The First Degree

DEEP DIVE: AUTHOR SESSIONS - CHAOS

The First Degree

Show Notes

Today's episode is the Deep Dive x The First Degree Book Club crossover you didn't know you needed.

We're sitting down with bestselling author Tom O'Neill to talk about CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties.

What began as a routine magazine assignment became a twenty-year investigation that challenged the official narrative of the Manson murders and uncovered a web of unanswered questions surrounding law enforcement, MKUltra, and the turbulent world of the late 1960s.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Tom takes us behind the reporting, reflects on what he's learned since publishing the book, and revisits the evidence, theories, and unanswered questions that continue to fuel debate.

Whether you've read CHAOS cover to cover or you're just conspiracy-curious, buckle up... and, as always... hats on.

🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:

patreon.com/thefirstdegree

📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree

🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee

👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from The First Degree

Oct 22, 2026

Jac pulls the string of the Kelly Clarkson / $15K mechanical bird drama and (SHOCKER!) it leads to Epstein adjacent children’s books about secret pizza parties??? Plus, the girls chat about Jonestown opening for tourists, Kate Gosselin’s alleged abuse, and not being able to get away from the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

Oct 21, 2026

This week, Firstober continues with a collection of chilling listener stories, unexplained encounters, and a real-life Halloween nightmare. From eerie apparitions to a mysterious death on Halloween night, Lex and Jac explore the things that haunt us, both supernatural and all too human.

Oct 15, 2026

The world is going crazy and we’re just trying to keep up. This week we are talking about a woman sneaking into high school to pretend to be a substitute teacher just to talk shit to students, a possible serial killer in Michigan, a brand new cute Trump statue, a new cat species, and what the hell is Susan Dell?

Oct 14, 2026

In this special Halloween episode, Lex and Jac share chilling paranormal encounters from Firsties who swear they’ve experienced something they can’t explain. Then, they unravel the incredible true story of a murdered woman who may have found a way to identify her own killer from beyond the grave.

Oct 8, 2026

You asked for it, you got it. This week we are going down the rabbit hole that is the atrocious man named Caleb Flynn. Alexis’ new obsession has been courtroom tv, and she has been watching the entire trial in real time. We go through texts with his mistress, the embarrassing AI songs he wrote for her, and how one man can go from hot to Frankenstein in less than a year. Plus, we discuss Erika Kirk’s new bizarre photoshoot, Gypsy Rose’s husband’s untimely death, and another Epstein whistleblower found dead by *suicide*.

See all episodes →