Bust or Trust: A Kids' Mystery Podcast
Small Wardour
140 episodes
Calling all Chief Detectives! Bust or Trust is a podcast for curious kids’ who’d like to get to the bottom of some of the world’s most interesting mysteries. From Big Foot to the Lost City of Atlantis, “Myth Truster” Tiernan Douieb and “Myth Buster” Athena Kugblenu take you through each case. It’s up to the Chief Detectives listening to decide if they bust the myth or trust it! A real family listen, full of fun facts and silly jokes, this podcast encourages young listeners to think critically about “evidence” and how to debate and disagree in a playful and productive way. Fun for ages 6 - 106. Brought to you by Small Wardour, makers of some of the best podcasts for kids. Pre-Order the Bust or Trust Book here - https://geni.us/BustorTrust
Episodes page 1 of 3
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September Shoutout Special
In case you haven't already heard, Bust or Trust is coming back this October with a Special Halloween episode! More brand new episodes coming in the New Year. Until then, we hope you enjoy hearing from some of your…
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A Special Announcement from BOT HQ
A special announcement about Bust or Trust from BoT HQ. For more info, visit our website bustortrust.com or Instagram @bust_or_trust_podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Blackbeard's Treasure
Blackbeard is one of history’s most well known pirates. He was known for being a huge and fearsome imposing figure, with a large black beard, that was full of colourful ribbons. He was also known for having left behind…
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Island of the Dolls
La Isla De La Muńacas, an island in Mexico is said to be the home of the world’s largest collection of haunted dolls. In 1950 Don Julián Santana Barrera started collecting these dolls and after his death in 2001 tales…
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The Sphinx's Nose
The Great Sphinx of Giza - the statue of a mythical creature with the head of a human and body of a cat - famously has no nose. But how did it get that way? Did it fall off due to frostbite? Or get misplaced? Well, if…
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The Thunderbird
The Thunderbird is a bird-like spirit from the culture of the indigenous people of North America. Like a giant eagle with curved horns on its head, it is said to be a supernatural being with incredible power, and…
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Broad Haven Triangle
1977, a group of school children in Broad Haven in the West of Wales, were certain they had all seen a UFO. But before anyone could doubt them, teachers and more students also saw it, and then so did local residents.…
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The Olmec Heads
Huge stone heads were found in Central America, carved by the ancient Olmec peoples but to this day, no one knows why. Were they of rulers, or maybe just really good sports players? Tiernan and Athena try not to be big…
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The Haunting of Windhouse on Yell
Old ruins up on a hill in the windy island of Yell, Shetland. But is it really haunted by a number of ghosts? Or does the cold weather, and draughty conditions give visitors the chills? Athena and Tiernan investigate…
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Our favourite mysteries of 2025
Tiernan and Athena take a little look back over their fave mysteries of 2025. What would be in your top 3? Let us know! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Christmas Minisodes!
Merry Christmas Chief Detectives! This year Athena and Tiernan are bringing you a special festive treat of looking at some of the cases you, our Chief Detectives have suggested. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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The Plain of Jars
Hundreds of giant stone jars lay scattered across the Xiangkhoang Plateau in Laos. But no one knows how they got there or what they were for. Could it have been the remains of a party held by giants? Or are they…
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Did Mansa Musa's Brother Discover America?
Mansa Musa of the Malian Empire was the richest man who ever lived, but did his brother really discover America for the African nations, hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus discovered it for Europe? Athena…
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The Number Seven Phantom Bus
It's said that a ghostly double decker bus used to haunt North West London, causing cars to crash and then disappearing in front of people's eyes. But did the Number 7 Phantom Bus really exist? Tiernan and Athena get…
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Werewolves
Happy Halloween! It's time to look at a classic beastie for this spooky time of year. Athena and Tiernan investigate everyone's favourite furry terrors, werewolves! Can people really turn into scary wolves or is…
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Machu Picchu
The ancient Inca citadel of Macchu Picchu is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, but still to this day, no one knows what it was for or why it was abandoned. Do Athena and Tiernan have the theory that unlocks…
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Spring Heeled Jack
In Victorian England there were many news reports of a caped villian, with a 'diabolical face', metal claws and who could leap over fences and carriages. But was the bouncy scoundral known as Spring Heeled Jack real?…
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The Parisian Catacombs
Underneath the romantic city of Paris, France, there lie miles and miles of tunnels filled with the skeletons of 6 million people. But are these catacombs haunted, or just damp and easy to get lost in? Athena and…
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The Lusca
The Lusca is half-shark, half-octopus said to terrorise the depths of the Bahamas. But does this creature really exist or is it all just whirlpools and a case of mistaken identity for some giant squid? Tiernan and…
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The Travis Walton Alien Abduction
The case of Travis Walton is one of the most famous alien abduction cases of the 20th century. But did this woodsman really get examined by aliens or is it all an elaborate hoax? Once again Athena and Tiernan beam up…
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Psychic Detectives
Can psychics really help solve crimes? For years people who say they have special powers have been helping the police track criminals and missing people, but if they could really read minds would they just find out…
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The Headless Blemmyes
The Headless Blemmyes were a race of people who had no head, but their eyes and mouths were in their chest. Did these strange creatures ever really exist? And if not, why did so many medieval writers lose their heads…
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The Amber Room
During World War II, an entire room delicately decorated in amber disappeared and was never seen again. Was it the work of some crafty thieves, or was it just destroyed during the war? Tiernan and Athena examine all…
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Ancient Astronauts
Some people believe that aliens visited the Earth many thousands of years ago, helping our ancestors develop technology and more. But did ancient civilisations really have outer space visitors over for tea, or are…
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Room 611
Many former students at Queens University in Belfast are certain they saw a terrifying shadowy figure while staying in Room 611 of Alanbrooke Hall. But was it really a haunted room or just the victim of poorly designed…
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The Curse of Emperor Qins Tomb
The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang was buried in a tomb so vast, that it could contain not only him but 8000 terracotta soldiers. Much of the tomb still remains undiscovered but is that because Emperor Qin…
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Black Shuck
The Black Shuck is a large, shaggy black dog that is said to appear out of nowhere and its very bad luck for whoever sees it. These hellhounds have been seen all over the world, but are they really ghostly demon dogs?…
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The Ucumar
For years people who live near the Peruvian and Argentinian Andes have sighted what they say is a 'half man, half bear'. But does the Ucumar really exist? Or is it just pesky bears up to tricks again? Tiernan and…
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Haunted Paintings
Ever been to an art gallery and thought a painting was watching you wherever you moved? Maybe it was a trick of the light, or maybe, like many cases suggest, that painting is haunted. Athena and Tiernan brush up on all…
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General Yamashita's Lost Gold
After World War II, its said that a Japanese General hid vast amounts of gold in tunnels and caves under the Philippines. But no one has ever found it. Or have they? Tiernan and Athena scour the wealth of evidence…
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A dispatch from Bust or Trust HQ
A brief message from Tiernan and Athena between episodes as we prepare for next week's mystery. If you're missing BoT this week, listen in for episode recommendations. See you next week for a new episode. Learn more…
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The Fainting Field
In 1980, 300 people in Nottingham suddenly felt ill and started to faint in a field in Nottinghamshire. What caused this mysterious incident or could it really be another case of mass hysteria? Athena and Tiernan take…
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Is Aphra Behn's Past A Mystery?
Aphra Behn was a famous English playwright, poet and novellist from the 17th century. And she was also a spy! We know that, by why don't we know anything about her early life? Or what her real name actually is? Athena…
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The Lady Ghost of Bruce Castle
Happy episode 100 everyone! To celebrate, Tiernan and Athena are on location at the famous Bruce Castle in North London. Its said to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Constantia who used to live there in the 17th Century…
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The Bunyip
The Bunyip is a swamp dwelling creature found in Aboriginal oral traditions. But is it also really found in the swamps of South-Eastern Australia? Athena and Tiernan explore all the murky evidence and then its up to…
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The Phantom of the Palias Garnier
Did a real phantom of the Palais Garnier opera house inspire the Phantom of the Opera story? Or was it the other way round? Tiernan and Athena investigate whether a masked pianist really haunted one of the French…
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Area 51
In the middle of the Nevada desert, USA, lies the top secret military base known as Area 51. Do they really have evidence of aliens and UFOs hidden within? Tiernan and Athena investigate and you, our Chief Detectives,…
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The Min Min Lights
Strange lights have been seen in the Australian Outback for over 100 years, but why can no one figure out what the Min Min Lights really are? Ancient ancestors visiting from beyond or just a clever trick of the light?…
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Bhootbilli the Ghost Cat of India
The Bhootbilli or ghost cat of India, bothered the city of Pune for several years, eating livestock and frightening locals. But does this mysterious half cat, half mongoose really exist? Or is just mass hysteria and a…
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What Happened To Agatha Christie?
One of the world's greatest mystery writers, Agatha Christie, went missing for 10 days in 1926 and insisted she couldn't remember what had happened. But was this just another fantastic story that she'd made up? Or did…
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The Bonnybridge UFOs
A tiny village in Scotland is the world's biggest UFO sighting hotspot, with over 300 unidentified flying objects seen there every year. But are aliens really visiting Bonnybridge or is something else afoot? Athena and…
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The Trojan War
The Trojan War is one of the most famous battles in Greek Mythology, but did this ten year feud really happen? In our first case of the year, Athena and Tiernan look into the ancient details to help you decide.…
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Holiday Bonus - Experts Episode 4
In this special experts episode, Tiernan and Athena talk all things science with brain expert Sophie Scott. Can a bump to the head really make us speak different languages? And can we really predict the future? In the…
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The Ninki Nanka
The Ninki Nanka is said to be a fearsome devil dragon that roams near the Gambia River. But does this horse faced creature really exist or is it just a myth to keep children safe? Tiernan and Athena look into this West…
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Holiday Bonus - Experts Episode 3
In this special experts episode, Tiernan and Athena talk all things science with brain expert Sophie Scott. Why do our brains make us see things that aren't there? Are alien abductions all down to humans having bad…
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Favourite Sketches of the Year Episode
As another year of Bust or Trust comes to an end, Tiernan and Athena look back at their favourite sketches on the show in 2024. We wish all our Chief Detectives a very happy new year! Brought to you by Small Wardour,…
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Holiday Bonus - Experts Episode 2
In this special experts episode, Tiernan and Athena talk all things science with brain expert Sophie Scott. What is that little voice inside our heads? Are there really faces on the surface of Mars, or is it just our…
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Christmas Mini Mysteries
Merry Christmas Chief Detetives! As a special festive treat, Tiernan and Athena have three Christmas mini-mysteries to solve and some from you, our listeners too! Brought to you by Small Wardour, makers of some of the…
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Holiday Bonus - Experts Episode 1
In this special experts episode, Tiernan and Athena talk all things science with brain expert Sophie Scott. Why are some people more likely to believe in creepy creatures? What is it that makes you a buster or a…
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The Rendlesham Forest Incident
On Boxing Day in 1980 in the South of England, US Airforce officers were certain they saw UFOs in the sky. But could it just have been some artistic rabbits and a very bright lighthouse? Athena and Tiernan look into…
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