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Mission Implausible

iHeartPodcasts
Conspiracy Theories
CIA
Donald Trump
Russia
Havana Syndrome
Disinformation
Qanon
Republican Party
Social Media
Russian Intelligence
National Security
Deep State
FBI
Tulsi Gabbard
Mkultra
Politics
Rudy Giuliani
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Covid-19
Ufos

Do you want to know the truth behind the world’s wildest conspiracy theories? Former CIA officers John Sipher & Jerry O’Shea try to determine where misinformation is coming from, when we’re being lied to and when a conspiracy theory is an actual real conspiracy. In the world of espionage, they were part of creating conspiracies. Now they and their circle of experts probe what’s true and when we’re... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes114Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Mission Implausible

Latest Episodes

Real government secrecy, intelligence failures, and historic scandals created the conditions for today’s conspiracy culture. Pearl Harbor, The Red Scare, JFK, 9/11, QAnon - a small truth can explode into a dangerous paranoid belief in hidden power an... more

Comedian Ben Palmer (Palmer Trolls) does sort-of-pranks that have evolved from satire to social experiment. Using aliases, fake websites and a “deportation hotline,” Palmer reveals how easily ordinary people are drawn into exposing their own bad beha... more

In 2016, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele produced a series of intelligence memos that were leaked and widely called “The Steel Dossier” containing allegations about Russia's interference in the US election and links between Tru... more

We continue to look at Havana Syndrome and Russian intelligence operations. Investigative journalist Michael Weiss expands on evidence suggesting that a covert unit within Russian military intelligence may have targeted Western operatives, particular... more

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Recent Guests

Kathryn Olmsted
Historian, UC Davis
University of California, Davis
Episode: Modern Conspiracy Culture: How Real Scandals Fueled False Narratives (with Kathryn Olmsted)
Ben Palmer
Comedian known for deadpan prank style and satirical social experiments
Palmer Trolls (social media persona)
Episode: The Terrible Thing People Say When They Think No One Is Listening (with Ben Palmer)
Christopher Steele
Former British intelligence officer, Russia specialist, founder of Orbis Business Intelligence
Orbis Business Intelligence
Episode: What the Steele Dossier Got Right—and Why It Still Matters (with Christopher Steele)
Michael Weiss
Investigative journalist, author and analyst
The Insider, New Lines Magazine
Episode: Havana Syndrome Is Real - and They Tried to Bury It (with Michael Weiss) - Part One
Anthony Vinci
Former intelligence officer and entrepreneur; CTO at NGA
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Episode: The Singularity War and How to Hack Minds (w/ Anthony Vinci)
Liz Oyer
Pardon attorney at the US Department of Justice; former federal public defender
U.S. Department of Justice; federal public defender
Episode: The Art of the Pardon: How The Dept. of Justice Became a Favor Bank (with Liz Oyer)
Christine Gralow
Independent journalist and founder of Meanwhile in Hawaii
meanwhileinhawaii.org
Episode: The Hawaiian Cult that raised Tulsi Gabbard (with Christine Gralow)
Jordan Holmes
Author and podcaster focusing on Alex Jones and conspiracy theories
Knowledge Fight
Episode: Alex Jones and the Conspiracy Economy (with Jordan Holmes)
Adam Tod Brown
Writer, comedian, and host of You Don't Even Like This Show and Unpopular Opinion
Episode: Eating Bugs, Shooting Bobby Kennedy, The Deadly Double: Conspiracy Theory Grey Areas (with Adam Tod Brown)

Hosts

John Sipher
Co-host; former CIA officer; host of investigations into intelligence, misinformation, and power.
Jerry O'Shea
Co-host; former CIA officer; contributes to investigations into conspiracy theories and information warfare.

Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars from 723 ratings
  • Love it!

    Excellent. Funny. Informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Polly 31
    United States19 days ago
  • Listen Impossible

    Potentially interesting content frequently interrupted by repetitive trailers for other podcasts. Trailers for the same four podcasts played four times in a 33 minute show!

    The latest show (on Ghislaine Maxwell) had a few minutes on her and the rest was was a self-indulgent discussion on the travails of being a journalist.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dave61
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • I love MISSION IMPLAUSIBLE— BUT PLEASE, no silly music

    I really enjoy this podcast, but please don’t add special effects or silly music. Your listeners are above it and it’s super annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    COMEON, APPLE
    United States4 months ago
  • I have been staring at pine cones past week+

    I wonder if a message. But also, why pine cones?

    The alien pregnancy test was seeing if we were birthing the new Earth yet that’s what I believe, and: it’s not about the queen ant. It’s about all the ants being empowered so ideally you could talk to one aunt and you would understand the whole societyish. Maybe this does happen now?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cestmoi3
    United States6 months ago
  • Promising, but doesn’t quite deliver

    I like the premise of this show, and they have good guests, but it doesn’t go into as much depth as I would like, and the huge number of commercials is annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MusicCityEngineer
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, guests and hosts are praised for credible expertise and a thoughtful approach to debunking misinformation.
Ads and pacing are common points of critique, with listeners noting too many ads and repetitive trailers.
Some fans appreciate balanced, evidence-based discussions, while others feel the show has shifted toward partisan rhetoric.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#175
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Terrible Thing People Say When They Think No One Is Listening (with Ben Palmer)
Q: How did Ben Palmer get involved with political satire and social experiments?
Palmer explains his evolution from stand-up to internet pranks, using satire to illuminate how people react to authority and to reveal underlying social dynamics.
What the Steele Dossier Got Right—and Why It Still Matters (with Christopher Steele)
Q: What happened with the FBI when the reporting surfaced, and how did the legal challenges unfold?
He explains that they were working as contractors, that crucial materials were mishandled or misrouted within the FBI, and that the legal strategy emphasized protecting sources and publishing actions rather than creating court-ready evidence.
What the Steele Dossier Got Right—and Why It Still Matters (with Christopher Steele)
Q: What drew you into Russian-focused intelligence work, and what were the key lessons from your time in that arena?
Steele discusses the allure and danger of the Kremlin's strategic messaging, the complexity of sourcing, and the importance of corroboration across multiple sources while noting that intelligence is not equivalent to courtroom evidence yet can still be highly consequential.
Havana Syndrome Is Real - and They Tried to Bury It (with Michael Weiss) - Part One
Q: Is there any legitimate scientific or technical explanation that could unify the various cases you discuss?
There are plausible explanations like pulse microwave radiation that could account for symptoms in some cases, but the reliability of the evidence, the scope of the data, and the diverse nature of the cases complicate a single unifying theory.
Havana Syndrome Is Real - and They Tried to Bury It (with Michael Weiss) - Part One
Q: There were anecdotes about attempts to normalize or downplay the issue, including a supposed eight-hour workday with only a half hour of actual labor.
The account illustrates a culture where some analysts reportedly prioritized editorializing over rigorous evidence, undermining operational reporting and contributing to a broader skepticism about the victims.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mission Implausible

What is Mission Implausible about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking show where two former CIA officers explore the roots of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and influence operations. Across episodes, the hosts interrogate claims, interview journalists, researchers, and experts, and probe how data, media, and power shape public perception. Notable throughlines include AI and information warfare, political narratives, and the tension between government secrecy and civilian resilience. Guests come from intelligence, journalism, law, academia, and activism, often discussing accountability, media responsibility, and the psychology of belief. A standout trait is its willingness to combine rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, making high-stakes topics approachable for listeners w... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Mission Implausible?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mission Implausible:

1. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
2. SpyTalk
3. The Lawfare Podcast
4. Pod Save America
5. The Next Level

How many episodes of Mission Implausible are there?

Mission Implausible launched 2 years ago and published 114 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Mission Implausible?

Recent guests on Mission Implausible include:

1. Kathryn Olmsted
2. Ben Palmer
3. Christopher Steele
4. Michael Weiss
5. Anthony Vinci
6. Liz Oyer
7. Christine Gralow
8. Jordan Holmes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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