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The Why Files: Operation Podcast

The Why Files: Operation Podcast
Ufos
CIA
NASA
Mars
Mount Shasta
Atlantis
Mind Control
Majestic 12
Megalithic Yard
Consciousness
Ancient Civilizations
Knights Templar
Cold War
Nazi Germany
Pentyrch UFO Incident
Nikola Tesla
Noah's Ark
Project Stargate
Time Travel
Aleister Crowley

The Why Files covers mysteries, myths and legends. We tell stories and seek the truth in a fun and lighthearted way. Our content is heavily researched; we don't release an episode unless we're sure we can bring something new to a topic.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes280Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Science FictionSociety & CultureFictionDocumentary

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bryce Zabel
Writer, producer, and former journalist who created Dark Skies; author of AD After Disclosure
The Why Files / Soundlight and Frequency (podcast host)
Episode: The Basement: Bryce Zabel | Disclosure Day, Dark Skies, and Hollywood UFO Deals
Joshua Cutchin
Researcher and author focused on connecting paranormal phenomena across domains (UFOs, fairies, Bigfoot, death, and consciousness)
Independent researcher / author
Episode: The Basement: Joshua Cutchin | Fairies, Bigfoot, and the Connection Nobody Saw Coming
Joseph Matheny
Writer and storyteller who pioneered ARGs and early multimedia storytelling
Independent artist/creator of Ong's Hat and related projects
Episode: The Basement: Joseph Matheny | The Man Who Hacked Reality Before the Internet Existed
Luke Caverns
Anthropologist and explorer who flags undiscovered archaeological sites and leads LIDAR-based surveys.
Self-directed explorer; Basemap (collaborator); Terra Incognita Research Institute (collaborator)
Episode: The Basement: Luke Caverns | LiDAR Is Revealing Ancient Cities the Amazon Was Hiding
Rizwan Virk
MIT computer scientist, Stanford MBA, video game pioneer, early investor in Discord, author of The Simulation Hypothesis and The Simulated Multiverse
Independent researcher/author
Episode: The Basement: Rizwan Virk | The Simulation Hypothesis, Quantum Physics & Mysticism
Luigi Vendittelli
former National Director of MUFON Canada, filmmaker behind S4, The Bob Lazar Story
MUFON Canada / S4 project
Episode: The Basement: Luigi Vendittelli | S4: The Man Who Reconstructed Area 51's Secret Hangar
Gary Buechler
Pop culture commentator and author
Nerdradic / axis media
Episode: The Basement: Nerdrotic | From Folsom Prison to Millions of Subscribers
Jeffrey Mishlove
Parapsychologist, psychologist; host of Thinking Allowed; author
University of California, Berkeley (historical) / Institute for the Studies of Consciousness (influence)
Episode: The Basement: Jeffrey Mishlove | Your Brain Doesn't Create Consciousness. It Filters It
Peter Levenda
Author and researcher of Nazi occultism, intelligence history, and UFO lore
Author of Unholy Alliance, Sinister Forces, Ratline, The Secret Machines (coauthored with Tom DeLonge)
Episode: Basement: Peter Levenda | Nazis, UFOs, and the Hidden History Nobody Tells You

Host

Echo Fish
Co-host and narrator with a prominent on-air presence across episodes

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 27.1k ratings
  • Ads ads ads!!!!!

    TONS of ads and they are mid sentence.

    My God at the amount of ads!! The podcast is one long series of ads with a story peppered in. Ridiculous

    The ads midsentence are unprofessional and totally disrupts the rhythm. Hire a professional to produce your show.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sweet Tea in Tennessee
    United States13 days ago
  • Endless ads

    AJ sold out to big advertising - two minutes of talking, two minutes of ads. Then there’s the Apple ads on top of that. This podcast sucks. Stay away.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Pass by this podcast
    Canada14 days ago
  • Would be 3 stars

    A 30 minute show would be 10 minutes without the adverts and the BS

    And the weirdo’s who waffle on about nothing for 3 - 4 hours in the basement shows will put anyone to sleep, they’re probably the best cure for insomnia known to mankind

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    waydans
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • If it weren’t for the heckler

    The topics and host delivery are excellent. If it were just that, this would be a 4-5 star podcast. It’s sad that the heckling character is present. As soon as you start getting into a story, this annoying voice interjects, taking you out of the narrative. I’m not sure if I’ll keep listening. My hope is that over time I can get used to it, ignore it, or perhaps skip the portions with the voice as I would with the ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bad Mustelid
    United States14 days ago
  • Fantastic Show!

    My new obsession?…this show!! I love the basement format and appreciate AJ’s review in the beginning and at the end! AJ’s knowledge and interview skills are very impressive! Love him! I usually just listen podcasts on a daily walk or in the car, so thank you for increasing my daily walk times!! Keep em coming!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarrieJLa
    United States14 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners wish for longer episodes or different stylistic choices with hosts.
Shows rigorous research and engaging storytelling; deep dives into mysteries.
Long-form interviews with credible experts balance skepticism and curiosity.
Audience feedback highlights varied guest quality and strong production value.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Basement: Bryce Zabel | Disclosure Day, Dark Skies, and Hollywood UFO Deals
Q: How did Dark Skies come to be and what happened during its production?
Dark Skies started as a passion project that mixed documentary instincts with fictional storytelling, using interactive props like classified briefing books to simulate covetous information flow. The production faced intense pushback from NBC and Sony, including non-negotiable demands and reshoots, as executives sought to shape the narrative, but the creators maintained agency and eventually reflected on what the experience taught about media, truth, and disclosure.
The Basement: Joseph Matheny | The Man Who Hacked Reality Before the Internet Existed
Q: How did HyperCard influence your storytelling approach before the web existed?
It showed me that you could tell stories through linked media and interactive cues, setting the stage for hypertext storytelling long before the internet became mainstream.
The Basement: Rizwan Virk | The Simulation Hypothesis, Quantum Physics & Mysticism
Q: What motivated you to connect computing, quantum physics, and mysticism in your work?
My journey started with curiosity about how early computing shaped the way we think about simulations, then expanded to quantum ideas and ancient wisdom. I saw consistent patterns—rendering on demand, the observer effect, and experiences like lucid dreaming—that suggested these aren't separate domains but related ways of understanding reality. The goal is to build a coherent framework that explains phenomena across technology, physics, and spirituality.
The Basement: Eric Wargo | The Block Universe, UFO Time Machines, and Precognitive Dreams
Q: Can you give an example of a calendrical resonance or a famous precognitive case discussed?
Calendrical resonance is seen when a dream about an event on a specific date aligns with a real event on that same date years later, such as long-term precognitive dreams about significant historical events and their later occurences, illustrating a durable pattern across time.
The Basement: Eric Wargo | The Block Universe, UFO Time Machines, and Precognitive Dreams
Q: How does the block universe concept affect our understanding of free will?
In the block universe, past, present, and future are fixed, which can challenge traditional notions of free will; however, it also opens space for a view where agency operates within a constrained, interconnected timeline rather than as isolated choice.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Why Files: Operation Podcast

What is The Why Files: Operation Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes center on mysteries, science, and fringe topics explored through deep-dive interviews and narrative storytelling. Recently covered range includes high-tech surveillance and cyber security, paranormal and consciousness research, interstellar physics, UFO history, and historical conspiracies, all unpacked with rigorous sourcing and long-form conversations. The show often pairs expert testimony with accessible explanations, offering a thoughtful blend of skepticism and wonder that appeals to curious listeners who enjoy thorough research and provocative ideas. A standout trait is the commitment to bringing technical topics to life through personal journeys, archival research, and nuanced discussion rather than sensationalism.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Why Files: Operation Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Why Files: Operation Podcast:

1. American Alchemy with Jesse Michels
2. WEAPONIZED with Jeremy Corbell & George Knapp
3. Danny Jones Podcast
4. Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
5. AREA52 - DEBRIEFED With Chris Ramsay

How many episodes of The Why Files: Operation Podcast are there?

The Why Files: Operation Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 280 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 The Why Files: Operation Podcast?

Recent guests on The Why Files: Operation Podcast include:

1. Bryce Zabel
2. Joshua Cutchin
3. Joseph Matheny
4. Luke Caverns
5. Rizwan Virk
6. Luigi Vendittelli
7. Gary Buechler
8. Jeffrey Mishlove

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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