Part Two: Inside the Hidden World of Secret Societies: Dr. Richard Spence On How They Form & How They're Still Influencing Our Politics

Nov 12, 2025

Dr. Richard B. Spence, a Professor Emeritus of History and expert on secret societies and espionage, explores how hidden organizations have shaped history and politics. He discusses the allure of secrecy and human desires for belonging within these groups. The conversation delves into the influence of ancient orders like the Freemasons on the United States and reveals how modern politics can reflect cult-like dynamics. Spence also highlights the role of deception in fostering conspiracy theories and how the internet amplifies echo chambers.

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INSIGHT

Secrecy Enables Both Belonging And Risk

Secret societies vary widely: most are harmless while some become dangerous based on intent and use of secrecy.
Secrecy creates specialness and trust that can be redirected to harmful purposes by members with bad intentions.

INSIGHT

Intelligence Mirrors Secret-Society Dynamics

Intelligence work institutionalizes secrecy and deception as core functions, creating a culture where lying is routine.
Spence links secret societies, occultism, and espionage as a trifecta centered on deception and hidden agendas.

ADVICE

Verify Claims To Spot Disinformation

Treat misinformation as mistakes but treat disinformation as deliberate and strategic deception.
Verify multiple data points because disinformation often mixes truths with targeted lies to mislead you.

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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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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