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The Why Files: Operation Podcast

The Why Files: Operation Podcast

By: The Why Files: Operation Podcast
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 The Why Files covers mysteries, myths and legends. We tell stories and seek the truth in a fun and lighthearted way. Our content is heavily researched; we don't release an episode unless we're sure we can bring something new to a topic. Biological Sciences Science Science Fiction Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 596: The Awakening of Human Consciousness | Forbidden Fungus (STRIPPED)

    596: The Awakening of Human Consciousness | Forbidden Fungus (STRIPPED)
    May 31 2025
    Something extraordinary happened to the human brain 100,000 years ago. In just a few thousand generations, our brains nearly doubled in size - a change that should have taken millions of years.

    Scientists couldn't explain it until Terence McKenna proposed a radical theory. He believed early humans transformed into conscious beings not through fire or tools, but through eating a forbidden fungus growing in animal dung across Africa.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeF3n-1sPJY
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    28 mins
  • 595: Dark Oxygen | CIA Deep Sea Secret Could Trigger the Next Extinction Event (STRIPPED)

    595: Dark Oxygen | CIA Deep Sea Secret Could Trigger the Next Extinction Event (STRIPPED)
    May 23 2025
    Two miles below the Pacific Ocean, scientists have discovered something impossible: rocks that generate electricity and produce oxygen without sunlight. These ancient metallic "batteries" could be the original source of Earth's oxygen - before plants or algae existed.


    The CIA has known about these rocks since the 1960s, keeping their true potential classified for decades. The discovery dramatically expands where alien life might exist, from billions of possibilities to trillions.


    These seafloor nodules host thousands of newly discovered species that evolved to harness electricity directly. But now, deep-sea mining threatens to destroy in days what took millions of years to form.


    Dark Oxygen forces us to reconsider our understanding of life on Earth and beyond. Could disrupting this hidden electrical network trigger the next mass extinction?
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    22 mins
  • 594: The Midnight Game | When Ancient Shadows Come To Play (STRIPPED)

    594: The Midnight Game | When Ancient Shadows Come To Play (STRIPPED)
    May 21 2025
    The Midnight Game begins with a drop of blood, a candle, and 22 knocks at the stroke of midnight. What follows is an ancient pagan ritual reborn in the digital age – a deadly game of hide and seek with a shadow entity known as the Midnight Man.

    From its origins as punishment to its spread across college campuses worldwide, this ritual has left countless participants traumatized by what they've encountered. The rules are simple: maintain your candlelight and avoid the Midnight Man until 3:33 AM.

    Victims report seeing the same entity – a tall, thin shadow with unnatural movements and conscious intent. The Midnight Man isn't alone, however, but part of a global phenomenon of shadow beings that appear consistently across cultures throughout human history.

    Scientists and paranormal researchers alike have documented strange occurrences during ritual attempts, from sudden temperature drops to inexplicable equipment failures. The Midnight Man waits in the darkness between worlds, just a ritual away.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1jSDHxUmMM&t=268s

    SOURCES & LINKS

    Shadow People and The Hat Man:
    • Shadow People and The Hat Man | Who a...

    Who are The Dark Watchers?
    • Who are The Dark Watchers? Don't star...
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    25 mins
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Fun, informative, and full of light-hearted mystery. I like how things are debunked when the evidence disproves the legend, but there's always an opening for wondering about more. Plus Hecklefish is absolutely hilarious! He's the little voice in our heads let loose on the world.

Gertie loves to dance!

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The Why Files podcast is a truly one-of-a-kind cast. It’s whimsical, sometimes Sophomoric, but fast-paste, and data-dense. The podcast offers up references, and are easily accessed via their notes section for each episode. Each episode is unique, some far-flung, some physics-centric (which I like, especially at the theoretical and quantum levels), but all have a storyline that draws you into the topic. It’s how I wish more formal educational ventures were presented and pursued.

The Why Files is fast-paced, entertaining, willing to consider any topic, and embeds outstanding info & references

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really enjoyed the facts of explaining the destruction of being hit by a large meteor.

great overview of history and extinctions.

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And, ya gotta love Heckle Fish 🤣 Seriously, AJ is an amazing storyteller and the topics are so interesting. If you’re a fan of paranormal, aliens, conspiracy theories, ancient mysteries etc, you’re going to love The Why Files!!

Super fun and interesting topics!

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I started listening and pretty soon I was 5 episodes in. It is the best background podcast. You learn things and connect the dots with all the info. Its so interesting and it calms my anxiety.

Connecting the Why Files

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fantastic podcast l! i love all of the topics and how well it's all presented. keeps this trucker entertained and thinking through those long lonely nights. Thank you AH

well put together!

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I love the stories and mysteries discussed on the show. The fact based approach is also very welcome to debunk certain stories and lend credibility to others.

Excellent series!

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Love the way you tell the stories without interruption, then go back and confirm or debunk it or parts of it. Doing that during the story itself can become a jumble. I think that can bore or unintentionally misdirect people, or lead them to confirm an outcome for themselves before the story is over. Great job! Keep the content coming! One of the best podcasts I've found!

Awesome Podcast!

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I tried coast to coast after watching aj and I just couldn't get into it . heckle fish and you really make these 12 hour shifts fly by.

story telling mixed with humor .

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Love. amazing, interesting, funny, informative, entertaining, tin foil ear buds, thou shalt not skip leg day.

love hecklefish!!🐠

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