The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Episode 622: COMPILATION – Staff Picks A to Z: From Aliens to Zombies, From Giants to Gobekli Tepe
Release Date: December 29, 2025
Host: AJ (with Morgan the Beaver and Hecklefish)

Episode Overview

This special compilation episode presents an A-to-Z tour of mysteries, myths, and legends, with segments chosen by various staff members of The Why Files team. Each segment explores a different topic—ranging from DARPA’s shadowy projects, the Pentagon’s secret zombie plans, and ancient civilization revelations at Göbekli Tepe, to legendary conspiracy theories like the Hollow Moon, reptilian aliens, and the history of giants. Presented with AJ’s signature blend of deep research, story-driven narratives, and witty banter between the cast (including Morgan and the wisecracking Hecklefish), this episode bundles some of the podcast’s fan-favorite discussions.

Key Segments & Insights

1. The Dark Side of DARPA (03:42–53:40)

Chosen by Jen (Mrs. Y Files aka Queen Bee)

• Origins: In response to the Soviet space race, the US formed ARPA (later DARPA) to leapfrog America’s military technology (03:42–07:03).
• DARPA’s Inventions in Everyday Life: Technologies like GPS, the internet, microprocessors, and voice recognition originated from DARPA projects (06:15, 13:55).
• Military Super-Tech: DARPA built self-guided bullets (EXACTO program), see-through-wall sensors, remote-controlled insects, and exoskeletons (21:25–23:44).
• Human Enhancement: Projects like CRISPR gene editing and Brain Initiative aimed to create super-soldiers and interface brains with computers (22:32–24:02).
• Robotics and AI: DARPA pushed robotics (Big Dog, Atlas) and AI from the 1960s onward (24:46–28:58).
• Surveillance State: The origins of Google partly funded via DARPA, aiming to fingerprint everyone digitally (31:48–38:57).
• Ethics & Accountability: Discussion of Agent Orange and DARPA’s involvement in Vietnam, legal loopholes, war crime denials, and lack of transparency (39:03–52:46).
• Memorable Quote:
  “No project was too expensive, and no program was too immoral. DARPA’s secret research would cost many lives.” —AJ [11:22]
  “If you make war profitable, you’ll always have war.” —AJ, referencing Eisenhower [49:21]

2. Zombie Apocalypse: CONPLAN 8888 (53:44–89:51)

Picked by Editor Brandon

• Overview: The Pentagon's real plan for a zombie apocalypse (CONPLAN 8888), includes detailed operational phases from detection to society rebuilding (54:00–58:31).
• Real Science: Explains pathogenic, prion, and parasitic “zombies” in the animal and real world, drawing parallels to human risks (60:29–66:30).
• Categories of Threats: Pathogenic zombies, prion disease, parasitic mind control, toxoplasma gondii, radiation zombies, weaponized, space, and evil magic zombies (60:29–77:31).
• Military’s Civilian Training: Suggests zombie media is “psyop” to train civilians subconsciously for survival skills (80:16–83:41).
• Conspiracies and Reality: Points out most of the zombie plan is cover for other real military planning; emphasizes self-sufficiency (87:34–89:51).
• Notable Banter:
  “If you trust a house cat, you deserve to get eat.” —Hecklefish [67:26]
  “The plan assumes most government officials die within 24 hours. Cities become uninhabitable... you’re on your own.” —AJ [59:25]

3. Liminal Spaces & The Backrooms (90:16–110:42)

Chosen by "the Hybrid" (Rich Dick)

• Internet Mysteries Connected: Liminal spaces (eerie transitional places), viral stories like the Airbnb mall, TikTok’s “Only Survivor,” and the Backrooms mythos explained (91:18–101:54).
• Philosophical Aspect: The anxiety and nostalgia triggered by abandoned, out-of-context, or in-between places (94:09–95:37).
• Debunking Viral Vid: Explains how some internet urban legends (e.g., Javier’s alternate reality TikTok) are media projects, not paranormal phenomena (107:04–110:42).
• Cultural Analysis: How pandemic isolation heightened interest in liminal spaces; ties to horror media and collective subconscious.
• Memorable Metacommentary:
  “Every liminal space has the same point. To find your way out.” —AJ [110:42]

4. John Wilkes Booth: Historian or Fugitive? (113:02–144:34)

Selected by Haley ("Spicy Ginger")

• Escape Theory: Considers the theory that Booth escaped, lived in hiding, and the body at Garrett’s farm was a double (113:02–141:21).
• Conspiracies & Evidence: Discusses missing diary pages, the Booth family’s secret heirs, and alternate histories.
• Debunking: Compares sources, exposes hoaxes, and clarifies mainstream consensus based on forensic and documentary evidence (141:58–143:49).
• Legacy: Explores the enduring appeal of alternate histories and their cultural “what ifs.”
• Hecklefish Zinger:
  “If I was a 26 year old movie star with ladies grabbing at my gills, I’d stay single too.” [141:31]
  “If there’s a hell, John Wilkes Booth is in it.” —AJ [144:34]

5. Simulation Theory (145:07–167:13)

Picked by Eric (merch store manager)

• Concept: Explores the likelihood that reality is artificial, referencing Nick Bostrom’s simulation trilemma (145:07–146:48).
• Evidence: Mandela Effect, mathematical code in nature, and the double-slit experiment as possible “program” indicators (149:47–161:21).
• Cosmic Coding: Discusses Fibonacci numbers and advanced physics discoveries considered as "evidence" for simulation (154:09–156:24).
• Philosophical Takeaway: Simulation theory vs. belief in God—the two might be functionally the same (165:47–167:13).
• Notable Quote:
  “It’s not physics. It’s metaphysics... But the closer you look for evidence, the more you find.” —AJ [145:07–149:38]
• Classic Hecklefish:
  “My reality is shattered.” [151:25]

6. Göbekli Tepe & Lost Civilization (167:40–217:07)

Chosen by Victoria (team lead)

• Shocking Chronology: Göbekli Tepe in Turkey predates Sumer by 6,000 years, suggesting an advanced lost civilization (167:40–176:04).
• Archaeological Evidence: Enormous stone megaliths, astronomical alignment, artwork of surprising sophistication for the era, newer discoveries like Karahan Tepe further complicate mainstream chronology (182:49–188:20).
• Flood Cataclysm: Discusses the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis—an ancient global disaster memorialized around the world (176:04–189:24).
• Global Myths: Cross-cultural flood legends, coinages, and the phenomena of abrupt (not evolutionary) technological emergence (189:24–195:50).
• Contemporary Debates: Contrasts mainstream archaeological skepticism with recent findings and continued debate; warns of cyclical cataclysm (196:11–213:30).
• Notable Banter:
  “We don’t believe in those [coincidences].” —Hecklefish [195:48]

7. The Lacerta Files: Reptilian Revelations & Human Origins (217:34–238:04)

Chosen by Editor Ryan

• Interview with a Reptilian: Alleged 1999–2000 interview with “Lacerta,” a subterranean reptile being, who claims humans are engineered by ancient aliens as slaves (218:38–223:08).
• Human Evolution: Cites DNA anomalies, lost civilizations, engineered psychic abilities, and cosmic conflicts involving copper-fusion weapons (220:39–225:46).
• Underground Realms: Points to sites like Derinkuyu and Malta’s Hypogeum as gateways to lizard-people civilizations (223:55–224:44).
• Government Allegations: Pentagon and other superpowers are supposedly reverse-engineering alien tech for power and control (225:49–231:18).
• Debunking: Points out the story’s origins, lack of mainstream evidence, and tendency for wild, unprovable claims (231:54–235:39).
• Quip:
  “Lizard people could be anywhere looking all humany.” —Hecklefish [229:31]

8. The Hollow Moon Theory (238:25–257:23)

Selected by Geno (After Files host)

• Moon Mysteries: Mainstream science can’t agree on the moon’s origin or strange properties—age, density, orbit, and mineral composition are all anomalous (238:38–244:38).
• The Hollow Moon Hypothesis: Suggests the moon is an artificial, hollow structure, with “proof” ranging from seismic experiments to cross-cultural myths describing its sudden appearance (244:38–249:07).
• Myths & Ancient Knowledge: Zulu and Sumerian legends, frequent flood myths timed with the moon’s “arrival,” support the theory (249:07–253:55).
• Lights and Structures: Persistent claims of “transient lunar phenomena,” odd photos, and suppressed NASA images (253:55–254:36).
• Debunking: Offers counter-arguments and notes the speculative nature; defends skepticism while remaining open-minded (254:36–257:23).
• Classic Irony:
  “The only way we get answers is to go to the Moon.” —AJ [256:04]

9. The Giants: Lovelock Cave & North America (257:52–295:29)

Picked by Deputy Joe

• Giant Lore: Reports of 8–10ft tall giants from mining finds in Nevada’s Lovelock Cave, supported by Paiute oral history (257:57–268:12).
• Worldwide Myths & Finds: Parallels in biblical Nephilim, Sumerian Anunnaki, and Native American tales; cross-continental findings of giant human remains (259:46–272:55).
• Smithsonian Conspiracy: Asserts that the Smithsonian actively destroyed or hid evidence of giants, detailing documented cases of lost or misclassified artifacts (273:35–276:32).
• Suppression Playbook: Breaks down the ways mainstream media and academia suppress controversial theories—criticize, marginalize, attack, censor (292:12–295:29).
• Fact-Checking: Acknowledges known hoaxes and medical explanations (e.g., gigantism, Marfan syndrome), but asserts evidence remains worthy of inquiry (283:05–285:28).
• Memorable Sarcasm:
  “If there’s a hell, John Wilkes Booth is in it.” —AJ [144:34]

10. Operation Highjump & Antarctica’s Secrets (296:11–320:00)

Staff Artist Rob’s Pick

• Official Story vs. Reality: The 1946–47 US naval expedition to Antarctica’s real goal was not scientific, but to investigate rumors of secret Nazi bases and saucer technology (296:11–301:47).
• Admiral Byrd’s Experience: Describes Byrd’s legendary background and mysterious missing hours in flight, including (allegedly fake) secret diary reports of green valleys, warm lakes, and an underground Aryan civilization (303:42–312:27).
• Cold War Drama: Describes battle reports of “flying saucers” disabling US craft, the US Navy’s hasty retreat, and the subsequent Antarctic Treaty keeping the continent off-limits (312:27–318:00).
• Skepticism and Debunking: Unravels hoaxes, mistranslations, and the real motives behind official stories, while leaving the door open for unsolved mysteries (318:00–320:00).
• Quote:
  “The only thing separating a conspiracy from the truth is time.” —AJ [232:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Banter

• “I could sniff out a plug opportunity like a truffle pig.” —Hecklefish [13:47]
• “If you trust a house cat, you deserve to get eat.” —Hecklefish [67:26]
• “Every liminal space has the same point. To find your way out.” —AJ [110:42]
• “Dead presidents are only funny when they're in my wallet.” —Hecklefish [140:24]
• "The only way we get answers is to go to the Moon.” —AJ [256:04]
• “We're 911 Truthers.” —Hecklefish [291:59]
• "If there’s a hell, John Wilkes Booth is in it.” —AJ [144:34]

Most Important Timestamps

• DARPA: Start at [03:42] and again at [11:22], detailed segment [11:22–53:40]
• Zombies/CONPLAN 8888: [54:00–89:51]
• Liminal Spaces/Backrooms: [90:16–110:42]
• John Wilkes Booth: [113:02–144:34]
• Simulation Theory: [145:07–167:13]
• Göbekli Tepe: [167:40–217:07]
• Lacerta Files: [217:34–238:04]
• Hollow Moon: [238:25–257:23]
• Giants & Smithsonian: [257:52–295:29]
• Operation Highjump: [296:11–320:00]

Tone & Language

AJ’s storytelling is research-heavy yet playful, balancing clear fact presentation with skepticism and open inquiry. The cast's banter (especially with the ever-snarky Hecklefish and pragmatic Morgan) adds levity, breaks the fourth wall, and often delivers the sharpest satirical commentary on government, media, and the nature of conspiracy folklore.

Takeaways

• The Why Files specializes in weaving pop-culture mysteries with historical deep dives and fresh research, always questioning mainstream narratives but not blindly accepting wild theories.
• Staff picks showcase the podcast’s breadth: military black projects, government plans for the absurd, forgotten civilizations, giants, aliens, and simulation theory, all get equally rigorous yet entertaining treatment.
• While conspiracies, suppressed truths, and anomalies are central themes, AJ and the team never fully abandon skepticism or reason—instead, they invite the audience to keep looking deeper.

“The only thing separating a conspiracy from the truth is time.” —AJ

For detailed explorations, see highlighted timestamps above. This compilation is an excellent introduction for new listeners and a greatest hits for long-time fans.