We now know that the CIA quietly tested mind-bending psychedelics on unwitting American citizens. But how do we know?In Part 2 of our series on MK-Ultra, we're going to tell you the story of how one of the CIA's many dirty secrets was revealed to the world, and how they were forced not only to hand over damaging information about their mind-bending escapades ... Show More
Mar 10
ShortHand: The Viper Room & The Death of River Phoenix
In October 1993, River Phoenix crashed out of Johnny Depp’s exclusive club, fell onto the pavement, and died. An hour earlier, the 23-year-old rising star had snorted a lethal combination of cocaine and heroin known as a ‘speedball’ in the toilets. As he staggered around the club ... Show More
22m 11s
Mar 6
ShortHand: Princess Anastasia - The Russian Royal Imposter
The year was 1917, and revolution was in the air in Russia. After sustaining heavy losses in WW1, the fall of the House of Romanov seemed inevitable. And one night the Tsar, his wife, and their five children, were shot, stabbed, burned with acid, set on fire, blown up with grenad ... Show More
33m 35s
Mar 5
The McStay Family Murders - Part One | #439
How does a family completely vanish? That was the question that plagued investigators after Michael McStay reported his brother Joe McStay missing on the 15th of February 2010, along with Joe’s wife Summer, and their two children, Joe Jr and Gianni. It took four years to discover ... Show More
1h 17m
Apr 2025
37. CIA Mind Control: Sex, Drugs, and Mysterious Deaths (Ep 3)
From LSD-fuelled hallucinations to medically-induced comas, the CIA explored every avenue in their search for mind control. But how did they justify these gross violations of human rights? And what does it reveal about the hidden history of the Cold War? In the clandestine world ... Show More
48m 29s
Aug 2024
CLASSIC: MKULTRA 101: The Basics
The rumors spread for decades: Somewhere in the US, our own government was conducting dangerous, heinous and illegal experiments on citizens from all walks of life. This conspiratorial tale seemed set to remain little more than an urban legend -- until, that is, intrepid reporter ... Show More
43m 53s
Jul 2025
New Podcast: Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes
From UFO cults and mass suicides to secret CIA experiments, presidential assassinations, and murderous doctors, these aren’t just theories. They’re real stories that blur the line between fact and fiction. In Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, host Vanessa Richardson takes you ... Show More
1m 41s
Aug 2025
CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Emanuela Orlandi
In 1983, 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi vanished from Vatican City...and never came home. For decades, her family searched for answers. What they uncovered pointed to something far darker than a kidnapping. In this episode, "Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes" takes a deep dive i ... Show More
42m 1s
Feb 2025
Bonus Episode: Satchmo and Secret Agents
This week, Jake is thinking about the CIA and its role in our culture. Has the CIA played a part not just in political dirty tricks overseas, but also in the music and culture that are part of our daily lives? Plus, We hear about Jake's grandfather, whose dream was to join the CI ... Show More
39m 7s
Apr 2025
Secrets, Lies, and the Price of Truth: The CIA Whistleblower John Kiriakou | Part 2
Dr. Phil continues his raw conversation with ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou.In this gripping continuation of Dr. Phil's deep-dive with former CIA officer turned whistleblower John Kiriakou, Part Two unpacks the personal, political, and psychological consequences of speaking truth t ... Show More
52m 24s
May 2024
Marilyn Monroe (Part 1): JFK, RFK, and a Conspiracy Theory that Won't Quit
Marilyn Monroe is one if not the greatest Hollywood stars of all time. She rose from orphan to icon by creating an on screen character America could not peel their eyes away from. And she did it all while battling anxiety, depression and addiction. Along the way she bedded, marri ... Show More
36m 31s