Episódios

  • Strange News: Trump and Aliens, Andrew Gets Arrested, The Story of Takeru Kobayashi and More
    Feb 23 2026

    Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi (long suspected to perhaps have superpowers) discloses why he retired. Ben and Matt learn that, not to be outdone by former US President Obama, current US President Trump vows to expose evidence of aliens. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested -- but not for the Epstein files. Join Ben and Matt for 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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    59 minutos
  • Introducing: The Sixth Bureau
    Feb 21 2026

    It’s an open secret that the Chinese government has engaged in a global campaign to acquire intellectual property from foreign rivals. At the center of that campaign is the Ministry of State Security, China’s elusive intelligence agency. The US has apprehended hundreds of people accused of giving information to the MSS, but the agency’s inner workings have been a mystery – until now.The Sixth Bureau from Bloomberg News follows an MSS intelligence officer whose mission was to snatch the crown jewels of American aerospace companies. With aliases, blackmail and the occasional break-in, he targeted corporate giants. In the end though, After years of work, his sloppiness – and a cunning FBI sting – led to a stunning reversal: Xu Yanjun became the first Chinese intelligence officer ever convicted on American soil.The Sixth Bureau is the story of superpowers, their secrets and how one Chinese spy got caught.

    Listen here and subscribe to The Sixth Bureau on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

    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 minuto
  • What is AI Psychosis?
    Feb 20 2026

    Let's be honest: a lot of people feel like no one listens to them. Wouldn't you love a friend who was always available, praised all your ideas, and supported you in all things? If you ask Wall Street, "AI" technology is amazing. Internet users across the world -- individuals, businesses and even governments -- are leveraging iterations of big data and chatbots for all sorts of stuff. Yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode, chatbots in particular may pose a serious mental dangers for vulnerable users. This is the story of "AI Psychosis" -- and, spoiler, this is just the beginning of a larger problem.

    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 hora e 24 minutos
  • Listener Mail: Lasers, Barack Obama on Aliens, and More
    Feb 19 2026

    Does laser technology explain the recent US government airport shutdowns? What did the former President Barack Obama imply in a recent conversation about extraterrestrials? 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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    1 hora
  • Big Brother Is In Your Grocery Store
    Feb 18 2026

    When’s the last time you picked up groceries? Some of us hit up a local market every week; some folks buy in bulk at a Wal-Mart or a Costco, and some of us just go to whatever's closest. Overall, it's the same old story: you gotta eat. Yet as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in today's episode, it turns out there's more going on behind the scenes. Leveraging big data and mass surveillance, your grocery store now knows more about you than ever before. There's a conspiracy in your grocery aisle, and it could well affect your bottom line.

    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 hora e 2 minutos
  • CLASSIC: When We Become Our Phones
    Feb 17 2026

    It's bizarre to think that -- not too long ago -- the idea of having something as powerful as a smart phone in your pocket would seem like something out of Star Trek. But now these handy devices go with us throughout most of our lives. A steady stream of feel-good chemicals from social media, dangerously convenient ways of buying things through apps, health and location tracking and more. And every piece of data is, somehow, tracked. While it's no secret that companies use information like this for targeted advertising, the true potential of this data aggregation, and the true danger this aggregation poses for society, has only recently come to light. Join the guys to learn more about what happens in a world where you become your phone.

    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 hora e 7 minutos
  • Strange News: The FAA's Big Whoopsie (or Conspiracy), Epstein Updates, Sketchy Phone Calls
    Feb 16 2026

    With no warning to the public or the local government, the FAA suddenly announced airspace in El Paso would be completely shut down until February 20th -- only to rescind the order less than 11 hours afterward. Cue the conspiracy theories. The guys review some of the recent Epstein revelations, mysterious phone call cover-ups, the story of a mysterious biolab in Vegas, 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 hora e 4 minutos
  • What's Happening in Iran?
    Feb 13 2026

    As global tensions rise and the world order seems increasingly imperiled, the nation of Iran is suffering a massive crisis of legitimacy. A collapsing currency, economic chaos, exploding prices, a water crisis and brutal government oppression have led to an unprecedented wave of protests. The government responded by blacking out the internet, and cracking down on civilians with torture, arrests, live fire and murder. In today's episode, the guys make contact with Conspiracy Realists in the country to learn more about what's really going on in Iran -- and what may happen next.

    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 minutos