In which Futureling Richard Stephens tells of the rapid rise of a Revolutionary general through the military ranks, the challenges he faced as a person of color in a predominantly white society, and the decline of his legacy under Napoleon’s regime. Certificate #40773.
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Listener Mail: Faith Healing, Christmas Conspiracies, Africville, a Letter from Malaysia, and More
It's our first listener mail segment of 2026! The Grease Weasel gives an inside look at faith healing. Bonita C. provides more context on the terrifying hidden history of Africville. Alpha Flight and Betty share strange Christmas stories. Inspired by Noah, the guys vow to do a full episode on oligarchs. William writes a beautiful letter all the way from Malaysia. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/2e824128-fbd5-4c9e-9a57-ae2f0056b0c4/image.jpg?t=1749831085&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }It Could Happen Here - What Happened in 2025 with Andrew
Andrew and James discuss what happened in 2025 from climate disasters to Gen Z uprisings to AI.
Sources:
https://wmo.int/media/news/fao-and-wmo-report-highlights-extreme-heat-risks-agriculture
https://chimpreports.com/un-warns-as-somalia-drought-crisis-deepens-hunger/
https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-tracks-extreme-july-wildfire-activity-both-sides-atlantic
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5w5nyd5xzo
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/peru-youth-protesters-state-of-emergency-gen-z
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan
https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2020/08/15103021/Yemen-HCA-2025.pdf
https://www.stimson.org/2025/too-little-too-late-china-steps-up-military-aid-to-myanmars-junta/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/image.jpg?t=1751824393&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }Native America Calling - Wednesday, January 14, 2026 – A new tax law change means hundreds of millions of dollars more per year for tribes
A recent decision by the U.S. Treasury Department is a major win for tribes. For the first time, tribes are on the same level as states when it comes to determining how tribal services are taxed. Advocates call the decision “historic” and say it is a significant breakthrough in tribal sovereignty. Not only will it allow tribes to keep hundreds of millions of dollars more per year, it removes the tax filing hassle for small contractors who work with tribes. We’ll hear about the decade-long push to change what is called the General Welfare Exclusion and what it means for tribal economic development.
GUESTS
Chief Lynn Malerba (Mohegan), Former U.S. Treasurer
Lt. Gov. Hershel Gorham (Cheyenne and Arapaho)
OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux), co-executive director of Four Directions Vote
Scott Skaro (Standing Rock Sioux), board member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the financial aid director for United Tribes Technical College
Break 1 Music: C.R.E.A.M. [Instrumental] (song) Wu-Tang Clan (artist) Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers [Instrumentals] (album)
Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - The True Story of Tsantsas, or “Shrunken Heads”
Have you ever heard the story of "shrunken heads"? In the West, a ton of people sadly associate this with their own self-centric pop-culture experiences. However -- as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode -- the ancient practice of creating tsantsas is far more fascinating than any nostalgia reference. Tune in to learn the true conspiracy behind the popularity of "shrunken heads".
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/2e824128-fbd5-4c9e-9a57-ae2f0056b0c4/image.jpg?t=1749831085&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }Ologies with Alie Ward - Marmotology (GROUNDHOGS) with Daniel Blumstein
Tongue twisters. Frosty holidays. Scandals. Big ol’ rodent butts. Let’s talk groundhogs with UCLA conservationist, field biologist, professor and Marmotologist, Dr. Daniel Blumstein. We cover what broadly is a marmot, the Buddhism and paganism of the midwinter slump, marmot parenthood, what they are singing into the wind, how to co-exist with one in your garden, why they don't get stressed about holiday bingeing, the real estate layout of a groundhog lair, how and why we celebrate Groundhog Day, romantic advice you should not take from a marmot, what to do if you want a marmot as a pet, why their blood boggled science, and the wandering etymology behind their aliases. It’s an episode you’ll want to hear over and over. And over. And over. And over.
Visit the Blumstein Lab and follow Dr. Blumstein on Google Scholar
A donation went to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you may enjoy: Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS), Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS), Castorology (BEAVERS), Erethizonology (PORCUPINES), Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS), Mammalogy (MAMMALS), Procyonology (RACCOONS), Lutrinology (OTTERS), Urocyonology (LITTLE GRAY FOXES), Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT), Thermophysiology (BODY HEAT), Acarology (TICKS), Vampirology (VAMPIRES), Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT), Road Ecology (ROAD KILL)
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It Could Happen Here - What’s Happening in Iran?
James is joined by Gordayen to discuss the protest wave in Iran, massive regime violence, and the possibilities for the future.
Sources:
https://www.instagram.com/hengaw_english?igsh=MTZ3Z29qd3h6YzVlMA==
https://www.instagram.com/ali.javanmardi?igsh=ODV2cGZzaXk2Z3dt
https://www.instagram.com/soran.mansournia?igsh=OWFhNDdtMTRtNzl0
https://www.instagram.com/kurdistanipeople?igsh=MTI3Y3kwZ3V0N3Zvag==
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/image.jpg?t=1751824393&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }This Machine Kills - Patreon Preview – 440. TMK x CES: Return to Hell
Ed returns from his annual trip to the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. We learn about the hottest new trends and devices hitting the market. Big this year: chatbot wrappers, making everything into phone, unnecessary and dysfunctional “AI-powered” features, plus the mass infantilization of humanity under the guise of frictionless convenience.
••• In 2026, We Are Friction-Maxxing https://www.thecut.com/article/brooding-friction-maxxing-new-years-2026-resolution.html
Standing Plugs:
••• Order Jathan’s book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite
••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble
••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills
Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - CLASSIC: The Mystery of the Bronze Age Collapse
It's 2026. Fellow Conspiracy Realists, stuff is getting weird. This inspires Ben, Matt and Noel to return to a Classic episode about the last time a civilization fell: Sometime between between c. 1250 - c. 1150 BCE, civilization as we knew it simply... collapsed. Once-thriving empires fell one after another. Trade routes disintegrated. Literacy plummeted. Mysterious raiders from the sea pillaged city after city. In less than a century, the known world became a distant dream. So what exactly happened? Perhaps more disturbingly, what can the Bronze Age collapse tell us about the modern day?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/2e824128-fbd5-4c9e-9a57-ae2f0056b0c4/image.jpg?t=1749831085&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }Native America Calling - Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – String of new affordable housing options offer hope for struggling urban Native Americans
Organizers in Chicago just broke ground on a 45-unit affordable housing project specifically for Native Americans that is scheduled to open this year. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians just cut the ribbon in October for 40 new affordable housing units in Salem, Oreg. And Oakland, Calif. is working on 76 new homes for low-income Native Americans attached to a Native health facility. The surge in projects specifically geared toward urban Native Americans is meant to offset barriers that disproportionately affect their ability to keep a roof over their heads. We’ll hear about the factors fueling the surge in new affordable housing projects in various cities.
GUESTS
Shelly Tucciarelli (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), executive director of Visionary Ventures NFP Corp. and vice president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative
Sky Waters (Osage), community development director at the Native American Youth and Family Center
Anthony Guzman (Northern Ute), chief cultural officer at the Native American Health Center
Bryan Singer (Crow), entrepreneur development specialist for the Montana Department of Commerce Indian Country Economic Development programs and member of the Mountain Shadow Association board
Break 1 Music: Journey Home (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album)
Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)