11 episodes

George White ran the CIA brothel. He watched from a hidden room while men were dosed with LSD — and he convinced himself the fate of the nation depended on it.

Operation Midnight Climax iHeartPodcasts

    • History
    • 4.4 • 262 Ratings

George White ran the CIA brothel. He watched from a hidden room while men were dosed with LSD — and he convinced himself the fate of the nation depended on it.

    Spider-Man's Surreal Adventures on Broadway

    Spider-Man's Surreal Adventures on Broadway

    In 2011, after many delays, one of the most anticipated musicals in theater history finally opened on Broadway. The show was Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The powerhouse creative team included a MacArthur Genius and Bono. But its downfall would be long and treacherous. Here's the story of what went wrong — and why we're still pushing for a revival.

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    Very Special Episodes is a new podcast with a simple premise: we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Joe KinosianProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsAdditional Editing by Emily MarinoffMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierStory Editors are Josh Fisher and Marisa BrownResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Joe KinosianOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English

    If you're enjoying the show, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platforms. 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    The Climax

    The Climax

    Sidney Gottlieb thought he’d erased all traces of Operation Midnight Climax and MK-ULTRA from the government’s collective memory. While the world will never know the full extent of the CIA’s experimentation with LSD, an unlikely source revealed many of the victims. These breakthroughs came courtesy of George White, who testified from beyond the grave.

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    • 42 min
    Tripping

    Tripping

    As the walls closed in on Operation Midnight Climax, George White took lessons he’d learned from a world-class magician to explore the last uncharted frontier of the psychonaut — the general public. It’s how White would make San Francisco’s sanity disappear.

    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 33 min
    A Waste of Sin

    A Waste of Sin

    After Frank Olson’s death in New York, George White had to move his whole operation to San Francisco. And the CIA added a twist: while they’d been occupied with using LSD as a mind-control drug, now they wanted him to weaponize sex.

    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 31 min
    The Window

    The Window

    For 70 years, people have debated what happened to Frank Olson at the Hotel Statler. Did the CIA’s grand experiment with LSD lead to the sanctioned execution of a government employee? For George White, Frank Olson’s death would change everything.

    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 39 min
    Smoking Out Castro

    Smoking Out Castro

    Today we wanted to share a bonus mini-episode. Here’s how George White’s LSD adventures tied in with the CIA’s increasingly bizarre attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. We’ll be back with a new installment next Wednesday.

    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 11 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
262 Ratings

262 Ratings

dragonlover252525 ,

Good but…

I’m only on episode 3, so I might be a bit bias, ands it’s a great podcast, but there’s SO many ads… like probably over 7 minutes of ads per episode. Seems like a bit much.
I might update this later once I’ve listened to more.

SillyName3 ,

Over ADVERTISING

We enjoy putting a podcast on, lying down, relax, close our eyes…
The ADS are off putting. The storytelling never realized because the 8 minute blasts 💥 of ADs being an unsettling distraction over and over? Turn off, delete podcast. Another awaits discovery …

bekalorren ,

Why is this podcast listed under midnight climax????

I just left this dumb stealing Superman podcast one star, then I realized that it gave MIDNIGHT CLIMAX one star! Wth!? Midnight climax was a solid 5 star podcast. Why is this Superman podcast piggy backing off of MC?☹️

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