Podcast Summary: You, Me & Mike

Ep. 203: Birds Aren't Real and Other Conspiracy Theories

Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Jenn and Mike Todryk
Platform: Thirteen Media

Overview

In this lively episode, Jenn and Mike Todryk take listeners on an energetic, humorous, and occasionally profound deep dive into the world of conspiracy theories—ranging from the whimsical ("birds aren't real") to the foundational and sometimes unsettling (aliens, government coverups, simulation theory). The episode is framed as a “surprise” for Jenn, who is skeptical and logical, contrasting with Mike’s more adventurous curiosity and love for theorizing. Together, their playful dynamic and opposing perspectives create a fun and thoughtful exploration of why humans are drawn to the mysterious and unexplainable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Conspiracy Theories and Imagination

• Timestamps: 00:00–06:00
  • Mike explains his fascination with conspiracies: "I think they're fun, like, to think about. Is there truth to it or not?" (00:55, Mike)
  • Jenn admits feeling out of her depth with the topic, preferring real stories and factual learning over speculation or fiction:
    “Why are we telling this fake story? Tell me something that’s real.” (01:34, Jenn)
  • A debate emerges between the value of fiction versus non-fiction and the nature of storytelling, with Mike appreciating imagination and Jenn favoring concrete reality.

2. Mainstreaming of Alien/UFO Conspiracies

• Timestamps: 06:01–26:00
  • Mike brings up the recent mainstream attention to UFOs, now called UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) and references credible sources:
    “You have credible people now... government officials and intelligence people and whatnot right?” (06:47, Mike)
  • Key references:
    • New York Times coverage of Pentagon disclosure, Navy “Tic Tac” UFO videos.
    • Whistleblower David Grusch’s congressional testimony regarding government UFO crash retrieval programs.
    • Harvard scientist Avi Loeb theorizing about passing interstellar objects.
  • Jenn’s skepticism centers on government motives and possible manipulation:
    “What if they’re trying to do it to get funding behind it and then they’re using the funding for something else?” (10:00, Jenn)
  • The couple dives into how faith and spirituality intersect with these topics, discussing biblical references to mysterious beings and free will.

3. Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Conspiracies

• Timestamps: 14:57–27:00
  • Deep dive on religious interpretations: Are angels and demons just another type of “alien” or spiritual being?
  • Mike references C.S. Lewis and philosophical wrestling with free will, the nature of good and evil, and creation:
    “In order to create creation that had relationship…you have to give it will.” (19:19, Mike)
  • Jenn and Mike reflect on personal stories of supposed angelic intervention and the overlap between faith and conspiracy theory.

4. Alien Technology, Tesla, and Government Coverups

• Timestamps: 26:01–33:00
  • Discussion expands to technology conspiracies:
    • Nikola Tesla’s claimed inventions in anti-gravity and free energy, and their government suppression.
    • Bob Lazar’s infamous Area 51 claims, including alleged alien technology and hand scanners.
  • The concept that aliens may be “us from the future” is introduced:
    “What if they’re us from the future?” (32:43, Mike)

5. AI, Neuralink, and Simulation Theory

• Timestamps: 32:54–44:00
  • The conversation shifts to contemporary technological speculation:
    • Elon Musk’s Neuralink and brain-computer interfaces.
    • Fears and philosophical implications of advanced AI and its possible convergence with the human mind.
    • Simulation theory: “Are we in the matrix?”
      “What is [the] matrix? Is this just a computer construct that we live inside with full sentience inside of it?” (39:21, Mike)
  • Jenn is quick to draw boundaries here:
    "I'm done. Nope. I'm tapped out." (41:10, Jenn)

6. Chemtrails and Weather Manipulation

• Timestamps: 41:15–44:44
  • Jenn requests clarification on “chemtrails.” Mike explains official explanations (contrails, condensation) and the real practice of “cloud seeding” to induce rainfall.
  • Confronts confirmation bias: “If you want to find something, you're gonna find something.” (44:00, Mike)

7. Birds Aren’t Real

• Timestamps: 48:03–50:00
  • Mike jokes about the “birds aren’t real” theory (birds as government drones), with both hosts having fun with the absurdity and Jenn providing a grounded counter:
    “Come on. This is crazy. This is where we... we just have to call it what it is. And some people are psycho.” (49:34, Jenn)

8. Social Groups, Secret Societies, and “Realistic” Conspiracies

• Timestamps: 45:01–47:46
  • Brief mention of more plausible conspiracies: secret societies (Skull and Bones), government groups controlling information, and societal hierarchies.
  • Jenn sees these as less far-fetched than alien conspiracy, but Mike notes the overlap between spiritual, secular, and faith-based worldviews.

9. Reflection on Human Curiosity and the Appeal of Conspiracies

• Timestamps: 55:16–End
  • Jenn reflects on her preference for true crime and real-life mysteries, explaining:
    "I want to be curious in things that I already feel and know is real." (55:41, Jenn)
  • Both hosts discuss the balance of open-mindedness with skepticism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I think they're fun to like, think about. Is there truth to it and not truth to it? And they're conspiracies for a reason.” (00:55, Mike)

• “Why are we telling this fake story? Tell me something that's real.” (01:34, Jenn)

• “In order to create creation that had relationship…you have to give it will. You can't…If you're just creating a robot…it’s not real.” (19:19, Mike, paraphrasing CS Lewis)

• “What if they're us from the future?” (32:43, Mike)

• On birds as drones:
  “They like to be at Sonic to recharge.” (48:34, Jenn, sarcastically)
  “I think birds aren't real. That's fake. I just made that up.” (49:08, Mike—only to discover it’s a real theory with many followers)

• On perseverance in theorizing:
  "If you want aliens to be real, man, you're gonna, you're gonna find a reason to be real." (44:03, Mike)

• Listener engagement appeal:
  “If y’all like conspiracy stuff…please tell me. If you like it, prove me wrong, because I don’t want to talk about this stuff again.” (56:37, Jenn)

Additional Fun Segments

Quickfire "Weird Question"

• Erasing one invention from history:
  • Mike: “Kind of wish smartphones were never invented…Nuclear weapons…We have the power to destroy the world right now.” (58:31–59:25)
  • Jenn contemplates the broader impact of inventions on societal wellbeing.

Tone & Style

• Playful, candid, and sometimes sarcastic; Mike is the fact-focused, speculative theorist, while Jenn supplies skepticism, logic, and relatable humor.
• Tangents, banter, and “meta-conversations” about the nature of discussing these topics are frequent.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

This episode is ideal for listeners interested in everything from the wildest to the most plausible conspiracy theories, but who enjoy a down-to-earth, relationship-driven approach to heady and controversial topics. Jenn and Mike create a space where no belief is off limits, but everything is open to (sometimes hilarious) scrutiny, and the real fun lies in the conversation itself.

Segment Timestamps (Highlights)

• 00:00–06:00: Opening, fiction vs. non-fiction, setting up conspiracies
• 06:01–26:00: UFOs/UAPs, aliens, faith intersection
• 26:01–33:00: Alien tech, Tesla, future human theory
• 32:54–44:00: AI, Neuralink, Simulation theory
• 41:15–44:44: Chemtrails and weather manipulation
• 48:03–50:00: “Birds aren’t real” debunked (with laughter)
• 55:16–End: True crime, curiosity, listener engagement

“It’s fun to speculate. It’s fun to kind of talk. I like it because it’s fun to me because you don’t know. I want these things—some of these things—to be real because it'd be cool.” (44:53, Mike)

End of Summary