The Why Files: Operation Podcast

After World War II, the CIA hatched a covert plan to stop Soviet expansion in Europe. They created a secret army, recruiting an unexpected mix of allies. This clandestine operation, known as Gladio, spanned across all NATO countries.
What began as a defensive strategy quickly morphed into something far more sinister. Innocent civilians became casualties in a shadow war fought on European streets.

Imagine a world where the genetic code is as easy to edit as a simple copy-and-paste.
This is the reality of CRISPR, a revolutionary technology that could cure diseases and save countless lives.
But in the wrong hands, it may lead to a dark future.
Unlocking the secrets of DNA and the rapid evolution of AI is creating unintended consequences.

In 2015, geologists discovered something peculiar: identical electrical patterns beneath four locations across the globe. These places shared another connection - they were all home to famous cryptid sightings.
From the Jersey Devil to Mokele-mbembe, these creatures seemed random and unrelated. Until scientists found the underground grid.
Now research suggests these legendary beasts might be more connected than anyone imagined. What lies beneath these locations, and why are the tunnels expanding toward a central point?

Imagine a quaint cottage in Dodleston, where Ken Webster, a teacher, encounters a bewildering phenomenon. Unusual messages appear on his computer, supposedly from someone living in the same house, but in the year 1541.
As the communication evolves, Ken and his friends grapple with the mystery, oscillating between skepticism and belief. The narrative unfolds with peculiar incidents, intriguing historical inaccuracies, and a cryptic entity known as 2109, leading to a cross-time dialogue that challenges the boundaries of belief and reality.
This story weaves a compelling tapestry of mystery, history, and the unexplained, inviting the listener on a journey through time and the unknown.

Humans are the apex predator. Not *an* apex predator. *The* apex predator. Other than a handful of bacteria and viruses, there’s pretty much nothing stronger, more intelligent, or more adaptable than Homo sapiens.
Telling the human story from the beginning is difficult.
It was a time when two words defined our world: fear and violence. It was a time when we were *not* the apex predator; we were their prey.
We emerged from our caves during the day. Hoping we wouldn’t be hunted by the monsters in the woods.
So vicious were these monsters they still live in our myths -- and our nightmares. They created a generational trauma embedded into our DNA over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution.
These creatures were stronger, faster, and (when it came to combat) more intelligent than we were. It’s a miracle any of us are even here.
This is the story of how modern humans conquered the monsters and won the battle for the world.
But here's the thing: those fearsome monsters defeated by humans? Were other humans.