Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking.
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When Julian Assange released classified footage of a U.S. helicopter strike that killed two journalists and several civilians in 2010, it catapulted WikiLeaks into global headlines. As Assange unleashed a flood of classified documents, he sparked protests, fractured alliances, and ignited a global war over secrecy and truth. But the deeper he dug into the hidden machinery of power, the more isolated—and dangerous—his mission became. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated r...
On March 1, 1954, a Japanese fishing boat called the Lucky Dragon No. 5 was sailing near the Marshall Islands when its crew was caught in the fallout of a secret U.S. hydrogen bomb test. Code named Castle Bravo, the test released far more radiation than scientists had anticipated, contaminating not only the fishermen but nearby islanders, all without warning. Later labelled the “worst nuclear test in U.S. history,” Castle Bravo exposed the recklessness and secrecy at the heart of the Cold War ar...
This episode uncovers two shocking declassified mysteries. First, learn about Operation Popeye, a secret US military program during the Vietnam War that weaponized weather through cloud seeding, leading to unintended environmental and political fallout. Then, delve into "Red Menace," a medical mystery in San Francisco revealed to be a clandestine biological warfare test called Operation Sea Spray, which exposed unwitting citizens to harmful bacteria.
A secretive U.S. government operation to track gun traffickers goes horribly wrong when the weapons end up in the hands of criminals—and are used to kill a Border Patrol agent. As the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives scrambles to cover its tracks, one agent defies orders and risks everything to expose the truth. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Follow Redacted: Declassi...
During World War II, the U.S. Navy made an unthinkable alliance—with the Mafia. Fearing enemy sabotage in New York Harbor, military officials turned to notorious gangster Charles “Lucky” Luciano and his underworld network for help securing the docks against Nazi spies. But what started as a desperate bid to protect America’s shores soon spiraled into a murky web of power, corruption, and secret deals. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign u...
For decades, justice for civil rights leader Medgar Evers remained out of reach. Assassinated in his own driveway in 1963, his killer walked free after two all-white juries refused to convict him. But the story didn’t end there. Nearly 30 years later, long-hidden government documents revealed possible jury tampering, reopening the case and leading to a dramatic trial in which his murderer was finally brought to justice. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendation...
In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French officer, was falsely accused of espionage and sentenced to life in prison on the remote Devil’s Island in French Guiana. As evidence came to light pointing to his innocence, a bitter national debate erupted that would change France forever. Some maintained Dreyfus was guilty, while others, like writer Émile Zola, demanded justice for Dreyfus accusing the military of anti-Semitism, corruption, and cover-up. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podca...
In the early 2000s, undercover ATF agent, Jay Dobyns, infiltrated the infamous Hells Angels motorcycle gang. To gain their trust, Dobyns had to walk the walk—trafficking guns, staging violent attacks, and proving his loyalty in ways that pushed the limits of the law. But when the government unexpectedly pulled the plug on the operation, Dobyns found himself a marked man, hunted by the very outlaws he once called brothers. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendati...
They were charming, brilliant, and deeply embedded in the British establishment — but they were also secretly working for the enemy. Later dubbed the Cambridge Five, this ring of Soviet spies passed government secrets to Moscow right under British Intelligence’s nose for decades. But when two of them suddenly vanished in 1951, suspicions erupted into one of the biggest espionage scandals in history, shaking the British and American intelligence communities to their core. Be the first to know abo...
In 2025, the Trump Administration released long-classified government files about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. At the center of the most obsessed-over murder in American history stands the gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, a man whose life was marked by political radicalization and personal failure. His actions on November 22, 1963 continue to haunt the nation, fueling a range of theories about his involvement. Did the CIA overlook the warning signs? Was Oswald a lone gunman or an un...
Towards the end of WWII, Winston Churchill decided it was time for Britain to develop deadly bioweapons. He chose a remote island off of Scotland where experiments could be carried out away from human contact. But toxic secrets often have a way of resurfacing. Years later, a group of environmental activists called ""Dark Harvest"" would force Britain to confront its contaminated past. The story of Anthrax Island is one of toxic government secrets and environmental reckoning. Be the first to know...
Towards the end of WWII, a rogue group of German conspirators realized what they had to do to protect the future of their country: kill Adolf Hitler. But eliminating the Führer was easier said than done. Dud bombs, botched assassination attempts, and cruel twists of fate spared Hitler’s life again and again. In the end, fake news of his death set the gears of Operation Valkyrie into motion – to deadly results. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and mor...
In Part Two of this two-part series, CIA Director Allen Dules' plan to invade Cuba goes disastrously wrong. Though this political mastermind thinks he has everything under control, he quickly learns that he underestimated the young American President, John F. Kennedy. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Follow Redacted: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana on the Wondery App or wherever yo...
In Part One of this two-part series, the CIA Director and political chessmaster, Allen Dulles, has his eyes set on overthrowing the Cuban Dictator, Fidel Castro. But though Dulles thinks he has every move figured out, he unwittingly puts the pieces in motion for one of the greatest embarrassments in American history. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Follow Redacted: Declassified Mysteries ...
In the early 1950s, the US Air Force launched a top-secret program to investigate reports of UFO sightings and determine whether they posed a national security threat. Dubbed Project Blue Book, the program examined nearly 12,000 accounts of UFO activity before it was shut down and classified in 1969. But as rumors spread about the nature of the investigation, the public began to wonder what the government was hiding. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, ...
After the tragic events of 9/11, Edward Snowden decides to do his patriotic duty and joins the US Military. When he moves up to systems engineer at the CIA, he stumbles across a secret that will change the world forever: the American Government is spying on its citizens. In the end, Snowden is forced to sacrifice everything he holds dear to make America's dark secret public. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm...
In 1960s New York, cop Frank Serpico discovered a brutal truth: his fellow officers were on the take. Gambling dens and drug rings were being secretly protected by the NYPD. When Serpico refused to join in, he became a marked man. His attempts to expose corruption hit wall after wall. Finally, he went public and sparked the biggest police scandal in NYC history. His sacrifice exposed decades of corruption – and nearly cost him his life. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curat...
During the Cold War, the US built a secret underground city 100 feet under Greenland’s ice cap. It was disguised as a research facility but was actually meant as a site to launch missiles at Russia. The project failed and turned into a radioactive wasteland. But in the end, this classified military project accidentally revolutionized climate science. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Follow...
As World War II raged on, America deployed its strangest weapon yet: a fake army. Known as the Ghost Army, this group of artists, architects, and actors used inflatable tanks and sound effects to deceive Hitler’s forces about the size and location of Allied troops on the attack. The Ghost Army's top-secret deception saved thousands of lives - but their story stayed buried for decades. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://...
On the night of his 20th birthday, Tim Foley's world was turned upside down when the FBI stormed his home and arrested his parents. At first, it seemed like a terrible mistake. But soon, he learned the truth—his parents were not an ordinary suburban couple. They were Russian spies living a decades-long lie. Their arrest exposed a vast network of ""sleeper agents"" - spies who had spent years building fake American lives, raising families, and living in plain sight. This is the story of how a per...
In 1972, Alabama farmer Charlie Pollard discovered a horrifying truth. For 40 years, he thought he was getting treatment for syphilis. Instead, he was part of a secret government study. Hundreds of Black men were denied medicine while doctors watched the disease destroy their bodies. The truth about this cruel experiment stayed buried until one whistleblower finally came forward. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wonde...
In the summer of 1776 as war with the British loomed over the American colonies, a shocking betrayal was brewing within General George Washington’s inner circle. His personal bodyguards were secretly plotting to kidnap him and end the revolution before it truly began. As tensions rose in New York, Washington raced to uncover the treachery in his ranks – before it was too late. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery....
President Ronald Reagan faced two major problems in 1981. A Communist revolution had taken hold in Nicaragua. And in Lebanon, militants were holding American hostages. Reagan's team created a secret plan to solve both issues at once. It was highly illegal and it turned into one of the most shocking scandals in American history. The story connects unlikely dots: weapons, hostages, rebels, and lies. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up no...
The Cold War made America desperate for new weapons. The military looked beyond nuclear bombs into chemicals and drugs: LSD and Sarin gas. But first, they needed test subjects. They turned to their own soldiers and turned men into lab rats. Today’s episode explores two stories about these experiments and their lasting effects on the soldiers they treated as guinea pigs. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wond...
In 1979, prosecutor Terry Hake made a bold choice. He agreed to go undercover for the FBI and report on widespread corruption in the Chicago courts. As he navigated a world of bribery and backroom deals, Hake risked everything to take down some of the most powerful figures in Cook County’s justice system. But the deeper he went, the more dangerous his mission became. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wondery...
In 1967, the CIA and Bolivian army joined forces to hunt down revolutionary leader Che Guevara through the Andes mountains. After leaving Cuba, Guevara and a small guerrilla force secretly entered Bolivia, aiming to spark a communist revolution across South America. But as his health failed and local support crumbled, Guevara's final mission — and death — would transform him into a legend. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at htt...
Benjamin Franklin is known for his role as a Founding Father, inventor, and diplomat. But he had another role: spymaster. As the American colonies fought for independence against the British, Franklin traveled to Paris to help win French support. But as it turned out, he was entering a world of deception and intrigue. British spies lurked everywhere. And one of them had the power to sabotage the revolution before it had even begun. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated re...
In the tense months leading up to D-Day, a daring plan was set in motion to mislead the Nazis about where and when the invasion would take place. British intelligence recruited a motley crew of double agents, including a Spanish chicken farmer, a Serbian playboy, and a temperamental Russian-French journalist. As conflicting loyalties, personal grudges, and the weight of history collided, their actions would help determine the fate of one of the largest invasions in history. Be the first to know ...
In 1983, the Cold War escalated to new heights after the Soviet Union mistakenly shot down a passenger jet, Korean Air Flight 007, killing all 269 people on board. Just weeks later, Russian Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov was on duty when the nuclear missile detection system reported an incoming U.S. strike. With Cold War tensions already at a breaking point, Petrov had to decide whether to follow protocol – or launch a retaliatory attack and unleash nuclear war. Be the first to know about W...
In the midst of the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis, six Americans evade capture and hide at the Canadian embassy. Facing imminent discovery, CIA disguise expert Tony Mendez devises an audacious plan: pose the group as a Hollywood film crew scouting locations for a fake sci-fi movie called 'Argo'. This episode details the tense escape attempt, the creation of the elaborate cover story with Hollywood help, and the nail-biting journey through airport security to freedom, revealing the true story behind the Canadian Caper.
