Conspiracy Theories

Charles “Sonny” Liston was once the heavyweight boxing champion of the world: a human dreadnought built for fighting. But during a match with a newcomer in May 1965, Liston was sent to the mat by an unremarkable punch few spectators even noticed. How could the champion go down so easily? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the world really is hollow, why have so many scientists covered up the evidence? Is it because the earth's interior holds the key to surviving an apocalypse? Or because it's home to an alien species. Or perhaps we've been living on the inside this whole time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For centuries, human cultures around the world have maintained the earth is hollow—home to spiritual beings or monsters. The idea persisted through Norse legends, Greek mythology, Hindu texts… and into the modern era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fluoridated water may be one of the most controversial federal programs of the past century. In the 1950s, watchdogs argued fluoride was part of a communist plot. More recently, it's been linked to big business interests and mind control programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly three out of four U.S. communities add fluoride to their water. Officially, the compound strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities—but recent studies have suggested it might increase cancer risks and lower IQ. Is fluoridated water a medical marvel, or a poison? And why is the U.S. government afraid to address the evidence against it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

Investigating the blast and compiling evidence was a huge undertaking. And in the 25 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, McVeigh was turned into something of a folk hero, with his rhetoric inspiring copycats and seeping into mainstream politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the morning of the attack, McVeigh parked a rental truck below the Murrah building’s daycare center. At 9am, he ignited the bomb’s two-minute fuse and fled. The explosion was catastrophic, and the day thereafter was filled with tragic deaths, miraculous survivals—and the hunt for the person at the center of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After coming of age in the early ‘90s, Timothy McVeigh became increasingly radicalized against the U.S. government. Witnessing tragic events at Ruby Ridge and Waco motivated him to plan and execute the most devastating incident of domestic terrorism in American history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2020 marks the 25th anniversary of this devastating attack: On April 19, 1995, a U.S. Army veteran named Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more.  Join us on a four-part series examining the event. In this first episode, we look at the historic underpinnings of domestic terrorism in the U.S...

Fifty years after Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance, no one knows how he died or where he was buried. Did the FBI push him out of a plane? Was he murdered by the notorious serial killer "The Iceman"? Or was it his best friend and mob associate, Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the 1950s to 1970s, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa was America's working class hero. But his ties to the mob landed him in hot water, and on July 30, 1975, Hoffa vanished outside of a Detroit restaurant—never to be seen again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some theories about the Spear of Destiny are as old as the lance itself. Does it actually hold occult powers and a terrible curse? Was it the reason Hitler invaded Austria? And is it possible that many of history's conquerors shared the same sword—or were there duplicates? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lance that pierced Jesus on the cross is said to hold mystical powers. Passed down through history from Charlemagne to Otto I to Adolf Hitler, the Spear of Destiny brings impossible victories to those who wield it… and tragic death to those who abandon it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the U.S.S. Eldridge disappeared in a green fog, theories surrounding the failed Naval project ran rampant. Some say it sparked other government operations. Others say they saw the ship teleport to Norfolk, Virginia. And one first-hand witness claims the project allowed him to travel through time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In October 1943, the U.S.S. Eldridge became enveloped in a green fog and disappeared in the Philadelphia Shipyard. Years later, Carlos Allende's claims about what happened were dismissed as a hoax—until more witnesses came forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To this day, no one is quite certain of how composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died. He was well-liked by the public, but had enemies all around. Was he poisoned by his rival, Antonio Salieri? Or did his connections to the Freemasons get him killed?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 5th, 1791, one of the greatest composers of all time died at the age of 35. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s death immediately sparked questions about what befell him. Some wondered if it was a strange illness, while others believed there was a more sinister cause…  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the Titanic sank, people searched for something—or someone—to blame. Millionaire J.P. Morgan, insurance fraud, and even a cursed mummy were all speculated to be the malevolent force behind the ship’s demise.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, over 1,500 people lost their lives… and to this day, many wonder if poor planning, negligent design, and undertrained crew members played a role in the devastating event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

His untimely death in 1996 left fans searching for answers. Some say Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight helped orchestrate his murder, but sightings of the late rapper have sparked theories that Tupac is still alive… And that he may even be performing in disguise.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1996, rap artist Tupac Shakur was shot and killed just off the Las Vegas Strip. Many believe his assailants were members of the Los Angeles Southside Crips, but no one has ever been convicted of his murder. In fact, some say that Tupac Shakur may still be alive... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was killed by police outside Chicago's Biograph Theater on July 22nd, 1934. But some theorists believe John Dillinger used an innocent man as a decoy to fake his own death. And he may have even had help from the FBI and other inside sources throughout his criminal career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the 1930s, John Dillinger pulled off 24 bank heists and three jailbreaks—making him Public Enemy Number One. He was one of the most famous celebrity criminals in history, until he was shot and killed by the FBI outside Chicago's Biograph Theater in 1934. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since its establishment in 1913, the Federal Reserve has been primed for conspiracies. Some believe it was the Fed that intentionally caused the Great Depression. Others claim they had a hand in JFK's assassination. While many feel the Fed might be part of a secret society's plot to establish a New World Order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1910, six wealthy bankers met in secret on Jekyll Island, Georgia. There, they drafted up the plans for America's centralized bank, better known today as, The Federal Reserve. "The Fed" is completely autonomous from the U.S. government making it one of the most powerful private organizations in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices