Episode 30: The Great Flood with Pedro Mendes
Not satisfied with small floods or even big floods? How about a great flood? Polymathic Canadian Pedro Mendes returns to the show to help Toby and Brandon bail water on the Ancient Aliens episode “The Great Flood” (S9:E8). Yes, we’ve got Gilgamesh. Yes, fallen angels once again seduce “our girls.” Yes, there are microbeads. No, it’s still not clear how it all fits together. But we don’t want God or aliens or whoever to wash us away again, so board the ark with the FAILiens gang and float to safety.
Episode 32: The Age of Disclosure with Keith Kloor, Part 1
What is “The Age of Disclosure” and why is legacy media so obsessed with it? Toby and Brandon venture into a space that’s slightly less ancient, but no less alien, than Ancient Aliens as they dig into the new documentary by Dan Farah, The Age of Disclosure. With the help of investigative journalist Keith Kloor, we ask why so many government figures are so gaga for UFOs, why everyone from The New York Times to CNN is so uncritically gaga for the documentary, and why “Disclosure” is now mainstream enough to include Steven Spielberg and the Epstein Files. Turn off your nuclear missiles and tune in.
Episode 33: Special Report: The Age of Disclosure: Disclosings with Keith Kloor, Part 2
Part two of Brandon and Toby’s discussion with journalist Keith Kloor about the new documentary, The Age of Disclosure. In this episode, we discuss Lu Elizondo and The Observables (not a band, alas), the time Keith made Lu sad, and bubbles that warp both space and time. Plus, the culinary delights of roadkill.
Episode 34: The Death and Ancient Life of Erich von Daniken
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the godfather of ancient astronaut theory, Erich Von Daniken, died at the age of 90. In this episode, Toby and Brandon look at EVD’s life, from his time as a hotelier and embezzler to the successes of Chariots of the Gods and its sequels, to the final form of ancient astronaut theory: Ancient Aliens. We look at the ups and downs, the dubious claims, and the short-lived theme park that was not as exciting as the Alps.
Episode 35: Chariots of the Gods with John Hodgman, Part 1
What if the entities that ancient peoples called gods were in fact aliens? Mind blown, right? It all started with Chariots of the Gods, the book by Erich von Daniken and then the film based on that book. Comedian John Hodgman joins Brandon and Toby to discuss the movie version and so much more. Witness the birth of the gods-were-aliens weirdness as the ancient astronaut theorists did, with B-roll and goofy ’70s music.
Episode 36: Chariots of the Gods with John Hodgman, Part 2
Brandon and Toby are joined by John Hodgman for part two of their look at Chariots of the Gods, the movie made from the Erich von Daniken book that started the Ancient Aliens craze. Huge desert drawings in Peru! Questionable use of drinking water during a desert expedition! Synths!
Episode 37: The Genius Factor with Matt Frederick
Are we humans really smart enough to come up with the GENIUS STUFF? Ancient astronaut theorists have their doubts, and, despite themselves, stumble upon some interesting ideas. Toby and Brandon are joined by Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know host Matt Frederick in a wide-ranging discussion that’s sort of about the Ancient Aliens episode “The Genius Factor” (S9: E4). We have Hammurabi’s thoughts on divorce, a repository of all the wisdom of humans or perhaps the universe, and mushrooms that make you see elves!
Episode 39: X Files and Jose Chung’s From Outer Space
Was there a more iconic duo in the ’90s than Fox Mulder and Dana Scully? Toby and Brandon don’t think so, and they’re talking about The X Files, perhaps the most popular television series about UFOs and the paranormal. They discuss the beloved episode “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space” (S3:E20), a comedic nesting doll of UFO tropes and tales starring Hollywood Squares legend Charles Nelson Reilly.
Episode 41: Bugonia with Gabby Lombardo
Is your boss an alien? Probably not out of the question, right? Anyway, Jesse Plemons thinks his boss is an alien and decides the best course of action is to kidnap her (this is not an endorsement). Toby and Brandon are joined by journalist, podcaster, and FAILiens producer Gabby Lombardo to talk about the new Yorgos Lanthimos movie Bugonia. If you’re considering getting your hair cut in a moving car, watch this film first!