Podcast: Download

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 shorters answers to all kinds of questions. This is Volume 1.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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!).

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

Some people claimed to have died and come back to life and reported 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.

Podcast: Download

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 responsiblity.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

One of the most frquently 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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

Who was the mysterious doctor in 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.

Podcast: Download

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

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.

Podcast: Download

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.