Stupiracy | Stupid History + Conspiracy

Hubbard Radio

In a world where conspiracy and history meets stupidity, 'Stupiracy' takes you on a wild ride through the most bizarre tales ever told. Join hosts Scott Rizzuto and Tim McKernan for another 12 episode season of absurd, unbelievable, and downright hilarious stories you never learned in history class. This is the Stupiracy Podcast. New episodes every Thursday. Presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee.

  1. The Salem Witch Trials: Did Moldy Bread Cause an Accidental LSD Trip?

    6D AGO

    The Salem Witch Trials: Did Moldy Bread Cause an Accidental LSD Trip?

    This is a completely normal story about bread causing mass hysteria. Nothing weird happened here except hallucinations, executions, and possibly accidental LSD. In this episode of Stupiracy - Presented by CARSTAR - we dig into the Salem Witch Trials and the surprisingly popular theory that nobody was actually practicing witchcraft… they were just eating very bad bread. In 1692, a group of girls in Salem start having violent fits—convulsions, screaming, claiming invisible forces are attacking them. The town responds the only way that makes sense in the 1600s: Witch trials. What follows is one of the most bizarre history spirals ever—over 200 accused, 19 executed, one man crushed to death, and somehow… two dogs also get executed. The dogs. We killed the dogs. Then comes the twist. The Salem Witch Trials ergot theory suggests that contaminated rye (aka moldy bread) may have caused hallucinations similar to LSD. Suddenly, the visions, the panic, the “spectral evidence”—it all starts to look like a very real, very unfortunate group trip. Cold, wet weather? Perfect for fungus. Symptoms? Match ergot poisoning. People seeing things that aren’t there? Yeah, that checks out.So was this just history gone wrong because of carbs? Not exactly. Because if it were the bread, why didn’t everyone lose their minds? Why were the accusations so specific? And why did the legal system fully commit to ghost stories as evidence? Turns out this wasn’t just a case of bad grain—it was fear, politics, religion, and a system built to find guilt no matter what. The moldy bread theory is simple. The truth about the Salem Witch Trials is messier. And way more human. This is one of those unbelievable historical events that sounds fake, feels like a conspiracy, and somehow… actually happened. This is Stupiracy presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. Follow the show. Leave a review. Not because we need it—but because historically, ignoring obvious problems and committing to bad ideas has been working great for humanity so far. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    19 min
  2. Bizarre History of the Guam Invasion: They Fired Cannons and Guam Said “Sorry”

    MAR 26

    Bizarre History of the Guam Invasion: They Fired Cannons and Guam Said “Sorry”

    This is a completely normal story about the Guam invasion where nobody knew there was a war. The locals thought the cannons were a greeting. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. Navy pulled up to Guam expecting a fight. Instead, they got an apology. No defenses. No return fire. Just a small boat rowing out like, “Hey, sorry we didn’t salute you properly.” Because Guam had no idea a war was even happening. This episode of Stupiracy - Presented by CARSTAR - dives into one of the weirdest moments in bizarre history—a Guam invasion that felt more like an awkward misunderstanding than a battle. We get into how this entire Spanish American War Guam situation played out like a last-minute errand: “Hey, on your way to the Philippines, can you just… conquer Guam real quick?” And they did. We break down: Why Guam was completely out of the loop (no news, no communication, just vibes)The moment “friendly greeting” turned into “you are now prisoners of war”The accidental rise of a random guy who somehow became governor in a dayWhy this is peak history gone wrong and one of the best historical oddities everIt’s weird history, stupid history, and one of those unbelievable historical events that sounds fake but absolutely isn’t. This is Stupiracy presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. Also yes—we will keep saying they thought the Guam invasion was a greeting. Because they did. They really did. Follow the show. Or don’t. But if we show up unannounced and take over your podcast app, just apologize, and we’ll sort it out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    20 min
  3. History of Drugs in War: From Viking Berserkers to Meth Fueled World War II Soldiers

    MAR 19

    History of Drugs in War: From Viking Berserkers to Meth Fueled World War II Soldiers

    You ever wonder if entire wars were fought by people who hadn’t slept in three days and thought that was a great idea? Cool. Because the history of drugs in war is basically that… but worse. Much worse. This week on Stupiracy - presented by CARSTAR - we dig into the history of drugs in war, where soldiers weren’t just brave—they were absolutely, chemically committed. Ancient Greeks were out here sipping opium wine like it’s a post-battle nightcap. Vikings? Possibly eating mushrooms and screaming their way into legend. No armor. No fear. Just vibes and very questionable decision-making. Then it escalates—fast. Zulu warriors pregame with cannabis and herbal cocktails before handing the British a historic loss. Napoleon’s troops discover hashish and immediately become the least focused army in Europe. Shocking. Truly shocking. And then we hit the industrial era, where this stops being quirky weird history and turns into full-blown “who approved this?” energy. World War I hands out cocaine pills like battlefield snacks. World War II cranks it to eleven with meth-fueled blitzkrieg, “tank chocolate,” and kamikaze pilots flying on stimulants straight into unbelievable historical events. Entire military strategies were running on zero sleep and terrible ideas. This is history gone wrong, powered by chemistry. But here’s where it gets weird in a different way. The same types of substances from the dark history of drugs in war are now being studied to treat PTSD in veterans. So we’ve gone from “take this to fight harder” to “take this to survive what you just went through.” Full circle. Horrifying. Kind of hopeful. Still extremely weird. We’re talking Viking berserkers on mushrooms, Zulu warriors on cannabis, cocaine in World War I, meth fueled World War II soldiers, and the full unhinged history of drugs in war that somehow is all real. Stupiracy is presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. Subscribe to the Stupiracy podcast, leave a review, and tell a friend—or don’t, but just know we will assume you’re historically anti-fun and possibly working against us. Not saying it’s a conspiracy… but also not not saying that. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    18 min
  4. Is Nicolas Cage a Vampire? The Weird History Behind the Internet’s Wildest Conspiracy

    MAR 12

    Is Nicolas Cage a Vampire? The Weird History Behind the Internet’s Wildest Conspiracy

    Is Nicolas Cage a vampire? It sounds like a ridiculous internet conspiracy, but the Nicolas Cage vampire theory has been floating around for years thanks to a bizarre Civil War photo, vampire movie roles, and some very strange Nicolas Cage behavior.  Let’s start with the evidence.  There’s a mysterious 1870 Civil War–era photograph that looks suspiciously like Nicolas Cage. Same face. Same eyes. Same expression like he just remembered where the Declaration of Independence is hidden.  Naturally, someone found this photo and tried to sell it on eBay while claiming Cage is an immortal vampire who reinvents himself every 75 years.  Which… feels like a bold listing description.  In this episode of the Stupiracy podcast - presented by CARSTAR - Tim and Rizz dig into one of the internet’s strangest celebrity conspiracy theories and break down the ridiculous evidence behind the Nicolas Cage vampire conspiracy.  Along the way we explore:  The bizarre Civil War Nicolas Cage photo His legendary performance in Vampire’s Kiss (yes, he really ate a cockroach) Why he once spent the night at Dracula’s castle His obsession with haunted mansions, castles, and a Tyrannosaurus rex skull And whether vampires can actually appear in photographs It’s the perfect mix of weird history, conspiracy stories, and ridiculous historical facts that somehow ends with a question no serious historian has ever asked:  Is Nicolas Cage just an eccentric actor… or an immortal vampire who occasionally wins Oscars and buys haunted houses?  We may not solve the mystery of the Nicolas Cage vampire conspiracy, but we will absolutely overanalyze it.  Follow the Stupiracy podcast for more dark history, conspiracy comedy, and stupid tales you definitely didn’t learn in school.  And if you enjoyed the episode, leave a review.  Not because it helps the show… but because if Nicolas Cage really has been alive since the 1800s, he probably reads podcast reviews.  And he has a lot of time to check them.  Stupiracy is presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. This episode explores the Nicolas Cage vampire theory, the famous Civil War Nicolas Cage photo, and one of the internet’s strangest celebrity conspiracy stories. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    21 min
  5. The Brazen Bull and the Dark History of Executions

    MAR 5

    The Brazen Bull and the Dark History of Executions

    At some point in human history someone looked at a criminal and said, “Sure, we could just execute him… but what if we did it in the most unnecessarily dramatic way possible?” And that’s basically the history of executions. In this episode of the Stupiracy podcast - Presented by CARSTAR - we dive into the bizarre history of executions, one of the darkest corners of weird history. Because humans didn’t just invent capital punishment. We turned it into full-blown theater. We start with the infamous Brazen Bull torture device, a hollow bronze cow where victims were roasted alive while their screams echoed out like the bellowing of a bull. Yes, someone invented that. And yes, the inventor immediately became the first person forced inside it. Honestly? Fair. From there the ancient execution methods get progressively weirder. The Romans introduce the Roman execution sack punishment, sewing criminals into a bag with a dog, snake, rooster, and ape before tossing them into a river.Medieval Europe contributes an entire starter kit of medieval torture devices like the rack, thumb screws, and the sleep-destroying heretic’s fork.Then the Enlightenment arrives and somehow invents the guillotine, a machine meant to make executions more “humane.”America eventually enters the chat with the electric chair invention, a device born out of the bizarre rivalry between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. What follows is one of the most chaotic and botched executions in history, proving that even modern technology couldn’t clean up the dark history of executions. By the time we reach lethal injection history, executions look sterile and clinical—but the potential for horror hasn’t exactly disappeared. It just moved behind closed doors. So the real question becomes: did society actually become more humane… or did we just get better at hiding what’s happening? If you enjoy ridiculous historical facts, historical oddities, and the kind of crazy true history that makes you say “there is absolutely no way that actually happened,” welcome to Stupiracy, the podcast where history meets comedy and things go very wrong. Now do the obvious thing: subscribe to the Stupiracy podcast, leave a review, and tell a friend about it. Not because we’re politely asking. But because somewhere in the long history of executions, someone definitely invented a punishment for people who didn’t subscribe. And honestly… we’d rather not find out what it was. Stupiracy is presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    28 min
  6. The Bohemian Grove Conspiracy: Cremation of Care, Weird History, and the Manhattan Project

    FEB 26

    The Bohemian Grove Conspiracy: Cremation of Care, Weird History, and the Manhattan Project

    You think this is a secret cult in the woods plotting world domination.  It’s not what you think.  It’s worse.  But also… somehow much dumber.  The Bohemian Grove conspiracy sounds like peak weird conspiracies internet lore — presidents, billionaires, media titans, and captains of industry gathering in strict secrecy beneath a 40-foot owl statue in Northern California. And yes. That part is real.  But what actually happens at Bohemian Grove isn’t a clean villain monologue situation. It’s a chaotic mix of global power, summer camp energy, theatrical rituals, whiskey, frog skits, and the legally celebrated freedom to pee on redwood trees.  Welcome to the Stupiracy podcast - presented by Carstar - where this week’s weird history episode dives headfirst into one of the most bizarre history rabbit holes in America.  The Bohemian Grove conspiracy centers on a 2,700-acre private campground owned by the Bohemian Club, founded in 1878. Every July, private jets quietly flood Sonoma County. Security locks down. And some of the most powerful men in American political and corporate history disappear into the woods.  Ronald Reagan.George H.W. Bush.Gerald Ford.Eisenhower.Rockefellers.William Randolph Hearst.Clint Eastwood.Walter Cronkite.Jimmy Buffett. Yes. That Jimmy Buffett. And once inside? They perform the Cremation of Care ceremony — a ritual where robed members gather before a giant owl statue and symbolically burn an effigy called “Care” to free themselves from worldly concerns. That’s either: A sinister secret society ritualA theatrical arts camp fever dreamOr history gone wrong with a production budget And here’s where the Bohemian Grove conspiracy stops being internet lore and turns into crazy true history: In 1942, a meeting at Bohemian Grove helped lay groundwork for the Manhattan Project. The atomic bomb. Yes. The groundwork for one of the most world-altering weapons in human history traces back to a secretive encampment in the redwoods.  So is this a shadow government summit where elite agendas are shaped?  Or is it just a fraternity party for Fortune 500 executives who never emotionally left college?  This episode unpacks: The patron saint of secrecy with his finger to his lipsThe 33-year membership waitlistThe owl symbolism and conspiracy stories around itThe documented Manhattan Project meetingThe Cremation of Care ritualAnd the persistent belief that a small circle of powerful men are quietly steering history We explore whether the Bohemian Grove conspiracy is one of the great debunked conspiracies… or just one of the most unbelievable historical events hiding in plain sight.  If you love dark history, historical oddities, ridiculous historical facts, and history you didn’t learn in school, this is your episode of Stupiracy – Presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. This is dark history meets comedy. This is conspiracy comedy. This is a comedy history podcast asking:  Is it a cult? Is it a summer camp? Is it both?  And why is there always an owl. Now listen carefully. If you made it this far and you’re not following the show, that’s suspicious. Very suspicious. Subscribe immediately. Leave a five-star review like you’ve just been invited to a secret encampment in July. The owl is watching. The redwoods are judging. And we absolutely track who refuses to click “follow.” Don’t make this weird. Just join the club.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    22 min
  7. The Dark Origins of Common Phrases: Weird History You Didn’t Learn in School

    FEB 19

    The Dark Origins of Common Phrases: Weird History You Didn’t Learn in School

    You’ve been casually referencing battlefield amputations and ancient political chaos your entire life. This week on Stupiracy - presented by CARSTAR - we uncover the dark origins of common phrases, from “bite the bullet” to “spill the beans,” and the weird history hiding inside everyday sayings you never questioned. Turns out… language is violent. And occasionally butter-based. You say “bite the bullet” like it’s nothing. You casually tell someone to “break a leg.” You accuse people of “spilling the beans” without realizing those beans were once ancient Greek voting ballots. The dark origins of common phrases are far less metaphorical than you think. “Bite the bullet”? Civil War surgery. No anesthesia. Just a lead bullet and courage.“Cat got your tongue”? Possibly ancient Egypt feeding liars’ tongues to cats. Possibly naval torture.“Spill the beans”? Ancient Greek democracy chaos. Literal beans. Political beans.“Mad as a hatter”? Mercury poisoning from hat-making. Industrial brain damage, but fashionable.“Bury the hatchet”? Shockingly wholesome peace treaties. Actual hatchets in the dirt.“Saved by the bell”? Not coffins. Sorry. It’s boxing.“Break a leg”? Theater people trying to pull one over on evil spirits.“Rule of thumb”? Not the myth you’ve heard.“Dead ringer”? Horse racing fraud, because of course people cheat. This is the dark history of common phrases you were never taught. This is weird history at its finest. This is history you didn’t learn in school because textbooks prefer wars and treaties over butter being thrown at the gods. We unpack the real phrase origins of everyday sayings, the myths that refuse to die, and the phrases that survived centuries of chaos to end up in your group chat. Some of these stories are dark. Some are clever. Some are completely fake, and humanity just decided to commit to the bit. The dark origins of common phrases prove one thing: language is basically an archaeological dig, except instead of pottery shards you find raccoons, gramophones, furious playwrights yelling about stolen thunder, and a suspicious amount of mercury exposure. If you love weird history, stupid history, and the kind of comedy history podcast that explains something clearly and then immediately derails it, this episode is exactly your problem. Welcome to Stupiracy – Presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. Now listen carefully. You are going to follow this show. You are going to leave a five-star review. You are going to tell a friend. Not because we’re desperate. Obviously not. But because somewhere in ancient Greece a guy spilled beans too early and democracy survived anyway. You can survive tapping five stars. Subscribe. Review. Join the weird history ritual. Or we release the mercury hats. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    24 min
  8. Early Automotive History: The First Car Crash, Henry Ford’s Weed Diet, and the Horsey Horseless Disaster

    FEB 12

    Early Automotive History: The First Car Crash, Henry Ford’s Weed Diet, and the Horsey Horseless Disaster

    There were only two cars in the entire state of Ohio. Two. And somehow… they crashed into each other. That’s not a metaphor. That’s early automotive history. And it only gets weirder from there. This is Stupiracy - Presented by CARSTAR. This week on our funny history podcast, we’re diving into early automotive history — when cars looked like farm equipment possessed by ambition and nobody fully understood what was happening. Before Henry Ford and the Model T, there was the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, built by Carl Benz in 1885. The first real automobile. Not a carriage. Not a horse. A car. And adjusted for modern money? Shockingly affordable. Which feels wrong. The first car should’ve cost “sell your castle” money. Instead, early automotive history opens with a relatively reasonable price tag. Then America said, “Cool. Let’s make this worse.” Enter the Horsey Horseless. An actual vehicle with a wooden horse head attached to the front so it wouldn’t scare real horses. The head was hollow. The fuel tank was inside it. Gasoline. In a fake horse skull. This is not satire. This is weird history you didn’t learn in school because no teacher wants to say “gas-powered horse face” out loud. And then comes 1895. The first car crash in America. In Ohio. With only two cars registered in the entire state. Early automotive history statistically said, “That’s impossible.” Ohio said, “Watch this.” Boom. Tree root. Collision. Awkward silence. Of course we talk about Henry Ford — assembly line genius, Model T architect, industrial legend. But also: man who regularly pulled over to eat weeds. Dandelions. Milkweed. Pigweed. Shepherd’s purse. He called them “roadside greens,” which sounds artisanal but was really just him grazing near Detroit like a very motivated goat. We also get into: • The Henry Ford weeds diet • The first car crash in America • The Benz Patent-Motorwagen • The Horsey Horseless • Thomas Edison’s final breath preserved in a vial • In-car toilets from the 1950s • A fifth wheel designed only for parallel parking • Chrysler installing record players in dashboards Because early automotive history wasn’t smooth innovation. It was chaos. It was experimentation. It was “put a toilet in it and see what happens.” It was “maybe the car needs a horse face.” It was “capture Edison’s breath like it’s limited-edition air.” This is stupid history. This is weird history. This is history you didn’t learn in school because the textbook couldn’t handle the milkweed. If you like your comedy history podcast informative, slightly unhinged, and confidently explaining nonsense like it’s obvious — welcome to Stupiracy. A podcast about stupid history and weird history - Presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee. Now do the responsible thing. Follow the show. Leave a five-star review. Not because we’re desperate. Because statistically, if there are only two podcasts in your state and you don’t subscribe to this one… something terrible could happen. Don’t be Ohio, 1895. WTF history? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 min
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In a world where conspiracy and history meets stupidity, 'Stupiracy' takes you on a wild ride through the most bizarre tales ever told. Join hosts Scott Rizzuto and Tim McKernan for another 12 episode season of absurd, unbelievable, and downright hilarious stories you never learned in history class. This is the Stupiracy Podcast. New episodes every Thursday. Presented by CARSTAR – your auto body repair experts – locally owned with a nationwide guarantee.

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