Blood Magic: The Fact and Fiction of Human Sacrifice

The first Steroid Olympics -- officially the 'Enhanced Games' took place in Las Vegas. The bizarre story of an Admiral's neck on Fox. A terrifying chemical disaster in Washington leaves one dead and nine missing. Also: fatal umbrellas, dystopian WiFi surveillance, and some real dodgy real estate grifts. Tune in 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.

Everybody's heard of Nessie, the infamous cryptid alleged to reside in Scotland's Loch Ness -- but did you know Lake Superior may be home to a mysterious creature all its own? In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deep into the millennia-old legends of something strange in the lake water. Indigenous tradition calls it the Mishipeshu. Today, locals refer to it as 'Pressie'.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.

War is an ugly, abhorrent thing--and it's been with humanity since the dawn of our species. While the practice itself is chock-full of conspiracy, corruption and horror, one aspect of war is often ignored: the practice of forcing children to participate. In today's episode, the guys dive into the disturbing stories of children forced into conflict--how the children are taken, how they are indoctrinated, and what happens afterward.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.

Human sacrifice is an ancient, surprisingly common and widely-misunderstood practice found in cultures across history. These ritualized murders occurred in all manner of ways, often as an alleged means of bargaining with or seeking favor from the Divine. Nowadays, most people dismiss it as a barbaric practice of older civilizations -- but as Ben, Matt and Noel argue in tonight's episode, there's a huge conspiracy a lot of modern folks are missing. Stay tuned for the twist at the end!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.

It's often said there's a great crime at the heart of every great fortune, but what about institutions, inventions and other noble pursuits? In today's episode, Ben and Matt take a closer look at the deeply disturbing origins of some of the world's most lauded endeavors, from the world of medicine to environmentalism, academia and more. Get an up-close look at the skeletons in the closets of these generally good things.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.

U.S. agencies make waves with a declaration that the current President -- and all his businesses -- can never be audited. Fish take parasitic and embarrasing rides in the ... backs of manta rays. In Germany (and the United States), legacy automakers may shift to manufacturing hardware for the defense industry. 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.

Over the course of their relatively short career, Sonic Youth absolutely rocked the music world, creating timeless songs and art that remain deeply relevant in the modern day. Yet as special guest Jake Brennan, the legendary creator of Disgraceland, reveals: there's a dark, disturbing story behind the cover art of their breakout, mainstream album Goo. Join Jake as he breaks down the horrific story of the serial killers informing this art... and teaching Ben, Matt and Noel why neither the band nor the artist understood it at first.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.

Dropbear Whisperer asks for more exploration of new AI initiatives like Raveneye and BlueHalo. Hidalgo inspires the guys to explore the story of Tina Resch and (alleged) poletergiest activity. Ancient Astronaut Chick shares her bizarre experience with a US President visiting a local hotel. The Roadrunner's Call needs more people to talk about the threat of Flock cameras. 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.

With distinct food, history, and world-famous culture, Louisiana is one of the most unique states in all of the union. It also has some serious problems. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the ongoing -- terrifyingly real -- conspiracy of Louisiana's Cancer Alley.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.

In the second part of this Classic series, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into another aspect of the global livestock industry: the lives of the animals and humans involved. Learn more about the hidden reality of life for livestock--and how it could eventually impact the entire world, giving rise to superbugs.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.