From UFOs to psychic powers and government conspiracies. History is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn this stuff they don't want you to know. A production of iHeartRadio.

From UFOs to psychic powers and government conspiracies. History is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn this stuff they don't want you to know. A production of iHeartRadio.

Welcome back to the show. My name is Matt, my name is Noel.

Welcome back to the show. My name is Matt, my name is Noel.

They called me ed.

They called me ed.

We're joined as always with our super producer, Dylan the Tennessee pal Fagan. Most importantly, you are you. You are here. That makes this the stuff they don't want you to know. And with great thanks to our pal, Dylan the Tennessee pal Fagan, we like to start our weekly listener Mail segment with a little bit of a sound cue Dylan, what do we have rudebago wise?

We're joined as always with our super producer, Dylan the Tennessee pal Fagan. Most importantly, you are you. You are here. That makes this the stuff they don't want you to know. And with great thanks to our pal, Dylan the Tennessee pal Fagan, we like to start our weekly listener Mail segment with a little bit of a sound cue Dylan, what do we have rudebago wise?

Yes, oh my god.

Yes, oh my god.

It's always real on listener mail. We keep it real on listener now.

It's always real on listener mail. We keep it real on listener now.

I played that song for I don't even notice if it was for marching band or orchestra or something in high school, and I specifically remember playing that song over and over and over.

I played that song for I don't even notice if it was for marching band or orchestra or something in high school, and I specifically remember playing that song over and over and over.

I can see that being a rock and marching band arrangement. Let's say opportunities for snare cadences.

I can see that being a rock and marching band arrangement. Let's say opportunities for snare cadences.

Right, Yeah, it's got some high dramatic stakes Lyrically, it's.

Right, Yeah, it's got some high dramatic stakes Lyrically, it's.

Like that.

Like that.

It's cool from a writing perspective at school, because you know, we all have probably heard that you're not supposed to make a request and then end it with comma, no worries if not, So it's a little more powerful to say or let's forget about.

It's cool from a writing perspective at school, because you know, we all have probably heard that you're not supposed to make a request and then end it with comma, no worries if not, So it's a little more powerful to say or let's forget about.

It, or else. I always read it as or else, forget about it.

It, or else. I always read it as or else, forget about it.

I don't know, I just remember this part.

I don't know, I just remember this part.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, beautiful, beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, we are joined with several friends and neighbors, fellow conspiracy realists from across the globe. That's right, we forget sometimes, but we aren't technically a global show. At this point, we're going to talk a little bit about the amazing and quite disturbing correspondence we received regarding our prior or authorizations conspiracy episode. We're gonna have letters from home. We're going to we're going to dive into a story pertaining to one of the weirdest comic strips of yesteryear?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, beautiful, beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, we are joined with several friends and neighbors, fellow conspiracy realists from across the globe. That's right, we forget sometimes, but we aren't technically a global show. At this point, we're going to talk a little bit about the amazing and quite disturbing correspondence we received regarding our prior or authorizations conspiracy episode. We're gonna have letters from home. We're going to we're going to dive into a story pertaining to one of the weirdest comic strips of yesteryear?

Is it Family Circus?

Is it Family Circus?

Oh? Even more yesteryear? Yester year? Were I like the maps? Did you like the maps? Sometimes they would publish a Family Circus would publish just a one panel thing, which was a traced map of the kid walking around.

Oh? Even more yesteryear? Yester year? Were I like the maps? Did you like the maps? Sometimes they would publish a Family Circus would publish just a one panel thing, which was a traced map of the kid walking around.

No I don't think I saw that.

No I don't think I saw that.

I think this is a radio play, by the way, or a radio series.

I think this is a radio play, by the way, or a radio series.

By the way, but it's called Billy's Travels.

By the way, but it's called Billy's Travels.

It's a whole series in family circus where it's just Billy have an adventure, is following a wiggly.

It's a whole series in family circus where it's just Billy have an adventure, is following a wiggly.

Line cartography fans unite and Matt to your point, I believe the story we're talking about, yes, did begin as a radio show, so we're gonna pay some deference to our roots, but it's much more than that. We're also going to talk about tariffs. Before we do any of that, we're going to take a brief pause for word from our sponsors, and we're going to hear from a returning guest.

Line cartography fans unite and Matt to your point, I believe the story we're talking about, yes, did begin as a radio show, so we're gonna pay some deference to our roots, but it's much more than that. We're also going to talk about tariffs. Before we do any of that, we're going to take a brief pause for word from our sponsors, and we're going to hear from a returning guest.

And we're back with today's first piece of listener.

And we're back with today's first piece of listener.

Mail from Reply Guy. I'm just joking.

Mail from Reply Guy. I'm just joking.

It's Privacy Guy. Privacy Guy, Isn't that right, Ben? That's what he goes by. You guys have corresponded quite a bit.

It's Privacy Guy. Privacy Guy, Isn't that right, Ben? That's what he goes by. You guys have corresponded quite a bit.

Yeah, that's the moniker we bestowed upon the Privacy Guy, and we do you dig it.

Yeah, that's the moniker we bestowed upon the Privacy Guy, and we do you dig it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

He's very very very well versed on all things tech when it comes to surveillance, state type stuff, encryption, et cetera. And he had a really, really excellent response to our discussion about the signal incidents, of course, where high level members of the Trump administration were found to be using a publicly available app for sending war correspondence or plans. That was sort of eves dropped on by a journalist from the Atlantic. And when I say Eves dropped, I'm using that term very loosely because he was of course invited to the chat. Well, that story seems to have taken a backseat to a lot of other shenanigans in the news.

He's very very very well versed on all things tech when it comes to surveillance, state type stuff, encryption, et cetera. And he had a really, really excellent response to our discussion about the signal incidents, of course, where high level members of the Trump administration were found to be using a publicly available app for sending war correspondence or plans. That was sort of eves dropped on by a journalist from the Atlantic. And when I say Eves dropped, I'm using that term very loosely because he was of course invited to the chat. Well, that story seems to have taken a backseat to a lot of other shenanigans in the news.

I do think it's.

I do think it's.

Important to talk a little bit about the idea of what Signal as an app actually is and a distinction with it and another app that I mentioned called Telegram, which purports to be a very similar app to Signal but has a lot of dirty launch and baggage. And our buddy privacy guy has a bit of a bone to pick with them and with me, and I'm totally here for it. Good morning, gentlemen. Just finished listening to your strange news segment published March thirty first about the signal incident, and I have a few things I need to say. First off, I do not want to admit to my bias. I like Signal a lot. I do have a fair bit of criticism with them, but it's mostly nitpicky stuff.

Important to talk a little bit about the idea of what Signal as an app actually is and a distinction with it and another app that I mentioned called Telegram, which purports to be a very similar app to Signal but has a lot of dirty launch and baggage. And our buddy privacy guy has a bit of a bone to pick with them and with me, and I'm totally here for it. Good morning, gentlemen. Just finished listening to your strange news segment published March thirty first about the signal incident, and I have a few things I need to say. First off, I do not want to admit to my bias. I like Signal a lot. I do have a fair bit of criticism with them, but it's mostly nitpicky stuff.

And again this is.

And again this is.

Coming from someone who's very well versed in this world this type of software, very expert level awareness of what's going on in the world of encryption and encryption apps, etc. So just keep that in mind when you're hearing some of these beefs. I think they're a solid service that does great work, and I've gotten all my friends and family using them. So first off, he says, Matt set up, but pretty sure it was me because I was talking about how I have used Telegram in the past and how it was my understanding that it was quote basically like.

Coming from someone who's very well versed in this world this type of software, very expert level awareness of what's going on in the world of encryption and encryption apps, etc. So just keep that in mind when you're hearing some of these beefs. I think they're a solid service that does great work, and I've gotten all my friends and family using them. So first off, he says, Matt set up, but pretty sure it was me because I was talking about how I have used Telegram in the past and how it was my understanding that it was quote basically like.

Signal with the end to end encryption. Politely, he says.

Signal with the end to end encryption. Politely, he says.

No, I think could be further from the truth. Second, biased to admit, I can despise Telegram, but I have receipts to back up my grudge. First off, Telegram is not to end encrypted by defaults and privacy guy, I had heard that after the fact. I remember when the Telegrams CEO, a French gentleman, was arrested very publicly, and all this news was being made about him and his role in the way the app functions in some of the maybe less than transparent advertisement and claims made around the app, and also its use as a tool for selling contraband selling illegal narcotics, et cetera. And we also pointed out, I believe in a previous discussion on that matter, how any app available, any communication device has the potential to be used for nefarious purposes, and it is not inherently the fault of the proprietors of said you know service that it is being used that way. If there is a communication to be had, people are going to use it for all kinds of things that were maybe not intended by the nature of the app. But to backtrack, Telegram is not and to end encrypted by default you have to manually enable it, which is a complicated process that can only be done on mobile devices. So most users have a false sense of security about the safety of their messages, not like it matters because Telegram's encryption is so trash that experts repeatedly warned against using it, and these cites multiple sources for this claim. To their defense, they did eventually upgrade to m Proto two, which I assume as an encryption standard, and I have seen one paper saying looks sound quote unquote, but A that was only one paper. I've never seen any other audits or reviews of the cryptography since. And B even that one paper openly admitted this was a very cursory glance, and we haven't dug in deep. Last, but not least, however, Telegram overtly lied.

No, I think could be further from the truth. Second, biased to admit, I can despise Telegram, but I have receipts to back up my grudge. First off, Telegram is not to end encrypted by defaults and privacy guy, I had heard that after the fact. I remember when the Telegrams CEO, a French gentleman, was arrested very publicly, and all this news was being made about him and his role in the way the app functions in some of the maybe less than transparent advertisement and claims made around the app, and also its use as a tool for selling contraband selling illegal narcotics, et cetera. And we also pointed out, I believe in a previous discussion on that matter, how any app available, any communication device has the potential to be used for nefarious purposes, and it is not inherently the fault of the proprietors of said you know service that it is being used that way. If there is a communication to be had, people are going to use it for all kinds of things that were maybe not intended by the nature of the app. But to backtrack, Telegram is not and to end encrypted by default you have to manually enable it, which is a complicated process that can only be done on mobile devices. So most users have a false sense of security about the safety of their messages, not like it matters because Telegram's encryption is so trash that experts repeatedly warned against using it, and these cites multiple sources for this claim. To their defense, they did eventually upgrade to m Proto two, which I assume as an encryption standard, and I have seen one paper saying looks sound quote unquote, but A that was only one paper. I've never seen any other audits or reviews of the cryptography since. And B even that one paper openly admitted this was a very cursory glance, and we haven't dug in deep. Last, but not least, however, Telegram overtly lied.

To users for years.

To users for years.

For years, Telegram's website proudly stated to this day, we have shared zero bites of user data with any third parties, including governments, after they've actually shared data thousands of times now. To be clear, I expect companies to comply with legal orders. Signal has, Proton has Proton Mail, as I believe in encrypted email service. Maybe they have other wings of that service, but I've always heard of it as being like a kind of a really really tightly encrypted Gmail alternative.

For years, Telegram's website proudly stated to this day, we have shared zero bites of user data with any third parties, including governments, after they've actually shared data thousands of times now. To be clear, I expect companies to comply with legal orders. Signal has, Proton has Proton Mail, as I believe in encrypted email service. Maybe they have other wings of that service, but I've always heard of it as being like a kind of a really really tightly encrypted Gmail alternative.

Proton has nearly everyone does.

Proton has nearly everyone does.

I also expect companies not to fking lie about it and then gaslight their users. Telegram's website has since been updated to say today we have shared zero bytes of user messages with any third parties. Tricky tricky, including governments regarding Signal and Proton complying It's also worth noting that they never have anything of value to turn over because of their privacy and security. But that's a very good point as to why Telegram would have those things. It speaks to the misconception that you are pointing out here, privacy guy, I wouldn't recommend Telegram to anyone for anything. Between shoddy security and constantly lying to and gaslighting their users, it's got more red flags than a Chinese flag factory.

I also expect companies not to fking lie about it and then gaslight their users. Telegram's website has since been updated to say today we have shared zero bytes of user messages with any third parties. Tricky tricky, including governments regarding Signal and Proton complying It's also worth noting that they never have anything of value to turn over because of their privacy and security. But that's a very good point as to why Telegram would have those things. It speaks to the misconception that you are pointing out here, privacy guy, I wouldn't recommend Telegram to anyone for anything. Between shoddy security and constantly lying to and gaslighting their users, it's got more red flags than a Chinese flag factory.

That's funny.

That's funny.

Sources for all of these claims full disclosure, that's me and my podcast, and yes, I'm being an insufferable. One of the sources he cited is his own podcast where he's apparently being an insufferable. But hey, self awareness is the first step towards recovery. But only because these claims have been verifiable for years, and the Telegram fanboys would still come into our comment section and dig their heels in and argue with us despite the fact that we would cite our sources. And then a question for Ben second, would I would want to ask Ben about his claims against Signal Twice been made the assertion that Signal can be cracked by governments. I know you said something to the effect that what's official and what's true behind closed doors are very different, and I think that's exactly the point. Ben and I agree, but this claim seems false. However, I respect been a lot and is normally very much on point with these sorts of things. Would be worth a quick follow up, which we will certainly do momentarily. Hopefully none of that came off too aggressive, at least not against you. I'm already on record being hostile towards Telegram or angry at you, which I'm not.

Sources for all of these claims full disclosure, that's me and my podcast, and yes, I'm being an insufferable. One of the sources he cited is his own podcast where he's apparently being an insufferable. But hey, self awareness is the first step towards recovery. But only because these claims have been verifiable for years, and the Telegram fanboys would still come into our comment section and dig their heels in and argue with us despite the fact that we would cite our sources. And then a question for Ben second, would I would want to ask Ben about his claims against Signal Twice been made the assertion that Signal can be cracked by governments. I know you said something to the effect that what's official and what's true behind closed doors are very different, and I think that's exactly the point. Ben and I agree, but this claim seems false. However, I respect been a lot and is normally very much on point with these sorts of things. Would be worth a quick follow up, which we will certainly do momentarily. Hopefully none of that came off too aggressive, at least not against you. I'm already on record being hostile towards Telegram or angry at you, which I'm not.

But I hope that cleared up a few things. Last thing, I think this is worth mentioning.

But I hope that cleared up a few things. Last thing, I think this is worth mentioning.

PS On your recent episode with Denise Chan, you guys recommended one way to avoid scams is to go find the right phone numbers independently, rather than trusting the ones provided to you.

PS On your recent episode with Denise Chan, you guys recommended one way to avoid scams is to go find the right phone numbers independently, rather than trusting the ones provided to you.

Well, this is a great.

Well, this is a great.

Idea, Sadly these days, it has a couple caveats.

Idea, Sadly these days, it has a couple caveats.

First, don't trust the AI summaries. We don't, I swear.

First, don't trust the AI summaries. We don't, I swear.

We covered a story recently about how scammers managed to push a malicious phone number into the AI summary. I was unable to find that story again, but I did find this story about a guy who tried to vet a phone number for Meta with metas Ai, and it falsely assured him that the phone number was legit. Also, listeners should definitely start using ad blockers as Another common scam is to use malicious ads called malvertizing new one on me to create fake websites, either for phishing log in credentials or to trick people with fake phone numbers. Even the FBI now recommends ad blocking as a cybersecurity measure. I personally encourage U block Origin. It's available on all browsers, though Chrome has recently severely handicapped it. We were just talking off air about how maybe it's time to check back in with Firefox.

We covered a story recently about how scammers managed to push a malicious phone number into the AI summary. I was unable to find that story again, but I did find this story about a guy who tried to vet a phone number for Meta with metas Ai, and it falsely assured him that the phone number was legit. Also, listeners should definitely start using ad blockers as Another common scam is to use malicious ads called malvertizing new one on me to create fake websites, either for phishing log in credentials or to trick people with fake phone numbers. Even the FBI now recommends ad blocking as a cybersecurity measure. I personally encourage U block Origin. It's available on all browsers, though Chrome has recently severely handicapped it. We were just talking off air about how maybe it's time to check back in with Firefox.

That was you bet.

That was you bet.

Yet another reason to stop using Chrome is open source and blocks more than just ads, trackers and malicious domains as well. Plus other well known ad blockers are known to whitelist advertisers for payment. Alternately, you can switch to Brave we talked about, which has a built in ad blocker, but does whitelist ads on their search engine.

Yet another reason to stop using Chrome is open source and blocks more than just ads, trackers and malicious domains as well. Plus other well known ad blockers are known to whitelist advertisers for payment. Alternately, you can switch to Brave we talked about, which has a built in ad blocker, but does whitelist ads on their search engine.

Of course, a lot of good.

Of course, a lot of good.

Information there, Privacy guy, I am getting rid of Telegram immediately, but to the point of signal having the potential for being cracked, I wonder if we might discuss that a little bit at Privacy Guy's request.

Information there, Privacy guy, I am getting rid of Telegram immediately, but to the point of signal having the potential for being cracked, I wonder if we might discuss that a little bit at Privacy Guy's request.

Sure. Yeah, First, privacy Guy, thank you so much for calling me quote normally really smart and knowing my stuff. End quote. And they'll thank you for calling me on point this is I was paraphrasing as this is a this is a great thing that you wrote to us about Privacy Guy, because I responded back, we did need to be more clear on this point, in particular, without going too into the signal seaweeds, I was indeed referring to the rarefied air of state level malware like Vegas's or Paragon, and to a lesser degree, the good old fashioned social engineering aspects. And we wanted to make sure we get this out to the world because you know, it's no I'd love that you pick this because it's it's such a great point right now from what we understand, without the deployment of those very sophisticated high level programs signal, even at the federal level, the the authorities in the US can get the day and time user registered, the last date of a user's connection with the service, but they cannot get the actual content of the messages.

Sure. Yeah, First, privacy Guy, thank you so much for calling me quote normally really smart and knowing my stuff. End quote. And they'll thank you for calling me on point this is I was paraphrasing as this is a this is a great thing that you wrote to us about Privacy Guy, because I responded back, we did need to be more clear on this point, in particular, without going too into the signal seaweeds, I was indeed referring to the rarefied air of state level malware like Vegas's or Paragon, and to a lesser degree, the good old fashioned social engineering aspects. And we wanted to make sure we get this out to the world because you know, it's no I'd love that you pick this because it's it's such a great point right now from what we understand, without the deployment of those very sophisticated high level programs signal, even at the federal level, the the authorities in the US can get the day and time user registered, the last date of a user's connection with the service, but they cannot get the actual content of the messages.

Unless you get invited to a chat group in.

Unless you get invited to a chat group in.

Which we can't be kind of like social engineering.

Which we can't be kind of like social engineering.

Well, that's what I was getting to bet, and I think to your point, you can crack just about anything through old fashion methods, you know, is by like sneaking a peek over someone's shoulder when they're I mean, like, let's think about that.

Well, that's what I was getting to bet, and I think to your point, you can crack just about anything through old fashion methods, you know, is by like sneaking a peek over someone's shoulder when they're I mean, like, let's think about that.

That is a form of cracking. Again.

That is a form of cracking. Again.

I know, privacy guy here is coming at this very much from the point of view of cyber security of hacking, but we just recently did an episode about Russian sleeper agents, and so many of the techniques deployed with that kind of stuff is just good old fashioned spying, using your eyes and biting your time and maybe getting someone's password, you know, through analog.

I know, privacy guy here is coming at this very much from the point of view of cyber security of hacking, but we just recently did an episode about Russian sleeper agents, and so many of the techniques deployed with that kind of stuff is just good old fashioned spying, using your eyes and biting your time and maybe getting someone's password, you know, through analog.

Means that is absolutely away.

Means that is absolutely away.

The point being that these types of conversations that we're talking about here should probably be held in like a skiff, one of those information isolated spaces that are heavily monitored and that are designed for very specific types of conversation.

The point being that these types of conversations that we're talking about here should probably be held in like a skiff, one of those information isolated spaces that are heavily monitored and that are designed for very specific types of conversation.

Doing anything on.

Doing anything on.

A publicly available app that is potentially on your phone just feels like an absolute can of worms, you know.

A publicly available app that is potentially on your phone just feels like an absolute can of worms, you know.

Tut tut, It's a bag of unfortunate badgers. There's another point because we are, as Lil said, paraphrasing you a bit privacy guy, and I am a fan of your show.

Tut tut, It's a bag of unfortunate badgers. There's another point because we are, as Lil said, paraphrasing you a bit privacy guy, and I am a fan of your show.

What's the name of a show? Can we shout it out?

What's the name of a show? Can we shout it out?

That is valence reports. So another point that we were talking about Privacy Guide was the idea that I think the public needs to be more aware of the theoretical capability to deploy things like Pagasus or Paragon is way different from actually using it because we often forget. We're saying this in correspondence. We can all see we can often forget that a lot of state agencies that would be using these programs they're continually running up against budget constraints, their internal turf wars and so on. You know, I always imagine our poor NSA intern Steve, reading our emails and going, oh my god, you guys, I have to get through four hundred more of these before lunch. Do we have it in the budget? I'm a contractor. So we have to understand that it's devilishly easy for our valid, well earned paranoia and cins to at times impede critical thought. Signal does seem pretty secure unless you do some extra special moves.

That is valence reports. So another point that we were talking about Privacy Guide was the idea that I think the public needs to be more aware of the theoretical capability to deploy things like Pagasus or Paragon is way different from actually using it because we often forget. We're saying this in correspondence. We can all see we can often forget that a lot of state agencies that would be using these programs they're continually running up against budget constraints, their internal turf wars and so on. You know, I always imagine our poor NSA intern Steve, reading our emails and going, oh my god, you guys, I have to get through four hundred more of these before lunch. Do we have it in the budget? I'm a contractor. So we have to understand that it's devilishly easy for our valid, well earned paranoia and cins to at times impede critical thought. Signal does seem pretty secure unless you do some extra special moves.

Well, guys, Can we talk about the other thing that was brought up, ad blockers. Yes, so as a human being that experiences the Internet and things that have lots of ads in them, yes, ad blockers all day. But it does feel like there's a whole lot of industry online that is built on the fact that human beings will see and hear ads.

Well, guys, Can we talk about the other thing that was brought up, ad blockers. Yes, so as a human being that experiences the Internet and things that have lots of ads in them, yes, ad blockers all day. But it does feel like there's a whole lot of industry online that is built on the fact that human beings will see and hear ads.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know how to feel about it, because I definitely want them and have used them in the past, but also we do kind of need them, and don't we want them to be less horrifying because they're like if you try and look at anything online now, especially a place that supposedly has stories about the news, sure, it's the layouts with the ads and what they do.

I don't know how to feel about it, because I definitely want them and have used them in the past, but also we do kind of need them, and don't we want them to be less horrifying because they're like if you try and look at anything online now, especially a place that supposedly has stories about the news, sure, it's the layouts with the ads and what they do.

It's it's tear.

It's it's tear.

It's almost like the actual story is a caption in between large blocks of ads. Yeah, yeah, this is off Mic. We were talking with Dylan, and I want to thank you Dylan for recommending something. We'd love to hear your opinion on privacy Guy the browser libre Wolf l I b r E Wolf. This feels like, I don't know, like you're saying, it's kind of a pickle because online advertising is sort of the Achilles Heel of digital monetization.

It's almost like the actual story is a caption in between large blocks of ads. Yeah, yeah, this is off Mic. We were talking with Dylan, and I want to thank you Dylan for recommending something. We'd love to hear your opinion on privacy Guy the browser libre Wolf l I b r E Wolf. This feels like, I don't know, like you're saying, it's kind of a pickle because online advertising is sort of the Achilles Heel of digital monetization.

Well, yeah, I don't want the Guardian to go away, but they have to sell some ads, so it's like, I don't.

Well, yeah, I don't want the Guardian to go away, but they have to sell some ads, so it's like, I don't.

Know, yeah, yeah, I still know how to feel about it. Maybe we should throw to some ads.

Know, yeah, yeah, I still know how to feel about it. Maybe we should throw to some ads.

No, I think we should.

No, I think we should.

Thanks again, privacy guy. We'll be back after a quick worry from our sponsor with more messages from you.

Thanks again, privacy guy. We'll be back after a quick worry from our sponsor with more messages from you.

And we've returned, and we're jumping to the phone lines immediately to hear from someone you might recognize the.

And we've returned, and we're jumping to the phone lines immediately to hear from someone you might recognize the.

Fog roll in object matter.

Fog roll in object matter.

Who knows what evil in the hearts of men?

Who knows what evil in the hearts of men?

Hell yeah, the Shadow knows well, you have seen that same evil in his.

Hell yeah, the Shadow knows well, you have seen that same evil in his.

Own black her.

Own black her.

Nice nailing it, nailing.

Nice nailing it, nailing.

Oh and that's all we get.

Oh and that's all we get.

That's great, it's great. Takes me back to buying cassette tapes at a cracker barrel to get those old radio place.

That's great, it's great. Takes me back to buying cassette tapes at a cracker barrel to get those old radio place.

Oh nice, nice. Well, I think that I think Viking was listening to a previous episode and heard us mention the Shadow, because that is, in fact, I don't know what you say. The catchphrase the opening line of ye old nineteen thirties radio program, The Shadow that you can read about at the Radio Hall of fame. By the way, it was inducted in nineteen eighty nine. Very very cool. I want to give you, guys another line that maybe Viking you could call back in and give us this too. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay taste gross. Really, that's the only reason I want to play, guys, because we mentioned it.

Oh nice, nice. Well, I think that I think Viking was listening to a previous episode and heard us mention the Shadow, because that is, in fact, I don't know what you say. The catchphrase the opening line of ye old nineteen thirties radio program, The Shadow that you can read about at the Radio Hall of fame. By the way, it was inducted in nineteen eighty nine. Very very cool. I want to give you, guys another line that maybe Viking you could call back in and give us this too. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay taste gross. Really, that's the only reason I want to play, guys, because we mentioned it.

I thought it was cool.

I thought it was cool.

It's funny. There's a bit of synchronicity here, Matt, because I was thinking I was going to go on to here's where it gets crazy and bring resurrect our old conversation about choosing superpowers. Would love to hear everybody's favorite superpowers, and the Shadow does have superpowers without getting too into the lore. I love how he can what is it. He can sort of aggressively hypnotize people. He can men's minds, you know, with internal shadows. That's it.

It's funny. There's a bit of synchronicity here, Matt, because I was thinking I was going to go on to here's where it gets crazy and bring resurrect our old conversation about choosing superpowers. Would love to hear everybody's favorite superpowers, and the Shadow does have superpowers without getting too into the lore. I love how he can what is it. He can sort of aggressively hypnotize people. He can men's minds, you know, with internal shadows. That's it.

So people can't see him. He's there the whole time, He's right there, but they have no idea.

So people can't see him. He's there the whole time, He's right there, but they have no idea.

It'd be great to hear. It'd be great to hear like a new adaptation of The Shadow. I know it's a franchise now. There were some recent comic book adaptations, but it'd be great to hear like a world where the shadows invisibility or obscuring powers apply to the digital world as well, you know what I mean? Oh yeah, yeah, that'd be kind of cool.

It'd be great to hear. It'd be great to hear like a new adaptation of The Shadow. I know it's a franchise now. There were some recent comic book adaptations, but it'd be great to hear like a world where the shadows invisibility or obscuring powers apply to the digital world as well, you know what I mean? Oh yeah, yeah, that'd be kind of cool.

Yeah, dude.

Yeah, dude.

So shout out to Frank Frank Readick, who was the original Shadow, and also shout out to Orson Wells, who, at twenty two years old, began playing the Shadow.

So shout out to Frank Frank Readick, who was the original Shadow, and also shout out to Orson Wells, who, at twenty two years old, began playing the Shadow.

No way, Yes, pretty awesome radio.

No way, Yes, pretty awesome radio.

The Radio history for your ears. There you go check out the Radio Hall of Fame. It's awesome, by the way, Yes, so cool. All right, guys, jump into the next thing. That is not what you're expecting, but I'm going to play it very quickly here just for giggles.

The Radio history for your ears. There you go check out the Radio Hall of Fame. It's awesome, by the way, Yes, so cool. All right, guys, jump into the next thing. That is not what you're expecting, but I'm going to play it very quickly here just for giggles.

Here we go.

Here we go.

I want you to know this is stuff I don't want to spend. What's driving my car to next kit for a wedding kept playing bubble Beat Tuna in a very specific.

I want you to know this is stuff I don't want to spend. What's driving my car to next kit for a wedding kept playing bubble Beat Tuna in a very specific.

Manner that made me think that you.

Manner that made me think that you.

Also enjoyed as certain Jim Carrey movie from the nineties. And I just I mean, I just the nods, wink, nudge, it's all there.

Also enjoyed as certain Jim Carrey movie from the nineties. And I just I mean, I just the nods, wink, nudge, it's all there.

From this time of the table.

From this time of the table.

That's where you're going. If not, you're just enjoying the names, then Rock On's brother, but kind of.

That's where you're going. If not, you're just enjoying the names, then Rock On's brother, but kind of.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I got a curri vibes. That's all. Okay, I'm gonna go now.

I got a curri vibes. That's all. Okay, I'm gonna go now.

Back nonsense Poopy Pence.

Back nonsense Poopy Pence.

Sorry, well.

Sorry, well.

That's right, and you must be the monopoly guy. It's in the bone, it's in the bull. These are all my references from that movie.

That's right, and you must be the monopoly guy. It's in the bone, it's in the bull. These are all my references from that movie.

The second Yes, when nature calls, oh.

The second Yes, when nature calls, oh.

I got what hippo fotomous right like fo all right.

I got what hippo fotomous right like fo all right.

I think it's I think it's actually a rhino.

I think it's I think it's actually a rhino.

Ben rhino.

Ben rhino.

Okay, r rhino is right.

Okay, r rhino is right.

That's what I get from coming out the wrong end of it, you know what I mean?

That's what I get from coming out the wrong end of it, you know what I mean?

That's it.

That's it.

You never know what I don't really they don't really focus on the head too much.

You never know what I don't really they don't really focus on the head too much.

Well, guys, uh I was gonna play a clip of it because it's so great hearing Jim Carrey as a Spenta say bumble bee tuna a whole bunch, But the actual phrasing that comes from a Fulton Green wall, which is like the the guide basically that is taking a Spenta through and meeting the tribes. He says bumble way tuna, bumble way a tuna, and uh Ace believes it is bumble bee tunas so wonderful.

Well, guys, uh I was gonna play a clip of it because it's so great hearing Jim Carrey as a Spenta say bumble bee tuna a whole bunch, But the actual phrasing that comes from a Fulton Green wall, which is like the the guide basically that is taking a Spenta through and meeting the tribes. He says bumble way tuna, bumble way a tuna, and uh Ace believes it is bumble bee tunas so wonderful.

How do you think a Ventura would have vibe with the Sentinel ease?

How do you think a Ventura would have vibe with the Sentinel ease?

I was thinking that, and I was afraid to sup have the thought.

I was thinking that, and I was afraid to sup have the thought.

Nothing problematic about that situation.

Nothing problematic about that situation.

He would say, bubble bee tuna, ace Ventura, pet detective, how are you this afternoon? Alrighty, then excuse me, your balls are showing bubble bee tuna.

He would say, bubble bee tuna, ace Ventura, pet detective, how are you this afternoon? Alrighty, then excuse me, your balls are showing bubble bee tuna.

That is verbatim.

That is verbatim.

You know this movie to a shocking degree. I'm just gonna say.

You know this movie to a shocking degree. I'm just gonna say.

Well, I think it was one of those films in that Halcyon era where kids of a certain age would go see that they would say, okay, so this is my personality.

Well, I think it was one of those films in that Halcyon era where kids of a certain age would go see that they would say, okay, so this is my personality.

Now, well that's what funny is. It made me go, oh, I think whatever this is is hilarious.

Now, well that's what funny is. It made me go, oh, I think whatever this is is hilarious.

So I really liked him.

So I really liked him.

Carry he's electric, He's great. I have that for the first one. I remember him singing out of his butt.

Carry he's electric, He's great. I have that for the first one. I remember him singing out of his butt.

Yes, they refer to that in the second film.

Yes, they refer to that in the second film.

There's a moment when they're in the mansion and they're like, you know, we don't They're looking for ace Ventura and the guy says, uh, we don't have names here, we don't have labels here. He's like the one who talks out of his butt and he's like, oh right, right this way.

There's a moment when they're in the mansion and they're like, you know, we don't They're looking for ace Ventura and the guy says, uh, we don't have names here, we don't have labels here. He's like the one who talks out of his butt and he's like, oh right, right this way.

I do also have some good news for you stuff. They want you to sandwich here. In addition to all the great life's life milestones you have met. Uh, dear conspiracy realist friend and neighbor, ace Ventura three has been in the works for several shut up, I can't shut up because I'm telling you the truth. Ace Ventura three has been uh it's in production limbo for a while, but apparently they're still kind of wagh in it. It just depends on, you know, how Jim Carrey's feeling.

I do also have some good news for you stuff. They want you to sandwich here. In addition to all the great life's life milestones you have met. Uh, dear conspiracy realist friend and neighbor, ace Ventura three has been in the works for several shut up, I can't shut up because I'm telling you the truth. Ace Ventura three has been uh it's in production limbo for a while, but apparently they're still kind of wagh in it. It just depends on, you know, how Jim Carrey's feeling.

I just don't know that it blends with the current zeit geist. I think it's maybe.

I just don't know that it blends with the current zeit geist. I think it's maybe.

Take a different direction, you know, ben the genre a little bit won't make it? No, make it like a true attack the thing.

Take a different direction, you know, ben the genre a little bit won't make it? No, make it like a true attack the thing.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Oh if it was like really gritty and.

Oh if it was like really gritty and.

Dark, Yeah, you know what I mean, don't recast pretty crazy?

Dark, Yeah, you know what I mean, don't recast pretty crazy?

Yeah, Ace Ace is the same. We just have who is the character from the first True Detective?

Yeah, Ace Ace is the same. We just have who is the character from the first True Detective?

We love Rustle Also quick note to get in front of the emails. Yes, folks, we realize there is a Sventura Junior Pet Detective, which is sometimes called the third ace Ventura, but as purest as people with respect for the high art of cinema. We're we're holding out for the Jim Carrey help, Yes, the.

We love Rustle Also quick note to get in front of the emails. Yes, folks, we realize there is a Sventura Junior Pet Detective, which is sometimes called the third ace Ventura, but as purest as people with respect for the high art of cinema. We're we're holding out for the Jim Carrey help, Yes, the.

Way to that point. Son of the Mask? Not really truly, you've not heard of the Son of the Mask.

Way to that point. Son of the Mask? Not really truly, you've not heard of the Son of the Mask.

It's so bad, we don't not even in the comics.

It's so bad, we don't not even in the comics.

Amazing.

Amazing.

Well, with all of this in mind, let's jump to a rather more serious listener mail getting out of the when nature calls vibes here. By the way, A Sventura is the guy who was trying to attain enlightenment when he gets that medallion from one of the monks. It took him like eighty years to get the medallion, and the monk is like, no, just just take the just take it and get out here.

Well, with all of this in mind, let's jump to a rather more serious listener mail getting out of the when nature calls vibes here. By the way, A Sventura is the guy who was trying to attain enlightenment when he gets that medallion from one of the monks. It took him like eighty years to get the medallion, and the monk is like, no, just just take the just take it and get out here.

Please. Okay, let's go to Art Vandalay.

Please. Okay, let's go to Art Vandalay.

Hey, guys, you can call me Art Vandalay. I just listened to the tariff episode as I'm commuting into my supply chain job in the building products industry been around since before twenty eighteen when Trump laid the first, you know, heavy hand of tariffs on China, and you know, in our.

Hey, guys, you can call me Art Vandalay. I just listened to the tariff episode as I'm commuting into my supply chain job in the building products industry been around since before twenty eighteen when Trump laid the first, you know, heavy hand of tariffs on China, and you know, in our.

Particular space, not only did it increase the price to import those goods, but also, the capability to produce some of those goods did not exist outside of China, where a lot of the innovation of exists. So several companies started up factories, whether that was in Southeast Asia or even here in the US. And it's very difficult to manage when when the rhetoric changes, you know, day by.

Particular space, not only did it increase the price to import those goods, but also, the capability to produce some of those goods did not exist outside of China, where a lot of the innovation of exists. So several companies started up factories, whether that was in Southeast Asia or even here in the US. And it's very difficult to manage when when the rhetoric changes, you know, day by.

Day, week by week. But I guess, I guess that's job security, right. So one thing I thought I would bring up is here, just yesterday, a factory in our industry based here in the US, just outside of Atlanta, got raided and suspected of human trafficking. So for all the all the things that end up in the news, a lot of folks don't believe it's gonna be gonna be the ones here in the US.

Day, week by week. But I guess, I guess that's job security, right. So one thing I thought I would bring up is here, just yesterday, a factory in our industry based here in the US, just outside of Atlanta, got raided and suspected of human trafficking. So for all the all the things that end up in the news, a lot of folks don't believe it's gonna be gonna be the ones here in the US.

So anyways, love the show, appreciate you guys.

So anyways, love the show, appreciate you guys.

There we go.

There we go.

Wo okay, And that's referring to the March twenty fifth rate, maybe.

Wo okay, And that's referring to the March twenty fifth rate, maybe.

March twenty fifth, twenty sixth grade.

March twenty fifth, twenty sixth grade.

Yeah, that is well.

Yeah, that is well.

I shared just now in the chat a website for well made floors dot com. And if you head on over there, you'll find a website filled with well made, waterproof, premium flooring and vinyl planks and all kinds of dry back planks and bamboo planks, and it just looks like a wonderful website with all kinds of great products that you can put on the bare part of your floor so now you can walk on it. And this is the thing that Art Vandala is referring to this specific company that has this website there, let's say factory, their offices, whatever the place is. It looks like a giant warehouse, to be honest, if you look at it from above or you look at the actual place that got raided. It got raided, yeah, on Wednesday, March twenty sixth, and that was the FBI, Homeland Security, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Bartow County's Sheriff's office all went in because there were allegations of human and potential sexual servitude that were being instituted there by human beings that were trafficked from other countries, and it was happening right around the corner from US guys. Well, you know, we hear a lot of things about Atlanta being bad in this area, right.

I shared just now in the chat a website for well made floors dot com. And if you head on over there, you'll find a website filled with well made, waterproof, premium flooring and vinyl planks and all kinds of dry back planks and bamboo planks, and it just looks like a wonderful website with all kinds of great products that you can put on the bare part of your floor so now you can walk on it. And this is the thing that Art Vandala is referring to this specific company that has this website there, let's say factory, their offices, whatever the place is. It looks like a giant warehouse, to be honest, if you look at it from above or you look at the actual place that got raided. It got raided, yeah, on Wednesday, March twenty sixth, and that was the FBI, Homeland Security, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Bartow County's Sheriff's office all went in because there were allegations of human and potential sexual servitude that were being instituted there by human beings that were trafficked from other countries, and it was happening right around the corner from US guys. Well, you know, we hear a lot of things about Atlanta being bad in this area, right.

Yeah, international hub of trafficking and a national hub do at least in part to having the world's busiest airport.

Yeah, international hub of trafficking and a national hub do at least in part to having the world's busiest airport.

There you go, there you go exactly.

There you go, there you go exactly.

So let's let's read a little bit from Fox five Atlanta, one of the local folks near us. They wrote on March twenty six, twenty twenty five, the day that this raid occurred, that this was part of a multi year investigation into labor trafficking, and the company's owner, zoo Chen Zhuche, and his nephew were both arrested and face charges of trafficking persons for labor or sexual servitude. And yeah, there are allegations that victims were brought in from other countries and forced to live in inadequate conditions and work for well made for little pay. There were hundreds of employees at the company and dozens of them are potential victims. There are stories coming out from people who are interviewed, because in a situation like this, the FBI and Homeland Security raid a factory like that or a distribution center, whatever you want to call it, they raid it. Then they separate everybody and they interview everybody separately, and some of those interviews have been leaked. Let's say to the press, one of those like, we aren't going to say who this person is, but here is their quote. They have talked about small living spaces where twelve human beings were supposed to live in a townhouse situation, and then being taken by van to this distribution center slash factory to work for like twelve hour days sometimes longer, then shipped back and the next group of twelve people that is now in the house, they just witch between the housing and the factory and that's like their life essentially for almost no pay. Just a really messed up situation. You can read an official US Immigration and Customs Enforcement little thing that they put out on April fourth about this, like a pr statement. Essentially, they're saying this operation targeted allegations of labor trafficking involving foreign nationals, as well as financial crimes linked to the employer's business practices. Yeah, so sorry to bring us down there, guys, after all the funness, but just to point out that there this kind of thing that we have on this show talked about, you know, in a lot of other places in other parts of the world. It does happen here in the US. It happens in whatever country you are in right now. It is just a thing we need to tackle and deal with. And it is not something that can just get stamped out. This is a multi year investigation that had to go into you know, potentially freeing some people from some form of servitude.

So let's let's read a little bit from Fox five Atlanta, one of the local folks near us. They wrote on March twenty six, twenty twenty five, the day that this raid occurred, that this was part of a multi year investigation into labor trafficking, and the company's owner, zoo Chen Zhuche, and his nephew were both arrested and face charges of trafficking persons for labor or sexual servitude. And yeah, there are allegations that victims were brought in from other countries and forced to live in inadequate conditions and work for well made for little pay. There were hundreds of employees at the company and dozens of them are potential victims. There are stories coming out from people who are interviewed, because in a situation like this, the FBI and Homeland Security raid a factory like that or a distribution center, whatever you want to call it, they raid it. Then they separate everybody and they interview everybody separately, and some of those interviews have been leaked. Let's say to the press, one of those like, we aren't going to say who this person is, but here is their quote. They have talked about small living spaces where twelve human beings were supposed to live in a townhouse situation, and then being taken by van to this distribution center slash factory to work for like twelve hour days sometimes longer, then shipped back and the next group of twelve people that is now in the house, they just witch between the housing and the factory and that's like their life essentially for almost no pay. Just a really messed up situation. You can read an official US Immigration and Customs Enforcement little thing that they put out on April fourth about this, like a pr statement. Essentially, they're saying this operation targeted allegations of labor trafficking involving foreign nationals, as well as financial crimes linked to the employer's business practices. Yeah, so sorry to bring us down there, guys, after all the funness, but just to point out that there this kind of thing that we have on this show talked about, you know, in a lot of other places in other parts of the world. It does happen here in the US. It happens in whatever country you are in right now. It is just a thing we need to tackle and deal with. And it is not something that can just get stamped out. This is a multi year investigation that had to go into you know, potentially freeing some people from some form of servitude.

Yeah, and this unfortunately can be politicized or can be used as rationale or increasing erosions of rights and rule of law. But to that point just made it is mission critical to realize that human trafficking is a thing, and it's not always the thing you might see in films like Take It. It can be much more regional. It is occurring in all fifty US states to m degree or another.

Yeah, and this unfortunately can be politicized or can be used as rationale or increasing erosions of rights and rule of law. But to that point just made it is mission critical to realize that human trafficking is a thing, and it's not always the thing you might see in films like Take It. It can be much more regional. It is occurring in all fifty US states to m degree or another.

Well, yeah, and we've been talking about ICE and all the terrible crap they've been getting up to lately, right, I mean, horrifying stuff. But it's also an organization that can go through and do this and actually do some good even though ICE isn't. They are the ones actually doing the investigation. That's the local Atlanta FBI office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the Bonto sheriffs as well as Home Insecurity or HSI. But still thinking about things as more complicate. Things are always more complicated than whatever story or news is given you, right, And that's one of the things we always talk about on this show. So even something like ice can function for good in the way USDA is often vilified. Right, it can function for good. It just depends on who's running it, what the rules are, well, mostly who's running it, right, like who is making the rules and enforcing the rules that are internally enforced in my opinion at least, so.

Well, yeah, and we've been talking about ICE and all the terrible crap they've been getting up to lately, right, I mean, horrifying stuff. But it's also an organization that can go through and do this and actually do some good even though ICE isn't. They are the ones actually doing the investigation. That's the local Atlanta FBI office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the Bonto sheriffs as well as Home Insecurity or HSI. But still thinking about things as more complicate. Things are always more complicated than whatever story or news is given you, right, And that's one of the things we always talk about on this show. So even something like ice can function for good in the way USDA is often vilified. Right, it can function for good. It just depends on who's running it, what the rules are, well, mostly who's running it, right, like who is making the rules and enforcing the rules that are internally enforced in my opinion at least, so.

Say we all, I would imagine, and I love the point because you're right, we continually return to it. The hard truth about reality is it takes more than five minutes or three to five minutes on afternoon news to explain a situation. All those stories you hear, think of them like opening a door for you or knocking on a door for you and saying this a lot. And I don't want to say, you know what, I don't care if I sound like a broken record. It's extremely dangerous to paint with a broad brush with most things. So thank you so much for bringing this story to bear our Vandalay and Matt. I think we're going to see more of these situations, you know, and it's going to be increasingly politicized, at least over the near term for sure.

Say we all, I would imagine, and I love the point because you're right, we continually return to it. The hard truth about reality is it takes more than five minutes or three to five minutes on afternoon news to explain a situation. All those stories you hear, think of them like opening a door for you or knocking on a door for you and saying this a lot. And I don't want to say, you know what, I don't care if I sound like a broken record. It's extremely dangerous to paint with a broad brush with most things. So thank you so much for bringing this story to bear our Vandalay and Matt. I think we're going to see more of these situations, you know, and it's going to be increasingly politicized, at least over the near term for sure.

Oh yeah, all right, And with that, we'll take a word from our sponsor and we'll be right back with more messages from you.

Oh yeah, all right, And with that, we'll take a word from our sponsor and we'll be right back with more messages from you.

And we have returned. This is guys, here's the way I'm thinking of this. We treat this last part of our weekly segment as more of a story sharing thing, because you'll recall we did an episode quite recently on a third party insurance industry entity called evi Core, or as its many critics call it, evil Core. Do we remember that episode?

And we have returned. This is guys, here's the way I'm thinking of this. We treat this last part of our weekly segment as more of a story sharing thing, because you'll recall we did an episode quite recently on a third party insurance industry entity called evi Core, or as its many critics call it, evil Core. Do we remember that episode?

How can we forget evil Core?

How can we forget evil Core?

It really leads an impression, it sure does, Yeah, and I'd agree with that. We I think we all walked away somewhat righteously indignant, if not a bit depressed by the by the state of the situation. And it turns out a lot of us in the audience felt the same way. So we're going to share just a couple of stories from our fellow listeners, some of whom experienced the hazards of prior authorization, some of whom worked in the industry in one way or another and also witnessed this Leviathan in action. So first, let's go to somebody going with a fantastic name. Are you ready? We're not ready. It's paint Chip Nachos paints a.

It really leads an impression, it sure does, Yeah, and I'd agree with that. We I think we all walked away somewhat righteously indignant, if not a bit depressed by the by the state of the situation. And it turns out a lot of us in the audience felt the same way. So we're going to share just a couple of stories from our fellow listeners, some of whom experienced the hazards of prior authorization, some of whom worked in the industry in one way or another and also witnessed this Leviathan in action. So first, let's go to somebody going with a fantastic name. Are you ready? We're not ready. It's paint Chip Nachos paints a.

Picture GISs some really mommy, So Paychef.

Picture GISs some really mommy, So Paychef.

Nacho says, hello there, thanks for all you do. I'm writing today to give you a little story about my experience with prior authorizations through insurance. I have EDS, which is a rare soft tissue disorder which causes pain and fatigue, among other things on a daily basis, meaning this is a chronic condition. Editorializing here, Paychef Nachos continues and says, I'm on SSDI for my disabilities, as I have many comorbidities associated with all of this. My doctors put in referrals left and right to multiple other doctors. Some of these referrals get denied with the excuse that quote the patient must discuss a proper medical plan with their doctor before approval end quote. So some of my doctors wrote in appeals for me as well as myself, explaining that my doctor has already wrote out a plan and that's why I need the referral. A bit of a catch twenty two for paint Chip Nachos. One of my denials was for trigger points injections in my muscles to ease my pain and headaches, which they wrote in as medically necessary. My insurance came back with a denial, saying they needed a peer review, which went my doctor, who's already super busy, has to call my insurance and talk to someone there in their medical department. When my doctor called, and she did call twice, no one from my insurance answered the phone, and they sent a denial due to my doctor not properly calling for that peer review. I finally got a series of three procedures approved, even though I need a series of six for my pain to dissipate from a six to probably a two to three on the Pain scale and paint Chip Nachos, check out our earlier work on the Sackler family to figure out just how fraud the idea of the pain scale is. Nachos, You continue, I always wonder why I even pay for insurance if I'll be not denied necessary procedures. I have so many doctors that insurance is necessary. But man, oh man, I've also changed insurance companies. However, this new insurance company doesn't need any prior authorizations. It'll possibly deny any procedures after I get them if my doctors don't specifically note that my procedures are medically necessary. So this leaves me in the dark until my bill comes in and then this goes on a little bit. But the thesis statement here from paint Chip Nachos is that prior authorizations mean nothing and insurance just wants to keep you sick no matter what the cost, and then followed up with some very very kind words. Theare we say teen winded words? That's for you, paint Chip Nachos. I wanted to pause here before you go the next one. Guys, does this experience seem like something that might be common to a lot of our listeners or perhaps to you in your personal lives.

Nacho says, hello there, thanks for all you do. I'm writing today to give you a little story about my experience with prior authorizations through insurance. I have EDS, which is a rare soft tissue disorder which causes pain and fatigue, among other things on a daily basis, meaning this is a chronic condition. Editorializing here, Paychef Nachos continues and says, I'm on SSDI for my disabilities, as I have many comorbidities associated with all of this. My doctors put in referrals left and right to multiple other doctors. Some of these referrals get denied with the excuse that quote the patient must discuss a proper medical plan with their doctor before approval end quote. So some of my doctors wrote in appeals for me as well as myself, explaining that my doctor has already wrote out a plan and that's why I need the referral. A bit of a catch twenty two for paint Chip Nachos. One of my denials was for trigger points injections in my muscles to ease my pain and headaches, which they wrote in as medically necessary. My insurance came back with a denial, saying they needed a peer review, which went my doctor, who's already super busy, has to call my insurance and talk to someone there in their medical department. When my doctor called, and she did call twice, no one from my insurance answered the phone, and they sent a denial due to my doctor not properly calling for that peer review. I finally got a series of three procedures approved, even though I need a series of six for my pain to dissipate from a six to probably a two to three on the Pain scale and paint Chip Nachos, check out our earlier work on the Sackler family to figure out just how fraud the idea of the pain scale is. Nachos, You continue, I always wonder why I even pay for insurance if I'll be not denied necessary procedures. I have so many doctors that insurance is necessary. But man, oh man, I've also changed insurance companies. However, this new insurance company doesn't need any prior authorizations. It'll possibly deny any procedures after I get them if my doctors don't specifically note that my procedures are medically necessary. So this leaves me in the dark until my bill comes in and then this goes on a little bit. But the thesis statement here from paint Chip Nachos is that prior authorizations mean nothing and insurance just wants to keep you sick no matter what the cost, and then followed up with some very very kind words. Theare we say teen winded words? That's for you, paint Chip Nachos. I wanted to pause here before you go the next one. Guys, does this experience seem like something that might be common to a lot of our listeners or perhaps to you in your personal lives.

I've never experienced it for but I can definitely imagine just by you know, other news stories that will come out where this very thing is described.

I've never experienced it for but I can definitely imagine just by you know, other news stories that will come out where this very thing is described.

Same.

Same.

Yeah, not something that I run across.

Yeah, not something that I run across.

Well, I'm glad to here's something you guys have not personally experienced, and hopefully that remains true in the future. We'll go to our next one. Papa Ly Papaly, you say, greetings and salutations. I just finished listening to your episode on the prior authorizations conspiracy. As a mental healthcare provider, I'm very much tied to insurance companies. I have also been doing this long enough to remember when the providers just sent the bill to the insurance company and they paid it dun dun, dung, and the patient only had to deal with the kope. I also remember when they tried to cap sessions and tried to make us verify every session. There's a bit of malicious compliance with that one. If you want to hear about it, we do, please write to us. And this is where papaly gives us a pretty cool question. Are there any nonprofit insurance companies? If so, how do they operate in the current landscape? And that's a question for the group because if you folks in the US, if you take your Internet browser choice and you look for just nonprofit insurance companies, what you're going to find are a lot of traditional for profit insurance companies who have special programs for nonprofit companies. So it's it's already a little bit money.

Well, I'm glad to here's something you guys have not personally experienced, and hopefully that remains true in the future. We'll go to our next one. Papa Ly Papaly, you say, greetings and salutations. I just finished listening to your episode on the prior authorizations conspiracy. As a mental healthcare provider, I'm very much tied to insurance companies. I have also been doing this long enough to remember when the providers just sent the bill to the insurance company and they paid it dun dun, dung, and the patient only had to deal with the kope. I also remember when they tried to cap sessions and tried to make us verify every session. There's a bit of malicious compliance with that one. If you want to hear about it, we do, please write to us. And this is where papaly gives us a pretty cool question. Are there any nonprofit insurance companies? If so, how do they operate in the current landscape? And that's a question for the group because if you folks in the US, if you take your Internet browser choice and you look for just nonprofit insurance companies, what you're going to find are a lot of traditional for profit insurance companies who have special programs for nonprofit companies. So it's it's already a little bit money.

Yeah, I've never actually looked for nonprofit insurance.

Yeah, I've never actually looked for nonprofit insurance.

It seems somewhat paradox account.

It seems somewhat paradox account.

Yeah, for sure, especially in our TIS. I mean, it seems like it would be cool if that's whatever, it'd be great, like, Yeah, how does that even function.

Yeah, for sure, especially in our TIS. I mean, it seems like it would be cool if that's whatever, it'd be great, like, Yeah, how does that even function.

Yeah, what is that?

Yeah, what is that?

How does that work?

How does that work?

Who benefits?

Who benefits?

Isn't that funny? They're like, have you guys seen the new season of Black Mirror, by the way, Yes, yeah, that's the whole thing. I haven't seen the whole.

Isn't that funny? They're like, have you guys seen the new season of Black Mirror, by the way, Yes, yeah, that's the whole thing. I haven't seen the whole.

Thing, but I've seen the first three and the first episode, which is quite dark.

Thing, but I've seen the first three and the first episode, which is quite dark.

It's called common People.

It's called common People.

It really is about the healthcare system. And you know, I've seen actually a podcast I listened to called The Weekly Planet with these lovely Australian fellows. They didn't get why that episode hits so close to home for so many people. Rather let me rephrase that, they did exercise empathy and look at why it might hit close And the reason is in Australia they don't have the same kind of show of a medical you know system that we have. So the issues that are demonstrated that are shown in this episode Common People about just you know, crippling medical debt, the idea of subscription models more or less for your.

It really is about the healthcare system. And you know, I've seen actually a podcast I listened to called The Weekly Planet with these lovely Australian fellows. They didn't get why that episode hits so close to home for so many people. Rather let me rephrase that, they did exercise empathy and look at why it might hit close And the reason is in Australia they don't have the same kind of show of a medical you know system that we have. So the issues that are demonstrated that are shown in this episode Common People about just you know, crippling medical debt, the idea of subscription models more or less for your.

Own healthcare, native dystopian.

Own healthcare, native dystopian.

Native advertising, all of that thing, but specifically that subscription model to just keep yourself or your loved ones alive is something that is very real and feels very close to home here as American citizens. What you're talking about here us not being able to wrap our heads around the idea of insurance that is intended to benefit individuals rather than for you know, massive profits exclusively. It's something that we have a hard time wrapping our head around here as well.

Native advertising, all of that thing, but specifically that subscription model to just keep yourself or your loved ones alive is something that is very real and feels very close to home here as American citizens. What you're talking about here us not being able to wrap our heads around the idea of insurance that is intended to benefit individuals rather than for you know, massive profits exclusively. It's something that we have a hard time wrapping our head around here as well.

It's one of the Yeah, that's why I love your questions so much, Populy. It's one of the biggest differences, or one of the biggest unique aspects of the United States amid all the developed countries existing in the world. And it's it's a dangerous thing. It's a shame that it's been so tribalized and politicized and gosh commodified, modified, all the other words that are bad that end in ied. We'll do one more. We'll do one more. We'll go to farm a nurse. Farmer nurse says, you can call me farmer nurse. I just listened to your Evil Core episode. That's how farmer Nurse spells it, and felt compelled to add to the story. The insurance company and evil cores of this country have far too much say in the healthcare we received. Here's my real life example. I work for or a pharmaceutical company that has the only FDA approved treatment for rare disease. This treatment doesn't just make the patient marginally better, this is a life saving treatment that allows them to lead a completely normal life. Needless to say, this is a very expensive drug. To your point, nol, that's another thing that sounds crazy outside of the US, but makes sense in this current milieu. Farmer Nurse continues. Frequently the insurance company evil Core will tell the doctor that they cannot use our FDA approved drug, but instead must first try another treatment that is not even FDA approved for this particular diagnosis. So now, says Farmer Nurse, these companies are not only saying that doctor is wrong for prescribing this medication, but they are also saying the FDA doesn't know what they're talking about. Needless to say, this topic makes me very hot under the collar. Our healthcare system needs a major overhaul. We spend more per patient than any other country, but our health outcomes are the same or worse than all other countries. Evil Core may be trying to lower our healthcare spending, but they are not doing anything to improve the patient's health.