48 episodes
Conspirituality Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
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- Spirituality
A weekly study of converging right-wing conspiracy theories and faux-progressive wellness utopianism. At best, the conspirituality movement attacks public health efforts in times of crisis. At worst, it fronts and recruits for the fever-dream of QAnon.
As the alt-right and New Age horseshoe toward each other in a blur of disinformation, clear discourse and good intentions get smothered. Charismatic influencers exploit their followers by co-opting conspiracy theories on a spectrum of intensity ranging from vaccines to child trafficking. In the process, spiritual beliefs that have nurtured creativity and meaning are transforming into memes of a quickly-globalizing paranoia.
Conspirituality Podcast attempts to bring understanding to this landscape. A journalist, a cult researcher, and a philosophical skeptic discuss the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds. Mainstream outlets have noticed the problem. We crowd-source, research, analyze, and dream answers to it.
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35: Séance Science (w/Susannah Crockford)
Channeling has been an especially appealing vector for conspirituality. We look at some of the gravest offenders, plus consider the science of consciousness.
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34: Insurrectionist Influencers (w/RP Eddy)
What have our conspiritualists been up to in the wake of the attack on the Capitol? We run it down this week.
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33: Manipulating the Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell created a blueprint. Modern wellness influencers exploit it.
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32: Both Sides Pt 2: Healing & Sense-making in the New Year (w/Charles Eisenstein)
A rough tally of our labor from the inception of this podcast in May puts us at over 1,100 hours of treading water in the content sea of JP Sears, Mikki Willis, Christiane Northrup, and the rest of the gang. Are we getting our bearings yet? Will we see land soon? This episode is centered on Part 2 of Matthew’s discussion with Charles Eisenstein —... Read More
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31: Bro Science: Anti-Vaxxers (w/Jonathan Berman)
As two coronavirus vaccines roll out we’re being flooded with more disinformation than ever. Wellness gurus are cashing in on home-made “natural” remedies by spreading unjustified fears about this vaccine, and vaccines in general. This week, we look at Dr. Christiane Northrup’s “line in the sand,” Mikki Willis revealing that he recently helped out the kids of Covington High and Kyle Rittenhouse, JP Sears getting... Read More
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Bonus: Solstice Light in the Man Cave
A tour through the trance states that charismatic men love and manipulate—how they carry streams of emotion that can never be transparently shared.