But Have You Heard About?

What did you think of todays' episode?This week is like a combo episode of history and conspiracy theories. Even though this is a conspiracy episode, we do take our time to talk some history to lay out the groundwork on this good old fashioned mind control fun times.Have you heard about MKUltra?I feel the vast majority of the internet knows of MKUltra--the code name for a covert CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation research program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. During the early period of the Cold War, the higher ups at the CIA became convinced that communists had discovered a drug or some technique that would allow them to control human minds. This idea of brainwashing was a palatable way to deal with soldiers that came back parroting communist propaganda from Korea, and why there was such a huge uptick in Americans supporting communism post WW2. In response to the idea of brainwashing, the CIA began its own secret program, to search for a mind control drug that could be weaponized against enemies.Did it work? I hope you know the answer, but take a listen to hear about some of the conspiracy theories associated with Project MkUltra.

What did you think of todays' episode?When the movie "Us" came out, I was personally drawn to the idea of tunnels connecting places together --whether nefarious, helpful, or historical. I went down a rabbit hole and wanted to take you all with me. Enjoy this new episode about the tunnels of America!

What did you think of todays' episode?But have you heard about the “Where are the bodies, Garth” conspiracy theory? The theory that while Garth Brooks tours, he's also a serial killer. Yeah… the everyman country singer could be a serial killer. Is there truth to this? Well…some people really think so. We go through the origin of this theory and the possibility of it. Check out this week's most recent conspiracy theory and let us know where you fall on this theory. 

What did you think of todays' episode?I would say this is the beginning of a plethora of episodes, but we aren't trying to lie to all you good people. BUT!We are starting off with one of those glossed over points in American history. When I think about witch hunts in America, I immediately think of the Salem witch trials. However, there are other points in time, a lot more recently, that had a similar impact–The Red Scares. The Red Scare was hysteria over the perceived threat posed by Communists in the U.S. As a curious cat, I wanted to learn more about these 20th century witch trials in America and I decided I would take you all along for the ride…for better or worse. In this episode, we will touch lightly on what is communism, fear of communism, the lead up and duration of the two Red Scares, and some major players in them. 

What did you think of todays' episode?Young and sweet, only from fifteen eighteeeeeen!Who doesn't like a little ABBA tie-in?But have you heard about the Dancing Plague of 1518? In 1518, a 'dance plague' saw citizens of French city Strasbourg reportedly dancing uncontrollably for days on end – with fatal results. It's a bizarre event that continues to fascinate those that have happened upon the story. But how did this begin? Just like a middle school dance, it takes one person dancing alone to the beat of their own heart before the rest join in. It was July, 1518, and a sweltering day at that; a woman named Lady Troffea steps into the square of Strasbourg and begins to dance. At first those around her only watch; curiosity getting the better of them as they stand and watch her dance dance dance with her hands hands hands. They watch a woman who will not, cannot, stop. She dances for nearly a week, occasionally tripping over her dancing shoes by exhaustion but largely unfazed by hunger, pain, or the need for sleep. There was no music to be heard. Where the music came from for this dance is a mystery; maybe it was internal, birds, the celestials–who knows!Join Matt and I as we go into this not too conspiracy theory, but a little bit of a mystery. 

What did you think of todays' episode?Have you heard about Juliane Koepcke? At only 17 years old, she became the sole survivor of one of the worst aviation disasters. Juliane Koepcke was aboard LANSA Flight 508 on December 24, 1971 when it was struck by lightning, causing her to plummet 10,000 feet to the Amazon rainforest below. The plane was enroute from Lima to Pucallpa in Peru. Juliane was flying with her mother the day after graduating, making their way to her parents' research area in the Amazon. After the plane was struck by lightning and torn apart, Juliane awoke still in her seat with severe injuries. Somehow, she not only survived the fall, but was the only passenger to survive the upcoming days. Listen in for this short and sweet story of survival that would honestly be a featured story on Beyond Belief that I would assume was fabricated. 

On this week's episode of But Have You Heard About Conspiracy Theory Edition, Matt and I discuss how the power outage that delayed Super Bowl XLVII (47) wasn't an accident, but an intentional way to inject life into a game that was turning into a blowout.Super Bowl XLVII was played between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2012. The Ravens defeated the 49ers by the score of 34–31, handing the 49ers their first Super Bowl loss in their franchise history. The game was played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Baltimore had been dominating the first half of the game, thanks to Joe Flacco's three touchdown passes that gave the Ravens a 21-6 lead going into the half. After Beyonce performed her amazing heart out during halftime, the Ravens immediately picked back up their all gas no breaks approach that would give them a 28–6 lead. However, a partial power outage occurred with 13:22 remaining in the third quarter. Play was interrupted for 34 minutes because of a 22-minute partial power outage. After this outage, the 49ers came back and RALLIED to make the game a close finish. Listen in to all of the theories as to why this may have been more than an accident.... though most likely it was an accident, let's be real. 

Well hey there listeners, did you miss me? Probably not, but I'll pretend that you've been in a void of interesting history factoids. It's been a literal year plus since I uploaded an episode. And I am starting this party off with some fun history. On today's first episode back in 2024, Trisha and I discussed the MOVE bombing in Philly--who is MOVE, why did everyone (especially their neighbors) hate them, what shout out, and the bombing. Originally called the Christian Movement for Life, MOVE is a communal organization that advocates for nature laws and natural living. At times, it has been viewed as a cult, like many movements that started in the 70s. It was founded in 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, by John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart). John was a West Philadelphia native and Korean War veteran. The name, styled in all capital letters, is not an acronym. MOVE lived in a communal setting in West Philadelphia, abiding by philosophies of anarcho-primitivism, meaning that they wanted to go back to hunter-gatherer type living. The pre-industrial revolutionary world at minimum. WIIIILD. Their ideology combined a wide array of ideologies, including environmentalism, animal rights and an end to capitalism–OR anti-government, anti-technology, and anti-corporation. The group's activities were closely watched by law enforcement, at times leading to armed confrontation, including the 1977 stand-off we touch on in this episode, and the bombing in 1985. Take a listen and let us know what we should talk about next!Sources:https://whyy.org/episodes/the-move-bombing-in-philadelphia-memory-and-justice/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/18/debbie-sims-africa-free-prison-move-nine-philadelphia-police https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/8/8/20747198/philadelphia-bombing-1985-move https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing https://whyy.org/articles/how-the-philly-medical-examiners-office-mishandled-move-victims-remains-for-36-years/ 

On this week's episode of But Have You Heard About, Matt and I talk about Starseeds, or star people. Have you heard about this awakening? There's a growing group of people on Earth who believe they're aliens, or descendants of former alien interactions with humans.  They are awakening to their Starseed origins and are here now to help in the transition of earth, where earth changes will precede our joining a greater star community of planets. The thought is that Starseeds originate from other planets and realms and possess spiritual and scientific knowledge dating back hundreds of thousands of years. There are two common thoughts among Starseed enthusiasts on how one becomes a Starseed. Whether they ARE aliens that are living on earth, a descendant of an alien, OR the descendant of someone that had alien interactions. Most Starseeds believe they have come to Earth from other dimensions to help heal the planet and guide humanity into the “golden age” – a period of great happiness, prosperity and achievement. Sounds like a groovy thing. Matt and I go over the characteristics and traits of those that are believers. Get your checklist out and see if you are partially, or just a little bit of a Starseed. We also go in depth on why anyone is suspectable to believing they're a star person, or the like--going into the Forer/Barnum Effect, source monitoring error, and the Einstein effect. All of these go hand in hand with how many people are led to believe they are Starseeds, or that horoscopes are real, or how psychics make generalized and vague statements that draw people in. As we discuss, it isn't new-new, but started gaining traction with other New Age ideas in the 70s, and is attributed to Brad Steiger who wrote prolifically about the unknown and was keenly interested in alien life and extraterrestrials. In his 1976 book, Gods of Aquarius, Steiger introduced his notion that some people originate from other dimensions.If you are looking for more information on Starseeds or what was discussed in this week's episode, I gathered a lot of my information from the below pieces:https://medium.com/illumination/am-i-a-starseed-a17960247445 https://brill.com/display/book/9789004435537/BP000031.xml https://theconversation.com/starseeds-psychologists-on-why-some-people-think-theyre-aliens-living-on-earth-197291https://www.thebookstall.com/book/9781710780444 

But have you heard about the Lager Beer Riot that occurred on April 21, 1855 in Chicago? Maybe not, unless you're really into Chicago beer or politics. On this week's episode, we are talking about an interesting combo–politics and beer in Chicago. With rising immigrants settling in developing Midwest cities like Chicago and bringing much of their home country culture and past times with them. Germans brought with them their love of brewing beer and journalism, with many setting up taverns that many locals and immigrants frequented. Many of these immigrants had participated in the 1848 revolutions across Europe and were accustomed to demonstrations for political reasons. At the same time, all over the country there was a wide spread of distrust when it came to Catholics and immigrants. Many newspapers and politicians depicted immigrants as drunks, and part of a ploy for the Pope to take over the US if they were Catholic. Because of the drunken portrayal, many nativists gravitated towards anti alcoholism, or the Temperance Movement. In the city election of 1855, the Know Nothing Party Candidate Levi Boone won and almost immediately went to work on ways to punish immigrants for just living in the city--increasing the price for liquor license and suspending the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Take a listen and see how messing with German's beer can lead to a revolution.

Picture it: a 30 year old Michael Jordan has just won his third championship in as many years with the Chicago Bulls. He doesn't look to be stopping--and yet, he retires on October 6th, 1993 to the shock of so many. Why would the greatest athlete at that time retire? His father was murdered that summer, he had taken a physical beating in those playoff games, and emotionally he wasn't in it. All of that adds up. But...what if it had to do with the gambling stories that came out during the NBA Finals in 1993? Or maybe it was all a ruse for him to try out baseball so it could all be included in the critically acclaimed and life changing movie Space Jam. In this week's conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I tackle how Black Jesus, per Reggie Miller, retired and did it really have something to do with a NBA suspension for gambling? He had a brush with federal authorities in 1992 that made his gambling known, and then the May 24th Atlantic City visit during the Knicks game series, and then Esquinas' book. So...I mean...maybe?For more information on Michael Jordan's father's death.

On this week's episode  we are taking a little detour from fun, gripping, or little known history to dive into something a bit more…creepy?  We are talking about the history of haunted and creepy dolls. What makes so many of us shiver in fear of raggedy Anne and Andy? How long have creepy dolls been...a thing? And not just dolls being creepy…but things in general being creepy. Dolls have been around for AGES, and mean a lot to many people. Whether they taught young girls skills like sewing, or how to act in certain societal situations--dolls have been there. And dolls can be made of anything and for anyone--cue husk dolls and GI Joe. If you ask a group of 15 people what they're scared of…at least one person will say dolls. And probably one other person in that group will collect dolls. Thanks to psychologists, we have some answers to this idea of what is creepy and why are we so alert to things we deem as creepy. But the creepiest thing? Cursed or haunted dolls. We talk briefly about Annabelle, Robert, Lily, Letta, and Okiku in this week's episode--in case you need to go see if you are indeed creeped out by plastic, real hair, and pitter pattering in the night. Check out this week's episode and let me know your thoughts about dolls and creepy things.

Maybe you have heard about the face on Mars, or maybe this is your first time...just like Matt. Whatever the case may be, this week we cover the idea of intelligent design, aka aliens/lonely left on Mars human, in regards to the face on Mars photos. If you've never seen the photos, check out this link with a story from NASA. There are also other photos that many claim to see OTHER images in the rock formations/shadows. Matt and I talk about the conspiracy pusher, Richard Hoagland, and his credentials (or lack thereof.) Without Hoagland's book, The Monuments of Mars, there may not have been such a huge movement of those interested or believing that the Face on Mars was intentionally made. Take a listen and let us know if you liked our first dabble into aliens/space conspiracy theories!Looking for more information? Check out some of these links below:https://www.space.com/36751-space-conspiracies.html https://www.space.com/17191-face-on-mars.htmlhttp://www.tampabayskeptics.org/Mars_morefaces.html https://gpposner.com/Hoagland.html 

When we think about the Vietnam War, most Americans think of the at home protests, Forrest Gump and other movies after the 70s that showed the war through different angles, the casualties of soldiers, forced draft and draft dodgers, PTSD and more that came with the conflict. And cue Fortunate Son by CCR with the montage. But…why was the US even involved in what was going on with Vietnam? That wasn't in the US's sphere of influence, like South America was, nor was Vietnam a contender in WWI or II. THAT question is what I go over in today's episode of But Have You Heard About? Spoiler alert, this all has to do with colonialism...and a sprinkle of communism. But colonialism and the vacuum that was left by the colonizers leaving. Ho Chi Minh is not a hero in American history, but he is in Vietnamese history, and while I barely touch on his contributions in today's episode, I do strongly suggest reading more about him if you are so intrigued. For more reading about this topic:https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit12_1.pdf https://www.history.com/news/vietnam-war-origins-events https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_French_Indochina 

On this week's episode of But Have You Heard About Conspiracy Theory Edition, Matt and I go through a boat load of theories over the Titanic. From Did the Titanic sink or was it #shiptrapped and switched, to even more scientific ones like If the watertight doors had been used correctly, the Titanic would have settled on an even keel and perhaps remained afloat long enough for rescue ships to arrive.  Honestly, there are so many different theories about IF the ship sank, to what caused the sinking, and if there was foul play from the financial groups. The majority of these theories fall under "it could happen" or coincidental instances.  Which of these do you think would be possible? Or, which was your favorite? Take a listen to hear which ones Matt and I like the best. For more information:Why They Sank The Titanic, 2012Robin Gardiner; Ship That Never SankA list of more theories

But have you heard about divorce ranches? Well, they were all the rage in Reno, and helped make Vegas a vacation destination and usher in the start of casino resorts we now know Vegas for.But...what is a divorce ranch? Before the 1960s, divorce was VERY uncommon and was NOT easily obtainable for most. The time frame to go through with a divorce legally was long--about a year--and that's if you even qualified. While there were some places in the US in the early 1900s that allowed no-default divorce (meaning you just want to call it quit without someone being unfaithful, running out on you, or being unable to perform in bed), they were remote and more urban locations than the more populous areas on the east coast. However, Nevada saw an opportunity. They not only legalized gambling, they also granted no-fault divorces for any reason, and shortened the time you had to live in the state to become a resident and use the benefit of their divorce laws. After shortening the length of residency to 6 weeks, entrepreneurs in Nevada, especially the bigger city of Reno, saw an opportunity to rent out rooms, or cabins to have mostly women stay with them for 6 weeks to wait out their residency time before filing for divorce. Being stuck somewhere new for 6 weeks also meant dabbling in entertainment while there, hence casinos and their earlier shows. Over 325,000 divorces were finalized during this time. Tune in to this interesting little piece of American and Nevada state history. 

On this latest episode of But Have You Heard About, Matt and I discuss the more recent conspiracy theory that birds...aren't real. They're just decoys from the government to spy on us. Does it sound a bit far fetched? Well...it should. In 2017, Peter McIndoe created this preposterous idea. This came to life while at a Trump Rally; memes upon memes came from this photo. While holding his single sign of "Birds Aren't Real," he started a movement that has thousands in on the joke. For every, "ok but explain__" he has an answer, albeit a ridiculous one. So why are so many people in on this made up conspiracy theory? Well, most Birds Aren't Real members, many of whom are part of an on-the-ground activism network called the Bird Brigade, grew up in a world overrun with misinformation. Some have relatives who have fallen victim to conspiracy theories. For many, the movement has become a way to collectively grapple with those experiences. Want to hear more about this actual fake theory? Take a listen and see if you agree that this theory might be a good way to help those that believe in other conspiracy theories see...how they might be wrong?To learn more about Birds Aren't Real, you can visit their site to grab gear or sign up to be part of the activist network, you can go here:https://birdsarentreal.com/ 

The partition of India is the largest and quickest mass migration of individuals, and glossed over in history.  As many formal subjects of the British Empire in what is now modern day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh navigated to boundaries they didn't know about before August 15th of 1947, violence that many in Britain never expected erupted across the area. Many families were forever separated--not like there was a cell phone to call, nor did you know WHERE your family was going to settle after the new religious boundaries were drawn and enacted. While most migration and movement by individuals in the Indian subcontinent was completed by January 1948, the 5 months prior were full of not only murder, but acts that would be considered terrorist like to many nowadays. Take a listen as Trisha and I go over how the subject came up, and learn more about how this violent migration happened after the British left British India. Want more info? Check out the links below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZS40U5yFpc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrcCTgwbsjchttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/the-great-divide-books-dalrymple

On this latest conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I discuss a two part theory:Was Walt Disney frozen? And did the Disney company create the Frozen movie franchise intentionally to mess up the algorithm from individuals searching online so when they type "frozen Disney" they see the movie, not the rumors and theories about Walt's body being frozen back in 1966?When Walt died in 1966, the rumors started about him being frozen due to a few reasons. One, someone was announced to have been frozen shortly after his death. Second, his fascination with futuristic tech, evident in his design of Disney's Epcot, could mean he was very into the idea of cryogenic technology. Third, he was cremated, but there is no plaque at his family's plot for him, but there is one for his daughter. Have you been caught by the Snow Queen and need more? Tune in and let us know if you're a believer.

Many know the story about Emmett Till; a 15 year old Black child visiting Mississippi where he was kidnapped, tortured and abused by two men for supposedly offending a white woman. His body was recovered three days later in the Tallahatchie river, barely recognizable. His mother then held an open casket funeral back home in Chicago so the world could see what happened to her child. The two men, Roy Bryant (the husband of the offended white woman, Carolyn Bryant), and JW Milam, were charged and then found innocent by a jury of all white peers. They later admitted to killing Emmett, and sold their story. This murder and the ability for two white men to get off the hook so easily was one of the catalysts of the Civil Rights movement. While Roy and JW had shitty lives, Carolyn divorced Roy, and remarried...and still loves in Mississippi. Recently, an unserved warrant was found in the basement of a county sheriff office for Carolyn Bryant during the three days he was missing. The warrant was never served because she was a young white mother and it would be too bothersome for her to come in. So, what do we do now that there can be some justice for Emmett Till?https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/till-timeline/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/emmett-till-carolyn-bryant-arrest-warrant.html

As the world slowly burns and some of us are just continuing to exist, I decided to go back to podcasting vs doom scrolling social media again. I hope you learn things from these upcoming podcasts I have lined up for you, as well as escape whatever may be happening in your life. Yours in historical facts and memes,CourtneyThe Dakota 38 subject is a dark historical part of US history. The execution of 38 East Dakota tribesman on December 26, 1862 is the largest mass execution in this country's history, and was signed off by Lincoln. How did this happen? Like many things, the breaking of a promise, or a treaty. In these treaties, the Eastern Dakota were pressured into ceding large tracts of land to the United States in a series of treaties signed in 1837, 1851 and 1858, in exchange for cash annuities, debt payments, and other provisions. These treaties were overseen by the federal government through Indian Agents that weren't for helping the indigenous people. While the Eastern Dakotans signed over their land, the US government was to pay debts, yearly payments, and supplies. The winter from 1861-862 was harsher than normal, and the crops from 1861 were not as plentiful on this new land for them. When the civil war broke out in 1861, the US government than became late on payments and supply of food, causing those at the reservation to come to drastic decisions. As Trisha and I go through in this episode, the tribesman were pushed to their limits through various means and did fight back by attacking settlers that had moved into their ancestry lands. From August to September, Little Crow led the charges to take land and supplies from settlers and military members, using bloodshed when needed. 100 US and local military died, 358 civilians/settlers, 150 Dakotans, and 38 executed. Eventually, Little Crow and many of the Eastern Dakotan tribesman were captured. Many more innocent Dakotans were imprisoned than those that took part in the raids or fighting. After their capture and relocation, Little Crow and about 150-200 members were able to escape up to the Dakota Territory and Canada. On September 27, 1862, Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley ordered the creation of a military commission to conduct trials of the Dakota. One year later, the judge advocate general would determine that Sibley did not have the authority to convene trials of the Dakota, due to his level of prejudice, and that his actions had violated Article 65 of the United States Articles of War. However, by then the executions had already occurred, and the American Civil War continued to distract the U.S. government. Yay civil war! The 400-odd of trials commenced on 28 September 1862 and were completed on 3 November; some lasted less than 5 minutes. No one explained the proceedings to the defendants, nor were the Sioux represented by defense attorneys. It was a sham that was allowed to happen because of the Civil War...which also started the whole ordeal. Because of the nature, and it being federal crimes the East Dakotans were charged with, Lincoln did have to review and approve the charges for being hanged. Lincoln did lessen the amounts of those executed, and limited to only those that were to have murdered settlers/civilians. If you're looking for more information on this topic, or to read my sources:https://youtu.be/ZLjzUNXMbhM --Dakota 38 + 2 moviehttps://indiancountrytoday.com/news/traumatic-true-history-full-list-dakota-38https://www.usdakotawar.org/history/aftermath/trials-hanging

But have you heard about H. H. Holmes? He was a serial killer, and fraudster that was active in the late 1800s, and is most widely known for his murder hotel in Chicago that he mostly used during the 1893 World's Fair.  Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H. H. Holmes, was an American con artist, murderer, and trigamist, the subject of more than 50 lawsuits in Chicago alone. he was born in 1861, and later died by hanging in 1896 (or did he

It's been awhile, did you miss the random history? Hope so!So if you know what a time ball is, you know it's now new at all. But, it is space, time, ships, and timing a ball. Joined by Trisha, we go over what a time ball is, where it originated from, and we discuss the most famous one of them all--the New Year's Eve time-ball in Times Square in New York City.And also go over some of the history of New Year's Eve in Time Square, because I can't talk about science things without some history, you feel me? You can find mostly non operational Time Balls all over the world from Africa, Australia, Europe, and the United States--even the Titanic Memorial in New York City has a Time Ball. 

Have you ever gone down a rabbit hole? Like, you had intentions to explore topic A (in my case, conservatorship in the US), but then find out about topic B (headrights, oil, and murder in Oklahoma)?If you haven't heard about the Reign of Terror associated with the Osage people, you aren't alone. This is definitely part of America's dark history; a story of greed, corruption, oil, and money in the early 20th century. Coined "The Reign of Terror" by news outlets, this is sadly one of many stories about the mistreatment of Indigenous people by whites, but more so because of the murder that also transpired. Why would anyone target a subsect of Indigenous people in Oklahoma? Because they were rich. Oil money rich; and they were birth rights and inherited. However, that means you could designate someone to take your headrights, right? Well, kinda. The US government declared that many of those Indigenous people could NOT  make sound decisions, and needed someone watching over them...that was a white lawyer or business man. What could go wrong? Oh, you know, deception, greed, corruption, and obviously MURDER. Starting in May of 1921, local hunters discovered the decomposing body of 36-year-old Anna Brown in a remote ravine of Osage County. Because there was no apparent killer, police declared the death alcohol poisoning because, why not?  Well, that's just where this story begins. Tune in to hear more about The Reign of Terror, and how the murders stopped...ish. 

This is probably the most recently developed conspiracy theory we've covered on this show, and it's honestly just ableism. The vast majority of people know about Helen Keller and how she learned to communicate with Anne Sullivan after becoming blind and deaf. However, there was a weird trend on TikTok saying how Helen Keller was faking it. Like... What?What most likely started out as a joke video has turned into Gen Z and younger saying she was faking her disability. Matt and I explore this incredibly bizarre and baseless claim and give our 2 cents and then some. 

I've been asked a few times now to do an episode over the Uyghurs or Uighurs. Because my knowledge of Chinese history a part from overall world history and interactions on the international stage is so limited, I was hesitant. But, I did research, and still cannot pronounce a thing. In this solo episode, I go over the history of the Uighurs--where are they located, their ethnicity, religion, their overall culture--and then their history of interactions with China starting in the early 20th century. Because of how China is with concealing information, it is a consistent conflict over gathering information from that region or China about the long standing history of the Uighurs in the Xinjiang region. To read more:https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/religion-china https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-weekend-reads-china-health-269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764chttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037https://www.pbs.org/newshour/features/uighurs/

In this new episode, I sit down with Tyler to talk about the history of the German Beer Purity Law. What is it, why does it exist, and does it even matter anymore? All great questions that I hope we actually covered. Alcohol and religion seem to have an interesting relationship; during the Middle Ages and then some, monks would unknowingly brew beer and hand it out to travelers because drinking water from a river could legitimately give you a disease that would kill you. While brewers didn't know about yeast and its impact in beer making until much later, brewers throughout history would continue to make alcohol. Tune for some interesting stories, and beer. Because God and beer are good. 

Have you ever thought something seemed maybe a bit...off?  Do you swear movies existed that maybe never did? Well, have we got a podcast for you!What exactly is the Mandela Effect? The Mandela Effect is a conspiracy theory term used for false memories; many believe that these slight different memories in mass amounts of the population can indicate that glitch in the Matrix idea, or that we're in a simulation. "In psychology, a false memory is a phenomenon where someone recalls something that did not happen or recalls it differently from the way it actually happened. Suggestibility, activation of associated information, the incorporation of misinformation, and source misattribution have been suggested to be several mechanisms underlying a variety of types of false memory phenomena." On this episode I am joined by Erika, Cassidy, Sobia, and of course Matt, to talk about multiple Mandela Effects and to see who actually was "Mandela'ed."Theories covered:Nelson Mandela's DeathThe Berenstein Bears vs. The Berenstain BearsLooney Tunes vs. Looney ToonsBologna Centrale railway station clockShazaam movieStar Wars--C3PO and “Luke, I am your father”Fruit of the Loom Logo

Yes, you read that right the first time. Reverse underground railroad was a thing. I mentioned it briefly on a previous solo podcast talking about slave patrols to modern policing, but I wanted to take a dive into an individual I uncovered during that dig: Patty CannonThe Cannon-Johnson gang was not just involved in the selling of free or kidnapped Black Americans to slave plantations in areas like Alabama and Mississippi, but they also murdered other slave traders in the process. In this episode I go over Patty Cannon's life, how she started her life of crime, why she was a horrible prostitute, tactics used by the Cannon-Johnson gang, and how she was caught. She wasn't an anomaly though; there were MANY women that participated in illegal practices like the recapture of freed slaves, or even children that were born in free cities, and this was one of the few ways women could provide for themselves after the death of their spouse or father that provided for them financially. But don't have sympathy for Patty when her husband died; she was horrible and while interesting...she's still the literal worst.It's also weird her skull is on display. Like, is that an honor, or fitting? 

Have you heard about all of the different types of traditions that came about during the Victorian Era?Not only were they holiday traditions that still occur today, like Christmas Trees, but the whole idea of mourning for someone's death. Whether it be a funeral, what to wear to grieve the loss of a best friend or cousin, or the creation of the whole funeral home business--it all came about during the Victorian Era. Join Anna and I as we talk about not just these traditions, but some of the incredibly bizarre ones, and how/why it died out. 

If you could pick one athlete, from any sport, of any caliber, who is the greatest? Can someone from the 20th century thrive in a 21st century? These are just a smidge of the questions that Adam and I discuss on this week's episode. This is obviously not all we talk about; if you know me, you know sports is my passion and if I could be a talking head about football I would be. Adam and I talk over not just details about our #1 picks, but what makes someone an amazing athlete, why are people able to break records now, and how technology plays a role in not just sports but overall fitness. Does being a single sport athlete make you the best, or do you need to be the most diverse person ever? Not to ruin it, but we definitely did not have the same #1s, but I did agree with the majority if not all of his picks as being amazing athletes. Also, those in the WWE are amazing athletes, not just entertainers. Catch me outside to fight this opinion and many others after listening in.Do you agree with our picks? Were we off the mark? Are you the greatest athlete of all time? 

On this new conspiracy theory episode, I am joined by my friend Jess because I needed someone that's actually been to the statue of liberty

Sorry, I didn't have a great title to come up with for this episode, but I wanted to get right to the point.I wanted to use my platform to talk about how Asian hate and discrimination isn't new in this country. It literally started with the first Asian immigrants coming to America to escape harsh economic conditions landing in present day California during the height of the California Gold Rush. Within 30 years, US Congress passed the Page Act of 1875 which indiscriminately targeted the immigration of Asian women, creating an imbalance of Asian men to women. Many of these men that came over to work, predominately on the transcontinental railroad, weren't able to bring their partner with them and wound up leaving to go back to China. If an Asian woman wanted to go through the immigration process post Page Act, they were usually humiliated and harassed. You can even view poems written by mostly Chinese immigrants in San Francisco here:https://www.aiisf.org/poems-and-inscriptions The discrimination and stereotypes of Asian immigrants continued past the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 as well. Just because we do not hear as much about it in American history does not mean it didn't happen. It did, and we are for the better to recognize it, teach it, and learn from it to be better now. Afong Moy, the first female Chinese immigrant was considered an oddity and even though she helped to educate those that wanted to be, was used by white men for profit. She sadly had stereotypes made of her, and had stereotypes projected at her when she toured with PT Barnum. If you would like more on her:https://lithub.com/the-life-of-afong-moy-the-first-chinese-woman-in-america/ If you would like more on how polygamy, prostitution impacted federal immigration laws, here's the other article I mentioned:https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6520&context=faculty_scholarship 

There are definitely people that have heard about Mary Phelps Jacob--she patented the modern bra, and I personally thank her for that. But...have you heard about Caresse Crosby--the woman she transformed into once she married Harry Crosby, embraced this new lifestyle in Paris, started a publishing company, became a ghost writer of erotica, founded Women Against War and Citizens of the World, and had an artist haven at a literal CASTLE in Rome? No? Well, let Jordan and I tell you that inventing the bra was honestly the tip of her iceberg sized life. From 1891-1970, Caresse Crosby not only became the literary godmother to the Lost Generation of expatriate writers in Paris, but she was an activist when most women weren't even ready to have their own opinions. She even started the Black Sun Press with Harry to publish the first works of many famous authors, including Hemingway. In this episode, my college and super fashionable friend Jordan and I talk about not only her life, her impact, but why she probably isn't discussed as much. SPOILER: It's not just the open affair with Harry during her first marriage. If you want to read the book by her great-granddaughter, Tamara Colchester, it is called The Heart is a Burial Ground.

Out of all the conspiracy theories we've done, this is by far the best one. Consider that the world as we knew it ended in 2012; it's plausible. We're 8+ years from the end times the Mayans predicted of December 21, 2012, and if you told 2012 you some of things that have happened since then...would you believe yourself? Like, really? I don't think I could.In this episode we discuss five great theories:Astrophysical phenomena caused the end times.The discovery of the Higgs Boson, or God Particle, by CERN led to the end of our universe as we know it.There was a reality changing event.2012 was the end of history as we know itAnd the god damn Mayans were right all along.Matt and I go in-depth on all of these, which definitely left me with the Larry David face of, well....eh...it could happen.

Is it so far fetched to believe that the tactics used by slave patrollers were also used by police officers of the 19th and 20th century? I hope not, because they were. In this second solo episode, I talk about the establishment of slave patrols, some of their methods, the "perks" they received, how they were recruited and from where, as well as how the same formation of slave patrols carried over into state militias, the first armed police departments, and eventually the ku klux klan. Do you disagree with this assessment? Don't care; it's well documented by many historians with better sources that yes, slave patrols were the first form if policing in the US, and they had the best perks for a job based on fear, intimidation, and violence. I even bring up the first unarmed shooting by a police officer in 1858. I bet you don't know the outcome of that officer....you probably do. The accountability, or lack thereof, started real early in our country. It's hard to break a habit that's been ingrained and protected by centuries of tradition. For further reading on this subject, might I suggest:http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/85472/1/usappblog-2017-10-05-from-the-slave-codes-to-mike-brown-the-brutal.pdfhttps://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/slave-patrols-and-chokeholds-a-historic-look-at-police-brutality-and-racism-in-the-us

River Country; the first water theme park in Florida, US, and probably the world! What ever happened to it? Where is it now? Why do I feel like this is going to sound like a celebrity "where are they now?" E! episode? Well, I did mention it on the last episode, but didn't know I would be so lucky to have a guest talk about it with me! Welcome my CrossFit friend and Disney enthusiast, Mackenzie! River Country opened its wet doors in 1975, and literally hit capacity every day until it didn't reopen in 2002. What made this park so great? The Imagineers that crafted the rocks by hand to give it an authentic feel? Or was it that Gerald Ford's daughter was the first to ride down a slide? Or that some think there are conspiracy theories why it closed since Disney never gave an actual answer? It's all of them, honestly. Mackenzie and I go over all of these factors, how others tried to replicate the park (think Action Park in Jersey), what some of the reasons for the downfall were, and what we hope is the future legacy of River Country. 

Who acted on your favorite childhood show or movie? Where are they now? Are they currently living their dream life acting, or are they perfect angels, or did they succumb to the possible Disney curse? On this conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I discuss the dark tales of childhood actors, specifically those that stared in Disney movies and series. With so many actors and actresses to choose from that were not only in the Mickey Mouse Club, but in movies, and shows from Disney, you're bound to come across more than a few that had issues that moat likely has been attributed to them being a child actor with Disney.Some that are living their best lives like Ryan Gosling or Zendaya, or constantly making the news like Shia LaBeouf and Britney Spears. Is there a curse, or is this really the response of their "stage mom?" Do you think this curse is real? Was it mind control? Or is it that we're products of our environment?

But have you heard about the Gordon Riots and the Newgate Prison liberation? Me either until recently! Britain's history with religion and persecution of "the other" has been long documented, but it was news to me that a riot was triggered by the House of Commons trying to lessen restrictions on the Catholics. While you would assume most people involved in the riots would be staunch Protestants that were anti-catholic, there were mostly working class members in the actual 40,000-60,000 group of rioters. In this episode, I talk about 3 individuals that you wouldn't think about being major actors in the riot, specifically because two of them were former slaves from the American colonies-- John Glover and Benjamin Bousey. The third individual, Charlotte Gardiner, was the only one of the three hanged for her crimes, which was the fate many fell to before the expansion of prisons and sentencing, and she seemed like a force to reckon with. 

Spoiler alert: social media, or having a platform on a social media site, is not one of the amendments. Sorry to burst your bubble so soon before you listened into this week's episode.On this week's episode, join me and my fabulous reoccurring guest, Erika, to talk about social media. While that's incredibly vague, and also vast, here are some highlights:How did we get to spreading false news so easily?The Fairness Doctrine and how I WISH we could have it again.What is expected from social media apps, and which apps set the gold standards?How has social media evolved over time--talking about before and after Al Gore invented the internet.Some of the Q-Anon theories. Trust me, I hate 'em all.Listen into all of that more as we talk about our thoughts about social media and the impact it has played in the spreading of misinformation, and how if we even should help those that have bought into Q-Anon conspiracy theories. 

Get ready to dive into another civics and history lesson with Courtney and our guest this week, Becky!While we know the Legislative Branch is all about creating laws that have to be passed by the executive...who are these people and how did they get to wield the cool pen? As Becky and I discuss--there's more than meets the vote on the two Congressional houses of the Legislative Branch. Things we cover in this week's slightly fascinating episode:How did we even get to two parts of Congress? Why can't there be just one?--How the Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut Plan literally planned out representation of the Union.Did we always vote for our direct Senators? Not at all; until the 17th amendment, state legislators decided. It was a whole ordeal and seats would remain empty. Do people still believe we should go back to that system?  Surprisingly yes.How do we get the numbers of Congressional reps per a state? And why is the total number 435? Is gerrymandering kinda illegal, or kinda legal?How do we fill vacant Senate and House seats? Do we always vote? Is the next person to hold that office chosen by a reluctant sloth? Tune in to find out all of these answers and then some!

But have you heard about HAARP? Matt and I now have.The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, is a scientific endeavor aimed at studying the properties and behavior of the ionosphere. "The ionosphere stretches roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth's surface, right at the edge of space. Along with the neutral upper atmosphere, the ionosphere forms the boundary between Earth's lower atmosphere — where we live and breathe — and the vacuum of space." Sounds super cool and full of science? Yeah, and apparently that scares people into thinking the worst out of a machine and program that was a love child of U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA.) Well, HAARP is known to not let people tour, unlike many other government funded research, and if you've gone to their actual website...very vague. If you're surprised that conspiracy theories can come from this, you haven't been listening to enough BHYHA conspiracy theory episodes.While the main focus is radio waves, the conspiracy theories that come from government and science combined is out there. Nick Begich Jr., the son of the late U.S. Representative and brother of former U.S. Senator and basically a well known name in Alaska, really spread rumors and theories that included how HAARP controls the weather AND is a mind control device. Whaaaaaat? Yeah, crazy shenanigans. Make sure to tune in to learn which slightly famous former governor also believe HAARP isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

As I am one to help others understand history, to fully grasp US history you have to also understand the role the government plays and how it interacts with itself. In this first installment of many (I am sure), I am joined again by Anna Maria to kick this off! We go over the three branches of government (basic, I know), but then we go into detail about checks and balances between the branches. Do you know how the Judicial branch can check the Legislative Branch? After listening to this, you will know examples you may have learned in a civics class and forgotten, as well as a few times checks and balances were abused. Is our government perfect? Probably not; it's made by man and man is not perfect. But knowing facts and the correct terminology can help you let those internet trolls they've been hoodwinked by their favorite meme they found on the timeline from a former high school classmate that now let's you know you can make $800 a week from home--and it's not a pyramid scheme. Also, I sing a song. This may become a thing. I apologize in advance, buuuuut you can stop before the singing. We're probably all lucky that I chose history as the final major. 

Yes, it's November, but it's still spooky season--leaves crunch when you walk on them which scares me if I'm not expecting it. Anyways...In this episode I am joined by Roxanne to talk about the Conjuring movies and the factuality of those movies. As we discuss; was it real, or were things exaggerated to make that bread? While we are both believers, and share personal stories about how I convinced Roxanne to get a little too close to an old house in New Orleans and a spirit followed her home, you can still be a skeptic about the total extent of those stories. Will I be trying to take Annabelle home with me to be on my bed any time soon? No. I will not. For fun, we go into clowns and how they are or are not scary, but I bring up Wrinkles the Clown (spoilers in the podcast, but go watch it) and I suggest watching it on Hulu. Also, we talk a lot about underwear. Like, a lot more than normal. AND it's my 30th episode. Thanks for sticking around :)

Throughout quite a few of my episodes, I asked my guests who they considered to be the best and worst president in America; while I knew a lot of my guests would have similar answers (Trump as the worst and Obama as the best), I wanted to put them on the spot to hear their answers. I hope you enjoy this election clip with short opinions from past guests. I couldn't let my guests be the only ones to voice their opinions; I dissect quite a few presidents and give pros and cons about the man and their term. Some people honestly really liked Nixon, and he has a couple pros, like trade talks with China, but his con list is longer than the coveted toilet paper roll back in March. Not all of the better presidents were saints; FDR literally turned away Jews that were later murdered in the Holocaust. While I didn't have a guest on this episode, I hope you enjoy my facts and quirky side humor in relation to these old men. Maybe one day we'll have a woman, or another not so ancient man as president. 

While I say it a lot on this podcast, there are SO MANY amazing stories that deserve not only to be told to a wider audience, but they need to be made into movies. One of those is about Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts. On this episode I am joined by two of my Girl Scout sisters, Caroline and Jaymie, to not only reminisce about our time in Scouts, but to talk about how much of a pioneer Daisy was. Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1860, the daughter of wealthy elites, she grew up privileged, but a sickly child. She attended schooling where she was introduced to her future husband through a friend, William Low. As we point out in the episode, her husband was not supportive of her ambitions, even if it started out as education programs for young women. After the passing of her cheating husband, she had the fortune of meeting the founder of Boy Scouts, Lord Robert Baden Powell. Through his insistence, she found purpose in her life by starting her own Girl Guides troop in Scotland, and later the first one of 18 girls on March 12, 1912 in her hometown of Savannah. Tune in to this latest episode to hear more about Daisy, her life, and Girl Scouts. 

Another day, another spooky Texas legend explored with Courtney and Erika!But have you heard about the Goatman's Bridge? Its out in Argyle, Texas, near Denton, and is also called the Old Alton Bridge. Supposedly, the bridge is haunted by a demonic spirit called the Goatman. On this episode, Erika and I talk about the multiple origin stories, especially how you are more likely to be impacted by the demon if you are related to slave holders, or members of the KKK. Maybe find out your ancestry before you go testing the Goatman?Was the Neiman Marcus story about the Lady in White a marketing ploy, or was it real? There are many variations of the Lady in White/Lady of the Lake--a woman drenched appears by a lake and asks for a ride home with a couple. Once the couple starts to drive they notice she's gone and all that is left is a puddle in the backseat.  In 1953 a  detailed account of the Lady of the Lake legend was included in Dallas author Frank X. Tolbert's book, Neiman-Marcus, Texas: The Story of the Proud Dallas Store. In this account, a beautiful blonde girl appears on the road near White Rock Lake.  Mr. and Mrs. Guy Malloy, directors of display for Neiman-Marcus, spot her standing as if she had just walked up from the beach. Upon seeing the girl standing in the beams of their headlights Mrs. Malloy said:“Stop, Guy. That girl seems in trouble. She must have fallen in the lake. Her dress is wet. Yet you can tell that it is a very fine dress. She certainly got it at the Store.”To learn what else happens, tune into this newest episode of But Have You Heard About. 

In this special spooky episode of conspiracy theories, we revisit spiritualism to talk about one of the greatest debunkers of spiritualism, and how a friendship soured because of his skepticism.  For those that know, Harry Houdini was not only the greatest escape artist of all time, he was also the staunchest debunker of spiritualism and seances. As a magician, he'd seen it all--and he would call people mediums out for profiting off of people's want to talk to deceased relatives, especially after World War I. In this episode, we talk about Houdini's special relationship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the creator of Sherlock Holmes), why his wife Bess had seances after his death, and how Houdini passed. It's always a trip on conspiracy theory Monday. 

Welcome to the very first ever panel on But Have You Heard About! I was joined again by LaToya, her brother Terrence, their childhood friend Nick, and my colleague turned wonderful friend Maria to talk about Jim Crow and how it really never left American culture. Even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  white supremacy was and is still impacting our current system of government--whether voter ID laws, gerrymandering, or how we view crime. When most people think about Jim Crow, they most likely do not think of the lasting effects. Not just with how the 70s and 80s impacted people of color in America, but even in present day. As one of the panelists put it, racism is in the air we breathe. Until those in power are ready to give up that presumed position of power in our current system, we will continue to have systematic oppression--and it doesn't even need to be called Jim Crow.

Have you danced with the Dancing Devil? Heard the scratches at the Midget Mansion? Or even had your car saved by the children at the train tracks? Well, if you haven't heard the history behind some of these local San Antonio area spooky legends, are you in for a treat.Erika joins me again to talk about more spooky legends, and we discuss three major San Antonio ones, including if they could be real, where did the stories originate from if they didn't actually happen in San Antonio, and are they just tales to keep young men and women in line with good faith? You don't want to miss this week's update on the spookies!

Today on Spooky Conspiracy Theory Monday, Matt and I talk about if the hauntings of the infamous house in Amityville, New York. There are so many haunted house stories in the US, but how many are real? How many were imagined for a court case? Amityville Horror Story is based on a real house that you can drive by if you're ever in the Long Island neighborhood. The facts that are wildly known: In the early morning hours of November 13, 1974, a man named Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed his mother, father, and four siblings while they slept in their suburban home at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY. DeFeo was convicted for their murders, and he remains incarcerated today.The Lutzs moved in within a year of those murders, and by day 28 they ran from the house, leaving all of their belongings when they did. But, were the things they said happened while they were there...real? Tune in to hear about some of the history that definitely wasn't in that Ryan Reynolds movie.