The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves

Professor Avi Loeb is back. A year after the acclaimed Harvard physicist sat down with Natasha Zouves for an interview that sparked more than half a million views, the UAP conversation has only gotten louder and more political. In this deep dive, Loeb breaks down President Trump’s UAP push, what “disclosure” could realistically look like, what the public should watch for next and why the evidence problem is about to get harder in the Artificial Intelligence deepfake era. In this interview, you'll hear about: Trump’s UAP push: what “releasing files” actually means The first files Loeb wants to see: what specific information would genuinely move the ball forward Disclosure or distraction: the question of whether the UAP push is being used to divert attention from the Epstein files Cryptoterrestrials and what’s underneath our oceans: why so many think the answers could be on Earth, possibly under the sea Extinct alien civilizations: why Professor Loeb believes the first proof might be technology from a civilization that’s already gone AI and deepfakes: Loeb reveals he has been a victim of deepfakes himself, and warns why it’s our future with artificial intelligence — not aliens — that keeps him up at night Watch the podcast episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcdhmhFgZNo&list=PL6PrA6lo8rJIaFbc0VZfFz4xcY8d6vaR6&index=1   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF     Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Investigators in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie are asking the public to focus closely on three specific windows of time: Jan. 11, Jan. 24 and the early morning hours of Feb. 1.   In this episode of “The Truth of the Matter” podcast with Natasha Zouves, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore explains why identifying a second location could be critical in the Nancy Guthrie case — and what investigators may still be searching for right now. Moore and her team have helped solve more than 300 cases using investigative genetic genealogy, a technique many hope will eventually lead to a breakthrough in the Guthrie investigation.   In this episode, Moore describes how she cracked a more than 30‑year‑old cold case in a matter of hours, identifying the man who murdered 12‑year‑old Michella Welch in a park near her Tacoma home. Moore says cases like that show how quickly genetic genealogy can move once investigators have the right DNA lead — one reason she believes the same kind of breakthrough remains possible in the search for Nancy Guthrie.   In this episode, she explains: • Why investigators may need to identify a second location tied to the Nancy Guthrie case. • How genetic genealogy can move quickly once the right DNA profile exists. • How she solved the Michella Welch cold case in a matter of hours. • How the public can help by uploading their DNA to databases investigators can access and are permitted to use.   Watch the podcast episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFrJEErC8Fc&list=PL6PrA6lo8rJIaFbc0VZfFz4xcY8d6vaR6   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF     Connect with host Natasha Zouves

An 84-year-old woman disappears from her home, blood found on the doorstep. Foreign DNA is discovered inside the house, but it’s a mixed sample. And more than a month later, investigators still don’t have a suspect.   In this episode of “The Truth of the Matter Podcast,” Natasha Zouves sits down with one of the most prominent genetic genealogists in the world, CeCe Moore, the forensic expert who has helped solve more than 300 cases using DNA. Moore breaks down what investigators are really dealing with in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance, and why the DNA evidence may be far more complicated than the public realizes.   Among the revelations in this interview: • Moore believes the technology needed to separate the mixed DNA sample may not exist yet • Why police cannot simply search the largest 23andMe or Ancestry databases • The loophole investigators used in the Bryan Kohberger / Idaho murders case that no longer exists • Why Moore believes investigators should re-swab the Guthrie home right now  •And why she believes the case could turn on the discovery of a second crime scene   Investigative genetic genealogy helped identify the Golden State Killer and helped lead police to Bryan Kohberger in the Idaho student murders. Moore believes genetic genealogy will solve this case — and talks about the path to get there.   Watch the podcast episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ZVEOWc9q0&list=PL6PrA6lo8rJIaFbc0VZfFz4xcY8d6vaR6&index=2   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF     Connect with host Natasha Zouves

For Paul Cotter, being a firefighter wasn’t a job, it was a calling. Nearly three decades of running toward danger, including a three-alarm fire where he broke through two doors and crawled into an inferno to save a man trapped on the third floor. Then came a phone call from his doctor. Cancer. His wife, Diane Cotter, says she screamed when she found out. And she says, as Paul began to slip further and further away, one question haunted her: how does this happen to someone so healthy? Diane knew the risks everyone associates with firefighting: smoke, toxins and diesel exhaust. But she had also seen the numbers: cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty death for firefighters. And she couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to the story. So, she went to the basement and pulled out Paul’s turnout gear, the uniform designed to protect him. What she noticed stopped her cold: the material was especially degraded in one specific area. Diane cut small samples from the gear and sent them to a researcher at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Graham Peaslee. When the results came back, Diane says she was floored. In this episode of The Truth of the Matter, Diane Cotter joins Natasha Zouves to tell the story of what she found, why she went public, and what it could mean for firefighters across the country.     Watch the podcast episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ1UvkRP9SA&list=PL6PrA6lo8rJIaFbc0VZfFz4xcY8d6vaR6   READ the Growing Broke Forever Chemicals Investigation:  https://www.newsnationnow.com/prime/pfas-forever-chemicals-sludge-farmers/   Watch the full Growing Broke documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdCgjDoB1U   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF     Connect with host Natasha Zouves

There’s a 97% chance "Forever Chemicals" are already inside your body — and most Americans have no idea how they got there. In this follow-up episode of The Truth of the Matter Podcast, Natasha Zouves revisits the "Forever Chemical Scandal" with Scott Faber, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, to examine what’s changed since the documentary aired — and what hasn’t. We dig into: Why PFAS are still found in our drinking water and food — so ubiquitous it now taints all the rainwater on earth Whether EPA drinking-water limits are being strengthened or rolled back How sewage sludge spread PFAS onto farmland, forcing farmers to euthanize animals and dump contaminated milk And why firefighters and military communities show some of the highest PFAS levels in their blood What you can do to protect yourself and your family from forever chemicals This conversation goes beyond the headlines to the paper trail: who developed PFAS, who profited, and how long the risks to human health were known. As Scott Faber points out, these chemicals are called “forever” for a reason. The question is whether accountability will ever catch up.   Watch the podcast episode here https://youtu.be/0j6-DPLLaow?si=XG-vskZQZUq4cMyu   READ the Growing Broke Investigation:  https://www.newsnationnow.com/prime/pfas-forever-chemicals-sludge-farmers/   Watch the full Growing Broke documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdCgjDoB1U   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF     Connect with host Natasha Zouves

What was supposed to be a short hospital stay turned into a nightmare that would follow one family for generations.   41-year-old Janet Stadt entered a hospital in Rochester, New York, seeking treatment for an ulcer. She never consented to becoming a human test subject. Yet in 1946, doctors secretly injected her with plutonium — a radioactive element used to build atomic bombs — to study how it behaved inside the human body.   Stadt was one of at least 18 Americans injected with plutonium during the early days of the Cold War, when scientists were racing to understand the effects of nuclear materials on humans. Just a little over five feet tall, she received the highest dose of all the test subjects. The plutonium remained in her body for the rest of her life, causing crippling pain and unexplained illness. For decades, Stadt suffered repeated cancers and extreme medical complications. Her family was never told the truth. Her family now says they suspected she was a hypochondriac, or “making it all up” until years later, when a mysterious box arrived on her grandson Jon Stadt’s doorstep, revealing what had really happened.   In this episode of "The Truth of the Matter," investigative journalist Natasha Zouves sits down with Jon Stadt to uncover the hidden history of America’s secret human radiation experiments — and the devastating personal toll they left behind.   Watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSmK1GKAuWo&list=PL6PrA6lo8rJIaFbc0VZfFz4xcY8d6vaR6&index=1   Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Allie Purser Mia Balbin-Cuesta Kate Lindermann Richard Bodee Natasha Zouves         Connect with host Natasha Zouves

MKUltra: A top-secret CIA program born in the Cold War, built around terrifying questions: can you control a human being? Can you delete and insert memories, break a mind, or make a person bend to your will? In this episode of The Truth of the Matter, Natasha Zouves sits down with Michael Evans of the National Security Archive — a man so committed to transparency he has spent his career hunting down, declassifying, and analyzing thousands of government records to reconstruct what the public was never meant to see. We dig into what MKUltra was designed to do, and what it became: experiments with drugs like LSD, psychological manipulation, and an especially chilling tactic the agency saw as useful: “discrediting” — making someone appear unstable, unreliable, even “insane.” The rabbit hole goes all the way to covert plots targeting world leaders like Fidel Castro, including ideas that sound like Hollywood until you see them in black and white. Listen to the full conversation and decide for yourself: where does national security end, and abuse of power begin?   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told.   We expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter.   This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   Connect with host Natasha Zouves:   https://www.instagram.com/natashazouves/   https://www.tiktok.com/@natashazouves   https://www.facebook.com/natashanzouves/    

They served in silence at one of the most secretive military ranges in America. Now they say they’re dying in the shadows — because the government still won’t acknowledge they were there.   An update now on the Area 51 Veterans: Congress quietly killed the one fix that could have helped them prove where they served and get the care they say they’ve earned.   These men and women served on the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), home to the site known globally as Area 51. Now many are battling rare cancers. But because their service is still classified and “data-masked,” they say the VA can’t verify an service connect their illnesses — and their claims stall.   After our reporting, Section 1066 was added to the Senate’s defense bill as their clearest path forward. Then, behind closed doors, it vanished from the final NDAA.   Dave Crete says the message from House leadership was simple: “You’re not that important.” He believes the government is trying to wait them out — as the memorial list grows from 446 names to 527.   Now they’re turning directly to President Trump, asking for an executive order. “This problem could be fixed with one beautiful signature,” Crete says. “Mr. President, we need your help.”   In this new conversation with Air Force veteran Dave Crete, he breaks down what happened, what Congress removed, what language made it into the final bill, and why the veterans say they don’t have time to wait until 2027.   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told.   We expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter.   This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   Connect with host Natasha Zouves:   https://www.instagram.com/natashazouves/   https://www.tiktok.com/@natashazouves   https://www.facebook.com/natashanzouves/     WATCH the original NewsNation Area 51 Investigation READ the full Area 51 Investigation WATCH our original podcast episode with Dave Crete, where he describes the secret missions on the range

Imagine being 20, pregnant, and your doctor hands you a “vitamin drink.” You trust them. You drink it. Decades later you find out…it was radioactive.   This happened at a prestigious American university clinic, to real women with real babies. And some of those children never made it past childhood.   In this new episode of The Truth of the Matter Podcast, Natasha Zouves speaks with attorney Donald Arbitblit, who helped the women of the Vanderbilt case fight back. He covers:   • how they finally discovered they’d been experimented on • what happened to their children • and what this says about how much we still don’t know about human experiments in this country   If you’ve ever been told “it was a different time” or “just trust the system,” I really want you to hear this conversation.   Watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnrd2XSnpUs... Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/truthofthematterpod/   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Mia Balbin-Cuesta Allie Purser Natasha Zouves         Connect with host Natasha Zouves

What if the U.S. government secretly experimented on unsuspecting Americans – pregnant women, children, and hospital patients – using radioactive materials? In this episode of The Truth of the Matter, Natasha Zouves continues her conversation with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Eileen Welsome, author of The Plutonium Files. Her groundbreaking reporting helped crack open a series of Cold War–era human radiation experiments—including: Pregnant women given radioactive “cocktails” Orphan boys at a Massachusetts school fed radioactive oatmeal Cincinnati cancer patients subjected to whole-body radiation, many dying within weeks Welsome explains how these experiments came to light following her investigation into the 18 Americans injected with plutonium, what the tests reveal about government secrecy, and why this history remains a cautionary tale for us all.   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Mia Balbin-Cuesta Allie Purser Natasha Zouves         Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Eighteen Americans were secretly injected with plutonium without their knowledge or consent. The first was Ebb Cade, a healthy 55-year-old African American man in Tennessee. After a car accident in March 1945, he expected to have his broken bones set. Instead, he became a test subject. Scientists injected plutonium into his veins, then pulled his teeth and cut pieces of bone from his body to track how the radioactive element spread. Cade eventually escaped the hospital, leaving before he was discharged — and abruptly moved to another state, dying just eight years later. He was only the beginning. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Eileen Welsome, author of "The Plutonium Files," joins Natasha Zouves, host of "The Truth of the Matter," to uncover the story of Cade and the 17 others used in secret government experiments. Why were these patients chosen? What role did Oppenheimer’s Los Alamos play? And how close did America come to burying this history forever? This is the hidden story of the plutonium files — and the Americans turned into test subjects in the name of national security and scientific advancement. The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told. Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter. This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Mia Balbin-Cuesta Allie Purser Natasha Zouves         Connect with host Natasha Zouves

In the 1950s and 60s, the U.S. Army sprayed a mystery fog over thousands of Americans who lived in a neighborhood in St. Louis. Mothers shut their windows against it, children ran through it.   The Army later admitted the fog contained zinc cadmium sulfide, a chemical that contains cadmium — now a known human carcinogen. But to this day, the Army does not admit harm.   This is part two of our conversation with Dr. Lisa Martino-Taylor, sociologist and author of Behind the Fog. She tells host of “The Truth of the Matter,” Natasha Zouves, why she believes the experiments in St. Louis were part of a larger program spun out of the Manhattan Project — marked by secrecy, deception, and the use of unwitting Americans as test subjects.   Why was St. Louis chosen? What else might have been in that spray? And why does this researcher believe the truth remains buried in classified government documents?   This is one of the darkest, least-known chapters in American history. And the fight for answers is still unfolding.   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told.   Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter.   This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.     Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Mia Balbin-Cuesta Allie Purser Natasha Zouves         Connect with host Natasha Zouves

From radioactive oatmeal fed to children, to pregnant women given a radioactive cocktail, to chemical spraying over St. Louis, Dr. Martino-Taylor connects the dots and reveals how she believes these were not isolated incidents, but part of a program spun out of the Manhattan Project — marked by secrecy, deception, and the targeting of the most vulnerable.   Dr. Lisa Martino-Taylor, sociologist, researcher and author of Behind the Fog, joins Natasha Zouves, host of “The Truth of the Matter,” for a groundbreaking conversation about one of the darkest, least-known chapters in American history: secret human experiments carried out by the U.S. government.   Why St. Louis? What did researchers hope to achieve? And what does this history tell us about government transparency, ethics, and the human cost of secrecy?   The Truth of the Matter with Natasha Zouves isn’t just another podcast — it’s a fight to uncover what powerful institutions want hidden. From secret human experiments the government carried out on unsuspecting citizens to toxic cover-ups poisoning communities, Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Natasha Zouves brings you the stories people in power don’t want told.   Each week, we expose evidence buried in archives, amplify the voices of those who’ve been silenced, and hold the powerful accountable. From radioactive “oatmeal experiments” on children, to cancer causing chemicals destroying farms, to veterans erased from history — these are the stories that matter.   This is journalism that refuses to look away. The Truth of the Matter is about transparency, and justice for the people left behind.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7_-G_q3wEc&t=1s   WATCH the St. Louis investigation part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYvUe6hWEk&t=817s   READ the full St. Louis investigation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/did-government-poison-st-louis/   You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   This podcast is put together by: Ryan Kerr Mia Balbin-Cuesta Allie Purser Natasha Zouves

He served on the razor’s edge of danger, flying combat rescue missions to extract downed pilots and special forces deep behind enemy lines. But it was one failed mission that left a mark no medal could erase. In this episode of The Truth of the Matter, host Natasha Zouves sits down with Major Glenn Ignazio for a gripping, unflinching conversation. Maj. Ignazio opens up about the moment he couldn’t save a life, the high-altitude accident that ended his flying career, and the silent battles he fought long after the missions were over — PTSD, addiction to prescription opioids, and the collapse of everything he once knew. From the cockpit to the edge of despair and back again, Ignazio shares how he rebuilt his life from rock bottom, and how he's now leading a different kind of rescue mission: helping fellow veterans find purpose and healing. This is a raw, powerful story about failure, redemption, and the unseen toll of service. “The Truth of the Matter" goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories shaping our world.   These stories are more than just hidden truths—they’re blueprints for navigating our own lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons learned. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-of-the-matter-with-natasha-zouves/id1804707066 https://open.spotify.com/show/2iQ85VHlMmBfLBaTtSp8tF   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Jennifer Coffindaffer shares the brutal, life-altering attack she survived as a college freshman — and how that trauma ignited a fire to protect others and seek justice, setting her on a path towards decades in the FBI and law enforcement. This episode deals with sexual assault, listener discretion advised. In this episode, “Truth of the Matter” host Natasha Zouves sits down with Coffindaffer for a searingly personal conversation — former FBI agent, counterintelligence and counterterrorism expert. From excelling in the grueling training grounds of Quantico, to going head-to-head with violent gang members and apprehending dangerous criminals, she pulls back the curtain on the physical and mental toll of the job. She speaks candidly about suffering a concussion during combat training and the reality of sexual harassment in law enforcement. As one of the few women in her position, she reveals what it took to not just survive in that environment, but to carve out a place of her own.  This is a raw, riveting conversation about resilience, justice and the human cost of service. “The Truth of the Matter" podcast goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths—they’re blueprints for navigating our own lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons learned. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

He's one of the most thoughtful voices in the world of Artificial Intelligence. In this episode, “Truth of the Matter” host Natasha Zouves sits down with the pioneering technologist and co-creator of Django, Simon Willison. As AI accelerates at breakneck speed, Willison helps us cut through the hype to confront the real stakes: Which jobs are most at risk in this new era, and which might actually thrive? How do we “AI-proof” our own lives and careers when the ground is shifting under our feet? In this wide-ranging conversation, Willison pulls back the curtain on the future we’re building, often faster than we can fully understand it. From disinformation campaigns to automations’ quiet creep into white-collar work, he explains what keeps him up at night — and why the U.S. may be flying blind if global competitors like China reject regulatory guardrails. This is a frank, fascinating conversation about power, risk and the responsibility we all carry as we shape the future of intelligence itself. “The Truth of the Matter" podcast goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths—they’re blueprints for navigating our own lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons learned. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Many of us know Julia Roberts' portrayal of Erin Brockovich's fight for justice in that Oscar-winning film. In this episode, “Truth of the Matter” host Natasha Zouves sits down with the real Brockovich, the outspoken advocate, environmental crusader and best selling author. In a deeply personal conversation, Brockovich opens up about the values her father instilled in her — the roots of her resilience and sense of justice. She shares what it’s like to carry the weight of so many environmental battles, candidly admitting to moments of depression and moral fatigue, and what keeps her going despite it all. She also reflects on Julia Roberts’ iconic portrayal of her — what the film got right and how it shaped the public’s understanding of who she really is beyond the high heels and bold talk. From poisoned water supplies to corporate accountability, Brockovich lays out the biggest environmental and human rights challenges facing Americans today — and why you don’t need a law degree to make a difference. WATCH Erin Brockovich in Natasha's Emmy Nominated Special, “Growing Broke: Forever Chemicals in America’s Heartland" “The Truth of the Matter" podcast goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths—they’re blueprints for navigating our own lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons learned. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts. Connect with host Natasha Zouves  

He's considered one of the most brilliant scientific minds of our time: Dr. Michio Kaku — renowned astrophysicist, futurist, and co-founder of string theory, sits down with “Truth of the Matter” host Natasha Zouves.   He explores Elon Musk’s bold timeline to settle Mars — and the extraordinary technologies that could make it possible, including satellites designed to melt the planet’s polar ice caps and create life-sustaining water, literally terraforming the red planet.   Professor Kaku also weighs in on the future of artificial intelligence — what excites him, and what he believes could become one of the greatest threats we face. He shares powerful insights into the rise of UAPs and what action he believes humanity must take in response.   And finally, we dive into one of the most provocative ideas in modern physics: the multiverse. Could there be countless versions of you, of all of us, running in parallel universes we may never touch? Dr. Kaku breaks down the science.   This is a conversation about the future — of space, technology, and the very nature of reality.   WATCH Harvard Professor Avi Loeb discuss crypto-terrestrials and the possibility that aliens might already be present on Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAk4bLlYYmM   “The Truth of the Matter goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories shaping our world.   These stories are more than just hidden truths—they’re blueprints for navigating our own lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons learned. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny joins Natasha Zouves, host of “The Truth of the Matter,” for an electrifying deep dive into the future of the world’s first flying car. From concept to takeoff, Dukhovny breaks down how his team is rewriting the rules of transportation — and what it really takes to bring science fiction to life. Will we be commuting through the skies in the next few years? How will flying cars reshape cities, commutes, and our every day realities? This episode is essential listening for anyone fascinated by innovation, tech disruption, and the bold visionaries changing how we move through the world. “The Truth of the Matter goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths — they’re blueprints for navigating our lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons in resilience, survival and the transformative power of a single decision. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Women who were formerly incarcerated at FCI Dublin in California are telling their stories of surviving a federal prison so notorious for sexual abuse, it was called the “rape club.” This conversation contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673. “The Truth of the Matter goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths — they’re blueprints for navigating our lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons in resilience, survival and the transformative power of a single decision. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

Should Kamala Harris run for president again? What does the Democratic party need to do next? And are Trump's tariffs and the growing political power of Elon Musk handing the Democrats a golden opportunity? Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio joins Natasha Zouves, host of “The Truth of the Matter,” for a no-holds-barred conversation about the state of the Democratic Party — and where it needs to go next. This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American politics — and what the future holds for the Democratic Party.  “The Truth of the Matter goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths — they’re blueprints for navigating our lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons in resilience, survival and the transformative power of a single decision. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

In a wide-ranging conversation, Geraldo Rivera shares insights from his life and career, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the influence of his immigrant parents. Rivera discusses his experiences with celebrities, the challenges of controversial interviews, reflections on his departure from Fox News and the impact of 9/11 on his life and work. In this “Truth of the Matter” interview with host Natasha Zouves, Rivera also gets candid about his own UFO sighting and weighs in on questions about disclosure and government secrets. Rivera also discusses his complicated relationship with President Trump, his feelings about Elon Musk and his thoughts about the future of America. “The Truth of the Matter goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories shaping our world. These stories are more than just hidden truths — they’re blueprints for navigating our lives, offering rare insights into the human experience and lessons in resilience, survival and the transformative power of a single decision. You can find “The Truth of the Matter” wherever you listen to your podcasts.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves

When Kevin Hines was 19 years old, he made the decision to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. He tells Natasha Zouves, host of “The Truth of the Matter,” that three miracles happened that day that allowed him to survive. Kevin shares his incredible journey of resilience, the struggles he faced, and the crucial lessons he learned about mental health and overcoming life's darkest moments. He discusses the importance of reaching out for help, and how anyone, no matter how low they feel, can rediscover their will to live. Whether you're struggling with mental health, know someone who is, or simply want to hear a powerful story of hope and recovery, this episode is a must-listen.  Tune in for a raw and transformative conversation with a true survivor who is making a difference in the world, turning his pain into purpose.   Trigger warning: suicidal ideation. If you are struggling, please call or text 988. Help is always available.   Connect with host Natasha Zouves Find out more about Kevin Hines

U.S. Army Veteran Alex Drueke was in the hands of Russian forces for 105 days, enduring beatings, broken ribs, starvation and electrocution. His is an incredible story of resilience and survival. Drueke sits down with Natasha Zouves,  describing his weeks of solitary confinement in a 2’x6’ cell, and his tactics to stay sane: playing his favorite movies in his head and speaking to the ants that would try to steal crumbs of his moldy bread, his only daily meal.   EPISODE TRIGGER WARNING: Suicidal ideation. For immediate mental health support in a crisis, you can call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988, or by visiting 988lifeline.org   Connect with Host Natasha Zouves.

Jay Flores was just 8 years old when he became entangled in the cartel. His father took him and his twin brother to the border to help smuggle drugs for the first time, strategically using the boys to deceive the U.S. Border Patrol. By the time the twins reached adulthood, they had built a drug-smuggling empire. The pair successfully brought the cartel’s drugs to 15 major American cities, as well as Canada, profiting $4 million a month. Flores sits down with Natasha Zouves, host of “The Truth of the Matter.”   Connect with Host Natasha Zouves

Air Force Veteran Dave Crete says he served on a secretive range in the Nevada desert that encompasses Area 51, and now decades later, he and hundreds of his fellow veterans who were engaged in top-secret work are getting sick — developing serious health issues and deadly cancers. They tell Natasha Zouves that they can’t get the benefits and care they’re entitled to because the DOD won't acknowledge they were ever stationed on the range.   Connect with Host Natasha Zouves.