In 1999, the United States government faced a terrifying new national security threat.

A Furby.

Yes, THAT Furby.

Welcome to The Rumor Mill, a special November edition of the Average Joe Nerdcast! While Mondays are dedicated to the wild world of internet conspiracy theories with CTRL + ALT + DELUSION, Thursdays are taking us back to the playgrounds, computer labs, and chain emails of the '90s and early 2000s to investigate the ridiculous rumors we all somehow heard growing up.

And we're starting with a doozy.

In the late '90s, Furby mania swept the nation. Millions of kids wanted one, parents fought to find them, and the National Security Agency reportedly banned the fuzzy little creatures from its facilities over concerns they could record classified conversations.

Because apparently, America's greatest security vulnerability was available at Toys "R" Us.

So dust off your Tamagotchi, fire up that dial-up modem, and prepare to revisit the Great Furby Menace of 1999.

Join the conversation!

Did you own a Furby? And what's the wildest playground rumor you remember hearing growing up?

Join us in The Lobby on Discord, share your stories, and help us decide which rumor to investigate next.

Link to Discord: https://discord.gg/mhxUD67Yp

Follow Average Joe Nerdcast on your favorite podcast platform, and like and subscribe on YouTube to help our little corner of the internet grow.

Stay Gold, Nerd Bold.

© 2026 Average Joe Nerdcast. All rights reserved.

The Lobby's always open.

#Furby #90sNostalgia #TheRumorMill #AverageJoeNerdcast #90sKids #UrbanLegends #NSA #90sToys #Podcast

Thanksgiving is coming. Uncle Gary has been doing his own research. And the Average Joe Nerdcast is here to make sure you're prepared.

CTRL + ALT + DELUSION IS BACK!

We're kicking off an entire month of conspiracy theories, internet rabbit holes, and spectacularly questionable claims with one of the strangest historical conspiracies floating around online: TARTARIA.

According to the theory, an advanced civilization once spanned enormous portions of the world, harnessed mysterious free-energy technology, and constructed magnificent buildings before being wiped from the historical record.

The evidence? Old maps, historic architecture, world's fairs, and apparently... basement windows.

Yeah. Basement windows.

But here's where things get interesting: Tartary really did appear on historical maps. So, what was it? Why did the name disappear? And how did a genuine piece of history become the foundation of an elaborate worldwide conspiracy?

Join Nate, your resident Average Joe, as we investigate the real history, unravel the claims, and attempt to maintain some semblance of professionalism.

And this time, Player 2 has officially tagged in to keep Nate's cynicism in check.

Good luck with that!

Plus, we're introducing the official Uncle Gary Threat Level, rating just how badly each conspiracy could derail your Thanksgiving dinner.

Grab your coffee, keep an open mind, and prepare to question everything.

Except maybe the basement windows.

Stay Gold, Nerd Bold.

Join the conversation in The Lobby, our Average Joe Nerdcast Discord community!

Link To Discord: https://discord.gg/mhxUD67Yp

Disclaimer: This episode examines conspiracy theories for entertainment, historical discussion, and critical analysis. Unsupported claims are discussed as claims, not established facts.

© 2026 Average Joe Nerdcast. All rights reserved.

#Tartaria #CtrlAltDelusion #AverageJoeNerdcast #ConspiracyTheories #MudFlood #TartarianEmpire #LostCivilizations #HistoricalMysteries #ConspiracyDebunked #InternetMysteries #Podcast

After traveling the world in search of terrifying folklore, the Average Joe Nerdcast is bringing Nerdoween 2026 back to Kentucky!

First, we're heading to 1955 for one of the strangest encounters in American UFO history: the Hopkinsville Goblins. What really happened when a Kentucky family claimed their farmhouse was surrounded by mysterious little creatures?

Then we're visiting Octagon Hall, a historic Kentucky landmark with a reputation for paranormal activity. And this time, Nate has a story of his own to tell from a ghost-hunting adventure with friends back in 2008.

Two Kentucky mysteries. One final campfire. And a heartfelt goodbye to Nerdoween 2026.

A quick note: The final boss of Nerdoween turned out to be a nasty head cold. This episode was recorded while Nate was under the weather, so forgive the occasional congestion and rough edges. But we weren't letting a little plague stop us from bringing the World Tour home!

Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share!

Got a hometown ghost story? Join us in The Lobby: https://discord.gg/4Cx7FZw3Q

Stay Gold. Nerd Bold.

© 2026 Average Joe Nerdcast. All rights reserved.

#AverageJoeNerdcast #Nerdoween2026 #HopkinsvilleGoblins #OctagonHall #KentuckyGhostStories #ParanormalPodcast #KentuckyFolklore #GhostStories #Halloween2026 #PassportToTheParanormal