[indistinct chatter]

Aliza Hollister

Weekly episodes where your super cool funny smart host, Aliza Hollister, deep dives into pop culture, conspiracy rabbit holes that she may need your help out of, and historical moments that are kind of wtf. It's great! You'll love it!

  1. -3 J

    Episode 19: You Ever Been Born? Thank A Woman!

    This week on [indistinct chatter], I’m starting with a few stories that might not have made it into your algorithm. I talk about the escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, what it could mean for global energy markets, and why you might have noticed gas and utility prices creeping up. I also break down a lesser-discussed vote in Congress that effectively allows the current military campaign to continue without new authorization and why some lawmakers say that raises serious questions about presidential war powers and public transparency. Then we look at a brewing fight over the proposed SAVE Act, a voter ID bill that would require documented proof of citizenship to register or update voter registration. Supporters say it’s about election security, while critics warn it could make voting significantly harder for millions of eligible Americans and put new pressure on already overworked election staff. After all that heavy news, I share a rare piece of good news: scientists are using AI to improve weather forecasting and disaster warnings. From earlier tornado alerts to better climate modeling, these tools could give communities crucial extra minutes to prepare, which is something that can literally save lives. Then for the main story, we pivot into Women’s History Month and talk about some women history forgot. I’m diving into the Matilda Effect, AKA the pattern of women’s achievements being credited to men, and telling the stories of three extraordinary women whose contributions were overlooked for decades. I talk about Rosalind Franklin, whose DNA research helped reveal the double helix but was credited to just men. Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped put astronauts into orbit and bring them home safely. And Virginia Hall, the World War II spy with a prosthetic leg who built resistance networks in Nazi-occupied France and became one of the most dangerous Allied agents in Europe. Plus, I run through some everyday inventions you probably didn’t know were created by women. From windshield wipers to chocolate chip cookies to the technology that laid the groundwork for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Who is a woman you think history forgot? I want to hear about her.👂 New episodes of [indistinct chatter] are available every Tuesday anywhere you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, sharing it is the biggest way you can support the show. Send it to a friend, post it to your stories, or tell someone about it. And if you have a minute, leaving a rating and review helps more people discover the podcast. Find me on Instagram: @indistinct.pod or @alizahollister 📲

    29 min

  2. 4 MARS

    Episode 18: The Church of AI

    This week on [indistinct chatter] I'm kicking things off with the 32nd Annual Actor Awards (formerly the SAGs) hosted by Kristen Bell at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. We talk red carpets, the new wave of correspondents making interviews fun again, and the night's biggest winners: Sinners, The Studio, and The Pitt. Plus, a beautiful and emotional moment for Catherine O'Hara, and a well-deserved Life Achievement Award for Harrison Ford. Then we get into the main event: AI cults. And before you roll your eyes, this is way more real, way more widespread, and way more terrifying than it sounds. I'm breaking down the general phenomenon of why people are turning to AI for spiritual meaning, and then diving into specific groups: Spiralism, the legally registered church Way of the Future founded by a former Google engineer worth hundreds of millions, the artist collective Theta Noir and their AI deity MENA, and the Zizians — a cult tied to six violent deaths, a faked drowning, a dead federal agent, and a radicalized Oxford grad who never even met their leader in person. Oh, and we talk Roko's Basilisk, the AI doomsday thought experiment that is genuinely one of the most disturbing things I've ever researched, and also the reason Elon Musk and Grimes got together. Do you think AI will eventually become something we collectively worship? Is it already happening and we just aren't calling it that yet? I want to hear from you. New episodes drop every Tuesday wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this one, sharing it is the biggest way you can support the show. Send it to a friend, post it to your stories, or just tell someone about it. And if you have a few minutes, leaving a rating and review goes a long way in helping new people find me. Find me on Instagram: @indistinct.pod or @alizahollister

    43 min

  3. 24 FÉVR.

    Episode 17: Smokey Bear

    This week on [indistinct chatter], I’m diving into the full, complicated, surprisingly dramatic history of Smokey Bear. You know him... the shirtless bear in a ranger hat who’s been holding Americans accountable for their campfire habits since 1944? Yeah, that guy! But this isn’t just a cute mascot origin story. I unpack Smokey’s World War II roots, wartime propaganda, Japanese fire balloons, and the women who stepped into forestry and fire lookout roles while men were overseas. I break down how a government ad campaign turned into one of the longest-running public service efforts in American history and how Congress literally passed the Smokey Bear Act to protect a fictional bear’s name and image. You’ll hear the story behind the “Smokey Bear” vs. “Smokey the Bear” debate, the 1952 song that changed everything, and the real-life cub rescued from the Capitan Gap Fire who became a living national symbol at the National Zoo complete with his own zip code (yes, you can still write to him). I also explore the complicated legacy of total fire suppression, the ecological consequences we’re still dealing with in the West, Indigenous cultural burning practices, and whether Smokey and Ember the FireSmart Fox can coexist in the era of climate change. At 81 years old, should Smokey retire? Or does he still have work to do? 🔥 Have you ever written to Smokey Bear? Did you get anything back? Tell me your story. New episodes of [indistinct chatter] are available every Tuesday wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It genuinely helps more than you know! And share it with a friend who still says “Smokey the Bear.” Come hang out with me on Instagram at @indistinct.pod and tell me what you want me to deep dive into next. Only YOU can prevent wildfires.

    24 min

  4. 17 FÉVR.

    Episode 16: Red Flag Warning (Fire Season)

    This week on [indistinct chatter], Aliza tries to pull you out of the chaos surrounding the Epstein files and somehow leads straight to the weather. Yeah, I know, it's usually boring, but this isn't your regular small-talk weather convo. With the Front Range sitting in a snow drought, temperatures running far above average, and Red Flag Warnings lighting up phones across Colorado, Aliza breaks down what “fire weather” actually means and why in this state, the biggest wildfires are usually because of humans. She walks through the real stories behind the Cameron Peak, Hayman, Marshall, and Alexander Mountain fires. How they started, how fast they moved, and how small, ordinary decisions collided with dry fuels and extreme wind to create historic destruction. From buried embers to sparking power lines to one emotional mistake in a fire ring, this episode connects the dots between conditions, accountability, and the terrifying speed of wind-driven fire. It’s about vigilance. It’s about responsibility. It’s about how fast things can change. If you liked this episode, please rate and review, share it with a friend, or leave a comment. Have you been affected by wildfire? It really helps and keeps the conversations going. New episodes of [indistinct chatter] drop every Tuesday.

    28 min

  5. 10 FÉVR.

    Episode 15: If They Can, They Will

    In this episode of [indistinct chatter], host Aliza dives into the unsettling world of conspiracy theories that weren’t theories at all. They were real, documented, and denied until the evidence became impossible to ignore. After a quick recap of Super Bowl LX (from record-breaking viewership and halftime highlights to commercials, AI fatigue, and corporate spectacle), Aliza gets down to business, unpacking a series of government programs and abuses that were once dismissed as paranoia: MKUltra, COINTELPRO, Operation Mockingbird, medical experimentation on marginalized communities, and the rise of mass surveillance in the modern era. From CIA mind-control experiments and FBI efforts to dismantle civil rights movements, to media manipulation, human experimentation, and the revelations brought to light by Edward Snowden, this episode explores how power operates behind the scenes... and how often it’s framed as protection, progress, or public good. Aliza also connects these historical patterns to current concerns, including surveillance technology disguised as safety, unsealed court documents, and why so many people struggle to believe that respected institutions and influential figures could be involved in harm, that is until the paperwork surfaces. This episode isn’t about fear-mongering or wild speculation. It’s about pattern recognition, skepticism, and understanding how history repeats itself when accountability disappears. 🎧 New episodes of [indistinct chatter] drop every Tuesday.If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share. It really helps the show grow and keeps these conversations going. Thanks so much!

    35 min

  6. 4 FÉVR.

    Episode 14: Six More Weeks of Winter, Grammys, and Super Bowl Predictions

    Winter is dragging, but the vibes? Improving. On today’s episode of [indistinct chatter], Aliza's talking Groundhog Day, longer days, seasonal depression finally loosening its grip, and why Punxsutawney Phil (despite his confidence) is still wrong most of the time. A quick dive into the history of Groundhog Day leads us straight into one of the internet’s favorite conspiracy-adjacent theories: can a groundhog really predict the Super Bowl? From shadow sightings to “cold-weather team” lore, we break down the Groundhog Day-Super Bowl connection, plus Aliza's own predictions for Super Bowl LX, including the music we know is coming and the artists she thinks might surprise us. Then she gets into the Grammys: the biggest winners, historic moments, surprise wins, and performances. Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Best New Artist discourse, and why the Grammys always manage to be both validating and confusing at the same time. It’s pop culture, sports-adjacent chaos, music, history, and vibes all in one place. Thanks for listening. 🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday anywhere you listen to podcasts. Please rate, review, and share. It helps more than you think. Let me know your Super Bowl predictions!

    27 min

  7. 27 JANV.

    Episode 13: What Radicalized Me?

    In this episode of [indistinct chatter], Aliza unpacks a heavy week in America. She talks about Ye’s apology and public accountability, the viral “what radicalized you” trend, and what that word really means in today’s culture. From there, she explores how music, family, and church shaped her values, and why empathy, curiosity, and questioning authority aren’t that radical at all. Aliza also breaks down the Minneapolis general strike, the history of labor militancy in the U.S., and the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, explaining why this moment has sparked nationwide outrage and solidarity. She closes by addressing growing civil war rhetoric, historical cycles, and why this moment feels so tense (and so important). In This Episode:• The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy by William Strauss & Neil Howe• The Fourth Turning Is Here by Neil Howe 🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday.If you liked this episode, subscribe, share, rate and review. It really does help!

    40 min

  8. 20 JANV.

    Episode 12: It's Tax Season, Baby!

    It’s tax season, baby! Join Aliza, as she dives into the fascinating (and occasionally frustrating) world of income taxes. From ancient grain payments in Egypt to labor taxes in medieval Europe, and all the way to the modern US system we navigate every January through April. We’ve got it covered. Learn why income taxes weren’t originally meant for everyone, how the system shifted to include nearly all Americans, and why we have to file our own returns even though the IRS already receives so much of our info. She also breaks down withholding forms, claiming 0, and why your “final bill” might still surprise you. She touches on the IRS, tax prep companies, the Free File program, lobbying, and the quirky ways taxes shape our lives (all sprinkled with personal anecdotes, birthday cake, museum adventures, and the chaos of filing). Whether you’re filing for the first time or just wondering why this whole process exists, this episode will give you the history, context, and laughs to make tax season a little less scary. Disclaimer: Aliza is not a CPA. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Talk to a qualified tax professional for actual tax advice. On Aliza’s Screen/Mind: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Meow Wolf Denver Shout out to teachers who offer tax prep guidance in high school! 🎙️New episodes of [indistinct chatter] drop every Tuesday, anywhere you listen to podcasts. If you liked this episode, please rate, review, or share it with a friend.

    22 min
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Weekly episodes where your super cool funny smart host, Aliza Hollister, deep dives into pop culture, conspiracy rabbit holes that she may need your help out of, and historical moments that are kind of wtf. It's great! You'll love it!

Informations

  • Création
    Aliza Hollister
  • Années d’activité
    2025 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    20
  • Classification
    Contenu explicite
  • Copyright
    © Aliza Hollister
  • Site web de l’émission
    [indistinct chatter]