Conspiracy Theories
528 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★ - 11K ratingsThe world’s most controversial events, and the complex beliefs behind them. From Bigfoot sightings to bitcoin takeovers, alien landings to assassinations, who’s shaping the narrative — and why? Conspiracy Theories is a Spotify Podcast. New episodes Wednesdays.
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Episodes
The Sunset Limited Train Derailment
April 17, 2024 07:00 - 40 minutesOctober 9th, 1995, Amtrak's 12-car Sunset Limited train was powering through the Arizona desert with 258 passengers on board when it suddenly separated from the tracks. The horrible derailment left one person dead and dozens of passengers injured and stranded in the desert. But it wasn't an accident. And more than 25 years later, investigators still have no leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Mad Gasser of Mattoon
April 10, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutesIn September 1944, as World War II raged overseas, the small town of Mattoon, Illinois felt under attack. Dozens of people reported smelling a sickening sweet odor drift into their bedroom at night. It allegedly smelled like gardenias and left them feeling ill and, in some cases, paralyzed. The town’s leading theory was that a madman was running around town spraying a toxic gas through people’s windows at night. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy....
The Circleville Letters
April 03, 2024 07:00 - 35 minutes“You have been watched: Failure to comply and you shall suffer: no one can help: no one can protect you: Obey: Obey:” In 1976, anonymous letters started appearing in mailboxes around Circleville, Ohio. Someone was watching the town’s residents. They called themselves the Circleville Writer and claimed to know intimate details about their private lives: secrets they threatened to expose. Investigators tried to find the person responsible, but the letters continued for almost twenty years. Has...
Introducing: Search Engine
March 29, 2024 07:00 - 38 minutesIf you find the world bewildering, but also sometimes enjoy being bewildered by it, Search Engine is here for you. Search Engine is an explainer show that tackles mysteries and conspiracies, big and small. On this episode: is host PJ Vogt the victim of an international sushi scam? Search Engine was named one of the top podcasts of the year by Time Magazine, The Economist, and New York Magazine (Vulture). To find more episodes of the show or to submit a mystery of your own, head over to pjvogt...
Disappearance at the Vatican: The Orlandi Case
March 27, 2024 07:00 - 1 hourWhat happens when a teenager goes missing in the world’s smallest, and supposedly safest, country? Emanuela Orlandi’s sudden disappearance remains the only missing person’s case in Vatican City, yet more than 40 years later we still have no idea what really happened behind the papal state’s walls. After the story, stick around for an exclusive interview with the director of The First Omen, Arkasha Stevenson! This episode is brought to you by Twentieth Century Studios' the First Omen. Experie...
Solved: The Somerton Man Mystery
March 20, 2024 07:00 - 49 minutesIn 1948, an unknown man died on Somerton Beach near Adelaide, Australia. He carried only the clothes on his body, cigarettes, and a hidden cipher. For decades, experts have been trying to identify the Somerton Man, and how he ended up dead on that beach. Over 70 years later we may finally have an answer. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn mor...
The Yuba County Five
March 13, 2024 07:00 - 44 minutesIn the winter of 1978, a group of friends caught a college basketball game about an hour north of where they lived. That night, none of the men returned home. What happened to them next is a complicated mystery that still haunts the Sierra Nevada mountains. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...
Kryptos: The CIA’s Unsolvable Cipher
March 06, 2024 08:00 - 38 minutesEveryone knows the CIA headquarters holds many secrets... But their most public secret might be the riddle encoded in Kryptos, a giant outdoor sculpture. As of 2024, the code remains uncracked… at least, as far as we know. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Julian Assange
February 28, 2024 08:00 - 46 minutesOne of the most controversial figures of the 2010s, Julian Assange is either a criminal, a hero, or both. Carter dives into Assange’s story, examining what it really takes to bring government secrets out of the shadows. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 2001 Anthrax Attacks
February 21, 2024 08:00 - 52 minutesOne week after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, someone began mailing envelopes containing a deadly form of anthrax, reigniting a national panic. The FBI spared no expense on the years-long investigation before naming a suspect and closing the case…but not everyone believes they got the right guy. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your...
Mel's Hole
February 14, 2024 08:00 - 39 minutesA man identifying himself as Mel Waters called into the nationally syndicated talk show, Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell, claiming a hole on his property was unfathomably deep and had supernatural attributes. To this day, neither the hole nor the real “Mel Waters” have ever been located. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad c...
The Disappearance of Glenn Miller (with Dennis Spragg)
February 07, 2024 08:00 - 41 minutesHow does the Taylor Swift of the swing era just... disappear? That’s the question Carter tries to answer in this episode alongside Dennis Spragg, one of the foremost experts on Glenn Miller’s life and career. Join them as we uncover the mysteries surrounding the celebrated bandleader. Miller’s involvement in the US war effort during WWII (5:02) His infamous flight over the English Channel (10:08) The theories begin (18:25) Dennis and Carter break down the most popular theory (27:45) Final th...
The Rendlesham UFO Incident Pt. 2
January 31, 2024 08:00 - 36 minutesCarter examines alternative explanations for the famous alien sighting, including a government experiment gone wrong, a cold war conspiracy, and time travel. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Rendlesham UFO Incident Pt. 1
January 24, 2024 08:00 - 30 minutesNicknamed “The British Roswell,” it’s one of the most controversial UFO sightings. Carter presents the accounts of US Air Force Officers from December, 1980 – and then examines allegations that the government concealed the truth. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Silk Road Pt. 2
January 17, 2024 08:00 - 53 minutesBy 2012, undercover DEA agents had cracked holes in an underground criminal conspiracy. It was the “Amazon.com of Drugs” – the Silk Road. But to take down its shadowy founder, they’d have to team up with a surprising number of federal agencies – and go to criminal lengths themselves. The audiobook edition of American Kingpin by Nick Bilton is available for Spotify Premium Subscribers in our Audiobook catalog, where you can check it out after listening to this episode. Conspiracy Theories is ...
The Silk Road Pt. 1
January 10, 2024 08:00 - 53 minutesSecret societies have long been the subject of conspiracy theories. But this one was very real, just a few keystrokes away – if you knew where to click. Carter explores the Silk Road — a “shadow Amazon.com” — and its founder, who used it for a secret double-life. The audiobook edition of American Kingpin by Nick Bilton is available for Spotify Premium Subscribers in our Audiobook catalog, where you can check it out after listening to this episode. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @thec...
Extremely Online with Taylor Lorenz (and a post-interview chat with Carter!)
January 03, 2024 08:00 - 43 minutesThis week on Conspiracy Theories: Book Club, we are joined by tech journalist and author Taylor Lorenz to discuss the creator economy, social media, and what it means to be extremely online. After the interview, we’re joined by Carter for a wrap up conversation, where we discuss social media’s influence on our own lives. (22:41) The audiobook edition of Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz is available for Spotify Premium Subscribe...
Easy Money with Jacob Silverman
December 27, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutesThe state of crypto seems to change every day. Millions of people have made, and lost, money in what some consider a scam and others a golden investment opportunity and the future of currency. In this interview, we have a wide-ranging conversation with Jacob Silverman, investigative journalist and co-author of Easy Money, on the various value propositions of crypto and what it might mean for your digital wallet. The audiobook edition of Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the G...
JFK Facts with Jefferson Morley
December 20, 2023 08:00 - 58 minutesPlenty of conspiracies surround John F. Kennedy’s assassination. In this episode we sit down with Jefferson Morley, investigative journalist, author, and co-founder of JFK Facts to discuss ongoing disclosure efforts, and his mission to separate fact from fiction. In this interview, we explore how clandestine intelligence agencies continue to withhold information, recent revelations regarding the CIA’s knowledge of Lee Harvey Oswald before November 22nd, and the lasting legacy of JFK’s approa...
Presenting Conspiracy Theories: Book Club!
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 1 minuteFor the next three weeks, we’ll be putting out a special series we’re calling Conspiracy Theories: Book Club. Every week for the past five years you’ve heard Carter tell captivating stories researched and written by our talented team. On Conspiracy Theories: Book Club, you’ll hear our producers interview authors and researchers committed to uncovering the truth behind some of our favorite topics. We’ll be back with brand new Conspiracy Theories episodes on January 10th! Learn more about your ...
The Mastermind
December 11, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutesAfter the fallout at the PNC Bank, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Bill Rothstein scrambled to cover their tracks. But the FBI was already closing in, working to reveal the mastermind behind the entire plan. Keep up with us on Instagram @theconspiracypod! Have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Murder
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutesIn order to deactivate the bomb, Brian’s co-conspirators set up an elaborate scavenger hunt around Erie, Pennsylvania. But as police started to follow the clues, tragedy struck. Keep up with us on Instagram @theconspiracypod! Have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Robbery
November 27, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutesIn August 2003, pizza delivery man Brian Wells strapped a collar bomb to his neck and chest and entered a PNC Bank demanding $250,000 in cash. He thought it was the perfect bank robbery, and that the bomb on his chest was fake. He was wrong on both counts. Keep up with us on Instagram @theconspiracypod! Have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Napoleon Bonaparte
November 22, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutesOfficially, the exiled French emperor died of stomach cancer in 1821. But for hundreds of years, controversy courted that narrative, and new possibilities arose. What if Napoleon had actually been murdered — poisoned by an assassin? And what if he never died on that island at all? Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices....
The Real Life James Bond Pt. 2
November 15, 2023 08:00 - 44 minutesSidney Reilly returns to his unfinished business in Russia, only to be dealt a final deadly hand. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Real Life James Bond Pt. 1
November 08, 2023 08:00 - 53 minutesHe's a legend in the world of spycraft, the “Ace of Spies”, and the inspiration behind Ian Fleming’s James Bond. Sidney Reilly traveled the world taking on covert missions and uncovering dangerous plots, all while enjoying a now-legendary lifestyle filled with gambling and womanizing. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choic...
The Wine Con with Justin Sayles
November 01, 2023 07:00 - 53 minutesIn this special episode, Carter sits down with Justin to discuss his new podcast, The Wedding Scammer (00:46). Then, we get into the story of infamous wine con-artist Rudy Kurniawan, who sold counterfeit wine to some of the world’s most prestigious clients (13:50). Finally, Justin and Carter give their final thoughts on the nature of scams and the people that scam us (47:11). (00:46) - Introduction (13:50) - The Wine Con (47:11) - Final thoughts Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @thecon...
The Wine Con (with Justin Sayles)
November 01, 2023 07:00 - 53 minutesIn this special episode, Carter sits down with Justin to discuss his new podcast, The Wedding Scammer (00:46). Then, we get into the story of infamous wine con-artist Rudy Kurniawan, who sold counterfeit wine to some of the world’s most prestigious clients (13:50). Finally, Justin and Carter give their final thoughts on the nature of scams and the people that scam us (47:11). (00:46) - Introduction (13:50) - The Wine Con (47:11) - Final thoughts Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @thecon...
The Curse of Dudleytown
October 25, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutesCarter examines a cursed Connecticut neighborhood, its rumored royal origins, and the town’s ghostly connection to The Conjuring movie franchise. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Osage Murders Pt. 2
October 16, 2023 07:00 - 35 minutesThe true story behind Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon: Members of Osage Nation are being targeted for their high-priced oil headrights. There’s so many murders that the small local police department can’t investigate thoroughly, so the tribe turns to the newly-formed FBI to get the job done. Keep up with us on Instagram @serialkillerspodcast and @theconspiracypod! Have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...
The Osage Murders Pt. 1
October 09, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesThe true story behind Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon: In the early twentieth century, Oklahoma’s Osage Reservation was rich in oil and spread the wealth across the tribe. But in the 1920s, it became clear that someone was killing members of the tribe. Was it a serial killer? A ploy to grab rights to the oil money? Or was it both? Keep up with us on Instagram @serialkillerspodcast and @theconspiracypod! Have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about...
Exeter Incident
October 04, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutesAfter dozens of UFO sightings plagued Exeter, New Hampshire in 1965, a skeptical investigative journalist named John G. Fuller came to town. The hours of interviews he conducted changed his mind – and led to the first Congressional hearing that discussed UFOs. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
Sun Tzu & The Art of War
September 27, 2023 07:00 - 45 minutesIt’s cited in war rooms and boardrooms, but perhaps the most important lessons from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War are about the art of espionage. This 6th century guidebook has inspired organizations around the world, from the CIA to the KGB, making it one of the most important texts in human history. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about ...
The Dominici Affair Pt. 2
September 20, 2023 07:00 - 48 minutesDetective Sébeille begins to uncover the secrets of the Dominici family, but has his single-minded focus led him down the wrong path? What secrets are the victims hiding? And could he have been investigating the wrong family this entire time? Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Dominici Affair Pt. 1
September 13, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutesA dogged detective travels to rural France in 1952 to investigate the murders of three British tourists. At first no one will talk to the big city cop, but as he dives further into the investigation he can’t seem to get away from a single suspect: the Dominici family. Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...
Shark Vomits Arm?
September 06, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutesA disembodied arm, a man-eating shark, and multiple rumored mob hits. It’s one of Australia’s most famous and bizarre murder mysteries, but the pair of unsolved deaths might not be murders at all... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What’s Hiding in the Wizard of Oz?
August 30, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutesIn 2018, a study ranked it as “the most influential film of all time.” Rotten Tomatoes certifies it as 98% fresh. And yet, theories abound that the perennial classic might be hiding something. Today, Carter follows the yellow brick road to the dark side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Isdal Woman
August 23, 2023 07:00 - 42 minutesThe only question bigger than “Who is the Isdal Woman?” is “Who’s keeping her identity secret?” Found in 1970, her body was burned beyond recognition. And what started as a murder case quickly led to a web of international crime rings, espionage, and conspiracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Princes Who Disappeared
August 16, 2023 07:00 - 50 minutesIn 1483, the rightful king of England and his heir apparent vanished. Popular opinion says they were murdered by their uncle, but could he have been framed by another relative? Or were the princes forced into exile, with descendants who could one day come forward to claim the throne? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Assassination of Pancho Villa
August 09, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutesTo some, he was a hero of the Mexican Revolution. To others, a “bloody soul, born from evil.” In 1923, when he was gunned down in the streets of Parral, everyone wanted to know: Who killed Pancho Villa? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Crimes of Aaron Burr
August 02, 2023 07:00 - 40 minutesHow does King Burr sound? While he’s most infamous for shooting a Founding Father in a duel, Aaron Burr’s crimes extend even further: The former Vice President was once tried for treason after allegedly plotting to invade Mexico and create his own country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The UAP Hearing
July 31, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutesJuly 26th was quite a day in Congress. The House subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs met to discuss...UFOs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NEWS: The UAP Hearing
July 31, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutesJuly 26th was quite a day in Congress. The House subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs met to discuss...UFOs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Secrets of Chernobyl
July 26, 2023 07:00 - 43 minutesIn April 1988, a top Soviet scientist, Valery Legasov, died by suicide. Before his death, he recorded a series of chilling deathbed confessions concerning one of the world's deadliest disasters: the Chernobyl nuclear explosion. Over four hours, Legasov confessed terrifying truths and disturbing realities from the nuclear power-plant, revealing secrets that had been hidden for two years and lies which had been repeatedly spun. His death left the world with a dangerous collection of information...
The Disappearance of Ettore Majorana
July 19, 2023 07:00 - 1 hourIn March 1938, a brilliant physicist boarded a ship from Palermo to Naples, Italy. When the ship docked, he wasn’t on it. What happened to Ettore Majorana? And did his research group’s work on nuclear reactions have anything to do with his sudden disappearance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Manhattan Project
July 12, 2023 07:00 - 1 hourA top-secret military program changed the world in August 1945. Today we’re examining the Manhattan Project’s official story: its key figures, its developments, its spies… And breaking open the conspiracy theories it inspired around extraterrestrials, a fluoride cover-up, and a pagan cult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bohemian Grove’s Atomic Secrets
July 05, 2023 07:05 - 1 hourThree years before the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a group of men including J. R. Oppenheimer and Ernest Lawrence held a secret meeting at Bohemian Grove—the meeting place of an invitation-only boys club made up of the rich and powerful. It’s said that the meeting marked the earliest stages of the Manhattan Project. This week we’re exploring what we know about the exclusive fraternity that parties—and plots—in the privacy of California’s redwood forests. Learn more a...
Nuclear Fallout
July 05, 2023 07:00 - 59 secondsBefore Oppenheimer hits theaters this summer, explore the real-life events that inspired the film. We’ll be back in August with new episodes of Conspiracy Theories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bone Fraud: The Piltdown Man
June 28, 2023 07:00 - 42 minutesA prehistoric species discovered in England was once hailed as the “missing link” between humans and apes. Until it was exposed as a fake. The only question remaining: Who was in on the scam? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hollywood Conspiracies: Military Propaganda
June 21, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutesFrom doctoring scripts and censoring movies, to influencing programming for game shows, just how deep is the partnership between Hollywood and the military? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices