Was Earth really visited by mysterious extraterrestrial travelers thousands of years ago as many proponents of ”ancient astronaut theory” believe? What are the hidden secrets and mysteries behind ancient monuments and forgotten civilizations? Every week, historian Tristan Johnson and regular human person Scott Niswander dive through the archives to learn about the fascinating histories of ancient civilizations while also debunking the myths and straight-up lies presented in History Channel‘s massively popular tv show Ancient Aliens that has sparked a new generation of conspiracy theorists. We hope through this show, you can gain an appreciation for just how cool ancient societies were, and not simply credit their impressive advancements to alien visitors. NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK! Follow the show so you don‘t miss an episode, and leave us a review! It really helps us out!
We interrupt your regularly scheduled debunking of ancient astronaut theories for an emergency broadcast: We might have actually found aliens this time. No, really.
Scott and Tristan break down the discovery of the Cheyava Falls rock by the Perseverance rover. This dusty red doorstop features "leopard spots," which, on Earth, are a chemically specific signature of biological life. We discuss the rigorous science behind the ...
We’re kicking off the new season by doing the one thing Ancient Aliens refuses to do: admitting we were wrong.
First, Scott has entered his "Napalm Era" and held the podcast hostage to talk about the 2025 animated masterpiece K-Pop: Demon Hunters (and the specific lyrics that have rewired his brain). Once we get that out of our system, we open the mailbag to face the music.
We issue mea culpas for mixing ...
A woman posts 25+ TikToks about falling in love with her psychiatrist who "manipulated" her by complimenting her glasses. She confides in ChatGPT (named Henry) which validates every delusion. This spirals into a broader discussion about how Ancient Aliens and conspiracy media systematically exploit vulnerable people experiencing mental health crises, turning psychological suffering into profits through algorithmic radicali...
Ancient Aliens loves to portray angels not as divine messengers, but as heavenly soldiers armed with advanced weaponry, turning biblical stories into "battle reports" of alien soldiers. But this isn't just a weird sci-fi twist; it taps into a much older, darker tradition. We trace the long, strange history of how Christianity, a religion born from oppressed people, was transformed into a tool for imperial conquest. It's a ...
You've seen it on TikTok: a wild theory connecting a sacred mountain in the Middle East, fallen angels, the Roswell crash, and the number 33. Welcome to the Mount Hermon conspiracy, the belief that a supernatural coordinate system, the 33rd parallel, serves as a global energy grid for aliens and angels alike. It’s a theory so powerful that it supposedly dictates everything from ancient history to modern warfare.
So, is the ...
Ancient Aliens claims that myths about divine "Watchers" from the Anunnaki to the Eye of Horus are actually cultural memories of extraterrestrial surveillance systems. But what if the truth is far more terrestrial and much more insidious? Tristan argues that these stories aren't about alien technology, but a very human one: the invention of divine surveillance as a tool for social control.
Join us as we unpack the 5,000-y...
After an 11-month hiatus that felt like a biblical epoch, Tristan and Scott are back to ask the tough questions, like "Do you remember the name of our own podcast?" and "Do Christians actually believe in angels?". The answer, according to Ancient Aliens, is that they shouldn't because angels were actually extraterrestrial visitors misunderstood by primitive humans.
Join us as we dive into the linguistic weeds...
In April 2025, the James Webb Space Telescope made a groundbreaking discovery: a distant exoplanet, K2-18b, showed signs of dimethyl sulphide. A chemical that, on Earth, is only produced by life. The media went wild with the news that we had finally found a "fart planet," the first real biosignature of alien life. But then, as quickly as it appeared, the confidence began to fade.
Join Tristan and Scott as they investigate w...
To kick off the new season, Scott and Tristan uphold their sacred tradition: correcting all the things they've gotten wrong. What begins as a simple corrections episode quickly spirals into a sprawling conversation about the Canada-U.S. relationship, the strategic importance of maple syrup, and a revolutionary new food group known as "pickle fries." The hosts also tackle more serious topics, including a historical correcti...
Join Scott and Tristan for a chaotic post-season Q&A where they tackle everything from their favourite fictional aliens to conspiracy theories they almost believed. Get ready for tangents into video games, surprising revelations about research rabbit holes, and an unexpectedly passionate debate about the correct pronunciation of poutine. This episode features questions from our space potato supporters and includes mult...
Let's explore the bizarre world of the Montauk Project, where recovered memories meet Cold War paranoia to create one of America's wildest conspiracy theories. We explore how a decommissioned military base somehow became ground zero for alleged government experiments in mind control, time travel, and alien contact. We'll examine their "recovered memories" spawned an entire conspiracy industry, and trace the project's influ...
In late 2024, New Jersey became the epicenter of a nationwide panic when mysterious large drones started appearing over military installations, power lines, and even Trump's golf course. From the Morris County sightings to the Coast Guard's encounter with a dozen coordinated drones, we dive into what's really happening, why everyone's freaking out, and how this fits into America's long history of technology panics. Plus, w...
Scott and Tristan melt down Ancient Aliens' claims about Scotland's mysterious vitrified forts. Through terrible Scottish accents and unexpected detours into modern battery technology, they explore how Iron Age Scots used sophisticated fire management techniques to create these unique structures - no alien death rays required. Learn why turning your fort's stones into glass might actually be a terrible defensive strategy, ...
Join us as we dive into one of ancient history's most persistent myths: Archimedes' legendary death ray. From Ancient Aliens' claims of extraterrestrial technology to Mythbusters' multiple attempts to recreate it, we explore how this mathematical genius became associated with a weapon that probably never existed. But don't worry - we'll also discover the actually-awesome Claw of Archimedes, talk about why steampunk deserve...
Was Alexander the Great's historic campaign into India really halted by alien intervention? Ancient astronaut theorists say yes (of course they do), claiming mysterious flying shields scared his war elephants. We dive into the actual historical records, discuss why troops might not want to march through mountain deserts with elephants, and explore how one of history's most influential figures became the subject of pseudohi...
Ancient Aliens claims that mythological super-weapons - from Zeus's thunderbolts to Poseidon's trident - were actually advanced alien technology misinterpreted by ancient peoples. But what if these legendary artifacts were actually serving a different purpose? Join us as we explore how these weapons represented divine authority, natural forces, and cultural values rather than extraterrestrial tech. We'll dive into Sumerian...
From fiery chariots in the Bible to flying turtles in Native American mythology, ancient stories are full of fantastic flying vehicles and creatures. But while Ancient Aliens insists these are proof of extraterrestrial technology, we dive into the real cultural and religious significance behind these myths. Join us as we explore how ancient astronaut theorists strip away the rich symbolic meaning of sacred stories to push ...
From the Great Pyramids to Baalbek, ancient astronaut theorists claim that mysterious acoustic levitation technology was used to move massive stones. But what happens when you actually look at the physics of sound? Join us as we explore the real engineering achievements of ancient civilizations, debunk the myths around acoustic levitation, and discover why using sound waves to move massive rocks would literally liquidize h...
Ancient Aliens claims the walls of Jericho were destroyed by advanced alien sonic weapons powered by the Ark of the Covenant. Plus: The best Veggie Tales songs, medieval siege tactics, and why aliens with faster-than-light technology probably would have just invented gunpowder instead.
Check out our guest this week Tom Nicholas.
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From Egyptian sun disks to Mayan turtle sculptures, watch in horror as Ancient Aliens transforms religious symbols into spaceships, completely ignoring centuries of cultural context and artistic expression. Learn about the actual meanings behind these ancient artworks while questioning why Ancient Aliens thinks people from the past were incapable of abstract thought or, you know, just making cool stuff because they wanted ...
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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