In this episode we look at the death of freelance journalist Danny Casolaro, who was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Martinsburg, West Virginia. This was ruled a suicide, but circumstances surrounding the case raised questions. Casolaro had been investigating what he called “The Octopus,” a sprawling conspiracy that connected intelligence agencies, organized crime, and international arms dealers. The episode also examines the role of Lyndon LaRouche's intelligence network in spreading misinformation (and sometimes, credible information).

GUESTS INCLUDE a number of journalists familiar with crimes and conspiracies, including Martin Kilian, Jack Calhoun, and Dan Moldea. We also speak with Casolaro’s cousin, the playwright Dominic Orlando.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Unsolved Mysteries episode on Danny Casolaro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGclHLNAsCs
• The Inslaw Affair (Australian TV news program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiVIDBDWivY

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out: http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

In this week’s episode, Joseph L. Flatley investigates the infamous Finders case—a 1987 incident where two well-dressed men and six disheveled children in a Tallahassee park sparked nationwide panic about satanic cults and child trafficking. What began as a routine police call transformed into one of the internet's most persistent conspiracy theories, fueled by leaked government documents claiming evidence of “satanic ceremonies” and an international child trafficking operation.

Through exclusive interviews with those directly involved, including two of the children (now adults) who were at the center of the controversy, this episode reveals the shocking truth: the Finders were neither CIA operatives nor satanic cultists, but an unconventional community with an alternative approach to child-rearing that clashed with mainstream values during the height of the Satanic Panic.

GUESTS INCLUDE Mary and Max, two of the Finders children, who reflect on their experience growing up in this controversial community.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Michael Howell interview: https://archive.org/details/unreleased-interview-with-finders-member

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

Dive into the shocking story of Paul Bennewitz, a physicist and military contractor whose innocent observations near Kirtland Air Force Base triggered one of the most elaborate government disinformation campaigns in history.

This episode unravels how Air Force intelligence agents deliberately fed Bennewitz false information about alien bases, cattle mutilations, and government-extraterrestrial treaties—ultimately driving him to mental breakdown, while simultaneously creating the blueprint for modern UFO mythology.

Whether you're a UFO enthusiast or skeptic, this eye-opening investigation reveals the dangerous intersection of government secrecy, psychological manipulation, and belief formation. Discover how the stories first planted in the Bennewitz Affair continue shaping conspiracy culture four decades later—and why we should question even the most compelling "whistleblower" revelations.

THIS WEEK’S GUEST: Adam Gorightly is an author, researcher, and self-described “crackpot historian.” His book Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks: UFO Disinformation in the Age of Aquarius explores how government agencies have manipulated UFO mythology. Gorightly's other works include The Prankster and the Conspiracy, Historia Discordia, and Caught in the Crossfire: Kerry Thornley, Lee Oswald and the Garrison Investigation.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• UFO Cover-Up? LIVE! https://youtu.be/JTlGLIbv31w?si=mJnYwpUUYzrjgIuV

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/