The Truth of the Matter with 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 th...

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.

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, sociolog...

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...

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 Coffindaff...

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?...

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 shar...

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...

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...

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 Hot...

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 ...

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 g...

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 re...

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...

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 m...

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 ...