We're back. Sorry for the absence. We missed you. We're talking today about Wayne Simmons, a regular talking head on Fox News and in other media outlets who cited his decades as a deep cover CIA operative to lend credence and gravitas to his opinions in the wake of 9/11. But something didn't add up about him to many, and the unraveling of his narrative makes for a deeply disturbing cautionary tale in exactly how high up bullshit can climb. Thanks for listening. 

We're back on the subject of UFOs, UAPs, or whatever the heck you wanna call them. Soon, the deadline for a full report on what the government knows about unidentified flying objects is approaching. We talk about them, about our previous discussion of the To The Stars Academy, and what to make of the increasing evidence that something we don't understand might be flying around out there, and may have been for some time. 

This week we're talking about personality tests! There are many different ways people analyze their personalities or search for personalized information and advice, from the less scientific (horoscopes and the like) to a more data-driven approach (the Myers-Briggs). We look at several different systems that people use to break down their personality types and to try and learn about themselves. 

This week we're talking about NFTs, the latest crypto-blockchain-thingy that's got everyone swept up into a frenzy. What is an NFT? Well, it's kind of like a limited edition thing, like a trading card, that lives on the blockchain of a cryptocurrency. What it is to different people is more complicated. It's a collectible, an investment, or trying to own a piece of history. It's an attempt to create scarcity around things that traditionally on the internet are infinitely replicable. We're not nuts about the idea, for reasons we'll get into. Take a dive into the blockchain with us.  

This week we're talking about a notable art feud, all started around the creation of the blackest black paint ever. Devised by Anish Kapoor, vantablack is the legendary darker-than-dark paint that sparked anger and controversy when he declared sole ownership and rights to use it. This spawned anger, commentary, and a pretty hilarious troll in response, as well as great and meaningful discussion about the nature of art and who it truly belongs to. 

When you think of your beloved sleepytime tea, probably the last thing you think of is bizarre utopian cults. Boy, do we have a story for you. With incidental connections to the Kellogg family who we've talked about in the past, Celestial Seasonings has an odd history that they don't particularly like to talk about with the cult of Urantia, a belief centered around a racist lens on the world and a multi-planet, multi-universe scheme that sees humans on the path to an intergalactic paradise. This is somehow connected to tea. 

This week we're talking about a "documentary" which is available online which purports to tell the story of a real life time traveler. "Confessions of a Time Traveler: The Man From 3036" is on Amazon Prime, and you could watch it right now. It's hard to tell exactly how seriously it wants you to take it, and we had a bunch of feelings about it. But the Nostradamus Brothers, as the producers call themselves, have made a few films and we question where the line between entertainment and misinformation lies. 

This week, we're talking about The Republic of Molossia, a micronation in Nevada that has been in the works for 40 years. Its co-founder and current leader, His Excellency President Grand Admiral Colonel Doctor Kevin Baugh, founded the nation with a friend at a young age and it has been through a turbulent series of wars, coups, takeovers and re-establishments, but Molossia still stands. A nation of 30 humans and 4 dogs, they have their own army, navy, currency, principalities, and more. This fantastic nation is a true delight to learn about. Someday we may even visit, if we're so lucky. 

This week, in this new year of 2021 where everyone's hoping for a bit of good luck, we're hoping you'll appreciate that your luck could not be worse than Roy Sullivan. The Guinness world record holder for most recorded lightning strikes (seven! or eight, depending on which ones you count), Roy Sullivan's story is a reminder of how improbably bad your luck can get. We felt sorry for Roy, but you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of what happened to him, recorded and with evidence from official records from the Shenandoah National Forest where he worked. Spare a thought for Roy Sullivan. May your 2021 be excellent, with no lightning strikes. 

This week we're talking about something that we're surprised we hadn't heard about. It's a disturbing story of the true life behind the glamorous and beloved front of Flordelis De Souza, a Brazilian entertainer and politician that doesn't seem to have cracked the front page here in America. She was seen as the equivalent of the Mother Theresa in Rio de Janeiro, but the truth may be much darker and more sinister.