Mission Implausible
As former high-level CIA operatives, John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea would create fake conspiracies around the world. Now, with the help of experts, they execute their own fun and fearless investigation into conspiracy theories past and present to assess what's real. And how. And why. - Executive Producers: Adam Davidson, John Sipher, Jerry O'Shea & Jonathan Stern - Associate Producer: Rachel Harner - A production of Honorable Mention and Abominable Pictures
S3 E15 · Sun, April 13, 2025
Michael Ian Black Has the Answers
Michael Ian Black -- humorist, political blogger, comedian, team captain of CNN's "Have I Got News for You," and generational poker talent -- brings all his skills to making sense of Trump and those who enable (or take advantage of) him. He also has something to say about the establishment and lifting of tariffs this week... actually, during the actual recording of the episode. (with guest Michael Ian Black, if that wasn't clear)
S3 E14 · Sun, April 06, 2025
The Army of God (with Stephanie McCrummen)
The New Apostolic Reformation is a growing anti-democratic religious movement that believes that God speaks through modern-day apostles and prophets. How did they become energetic allies of Trump?
S3 E13 · Sun, March 30, 2025
JFK Assassination Convert Phil Robinson
Last week’s dump of the remains of the JFK Assassination files were a complete dud (except for the sloppy non-redaction of social security numbers and the names of intelligence sources). Hollywood movie director Phil Robinson wasn’t surprised. For years, he’d grown up a JFK Assassination conspiracy theorist. But when he dug deep enough he found… nothing. Now he extols the sadly mundane truth — it was just Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. How did he climb out of this, the most famous of rabbit holes?
S3 E12 · Sun, March 23, 2025
The First Two Months (with Mike Rothschild)
The first two months of Trump's term have been a tour de force of chaos, bizarre hires and indecipherable decisions. Conspiracy theories operate on both sides of the equation. They are attempts to find an underlying rationale for moves by Trump and Musk, often presuming nefarious motivations of self-interest. Conspiracy theories are also being used as a tool to justify actions that are unpopular or destructive. From USAID to Fort Knox to anything "deep state," are these false conspiracy theories deliberately fabricated as misinformation or are they the convictions of True Believers?
S3 E11 · Sun, March 16, 2025
Opus Dei: A Real Conspiracy (with Gareth Gore) - Part Two
We continue with Gareth Gore, author of: Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. Opus Dei has worked behind the scenes for decades to build up political influence and power in the U.S., bankrolling many right-wing causes.
S3 E10 · Sun, March 09, 2025
Opus Dei: A Real Conspiracy (with Gareth Gore) - Part One
Opus Dei is a secretive, ultra-conservative Catholic sect. Gareth Gore uncovered how it pushed its radical agenda within the Church and around the globe, using billions of dollars siphoned from one of the world’s largest banks. His book is: Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church.
S1 E15 · Sun, March 02, 2025
Encore Presentation: The Deepest State (with Mark Zaid)
D.C. lawyer Mark Zaid is in the news this week, having been specifically targeted by Trump for representing a whistleblower involved with Trump's first impeachment. As such, we're revisiting this episode from last year in which Mark Zaid talks about the cases he's taken over the years and the fictional concept of The Deep State. As someone recently blueskyed, "If there really was a 'Deep State' it would have shut this s**t show down already!"
S3 E9 · Sun, February 23, 2025
Trae Crowder, The Liberal Redneck
Comedian Trae Crowder is from a tiny town in Tennessee, so he has a unique point of view on conservative, liberals, MAGA and especially J.D. Vance… what’s the deal with that guy?? Well, Trae knows a thing or two.
S3 E8 · Sun, February 16, 2025
The Cult of Trump (with Steven Hassan)
Steven Hassan was once sucked into The Moonies. He broke free and has devoted the subsequent 50 years to becoming and expert on mind control and cults and then using that knowledge to help others escape cults and rejoin their lives. Cults take many forms, but their tactics are very similar. Which brings us to MAGA. Does it fit the definition of a cult? If so, how are people indoctrinated and how can they be supported in leaving?
S3 E7 · Sun, February 09, 2025
How Easy Is It for Our Government to Pull off More Conspiracies? (with Tim Weiner)
Previously, we talked with Tim Weiner about an actual U.S. government conspiracy, The Iran Contra Affair, and a conspiracy theory, the Iranian hostages October Surprise. It was almost kept undetected, and plenty of people escaped accountability. In a continuation of that conversation, we look at the many routes to our executive branch pulling off similar actions in secrecy. Specifically, the INCOMING executive branch, which seems to be being designed for it. And if it’s that doable, there must be so many that remain undiscovered.
S3 E6 · Sun, February 02, 2025
Did CIA Kill JFK? (with Gus Russo)
Gus Russo’s research into the Kennedy Assassination is second only to The Warren Commission. He’s been to primary sources. He’s seen documents few ever have. And he’s ready to address the question of whether CIA was involved in the assassination. Here’s his answer: No. So why DO people still suspect CIA? And who else WAS involved? He’s got answers to that too. Also, why the government shouldn’t release the JFK files.
S3 E5 · Sun, January 26, 2025
The JFK Assassination: A New Clue, Never Before Revealed (with David Reuben)
In our first live (sort of) episode, a former investigator for the Chicago District Attorney shares a connected story about Jack Ruby that has never been heard before. John & Jerry & Jon and their guest review the prevailing theories in the first of our occassional search for a conclusion to the biggest conspiracy theory of all time.
S3 E4 · Sun, January 19, 2025
Codes & Ciphers & Puzzles (with A.J. Jacobs)
A.J. Jacobs (host of The Puzzler podcast and author of The Puzzler book) swaps tales of secret messages in the world of spycraft. But A.J. is an expert on many things, and another one of those areas is The U.S. Constitution (he's the author of the new-ish books The Year of Living Constitutionally ). What are the conspiracy theories behind and about The Constitution? He also wrote The Year of Living Biblically , so there's stuff about that too. Long story short, it's a fascinating, multi-disciplinary adventure of an episode.
S3 E3 · Sun, January 12, 2025
The Iran-Contra Affair: An Actual, Real Government Conspiracy (with Tim Weiner)
We often talk about government conspiracy THEORIES, but under Ronald Reagan, there was a bona-fide CONSPIRACY involving illegally selling arms to Iran in exchange for hostages, and then using that money to fund guerillas in South America. So… pretty complicated. If you don’t remember, the hearings captivated the country and almost got Reagan impeached. There’s also the theory that Reagan made a deal with Iran before his election to withold releasing the hostages to hurt Carter. Real Mission Implausible kind of stuff.
S3 E2 · Sun, January 05, 2025
More Religion and Conspiracy Theories (with Drew McCoy)
"Exvangelical" Drew McCoy (aka The Genetically Modified Skeptic) continue to explore how religion and conspiracies overlap. Are non-believers playing followers? What's Drew's personal journey to becoming the atheist and conspiracy buster he is now?
S3 E1 · Sun, December 29, 2024
Religion and Conspiracy Theories (with Drew McCoy) - Part 1
Drew McCoy, aka Genetically Modified Skeptic, is a fundamentalist Evangelical Christian turned agnostic/atheist. With John, Jerry and Adam, they explore the position of conspiracy theories throughout religion in general.
S2 E31 · Wed, December 25, 2024
ENCORE: The Simpsons: Does the CIA Tell Them How to Predict the Future? The Answer May Surprise You!
ENCORE PRESENTATION -- Two Simpsons legends explore the theory that The Simpsons either predicts the future or causes the future, perhaps in cahoots with the CIA. Then they ask John & Jerry inside-CIA questions they always wanted to know. (with Bill Oakley & David Silverman)
S2 E30 · Wed, December 18, 2024
Syria / Havana Syndrome
Adam, John & Jerry look at what's happening right now in Syria in terms of journalism and intelligence. They also update us on the newest development with Havana Syndrome.
S2 E29 · Wed, December 11, 2024
Our National Intelligence
Jerry and John, with Adam, doommonger about the future of our national security if Tulsi Gabbard becomes the Director of National Intelligence and Kash Patel becomes the FBI Director. What happens when someone unqualified and inexperienced and unable to pass a background check get put in the leadership of an enormous department that they don’t trust?
S2 E28 · Wed, December 04, 2024
Can We Trust the Experts? (with Tom Nichols)
Journalist Tom Nichols (The Atlantic) explains how discrediting expertise is used as a weapon in order to control (mis)information.
S2 E27 · Wed, November 27, 2024
Can We Trust the Government? (with Adam Conover)
Comedian and all-around expert Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything, Factually!) made a series about the government with Barack Obama called “T G Word.” How does he feel about its reliabilty? Why are people suspicious of it?
S2 E26 · Wed, November 20, 2024
Shenanigans at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue (with Zach Everson)
Forbes journalist Zach Everson spent much of Trump's previous presidency embedded in Trump Hotel in DC. John and Jerry learn more about The Emoluments Clause and all the ways that foreign power brokers were able to channel payments to Trump through his hotels... and could again.
S2 E25 · Wed, November 13, 2024
How the Election Affects the CIA
Adam and John and Jerry do what everyone else in America is doing... try to game out what the election will mean. In this case, for the intelligence agencies, international cooperation and overall national security. So, like, not one of the super-light episodes. But still worth listening to!
S2 E24 · Wed, November 06, 2024
How Do Counterintelligence Professionals Assess Trump’s Relationship with Russia? - Part Two (with Peter Strzok)
How are the Russians getting Trump to do what they want? There are many theories, but we've reached our own conclusion.
S2 E23 · Wed, October 30, 2024
The Lincoln Project (with Rick Wilson)
The Lincoln Project is an American political action committee (PAC) founded in December 2019 by moderate conservatives and former Republican Party members who oppose U.S. President Donald Trump and Trumpism. In the midst of the 2024 election, having run over 700 different ads, co-founder Rick Wilson offers one-of-a-kind insight into the American electorate.
S1 E22 · Wed, October 23, 2024
How Do Counterintelligence Professionals Assess Trump’s Relationship with Russia? - Part One (with Philip Auerswald and Peter Strzok)
37 years ago, Trump returned from a trip to Moscow obsessed that America wasn’t getting paid enough for protecting its allies, that our leaders weren’t tough enough, and that America’s economy was destined to self-destruct within the next four years. And he never stopped. Why would a self-obsessed New York real estate developer suddenly care about America’s international politics?
S2 E21 · Wed, October 16, 2024
Embedded with The Proud Boys on January 6th (with Nick Quested)
Documentary filmmaker Nick Quested called up the leader of The Proud Boys and got an invite to tag along to The Insurrection with his cameras. Quested’s eye-witness footage was part of the Congressional January 6th Committee evidence and now part of Jack Smith’s case against Trump. Quested shares his insights and his predictions about what will go down this November.
S2 E20 · Wed, October 09, 2024
Everyone Controls the Weather But Nobody Does Anything About It
Jerry and John -- and Adam! -- think about the current hurricanes and the dangerous conspiracy theories that weaponize them. As always, they view the larger context of false weather beliefs.
S2 E19 · Wed, October 02, 2024
America the Hellhole? Russian Disinformation Today (with Michael Weiss)
Certain American are repeating Russian propaganda and might not even realize where it came from. Russia is pushing the narrative that America is a disaster, and Trump has picked up the thread. How does Russia feed their message into U.S. conversations and how do they benefit from it? It's the end of our trilogy of Michael Weiss' illuminating interview.
S2 E18 · Wed, September 25, 2024
Russian Disinformation Part Two: They're Still At It! (with Michael Weiss)
Would you take $100,000 per week to parrot Russian propaganda on your podcast? Well, some guys did, and are now indicted.
S2 E17 · Wed, September 18, 2024
Russian Disinformation (with Michael Weiss)
How did the Russians get so good at the disinformation game, how do they do it, and who's doing it for them?
S2 E16 · Wed, September 11, 2024
The Private Life of a Spy (with Jen Banbury)
Adam’s wife has a lot of personal CIA questions for John & Jerry.
S2 E15 · Wed, September 04, 2024
Does the CIA Control the Media? (with Philip Mudd)
If not the CIA, then maybe the FBI? How about both? Philip Mudd worked for both agencies and then resigned and he has the answers. Including whether RFK Jr.'s suspicions about Operation Mockingbird are valid.
S2 E14 · Wed, August 28, 2024
Honeytraps
Jerry and John reflect on how intelligence services employ honey traps — snaring assets using sex.
S2 E13 · Wed, August 21, 2024
How the Brain Is Built for Conspiracies (with David Eagleman)
Are our brains wired to believe in conspiracy theories? Brain expert David Eagleman (“Inner Cosmos”) tells John & Jerry how, and how to break through.
S2 E12 · Wed, August 14, 2024
The Trump Loyalty Test (with Tim Miller)
Former Republican National Committee spokesman Tim Miller tells John & Jerry what it's like trying to meet the requirements of membership of today's Republican party.
S2 E11 · Wed, August 07, 2024
Patrick Ewing and the Frozen Envelope (with Chris Ballard)
The 1985 NBA Draft was one of the most controversial in NBA history. How did The New York Knicks land first pick and get Patrick Ewing? Was it rigged? Sports Illustrated writer Chris Ballard might know the answer.
S2 E10 · Wed, July 31, 2024
The Simpsons (with Bill Oakley & David Silverman)
Two Simpsons legends explore the theory that The Simpsons either predicts the future or causes the future, perhaps in cahoots with the CIA. Then they ask John & Jerry inside-CIA questions they always wanted to know.
S2 E9 · Wed, July 24, 2024
The Elites (with Evan Osnos)
Who are these “elites” that are running everything? And don’t we all aspire to be elite anyway?
S2 E8 · Wed, July 17, 2024
CIA Q&A
Adam Davidson usurps the podcast with questions he always wanted to ask about the CIA, starting with Surveillance Detection Runs.
S2 E7 · Wed, July 10, 2024
Getting Out (with Brent Lee and Sander van der Linden)
Brent Lee went deep down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories then climbed himself out. Too much of it didn’t add up, especially the idea of crisis actors faking mass shootings and the election of Trump.
S2 E6 · Wed, July 03, 2024
Sandy Hook Crisis Actors (with Representative Eric Swalwell)
The school shootings in America have been real. We discuss how the concept of them being faked with crisis actors is completely impossible, but why some people spread the conspiracy theory and why others choose to believe it. And what's behind that politically.
Sun, June 30, 2024
Minisode - Satanists and Stalinists
Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks the Catholic Church is too nice, and also run by Satanists. A Florida deputy sheriff writes disinformation for Russia. Stalin - Never Stop Applauding. And Keep Zimbabwe Great Again. And a dig at Ted Cruz, because that always plays.
S2 E5 · Wed, June 26, 2024
Hunter Biden’s Laptop Part 3: Return of the Laptop (with Doug Wise)
The laptop is back, thanks to the recent Hunter Biden court case. John and Jerry, two of The Dirty 51 (signers of a letter written by former intelligence officials warning of Russian elections interference via the laptop Giuliani was hawking) are joined by another signer, former CIA officer Doug Wise, and podcast legend Adam Davidson to catch up to all the misinformation and misdirection around this laptop.
Mon, June 24, 2024
Minisode - This Week in Crazy - 6/24/24
Crazy claims of the week: Hunter Biden's prosecution was a red herring; Cheap Fakes; and Emmanuel Macron's wife is a man. Plus The Epoch Times and new congressional Republicans put on Intelligence Committee.
S2 E4 · Wed, June 19, 2024
The Jade Helm Invasion (with Dan Lamothe)
Routine military training exercises, in the eyes of paranoid extremists, were a pretense for Obama to have the U.S. take over Texas. Which... uh... does't it already have?
Wed, June 12, 2024
Minisode - The Orkney Conspiracy
Some people believe Alaska and Hawaii belong to Russia. Mainly Russians believe that.
S2 E3 · Wed, June 05, 2024
The Biden Crime Family Hoax (with Lev Parnas) - Part Two
Part Two of our interview with the Russian-Israeli-American “businessman” who, when partnered with Rudy Giuiliani, tried and failed to come up with dirt on the Bidens for Trump. And he's got a long list of names of the others who were in on it.
S2 E2 · Wed, May 29, 2024
The Biden Crime Family Hoax (with Lev Parnas) - Part One
A Russian-Israeli-American “businessman,” partnered with Rudy Giuiliani, tried and failed to come up with dirt on the Bidens for Trump. It was all Russian disinformation.
Mon, May 27, 2024
Minisode - Surveillance
Are gold-painted street performers in Pakistan actually spying on its citizens? John & Jerry look at this trend in the context of Pakistan's history, and recall some of their own surveillance stories.
Wed, May 22, 2024
Minisode - The Bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade
One time when the CIA got it very wrong (with John Sipher, Jerry O'Shea and Adam Davidson)
S2 E1 · Wed, May 15, 2024
Justin Trudeau is Fidel Castro’s Illegitimate Son (with Jon Lovett)
Were Margaret Trudeau's “borders” open to Cuba? (with Jon Lovett)
S1 E15 · Wed, May 08, 2024
The Deepest State (with Mark Zaid)
We’re ALL The Deep State. Whistleblowers, whistleblowees, and the people who defend them. (with Mark Zaid)
Sun, May 05, 2024
Minisode - A Coup in Germany
This week, an attempted coup in Germany was stopped. A "prince" believed that a bureaucrat loophole could restore his lineage to power and reboot Germany to its pre-WW2 glory.
S1 E14 · Wed, May 01, 2024
What's the Deal with Congress?! (with Denver Riggleman)
Guest Denver Riggleman gripes about his time as a sane Republican in Congress and how he was shunned for his morality. How Jerry was recruited into the CIA. And how to win a bar fight.
Sun, April 28, 2024
Minisode - Doing Horrible Things and then Justifying It
The conspiracy to protect Trump's lie about how it was the Ukranians who interfered with the 2016 election and not the Russians. How people rationalize taking money from Saudi Arabia. And two Russian spies were caught in Germany. (with Adam Davidson)
S1 E13 · Wed, April 24, 2024
Politics! (with David Corn)
Is there a conspiracy to spread conspiracy theories? (with guest David Corn and suprise dramatic readings!)
S1 E12 · Wed, April 17, 2024
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (aka UFOs) (with Michael Ian Black and Seth Shostack)
When did UFOs become "UAPs" and, as always, why is the government hiding them? (with Michael Ian Black and Seth Shostack)
Mon, April 15, 2024
Minisode: FISA - The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
In this minisode , John & Jerry look at the battle happening right now over FISA. How did it snare Trump's squad and do the blockers understand how many lives it saves?
S1 E11 · Wed, April 10, 2024
The Montauk Project
Is “Stranger Things” a true story? (with Mike Rothschild and Christopher Garetano)
S1 E10 · Wed, April 03, 2024
Havana Syndrome: Part Two (with Marc Polymeropoulos)
What has the government acknowledged and what are they doing about it? (with Marc Polymeropoulos)
S1 E9 · Wed, March 27, 2024
Havana Syndrome: Part One (with Jon Lee Anderson)
Who has it? Where did they get it? Is it real? (with Jon Lee Anderson)
S1 E8 · Wed, March 20, 2024
Hunter Biden's Laptop : Part Two (with Adam Kinzinger)
Who are The Dirty 51? And why were John & Jerry on the cover of The New York Post? (with Adam Kinzinger)
S1 E7 · Wed, March 13, 2024
Hunter Biden's Laptop: Part One (with Asha Rangappa and Denver Riggleman)
Isn’t it Russian disinformation? Was Guiliani a “useful idiot”? (with Asha Rangappa and Denver Riggleman)
S1 E6 · Wed, March 06, 2024
Israeli Russian-Eating Egyptian Sharks
Is it safe to go back in the water of The Red Sea?
S1 E5 · Wed, February 28, 2024
Elite Doomsday Bunkers at Denver International Airport
What did the government secretly build under the Denver Airport and what's the password to get in when the s**t comes down?
S1 E4 · Wed, February 21, 2024
Adam Kinzinger of the Congressional January 6 Committee
How lonely is it to be one of only two Republicans who's willing to say that the election wasn't stolen and storming The Capital was wrong?
S1 E3 · Wed, February 14, 2024
Chemtrails Are Making Us Horny and/or Infertile
What are those white clouds that come out of airplanes and how can we blame everything bad on them?
S1 E2 · Wed, February 07, 2024
Jewish Space Lasers
What's the absolute least cost-effective way to start a forest fire and how did they pull it off?
S1 E1 · Wed, February 07, 2024
Bill Gates' Microchip Plan
So Bill Gates started Covid to create a need for vaccines that were a Trojan Horse for putting microchips in people to track them? And this was a better plan than just using cell phones because... ?
Trailer · Wed, January 31, 2024
Introducing: Mission Implausible
As former high-level CIA operatives, John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea would create fake conspiracies around the world. Now, with the help of experts, they execute their own fun and fearless investigation into conspiracy theories past and present to assess what's real. And how. And why.
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