x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

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

society & culture politics

All Episodes

56:38

Russian Interference in the 2016 Election (with Susan...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/08/10

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 newfound persecution? Also, now out of CIA, Susan and John and Jerry rehash some of the day-today moments of serving.

en-US

31:31

Astroturf, Trolls and Misinformation (with Darren...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/07/27

Russia, China, MAGA — how social media is weaponized to promote misinformation and conspiracy theories, leading to nefarious calls-to-action.

en-US

32:50

Astroturf, Trolls and Misinformation (with Darren...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/07/20

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.

en-US

31:25

Texas Democratic Senate Candidate Terry Virts - Part One

Mission Implausible ·

2025/07/13

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)

en-US

30:50

America Is Attacking America (with Terry Virts) -...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/07/06

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)

en-US

26:23

From Spy to Spy Novelist (with David McCloskey)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/06/29

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.

en-US

30:09

Analysts vs. Operations in The Middle East (with...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/06/22

CIA analyst turned best-selling spy novelist David McCloskey visits with old friends John & Jerry where they look at the CIA and their experiences in The Middle East before, during and after The Arab Spring. With a survey of what's happening in The Middle East currently.

en-US

29:11

Extremist Groups (with more Will Sommer)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/06/15

We continue our conversation with Will Sommer (The Bullwark, the Flase Flag newsletter) in which he details his experience covering extremist groups and the challenges of engaging with conspiracy believers. John & Jerry have a point of view on the conspiracy theories about CIA.

en-US

28:28

The Conspiracy Business: What Do We Do Now? (with...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/06/08

For four years, fringe right wing voices have accused the Democrats of all sorts of secret crimes, moaning that the truth is being supressed. Now on the inside, some as high as Cabinet positions, they are expected to provide fireworks. What’s happening now that they can’t deliver the goods? (with Will Sommer of the Bulwark)

en-US

33:13

The South African Perspective - Part Two (with Robyn...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/06/01

Former CNN Africa correspondent Robyn Curnow tries to explain America to the rest of the world.

en-US

27:52

The South African Perspective - Part One (with Robyn...

Mission Implausible ·

2025/05/25

Former CNN Africa correspondent Robyn Curnow tries to explain America to the rest of the world.

en-US

41:22

How Everyone Else Sees America (with Gabriel Gatehouse)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/05/18

Gabriel Gatehouse is a journalist and broadcaster and author of “The Coming Storm” that looks at Q Anon and the January 6th conspiracies. And he’s British!

en-US

38:52

Weapons of Mass Destruction (with Valerie Plame)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/05/11

Former undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame was outed by The Bush Administration when her husband exposed the lie behind the claim of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq that was used as justification for the U.S. to invade. - A REAL government conspiracy

en-US

42:20

Get Read for Martial Law (with Joe Walsh)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/05/04

Former Tea Party Republican Congressman, and now hardcore Anti-Trumper, Joe Walsh has dire warnings for all of us. America's failure has been a failure of imagination -- unable to imagine what Trump would try to do. Prepare for the 2026 elections to be cancelled, for the military to go after civilian protesters, and anything else you thought was far-fetched. Walsh has an inside understanding of "the MAGA cult" but he also has a gift for constructively engaging with them. Listen to find out more!

en-US

34:03

Alpha Make Brent Terhune

Mission Implausible ·

2025/04/27

Hoosier comedian Brent Terhune finds the inspiration behind his viral MAGA character.

en-US

38:54

"Bad Astronomer" Phil Plait

Mission Implausible ·

2025/04/20

In classic Mission Implausible style, astronomer Phil Plait comes on to debunk a litany of space conspiracy theories and other pseudo-science scams.

en-US

41:30

Michael Ian Black Has the Answers

Mission Implausible ·

2025/04/13

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)

en-US

34:13

The Army of God (with Stephanie McCrummen)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/04/06

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?

en-US

41:12

JFK Assassination Convert Phil Robinson

Mission Implausible ·

2025/03/30

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,

en-US

33:06

The First Two Months (with Mike Rothschild)

Mission Implausible ·

2025/03/23

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 tojustify actions that are unpopular or destructive. From USAID to Fort Knox to anything "deep state," are these false conspiracy theories

en-US

87 results

Similar Podcasts

The Daily Horoscope

The Daily Horoscope

The Michael Decon Program

Michael Decon

Kalimera Koveos

Andrea Koveos

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

Smarter leben

DER SPIEGEL