What if secret societies have been controlling the world from the shadows since the dawn of civilization?

In this explosive interview of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Richard B. Spence — Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Idaho, expert on espionage, secret societies, and occultism, and co-host of the hit podcast Strange As It Seems — pulls back the curtain on the hidden organizations that may have shaped history, politics, and even the founding of the United States itself.

Dr. Spence breaks down the benefits of being in a secret society (and why you should care, even if you’d never join one), whether ancient secret orders have influenced the rise and fall of empires, how modern politics is subtly manipulated by groups we don’t even realize exist, and the psychological and mystical appeal that keeps these societies alive. He discusses whether secret societies help dangerous leaders rise to power, including shocking theories around Hitler’s rise, the true definition of "the occult", why many secret orders are accused of Satan worship or dark rituals, the most active and influential secret societies today, and how new ones are forming online in the digital age.

Dr. Richard B. Spence also reveals:

- Surprising parallels between ancient orders and modern Greek life (fraternities and sororities)

- Origins and influence of the Freemasons: were the Founding Fathers truly Freemasons, and what ideals did they embed into this country’s DNA?

- How secret societies evolve, and why some are actually designed as self-improvement programs

- Why these organizations can become “petri dishes for nefarious actions”, sparking revolutions and even government overthrows

- Why these groups have historically been male-dominated, and the surprising stories of female and even child secret societies

- How intelligence agencies may manufacture conspiracy theories as tools of psychological warfare

- Difference between misinformation vs. disinformation, and how each is weaponized

- Are modern day government agencies like the CIA really just secret societies with better branding?

- Fine line between secret societies, cults, and religions, and how they manipulate loyalty and belief

- Why it’s harder than ever to tell truth from deception, especially in the age of AI-generated misinformation

- And finally…could the MAGA movement itself be considered a modern-day cult?

This deep dive will make you question everything you thought you knew about power, control, and truth. TUNE IN to MBB to discover why the line between myth, conspiracy, and history might be thinner than you think…

Dr. Richard B. Spence’s podcast, Strange As It Seems: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Subscribe on Substack for Ad-Free Episodes & Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Weekend with Gordon Deal November 15, 2025

This Morning With Gordon Deal

The Science of Growing Giant Pumpkins

The AI-powered Podcast Player