If you ever stay up at night scanning through frequencies on shortwave radio, there is a good chance you might come across something very odd and kind of creepy.
You will find a station that is nothing but a disembodied voice reading off a seemingly random string of numbers. There is often an identifying sound or song which is played on a regular basis bef ... Show More
Yesterday
The Indian Rebellion of 1857
In 1857, a rumor about rifle cartridges made with animal fat helped ignite one of the most important uprisings in the history of the British Empire. What began as a mutiny among Indian soldiers soon became a massive rebellion that swept across northern India, toppled cities, revi ... Show More
14m 38s
Apr 18
The World's Worst Located Cities
All over the world, there are cities and towns. Some of those have become major urban areas that are culturally and economically important to their regions, countries, or even the world. Most of those cities were selected because they offered some geographical advantage. However, ... Show More
15m 8s
Jun 2022
18: Numbers Stations | Listen to Spy Broadcasts, Audio & Coded Messages
NUMBERS STATIONS. Not a relic of the past. Intelligence agencies use shortwave to communicate with spies, agents and assets in the field. Right now. Today. Let's listen to a few and learn how to tune in from home -- for free. Since World War One, numbers stations have been transm ... Show More
19m 54s
Sep 2023
A trucker hat mystery, the curse of September and other listener questions
Ba-dee-yah! Say do you remember? Ba-dee-yah! Questions in September!That's right - it's time for Listener Questions!Every so often, we like to hear from listeners about what's on their minds, and we try to get to the bottom of their economic mysteries. On today's show, we have qu ... Show More
26m 35s
Nov 2025
Everything’s more expensive!! Pet care!! Concert tickets!! (Two Indicators)
People in the U.S. are feeling the financial squeeze, in part because of rising inflation, higher consumer prices and slowing job growth. The Indicator from Planet Money is tackling a special series on the rising cost of living. Today, two stories from that series. First, what’s ... Show More
17m 39s