Best Learn Japanese With BIZARRE stories Podcasts (2025)

1
CLASSIC: Interview: Radio Rental, with Payne Lindsey 49:16

16h ago49:16

49:16

Have you ever experienced something bizarre -- some unexplainable coincidence, chilling interaction or even a run in with what some might call the supernatural? If so, then you may have the next story for Radio Rental. In this episode, the guys interview Payne Lindsey, creator of Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster and more, about the inspiration behi…

1
Strange News: One Card To Rule Them All, Pop Culture and Space, Horrors of Kenyan Death Cults, and More 1:04:30

1d ago1:04:30

1:04:30

History's largest credit card merger looms on the horizon. Commentary on not-quite-space and a celebrity named Katy Perry. Ben takes the crew around the globe to learn more about wildlife piracy, the horrors of Kenyan cults, and the fascinating web of fentanyl, casinos, China and Mexican drug cartels. All this this and more in this week's strange n…

1
Introducing: Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O’Brien 3:22

4d ago3:22

3:22

Hello, Stuff They Don't Want You To Know listeners! We want to share a new podcast that we think you'll love - Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O’Brien About the show: One of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries, and the two women at its core; One black, one white. One poor, one rich. They never actually met. But their lives came to intersect th…

1
What is Shock Incarceration? 1:08:09

5d ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Picture this: you're a bad kid. You've made a serious mistake, and may be facing incarceration. Yet Lo, and Behold! The US court system decrees you may avoid years in lock-up by going to an "intermediate sanction" program modeled after the military. Proponents say this helps first-time offenders get back on the right path. Critics, with extensive e…

1
Listener Mail: Signal vs. Telegram, Supply Chain Raids, Everyone Hates EvilCore 51:47

6d ago51:47

51:47

Privacy Guy continues the conversation about encryption and state-level powers. Art Vandelay notes recent issues with tariffs and supply chains. Multiple Conspiracy Realists follow up with Ben and the gang on the actions of an insurance-adjacent business called Evicore. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. They don't want you to …

1
Operation Ghost Stories 59:39

7d ago59:39

59:39

What if you had the perfect spy? Not some glitzy James Bond-type, but instead a person -- or an entire family -- spending decades in a hostile country, slowly acquiring information and status, while waiting for the right signal from command. It's one of the most fascinating stories in all of tradecraft: the "sleeper spy," a concept made famous in w…

1
CLASSIC: What really happened to the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke? 48:56

8d ago48:56

48:56

It's one of the most enduring enigmas in American history -- how did an entire colony disappear from Roanoke island? Join the guys as they explore the facts, fiction and speculation surrounding the mysterious fate of the colonists, the clues they may have left behind and the search that continues in the modern day. They don't want you to read our b…

1
Strange News: US on The Brink, North Sentinel Island, a Monster in Maryland and More 57:02

9d ago57:02

57:02

Domestic and international tensions grow as US courts square off with the administration over the rendition of innocents. A hapless, would-be internet influencer finds himself in Indian incarceration after attempting to contact the people of North Sentinel island. Over in Maryland, multiple women accuse pharmacist Matthew Bathula of egregious spyin…

1
STDWYTK Presents: A Conspiracy of Sound, Live in Brooklyn 1:36:56

10d ago1:36:56

1:36:56

True story - for years, Ben, Matt and Noel have wondered about the concept of sensory experience. Turns out On Air Fest was listening, and called them to New York. In tonight's episode, the guys present their live exploration: A Conspiracy of Sound, at Brooklyn's legendary National Sawdust. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macm…

1
CLASSIC: Was Samuel Little America's Most Prolific Serial Killer? 49:02

13d ago49:02

49:02

Born in 1940, Samuel Little was known in multiple states as a drifter, petty criminal and man occasionally capable of violence. Like many people living on the fringe of society, he seemed to slip through the fingers of justice despite numerous arrests. Yet intrepid investigators and improvements in DNA testing eventually proved Little was more than…

1
What happened to Harold Holt? 58:47

14d ago58:47

58:47

On 17 December 1967, Harold Holt, the immensely popular prime minister of Australia, went for a swim -- and vanished. In the decades since, his family and the public still have questions about what exactly happened. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore a mystery that remains unsolved in the modern day, along with a meditation on empathy…

1
CLASSIC: The Afghanistan Papers 55:37

15d ago55:37

55:37

The United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7th, 2001 and remains embroiled in the conflict almost two decades later, making this the longest war in US history. Leaders from both of the dominant political parties continually argued that this was a winnable war, proposing new strategies, more troops, and more surges. Yet documents obtained by T…

1
CLASSIC: What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? 53:34

16d ago53:34

53:34

In his day, American labor union leader James "Jimmy" Riddle Hoffa was one of the most well-known figures in the US. On July 30th, 1975, Hoffa disappeared. He has not been seen, living or dead, since that day. In the decades following his death numerous investigators have tried (and failed) to figure out what exactly happened to this infamous Ameri…

1
Interview: Up and Vanished Weekly, with Maggie Freleng 53:01

19d ago53:01

53:01

Alien abductions. Unexplained disappearances. Unsolved murders. In tonight's interview, the guys join the legendary, award-winning journalist Maggie Freleng to learn more about her newest podcast, Up and Vanished Weekly. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/ See omnystudio.com/listener…

1
Listener Mail: Science and Astrology, Secrets of the Pyramids, and "Chicken Tax" 54:37

19d ago54:37

54:37

Astrolojon prompts an exploration of a possible scientific basis to astrology. Flea asks for more information about the viral claims concerning purported pillars deep beneath the Pyramids of Giza. AngryBizkitz inspires an investigation into the weird, conspiratorial world of tariff loopholes and the infamous "Chicken Tax." All this and more in this…

1
The Prior Authorizations Conspiracy: EviCore 1:05:02

21d ago1:05:02

1:05:02

It's a story sadly all-too familiar with so many people in the United States: you're on the cusp of receiving medication, surgery or treatment that could save your life -- only for your insurance company to deny the treatment you've paid for. Through the practice of "prior authorization," private insurance companies bypass doctors to decide whether…

1
CLASSIC: Interview: Dark Waters: Corporations, Corruption and Pollution with Rob Bilott 50:15

22d ago50:15

50:15

When corporate defense lawyer Rob Bilott first learned about Wilbur Tennant's dying livestock, the frustrated West Virginian farmer was at his wits' end. He'd sought help from numerous local authorities to no avail, but he was certain DuPont was poisoning his livestock, as well as the surrounding area. Bilott's investigation led him down the rabbit…

1
Strange News: The Massive Tennessee Meat Heist, Roblox and Privacy, the CIA and the Ark of Covenant, Chemicals in Your Food and More 1:00:12

23d ago1:00:12

1:00:12

A massive meat heist in Tennessee leaves Ben, Matt and Dylan asking: "Who needs 80,000 pounds of off-the-books meat?" A babysitter learns there really is a monster under the bed. Back in the day, the CIA seemed genuinely convinced they discovered the Ark of the Covenant. Sucralose conspires against you! The US abducts an innocent US resident and se…

1
Big Chicken: A Fowl Conspiracy 1:19:40

26d ago1:19:40

1:19:40

Chicken! It's one of the world's most popular food stuffs, and nowadays it's a global, multibillion dollar industry. But a dark side comes with all that success -- including problems that, one day, may threaten civilization as we know it. Join Ben, Matt and Noel as they explore the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know about Big Chicken. They don't wan…

1
CLASSIC: The Far-out World of Deep Fakes 1:07:04

27d ago1:07:04

1:07:04

For centuries, it was often understood that "seeing was believing" -- while people might embellish a story, and write whatever falsehoods they wished, visually witnessing an event was solid proof of what actually happened in any given situation. Yet this no longer holds true in the modern age. Photographs have been faked since, well, the invention …

1
What is the Disposition Matrix? 1:08:07

28d ago1:08:07

1:08:07

It's no secret that all powerful countries have used assassination as an aspect of statecraft. Yet in the wake of 9/11, the United States sought to bend — and, later, break — foundational principles of democracy in pursuit of a "Greater Good." In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore a conspiracy institutionalizing the practice of state-spo…

1
CLASSIC: What really happened to Amelia Earhart? 38:50

29d ago38:50

38:50

Amelia Earhart was a living legend -- this high-flying aviation pioneer garnered international acclaim and accolades for her daring flights across the planet. On July 2nd, 1937, midway through a flight around the world, Earhart's plane disappeared. Although she was declared legally dead on January 5th, 1939, theories about the true story of her dis…

1
Strange News: Signal Leaks Worse than 23andMe, Bird Jokes, Japan Bans Moonies 53:45

30d ago53:45

53:45

Birds are fighting. A pilot loses a passport. Boeing scores a big win with a contract that will surely work out great. Let's hang out on Signal. 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 informat…

1
Interview: OBSCURUM, with Gabe Lenners 1:07:31

1M ago1:07:31

1:07:31

Beginning in 2019, locals in rural areas of Nebraska and Colorado were astonished to witness multiple mysterious lights and objects in the sky. Everyone agreed something was up there, but no one seemed to know what this stuff could be. In this interview segment, Ben, Matt and Noel welcome Gabe Lenners, the creator of OBSCURUM, to learn more about h…

1
Listener Mail: The Piasa Bird, Bots and the Post Office, and Horoscopes for AI 56:19

1M ago56:19

56:19

The guys explore the legend of the mysterious Piasa Bird. A Conspiracy Realist at the US Post Office inspires an exploration of post-human automation. Uncle Sam writes in with thoughts on discovering a possible scientific basis behind astrology. The guys crack up reading infamous Australian town names. All this and more in this week's listener mail…

1
Why are so many spies getting busted? 1:09:42

1M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Forget pretty much everything you've heard about James Bond. While loosely based on espionage tactics of yesteryear, actual human-based tradecraft is far less glamorous -- around the globe, intelligence organizations make long-term investments in games that run for decades, carefully cultivating assets with such secrecy that, true story, some folks…

1
CLASSIC: What are "Black Sites"? 57:44

1M ago57:44

57:44

In the United States, people accused of crimes are entitled to certain well-known protections under the law. And, in the international sphere, global agreements theoretically guarantee certain rights to prisoners of war. However, in the wake of 9/11 elements of the US government felt these protections were preventing them from obtaining justice. Th…

1
Strange News: "Freedom Cities" are the New Company Towns, Sackler Family Doesn't Go To Jail 1:02:58

1M ago1:02:58

1:02:58

A phenomenally powerful international lobbying group -- Freedom Cities -- pushes the idea of US communities run by corporations. An opioid update reveals the Sackler family will pay money rather than prison time. A threat in Antarctica, while astronauts finally return home. All this and more in this week's strange news segment. They don't want you …

1
The Trouble With Tariffs: the Smoot-Hawley Act 1:14:10

1M ago1:14:10

1:14:10

Tariffs! If you're like most people in the US, you probably didn't think much about the concept until recently -- it's always been one of those historical footnotes. However, the current news about proposed tariffs has the United States and the world overall in a tizzy. So what are tariffs? Why do some people love them, why do some people hate them…

1
Listener Mail: (non-human) Cognition, Diplomatic Immunity, the Cops Tell Us About The Manchester Pusher 48:06

1M ago48:06

48:06

Dognition asks for a nickname. Big Randy checks in. Multiple folks in the Greater Manchester area follow up with their opinions on murder. 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.…

1
China Hacked The US Treasury -- And This Is Only The Beginning 1:11:47

1M ago1:11:47

1:11:47

With global impact and domestic dissent, the U.S. Treasury remains one of the world's most impactful institutions. What happens when this institution is compromised? In tonight's episode, the guys explore the harsh reality of successful conspiracies against the United States. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/stati…

1
CLASSIC: Film Conspiracies -- an Interview with Chuck Bryant, From Earlier 1:05:41

1M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Did someone really hang themselves on camera in the Wizard of Oz? Did Stanley Kubrick hide a secret message in Eyes Wide Shut? It's no secret that the world of film is fraught with conspiracy -- both on and off the screen. But do any of these strange rumors and urban myths hold any sand? Join the guys with their special guest and long-time friend, …

1
Strange News: Love on the Train, Space Updates, AI as G-d, Pre-crime Targeting of Protestors, and More 1:09:34

1M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

Updates on space exploration. A seemingly-symbolic quarrel between an eagle and a goose. Large language models try out religion and pre-crime, all as a recent graduate gets deported for his political views. In other news, light becomes solid, prompting Ben and the gang to call for input from a physicist. All this and more in this week's strange new…

1
Astrology and the Government, Chapter Two: Fortune-telling in the White House 1:13:25

2M ago1:13:25

1:13:25

While astrology is often portrayed as a belief system of ancient empires and ages past, the popular assumption could not be further from the truth. In the second episode of this series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the times U.S. Presidents looked for guidance from the stars. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/…

1
Listener Mail: The Prophecy of the Popes, Canada vs. the US, Sovereign Wealth Funds and More 48:14

2M ago48:14

48:14

Is the world genuinely witnessing the unfolding Prophecy of the Popes? The Wondering Wizard wants to know. Alpha Flight comments on the growing tension between the United States and Canada. Aaron A Aaronson inspires a future episode on sovereign wealth funds. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. They don't want you to read our bo…

1
Astrology and the Government, Chapter One: The Myanmar Move 55:28

2M ago55:28

55:28

Astrology! To true believers, this genre of divination provides deep inside to the secret mechanicisms of the Heavens and the Earth. To skeptics, it's bunk -- another mistaken set of beliefs best left to benighted empires of old. And yet, as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in the first part of this special two-part series, astrology still can play a ma…

1
CLASSIC: Can weather make you "crazy"? 53:28

2M ago53:28

53:28

For thousands of years, people have been convinced that the weather and the position of the moon can wreak profound havoc on human behavior. This belief continues in the modern day, with numerous law enforcement officers, medical professionals and more swearing people act strangely during the full moon. Additionally, science shows certain environme…

1
Strange News: Wooly Mice, Severed Hands, and Space Updates (Spacedates?) 57:28

2M ago57:28

57:28

The race toward de-extincting mammoths (and other creatures) continues apace, here at what Ben calls "the end of history." The newest step toward this furry resurrection? WOOLY MICE. An unidentified bird drops a severed hand at a school. Also schoolteachers are getting in trouble for "pretending" to sell pills, and forcing kids to fight each other …

1
Scam Factory, with Denise Chan 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

It's a harrowing story, often untold in the West: while everyone's tired of scam calls and texts, we rarely ask about the lives of people on the other side of the call. While it's devilishly easy to make light of the scammers and the con artists, the harsh reality is that thousands of people pushing scams are being forced to do so, often held again…

1
CLASSIC: The Wide World of Shipping Conspiracies 49:39

2M ago49:39

49:39

Look around you as you listen to tonight's episode -- how far did these objects travel to meet you here? In centuries past, the average person would be surrounded by local objects. Today, the most mundane of possessions may have traveled more than halfway across the world to become your fabrics, your electronic components, your favorite snacks. Mak…

1
The Mysterious Star-Shaped Towers of Sichuan Province 46:16

2M ago46:16

46:16

True story: throughout China's Sichuan province right along the border with Tibet, the land is riddled with ancient towers of unknown origin. No one knows who built them, nor why. In tonight's episode, Ben and Noel explore the fascinating hidden history of architecture that withstood millennia of chaos -- and how an ancient series of towers survive…

1
CLASSIC: Closed Cities: Secret Towns Kept Off Your Maps 1:03:52

2M ago1:03:52

1:03:52

The majority of human beings currently live in urban areas -- and this trend seems set to continue. According to the most recent estimates, two-thirds of humanity will live in urban areas by 2050. However, not all cities are created equally. In fact, countries throughout the world are home to cities that, in one sense or another, do not officially …

1
CLASSIC STDWYTK, Live: Real-life Covens 38:38

2M ago38:38

38:38

True story: Ben, Matt and Noel know 'witches.' We’re all familiar with the spooky, stereotypical witch depicted in film, fiction and folklore – a creepy crone with a pointy hat, riding a broom through the sky and cackling at the moon, often accompanied by her animal sidekick. But how accurate are these depictions? Were there ever really any covens,…

1
CLASSIC: Cryptids You've Never Heard Of 57:58

2M ago57:58

57:58

Everyone's heard of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster -- but what about the hundreds of other cryptids rumored to exist around the world? Join the guys as they delve into the stories of cryptids you may have never heard of. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/ See omnystudio.com/liste…

1
CLASSIC: Conspiracy and the Cure: People Who Believe They've Cured Cancer 1:12:35

2M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Each year, millions of people across the planet grapple with some form of cancer. Doctors work around the clock to create better treatments methods, early diagnosis techniques and more, but for many people these innovations will sadly come too late. With so many lives on the line, it’s no surprise that multiple, unrelated individuals have claimed t…

1
CLASSIC: The Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 54:38

2M ago54:38

54:38

On March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpaur to Beijing. While public -- and, later, private -- entities from across the region searched for signs of the craft, no one was able to figure out what exactly happened. Join the guys as they delve into a mystery that remains largely unsolved three y…

1
CLASSIC: The Bizarre Clown Panic of 2016 50:06

2M ago50:06

50:06

It began in August -- five photographs of what appeared to be a sinister figure dressed as a clown loitering in a Green Bay, Wisconsin parking lot went viral. Eight days later, a local filmmaker admitted this was just an attempt to garner PR for an upcoming indie film... but the clowns kept coming. In the space of just a few months numerous people …

1
Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter Two: The Hidden Hands 1:01:48

2M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

While it might sound weird to think of the CIA conspiring to hire magicians, tradecraft and stage magic actually have a lot in common: sleight-of-hand, misdirection, performance -- you name it. With all this in mind, the CIA hired globetrotting magician John Mulholland to teach the world's most dangerous spies the hidden strategies for magic, and h…

1
Listener Mail: Exploding Headsets, Firefighters, Attention Spans and Elon 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

Multiple Conspiracy Realists reach out regarding firefighters. Sacremento responds to the exploration of social media and attention spans. A Combustable (and stoned) Coyote ask for more information on the earlier story about exploding headsets. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. They don't want you to read our book.: https://st…

1
Yes, The CIA Hired Magicians, Chapter One: The Craft and The Art 59:16

2M ago59:16

59:16

The US Central Intelligence Agency gets a lot of criticism these days - historically, the institution has a number of missteps. The thing about unorthodox "outside-the-box" approaches is simply this: some ideas work, and some ideas are superb. A few decades back, the CIA hired a magician. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmil…

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Learn Japanese With BIZARRE Stories Podcasts

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