Wait a Second...

Joel Anderson, cohost of The Press Box and cultural commentator, joins to talk doom culture and modern anxieties. They discuss nuclear fears around Iran and war prediction, the rising worry over AI and simulated escalation, and play a playful “doom bracket” pitting fictional apocalypses against each other.

Chris Ryan, writer and commentator known for deep-dive historical analysis, joins to probe JFK-era mysteries. They trace CIA maneuvers, withheld files, and strange plots against Castro. Short, sharp segments unpack Oswald’s timeline, surveillance threads, and cultural aftershocks. Later, they riff on Netanyahu’s sketchy proof-of-life, a Queens UFO clip, and vanished aerospace figures.

Bryan Curtis, journalist and host of The Press Box, joins to unpack prediction markets and their cultural ripple. They discuss big bets around Iran, insider trading vs. market signals, sports rumors like Giannis, platform policing with Palantir, and the ethics of wagering on war. The conversation also wanders through number stations, media partnerships, and how markets might shape future civic life.

Van Lathan, CNN commentator and media personality, joins to riff on AI culture and current controversies. They debate Anthropic and autonomous weapons. They imagine killer-robot lineups, unpack Jim Carrey clone rumors and deepfakes, and speculate about synthetic people and commercialization. The conversation ends with doomscroll curiosities like a missing general and Bohemian Grove gossip.

This week on Wait a Second…, Jason Concepcion and Tyler Parker are joined by Ringer legend Chris Ryan, who offers some insight into British politics, tabloid culture, and the still spreading ripple effects of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal for members of Parliament and the royal family.In this episode:00:00: Before Jeffrey, there was Jeffries06:22: Who is Peter Mandelson?13:28: Diving into the Epstein files20:56: The fall of Prince Andrew43:52: A true/false quiz on historical punishments for royal indiscretions50:30: The LUSID score54:21: The Doomscroll: Rogue vacuums, Sam Altman, and El MenchoHosts: Jason Concepion and Tyler ParkerGuest: Chris RyanProducers: Cory McConnell, Donnie Beacham, and Justin SaylesArt direction: David ShoemakerMotion graphics and animations: Chris CalletonEngineering: Sarah ReddySet design: Hannah Leiken and Jonathan Ratliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the inaugural episode of Wait a Second…, and we’re covering the one who’s always watching: Big Brother. Bill Simmons joins Jason and Tyler to talk about the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Ring’s disastrous Super Bowl commercial, and the history of surveillance in pop culture, from 1984 to seemingly innocent viral apps that may be harvesting your biometrics. Jump down this rabbit hole with us, but make sure to put tape over your webcam.In this episode:00:00: Remember FaceApp? About that …04:25: Searching for Nancy Guthrie with doorbell footage.06:03: Ring’s disastrous Super Bowl ad.14:40: How do young people feel about surveillance?16:36: A mostly completely pop culture timeline of surveillance.30:05: Can you actually opt out of the surveillance state?43:30: AI and human nature.47:32: The LUSID Score54:17: The Doomscroll: Frog poison, Obama’s alien theories, and KD’s possible burner account.01:12:37: A half-baked Conspiracy Bill theory.Hosts: Jason Concecpion, Tyler ParkerGuest: Bill SimmonsProducers: Cory McConnell, Donnie Beacham, Justin SaylesArt direction: David ShoemakerMotion graphics and animations: Chris CalletonEngineering: Donald LoBiancoSet design: Hannah Leiken, Jonathan Ratliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Wait a Second..., your weekly back channel for all the weird, WTF, and jaw-dropping news that break the group chats. Each week, Jason Concepcion, Tyler Parker, and rotating cast explore the grim rabbit holes and weird webs that connect our modern world. We're looking at mysterious drones, government coverups, the moral bankruptcy of the 1 percent, and a whole lot more. The news cycle moves fast. We're here to break it all down, frame by frame.Listen or watch on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.Follow us on IG: @waitsecondpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@waitasecondpodEmail us at waitasecondpod@proton.meHosts: Jason Concepcion, Tyler ParkerProducers: Cory McConnell, Donnie Beacham, Justin SaylesArt direction: David ShoemakerAnimation and motion graphics: Chris Calleton  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices