In this standalone episode, I discuss the black legend of the Order of Assassins, a medieval sect of Islam known for their reliance on infiltration and murder who were misrepresented by other Muslims, misunderstood by Crusaders, and mythologized by Europeans, such that now they have become a staple of fantastical historical fiction and the subject of a massive video game franchise. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/historical16 and use code historical16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! Direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected] Visit www.airwavemedia.com to find other high-quality podcasts! Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch, which make perfect gifts!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on Venmo at @HistoricalBlindness. Some music on this episode is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), including "Oneiri," "Remedy for Melancholy," "daedalus," "daemones," and "Plague." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the next leg of my journey through the lore and history behind the Indiana Jones films, I explore the historical reality of Thuggee strangler bandits in 19th-century India and refute the myth that they were a blood cult devoted to the worship of Kali. Go to HelloFresh.com/historical50 and use code historical50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected] Visit www.airwavemedia.com to find other high-quality podcasts! Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch, which make perfect gifts!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on Venmo at @HistoricalBlindness. Some music on this episode is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), including "daemones," "Remedy for Melancholy," "Low Horizon," "Oneiri," "daedalus," "Salue," and "Run." "Adventure Theme" by Adam Monroe was licensed commercially through Pond5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In another volume of my Encyclopedia Grimoria, my occasional episodes on the history and mythology of magic, I look at the development of traditions that the biblical King Solomon was actually a flying-carpet-riding, magic-ring-wielding wizard and alchemist who bound demons to do his will! It's a weird one.  Go to HelloFresh.com/historical60 and use code historical50 for 50% off plus free shipping! And please help the show by completing this short questionnaire: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected] Visit www.airwavemedia.com to find other high-quality podcasts! Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch, which make perfect gifts!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on Venmo at @HistoricalBlindness. Some music on this episode is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), including "daemones," "Remedy for Melancholy," "Seeker," "Global Warming," "Oneiri," "daedalus," and "Cold War Echo." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is the first in a series of standalone episodes exploring the macguffins and historical mysteries of the Indiana Jones films. I'll be doing several of these, not in a row, leading up to the release of the final Indy film this summer.  In this episode, I discuss the legend of the Ark of the Covenant, theories about its possible resting place, and the claims of a variety of hoaxers and pseudoarchaeologists. I hope you enjoy! Go to HelloFresh.com/historical60 and use code historical60 for 60% off plus free shipping! And please help the show by completing this short questionnaire: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected] Visit www.airwavemedia.com to find other high-quality podcasts! Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch, which make perfect gifts!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on Venmo at @HistoricalBlindness. Some music on this episode is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), including "Remedy for Melancholy" and "daemones." Other music, including "Cicle Deserrat" by Cicle Kadde; "Delicates," "Cherry Heath," "Leatherbound," and "Preston and Carle" by Eltham House; "The Gran Dias" by Butterstone; "Palms Down" and "Tarte Tatin" by Confectionery; and "Access Road 442" and "Access Road 214" by Trailhead were licensed through a Blue Dot Sessions blanket license at the time of the episode's publication. "Adventure Theme" by Adam Monroe was licensed commercially through Pond5.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, I talk with expert Dr. Douglas Selvage about the KGB disinformation campaign to convince the world that the U.S. government engineered HIV as a bioweapon and what it can show us about the Covid lab leak hypothesis. Go to HelloFresh.com/historical60 and use code historical60 for 60% off plus free shipping! And please help the show by completing this short questionnaire: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Direct all advertising inquiries to [email protected] Visit www.airwavemedia.com to find other high-quality podcasts! Find a transcript of this episode with source citations and related imagery at www.historicalblindness.com sometime before the release of the next episode. Pledge support on Patreon to get an ad-free feed with exclusive episodes! Check out my novel, Manuscript Found!  And check out the show merch, which make perfect gifts!  Further support the show by giving a one-time gift at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or finding me on Venmo at @HistoricalBlindness. Some music on this episode is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), including "Remedy for Melancholy." Other music, including "Cicle DR Valga" and "Cicle Deserrat" by Cicle Kadde; "Voyager," "Delicates," "Cherry Heath," "Temperance," "Leatherbound," and "Silent Ocean" by Eltham House; "The Gan Dias" and "Brer Krille" by Butterstone; "Lick Stick" by Nursery; "The Crisper" by Confectionery; and "Curio" by Vacant Distillery were licensed through Blue Dot Sessions blanket license at the time of the episode's publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices