How Indiana Jones Made People Want to Be Archaeologists

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There's this combination of the just asking questions, right, piece. And then you also have this kind of academic validation at times with people's names and credentials. It's actually just about doubting a current reality, which has ulterior motives than actually maybe like getting people into this thing. Don't doubt those guys. But don'toubt those guys. Okay.

On this Live Show Beg-a-Thon, recorded on May 17, we discuss the pop culture phenomenon and appeal of pseudoarchaeology in its many forms, from fraudulent alternative history books like Erich von Däniken's 1968 book, Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past, to television series like "Ancient Aliens" and "Ancient Apocalypse."

Alongside guest Dr. David S. Anderson, we discuss how phony "what if?" theories often go beyond the goofy, guilty pleasure premises of extraterrestrial visitors and lost civilizations to promote Eurocentric, racist pap and a mindless distrust of "the scientific establishment" in the stupidest and least productive way possible.