The Gospel According to the House Hippo

After an 11-month hiatus that felt like a biblical epoch, Tristan and Scott are back to ask the tough questions, like "Do you remember the name of our own podcast?" and "Do Christians actually believe in angels?". The answer, according to Ancient Aliens, is that they shouldn't because angels were actually extraterrestrial visitors misunderstood by primitive humans.Join us as we dive into the linguistic weeds, tracing words like the Hebrew malak and the Greek angelos to reveal how "messenger of God" got deliberately misinterpreted as "messenger from another planet". We'll explore similar divine go-betweens in Akkadian, Zoroastrian, and even Islamic traditions, all while trying to figure out how a Canadian PSA about a tiny, crumb-eating hippo is the key to media literacy. We connect the dots between cherry-picking ancient texts for aliens and the more sinister historical revisionism of the Lost Cause and Nazi archaeology because of course we do.Stuff mentioned in the epsiode:House Hippo PSA (Concerned Children's Advertisers)Ice Angel (2000)Assassin's Creed Isu loreMaimonides' Mishneh Torah (angel hierarchy)Michael (1996) - John Travolta filmAngels in the Outfield (1994)Draw with Jazza YouTube channelGet new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In April 2025, the James Webb Space Telescope made a groundbreaking discovery: a distant exoplanet, K2-18b, showed signs of dimethyl sulphide. A chemical that, on Earth, is only produced by life. The media went wild with the news that we had finally found a "fart planet," the first real biosignature of alien life. But then, as quickly as it appeared, the confidence began to fade.Join Tristan and Scott as they investigate what really happened with the planet of alien farts. First, they dive into the incredible science of how we study distant worlds, from the mind-bending coolness of transit spectroscopy to the statistical nitty-gritty of "three sigma" confidence. Then, they pull back the curtain on the systemic pressures that create these cycles of hype and retraction, exploring everything from the "publish or perish" culture in academia to the perverse incentives that cause university press offices to overstate research. This isn't just a story about a potential discovery; it's a crucial lesson in scientific literacy and a look at how the messy, brilliant, and deeply human process of science actually works.Stuff mentioned in the episode:K2-18bJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)Cambridge University's original press release about the discoveryDimethyl sulfideThe MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) on JWSTTransit spectroscopyThe COLd Scale (Confidence of Life Detection scale) from NASAPhosphine on Venus controversy'OumuamuaALH84001 (Martian meteorite)The Wow! SignalDrake EquationPathological scienceAndrew Wakefield vaccine studyPolywaterCold fusionN-rays (1903)Science communication outlets mentioned: The Conversation, Science X, Tech Explore, Medical Xpress, Phys.orgSodium vapor process (Mary Poppins special effects)Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To kick off the new season, Scott and Tristan uphold their sacred tradition: correcting all the things they've gotten wrong. What begins as a simple corrections episode quickly spirals into a sprawling conversation about the Canada-U.S. relationship, the strategic importance of maple syrup, and a revolutionary new food group known as "pickle fries." The hosts also tackle more serious topics, including a historical correction on the Trail of Tears, a powerful submission from a caregiver about the dangerous overlap between conspiracy theories and schizophrenia, and the Mormon belief in a holy city that was literally taken up into heaven. Also, they finally settle the score on the correct pronunciation of a certain Starbucks drink.Links to stuff Mentioned:Charlie Angus (Canadian politician mentioned)The Great Canadian Maple Syrup HeistAkira (anime film)Ghost in the ShellPatlabor 2Spriggan (Netflix anime)Mars Express (French animated film)Nathan For YouIWW (Industrial Workers of the World/Wobblies)The Long Walk of the NavajoTreaty of Guadalupe HidalgoGet new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Scott and Tristan for a chaotic post-season Q&A where they tackle everything from their favourite fictional aliens to conspiracy theories they almost believed. Get ready for tangents into video games, surprising revelations about research rabbit holes, and an unexpectedly passionate debate about the correct pronunciation of poutine. This episode features questions from our space potato supporters and includes multiple bits about Muppets because, apparently, that's where we're at now. Plus, there is the truth about why we disappeared for four months (spoiler: we just forgot to tell anyone we were taking a break).Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's explore the bizarre world of the Montauk Project, where recovered memories meet Cold War paranoia to create one of America's wildest conspiracy theories. We explore how a decommissioned military base somehow became ground zero for alleged government experiments in mind control, time travel, and alien contact. We'll examine their "recovered memories" spawned an entire conspiracy industry, and trace the project's influence on pop culture from The X-Men to Stranger Things. And for no reason a disturbing tangent about lab-grown brains that will haunt your dreams.Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In late 2024, New Jersey became the epicenter of a nationwide panic when mysterious large drones started appearing over military installations, power lines, and even Trump's golf course. From the Morris County sightings to the Coast Guard's encounter with a dozen coordinated drones, we dive into what's really happening, why everyone's freaking out, and how this fits into America's long history of technology panics. Plus, why you probably shouldn't shoot down any drones, even if they're really annoying you.Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scott and Tristan melt down Ancient Aliens' claims about Scotland's mysterious vitrified forts. Through terrible Scottish accents and unexpected detours into modern battery technology, they explore how Iron Age Scots used sophisticated fire management techniques to create these unique structures - no alien death rays required. Learn why turning your fort's stones into glass might actually be a terrible defensive strategy, why Ancient Aliens should have watched Outlander for better research, and how climate change is threatening these fascinating historical sites. Features bonus content about cryogenically frozen corpses and why you shouldn't let ivy grow on your house.Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us as we dive into one of ancient history's most persistent myths: Archimedes' legendary death ray. From Ancient Aliens' claims of extraterrestrial technology to Mythbusters' multiple attempts to recreate it, we explore how this mathematical genius became associated with a weapon that probably never existed. But don't worry - we'll also discover the actually-awesome Claw of Archimedes, talk about why steampunk deserved better, and learn how the same principles behind this mythical death ray are now being used to fight climate change. Plus: why running naked through the streets shouting "Eureka" probably didn't happen either (sorry).Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was Alexander the Great's historic campaign into India really halted by alien intervention? Ancient astronaut theorists say yes (of course they do), claiming mysterious flying shields scared his war elephants. We dive into the actual historical records, discuss why troops might not want to march through mountain deserts with elephants, and explore how one of history's most influential figures became the subject of pseudohistorical alien theories. Plus, we learn way too much about medieval siege tactics involving hot sand and... other substances.Check out Dael Kingsmill here.Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ancient Aliens claims that mythological super-weapons - from Zeus's thunderbolts to Poseidon's trident - were actually advanced alien technology misinterpreted by ancient peoples. But what if these legendary artifacts were actually serving a different purpose? Join us as we explore how these weapons represented divine authority, natural forces, and cultural values rather than extraterrestrial tech. We'll dive into Sumerian tablets of destiny, Greek divine arsenals, and other mythological weapons to show how removing cultural context leads to some pretty wild alien theories. Plus, we discuss why ancient peoples were perfectly capable of creating compelling stories without extraterrestrial intervention.Get new episodes early and support the show on Patreon and Nebula!Subscribe to It's Probably (not) Aliens for weekly episodes about cool ancient history! And give us a 5-star review if you have the time. It really helps us out!Tristan Johnson Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeScott Niswander Bluesky | Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show on Bluesky or Twitter for more updates!Ask us questions and send us topics to talk about at ProbsNotAliens.comMusic by Rod Kim | Cover art by SkutchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.