Stranger Things draws from real experiments darker than the show itself. Dr. Lee Kuhnle of The Uncover Up podcast reveals how 1980s Cold War paranoia birthed CIA programs like MKUltra and Stargate — testing LSD, mind control, and psychic spying, with chilling consequences. Some victims never recovered. Some files were destroyed. Some truths are still unknown.

Unpack the Canadian connection to CIA torture experiments, the military’s attempt to weaponize clairvoyance, and how the fictional Dr. Brenner eerily mirrors real-life figures. It’s not about fueling paranoia — it’s about exposing what actually happened, and what stories get left out of history.

GUEST:
Dr. Lee Kuhnle
@‌theuncoverup

Originally aired on 2025-11-19

Stranger Things draws from real experiments darker than the show itself. Dr. Lee Kuhnle of The Uncover Up podcast reveals how 1980s Cold War paranoia birthed CIA programs like MKUltra and Stargate &mdash; testing LSD, mind control, and psychic spying, with chilling consequences. Some victims never recovered. Some files were destroyed. Some truths are still unknown.
Unpack the Canadian connection to CIA torture experiments, the military&rsquo;s attempt to weaponize clairvoyance, and how the fictional Dr. Brenner eerily mirrors real-life figures. It&rsquo;s not about fueling paranoia &mdash; it&rsquo;s about exposing what actually happened, and what stories get left out of history.
GUEST: Dr. Lee Kuhnle @&zwnj;theuncoverup
Originally aired on&nbsp;2025-11-19

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

The Real MKUltra: Stranger Things’ Dark Inspiration

Digital privacy means nothing when social media platforms own your archive. You posted freely in 2016 because the grip wasn't obvious yet. No AI curation. No constant tracking. Just you, your filtered photos, and the illusion that your digital life belonged to you. Now those companies are pulling you back into dormant content, calling it nostalgia, making you feed the algorithm with memories you thought were yours.

Rajhans explains why people are celebrating 2016 as retro: "People would have put filters on pictures in order to make them perfect. And right now when people are sharing their 2016 experiences on current social media, it's almost fun that that was quote unquote, a simpler time." Shane notes Millennials celebrate the simpler internet while Gen X celebrates no internet. The difference? One generation has an archive they don't control. The other never built one. "No longer is your group chat as private as you think," Rajhans warns.

Understand why your old photos are being weaponized for engagement. Learn how apps access your address book without permission. Discover what happens when an entire generation's history lives in someone else's database.

GUEST: Mohit Rajhans |http://thinkstart.ca

Originally aired on 2026-01-16

<hr>
Digital privacy means nothing when social media platforms own your archive. You posted freely in 2016 because the grip wasn't obvious yet. No AI curation. No constant tracking. Just you, your filtered photos, and the illusion that your digital life belonged to you. Now those companies are pulling you back into dormant content, calling it nostalgia, making you feed the algorithm with memories you thought were yours.
Rajhans explains why people are celebrating 2016 as retro: "People would have put filters on pictures in order to make them perfect. And right now when people are sharing their 2016 experiences on current social media, it's almost fun that that was quote unquote, a simpler time." Shane notes Millennials celebrate the simpler internet while Gen X celebrates no internet. The difference? One generation has an archive they don't control. The other never built one. "No longer is your group chat as private as you think," Rajhans warns.
Understand why your old photos are being weaponized for engagement. Learn how apps access your address book without permission. Discover what happens when an entire generation's history lives in someone else's database.
GUEST: Mohit Rajhans |<a href="http://thinkstart.ca"> http://thinkstart.ca</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-01-16

ICYMI - Why 2016 Became the Internet's New Nostalgia Era

Part 1 Movies: What's Actually Worth Theater Money

Weekend movie releases force a choice: theaters or streaming. You've got three new options hitting screens, each pulling different directions. A zombie sequel that "shifted into an all new gear." A hostage thriller from the Good Will Hunting director that "never really gets to that kind of attention level." A vampire cop movie with CM Punk. Your wallet picks one.

Stebbing calls 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple the standout, claiming it exceeded expectations and positions the series as "the best modern trilogy going right now." Director Nia DaCosta took over from Danny Boyle. Jack O'Connell plays villain Sir Jimmy Crystal, "fashioned after Jimmy Saville" the disgraced British icon. The gore is disturbing, jumpscares minimal. Dead Man's Wire stars Bill Skarsgard in a 1977 hostage standoff directed by Gus Van Sant, but Stebbing wanted "dog day afternoon" tension and "it just never really gets to that kind of attention level." Al Pacino "phones it in."

Learn why Jack O'Connell might be "the greatest villain actor" of recent years. Discover which Justin Long horror rule actually works. Understand why one sequel exceeded the original while a Van Sant thriller disappointed.

Part 2 Streaming: The Series Nobody's Watching But Should

Streaming recommendations flood your queue weekly. You scroll past countless options. The critic points to "the best series that nobody's watching right now" on HBO while Netflix drops a Ben Affleck and Matt Damon cop thriller. Meanwhile, a 50 Cent produced series spanning four different shows with multiple seasons each waits for anyone willing to commit to the long haul.

Industry Season 4 gets called "the best series that nobody's watching" by Stebbing, who questions why HBO keeps renewing it if viewership is low. The show follows "young Brett bankers and stock traders in the UK after the 2008 collapse" and fits "fans of succession" with its ruthlessness. The Rip stars Affleck and Damon as Miami task force members in a "fast paced" thriller with "ambiguous" character work. The real story: their company Artist Equity used backend Netflix money to "give pay bumps to all of the crew members" including grips and electricians.

Discover why Power Book requires commitment to four series but delivers authenticity. Learn which show rivals Succession in ruthlessness but flies under the radar. Understand how Artist Equity changed crew compensation with backend deals.

GUEST: Steve Stebbing | stevestebbing.ca

Originally aired on 2026-01-16

Part 1 Movies: What's Actually Worth Theater Money
Weekend movie releases force a choice: theaters or streaming. You've got three new options hitting screens, each pulling different directions. A zombie sequel that "shifted into an all new gear." A hostage thriller from the Good Will Hunting director that "never really gets to that kind of attention level." A vampire cop movie with CM Punk. Your wallet picks one.
Stebbing calls 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple the standout, claiming it exceeded expectations and positions the series as "the best modern trilogy going right now." Director Nia DaCosta took over from Danny Boyle. Jack O'Connell plays villain Sir Jimmy Crystal, "fashioned after Jimmy Saville" the disgraced British icon. The gore is disturbing, jumpscares minimal. Dead Man's Wire stars Bill Skarsgard in a 1977 hostage standoff directed by Gus Van Sant, but Stebbing wanted "dog day afternoon" tension and "it just never really gets to that kind of attention level." Al Pacino "phones it in."
Learn why Jack O'Connell might be "the greatest villain actor" of recent years. Discover which Justin Long horror rule actually works. Understand why one sequel exceeded the original while a Van Sant thriller disappointed.
Part 2 Streaming: The Series Nobody's Watching But Should
Streaming recommendations flood your queue weekly. You scroll past countless options. The critic points to "the best series that nobody's watching right now" on HBO while Netflix drops a Ben Affleck and Matt Damon cop thriller. Meanwhile, a 50 Cent produced series spanning four different shows with multiple seasons each waits for anyone willing to commit to the long haul.
Industry Season 4 gets called "the best series that nobody's watching" by Stebbing, who questions why HBO keeps renewing it if viewership is low. The show follows "young Brett bankers and stock traders in the UK after the 2008 collapse" and fits "fans of succession" with its ruthlessness. The Rip stars Affleck and Damon as Miami task force members in a "fast paced" thriller with "ambiguous" character work. The real story: their company Artist Equity used backend Netflix money to "give pay bumps to all of the crew members" including grips and electricians.
Discover why Power Book requires commitment to four series but delivers authenticity. Learn which show rivals Succession in ruthlessness but flies under the radar. Understand how Artist Equity changed crew compensation with backend deals.
GUEST:&nbsp;Steve Stebbing | stevestebbing.ca
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-01-16

NEW-  Steve Stebbing's Theater vs Streaming Picks This Weekend

The 2016 nostalgia trend hit your feed this week. Instagram prompted you to post a photo from 10 years ago. You scrolled through old albums, found pictures of yourself at summer camp or working retail or figuring out college. Maybe you posted it. Maybe you just looked and remembered how different life felt then. The question nobody's asking: why 2016 specifically when nostalgia usually runs on a 20-year cycle?

The hosts note Happy Days in 1974 looked back to the 1950s. That 70s Show premiered in the late 90s. The pattern holds at roughly 20 years, yet here we are celebrating 10. One theory: social media needs content. People aren't posting like they used to. Everyone reposts Reels that disappear. AI generates half the feed. The platforms are running out of updates, so they prompt you to mine your archive. Pokemon Go gets mentioned as the last time the internet felt genuinely calm and unified.

Discover why this nostalgia cycle broke its own pattern. Learn what changed between 2016 and now that makes 10 years feel like a lifetime. Consider what you did regularly in 2016 that you wish you still did.

Originally aired on 2026-01-16

The 2016 nostalgia trend hit your feed this week. Instagram prompted you to post a photo from 10 years ago. You scrolled through old albums, found pictures of yourself at summer camp or working retail or figuring out college. Maybe you posted it. Maybe you just looked and remembered how different life felt then. The question nobody's asking: why 2016 specifically when nostalgia usually runs on a 20-year cycle?
The hosts note Happy Days in 1974 looked back to the 1950s. That 70s Show premiered in the late 90s. The pattern holds at roughly 20 years, yet here we are celebrating 10. One theory: social media needs content. People aren't posting like they used to. Everyone reposts Reels that disappear. AI generates half the feed. The platforms are running out of updates, so they prompt you to mine your archive. Pokemon Go gets mentioned as the last time the internet felt genuinely calm and unified.
Discover why this nostalgia cycle broke its own pattern. Learn what changed between 2016 and now that makes 10 years feel like a lifetime. Consider what you did regularly in 2016 that you wish you still did.
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-01-16

The Real MKUltra: Stranger Things’ Dark Inspiration

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