Strange As It Seems

Rick and Stephen move beyond Epstein to explore a deeper and more elusive question: is there a hidden structure of power that transcends governments, ideologies? Is there a modern Illuminati? Or something more complex—what is the Occult Octopus?   SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/StrangeAsItSeems614  Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/strangeasitseems FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

In this episode, Rick and Stephen turn their attention to Jeffrey Epstein and the deeper structures of influence surrounding his rise and fall. Was Epstein merely a criminal opportunist? A node in something larger? Or a symptom of structural forces that extend far beyond one man?   HELP THE SHOW: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

In this special episode, Rick and Stephen explore Dr. Spence’s own teenage experiments with a Ouija board in the late 1960s. What began as harmless curiosity soon yielded a mixture of absurd messages, uncanny hits, and an alleged manifestation that continues to raise questions about what, if anything, was truly encountered.   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Rick and Stephen unravel the murky story of Soviet influence and Senator William E. Borah, tracing rumors of covert networks, document mills, political subversion, and an alleged conspiracy that placed one of the Gem State’s most celebrated politicians at the center of international intrigue.   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Rick and Stephen dive into the bizarre case of the “Gulf Breeze Six,” a group of U.S. Army intelligence analysts who deserted their post in Germany in 1990—traveling to Florida in search of divine instructions, secret knowledge, and perhaps the end of the world.   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Rick and Stephen investigate the life and career of Basil Zaharoff — the “Merchant of Death,” one of the most influential arms dealers of the early twentieth century and a man long rumored to be connected to the secretive Green Dragon Society.   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Rick and Stephen explore the murky origins of the so-called “Green Dragon Society,” a rumored occult order said to unite mystics, spies, and power brokers with a singular goal of world domination.   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

It is a Halloween special, so naturally Rick and Stephen discuss Margaret Murry, Montague Summers, and Witchcraft!   FOLLOW US: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Buymeacoffee: Buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/StrangeAsItSeemsPodcast

Rick and Stephen dive into the murky world of espionage and disinformation to uncover the hidden truths behind three elusive spies—Sidney Reilly, Kurt Jahnke, and Arthur Adams.  FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick and Stephen delve into the shadowy world of elite secret societies—from the rituals of Bohemian Grove to the exclusivity of the Bilderberg meetings, Council on Foreign Relations, and the imperial ambitions of Cecil Rhodes.  FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

Rick and Stephen explore how suppressed or imagined technologies, from Mesmer’s animal magnetism to Tesla’s free energy and Russian Cosmism, illustrate humanity’s recurring drive to uncover secret forces. The discussion ties these examples to Nick Land’s concept of hyperstition, showing how myths and speculative technologies can loop back into reality.   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick explores the historical origins of the Illuminati, tracing the rise of Adam Weishaupt’s secret society in 18th-century Bavaria. Along the way, we investigates the Illuminati’s strategies, ideology, and influence—both real and imagined. FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick examines the origins and evolution of The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, exploring its fabrication, dissemination, and enduring influence as one of history's most destructive pieces of propaganda.   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick delves into the origins of the legend of Atlantis, tracing its evolution over centuries into a symbol of lost wisdom, advanced civilizations, and hidden realms. FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

Rick and Stephen examine the origins of Nazi occultism, tracing the ideas, figures, and organizations that influenced Adolf Hitler.   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick delves into the dark mystery of the Romanov murders. FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

From brazen heads to influencing machines, Rick and Stephen explore the eerie convergence of techne and the occult. FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick and Stephen explore the possible links between the UFO phenomenon, espionage and psyops.   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pr... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

"Rick delves into the realm of occult politics by exploring the bizarre story of Clotilde Bersone, French Synarchy and the American "Business Plot."   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pryV4bnp8svmiQc4O Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strange-as-it-seems/id1777455156 Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/

Rick recounts the shadowy life of visionary rocketeer and devoted occultist, Jack W. Parsons. More importantly, he reveals Parsons’ ties to espionage—connections that may have ultimately sealed his fate.   FOLLOW US: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7loq8pryV4bnp8svmiQc4O Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strange-as-it-seems/id1777455156 Podbean: https://strangeasitseems.podbean.com/  

Rick introduces Stephen to Fred L. Crisman.

  Rick gives a brief history of the connection between occult knowledge, psychic research, and intelligence agencies.

Rick walks Stephen through a story of political intrigue in the Adirondack Mountains.   Original Publication: Spence, Richard B. "Death in the Adirondacks: Amtorg, Intrigue, and the Dubious Demise of Isaiya Khurgin and Efraim Sklyansky, August 1925." American Communist History, vol. 14, no. 2 (Aug. 2015), pp. 135–158.

Rick introduces Stephen to the strange life of James Shelby Downard.

In this inaugural (demo) episode of Strange As It Seems, Rick covers his 2017 article "LIGHTS IN THE SKY: A True Tale of Mystery Airships, Spies, and Secret Cults in WWI Utah," while Stephen tries to keep up.