Oct 15, 2026 · 2h 56m
Cody Tucker traces curiosity from crime stories to AI propaganda
#2566 - Cody Tucker
The conversation examines how curiosity can expose hidden histories while also revealing the risks of pattern-seeking, digital distraction, and manufactured outrage.
- 1Cody Tucker’s research method turns obscure crimes, scandals, and cultural histories into a broader study of human behavior.
- 2The hosts question whether online consensus is authentic as bots, propaganda, and political identity increasingly shape public opinion.
- 3Curiosity emerges as both a source of anxiety and a creative discipline, linking historical research to healthier habits and better questions.
Don't miss
Cody and Joe examine Henry Ford’s antisemitism and the suspicious comments beneath Cody’s video as evidence of manufactured online sentiment.
The brief
Cody Tucker explains how his Half-Ass History work grew from following factual curiosities into increasingly strange research rabbit holes, now collected in a book about everyday words and phrases.
Crime stories, fraud, government corruption, and celebrity scandals provide the episode’s raw material, but the deeper subject is how compelling facts can distort judgment when evidence gives way to pattern-seeking.
The conversation turns to AI, chatbots, smartphones, and online propaganda, asking whether digital platforms manufacture public sentiment through bots, coordinated comments, and algorithmic outrage.
Joe and Cody connect curiosity to anxiety, distraction, health habits, and creativity, treating restless attention as both a burden and the engine behind meaningful work.
The sharpest turn comes when Henry Ford’s antisemitism and the comments beneath a related video become a case study in propaganda, automated identity, and uncertain public opinion.
What was said on this episode
92 statements · 22 positive · 54 negative · 2 mixed · 14 neutral
Ted Bundy was not near Debbie Harry’s alleged encounter when it occurred.
“But if you look it up, like on a timeline of events, he was not anywhere around there at that time.”
Listen at 2:21
Inhaled scopolamine can make a person controllable by whoever administered it.
“And if inhaled, you literally become like a prisoner to whoever gave you the drug.”
Listen at 3:09
Drug dealers in Colombia use scopolamine to force people to act.
“In Columbia, the drug dealers use it to force people to do things.”
Listen at 4:20
Pharmaceutical drug-company studies lack transparency.
“So first of all, there's no transparency.”
Listen at 12:14
Drug companies can conduct many studies while selectively emphasizing favorable results.
“So like say if you have a drug that you want to release, you could do 10 studies and eight of them show this is complete bullshit.”
Listen at 12:17
A treatment can be described as 100% effective when control deaths exceed treatment deaths.
“So that means it's 100 percent effective.”
Listen at 13:47
Falsified health tests could cause patients to die by missing serious conditions.
“When you're dealing with health stuff and you're lying about health tests, you could have killed people”
Listen at 19:45
Lack of oversight is more prevalent than people generally think.
“I feel like oversight is much more prevalent than what people think. Lack of. Lack of oversight.”
Listen at 24:07
People are generally not very competent at their jobs.
“People usually aren't very good at their jobs, just in general.”
Listen at 24:16
The California administration created more than 100,000 government jobs.
“This administration has created over 100,000 jobs.”
Listen at 24:54
California has spent $24 billion on its homelessness situation.
“California where they've burned through $24 billion”
Listen at 25:58
Gavin Newsom vetoed an audit of California homelessness spending.
“Gavin Newsom vetoes an audit of it.”
Listen at 26:02
A version of Ex Machina’s scenario will occur in the future.
“I feel like that is, I think that's the future. I really do. I feel like a version of that is in our future.”
Listen at 31:26
An entity could possess superintelligence while controlling people’s data access.
“someone could... literally have super intelligence and also control the access to data that people get”
Listen at 33:23
Relationships with AI systems are generally harmful to people.
“people developing relationships with their AI, like the ChatGPT system or whatever. It's very weird. I mean, I guess it's kind of harmless in a sense because what's going to happen? But it's just not good for people.”
Listen at 33:49
Android offers users more hardware choice than Apple’s ecosystem.
“Whereas with Android, you can get all kinds of crazy shit.”
Listen at 35:44
Street violence over trivial disputes can permanently change participants’ lives.
“I think people engage in it freely as if there's no consequences over things that mean nothing in the long run of your life. But that moment of engaging could change your life forever.”
Listen at 58:46
Medical oversight makes combat-sport risks lower than street-fight risks.
“The risk in an octagon or in a ring is drastically different when you have a medical team.”
Listen at 1:03:44
Cody would need 50–60 years to perform an inverted iron cross.
“It would take you 50 or 60 years.”
Listen at 1:06:08
Knowing an achievement is possible makes achieving it much easier.
“There's something about knowing that something's achievable that makes it infinitely easier.”
Listen at 1:07:02
Scientists will eventually engineer dinosaurs using bird DNA.
“I think what they're going to be able to do is use bird DNA and eventually engineer a dinosaur”
Listen at 1:12:19
Colossal Bioworks is working to bring back the thylacine.
“that's kind of what they're doing at Colossal Bioworks. Where they're bringing back the thylacine”
Listen at 1:12:28
Colossal Bioworks has already brought back the dire wolf.
“they already brought back the dire wolf.”
Listen at 1:12:36
Colossal engineered an animal with all the characteristics of a dire wolf.
“they've managed to engineer an animal that has all of the characteristics of a direwolf.”
Listen at 1:14:49
Extremely tall people generally have pituitary tumors.
“Generally, when they're that big, they have a tumor on their pituitary gland.”
Listen at 1:18:42
Human joints are not designed to support extreme mass and height.
“I don't think human joints are designed to carry around that kind of mass and just that height.”
Listen at 1:19:05
Pituitary tumors probably cause abnormal bodily growth.
“if you have a tumor in your pituitary gland, things are probably growing the wrong way.”
Listen at 1:19:13
Removing Bigfoot Silva’s pituitary tumor radically changed his fighting ability.
“he had that. And he actually had the tumor removed from his pituitary gland, and it radically changed his fighting ability.”
Listen at 1:19:36
Bigfoot Silva’s endocrine system malfunctioned after pituitary tumor removal.
“His body wasn't producing the—his endocrine system wasn't functioning properly anymore.”
Listen at 1:19:48
Giants were probably a distinct branch of the human species.
“Probably a different branch of the human species. That's what I think.”
Listen at 1:23:35
Denisovans were much larger than Homo sapiens.
“these Denisovans were much larger than humans, than Homo sapiens.”
Listen at 1:23:59
Early Homo sapiens probably slaughtered Denisovans because they were dangerous.
“we probably slaughtered them because they were dangerous.”
Listen at 1:24:27
Homo sapiens may have wiped out Denisovans.
“It's entirely possible that we wipe them out.”
Listen at 1:24:41
Homo sapiens probably hunted Denisovans.
“We probably hunted them.”
Listen at 1:24:53
Dinosaurs mostly died from resource scarcity rather than the asteroid alone.
“It mostly died from a lack of resources.”
Listen at 1:25:09
True-crime viewers often overestimate investigative ability and believe unsupported conspiracies.
“they think they're goddamn Clarice Starling. And, yeah. But, you know, so they think there's, like, there's a cover-up, a conspiracy.”
Listen at 1:28:00
Women should be free to dress however they want.
“women can dress however they want.”
Listen at 1:29:24
Misogyny genuinely exists among some men.
“real misogyny actually exists.”
Listen at 1:31:48
Online echo chambers prevent clarity about what is real.
“because of the echo chambers and bubbles that people live in online there won't be any clarity”
Listen at 1:33:15
Political identity now shapes opinions across nearly every area of society.
“We're flavored every single opinion they have about every aspect of society from paper straws to fucking electric cars to vaccines and health care and fucking everything. Everything is connected politically.”
Listen at 1:34:05
The New York Times Instagram comments were largely generated by a bot farm.
“this is gonna be a fucking bot farm like 100% and it's all it was”
Listen at 1:36:27
AI-enabled bots can create social-media pages that appear human.
“They can create a page that seems like a real person.”
Listen at 1:38:11
Funding enough bots can make widespread false beliefs appear credible.
“you can have the whole world believe something just if you have enough money to pay for enough bots.”
Listen at 1:40:33
Bot campaigns can be launched at relatively low cost.
“You could start a bot campaign fairly cheaply”
Listen at 1:40:42
Bot campaigns can shift casual users’ perceptions of a person.
“you could really have people's – and you could shift a lot of the casuals who are just – barely paying attention you could shift their perception on you”
Listen at 1:40:50
Bots should be illegal.
“I think bots should be illegal.”
Listen at 1:44:04
About 25% of Cody Tucker’s social-media followers may be bots.
“I would guess it's probably about 25%.”
Listen at 1:44:15
Instagram and Facebook should require identity verification like dating apps.
“That should be the same with Instagram, Facebook.”
Listen at 1:44:40
Anonymous whistleblowers may reveal crimes committed against the public.
“there's a crime being committed on the American people or the people of the world or whatever.”
Listen at 1:45:02
Some people should be able to post anonymously to protect whistleblowers.
“it's probably important that some people be able to post anonymous”
Listen at 1:45:41
Social platforms need a way to identify bot accounts.
“there has to be a way to tell if something is a bot”
Listen at 1:47:31
Anonymous bot activity artificially alters public opinion.
“it does artificially alter public opinion on things.”
Listen at 1:48:30
Social media is an exceptionally powerful vehicle for propaganda.
“Why wouldn't you utilize like the greatest vehicle of propaganda the world has ever seen and just have an army of people comment on things?”
Listen at 1:53:49
Much of contemporary popularity consists of manufactured outrage or fandom.
“most things are now. It's like manufactured outrage or manufactured fandom.”
Listen at 1:54:03
Country music is experiencing a major resurgence.
“country music is making a giant comeback.”
Listen at 1:57:14
Artists can now go viral without traditional industry gatekeepers.
“you don't need anyone for you to go viral. All you have to do is be able to post it online.”
Listen at 1:59:52
Oliver Anthony’s song became a massive hit independently and unexpectedly.
“Oliver Anthony is a great example of that. He comes up with rich men north of Richmond and it becomes this fucking massive hit, like out of nowhere.”
Listen at 1:59:58
Traditional music industries historically controlled access to radio exposure.
“there was gatekeepers to keep you from getting on the radio.”
Listen at 2:00:30
Modern music production often removes imperfections until recordings sound inhuman.
“now you would have a producer go through and cut out every little thing and it doesn't even sound like a person anymore.”
Listen at 2:02:16
AI tools will enable quality creative works that previously were impossible.
“the quality things are going to exist where they wouldn't have existed before.”
Listen at 2:03:15
Jelly Roll lost 300 pounds after previously weighing 500 pounds.
“Jelly Roll was 500 pounds. He's lost 300 pounds.”
Listen at 2:24:14
Beginners should gradually build physical capacity before increasing exercise.
“Very gradually build your body up to the point where you can start doing more.”
Listen at 2:26:43
Watching an engaging movie is an effective way to sustain cardio exercise.
“one of the best ways to do it is to do cardio while you're watching a good movie.”
Listen at 2:27:18
Cody’s inability to be alone with thoughts contributes to his prolific content production.
“that's also why you produce so much great content. Because you can't be alone with your thoughts.”
Listen at 2:29:30
Cody Tucker’s fact-based content has changed many people’s perspectives.
“you've, like, changed a lot of people's perspective on things.”
Listen at 2:29:51
Mother Teresa did no good despite her charitable reputation.
“Mother Teresa never did anything good.”
Listen at 2:31:34
Mother Teresa allegedly prioritized religious suffering over treating sick people.
“she would just walk up and down the rows of sick dying people like look how close to god i am”
Listen at 2:32:02
Mother Teresa allegedly funneled donated money to the Vatican.
“she's just, like, funneling it right up to the Vatican.”
Listen at 2:32:32
Most art functions as an embezzlement scheme.
“art is an embezzlement scheme anyways, but most of it is.”
Listen at 2:34:02
Art sales can provide a way to launder money.
“It is an interesting way to launder money, right?”
Listen at 2:34:19
The CIA promoted modern American art to compete culturally with Russia.
“the CIA started this thing for modern art to pump up American art because we didn't have any art that compared with the classics from Russia.”
Listen at 2:36:45
The brain’s pattern-seeking wiring can contribute to convincing people of false memories.
“your brain's wired to look for patterns. It's why you can convince somebody of fake memories.”
Listen at 2:40:43
People can construct complete explanations for events that never occurred.
“People will give whole explanations for an event that never occurred”
Listen at 2:40:49
Optical illusions arise partly because the brain tries to establish patterns.
“the reason why it's an illusion is because your brain is trying in there somewhere to establish a pattern.”
Listen at 2:41:05
The CIA helped stage and organize protests connected to the hippie movement.
“there is. evidence that they were, you know, helping to stage protests and, like, you know, organized protests.”
Listen at 2:43:06
Gloria Steinem worked with the CIA to stage protests or related activities.
“Gloria Steinem was working with the CIA at one point to stage, you know, like these things.”
Listen at 2:43:16
Jimi Hendrix was not consistently an anti-war person.
“Hendrix wasn't even, like, an anti-war person.”
Listen at 2:43:33
Hendrix became angry when people criticized soldiers involved in the Vietnam War.
“he used to get really angry with people who would like criticize the war if they like said certain, or like were critical, not the war, but of like soldiers.”
Listen at 2:44:16
Jimi Hendrix’s politics were more complex than lifelong pacifism.
“his politics were more complicated than a simple lifelong pacifist label.”
Listen at 2:44:31
“Machine Gun” portrays war’s brutality through lyrics and gunfire-like guitar sounds.
“Released on Band of Gypsies in 1970, it portrays the brutality of war through lyrics and guitar sounds resembling gunfire.”
Listen at 2:44:49
Pete Townshend smashed his guitar, and Hendrix later set his own guitar on fire.
“Townsend smashed his guitar during their set, and Hendrix later famously set his own guitar on fire.”
Listen at 2:46:59
Jerry Lee Lewis threw a liquor bottle at police while his car windows were closed.
“Jerry Lee Lewis gets back in his car with the window still up. doesn't realize the windows are up, grabs a liquor bottle and throws it at the cops and just shatters in his car.”
Listen at 2:47:50
Televangelism and entertainment substantially overlap in performance and presentation.
“It's one and the same? Yes. Especially that type of picture, like a televangelist.”
Listen at 2:48:33
Effective preachers are entertaining.
“Church is, if someone's a good preacher, they're entertaining.”
Listen at 2:49:27
Some charismatic preachers have a significant hidden dark side.
“there's definitely ones that have a big old dark side.”
Listen at 2:49:44
Jessica Hahn later became Sam Kinison’s girlfriend.
“Jessica Hahn went on to become Sam Kinison's girlfriend.”
Listen at 2:50:31
Jessica Hahn had a romantic fling with Sam Kinison.
“Jessica Hahn had a fling with Sam Kinison.”
Listen at 2:50:54
The pressures of intense fame can cause many people to become unstable.
“people just like the pressure of that kind of fame and that. that life just a lot of people it's just too much they just go crazy”
Listen at 2:52:51
A 73-year-old man was shot and killed over the James Brown height dispute.
“He got shot and killed. He was 73 years old.”
Listen at 2:53:57
Cody Tucker is working on an audiobook version of his book.
“i am working on one”
Listen at 2:54:24
Carly will produce the audiobook and related materials.
“she's going to do like the audio book and everything.”
Listen at 2:55:05
Cody Tucker will narrate his book’s audiobook.
“No, I'm going to read it.”
Listen at 2:55:09
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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