Historical Blindness

In part one of this 2-part series, I dig into the Crime of the Century, the Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, including Lindbergh's background, the crime itself, negotiations with the kidnapper, and one of the greatest manhunts in American history. Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pl...

In the conclusion to my series on the Wall Street Putsch, I give further historical context to the January 6th Insurrection by discussing the Fascist propaganda of the '20s and '30s that helped drive a plot to stage a Fascist coup, and I recount the details of the plot itself, its exposure, and how the press dismissed it.  Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery...

In this two-part series, just days after the anniversary of January 6th, I tell the story of another plot by the wealthy and powerful to supplant a rightfully elected president during a time of economic emergency, the details of which also came out in congressional investigation. Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime bef...

In this annual holiday special, I look at the original Protestant "War on Christmas," with its emphasis on iconoclasm, and use that to springboard into a discussion of Christmas iconography and images of Jesus Christ generally, asking, "What did Christ really look like?" Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out t...

On November 24, 1971, an unidentified man hijacks a Boeing 727 and extorts $200,000 of ransom money before parachuting to an uncertain fate over Washington State. Listen to this enduring American mystery as told by award-winning podcaster Lindsey Graham on History Daily, where you can hear the fascinating stories of what happened “on this day” in history every weekday. Find History Daily wherever...

In this new Apocryphal Catechism episode, the 2022 season finale, I explore the evolution of the figure of Lilith, from Mesopotamian demon, to the first woman created by God, and back to a succubus mother of demons. It's a tale of syncretism, superstition, forgery and dubious interpretation of scriptures. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel,...

If you've ever wondered about common beliefs about what's good or bad luck and what might be a portent of doom, then this episode is for you. In it, I look at the murky origins of superstitions and the folklore it's related to, like Jack-o-Lanterns, will-o'-the-wisp, and the fearsome Black Shuck. Halloween may be over, but my spooky theme persists.  Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed...

In the conclusion of my Halloween series on the folklore of vampires, I explore the origin and evolution of the legend from folklore to fiction and on to modern myth, looking at the changing appearance of the vampire, conceptions of its abilities and attributes, and different ideas about how they are made and how they are its weaknesses warded off and killed.  Pledge support on Patreon to get an a...

The second part of my series has been delayed a week. In the meanwhile, please enjoy this episode of The Conspirators podcast that serves as a perfect bridge between parts one and two of my series on vampires. Throughout history, many cultures have considered blood to have magical properties. In fact, some people have held blood in such high regard that they actually turned to drinking blood in or...

As we move into October, let us look at the legend and folklore behind the most horrifying creature ever imagined by mankind: the vampire! This is the start of a two part series for the Halloween season. Squeamish listeners beware! Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch! Further support the show...

I continue my meditation on demagoguery in this new episode, looking at a controversial Depression-era politician variously called a reformer or a demagogue, a hero or a despot. What should we make of Huey Long today? Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch! Further support the show by giving a on...

With noted historians advising the U.S. President that American democracy may currently be in jeopardy, I look at other times in history when democracy was at risk, and I look closely at Donald Trump's role in the perils we currently face, seeking historical parallels for an otherwise truly unique threat.  Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel...

In the conclusion of this series examining the historical and pseudohistorical basis of the Netflix program Stranger Things, I explore urban legends about two supposed secret experimental programs, The Philadelphia Experiment and the Montauk Project, one as background for the other, which gives us once and for all the strange inspiration for the blockbuster streaming series. Pledge support on Patr...

In the second part of this series examining the historical and pseudohistorical basis of the Netflix program Stranger Things, I look at U.S. government sponsored psychic experimentation programs focused on exploring ESP and psychokinesis as tools of spycraft. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merc...

In this series, I explore the historical and pseudohistorical basis of the Netflix program, Stranger Things. In Part One, I look at U.S. intelligence's human experimentation programs focused on developing mind control techniques.  Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch!  Further support the show...

In this episode, I look at the history of gun culture in America, gun ownership as a social identity, and the long history of gun control legislation passed in response to outrageous acts of gun violence.  Pledge support on Patreon to get ad-free and exclusive episodes. Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch! Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal...

Have you ever been told that the Flood of Genesis really happened exactly as described and that Noah's Ark really exists and is waiting to be recovered? This episode is all about those arguments and why they are demonstrably wrong.  Pledge on Patreon to get ad-free episodes and exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch!      Further support the show by...

In this new Apocryphal Catechism--first since my episode on Gnosticism 2 years ago!--I delve into the mysteries and problematic details of the Book of Enoch and Enochic traditions. In it, I discuss the allegorical meaning of the myth of the Watchers, the expansion of the story of Noah and the mystery of a missing Book of Noah, and the question of whether the Book of Enoch foretold the coming of Ch...

In this episode, I tackle a topic that I have already edged around in several different episodes: the myth that the ancient earthworks of America were not built by Native Americans but rather by some lost "superior" race.  Pledge support on Patreon for ad-free episodes and exclusive content. Read The Mound Builder Myth by Jason Colavito. Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the sho...

In the conclusion of my series on claims that giants actually existed in antiquity, I focus on claims about Native Americans being giants and on giant bones being excavated from indigenous burial mounds, and I investigate fake news about this topic from the 19th century press and on the Internet today! Support the show on Patreon to get an ad-free feed of the show with exclusive episodes! Check ou...

In part one of this series, I look at biblical and mythological claims about giants as well as more modern cases of giant bones supposedly having been discovered.  Pledge support on Patreon for ad-free episodes and exclusive content! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on...

A lost civilization. A worldwide catastrophe. A global cover-up. In this episode I tell an incredible tale, and I connect it to the rhetoric behind Putin's invasion of Ukraine.  Pledge support on Patreon to get exclusive content, ad-free episodes, and early release! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch! Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/...

In the conclusion of my series on conspiracy claims about the Kennedy assassination, I tell the end of Oswald's story, including his flight from the scene, his murder of a Dallas policeman, and his capture and interrogation. Then I must tell the story of the vigilante who shortly thereafter took his life, Jack Ruby, around whom swirl many more baseless conspiracy claims. Pledge support on Patreon...

In this penultimate episode of the series, I finally get into the nitty gritty of JFK assassination forensics, addressing claims about his rifle, witness testimony, number of shots fired, gunshot timing, supposed activity on the grassy knoll, and bullet trajectory. In the process, I speak frankly about this act of horrendous violence and its victims' wounds--listener discretion is advised. Pledge...

In the second part of my series on JFK assassination conspiracy speculation, I discuss Oswald's attempted killing of Gen. Edwin Walker, his pro-Castro political activism in New Orleans, and his failed attempt to travel to Cuba via Mexico, finally placing him at the Texas School Book Depository after his return to Dallas.  Pledge Support on Patreon for exclusive episodes, ad-free content, and early...