Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

It happens every year as tax season comes around in the US. Numerous media outlets publish excoriating investigations of wealthy corporations and individuals that, somehow, don't seem to be paying taxes. And the majority of American citizens believe the system is, in one way or another, broken. But what gives? Why are so many people convinced the wealthy conspire to avoid paying their taxes? Tune...

In this week's listener mail, the gang shares stories from Conspiracy Realists across the planet, each of whom weighs in with their own experiences regarding unions. Some love them, some hate them, some consider them a necessary evil -- and every story creates a new conversation. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/ See omnystudio.co...

You may not have heard of Love Canal, but it remains one of the most disturbing environmental tragedies (and cover-ups) in US history. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into a real-life conspiracy that fundamentally changed how the country approaches the consequences of pollution. Tune in to learn how the Love Canal tragedy is partly true crime, partly parable, and partly a harbinger of...

From 1979 to 1986, an unknown serial killer assaulted and murdered at least 10 people. As of 2016, he was still uncaught. So who was he? Is it possible to find the Original Night Stalker? Find out with Ben, Matt, and Noel 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...

Across the country, a series of bizarre disasters -- from fires to outright plane crashes -- prompts public speculation that someone, somewhere, may be conspiring to destroy the US food supply. A woman is found dead after a run-in with a cop accused of corruption. A megadrought in the western US forces communities to consider some extreme decisions: water, or electricity? All this and more in this...

It sounds like something straight out of a noir film -- an unidentified killer goes on a murder spree and vanishes, taunting the cops before disappearing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn't limited to the world of fiction. Learn more about murderers who remain on the loose in in the second part of this two-part update on serial killers who, as of today, seem to have escaped justice. They don't w...

Forget everything you learned about 'genies' from Aladdin - tales of the Jinn, also called Djinn, are ancient and not at all as family-friendly as Disney might have you believe. So what are these mysterious creatures, exactly? Join the guys as they delve into the strange story of smokeless fire, parallel worlds and hidden, sentient life. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmil...

It sounds like something straight out of a noir film -- an unidentified killer goes on a murder spree and vanishes, taunting the cops before disappearing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn't limited to the world of fiction. Learn more about murderers who remain on the loose in the 2022 update to this continuing series. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib...

You've probably heard of shell companies, tax havens and offshore trusts. But how common are they? How many people use these techniques as a way to squirrel away money from the prying eyes of taxpayers, governments and non-billionaires? What exactly did these Panama Papers reveal? They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/ See omnystudio.c...

Deaths of 2 Russian oligarchs within 48 hours add to wave of executives found dead in ‘suspicious’ circumstances. Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter prompts a discussion about the nature of a privately-owned public sphere. A definition of 'girl' prompts one man to send internet death threats to the staff of Merriam-Webster. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don't want...

In the days before and during World War II, German tycoons make billions off the horrors of the Third Reich -- and largely got away with profiting from those atrocities. In today's interview, Ben and Matt are joined with special guest, author and journalist David de Jong, who spent years researching the disturbing, hidden story of business dynasties that actively collaborated with Nazi powers and...

An anonymous healthcare professional outlines the ways in which your own medical info may be used against you. S emails to follow up on vaccine questions and alien pregnancies. A caller asks for more information about the bizarre case of Georgia's Corpsewood Manor. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-y...

The legend sounds like something out of The Twilight Zone. A group of renegade Ivy League scientists gather in secret, in a small, abandoned town, to conduct bizarre experiments... and they discover a path to an alternate universe. But where, exactly, did this legend come from? What's the line between fact and fiction? Tune in to learn more about Ong's Hat. They don't want you to read our book.: h...

In 2015 alone more than 300 million people visited the US national park system. Some stayed for a few hours, others for a few days - and, occasionally, some never make it out. Join the guys as they take a closer look at the fact, fiction and conjecture surrounding disappearances in national parks. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/...

Tech giant Google has reportedly unblurred several formerly secret Russian military sites on Google Maps. A self-driving car in San Francisco attempts to escape police. Long-running conspiracy site Infowars files bankruptcy as Alex Jones continues to fight Sandy Hook defamation charges in court. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.ma...

Every town has its own rumors, tall tales and legends, and Springfield, Missouri is no exception. This idyllic American city is home to US Highway 66, some great barbecue, a vast underground of tunnels -- and, allegedly, vampires. So how did this rumor start, exactly? Is there any truth to the stories? Tune in to learn more. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/stati...

Samurai provides a heartbreaking experience with body brokers, prompting an exploration of unique, alternative funeral rites. Colonel Buffington describes phishing scams run amok. Jolly Green Giant calls in with an intriguing question about the effects of cannabis on human dreams. All this and more in this week's listener mail. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/st...

Nowadays, almost everyone knows the trope of the tinfoil hat -- it's common in all sorts of fiction, often meant as visual shorthand to indicate the person wearing this hat is... weird. But how did something as mundane as tinfoil become associated with paranoia and conspiracy? In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel get to the bottom of this strange, strange story. They don't want you to read our b...

What's in the water in Flint? Did city officials really cover up a potentially deadly situation? Tune in as Ben, Matt and Noel look into the Stuff They Don't Want You to Know about the Flint water crisis. 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 report released by the Pentagon appears to indicate at least one witness in an alleged alien abduction believes she became pregnant as a result. Two mysterious men successfully faked being Federal agents. Over in Europe, one guy may have set the record for most vaccinations ever, as part of a vaccine card scam. All this and more in this week's Strange News. They don't want you to read our book.:...

In April of 1964, a police officer in New Mexico named Lonnie Zamora halted a high speed chase when he saw something strange fall from the sky. As he got closer to the crash site, things became stranger and stranger -- he was convinced he'd seen something extraordinary. Soon after, the FBI, the Air Force, and the Army agreed with him. So what makes the Lonnie Zamora incident so famous in the world...

Brett from Facebook hips the gang to the story of Marcus Hutchins, a hacker who singlehandedly saved the internet. Justin responds to Ben's earlier questions about the sticky -- and dangerous -- ethics of medical impants, especially when they become outdated. Talbot asks for more details about the mysterious, controversial Killenworth Mansion, currently functioning as a country house for the Russi...

While they're not as common as they once were, labor unions are back in the news as employees of companies like Amazon, Starbucks and more choose to organize, pushing for better pay, more rights and so on. In part two of this two-part episode, Ben and Matt explore the present -- and future -- of unions and union busting. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fi...

Given the sheer size of the universe, it's overwhelmingly likely that some form of alien life exists - so where the heck are they? Tune in to this classic episode 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.

The US and multiple eyewitnesses state Russia is actively committing war crimes. The pandemic led to a baby bust, rather than a baby boom. The rise of male birth control seems on the horizon. All this and more in this week's Strange News. 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.