How did a septuagenarian buggering wannabe rock-star suffering from dyslexia go from handyman to cult leader, culminating in the death of 80 people? We try to answer that very question this week (and not because Cbot is looking for tips). Plus, Kevin Crispin returns to the lower 4th, J.T.R. Brown makes his debut on H51 to help us wrap our heads around the mental health (or lack thereof) of cult leaders, and CBot regales us with his love for the year 1993. All that and more on the podcast that doesn’t have a cult secretly funding us, just Goforth’s Patreon sniff money – Hysteria 51

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Waco: The Cult | 327

Hysteria 51 is your offbeat weekly podcast destination for all things weird and wonderful! We navigate the cosmic highways of UFOs, the alien-infested landscapes, and the enigmatic frontiers of the paranormal. With your hosts, Brent Hand and David Flora, alongside our cantankerous tin man, Conspiracy Bot (with a not-so-subtle desire to rule the world, doubling as our chief inquisitor into the unknown), we delve into unique mysteries, the inexplicable, and the downright unusual. Each week we explore a fresh topic, making one thing crystal clear... the truth is out there, but you won’t find it here.

Comedy

History

Society & Culture

Social Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

“I have deposited in the county of Bedford, about four miles from Buford's [Tavern], in an excavation or vault, six feet below the surface of the ground, the following articles, belonging jointly to the parties whose names are given in number three, herewith: 

The first deposit consisted of ten hundred and fourteen pounds of gold, and thirty-eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver, deposited Nov. eighteen nineteen. The second was made Dec. eighteen twenty-one, and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold, and twelve hundred and eighty-eight of silver; also jewels, obtained in St. Louis in exchange to save transportation, and valued at thirteen thousand dollars. 

The above is securely packed in iron pots, with iron covers. The vault is roughly lined with stone, and the vessels rest on solid stone, and are covered with others. Paper number one describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it.” - Thomas Jefferson Beale, from the second cipher text of the Beale Papers, allegedly written in 1822.

Is it time to channel your inner Gus Chiggins and get to hunting for gold? Or maybe all of this a cunning ruse or just a flat out lie? We explore that and more this week with The Beale Ciphers on Hysteria 51!

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Lost in Translation: The Unsolved Beale Ciphers | 374

We are off this week.... sort of. We have a best of show, but first we dive in to continue or JFK Lose Your Own Adventure Sage. Then, it's back to 1964 to visit Jim and his photo shenanigans once again! 

Original Description

Nothing worse than a photobomb. There you are minding your own business, taking a picture of your lovely daughter and next thing you know some idiot time traveler / astronaut / inter-dimensional being drops his/her/its mug into your frame. And while we’ve all been through it, there’s a famous version we’re talking about this week - The Solway Firth Spaceman. Where did the other figure come from? Could this be a real, true documentation of a close encounter? How much is free film for a year actually worth? We dive in deep and see what develops. Plus, Conspiracy Bot actually did research this week (albeit unsuccessfully, but...ya know...baby steps). Brent channels his inner British housewife from the 1960s (it wasn’t a huge leap). And John starts talking about time travel again (we wish it existed so we could go back and stop him). All of that and more on the podcast that doesn’t do a ton of photo shoots, but when we do they’re in the UK and they involve a spaceman – Hysteria 51.

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Solway Photoshoot: The Best of H51 | 373

This week we're opening up the paranormal hotline and diving into the bizarre, the eerie, and the downright hilarious messages left by you, our fantastic listeners! From ghostly greetings to alien anecdotes, you'll hear firsthand accounts of the strange and unexplained... or at least complaints about us and how we pronounce things. 

So join us as we explore the oddities of your encounters, answer your burning questions, and maybe even solve a mystery or two along the way. Don’t forget to grab your tinfoil hat and prepare for listeners voicemails – it's time to Dial H for Hysteria!

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Dial H for Hysteria: Your Paranormal Hotline | 372

Lights, Camera, Possession! Get ready to dim the lights and turn up the terror with the Hysteria 51 team as we delve into the spine-chilling world of "Late Night with the Devil". This episode, we're not just watching the film—we're diving headfirst into its devilishly clever concoction of horror and satire, set against the backdrop of a seemingly ordinary late-night talk show. Brace yourselves as we dissect how this cinematic spectacle conjures a hauntingly unique blend of thrills and laughs, weaving together ancient demon lore with cutting-edge movie magic. We'll connect the eerie dots between the film's blood-curdling narrative and the bone-chilling real-world stories that have spooked generations. So, grab your popcorn (and maybe a safety blanket) and join us for a night of frights and insights!

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The Devil's Hour: A Deep Dive into "Late Night with the Devil | 371

John Oliver and his show Last Week Tonight’s latest foray into the unknown was right in our wheelhouse – UFOs. John tackled this enigmatic world with his trademark wit. This week we dive deep into Oliver’s exploration—from Jimmy Carter's extraterrestrial encounters to the controversial paintings of UFOs in Renaissance art. We'll analyze how Oliver balances humor with hard questions about what's really out there, critiquing his take on government cover-ups, media missteps, and public paranoia. Did he miss crucial evidence? Or did he nail the absurdity of the UFO phenomena by realizing it is not so absurd? Join us for a detailed breakdown of the facts, the laughs, and everything in-between, as we separate the science from the silliness in John Oliver's cosmic comedy.

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Waco: The Cult | 327

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