#229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files
In this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, AJ Gentile shares the story behind his Y-Files YouTube channel, which evolved from a struggling venture into a successful platform after finding its audience through TikTok. Gentile explains his approach to investigating unusual phenomena, which combines unscripted presentation and thorough research methodology.
The conversation covers several areas of investigation, including alleged government surveillance practices, suppressed technologies, and historical mysteries. Topics range from the implications of the Patriot Act on civil liberties to unexplained aspects of the moon landing and evidence of advanced ancient civilizations. Throughout their discussion, Gentile and Ryan examine various theories about historical artifacts, cross-cultural legends, and government activities while considering multiple perspectives on these subjects.
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Origins and Evolution of Y-Files Youtube Channel
Born in the Bronx, Aj Gentile transitioned from a career in entertainment, radio, and podcasting to founding the Y-Files YouTube channel. After initial struggles with low viewership and engagement, Aj found success by adopting an authentic, unscripted approach that resonated with his Gen X audience. His channel gained significant traction through TikTok, particularly with his "Operation High Jump" video, which quickly reached 50,000 views. Despite his lighthearted presentation style, complete with a goldfish sidekick, Aj maintains rigorous research standards and a balanced approach to extraordinary topics.
Conspiracy Theories, Government Coverups, Alleged Suppression
In his investigations, Aj Gentile explores sensitive topics ranging from suppressed technologies to government surveillance. He discusses cases like Sparky Sweet's mysterious death and the seizure of Nikola Tesla's research by the Office of Alien Property. Gentile's coverage of the Patriot Act raises concerns about civil liberties, particularly regarding First and Fourth Amendment violations. He critiques the Act's application beyond its intended counterterrorism purpose, citing examples of its use for surveillance of protesting parents and questioning the effectiveness of resulting security measures.
Historical and Archaeological Mysteries
Gentile and Shawn Ryan explore various historical enigmas, including the moon landing's unexplained aspects. They discuss the moon's unusual "ringing" during Apollo mission seismic tests and address inconsistencies that fuel conspiracy theories. The conversation extends to cross-cultural legends of giants, with Gentile noting their presence in ancient texts from the Indian Vedas to Native American narratives. The hosts also examine evidence of advanced ancient civilizations, discussing sophisticated engineering techniques found in structures like Stonehenge and the Pyramids, while questioning the Smithsonian Institution's alleged role in suppressing findings that challenge mainstream historical narratives.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can start a personal research journal to explore topics that intrigue you, ensuring you document sources and maintain a balanced perspective. Begin by selecting a subject that piques your interest, such as a historical mystery or a current event related to civil liberties. Use a mix of primary and secondary sources to gather information, and write down your findings and thoughts. This practice will help you develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of complex issues.
- Create a video diary to share your thoughts on societal issues, using storytelling to make the content relatable. Choose a topic that affects you personally or one that you feel is underrepresented in mainstream media. Record short, candid videos where you discuss your views, questions, and any research you've done. Sharing these on social media platforms can foster community discussions and raise awareness about the issues you care about.
- Engage in local community discussions or online forums to learn more about and contribute to conversations on civil liberties and historical enigmas. Look for community groups, library events, or online platforms where these topics are discussed. Participate actively by asking questions, offering insights from your research, and listening to different perspectives. This engagement can help you understand the broader implications of these issues and how they impact society.
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Origins and Evolution of Y-Files Youtube Channel
Aj Gentile's journey to founding the Y-Files YouTube channel is one of perseverance and authenticity. He transitioned from a career in entertainment, radio, and podcasting to develop a platform that resonates with his audience through a unique and unscripted storytelling approach.
Aj Gentile's Journey To Starting the Y-Files Channel
Aj Gentile's Entertainment, Radio, and Podcasting Career Before Y-Files Launch
Aj Gentile was born in the Bronx and raised around New York City and Long Island. His early career involved standup, acting, and voice work. In the early 2000s, Aj worked for MTV and VH1 radio, then moved to LA to join Playboy Radio on Sirius XM. Despite aspiring to become an on-camera host, significant opportunities eluded him, leading him to explore other ventures, including a podcast studio launched with his family around 2014.
Aj's Struggles: Lack of Viewers and Finding the Right Format
Aj's initial foray into YouTube was challenging, as his videos struggled to attract viewers and engagement. In the first year, his channel mustered merely 1,500 to 2,500 subscribers, with each episode garnering only about 200 to 300 views. Even with 25,000 subscribers by the end of the second year, he still faced low engagement, not enough to make a living. Trying to appeal to a young audience with top 10 lists and energetic performances didn't align with his personality or desires, leading to frustration and the realization that he had to find his own voice.
Aj Adopted an Authentic, Unscripted Approach That Resonated With His Audience and Grew the Channel
In search of a format that felt authentic, Aj decided to produce content that appealed to his own generation, Gen X, rather than chasing a younger demographic. By showing vulnerability and discussing personal challenges like depression, Aj found a deeper connection with his audience. This shift to an honest, unscripted style and active community engagement via live streams proved successful for the channel's growth.
Using TikTok, Aj's channel experienced a surge in ...
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Origins and Evolution of Y-Files Youtube Channel
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your own generational experiences and create content that reflects them, like a blog or social media posts, to connect with peers who share similar backgrounds. For instance, if you're a millennial, you might write about the impact of technology on your life, or if you're from Gen Z, you could create a video series on how climate change has shaped your worldview.
- Start a personal project where you share your journey with a challenge you're facing, such as learning a new skill or overcoming a personal obstacle, through a series of updates on a platform like Instagram or a personal blog. This can help you build a supportive community and hold yourself accountable.
- Engage with ...
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Conspiracy Theories, Government Coverups, Alleged Suppression
AJ Gentile dives into the murky waters of conspiracy theories and the emotional toll associated with uncovering sensitive topics. Discussions include governmental secrecy and potential suppression of new technologies and research, along with a critical look at legislation like the Patriot Act and its impact on civil liberties.
Aj's Experiences With Sensitive Topics and Their Emotional Toll
AJ Gentile speaks on a range of sensitive and controversial topics, which signifies the emotional weight and contentious nature of his investigations. He discusses inventors like Sparky Sweet, who supposedly created energy with no apparent external source, and suffered a heart attack after a visit from unmarked military personnel, leading to his research being confiscated. Similar events are cited with Nikola Tesla's work being seized by the Office of Alien Property, drawing connections to the HAARP project and Tesla's reputed theories on ionizing the atmosphere.
Gentile's coverage includes the moon landing and disturbing allegations surrounding the Montauk Project and author Preston Nichols. Such topics bring forth an emotional toll, requiring a sidekick to occasionally lighten the mood when delving into dark content like CIA operations.
Gentile's emotional investment is further highlighted when he becomes visibly moved during an episode about the NSA-surveillance-related 33 Thomas Street and the implications of Edward Snowden’s disclosures. Likewise, his reporting on the dark side of DARPA and its links to Agent Orange becomes deeply personal. His emotional involvement peaks due to his father-in-law's struggles with illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure, and the frustration felt over veterans' difficulties in claiming benefits. Gentile hopes his efforts shine a light on these struggles and provide a platform for affected individuals.
Patriot Act and Its Impacts on Civil Liberties
AJ Gentile openly critiques the Patriot Act, raising concerns about violations of the First and Fourth Amendments under the guise of national security. He views the act as a tool for politics rather than purely for counterterrorism, with implications of government overreach. Gentile references instances like the Biden administration's intersection with the Patriot Act to surveil protesting parents, implying a misuse of the Act’s powers.
He cites examples of the Patriot Act being applied for investigations that seem only tangentially relevant to counterterrorism activities and expresses do ...
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Conspiracy Theories, Government Coverups, Alleged Suppression
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The discussion of conspiracy theories often lacks concrete evidence, and it's important to differentiate between legitimate government secrecy and unfounded speculation.
- Emotional responses to investigating sensitive topics can sometimes cloud judgment and lead to bias, affecting the objectivity of the investigation.
- Historical accounts of figures like Nikola Tesla are complex, and while some of his work was seized, it's not clear that this was part of a deliberate coverup or suppression of technology.
- The moon landing has been substantiated by a wealth of scientific evidence and witness testimony, making counterclaims of it being a hoax highly controversial and widely discredited.
- The Patriot Act was enacted as a response to the real and present threat of terrorism, and some argue that its measures have been necessary to ensure national security.
- Security measures implemented by the TSA and other agencies under the Patriot Act have been argued by some to prevent numerous attempted terrorist attacks, though these successes are often not publicized for security reasons.
- The FISA court, while secretive, was designed to operate within the bounds of the law, and its operations are subject to oversight by Congress.
- The idea that the Patri ...
Actionables
- You can start a personal transparency log to track how much information you share online and with whom, helping you become more aware of your digital footprint and potential privacy concerns. Keep a notebook or digital document where you jot down instances when you provide personal information, such as signing up for a new service or app. This will help you visualize the extent of your data sharing and may encourage you to take steps to protect your privacy, like adjusting social media settings or using more secure communication methods.
- Develop a habit of critical thinking by questioning the sources and motivations behind the news and information you consume daily. Whenever you read an article or watch a news report, take a moment to consider the potential biases and ask yourself questions like "Who benefits from this information?" or "What might be the other side of the story?" This practice can sharpen your analytical skills and help you form a more nuanced understanding of complex issues.
- Engage in community discussions by joining or creating a local book club fo ...
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Historical and Archaeological Mysteries: Moon Landing, Giants, Ancient Civilizations
AJ Gentile and Shawn Ryan delve into various enigmas connected to lunar missions, mythical giants, and ancient architectural wonders, shedding light on a series of controversial discussions and conspiracy theories.
The Mysteries and Anomalies Surrounding the Moon Landing
Despite its coverage, the hosts express that there are episodes containing new insights about the Moon Landing that Gentile has researched.
Moon's "Ringing" After Impact Test
The hosts discuss an unusual phenomenon where the moon "rang like a bell" during Apollo mission seismic tests, where projectiles caused seismic waves to behave non-conventionally, suggesting peculiar lunar qualities.
Inconsistencies Fueling Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories
Gentile acknowledges that while he debunked many claims in a moon landing conspiracy documentary, some oddities remained unexplained, such as perceived wire reflections and the astronauts' odd movement, which might be attributed to lunar gravity. Additionally, the loss of original tapes and telemetry data from NASA feeds into public skepticism, with a worrying number of Americans doubting the historical event.
Gentile also discusses the significant leap made by the United States in the space race, overtaking the Soviet Union with the moon landing, an achievement that lacks a clear explanatory trajectory. The unique aspects of the moon, transient lunar phenomena, and claims of lunar structures by someone who later died under mysterious circumstances amplify the conspiracy theories around the moon landing.
Legends and Archaeological Evidence of Giants Throughout History
Gentile explores the enigmatic presence of giants in ancient texts and archeological findings, analyzing suppressed information and the pushback from conventional history.
Cross-Cultural Myths and Legends About Giant Humanoid Creatures
Giants appear in an array of cultural myths and legends, including the ancient Indian Vedas, Native American narratives, and the Bible. Gentile discusses the pervasive presence of giant beings in history and the tales of Nephilim from the Book of Enoch, which describe destructive giants that led to divine intervention in the form of a flood.
Suppressed or Dismissed Discoveries of Giant Bones and Structures
Stories of giant bones discovered across America involve the Smithsonian taking the bones for analysis, only for the findings to then disappear without explanation. In particular, the Lovelock cave giants' remnants and giant-sized artifacts question the historical reluctance to acknowledge their existence.
Theories of Advanced Ancient Civilizations Predating Recorded History
The debate extends to theorize about technologically sophisticated societies th ...
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Historical and Archaeological Mysteries: Moon Landing, Giants, Ancient Civilizations
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The "ringing" of the moon can be explained by its different internal structure compared to Earth, which affects how seismic waves travel and dissipate.
- Many perceived oddities in the moon landing footage have been debunked by experts in physics and photography, attributing unusual phenomena to the unique lunar environment.
- The loss of original tapes and telemetry data from NASA is often attributed to the archiving practices of the era and does not necessarily indicate a cover-up.
- The United States' success in the space race can be attributed to a concentrated effort in technology and resources, which is well-documented historically.
- Claims of lunar structures and other conspiracy theories often lack credible evidence and are not supported by the scientific community.
- The presence of giants in myths and legends can be explained as allegorical or metaphorical stories rather than historical accounts.
- Reports of giant bones and artifacts often lack verifiable evidence and are not supported by the broader archaeological community.
- The advanced engineering of ancient structures like Stonehenge and the Pyramids can be explained by the accumulate ...
Actionables
- You can explore the moon's peculiarities by conducting a simple gravity experiment at home. Using household items like a ball and a sheet, you can create a visual representation of how gravity works differently on the moon versus Earth. Drop the ball onto the sheet held taut by a partner to simulate the moon's lower gravity and discuss how this might affect seismic activities, like the "moon ringing" phenomenon.
- Start a myth and legend journal to document and compare stories of giants from different cultures. As you read or hear about giants in various myths, jot down the key elements, such as their origins, powers, and the moral of the stories. This can help you understand the common themes and differences across cultures, and why these tales might persist in human history.
- Create a DIY archaeology kit to understand the basics of excavation and artifact analysis. Inc ...
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