The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast

The TLB Podcast – Deep Dives into Art & Creativity, Conspiracies, and Culture The TLB Podcast, hosted by James Oliva, invites listeners on unconventional explorations through obscure history, emergent technology, conspiracy narratives, art & creativity, esoteric traditions, and plenty of ethically charged existential dilemmas. From the inner workings of secretive agencies and speculative science to alternative healing and societal myths, each weekly episode blends thoughtful curiosity with diverse perspectives and a golf ball sized understanding of reality. Subscribe to unravel hidden threads, question narratives, and blend critical inquiry with imaginative discovery.

The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast is a arts podcast hosted by James Oliva, with 173 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

James Oliva hosts The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast, a arts show with 173 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #176

  The Disappearance of Ronald Tammen: MKULTRA, Hypnosis & the CIA | Jenny Wenger | Episode 176

  Sep 20, 20261h 47m

  In 1953, a college student walked out of his dorm room and seemingly vanished. More than 70 years later, newly uncovered records raise a much stranger question: what was the U.S. government doing with hypnosis at the time? On Episode 176 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Jenny Wenger, the researcher behind RonaldTammen.com, to examine the mysterious 1953 disappearance of Miami University student Ronald Tammen — and the evidence that has led her investigation into the murky world of Cold War intelligence, hypnosis, and government mind-control experiments. Ron disappeared from his dorm room in Oxford, Ohio, leaving behind his belongings and a mystery that has remained unresolved for more than 70 years. Jenny walks through the original timeline, witness accounts, inconsistencies surrounding the investigation, and the archival records she's uncovered while trying to determine what actually happened to him. The investigation intersects with Project ARTICHOKE, MKULTRA, CIA hypnosis research, the FBI, military intelligence, Hughes Aircraft, James McCord, and eventually even Watergate. Jenny explains the documents and unusual file markings behind these connections, while separating what the historical record actually establishes from the theories that remain unresolved. The larger question eventually becomes bigger than one missing college student. How do you solve a historical mystery when the institutions that might possess the answer spent decades operating programs specifically designed to remain secret? Basically: a missing student, hypnosis experiments, MKULTRA, the CIA, Watergate... and a paper trail that somehow keeps making a 70-year-old disappearance more complicated instead of less. Support the Show Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s Connect with Jenny’s Website → https://ronaldtammen.com/ Chapters 00:00 – The Mysterious Disappearance of Ronald Tammen 02:25 – How Jenny Discovered the Mystery 04:23 – The Disappearance and Early Theories 06:59 – Miami University and the Case 08:07 – CIA Mind-Control Programs 10:14 – Timeline Discrepancies and Witnesses 11:46 – Declassified Documents and Missing Records 15:21 – Psychological Explanations for the Disappearance 19:18 – Redactions, Censorship, and Government Records 23:18 – Project ARTICHOKE and MKULTRA 29:55 – Where the Investigation Stands Today 36:23 – Key Figures in Cold War Experiments 45:09 – FOIA Requests and Newly Uncovered Documents 50:13 – Military and CIA Connections 01:05:00 – The Mysterious 1973 Fingerprint Lead 01:17:40 – Hughes Aircraft and the CIA 01:20:55 – James McCord and the Shared File Stamps 01:27:06 – The Fight to Unseal Federal Records 01:38:04 – Institutional Secrecy and Accountability 01:42:39 – Refining the Evidence and Writing the Book #RonaldTammen #MKULTRA #CIA #ProjectArtichoke #ColdCase #MindControl #Hypnosis #TrueCrime #GovernmentSecrets #TheTLBPod Support the show Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #175

  True Crime, Conspiracy & the Cases the Internet Gets Wrong | Qenny, The Spooky Lawyer | Episode 175

  Sep 13, 20261h 40m

  Everyone on the internet can investigate crimes now. As it turns out, giving millions of people unlimited access to information did not necessarily make us all detectives. On Episode 175 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Qenny, The Spooky Lawyer, for a conversation about true crime, conspiracy theories, internet investigations, and what happens when complicated criminal cases get handed over to millions of amateur detectives. They get into Qenny's background in law, his fascination with darker subjects, and how legal training changes the way he approaches true crime, conspiracy theories, and internet mysteries. They also explore research, sourcing, misinformation, clickbait, and why the most exciting explanation for a case isn't necessarily the one best supported by evidence. The conversation failures and limitations within law and criminal enforcement, and why the popular image of the lone criminal doesn't always capture the complexity surrounding real cases. They also dig into several heavily debated cases, including Scott Peterson, John Wayne Gary, and Lindsay Clancy, examining how evidence, psychology, law, and public opinion can produce radically different interpretations of the same events. They conversation debates what social media has done to true crime itself — where criminal cases can become entertainment, algorithms reward certainty over nuance, and thousands of strangers can collectively decide they've solved a case before the legal system has finished dealing with it. Basically: infamous crimes, conspiracy theories, internet detectives... and the increasingly difficult task of separating what actually happened from what makes a really good TikTok. Support the Show Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s Connect with Qenny’s Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/qennythespookylawyer/ Qenny’s TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thespookylawyer Qenny’s X → https://x.com/TheSpookyLawyer Qenny’s YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpookyLawyer Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to The Spooky Lawyer 02:45 – The Fascination with Dark Topics 06:00 – Becoming a True Crime Content Creator 08:52 – A Lawyer's Perspective on True Crime 12:12 – Researching the Unexplained 15:07 – Clickbait, Media, and Criminal Cases 17:54 – Debunking Conspiracy Theories 21:05 – Originality in True Crime Storytelling 23:58 – Fighting Misinformation Online 26:53 – Where Law and Media Collide 30:11 – Legal Analysis and Internet Investigation 33:33 – Fame, Crime, and Conspiracy 39:46 – The Mysteries Surrounding John Wayne Gacy 45:55 – Law Enforcement and Serial Crime 51:41 – The Myth of the Lone Criminal 57:10 – Networks of Predators and Victims 01:06:22 – When Crime Becomes Conspiracy 01:12:00 – Nolan Wells and Lindsay Clancy 01:19:49 – Scott Peterson and the Menendez Brothers 01:25:51 – Social Media's Impact on Criminal Cases 01:34:40 – The Future of True Crime #TrueCrime #ConspiracyTheories #CriminalJustice #InternetMysteries #LegalAnalysis #JohnWayneGacy #MenendezBrothers #ScottPeterson #SpookyLawyer #TheTLBPod Support the show Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #174

  Ghost Hunting Technology: The Science Behind EMF Meters, Spirit Boxes & EVPs | Michael Pridmore | Episode 174

  Sep 6, 20261h 10m

  Ghost hunters use EMF meters, spirit boxes, infrared cameras, and digital recorders to search for evidence of the paranormal. There's just one problem: none of them were designed to detect ghosts. On Episode 174 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Michael Pridmore to take a scientific look at the technology behind modern ghost hunting — and whether any of it actually does what paranormal investigators think it does. They break down some of the most recognizable tools of paranormal investigation, examining what these devices were originally designed to measure and how they eventually became associated with detecting ghosts. They also explore the psychological side of paranormal investigation, including pareidolia, confirmation bias, and the human tendency to find meaningful patterns in ambiguous information. But this episode isn't really an argument about whether ghosts exist. It's a much narrower question about evidence. If a device wasn't designed to detect paranormal activity, what can we actually conclude when it starts flashing, producing words, or making noises inside an allegedly haunted building? Support the Show Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s Connect with Michael’s Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelpridmost/ Chapters 00:00 – Ghost Hunting Devices and Paranormal Myths 00:15 – The Technology Behind Ghost Hunting 00:43 – Why Ghost Content Is So Popular 00:58 – Common Ghost Hunting Devices 01:22 – How EMF Readers and Spirit Boxes Work 01:23 – Do Paranormal Devices Actually Work? 01:50 – Pareidolia and Confirmation Bias 02:12 – Using Faraday Bags to Block Signals 02:18 – Consumer Electronics Turned into Ghost Detectors 02:19 – Could We Actually Build a Ghost Detector? 02:23 – Initial Thoughts 02:34 – EMF Meters and Infrared Cameras 04:54 – The Science Behind EVP Recordings 08:09 – Pareidolia and Cognitive Bias in Ghost Hunting 11:10 – The Evolution of Paranormal Technology 14:30 – Debunking Spirit Boxes and Word Generators 17:49 – Audio and Video Manipulation 21:03 – What Are These Devices Actually Detecting? 24:32 – The Business of Paranormal Technology 27:04 – Critical Thinking and Paranormal Investigation #GhostHunting #Paranormal #GhostHuntingTechnology #SpiritBox #EMF #EVP #ParanormalInvestigation #Skepticism #MichaelPridmore #TheTLBPod Support the show Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #173

  Social Engineering, Internet Psychosis & the Battle for Truth | Adam Roesner | Episode 173

  Aug 30, 20261h 7m

  The internet was supposed to give everyone access to information. Instead, we may have created a system where nobody can agree on what's real. On Episode 173 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Adam Roesner of Influence Engineering for a conversation about social media, psychological manipulation, and the increasingly difficult task of figuring out what is actually true anymore on the internet. They get into the psychology behind social engineering, frame control, identity, and influence, including how techniques that were once the domain of advertising, propaganda, and psychological operations have become part of the everyday machinery of the internet. Adam breaks down some of the tactics people encounter online and how recognizing them can help us become slightly less willing participants in our own manipulation. The conversation also explores internet psychosis, information overload, misinformation, and the collapse of shared reality — what happens when everyone has access to unlimited information, everyone can become a broadcaster, and algorithms increasingly determine which version of reality lands in front of us. We also get existential with a bit of spirituality, good and evil, and whether the battle for human attention might have implications beyond selling us things and keeping us scrolling. Basically: social engineering, algorithms, psychological manipulation, spiritual warfare... and the increasingly reasonable desire to occasionally turn your phone off and go outside. Support the Show Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s Connect with Adam Roesner & Influence Engineering Influence Engineering’s TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@influenceengineering Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Adam Roesner 01:12 – Social Media and the Influence Landscape 01:34 – Adam's Journey into Content Creation 04:16 – The Psychology Behind Influence 07:36 – Internet Psychosis and Information Overload 09:56 – Searching for Truth in the Misinformation Age 12:25 – The Rise of Digital Influence 14:07 – Authenticity and Getting Back to Nature 16:15 – The Explosion of Content Creators 20:23 – Social Engineering as a Tool for Influence 24:27 – Frame Control and Identity 26:25 – Manipulation and Binary Framing 29:00 – The Spiritual and Esoteric Battle for Influence 37:26 – Good, Evil, and Spiritual Warfare 43:59 – The Collapse of Objective Reality 50:51 – Have We Reached the Point of No Return? 01:05:23 – Digital Detox and Mental Clarity 01:08:24 – Final Thoughts #SocialEngineering #SocialMedia #InternetPsychosis #Psychology #Misinformation #InformationWarfare #DigitalInfluence #Manipulation #AdamRoesner #TheTLBPod Support the show Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #171

  Songwriting, Music Production & UFO Disclosure | These Nights | Episode 171

  Aug 9, 20261h 16m

  What have “These Nights” been up to since their last appearance? On Episode 171 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Daniel Oglesby and Dave Gashaw of These Nights for a conversation about songwriting, remote collaboration, music production, and the surprisingly natural detour into UFOs, disclosure, and the future of humanity. They break down the creative process behind their latest single "Open Letter," including how they produced its puppet-driven music video remotely, and the happy accidents that shaped the song, exploring the songwriting, production techniques, mixing, and the realities of creating music when your band isn't always in the same room. Things eventually go off the rails in the best possible way, as discussion shifts into UFO disclosure, government secrecy, consciousness, and humanity's future, exploring why conversations around extraterrestrial life have become increasingly mainstream and how those ideas intersect with creativity, curiosity, and culture. Basically: songwriting, music production, UFOs, remote collaboration... and the kind of conversation that starts with synthesizers and somehow ends with aliens. Support the Show Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s Connect with These Nights YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@thesenightsCO Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thesenightsco/ LinkTree → https://linktr.ee/thesenightsCO Dave’s Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/devastatin_dave/ Daniel’s Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/danie10513581/ Chapters 00:00 – Daniel Oglesby & Dave Gashaw Return 01:20 – Behind the "Open Letter" Music Video 03:30 – Making a Puppet Music Video Remotely 06:36 – Writing "Open Letter" 09:08 – Musical Influences and Production Style 12:00 – Happy Accidents in Songwriting 15:22 – Songwriting Workflow 18:40 – Mixing and Editing Techniques 22:30 – Video Editing vs Audio Production 23:34 – Watching the Finished Music Video 27:42 – Future Creative Projects 28:50 – Production Details and Synth Layering 37:31 – Remote Collaboration in Modern Music 41:26 – UFO Disclosure Discussion 50:17 – Government Secrecy and Corporate Negligence 01:00:11 – Consciousness and Humanity's Future 01:14:20 – Hope, Creativity, and What's Next 01:15:55 – Closing Thoughts #TheseNights #MusicProduction #Songwriting #MusicVideo #RemoteCollaboration #UFODisclosure #Creativity #IndependentMusic #TheTLBPod Support the show Patreon Tiktok Instagram YouTube

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.