Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

From UFOs to psychic powers and government cover-ups, history is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know ... an audio podcast from iHeartRadio.

Episodes 2,194
Books 761

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Enemy Aliens: Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism cover

Enemy Aliens

David Cole

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Subterranean Secrets of Denton, Texas

This book, featuring the photojournalist's work, included many images from the civil rights movement and documented the relocation and stripping of property from Japanese Canadians during World War II. The speaker highly recommended it.

But he was a Canadian, a Japanese Canadian, who went through the exact same thing there in Canada, where Japanese Canadians were also relocated and stripped of property and put in these sort of, you know, siloed areas, these ghettos, kind of. And I had no idea that that was going on there. I didn't know that. Yeah. Really, really interesting. I brought his book. It's a book of his work, which includes a lot of images from that time and also from the civil rights stuff called Enemy Alien. Highly recommend it. Tameo Wakayama.

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Encyclopedia of Assassinations: More than 400 Infamous Attacks that Changed the Course of History cover

Encyclopedia of Assassinations

Carl Sifakis

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter One: An Origin Story

This book explored both attempted and successful assassinations throughout human history. It was mentioned as being available at arcane bookstores.

The Encyclopedia of Assassinations. Available at any arcane bookstore near you. Right. By Carl Sifakis.

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The Travels of Marco Polo cover

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter One: An Origin Story

This book was cited as a primary source that popularized exaggerated claims about the Order of Assassins in Western Europe, suggesting they were a drug-crazed cult due to Marco Polo's storytelling.

It gets really popular and mischaracterized in Western Europe thanks to one of the best-selling books of the medieval era, The Travels of Marco Polo.

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The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine cover

The Big Short

Michael Lewis

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Legacy Program, Chapter Two: How Aliens (Could) Work

This book was mentioned in passing as an example of a work people might recall when considering the concept of an alien reveal. It was brought up alongside other media like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Arrival."

The big short.

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The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make In College cover

The Graduate Survival Guide

Anthony ONeal

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: Plastics, Microplastics and Conspiracy

The speakers referenced a scene from the movie, which is based on a novel, when discussing how plastics were often viewed as the future.

first shout out to everybody who's already remembering that scene in The Graduate. It's a great scene.

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Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things cover

Stuff You Should Know

Josh Clark

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Legacy Program, Chapter One: Fact and Fiction

The hosts mentioned that the documentary's poster ripped off the layout and color scheme of their book, which features incredible art by Nick Benson.

And yeah, have you seen the poster? It kind of rips off our book.

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How to Lose a Dunlap Belly: And See Your Toes Again cover

How to Lose a Dunlap Belly

Dexter Poin

Mentioned 5 months ago

Strange News: Strange News: Spy Nuns, Fart Cures, Cow Tools and More

The book was mentioned in connection with a YouTuber who discovered an infinite money glitch at GameStop involving buying a Switch 2 and returning it with a used game for a small profit.

All right. We'll go to Dexter Toe by Michael William is the writer for this one. This came out. Actually, this was published today as we're recording. A YouTuber has figured out an infinite money glitch. You can buy a Switch 2 and return it to get even more money back.

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Holy Blood, Holy Grail cover

Holy Blood, Holy Grail

Michael Baigent

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

Published in 1982, this book speculated that the painter Nicolas Poussin, creator of the painting depicted in the Shepherd's Monument, was a member of the Priory of Sion. The authors suggested the monument's inscription might hold clues to the location of the Holy Grail.

The Da Vinci Code cover

The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

This book was mentioned as leveraging the concept of the Priory of Sion, which is believed by some to be connected to the Shugborough Inscription. The authors of *The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail* felt that Dan Brown plagiarized their work in this novel.

Anson's Gold: and the Secret to Captain Kidd's Charts cover

Anson's Gold

George Edmunds

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

This book argues that the Shugborough Inscription is a cipher concealing the latitude and longitude of an island where George Anson buried or discovered Spanish treasure. The author suggests that a secret 18th-century expedition was launched to recover this treasure, but unforeseen circumstances prevented its retrieval.

Media Control, Second Edition: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda (Open Media Series) cover

Media Control, Second Edition

Noam Chomsky

Mentioned 1 year ago

My Momma Told Me, With Langston Kerman and David Gborie

The podcast hosts discussed this book, mentioning its availability online and describing it as a great place to start learning about Edward Bernays, its author, and his work in public relations and advertising. The book was described as relevant to a discussion on capitalism and consumer culture.

The book Propaganda, available online.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series) cover

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series)

Stieg Larsson

Mentioned 1 year ago

Listener Mail: Terrors of Adoption, Black Sludge is Poop, the Dangers of an AI-driven, 'Teacherless' Classroom

The podcast mentioned the book in passing, referencing the character Lisbeth Salander as a ward of the state due to not having parents and committing a crime that led to increased monitoring.

Most Recommended

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories Cover

Flannery O'Connor

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories

It was mentioned in jest as a possible motive for the mysterious Flannery Associates buying land around an air force base, with hosts jokingly suggesting a possible 'cosplay' scenario.

"

What if it is? What if there's a secret organization of Flannery O'Connor stands, you know what I mean? And all they want to do is take over Travis Air Force Base so they can cosplay good country peop...

— Episode: Strange News: Mystery Company in Califor...

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Episode: Strange News: Mystery Company in California, Japan...

It was mentioned in jest as a possible motive for the mysterious Flannery Associates buying land around an air force base, with hosts jokingly suggesting a possible 'cosplay' scenario.

"

What if it is? What if there's a secret organization of Flannery O'Connor stands, you know what I mean? And all they want to do is take over Travis Air Force Base so they can cosplay good country people, a good man is hard to find and all those hits.

Bali Women's Seamless Panties, Smoothing Brief Underwear, Full-Coverage Stretch Microfiber Briefs Cover

Bali Women's Seamless Panties, Smoothing Brief Underwear, Full-Coverage Stretch Microfiber Briefs

It was discussed as a fantastic read about the widespread issue of purple streetlights caused by a flaw in LED bulbs, which was mentioned in the context of a discussion about purple streetlights.

"

I highly recommend everybody read the great purpling from Adam Rogers writing for business insider.

— Episode: Listener Mail: Purple Street Lights, Bur...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Purple Street Lights, Burger King S...

It was discussed as a fantastic read about the widespread issue of purple streetlights caused by a flaw in LED bulbs, which was mentioned in the context of a discussion about purple streetlights.

"

I highly recommend everybody read the great purpling from Adam Rogers writing for business insider.

To Arm a Nation: Rebuilding America's Endangered Defenses Cover

Richard HALLORAN

To Arm a Nation

Rebuilding America's Endangered Defenses

It was described as a large document which outlined the project's goals, members, and reasons for existence and also focused on increasing military spending, fighting multiple wars simultaneously, and controlling cyberspace and space.

"

It was titled 'Rebuilding America's Defenses'.

— Episode: The Project For The New American Century...

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Episode: The Project For The New American Century: Part One

It was described as a large document which outlined the project's goals, members, and reasons for existence and also focused on increasing military spending, fighting multiple wars simultaneously, and controlling cyberspace and space.

"

It was titled 'Rebuilding America's Defenses'.

It was published in September of the year 2000, one year before a really big thing happened in history.

It goes over the Project for the New American Century, like again, all of the things we've talked about here, how it was established, who was a part of it, why it exists.

I think if you get to page 50, you get to Section 5 and that is where it gets really, really interesting. The subtitle, or I guess the title of that section is 'Creating Tomorrow's Dominant Force'.

One of the primary subjects in here, Ben, is controlling both cyberspace and space. Space, space. Space actual.

Standing Firm, Limited Edition Cover

Diane Quayle, Dan; Medved

Standing Firm, Limited Edition

It was mentioned that the speaker read Dan Quayle's book, although no further details or information about it were provided.

"

Who also, did I tell you I read Dan's book?

— Episode: The Project For The New American Century...

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Episode: The Project For The New American Century: Part One

It was mentioned that the speaker read Dan Quayle's book, although no further details or information about it were provided.

"

Who also, did I tell you I read Dan's book?

Cyteen Cover

C. J. Cherryh

Cyteen

It was recommended for its exploration of cloning and human engineering on a global scale, which prompted discussion about the benefits and downsides of these sciences.

"

I was wondering if you had ever read Cy-Teen by C.J. Cherryh. It's a seemingly silent H at the end of Cherry, but that's how I'm going to say it. If not, I highly recommend it.

— Episode: Listener Mail: A Humble Farmer, A Blood...

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Episode: Listener Mail: A Humble Farmer, A Blood Scandal, A...

It was recommended for its exploration of cloning and human engineering on a global scale, which prompted discussion about the benefits and downsides of these sciences.

"

I was wondering if you had ever read Cy-Teen by C.J. Cherryh. It's a seemingly silent H at the end of Cherry, but that's how I'm going to say it. If not, I highly recommend it.

It explores cloning and human engineering on a global scale. It is a very interesting read and makes you consider the boons and downfalls of such sciences.

It sounds pretty complex, as oftentimes some of these types of novels are.

I want to say it's just the one book. I don't think it's a series, but I do remember it because it was when, it was this golden age in used bookstores, where you could get any quote-unquote genre fiction in paperback form for like less than a dollar, if it was a used book.

I believe I picked it up because it won a Hugo Award. Yeah, looking at it now, it does appear to be just the one book.

Wizard's Mole Cover

Brad Strickland

Wizard's Mole

It was briefly mentioned in passing, as someone had stumbled upon it in a bookstore, only to discover later that it was part of a longer series.

"

I actually stumbled upon a book called The Wizard's Mole by none other than friend of the show and owner of the complaints email box, Jonathan Strickland's father, Brad Strickland.

— Episode: Listener Mail: A Humble Farmer, A Blood...

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Episode: Listener Mail: A Humble Farmer, A Blood Scandal, A...

It was briefly mentioned in passing, as someone had stumbled upon it in a bookstore, only to discover later that it was part of a longer series.

"

I actually stumbled upon a book called The Wizard's Mole by none other than friend of the show and owner of the complaints email box, Jonathan Strickland's father, Brad Strickland.

don't get it, it's the eighth book in a 15 book series. You won't have any idea what's going on.

Drugs as Weapons Against Us: The CIA's Murderous Targeting of SDS, Panthers, Hendrix, Lennon, Cobain, Tupac, and Other Activists Cover

John L. Potash

Drugs as Weapons Against Us

The CIA's Murderous Targeting of SDS, Panthers, Hendrix, Lennon, Cobain, Tupac, and Other Activists

It was recommended by one of the podcast hosts as further reading related to government agencies' alleged targeting of various celebrities, including John Lennon.

"

If you want to read more about this, check out John Potash's book, Drugs as Weapons Against Us, which says that these agencies did not just target John Lennon, but they also targeted...

— Episode: CLASSIC: The Beatles Conspiracies

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Episode: CLASSIC: The Beatles Conspiracies

It was recommended by one of the podcast hosts as further reading related to government agencies' alleged targeting of various celebrities, including John Lennon.

"

If you want to read more about this, check out John Potash's book, Drugs as Weapons Against Us, which says that these agencies did not just target John Lennon, but they also targeted Tupac Shakur and Kurt Cobain and many other celebrities.

Watchmen (2019 Edition) Cover

Alan Moore

Watchmen (2019 Edition)

The Watchmen graphic novel was mentioned as having a plot point similar to Project Blue Beam, involving a faked alien presence to unite people, although the specific details were not elaborated on.

"

Additionally, you could get that train of thought from looking at things like the idea of Project Blue Beam, which is faking a divine intervention or an alien presence to further unite people during t...

— Episode: The EBO Post: Fact vs. Fiction

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Episode: The EBO Post: Fact vs. Fiction

The Watchmen graphic novel was mentioned as having a plot point similar to Project Blue Beam, involving a faked alien presence to unite people, although the specific details were not elaborated on.

"

Additionally, you could get that train of thought from looking at things like the idea of Project Blue Beam, which is faking a divine intervention or an alien presence to further unite people during the Cold War. Or of course the seminal graphic novel, The Watchmen, which we won't spoil, but something like that also occurs in The Watchmen and is pivotal to the plot.

Compton Street Legend: Notorious Keffe D’s Street-Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs, and Crooked Cops Cover

Duane 'Keffe D' Davis

Compton Street Legend

Notorious Keffe D’s Street-Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs, and Crooked Cops

It was mentioned as a source of information on the Tupac Shakur murder case. The book's co-author, Keef D, claims to be an eyewitness to the shooting.

"

There is a book from 2019 titled Compton Street Legend by a man named Dwayne Keith Davis, who's also known as Keef D or K E F F E D. Maybe that's not how you say it. And the other wri...

— Episode: Strange News: Long Island Serial Killer...

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Episode: Strange News: Long Island Serial Killer Suspect Ar...

It was mentioned as a source of information on the Tupac Shakur murder case. The book's co-author, Keef D, claims to be an eyewitness to the shooting.

"

There is a book from 2019 titled Compton Street Legend by a man named Dwayne Keith Davis, who's also known as Keef D or K E F F E D. Maybe that's not how you say it. And the other writer of that book is Yusuf Jha.

In addition to the magazine articles on Tupac, items retrieved from the home included computers, hard drives and pictures from the 1990s that apparently show individuals who might have been connected to people directly or indirectly involved in the drive by shooting.

There were also copies of the book Compton Street Legend.

The Lived Experience of Democracy: Criticizing Injustice, Building Community Cover

Kaitlyn Baker

The Lived Experience of Democracy

Criticizing Injustice, Building Community

It was mentioned as one of Walter Lippmann's books from the 1920s which criticized humanity and focused on democracy.

"

One was called Criticizing Democracy. One was called Public Opinion and the other was called The Phantom Public.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Is democracy impossible?

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Episode: CLASSIC: Is democracy impossible?

It was mentioned as one of Walter Lippmann's books from the 1920s which criticized humanity and focused on democracy.

"

One was called Criticizing Democracy. One was called Public Opinion and the other was called The Phantom Public.

Prominent American ghosts Cover

Susy Smith

Prominent American ghosts

It was revealed that the psychic, Adam Coombs, who was said to have advised Sarah Winchester on building her house, was a fictional character created by Susie Smith for the book.

"

Susie Smith made up this psychic Adam Coombs for a book called Prominent American Ghost.

— Episode: Listener Mail: Winchester Mansion, A Hot...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Winchester Mansion, A Hotel Of Terr...

It was revealed that the psychic, Adam Coombs, who was said to have advised Sarah Winchester on building her house, was a fictional character created by Susie Smith for the book.

"

Susie Smith made up this psychic Adam Coombs for a book called Prominent American Ghost.

MEIN KAMPF A dream of violence that was abandoned for a far grimmer reality Cover

Ralph (Translator) Hitler, Adolf, Manheim

MEIN KAMPF A dream of violence that was abandoned for a far grimmer reality

It was described as a poorly written book that espoused racist propaganda, leading to horrific consequences, and its popularity was discussed, particularly in Germany.

"

a very successful racist propaganda like mind comp for the protocols of the elders of zion and uh In the interest of full disclosure just to be absolutely fair We have read copies of both of these wor...

— Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

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Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

It was described as a poorly written book that espoused racist propaganda, leading to horrific consequences, and its popularity was discussed, particularly in Germany.

"

a very successful racist propaganda like mind comp for the protocols of the elders of zion and uh In the interest of full disclosure just to be absolutely fair We have read copies of both of these works And they're not well written they're not even like they're not even well written books I just want to say when ben says we I am excluded from that week because i've not read mind comp But I I will I can't wait to no, i'm just joking.

Not worth it and and my rationale personally for reading Books that I know I will object to is that I feel it is Is If you disagree with something it is your intellectual responsibility To understand it as much if not more than the people who believe in it, right?

It is not a good book. No one should read it It's dumb Uh, and it led to horrific things Uh, it would also definitely be a red flag For any country if those books became super popular, you know what I mean?

reprint of hitler's mind kampf takes germany by storm uh, apparently Sales have soared at this time since a special edition of this Book went on sale in germany in 2016 Yeah, it spent uh 35 weeks in 2016 On the non-fiction bestseller list in germany sold 85 000 copies

Rage: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Explosive Anger Cover

Ronald T. Potter-Efron

Rage

A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Explosive Anger

It was discussed in relation to its content depicting a school shooting, which led the author to remove it from publication due to concerns about it potentially being used as a guide for harmful actions.

"

We talked about that book, uh, stephen king Removed from publication of his own accord Uh the Rage Rage, yes. That's the one. Yeah, he removed Rage b...

— Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

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Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

It was discussed in relation to its content depicting a school shooting, which led the author to remove it from publication due to concerns about it potentially being used as a guide for harmful actions.

"

We talked about that book, uh, stephen king Removed from publication of his own accord Uh the Rage Rage, yes. That's the one. Yeah, he removed Rage because He was concerned that Rage describes a school shooting as planned in advance premeditated and king was worried that his Instructions his depictions were close enough to how you would actually do this Successfully that it would function as an instruction manual.

And he wrote it as richard bachman. This is the bachman days that uh, that was his And probably still is his alias for a while for some darker works, but he he was also from what I understand he was Incredibly Disturbed and rightly so because multiple school shootings in the 80s and early 90s Uh When they occurred authorities later found a copy of Rage Amid the belongings of the perpetrators, so it is a real problem

The Short and Snarky Guide to Coxing & Rowing: Straight Talk on Coxing and Rowing from Real Coxswains Cover

The Short and Snarky Coxswains

The Short and Snarky Guide to Coxing & Rowing

Straight Talk on Coxing and Rowing from Real Coxswains

It was discussed as a book used by train hoppers that is effectively banned from the general public through a self-imposed system of in-person distribution.

"

an example would be the crew change guide which we talked about before people who Function as you could call them modern day Nomads or hobos or whatever train hoppers, uh folks who ride the rails ille...

— Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

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Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

It was discussed as a book used by train hoppers that is effectively banned from the general public through a self-imposed system of in-person distribution.

"

an example would be the crew change guide which we talked about before people who Function as you could call them modern day Nomads or hobos or whatever train hoppers, uh folks who ride the rails illegally They have a book And this book is called the crew change guide you are not supposed to sell it nor to publish it

Instead the idea is you pass it on in person you hand it to a fellow traveler when they've sort of proven That they are trustworthy and through this process the train hopping community Banned the book effectively from the majority of the reading public

Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology (McFarland Myth and Legend Encyclopedias) Cover

Theresa Bane

Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology (McFarland Myth and Legend Encyclopedias)

It was described as a definite must-read for fans of folklore, and provided details about the Puckwudgie, including its appearance as a goblin-like shapeshifter.

"

Definitely definite must read if you're a fan of folklore

— Episode: Cryptids of Ohio

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Episode: Cryptids of Ohio

It was described as a definite must-read for fans of folklore, and provided details about the Puckwudgie, including its appearance as a goblin-like shapeshifter.

"

Definitely definite must read if you're a fan of folklore

She notes the puck wedgie is a two to three foot tall Goblin or gremlin esque thing. It's a shapeshifter, but it often assumes the form of sort of a human porcupine

Saint Juniper's Folly Cover

Alex Crespo

Saint Juniper's Folly

It was described as a young adult Gothic mystery where a straight-laced boy and novice team up to rescue a trapped Mexican American teen in a haunted mansion. The podcast was mentioned as being an inspiration for the book's creation.

"

It's a young adult Gothic mystery in which a straight-laced Golden Boy and a novice which team up to rescue a Mexican American teen with a cryptic past who's become trapped inside a haunted mansion in...

— Episode: Listener Mail: Human Expansion, Tipping...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Listener Mail: Human Expansion, Tipping in America...

It was described as a young adult Gothic mystery where a straight-laced boy and novice team up to rescue a trapped Mexican American teen in a haunted mansion. The podcast was mentioned as being an inspiration for the book's creation.

"

It's a young adult Gothic mystery in which a straight-laced Golden Boy and a novice which team up to rescue a Mexican American teen with a cryptic past who's become trapped inside a haunted mansion in Vermont.

Thank you to Matt, Ben and Noel, 'Stuff They Don't Want You To Know' supplemented so much of my supernatural research for this book and have kept me company on every commute and long-haul flight for years.

Truth of Setagaya family murders (2007) ISBN: 4861671671 [Japanese Import] Cover

山元泰生

Truth of Setagaya family murders (2007) ISBN

4861671671 [Japanese Import]

It was mentioned as a book that contained information about the Setagaya family murders, referencing a South Korean individual named 'K' and a hitman named 'R' and its findings were deemed controversial.

"

This is one of the people who believes they solved the case. They say in their book on this that they got in contact with a South Korean national only called K, like the letter K in the book.

— Episode: The Setagaya Family Murders

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Episode: The Setagaya Family Murders

It was mentioned as a book that contained information about the Setagaya family murders, referencing a South Korean individual named 'K' and a hitman named 'R' and its findings were deemed controversial.

"

This is one of the people who believes they solved the case. They say in their book on this that they got in contact with a South Korean national only called K, like the letter K in the book.

And that this person, K, pointed Ichihashi to the direction of the actual killer, a South Korean hitman who is given the pseudonym R, like the letter R in this book.

Further, Ichihashi says they attained the man's fingerprints and these are a match with those collected at the crime scene by the police.

La Llorona: Encounters with the Weeping Woman Cover

Judith Beatty

La Llorona

Encounters with the Weeping Woman

It was recommended as a book that delves into different versions of the La Llorona tale and includes alleged encounters with the entity.

"

Let's give a shout out to the Weeping Woman Encounters with La Llorona by Edward Garcia Kroll and Judith Beatty, B.A. TTY. It's got all kinds of different versions of the tale and, yo...

— Episode: La Llorona is Older Than You Think

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: La Llorona is Older Than You Think

It was recommended as a book that delves into different versions of the La Llorona tale and includes alleged encounters with the entity.

"

Let's give a shout out to the Weeping Woman Encounters with La Llorona by Edward Garcia Kroll and Judith Beatty, B.A. TTY. It's got all kinds of different versions of the tale and, you know, alleged encounters with something that is supposedly La Llorona.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.