Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

A listener asks for more information about the Lake Michigan Mothman. Luke is concerned about strange substances in the water of Sacramento. Ben has disappeared somewhere over the Pacific. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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 idea of convenient snacks is as old as human civilization itself -- for example, excavations at ancient sites across the planet have recovered evidence of food stalls in markets and community hubs. But the modern age of fast food has taken convenience to unprecedented levels. In the first part of this week's two-part episode, the guys unpack the the history of fast food, along with why some critics seem dead-set against this gigantic global industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.

Diamonds: according to the ads, they're a girl's best friend, and the only thing worth picking for an engagement ring. But how did diamonds become so important -- and why? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.

Philip Morris has recently called for a total ban on cigarettes in the United Kingdom -- leading critics to wonder about its true motivations. A conspiracy website offers ten thousand dollars to anyone who can change the editors' minds. Archaeologists discover a 2,000 year-old fast food joint in Pompeii, and plan to open a replica for tourists. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.

It's no secret that the ad industry is huge. Advertisers spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year attempting to convince people they should buy a given product or service -- and these same forces also work around the clock to leverage the latest in neuroscience and tech to gain a crucial edge in 'nudging' you toward a purchase. In today's episode, the guys explore the future of advertising... as well as why some critics are deeply disturbed by the conspiracies that loom on the horizon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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 viral social media post claims recent homicides in Atlanta, GA are the work of a serial killer -- but do the claims in this post hold up? An anonymous Conspiracy Realist replies to the recent revelations about NSO Group's Pegasus software, which has been used to track activists, journalists and their families, prompting an exploration of just how much power these private companies can wield... and whether they should share the blame when their powerful customers use this technology to aid in assassinations. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.

Over a period of just a few days, multiple members of the military witnessed strange, unexplained events in the vicinity of the UK's Rendlesham Forest. Today, the guys welcome returning guest Toby Ball to learn more about this infamous series of UFO sightings -- and what he found in the course of his research into the bizarre, at times contradictory claims surrounding this event. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.

Each year, millions of US residents consume pharmaceutical products designed to somehow improve their lives. These drugs could tackle anything from ADHD to allergies and diseases. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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 disturbing study finds 33 ancient viruses have successfully reemerged from glaciers as rising temperatures accelerate a global meltdown -- prompting fears about what else might be lurking beneath the ice. A survivor of a mass shooting is at a loss as he attempts to convince his father the shooting actually occurred, and was not part of some deep state conspiracy. All this and more in this week's Strange News. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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 nation of India is home to over 1.3 billion people, making it both the world's largest democracy and second-most populous country. Since 1951, the country has been using various forms of sterilization as a means of population control -- whether or not the actual people living in India agree with it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comThey 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.