• Strange News: Renaming Greenland, AI Running the Government, Eric Adams Goes Free, Drone DUIs, Fatbergs, and More
    Feb 18 2025

    A massive olive oil heist. Some US politicians apparently genuinely want to annex Greenland, and rename it to "Red, White and Blueland." New York Mayor Eric Adams -- who's huge in Türkiye -- will have all corruption charges dropped. An update on Mangione's legal crowdfunding. Corporate chemical giant Bayer fights back against anti-pesticide activists. Sweden rolls out DUI laws for drone pilots. Fatberg updates. All this and more, in this week's strange news segment.

    They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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    54 mins
  • CLASSIC: Smart Devices and Surveillance
    Feb 15 2025

    If you're like more than 90% of Americans, you own a cellphone of some kind -- and it's no wonder. Like tablets or smart speakers, these handy devices are incredibly convenient, providing a universe's worth of knowledge at your fingertips... at a price. What exactly do your smart devices know about you, and where is all that information going? Tune in to learn more with Ben and Matt in tonight's Classic episode.

    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.

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    58 mins
  • Listener Mail: Exotic Landscapers, Telepathy Tapes, and Chimera Ethics
    Feb 14 2025

    Colby Jack Cheese continues the conversation about chimeras. Ward invites the gang to a Bigfoot Festival. Mike gives a first-hand account of fighting fires out west. Plebe prompts a conversation about telepathic communication -- all this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

    They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • State Militias: Fact and Fiction
    Feb 12 2025

    What does the Consitution say about self-armed paramilitary forces? Can a state create its own defense force, functioning under the supervision of a governor rather than the command of the larger armed forces? Inspired by an earlier conversation with Conspiracy Realist Anonymous Owl, the guys explore the bizarre position of state militias in the U.S. -- and what this odd legal arrangement may mean for the future of the country.

    They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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    55 mins
  • CLASSIC: What is Gang Stalking?
    Feb 11 2025

    Have you ever felt as if somebody was watching, following or even stalking you? If so, you're not alone. Most people have, at some time or another, had an experience like this -- and, tragically, many people are physically stalked every year. Yet there's a strange twist to the tale: More and more people are claiming they're being stalked by a group of people -- a gang. Join Ben and Matt to learn more in this evening's Classic episode.

    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.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Strange News: Elon Musk vs. the USA, The Egg Updates, Google AI Weapons, Pentagon News and More
    Feb 11 2025

    Unelected "special government employee" Elon Musk continues to lead an unprecedented flurry of changes and cuts to US institutions - supporters call it good budgeting; critics call it an attack on democracy. Rising egg prices lead to a massive heist, and Waffle House is charging a per-egg fee to diners. The Pentagon changes its media stance, Google lifts its long-standing ban on AI weaponry. Oh, and Zombie Spiders. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

    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.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • How Social Media Attacks Your Attention Span
    Feb 7 2025

    What's the longest amount of time you've spent away from social media? For many of us, the answer is "not long." Across the planet, billions of people are caught in an endless cycle of posting, reposting, commenting, liking, and reacting to a constant stream of ephemera -- a never-ending barrage of news, updates, hot takes, memes and viral videos inundating our brains with one shiny thing after another. Most people consider these pursuits harmless... but, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode, a growing number of experts are concerned that this continual short-form theatre may have serious consequences for the human brain. Tune in to learn more about how the age of social media may be affecting your brain in dangerous, often-unacknowledged, and lasting ways.

    They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Listener Mail: Mobile Phone Tracking, the Psychology of Healthcare, The U.S. is Firing So Many People
    Feb 6 2025

    Anonymous Fed provides a chilling first-hand experience with the US government's recent and sudden moves to fire, lay off, or buy out numerous federal employees amid a flurry of other intensely bizarre moves -- Ben shares aspects of the now-infamous "Fork In The Road" email. Cosmic asks about favorite Magic: The Gathering cards, as well as the psychological effects of private healthcare. Curt prompts a deeper conversation about the fact and fiction surrounding mobile phone surveillance, Faraday grifts, and the nature of secret government programs. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.

    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.

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    57 mins