why rediscovering their roots is not j...

In this Almost Certainly Not companion series, we examine each episode's origins, production process, behind-the-scenes, personal thoughts, and most likely go off on some tangents in spite of our best efforts. In this episode we examine:  Breatharianism—the belief we can live without food—has intrigued skeptics for decades. Devotees claim to have unlocked the secret to longevity, free from physica...

Imagine a life without food, where the human body thrives on nothing but air and sunlight. Breatharianism—a belief that we can survive without eating—has fascinated and horrified skeptics for decades. Devotees claim they've unlocked the ultimate secret to longevity, shedding their dependence on physical sustenance. But what happens when followers go too far and are fully taken in by the figurehead...

In this Almost Certainly Not companion series, we examine each episode's origins, production process, behind-the-scenes, personal thoughts, and most likely go off on some tangents in spite of our best efforts. In this episode, we examine: Sandra Lynn Johnson-Hughes vanished in the Sierra National Forest in 2020. Her campsite lay abandoned, belongings scattered. Then came strange sightings—hikers g...

Sandra Lynn Johnson-Hughes vanished without a trace in the dense Sierra National Forest in the summer of 2020. Her campsite was found abandoned, her belongings scattered as if she'd left in a hurry. Then came the sightings—fleeting glimpses by hikers who swore Hughes looked disoriented, barefoot, and bruised. Each time, she vanished into the trees before they could reach her. Weeks passed, and hop...