Claim OwnershipMission Implausible
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Do you want to know the truth behind the world’s wildest conspiracy theories? Former CIA officers John Sipher & Jerry O’Shea try to determine where misinformation is coming from, when we’re being lied to and when a conspiracy theory is an actual real conspiracy. In the world of espionage, they were part of creating conspiracies. Now they and their circle of experts probe what’s true and when we’re being manipulated.
New episodes every week.
Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
- Executive Producers: Adam Davidson, John Sipher, Jerry O'Shea & Jonathan Stern. Producer: Rachel Harner
- A production of Honorable Mention and Abominable Pictures
101 Episodes
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Drawing on her leadership roles with Planned Parenthood Global and humanitarian organizations in Africa, actor & activist Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot on Law & Order: SVU) describes how ill-conceived policy decisions —particularly the dismantling of USAID programs — have immediate, devastating consequences. Plus, is there any actual nation-building happening in Venezuela, why CIA doesn’t use honey traps and the truth about Area 51.
From wellness culture and yoga influencers to QAnon forums and January 6, the pathways into conspiracy extremism aren’t always obvious — especially for women. Identity and meaning can quietly turn misinformation into ideology. Author and researcher Noelle Cook discuss did direct fieldwork with women involved in conspiracy movements and the Capitol attack. Extremism doesn’t always look extreme. Sometimes it looks like community. Radicalization — it’s not just for men. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Our team gives their analysis of a disturbingly familiar year in power and politics, normalization and surprises. Much of it was predictable, some was worse, and some was worse that worse. Yet conspiratorial thinking cuts both ways, and 2025 illuminated some “theories” as being actual conspiracies. What trajectories might actually improve in 2026? Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
We didn't always assume the government was hiding aliens. The Manhattan Project was a crash course in how to run a secret program. Some secrets were real and necessary. Some were real and needing exposure - The Vietnam War, The Pentagon Papers, Watergate. So now people distrust everything the government tells us -- from UFO's to 9/11. Bestselling author and historian Garrett Graff has been reporting on this phenomenon via oral histories. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
An expert on psychological manipulation and politics, including Nazi propaganda and Stassi, NYU professor Tamsin Shaw studies conspiracy theories and how they might be changing with the internet and A.I. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
1Organ transplants, ice baths, Russian propaganda, RFK Jr.'s science denialism... Scott Carney has investigated in depth about where lies the truth and who is taking advantage of our ignorance. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
"Leaving MAGA" is a community for those who have left the movement, or have doubts and remorse about staying in MAGA but are afraid to leave. Rich Logis and Erica Roach tell their stories of falling into MAGA and then climbing out. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
How CIA became the largest purveyor and owner of LSD in the world and, in the process, destroyed lives and introduced psychedelics to The Counterculture. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
" There are things we feel like we know that we we can't even say. It is even worse. worse. It is even more people." Journalist Tara Palmeri and our own Adam Davidson have been writing and podcasting about the Epstein case since 2019. There's so much new Epstein news that it's easy to overlook the overwhelming, depressing, terrifying amount of crime and coverup that involves so many people besides just Trump. How is the worldwide intelligence apparatus involved? And how do you investigate a dead man? On a macro leval... What are the limits of journalism? How protected from repurcussions are the rich and powerful? Why did they think they were immune? Is the social institution of shame obsolete? Is the legal bulwark against corruption just an illusion? It's not an uplifting episode. But you will hear things you never knew about. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
The Curator of the NSA’s National Cryptologic Museum knows if the government is watching you. He knows how to tell who’s doing hidden nuclear testing. He’s written about some of the wilder (and unsuccessful) endeavors by the CIA, and how the CIA build Miami, the second largest hub of espionage in the world. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Investigator Laura Krantz (the Wild Things podcast) knows about everything Bigfoot, including Bigfoot erotica, the CIA's supposed relationship with the cryptid, and how Bigfoot can be a gateway drug to other conspiracy theories. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Comedian Trae Crowder (aka The Liberal Redneck) is here to prove that not everyone from The South is MAGA, and tried to understand why so many are, despite the inherent contradictions with their prior attitudes and what's in their self-interest. Also, how comedians are the such a threat to authoritarians. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
MSNBC & NBC justice and inteligence correspondence Ken Dilanian predicts how the Dept. of Justice will continue to be used under Trump, and reports on the experiences of the people still working there. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Adam is back and is now a bona fide expert on Artificial Intelligence. When it comes to conspiracy theories, it’s both our nemesis and our ally. Plus, a prediction for the upcoming misuse of The Insurrection Act. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Former CIA Head of Counterintelligence (and co-worker with John & Jerry) Susan Miller has recently been targeted by Tulsi Gabbard for her work on a classified report on Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 election. How is she dealing with this "attention"? Also, now out of CIA, Susan and John and Jerry rehash some of the day-today moments of serving. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Russia, China, MAGA — how social media is weaponized to promote misinformation and conspiracy theories, leading to nefarious calls-to-action.
The expert on how social media spreads disinformation — both unintentionally and by design — explains the power of “communities” and what the Russians are trying to accomplish.
Former astronaut and fighter pilot and current Senatorial candidate from Texas Terry Virts makes a very prescient prediction of the effects of Trump’s cuts to science (this was recorded two weeks ago). He also recounts his own call to service, his frustration with the current Democratic Party, the disaster of Trump’s immigration manipulations, and Texas’ place in the world.(www.terryvirts.com)
He was a fighter pilot, then an astronaut, and now a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Texas. Terry Virts saw Russia attack Ukraine while sitting alongside cosmonauts in the International Space Station. Now he sees the party in charge of America attacking... America. Terry Virts gives his first podcast interview after announcing his candidacy.(www.terryvirts.com)
More of our conversation with CIA analyst turned best-selling spy novelist David McCloskey. He and his old CIA associates, John & Jerry, look at CIA fact vs. fiction and how McCloskey brings their experiences to his stories. Also, some German stuff.
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I’ve been hooked on 'Mission Implausible' from the very first episode! The blend of gripping storytelling and deep dives into extraordinary yet believable missions is absolutely fascinating. https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/canada-butcher-paper/5225675
🤣🤣 so 2 CIA operatives talking "conspiracy theories"?? Fox guarding the hen house? What next, al qaeda to give insight on 911