Stupiracy | Stupid History + Conspiracy

A sitting Prime Minister walked into the ocean and never came back. No body. No explanation. Just… gone.  The Harold Holt disappearance is one of the wildest weird history stories that somehow gets dumber the more you look at it. In 1967, Australia’s leader took a casual swim during a beach stop—and vanished in front of witnesses.  This was not a cautious man.  Holt was obsessed wit...

The house shot him. The court sided with him. Nobody feels good about what happened next. Can you booby trap your house? This episode of the Stupiracy podcast answers that question with one of the most infamous weird legal cases in American history. After years of break-ins at an abandoned farmhouse, one homeowner decided locks weren’t enough. So he built a shotgun booby trap. Not near the door. N...

It starts with one woman dancing in the street.  It ends with hundreds of people unable to stop—even as they’re dying.  The Dancing Plague of 1518 makes absolutely no sense—and it gets worse the more you understand it.  In this episode of the Stupiracy Podcast - Presented by  CARSTAR - we break down one of the strangest cases of mass hysteria ever recorded.  It starts with...

This is a completely normal story about bread causing mass hysteria. Nothing weird happened here except hallucinations, executions, and possibly accidental LSD. In this episode of Stupiracy - Presented by  CARSTAR - we dig into the Salem Witch Trials and the surprisingly popular theory that nobody was actually practicing witchcraft… they were just eating very bad bread. In 1692, a group of gi...

This is a completely normal story about the Guam invasion where nobody knew there was a war. The locals thought the cannons were a greeting. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. Navy pulled up to Guam expecting a fight. Instead, they got an apology. No defenses. No return fire. Just a small boat rowing out like, “Hey, sorry we didn’t salute you properly.” Because Guam had no idea a w...

You ever wonder if entire wars were fought by people who hadn’t slept in three days and thought that was a great idea? Cool. Because the history of drugs in war is basically that… but worse. Much worse. This week on Stupiracy - presented by  CARSTAR - we dig into the history of drugs in war, where soldiers weren’t just brave—they were absolutely, chemically committed. Ancient Greeks were out...

Is Nicolas Cage a vampire? It sounds like a ridiculous internet conspiracy, but the Nicolas Cage vampire theory has been floating around for years thanks to a bizarre Civil War photo, vampire movie roles, and some very strange Nicolas Cage behavior.  Let’s start with the evidence.  There’s a mysterious 1870 Civil War–era photograph that looks suspiciously like Nicolas Cage. Same face. Sa...

At some point in human history someone looked at a criminal and said, “Sure, we could just execute him… but what if we did it in the most unnecessarily dramatic way possible?” And that’s basically the history of executions. In this episode of the Stupiracy podcast - Presented by  CARSTAR - we dive into the bizarre history of executions, one of the darkest corners of weird history. Because hum...

You think this is a secret cult in the woods plotting world domination.  It’s not what you think.  It’s worse.  But also… somehow much dumber.  The Bohemian Grove conspiracy sounds like peak weird conspiracies internet lore — presidents, billionaires, media titans, and captains of industry gathering in strict secrecy beneath a 40-foot owl statue in Northern California. And yes....

You’ve been casually referencing battlefield amputations and ancient political chaos your entire life. This week on Stupiracy - presented by  CARSTAR - we uncover the dark origins of common phrases, from “bite the bullet” to “spill the beans,” and the weird history hiding inside everyday sayings you never questioned. Turns out… language is violent. And occasionally butter-based. You say “bite...

There were only two cars in the entire state of Ohio. Two. And somehow… they crashed into each other. That’s not a metaphor. That’s early automotive history. And it only gets weirder from there. This is Stupiracy - Presented by  CARSTAR . This week on our funny history podcast, we’re diving into early automotive history — when cars looked like farm equipment possessed by ambition and nobody f...

Helen Keller wrote 14 books, met 12 presidents, helped found the ACLU, got surveilled by the FBI, and somehow, according to TikTok commenters with anime avatars, she was also lying about all of it . Cool. Sure. Totally reasonable. In this episode of Stupiracy - presented by  CARSTAR - Scott Rizzuto and Tim McKernan ask the question that feels illegal to even say out loud: Was Helen Keller a f...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim delve into the historical financial bubble known as Tulip Mania. Explore how a simple flower bulb caused a massive economic crash in the 17th-century Netherlands. Learn about the cultural significance of tulips, the rise and fall of their prices, and the lasting impact of this financial frenzy on modern economics. This episode uncovers one of the first r...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim dive into the enduring conspiracy theory that Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, is still alive. Explore the official account of Elvis's death, the numerous reported sightings of Elvis after his supposed demise, and the various reasons why people believe he faked his death. From misspelled tombstones to sightings at Burger King, uncover the strang...

In this dark and intriguing episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim delve into the gruesome details of the Erfurt Latrine Disaster of 1184. Discover how a meeting of European nobles turned into a horrific tragedy when the floor of a church collapsed, plunging dozens into a cesspit of human waste. Learn about the historical context, the notable victims, and the changes this disaster prompted in medieva...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim dive into one of the wildest conspiracy theories about the British royal family: the claim that Queen Elizabeth II was a cannibal. From bizarre stories about her private freezer to tales of corpse medicine, discover the strange rumors that have swirled around the late queen. Learn about the historical context of these claims and why some people believe t...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim explore one of the most bizarre episodes in medieval history: the trial of Pope Formosus' corpse. Discover how this 9th-century pope was exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and put on trial by his successor. Learn about the political intrigue, the strange customs of the time, and the ultimate fate of the cadaver. This episode delves into the strange and dar...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Scott and Tim dive into the surprising and fascinating history of the middle finger. From its origins in ancient Greece and Rome to its status as a powerful symbol of displeasure today, learn how this simple gesture has evolved over millennia. Discover the cultural significance, historical anecdotes, and unexpected moments in pop culture that have kept this gesture re...

In this episode of Stupiracy, dive into a curious slice of medieval diplomacy where kings shared more than just their realms—they shared their beds! Join Rizz and Tim as they unpack the tradition of monarchs sleeping together to seal alliances and foster unity. It's history with a twist, exploring how powerful rulers once cuddled up to resolve conflicts! Show Notes: Overview:  Episode 6 of "Stupir...

In this exhilarating episode of Stupiracy, hosts Rizz and Tim McKernan dive deep into a fringe conspiracy theory that claims—hold onto your hats—Finland doesn't exist! Yes, you heard that right. The nation of saunas, Santa, and Sibelius is supposedly a figment of the global imagination. Strap in as they dissect this wild theory and explore how a whole country could be an elaborate geopolitical sha...

Episode Description: This episode of Stupiracy peels back the layers on one of the most eyebrow-raising chapters in Ivy League history—the nude photo scandal. Rizz and Tim explore how some of America’s future elites, from presidents to network execs, were part of an eyebrow-raising tradition that involved posing nude as part of college registration. Dive into the quirks, questions, and conspiracie...

In this episode of Stupiracy, Rizz and Tim dive into the sweat-drenched saga of the 1904 Olympic Marathon—a tale so wild, it'll make modern marathons look like a walk in the park. Tune in as they recount how St. Louis' sweltering summer hosted a marathon that was more survival horror than sport, featuring wild dogs, rotten apples, and bizarre "performance enhancers." It's history, but not as you k...

In this episode of "Stupiracy," Tim and Riz unravel the lascivious layers of General Daniel E. Sickles' life—from his scandalous sex parties across from the White House to a notorious murder that scandalized Washington. Dive deep into Civil War secrets and discover how Sickles' audacious antics connect to the Star-Spangled Banner. Strap in for a wild ride through history where legality, insanity,...

You know how history class was all wars, dates, and powdered wigs? Yeah. They left something out. Napoleon’s penis. That’s not a metaphor. That’s not a bit. That is a documented historical artifact that traveled from a battlefield autopsy to a museum display to — and we cannot stress this enough — under a bed in New Jersey. Welcome to the weird history podcast episode they absolutely refused to te...

In a world where history and conspiracy collide, two hosts dare to dig deep into the archives of the absurd. Delve into stories so bizarre, they must be true. Uncover secrets hidden from the textbooks and reveal truths too strange to imagine. Join fearless explorers, Scott Rizzuto and Tim McKernan, as they navigate the outrageous and the unbelievable. Prepare for a season of revelations and ridicu...