In this episode we look at the death of freelance journalist Danny Casolaro, who was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Martinsburg, West Virginia. This was ruled a suicide, but circumstances surrounding the case raised questions. Casolaro had been investigating what he called “The Octopus,” a sprawling conspiracy that connected intelligence agencies, organized crime, and international arms dealers. The episode also examines the role of Lyndon LaRouche's intelligence network in spreading misinformation (and sometimes, credible information).

GUESTS INCLUDE a number of journalists familiar with crimes and conspiracies, including Martin Kilian, Jack Calhoun, and Dan Moldea. We also speak with Casolaro’s cousin, the playwright Dominic Orlando.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Unsolved Mysteries episode on Danny Casolaro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGclHLNAsCs
• The Inslaw Affair (Australian TV news program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiVIDBDWivY

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out: http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

In this week’s episode, Joseph L. Flatley investigates the infamous Finders case—a 1987 incident where two well-dressed men and six disheveled children in a Tallahassee park sparked nationwide panic about satanic cults and child trafficking. What began as a routine police call transformed into one of the internet's most persistent conspiracy theories, fueled by leaked government documents claiming evidence of “satanic ceremonies” and an international child trafficking operation.

Through exclusive interviews with those directly involved, including two of the children (now adults) who were at the center of the controversy, this episode reveals the shocking truth: the Finders were neither CIA operatives nor satanic cultists, but an unconventional community with an alternative approach to child-rearing that clashed with mainstream values during the height of the Satanic Panic.

GUESTS INCLUDE Mary and Max, two of the Finders children, who reflect on their experience growing up in this controversial community.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Michael Howell interview: https://archive.org/details/unreleased-interview-with-finders-member

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

Dive into the shocking story of Paul Bennewitz, a physicist and military contractor whose innocent observations near Kirtland Air Force Base triggered one of the most elaborate government disinformation campaigns in history.

This episode unravels how Air Force intelligence agents deliberately fed Bennewitz false information about alien bases, cattle mutilations, and government-extraterrestrial treaties—ultimately driving him to mental breakdown, while simultaneously creating the blueprint for modern UFO mythology.

Whether you're a UFO enthusiast or skeptic, this eye-opening investigation reveals the dangerous intersection of government secrecy, psychological manipulation, and belief formation. Discover how the stories first planted in the Bennewitz Affair continue shaping conspiracy culture four decades later—and why we should question even the most compelling "whistleblower" revelations.

THIS WEEK’S GUEST: Adam Gorightly is an author, researcher, and self-described “crackpot historian.” His book Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks: UFO Disinformation in the Age of Aquarius explores how government agencies have manipulated UFO mythology. Gorightly's other works include The Prankster and the Conspiracy, Historia Discordia, and Caught in the Crossfire: Kerry Thornley, Lee Oswald and the Garrison Investigation.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• UFO Cover-Up? LIVE! https://youtu.be/JTlGLIbv31w?si=mJnYwpUUYzrjgIuV

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

From distinguished FBI agent to conspiracy kingpin: Journey inside the mind of Ted Gunderson, whose investigation of the infamous Jeffrey MacDonald murder case launched his transformation from respected law enforcement official to professional conspiracy theorist.

This episode of A Paranoid’s History of the United States follows Gunderson's evolution as he chases phantom cults, promotes tales of government mind control, and claims to expose vast underground child trafficking networks. Through interviews with former colleagues and investigators, we reveal how his FBI credentials lent dangerous credibility to outlandish theories that continue to influence American society today.

Whether you're fascinated by true crime, conspiracy culture, or the hidden forces that shape our collective beliefs, this deep dive into Gunderson's "reign of error" illuminates how yesterday's paranoia became today's viral misinformation.

GUESTS:

• Oliver "Buck" Revell. Former FBI Associate Deputy Director who worked with Ted Gunderson during his time at the Bureau. Revell served in various senior roles at FBI Headquarters from 1980 until 1991 and became Associate Deputy Director in 1985.
• Lucien Greaves. Activist and co-founder of The Satanic Temple who has extensively researched the "satanic panic" phenomenon. Greaves spoke with Gunderson several times in the early 2000s and offers insights into Gunderson's investigative methods and beliefs.
• Ed Opperman. Private investigator and host of “The Opperman Report,” Ed knew Ted Gunderson in the 1990s.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

In 1993, the 51-day standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas ended in tragedy with 76 people dead, including 25 children. For William Cooper, former Naval Intelligence officer turned conspiracy broadcaster, this wasn't just another government operation gone wrong—it was the smoking gun that validated everything he had been warning his listeners about.

This episode examines how Waco transformed Cooper from a UFO researcher into one of the most influential voices in the American militia movement. We explore how Cooper's military background shaped his worldview, his complex relationship with the UFO community, and how his radio show The Hour of the Time provided the ideological foundation for the modern American conspiracy landscape. The episode also examines Cooper's contentious relationship with a young Alex Jones, revealing how the torch of conspiracy broadcasting passed from one generation to the next.

Cooper's story—ending with his death in a shootout with law enforcement in 2001—offers a window into how fringe ideas about government power moved from the margins into the mainstream, and how a single tragedy in Texas became the catalyst for decades of anti-government sentiment that continues to shape America today.

GUEST: Mark Jacobson is a veteran journalist and author known for his deep dives into American subcultures and fringe movements. His work has appeared in prestigious publications including New York Magazine, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone. In Pale Horse Rider, Jacobson delivers the definitive biography of William “Bill” Cooper.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Bill Cooper’s radio program: https://archive.org/details/BillCooperComplete/

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.tiktok.com/@paranoidhistory
• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory
• https://www.reddit.com/r/paranoidhistory

A PRODUCTION OF AMPHIBIAN MEDIA http://amphibian.media/

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out: http://lennyflatley.substack.com/

A Paranoid's History of the United States is a podcast exploring the murky intersection between documented government conspiracies and fantastical theories, examining how real covert operations have fueled paranoid beliefs throughout American history.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: https://paranoidhistory.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

• https://www.instagram.com/paranoidhistory/
• https://twitter.com/paranoidhistory

HOSTED BY JOSEPH L. FLATLEY. For bonus content and to sign up for my newsletter, check out:

http://lennyflatley.substack.com/