About the show
Chief Detectives investigate famous mysteries, from Bigfoot to Atlantis, voting to bust or trust each myth with two witty hosts.
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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.
Fast Facts
- Audience
- Ages 5+
- Network
- Small Wardour
- Format
- Listen in any order
- Typical length
- 20 min
- Episodes
- 139
- Seasons
- 2 seasons
- Topics
- Education For Kids
Listen now
Listen on the Once Upon a Pod app Hand-picked, kid-safe shows worth their earsor press play on any episode below to listen right here
Episodes
139 episodes
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Did Nefertiti Rule Egypt In Disguise?
17 min 10 November 2023Many of you may have seen the famous bust (or sculpture) of Nefertiti For a lot of people she represents the human face of ancient Egypt, but, was she a master of disguise? Tiernan and Athena look at the facts and help you decide if she actually became a Pharaoh or you think, yeah, no Brains to full power Chief Detectives!
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Blackbeard's Treasure
30 min 10 April 2026Blackbeard 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 a enormous treasure that has never been found. Does it exist still or did it ever? Tiernan and Athena are here to give you all the evidence so you can decide. Over to you chief detectRRRives!
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Island of the Dolls
28 min 27 March 2026La 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 of the haunted dolls have grown and spread, terrifying and fascinating people ever since. But, what do you think Chief Detectives? Tiernan and Athena have all the creepy evidence so you can decide for yourself.
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The Sphinx's Nose
22 min 13 March 2026The 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 you don't know you're in luck, as Athena and Tiernan have all the evidence and theories about how this may have happened. So, listen closely Chief Detectives and then make up your mind. Whoever knows about the nose knows ... Over to you...
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The Thunderbird
24 min 27 February 2026The 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 strength. According to the legend it creates thunder by flapping its wings, and lightning would spark from its eyes. Is there a basis in fact for this fascinating creature in natural history? Or is it a case of legends and stories getting out of hand over time? Athena and Tiernan take an eagle eyed look into all the clues to help you decide. Over to you Chief Detectives.
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Broad Haven Triangle
24 min 13 February 20261977, 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. The area become known for UFOs and even alien sightings. But was it really visitors from another world? Athena and Tiernan look into all the clues to help you decide.
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The Olmec Heads
25 min 30 January 2026Huge 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 headed about the theories and then you, our Chief Detectives can gets your heads together and solve the case.
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The Haunting of Windhouse on Yell
27 min 16 January 2026Old 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 so that you can decide.
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Our favourite mysteries of 2025
16 min 1 January 2026Tiernan and Athena take a little look back over their fave mysteries of 2025. What would be in your top 3? Let us know!
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Christmas Minisodes!
13 min 25 December 2025Merry 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.
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The Plain of Jars
21 min 12 December 2025Hundreds 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 ancient burial chambers, jars for holding water or something else entirely? As always, Tiernan and Athena investigate!
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Did Mansa Musa's Brother Discover America?
25 min 28 November 2025Mansa 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 and Tiernan take a voyage through all the evidence so you can decide what the real story is for yourselves.
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The Number Seven Phantom Bus
23 min 14 November 2025It'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 on board with all the evidence and then you, our Chief Detectives have to solve the case.
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Werewolves
27 min 31 October 2025Happy 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 everyone just barking up the wrong tree? We bring the evidence and then you have to decide!
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Machu Picchu
27 min 17 October 2025The 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 the mysteries to this mystical place high in the Andes? Or just a lot of jokes about sneezing? It's up to you, our Chief Detectives, to decide!
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Spring Heeled Jack
27 min 3 October 2025In 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? Or just a pranking nobleman and mass hysteria? Tiernan and Athena leap into action to bring you the evidence!
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The Parisian Catacombs
25 min 19 September 2025Underneath 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 Tiernan take a look at this underground phenomenon to bring you the evidence and help you decide.
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The Lusca
25 min 5 September 2025The 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 Athena take a deep dive to find all the evidence so that you, our Chief Detectives, can decide.
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The Travis Walton Alien Abduction
24 min 22 August 2025The 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 all the evdience and hand it over to you to decide.
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Psychic Detectives
24 min 8 August 2025Can 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 everyone thinks they're super annoying? Tiernan and Athena project their thoughts on all the evidence so that you can choose which team you're on.
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The Headless Blemmyes
26 min 25 July 2025The 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 about them? Athena and Tiernan get their actual heads together to look at the evidence so that you, our Chief Detectives, can decide.
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The Amber Room
22 min 11 July 2025During 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 the evidence in this peculiar case, then it's up to you decide.
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Ancient Astronauts
25 min 27 June 2025Some 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 humans just much better than we think? Tiernan and Athena explore the evidence for this case of historical space travel, then you have to choose which team you're on.
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Room 611
25 min 13 June 2025Many 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 elevators? Athena and Tiernan check out this spooky case and then its up to you to decide.
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The Curse of Emperor Qins Tomb
28 min 30 May 2025The 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 cursed it, meaning anyone who finds it suffers terrible misfortune? Tiernan and Athena investigate and then its up to you, the chief detectives to decide.
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Black Shuck
25 min 16 May 2025The 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? Or actually just misunderstood very good boys? Athena and Tiernan take a paws to look through the evidence so you can solve the case.
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The Ucumar
23 min 2 May 2025For 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 Athena take a look at the case of the South American sasquatch, then you have to solve it.
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Haunted Paintings
22 min 18 April 2025Ever 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 the evidence to help you solve the case
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General Yamashita's Lost Gold
21 min 4 April 2025After 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 about General Yamashita's Lost Gold, then hand it over to you, our Chief Detectives, to decide
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The Fainting Field
22 min 21 March 2025In 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 a look at this case that's not for the faint hearted! Chief Detectives, get solving!
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