Waywut

This episode of Waywut delves into the profound history and solemn traditions surrounding one of America's most sacred sites: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Your host, Jason, explores the origins of this monument at Arlington National Cemetery, established to serve as a symbolic grave for all unidentified U.S. service members.

We uncover the story of how the first Unknown Soldier from World War I was chosen in 1921, a selection made by the highly decorated Sgt. Edward F. Younger. The discussion also covers the crypts for the Unknowns from World War II and the Korean War, and the poignant reason the Vietnam crypt remains empty today after its occupant was identified.

The core of the episode focuses on the elite soldiers who guard the Tomb: the Sentinels of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard". Learn about the incredible dedication required for this duty, which has been performed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of weather, since 1937.

Discover the details of their rigorous life, including:

• Extreme Selectivity: Fewer than 20% of all volunteers are accepted for the demanding training.
• A Rare Honor: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge is the third least-awarded qualification badge in the military, and the only one that can be revoked for unbecoming conduct, even after service.
• Symbolic Rituals: Every movement is precise, from the iconic walk of 21 steps—symbolizing the 21-gun salute—to the flawless Changing of the Guard ceremony.
• Meticulous Preparation: It can take a Sentinel up to 12 hours to prepare their immaculate uniform for a shift.

In true Waywut fashion, the hosts also take a few humorous detours, debating whether "Jedi" is a recognized military religion and investigating the historical reason for the British Royal Guards' tall bearskin hats. The episode concludes with a powerful reading of the Sentinel's Creed, a testament to their lifelong commitment.

In 1994, a documentary was produced to expose an alleged child trafficking ring involving politicians, law enforcement, and elite power brokers. The network that paid for it? Buried it.

In this episode of Waywut, Darrell and Jason dive into the chilling true story of Conspiracy of Silence—a documentary so damning that the Discovery Channel pulled it before it could ever air. What followed was a web of missing evidence, destroyed documentation, and high-profile silence surrounding the Franklin Credit Union scandal.

🕵️‍♂️ Inside this episode:

• How a $500,000 documentary was buried days before broadcast
• Allegations connecting Boys Town, powerful businessmen, and political elites
• Whistleblowers jailed while alleged abusers were protected
• A mysterious plane crash that destroyed crucial evidence
• Redacted FBI documents, media silence, and a lawsuit that never made the news

This isn’t just about one documentary—it’s about how systems protect predators, silence victims, and erase truth. And it still matters.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes covering disturbing history, media suppression, real conspiracies, and the stories that were never meant to be told.

The Conspiracy of Silence, can be watched here. https://youtu.be/6ZwxHlWfIxM?si=f07bq_31aHQLettu

In this sequel to Waywut’s rat-infested deep dive, Jason returns to the subject of musophobia—the fear of rats—with a reluctant attempt to be fair. Because as disgusting as rats may be, they’ve also done a surprising amount of good for humanity… and that just makes things more complicated.

From landmine detection to tuberculosis screening, rats have found their way into medicine, history, and even hero status. But does any of that redeem their creepy little hands and cold dead eyes? Jason's not convinced—Darrell definitely is.

🐀 Inside this episode:

• The strange ways rats have helped save lives
• The science behind giant African pouched rats and their medical uses
• Rats as environmental disruptors—and unlikely war heroes
• A few phobia mispronunciations, popcorn trauma callbacks, and some minor psychological unraveling
• Antarctica: the only place Jason believes rats haven’t claimed (yet)

If you’ve ever loved, hated, or screamed at a rat, this one’s for you.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes about strange fears, weird history, accidental science, and questionable facts with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

What happens when a man goes missing, the story keeps changing, and the only one talking… might be a ghost?

In this episode of Waywut, Darrell and Jason examine the strange and unsolved 1995 death of David Chase, who vanished in Colorado after a normal day ended in a mystery. The official story? He jumped into an icy river with a raft and was never seen alive again. The actual story? Way more complicated—and deeply bizarre.

🔍 Inside this episode:

• Shifting witness accounts, a missing raft, and a bar tab with no timeline
• A private investigator who claims the victim’s ghost gave him information
• Physical injuries that don’t match the story—and clothes that mysteriously vanished
• A coroner’s report with way more questions than answers
• Moose Lodge detours, ghost cop show pitches, and one very confused community

If you’re into true crime with a paranormal twist, this case might just top your list.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes on strange history, bizarre deaths, wild investigations, and the darkest corners of weird real life.

Some conspiracy theories are fun. Some are weird. And some are just stupid—and dangerous.

In this episode of Waywut, Jason takes on some of the most infamous and illogical conspiracy theories that have ever infected the internet. From fake moon missions to a pizza place panic fueled by Reddit, they explore how misinformation spirals into chaos, and how some people just shouldn’t be allowed near a whiteboard.

🚨 What’s inside:

• The theory behind Apollo 18—and why “found footage” doesn’t equal fact
• Pizzagate: the conspiracy that literally sent a guy into a pizzeria with a gun
• Crisis actor conspiracies: how keyboard detectives turned victims into targets
• An unexpected legal lesson on how not to present evidence in the court of public opinion
• A story involving butter, a popcorn bucket, and one very uncomfortable trip to the ER

This episode is a mix of dark humor, real consequences, and logical takedowns, all delivered with the classic Waywut blend of roasting and ridiculousness.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes diving into weird history, misinformation, media chaos, and the strange stuff people choose to believe.

He wasn’t trying to destroy the planet—he just accidentally did it. Twice.

In this episode of Waywut, Darrell tells Jason the unbelievable true story of Thomas Midgley Jr., an American inventor whose legacy includes two of the most environmentally catastrophic creations in human history: leaded gasoline and CFCs (Freon).

Midgley was hailed as a genius… until people realized he’d unleashed mass lead poisoning and helped punch a hole in the ozone layer. And just when you think his story can’t get darker, his final invention—meant to help him get out of bed—literally kills him in one of the most ironic deaths ever recorded.

🧪 Inside this episode:

• How Midgley helped popularize leaded gasoline despite early evidence it was toxic
• Why his “safe” refrigerant (Freon) turned out to be a global climate disaster
• The long-term effects of his inventions on public health, intelligence, and the atmosphere
• GM and DuPont’s role in putting profit over science
• Midgley’s final act: inventing a device that led to his own strangulation

Also: rants about historical accountability, weird death reports, and what not to put on your résumé if you’ve unintentionally helped doom the planet.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes about dark history, weird inventions, cursed legacies, and hilarious takes on humanity’s worst ideas.

Texas doesn’t think it’s better than you—it knows it is. In this unapologetically loud episode of Waywut, Jason and Darrell dive into the size, swagger, and cultural chaos that defines the Lone Star State.

From ridiculous state pride to ridiculously good BBQ, from sports meltdowns to giant gas stations, this episode asks one question: Is Texas the best… or just the biggest and boldest at yelling about it?

🗺️ Inside this episode:

• Stats that explain why it takes a full day to drive across Texas
• Why Buc-ee’s is a cult with brisket and 70 gas pumps
• Dallas Cowboys heartbreak, MLB fistfights, and AT&T Stadium insanity
• The Tex-Mex vs. “real” Mexican food debate
• How a state fair deep-fries everything except modesty
• A light roast of historical myths, real estate sprawl, and ego-driven signage

Whether you’re a proud Texan or just tired of hearing about it, this one delivers facts, flexes, and a whole lot of fried opinions.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes covering weird history, unhinged commentary, regional chaos, and funny truth bombs.

Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated by a lone gunman… or was it a coordinated cover-up involving the U.S. government?

In this powerful episode of Waywut, Darrell and Jason dive deep into the official narrative of MLK’s death—and the overwhelming evidence that suggests it didn’t happen the way we were told. From FBI harassment campaigns to a 1999 civil trial that found government agencies liable in a wrongful death lawsuit, this episode is part history lesson, part exposé.

📜 What you’ll hear:

• The decades-long FBI campaign to discredit, blackmail, and silence Dr. King
• Lloyd Jowers, the restaurant owner who publicly confessed to being part of a murder plot involving the FBI and the mafia
• The King family’s civil suit, and the 12-person jury that unanimously found there was a conspiracy to kill Dr. King
• Missing and destroyed evidence, altered testimony, and a security detail pulled at the last second
• Why critical government documents related to King’s assassination are still sealed until 2027

This episode combines dark history, suppressed facts, legal outcomes, and Waywut’s signature blend of righteous outrage and biting commentary.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes about conspiracy, cover-ups, weird history, and the uncomfortable truths that rarely make it into textbooks.

Wendigoon did the best video on this subject. Our podcast is quick, dirty and just the tip. His video has whiteboards and pictures and citations, and is just better.

Watch it here. https://youtu.be/4TA2AIuAuW8?si=MKIKtJgTbhSuVb2y

From dodging flaming projectiles in El Salvador to chasing cheese down a vertical hill in England—and yes, parading 6-foot phallic shrines in Japan—this episode of Waywut takes you on a wild, hilarious, and occasionally dangerous tour of the world’s strangest festivals.

Darrell and Jason break down real-life global traditions that range from wholesome to “what the hell is happening” with classic Waywut commentary, awkward memories, and one epic side rant about stoner drum circles and flying ham.

🎪 Inside this episode:

• La Tomatina (Spain): Thousands of people hurling tomatoes in a messy, slippery free-for-all
• Bolas de Fuego (El Salvador): A town commemorates a volcanic eruption by throwing flaming fireballs at each other
• Cheese Rolling (England): Brave (or dumb?) participants chase a wheel of cheese down a 45° hill—and often break bones doing it
• Kanamara Matsuri (Japan): The “Festival of the Steel Phallus,” featuring... exactly what you think
• Eeyore’s Birthday (Austin, TX): A psychedelic picnic with fairy wings, weed, drum circles, and questionable footwear

Whether you love travel stories, cultural chaos, or weird human behavior, this one’s packed with laughs, trivia, and “you’re making that up” moments.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes about weird history, cultural madness, dark humor, and absurd human traditions.

Think history is full of noble heroes? Think again. In this episode of Waywut, Darrell and Jason take a hilariously dark dive into the secret kinks, obsessions, and uncomfortable truths behind some of the world’s most famous historical figures.

From literary legends with bizarre fetishes to world leaders whose “purity tests” raise serious ethical alarms, this episode is packed with true stories that textbooks politely leave out.

🕵️‍♂️ Inside:

• The Romanian scientist who nearly died over and over again—on purpose—for a study on asphyxiation that seems a bit too thorough
• James Joyce, author of Ulysses, who was deeply aroused by farts (and wrote some shockingly poetic letters about them)
• Charlie Chaplin, who turned casting calls into naked pie fights and ran his own personal casting couch
• Hans Christian Andersen, the beloved fairytale author who documented every solitary release in obsessive detail
• Mahatma Gandhi, whose controversial “celibacy tests” included sleeping nude with teenage girls—often his relatives

This episode combines disturbing facts, weird history, and blunt comedy in classic Waywut fashion. It's raw, revealing, and occasionally revolting—but always real.

👉 Follow Waywut for weekly episodes filled with dark history, strange psychology, uncomfortable truths, and the kind of laughs you probably shouldn’t be having.