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

Deal with the Devil : A Dark Mafia Marriage of Convenience Romance (Brides and Sinners) (Astoria Royals Book 4) Cover

Deborah Garland

Deal with the Devil

A Dark Mafia Marriage of Convenience Romance (Brides and Sinners) (Astoria Royals Book 4)

It detailed Gregory Harper Sr., a Colombo crime family hitman who was also a high-ranking FBI informant, described as the 'Whitey Bulger story on steroids'.

"

my last book is called Deal with the Devil it's a epic story of Gregory Harper senior a mad dog killer for the Colombo crime family who was a top echelon criminal informant for the Bu...

— Episode: The Doris Duke Case, with Peter Lance: P...

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Episode: The Doris Duke Case, with Peter Lance: Part 2

It detailed Gregory Harper Sr., a Colombo crime family hitman who was also a high-ranking FBI informant, described as the 'Whitey Bulger story on steroids'.

"

my last book is called Deal with the Devil it's a epic story of Gregory Harper senior a mad dog killer for the Colombo crime family who was a top echelon criminal informant for the Bureau it's the whitey budger story on steroids okay

Stranger 456 Cover

Peter Lance

Stranger 456

It is one of Peter Lance's two novels, focusing on the topic of serial killing.

"

I sent a mad copy of my one of my two novels is called Stranger 4 5 6 it has to do with serial killing

— Episode: The Doris Duke Case, with Peter Lance: P...

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Episode: The Doris Duke Case, with Peter Lance: Part 2

It is one of Peter Lance's two novels, focusing on the topic of serial killing.

"

I sent a mad copy of my one of my two novels is called Stranger 4 5 6 it has to do with serial killing

Hatchet Cover

Gary Paulsen

Hatchet

The book 'Hatchet' was mentioned in passing during a discussion about a listener's email, where the listener's Google search for 'Hatchet' yielded results for the book.

"

And yes, when I googled just that, I was flooded with links to buy the classic Gary Paulson novel.

— Episode: Listener Mail: Real-life Telekinesis (So...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Real-life Telekinesis (Sort of), Ha...

The book 'Hatchet' was mentioned in passing during a discussion about a listener's email, where the listener's Google search for 'Hatchet' yielded results for the book.

"

And yes, when I googled just that, I was flooded with links to buy the classic Gary Paulson novel.

Time Life; Mysteries of the Unknown (Complete 33-Volume Set) Cover

Time-Life Staff

Time Life; Mysteries of the Unknown (Complete 33-Volume Set)

The story of Shanti Devi was compared to stories the speaker recalled reading in these books, suggesting the theme of reincarnation and unexplained phenomena.

"

So this is, this reminds me of the kind of stories I would read in like time life mysteries of the unknown books.

— Episode: Listener Mail: Reincarnation, Fairy Tale...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Reincarnation, Fairy Tales, and Mem...

The story of Shanti Devi was compared to stories the speaker recalled reading in these books, suggesting the theme of reincarnation and unexplained phenomena.

"

So this is, this reminds me of the kind of stories I would read in like time life mysteries of the unknown books.

Sekret Machines Book 2: A Fire Within (2) [Hardcover] DeLonge, Tom and Hartley, AJ Cover

Tom DeLonge

Sekret Machines Book 2

A Fire Within (2) [Hardcover] DeLonge, Tom and Hartley, AJ

It was mentioned as the second book in the Secret Machines series, with a release date expected in the same year as the podcast recording.

"

Yeah, I think the second one is not out yet, but coming out this year, A Fire Within, Secret Machines, A Fire Within.

— Episode: CLASSIC: From Rock to UFOs: The Tom DeLo...

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Episode: CLASSIC: From Rock to UFOs: The Tom DeLonge Story

It was mentioned as the second book in the Secret Machines series, with a release date expected in the same year as the podcast recording.

"

Yeah, I think the second one is not out yet, but coming out this year, A Fire Within, Secret Machines, A Fire Within.

Behold a Pale Horse Cover

Milton William Cooper

Behold a Pale Horse

It was used as an example of a book that combined conspiracy theories, but it was described as a bad example due to the author's controversial views.

"

A bad example is Bill Cooper with Behold a Pale Horse.

— Episode: CLASSIC: From Rock to UFOs: The Tom DeLo...

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Episode: CLASSIC: From Rock to UFOs: The Tom DeLonge Story

It was used as an example of a book that combined conspiracy theories, but it was described as a bad example due to the author's controversial views.

"

A bad example is Bill Cooper with Behold a Pale Horse.

The Instruments of Darkness: A Thriller (21) (Charlie Parker) Cover

John Connolly

The Instruments of Darkness

A Thriller (21) (Charlie Parker)

It was recommended for those interested in a noir crime supernatural series, specifically because of the religious heist theme.

"

It also reminds me of John Connolly. I got really into this guy recently. He's got an excellent noir crime supernatural series called the Charlie Parker series, no relation to the musician.

— Episode: Strange News: Uncle Sam's Top Secret Pla...

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Episode: Strange News: Uncle Sam's Top Secret Plans Exposed...

It was recommended for those interested in a noir crime supernatural series, specifically because of the religious heist theme.

"

It also reminds me of John Connolly. I got really into this guy recently. He's got an excellent noir crime supernatural series called the Charlie Parker series, no relation to the musician.

Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine (Oxford Medical Handbooks) Cover

Jonathan P. Wyatt

Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine (Oxford Medical Handbooks)

It was written by a Chinese physician in the 4th century and discussed the use of stool as a medical treatment, specifically for stomach issues.

"

Chinese physician Hong Jie wrote a book called Handbook of Emergency Medicine

— Episode: Strange News: Poop Transplants Make You...

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Episode: Strange News: Poop Transplants Make You "Younger,"...

It was written by a Chinese physician in the 4th century and discussed the use of stool as a medical treatment, specifically for stomach issues.

"

Chinese physician Hong Jie wrote a book called Handbook of Emergency Medicine

The Book of Revelation (The Smart Guide to the Bible Series) Cover

Daymond R. Duck

The Book of Revelation (The Smart Guide to the Bible Series)

It was mentioned in relation to the gravestone inscription 'Victim of the Beast 666', which is associated with the number of the beast from the Book of Revelations.

"

And that's from the Book of Revelations right?

— Episode: Listener Mail: The Voicemail Edition

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Episode: Listener Mail: The Voicemail Edition

It was mentioned in relation to the gravestone inscription 'Victim of the Beast 666', which is associated with the number of the beast from the Book of Revelations.

"

And that's from the Book of Revelations right?

"The American Empire Should Be Destroyed": Aleksandr Dugin and the Perils of Immanentized Eschatology Cover

James Heiser

"The American Empire Should Be Destroyed"

Aleksandr Dugin and the Perils of Immanentized Eschatology

It was mentioned in relation to how some powers, outmatched in conventional warfare, resorted to weaponized information and propaganda, which has been tremendously influential.

"

we know that due to things like foundations of geopolitics the idea by Alexander Dugan we know that the idea for a lot of powers who found themselves outmatched in conventional warfare was to resort t...

— Episode: Listener Mail: Memes and War, Recurring...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Memes and War, Recurring Dreams and...

It was mentioned in relation to how some powers, outmatched in conventional warfare, resorted to weaponized information and propaganda, which has been tremendously influential.

"

we know that due to things like foundations of geopolitics the idea by Alexander Dugan we know that the idea for a lot of powers who found themselves outmatched in conventional warfare was to resort to this weaponized information to propaganda and we've seen that it's tremendously of influential

Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah Cover

Colm A. Kelleher

Hunt for the Skinwalker

Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah

It was primarily about UFO sightings at the Sherman Ranch, also known as Skinwalker Ranch, and not necessarily the supernatural folklore that it was named after.

"

The book, you know, nap at George Nap and Colm Kelleher went on to publish a book called Hunt for the Skinwalker.

— Episode: CLASSIC: What is "Skinwalker Ranch"?

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Episode: CLASSIC: What is "Skinwalker Ranch"?

It was primarily about UFO sightings at the Sherman Ranch, also known as Skinwalker Ranch, and not necessarily the supernatural folklore that it was named after.

"

The book, you know, nap at George Nap and Colm Kelleher went on to publish a book called Hunt for the Skinwalker.

But this focused mainly on UFO sightings not on any supposed supernatural being and really again, a UFO is not does not necessitate an alien.

The Daily Dot: Book Six Cover

Libby Waite

The Daily Dot

Book Six

It was mentioned in the context of a food supply conspiracy theory article which posited whether recent food processing plant disasters are a coincidence or a sinister plot to harm the US food supply.

"

Is it mere coincidence? Just some bad things happening at the same time, or is it a sinister plot to starve the United States and call the herd of useless eaters?

— Episode: Strange News: Water Crisis, A Mysterious...

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Episode: Strange News: Water Crisis, A Mysterious Death, Na...

It was mentioned in the context of a food supply conspiracy theory article which posited whether recent food processing plant disasters are a coincidence or a sinister plot to harm the US food supply.

"

Is it mere coincidence? Just some bad things happening at the same time, or is it a sinister plot to starve the United States and call the herd of useless eaters?

I love useless eaters. That is solid writing right there.

Yeah, that's a shout out to Mike Rothschild, the author of that.

“It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass: Confessions of an Ex-Mormon Ex-Polygamist Ex-Wife Cover

Joanne Hanks

“It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass

Confessions of an Ex-Mormon Ex-Polygamist Ex-Wife

A book about a woman's experience in a polygamous cult in central Utah, was mentioned as being funny and told with a lot of levity. It was said to be full of hilarious details from her life in the cult, such as seances, burning underwear, and preparing meals for Jesus.

"

It's just ripe for comedy so...

— Episode: Cults: Indoctrination and Escape

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Episode: Cults: Indoctrination and Escape

A book about a woman's experience in a polygamous cult in central Utah, was mentioned as being funny and told with a lot of levity. It was said to be full of hilarious details from her life in the cult, such as seances, burning underwear, and preparing meals for Jesus.

"

It's just ripe for comedy so...

And with her she wrote a book called It's Not About The Sex My Ass so she already wrote a very funny book and told her story with a lot of levity so we had as just as much fun with that episode because she allowed it.

Pulcinellopaedia Seraphiniana Cover

Luigi Serafini

Pulcinellopaedia Seraphiniana

It was described as a seemingly legitimate book of history and science, filled with drawings, but ultimately revealed to be entirely fabricated and artistic.

"

Ben, you brought a really incredible book that I'd heard talked about for years, but had never actually seen it to one of these video shoots we did the other day, the Codex Seraphinus, I believe it's...

— Episode: The Future of The Past: Who Will Control...

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Episode: The Future of The Past: Who Will Control History?

It was described as a seemingly legitimate book of history and science, filled with drawings, but ultimately revealed to be entirely fabricated and artistic.

"

Ben, you brought a really incredible book that I'd heard talked about for years, but had never actually seen it to one of these video shoots we did the other day, the Codex Seraphinus, I believe it's called.

It's really close. It's a weird pronunciation. Seraphimus, anyway. Point is, it's this completely legit looking tome of presumably history, science, drawings, all of this.

But it's but it's all bulls**t, beautiful bulls**t. It's all art, man.

A Gossip Columnist Invades Campus (The Erotic Adventures of Jess Hunter: Lesbian Secret Service Agent Book 2) Cover

JD Wilcox

A Gossip Columnist Invades Campus (The Erotic Adventures of Jess Hunter

Lesbian Secret Service Agent Book 2)

It was mentioned as an example of modern belief in Jin, as a Pakistani university hosted a workshop on Jin and black magic.

"

So an example would be from Jin Invade Campus by Purvis Hoodboy.

— Episode: CLASSIC: What are Jinn?

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Episode: CLASSIC: What are Jinn?

It was mentioned as an example of modern belief in Jin, as a Pakistani university hosted a workshop on Jin and black magic.

"

So an example would be from Jin Invade Campus by Purvis Hoodboy.

Understanding the Business of Media Entertainment: The Legal and Business Essentials All Filmmakers Should Know (American Film Market Presents) Cover

Gregory Bernstein

Understanding the Business of Media Entertainment

The Legal and Business Essentials All Filmmakers Should Know (American Film Market Presents)

It was discussed as a book that details how self-censorship can be a rational, understandable move by media outlets to preserve career longevity.

"

There's a great book called The Business of Media, Corporate Media and the Public Interest by these authors named David Croteau and William Hoyns.

— Episode: CLASSIC: What is media manipulation?

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Episode: CLASSIC: What is media manipulation?

It was discussed as a book that details how self-censorship can be a rational, understandable move by media outlets to preserve career longevity.

"

There's a great book called The Business of Media, Corporate Media and the Public Interest by these authors named David Croteau and William Hoyns.

The Ghost Bride: A Novel Cover

Yangsze Choo

The Ghost Bride

A Novel

It was mentioned as a novel that had yet to be adapted into a movie, which the speakers thought would be a good idea due to its macabre nature.

"

There's a great novel called Oh, gosh, I think it might be called The Ghost Bride.

— Episode: Listener Mail: Ghost Weddings, Bob Berde...

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Episode: Listener Mail: Ghost Weddings, Bob Berdella, Maldi...

It was mentioned as a novel that had yet to be adapted into a movie, which the speakers thought would be a good idea due to its macabre nature.

"

There's a great novel called Oh, gosh, I think it might be called The Ghost Bride.

It was 2013. Yeah. Hasn't been adapted into a movie.

I only watch movies and I don't know for books.

Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night: and of Straunge Noyses, Crackes, and Sundrie Forewarnings: Which Commonly Happen Before the Death of Men: Great Slaughters, and Alterations of Kingdoms. Cover

Ludwig Lavatar

Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night

and of Straunge Noyses, Crackes, and Sundrie Forewarnings

It was mentioned as a book written in 1596 that discussed the swamp gas theory as a possible explanation for the Will o' the Wisp phenomenon, suggesting the presence of sulfur and brimstone in the earth that could ignite when exposed to air.

"

Many times candles and small fires appear in the night and seems to run up and down. Sometimes these fires go alone in the night season and put such as see them as they travel by night in a great fear...

— Episode: Flame Witches and the Will O’The Wisp

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Episode: Flame Witches and the Will O’The Wisp

It was mentioned as a book written in 1596 that discussed the swamp gas theory as a possible explanation for the Will o' the Wisp phenomenon, suggesting the presence of sulfur and brimstone in the earth that could ignite when exposed to air.

"

Many times candles and small fires appear in the night and seems to run up and down. Sometimes these fires go alone in the night season and put such as see them as they travel by night in a great fear.

But these things and many such like I have their natural causes, natural philosophers, right? That the thick exhalations arise out of the earth and are kindled minus full of sulfur and brimstone.

If the air enter onto it as it layeth in the holes and veins of the earth, will kindle on fear and strive to get out.

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