We're celebrating our first 100 episodes with updates on the some of the mysterious topics we've discussed, as well as hearing your feedback on the podcast and what it means to you. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli want to thank the listeners for their support in our first 2 years and look forward to many more shows.

From 1973 to 1982, a Japanese religious sister reported receiving messages from an angel and the Virgin Mary as well as a serious miraculous events. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the mystery of Our Lady of Akita, what happened, whether it was supernatural, and its connection to Fatima.

Every day, creatures all over the world just shut down, lose consciousness, and then start back up again hours later and science still isn't sure why it happens. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of sleep, why it's necessary, and how we can get more of this precious commodity.

Federal agents stormed a religious commune in Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993 after a months-long siege, leaving dozens dead. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli are back to consider the allegations of government misconduct, coverup, and conspiracy; examine the evidence; and seek the truth of what happened.

The Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, came to a tragic end 26 years ago this month, leaving more than 70 men, women, and children dead. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore who the Branch Davidians were, what David Koresh believed, whether those deaths could have been avoided, and what's the truth about the Waco siege.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli to answer their questions and make them available exclusively to them first and then later to the whole audience in a special bonus release.

Continuing their discussion of reincarnation, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the Bridey Murphy case to see if her memories match the historical record and can't be explained in a natural way, then examine what the faith perspective has to say about past lives.

Reincarnation has been a part of many cultures for millennia and became popular in America in the 1950s due to one dramatic story. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claims about reincarnation, the evidence proffered for it, and the 1950s Bridey Murphy craze.

Outside Detroit in August 1994, teenage Boy Scout David Hahn was discovered to have gathered a dangerous cache of radioactive materials. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore why David was stockpiling these materials, how he got his hands on them, and how the adults in his family and in authority reacted when they found out.

A dangerous chemical known since ancient times has developed a bizarre health craze around it and many health gurus say everyone needs to consume this acid. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore its history, its dangers, and a government conspiracy to put it in our water supply.

People have believed in werewolves since time immemorial with tales of human beings transforming either physically or behaviorally. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what we know of these accounts, where they come from, and whether there's any truth to legends of lycanthropy.

In this special episode, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli give a brief update on how they'll be handling the topic of the coronavirus pandemic on the show and give brief faith and reason perspectives.

More than 3,000 years ago, a conspiracy was launched against the most powerful man on Earth, the Egyptian pharaoh. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore who the conspirators were, what they were trying to accomplish, and what dark arts they used in their plot.

Does our solar system contain a dramatic secret object, a hidden second star that has caused the destruction of countless life forms on Earth? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the Nemesis death star theory and whether it's responsible for a regular cycle of mass extinction on Earth.

Genesis 6 mentions a group called the Nephilim and their identity has puzzled scholars for thousands of years. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the theories that they are angels or aliens or even something else, then ask what Genesis 6 is trying to say.

In 1977, two Air Force medics had a frightening encounter while camping in an Arkansas state park named Devil's Den. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli consider their dramatic account and physical symptoms and discuss whether this was an authentic UFO encounter and what the government might know.

Five men from Yuba City, California, disappeared in 1978 after a trip to a nearby town. Four of them died, perhaps months later, and 1 was never found. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the bizarre circumstances, how any of them survived for so long before dying, and what actually happened to them.

God has made Himself known throughout history, but after the Bible something changed in the way He does that. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the different kinds of revelations, how we can tell which are credible and which aren't, and what it means when the Church approves an apparition.

Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein revolutionized physics and our understanding of the universe with the fundamental laws of gravity. But in 1933 scientists noticed the galaxies were not behaving the way they should. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the theories to explain why, including the mysterious dark matter and dark energy.

It's a fifth Friday of the month, so Jimmy Akin is answering more weird questions, including teleporting the Eucharist, parallel universes, ghost haunting, resurrecting space colonists, angels appearing as dogs and cats, and more.

In AD 41, the Roman emperor Caligula was killed by his own guards, ending the rule of an uncontrollable mad tyrant. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of whether the stories of Caligula were true, what led to his death, and what mysterious connection he might have to the Bible and prophecy.

People have reported being abducted by aliens for decades and in some cases have discovered inexplicable metal objects in their bodies after. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what these objects are, where they come from, what their purpose is, and whether they provide proof of alien contact.

Since the beginning of history, people have offered many explanations for how the world works, including religion, magic, psychic phenomena, and science. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli sort out what these terms mean now and historically and how faith and reason approaches each.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli to answer their questions and make them available exclusively to them first and then later to the whole audience in a special bonus release. This time, we have a very broad range of questions.

The 1982 book Holy Blood, Holy Grail claimed a secret conspiracy to control the future of Europe would undermine the Bible and the Christian faith. It would eventually be the basis for the Da Vinci Code. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at what the book said and whether any of its claims could be true.

It's time for more weird questions with Jimmy Akin, including this time new books in the Bible; Heaven on another planet; impeaching the Pope; time travel & the Eucharist; marrying aliens; zombie apocalypses; and more.

The Bible says, that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men (or in Greek, "magi") came from the East to find Him. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of who these magi were; whether they were kings; if there was just three of them; what a magi was; and they knew to come look for Jesus.

When strange objects appeared over Colares, Brazil in 1977, locals were terrified as light rays from the UFOs struck and injured people on the ground and some even died. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask what happened, what the investigations said, and what the objects could have been.

On Dec. 1, 1948, an unknown man died on a beach in Somerton, South Australia and in his pocket was a piece of paper with the words "tamám shud." Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what it could mean, why the man's identity is still unknown, and why the mystery may be solved soon.

In months with five Fridays, we bring you a “Weird Questions” edition of Catholic Answers Live where Jimmy Akin gives shorter answers to all kinds of questions, including this time stopping your zombie self, disembodied brains, no more souls, afterlife in another universe, and more.

On November 28, 1953, Dr. Frank Olson plummeted to his death from a New York City hotel room window. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the mystery of his death. Was it an accident as his family was told? Or did it have something to do with the CIA, biowarfare, LSD, and murder?

A lot has happened since Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli first discussed AATIP and the US Navy UFO videos in Spring 2019, so Jimmy offers here a roundup of news including claims of amazing futuristic inventions, the President's remarks on UFOs, and more.

For centuries, many people believed a woman had once been pope and the tale of Pope Joan has had a recent resurgence. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the origins of the story, its common details, its plausibility, and what the faith has to say about the possibility.

In the ancient world, many people believed the Earth is flat and today some still believe that it is a flat disc. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli give a fair and balanced exploration of the arguments and evidence for a flat earth and for a globe earth and offer a solution to this mystery.

After WWI, a mysterious new kind of radio station appeared that transmitted only numbers. Those stations have been with us ever since. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the mysterious stations, asking who started them, what they're for, and what is their mysterious message.

Famed aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific as she neared the end of her record-breaking, round-the-world flight in 1937. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Earhart's background and celebrity and then consider the theories for what caused Amelia and her navigator to vanish without a trace.

In the second of a two-part discussion of the Third Secret of Fatima, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the theories about the secret, whether it was really released in full in 2000; what it really means; and whether it was fulfilled already.

In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal, giving them a three-part secret. The third remained secret and speculation ran wild, until it was made public in 2000. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about the history, the speculation, and the disputes.

As a thanks to our Patrons, Jimmy and Dom every so often ask for their mysterious question and Jimmy provides his answers on a variety of topics. This special episode was exclusive for patrons for a limited time and is now available to our general audience.

Finishing their discussion of the first modern, well-known UFO abduction case, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli evaluate the evidence surrounding the Betty and Barney Hill incident and Jimmy reveals what he thinks really happened.

Fifty-eight years ago, a New England couple was driving home when they sighted something strange in the sky, an event which eventually made Betty and Barney Hill the first widely reported UFO abduction. In the first of two episodes, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli review the evidence regarding their experience.

In 1846, two French children reported an apparition of the Virgin Mary, who gave them warnings for the world and secrets for the children. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the approval of the apparition by the local bishop and the controversy that has continued to this day.

Mind-control parasites have been a staple of science fiction for decades. But Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli reveal that not only do they exist in real life, they sometimes affect humans!

In the midst of WWII, the people of Mattoon, Illinois, were terrorized by a madman using gas to disable his victims. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine this 75-year-old unsolved mystery and the theories about it, and then offer up a dramatic twist to the story you may not expect.

In months with five Fridays, we bring you a “Weird Questions” edition of Catholic Answers Live where Jimmy Akin gives shorter answers to all kinds of questions, including this time whether a virus has a soul; praying to John Wayne; video game morality; cloning unicorns; and the Mandela effect.

As an order of warrior-monks, the Knights Templar defended Christians in the Holy Land. But for 700 years, all kinds of rumors and theories of shocking crimes and secrets have surrounded them. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss those theories and claims that the Knights are still among us.

Jimmy has an urgent message for listeners to Mysterious World. We need your help right now. Please listen to this brief recording and then visit sqpn.com/give today. Thank you.

If intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe and we encounter it, what would be the implications for the Christian faith? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what religious views aliens might hold, whether we should evangelize them or if they'd need it, and whether they could even become Christians.

50 years ago, Charles Manson's "family" committed the murders that made him infamous. Why did he do it? Greed? An insane plot to end the world? Or was there another more pedestrian reason? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the evil events and the theories surrounding them (without getting into the gruesome details.)

In 1974, the Betz family found a strange metal sphere in the woods near their home which exhibited numerous unusual behaviors. Jimmy and Dom look at the media reports, investigations, and sinister doings that followed before it disappeared from public view for nearly 50 years.

People have been fascinated by hypnosis for centuries and it's claimed it can stop smoking, help you lose weight, and even surface memories of childhood trauma, past lives, and alien abductions. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the claims to determine what's true and what's not.

Every year in mid-July, a group of politicians, businessmen, and artists gather at a private campground in California. Critics claim they are a sinister conspiracy. Jimmy and Dom examine their origins, their practices, and their membership and discuss whether it's sinister or just a party in the woods.

Joseph Smith reported receiving divine revelations in the early 1800s, and eventually became the founder of the Mormon religion and his prophecies now influence the lives of millions. Jimmy and Dom consider the evidence concerning Smith's claims to be a prophet.

On July 8, 1947, the Air Force announced a flying saucer crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, and then retracted the story. Was it an alien? Was it a weather balloon? Or was it something else? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claims and evidence for what happened in Roswell.

As a thanks to our Patrons, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli asked for their mysterious questions and Jimmy provided his answers on a variety of topics. This special episode was exclusive for patrons for a limited time and is now available to our general audience.

A group of international movers & shakers called the Bilderberg Group have been meeting every year since 1954. Many attendees won't acknowledge they went or even know of it. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claims that accuse them of being a global conspiracy for a one-world government.

On June 24, 1947, pilot Kenneth Arnold saw something odd in the skies of Washington state. When he landed, he touched off the modern era of UFO sightings. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the theories of what he saw and eliminate them all, until only one remains.

In 1912, a rare book written in an unknown alphabet containing bizarre illustrations was revealed by Wilfrid Voynich and despite decades of effort, it has never been deciphered. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the theories for what it is, including very recent claims made about the book.

A very religious man in Tennessee named John Hendrix made some remarkable prophecies in 1915 after experiencing tragedy and turning to God. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Hendrix, his startling prophecies that concerned his hometown, the US, and the whole world, and how they apparently came true in some cases decades later.

In months with five Fridays, we bring you a "Weird Questions" edition of Catholic Answers Live where Jimmy Akin gives shorter answers to all kinds of questions, including this time whether the pope can bless an ocean, self-driving cars and the trolley problem, and Medieval UFO art.

King Tut is one of the most famous pharaohs of Egypt, but a mystery surrounds his death, including being wiped from history for 3,300 years. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Tutankhamun's life and death and power politics to compare with the Game of Thrones.

The US government began studying UFOs starting in 1947, but we thought those investigations ended in the 70s. Until we learned a new program began in 2007. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss AATIP and the remarkable admissions about just what they're studying.

In May 1917, three children in Fatima, Portugal, reported being visited by the Virgin Mary and those visions occurred until October. They also said she gave them three secrets and would perform a great miracle. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss this mystery of Fatima.

Since Denver International Airport opened in 1994, numerous sinister conspiracy theories have popped up about mysterious goings-on. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the conspiracies and the evidence cited to see if there's more than just airplanes coming and going at DIA.

A year ago, police announced they'd caught the notorious Golden State Killer using an entirely new method. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the decades-long hunt for the killer and why the mmethod used may make it harder for other criminals to get away with their crimes.

Easter is a holy day for billions of people where we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. But is belief in the resurrection just a matter of faith or is there evidence for it? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the theories for what happened that first Easter.

A mysterious ranch in southeast Utah, where numerous unexplained weird phenomena have occurred that has scientist study them. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Skinwalker Ranch, the incredible stories of bizarre events and what their source could be.

Of all the Dead Sea Scrolls, one stands out because it's made of copper and contains directions for finding a huge secret cache of treasure. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about the origins of the scroll, what it says, and Jimmy's own unique theory for why it exists.

In 1977, a British science program provided claims of shocking government conspiracies, a secret space program, a hidden colony on Mars. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss this decades-old mystery and its astonishing revelations.

We do four episodes of Mysterious World per month, but when there's a fifth Friday, with the permission of Catholic Answers, we'll bring you "Weird Questions" editions of Catholic Answers Live where Jimmy Akin gives shorter answers to all kinds of questions. This is Volume 1.

The Russian woodpecker was a mysterious radio signal that began in 1976, originating in the Soviet Union and heard around the world. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss its purpose, its connection to Chernobyl, and why it suddenly stopped. 

Adolf Hitler may have been the most sinister figure of the 20th century. His ideology of war and racism led to millions of deaths. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine what Hitler's views on religion were, including many claims about them, and whether his views played a role in his actions.

On a March night in 1997, thousands of people saw a strange formation of lights over Arizona. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the theories, claims, and counter-claims to sort out what happened and perhaps to find a plausible explanation.

Time travel is a staple of science fiction, but it is really possible? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the mystery of time travel, the theories, the objections, and what the Catholic faith has to say about it (and it does!).

Thirty-three centuries ago, Egypt was ruled by a strange, heretic pharaoh who upended Egyptian society. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the mysteries surrounding the pharoah some call the first monotheist in history, Akhenaten.

Some people claim to have died and come back to life and report strange experiences of life after death. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the claims, the scientific evidence, and the implications for faith of these near-death experiences.

After more than than 40 years, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa stills has a hold on the popular imagination. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the mystery of the disappearance of this former Teamster boss and the purported confession of the man  who claimed responsibility.

Do parallel universes exists and if they do what implications do they have for us, for God, and for the problem of evil? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli tackle this mystery and discuss some unusual theories about the multiverse.

One of the most frequently requested topics has been the mystery of Dyatlov Pass. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss what happened on the cold Siberian night in 1959 when 10 highly experienced Russian hikers died under mysterious circumstances.

Humans have always looked up and wondered what effect the stars have on our lives. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at astrology and the claims that influences our lives and provides glimpses of the future and what Christians have believed about it historically.

In 1989, Bob Lazar claimed he was employed at Area 51 to reverse-engineer UFO engines. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Lazar's claims, including a new documentary in which Lazar says the government is still trying to silence him.

What's so mysterious about weight loss? Given the American obession with dieting even as we're more obese than ever, evidently plenty. Jimmy Akin shares his own story and the science behind the way our bodies are designed to lose weight, rather than the way we've been doing it.

Did you know about the lost planet Vulcan? Not Mr. Spock's planet nor the explanet around the star 40 Eridani, but one right here in our solar system. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the claims that such a planet exists between Mercury and the Sun and the evidence for and against.

Christmas is December 25, but was that the actual date Jesus was born? Some claim evidence from the Bible and temple rituals. Other say evidence from the Bible show it isn't or that it was just a co-opting of a pagan festival. Does it even matter? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the claims and counter-claims about what we can and can't prove about when Jesus was born.

Who was the mysterious doctor in the 1960s who dosed celebrities and even a president with his outlandish concoctions? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the story of Max Jacobson, Dr. Feelgood, and how he affected the JFK presidency.

Some serious people think we could be part of gigantic Matrix-style computer simulations. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss whether its philosophically or scientifically possible and, if it were true, would it matter to us on a partical or theological level?

In the first century, Jesus’ most famous prophecy—other than his own death and resurrection—was that the Jewish temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. And it was. But was the prophecy fulfilled? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the claims and counter-claims about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.

Was there more than one gunman? Didn't two different government commissions come to different conclusions? What do we really know about the JFK assassination? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli take a high-level look at the JFK assassination, the mysteries and conspiracy theories, and the evidence to conclude either that Oswald acted alone or there were others involved.

The nation of Israel originally had 12 tribes, but at a certain point 10 were taken into captivity and became "lost." Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the claims and counterclaims about what happened to them, then look at the evidence from both Jewish and Christian traditions as well as historical records and DNA evidence.

Separating fact from science fiction, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss cloning, what it is and isn't, its suprisingly long history, the moral implications, and future prospects.