Listener Mail: The Atlas Network, The Rainey Street Ripper, and the Problem with Scopolamine

The gang reacts to the news about the partial destruction -- and then total demolition -- of the Georgia Guidestones. People get various medical operations to avoid restroom breaks on the trek from Manhattan to Long Island. Other people seem set on using cosplay to make the new Minions film a cult classic. And... could a newly-researched variety of plastic-eating worms save humanity from the looming disaster of plastic pollution? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They 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.

11 Jul 202247min

Months after the murder of Teresita Basa, her former coworker began falling into trances, a voice identifying itself as Teresita issuing from her mouth. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, these statements turned out to be true, leading to the conviction of 32 year-old Allen Showers. But what's the real story? Was this justice beyond the grave or beyond the law?They 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.

8 Jul 202228min

Alexandra looks for more information on a cult called the Body. On Instagram, Jessica explores the strange stories of cartels and exotic animals. Travis and Sam in Japan describe their own experiences with blood donation bans. Ben and Matt explore all this and more in this week's listener mail.They 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.

7 Jul 202243min

Academic journals are vital to the advancement of science -- and the advancement of scientists' careers. These subject-specific periodicals play a huge role in dispersing the latest knowledge in any given field. In short, they're a good thing. But they're also a huge business, which means they have a dark side. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive deep into the stuff this industry doesn't want you to know.They 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.

6 Jul 20221h 4min

In 2016 Wikileaks released a cache of internal emails from the Democratic National Committee. "Unnamed experts" trace this event back to Russian hackers. But who are these hackers? What proof exists? And, most importantly, who hacked democracy?They 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.

5 Jul 202243min

A loophole allows for legal cannabis-like substances in Japan. Unexplained deaths plague the Bahamas and South Africa. Ghislaine Maxwell receives a 20-year sentence, a 'human-flavored' vegan burger wins a marketing award -- and something left mysterious craters on the Moon. It was almost certainly a rocket... so why won't any world government own up to launching it? All this and more in this week's Strange News.They 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.

4 Jul 202257min

What is the nature of reality? How much of it is objective -- and how much a matter of the ways in which we encounter the world around us? In today's interview, the guys sit down with Jeff Hull, the creator of Nonchalance, the Jejune Institute, the Latitude Society and more for a wide-ranging conversation touching on everything from the splintering of subjective reality to the future of gaming and more.They 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.

1 Jul 20221h 4min

In the conclusion of their two part interview with Robert Mazur, the guys explore the ins and outs of money laundering. Tune in to learn how dirty money gets clean - and what happens (or doesn't happen) to the bad guys when they're caught.They 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.

30 Jun 202248min