Endless Thread

4.4 (124)
TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the internet's vast and curious ecosystem of online communities to find untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories online and IRL.

14 NOV

Breaking Bread or Breaking Ties?

Back in the day, we didn't have access to our weird uncle's every political thought. In the age of social media, though, we all too often do, making avoiding politics at family gatherings all the more difficult. Endless Thread listeners share their stories of familial strife, and how they plan to navigate an especially politically divisive holiday season with integrity, humor, and love. Credits: This episode was written by Ben Brock Johnson and produced by Grace Tatter. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski. It was hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.

39 min
8 NOV

Awoken by a Lamp

"Have you ever felt a deep personal connection to a person you met in a dream only to wake up feeling terrible because you realize they never existed?" More than a decade ago, someone posted this question to Reddit. It was a popular post with many responses. But one response would go beyond the realm of popularity into something else. Internet canon, perhaps? The Redditor gave a detailed account of their life. It was a good life, they said. But one day, it came to a crashing halt — because of a lamp. The post would go on to inspire hundreds of memes and boggle the minds of countless people. Endless Thread's Ben Brock Johnson brings co-host Amory Sivertson the story of the strange lamp. ***** Credits: This episode was produced by Ben Brock Johnson and Dean Russell. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski. Our co-hosts are Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.

18 min
31 OCT

The Truth Social, the whole Truth Social, and nothing but the Truth Social

Truth Social is not just a Twitter knock-off. While the social media platform that Donald Trump launched after he was banned from Twitter in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol only has about 600,000 monthly active users (of what appears to be five million total accounts), it might play an important role in the presidential election. Truth Social is where journalists go to get Trump's unfiltered takes. Even Vice President Kamala Harris is on it. Perhaps more importantly, Truth Social represents a significant proportion of Trump's personal net worth, making it potentially a critical tool for wealth and power. Endless Thread decodes why Truth Social matters to all Americans, whether they're posting on X, or truthing on Truth Social, with help from misinformation and disinformation-focused Professor Jo Lukito, and Pro Publica's Robert Faturechi. Show notes: Trump Media Whistleblower Blasts Company for Outsourcing Jobs Abroad as Betrayal of “America First” (ProPublica) Trump Media Quietly Enters Deal With a Republican Donor Who Could Benefit From a Second Trump Administration (ProPublica) Trump loses $1.3 billion in net worth after the worst-ever day for his social media stock (CNN) What to know about Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform (PBS News) This episode was written and produced by Grace Tatter. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski. The hosts are Amory Sivertson and Ben Brock Johnson.

27 min
25 OCT

Endless Dread: Campfire Chills 2... Campfire Kills!

It's that time of year. Spooky stories from the internet — again! Last year, Endless Thread brought you "Campfire Chills," an assortment of hair-raising tales from the dark depths of Reddit. Now, Ben Brock Johnson, Amory Sivertson, and Dean Russell reconvene around the fire to give you even more reasons to stay awake. Happy Halloween! ***** This episode was produced by Dean Russell, Amory Sivertson and Ben Brock Johnson. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. The co-hosts are Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.

26 min
23 OCT

Tell us about your weird uncle

Do you debate political issues with a certain family member on social media? And will you have to see that family member IRL for the holidays in a month or two? How are you preparing for that? Are there ground rules in your family for discussing politics, online and/or IRL? Have online family debates over politics changed the way your family approaches the holidays or your relationship with specific family members? Will the outcome of the upcoming presidential election determine whether or not you show up to Thanksgiving, for example? Whatever your story is, we want to hear it! Team Endless Thread is working on an episode about the blurred lines between our online political discussions with family members and our offline relationships with those people, and how each impacts the other. Email us a voice memo with your story: endlessthread@wbur.org, with the subject line "Family Politics." A written message works too, if you'd prefer. Be specific about who you're feuding with online, what about, and how your online interactions may change — or perhaps, have already changed — your IRL relationship with this family member. Thank you!

9 min
18 OCT

Trad Caths Have Risen

Two years ago, a headline in The New York Times declared that the hottest club in New York City was the Catholic Church. While that was never true, celebrities and TikTok influencers alike have gotten Catholic-curious over the past few years. More specifically, there's been an uptick in "Trad Cath" content — internet for "traditionalist Catholic" — promoting traditions like the Latin Mass and women wearing veils in church. A lot of these traditions are vibes and aesthetic-based, and easily translatable to social media. But scratch the surface, and many Trad Caths have beliefs about how all of society should look, not just church on Sundays. Endless Thread goes to mass to hear the Trad Cath creed and witness the transformation of a former saint of Catholic TikTok. Show notes: Behind the Catholic Right’s Celebrity-Conversion Industrial Complex (Vanity Fair) New York’s Hottest Club Is the Catholic Church (The New York Times) ‘A step back in time': America’s Catholic Church sees an immense shift toward the old ways ( The Associated Press) Credits: This episode was written and produced by Grace Tatter. It was co-hosted by Grace Tatter and Ben Brock Johnson. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus.

37 min
11 OCT

Armed and Socialist

Gun ownership in America has long been associated with the political right. Forty-five percent of Republicans and conservative independents own a firearm, compared to 20 percent of their liberal counterparts, according to a 2023 Pew survey. But in recent years, gun ownership has been changing. More liberals are buying firearms, and left-leaning gun groups emphasizing inclusivity are cropping up across the country. One group is the Socialist Rifle Association. With roots online, the organization started as a place for funny memes and became a collective aiming to arm the working class. As the 2024 election approaches, Endless Thread's Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson scope out a firing range in central Massachusetts with the SRA. ***** Credits: This episode was produced by Ben Brock Johnson and Dean Russell. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. The co-hosts are Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson. Our managing producer is Samata Joshi.

34 min
4 OCT

Black Pilled

When reporter Elle Reeve is recognized at the airport, it's often by members of the alt-right: the online white-nationalists who organized the violent Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville in 2017, and who originated much of today's political rhetoric. How did a bunch of 4chan users feeding Microsoft's Tay chatbot hateful language become such a potent political force? Elle Reeve joins Endless Thread to discuss her book Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics. Show notes: Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics. (Amazon) Charlottesville: Race and Terror (Vice) Credits: This episode was produced by Grace Tatter. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski. It was hosted by Ben Brock Johnson. Our managing producer is Samata Joshi.

27 min

See All (359)

4.4

out of 5

124 Ratings

Fun and absorbing

03/11/2022

Invisiblecity!

As a chronically online I enjoy new takes on “internet phenomena” but I also think it’s engaging as storytelling for newcomers. One issue however is the background music it can be distracting and annoying. Suggest toning that down!
My favourite podcast

10/05/2022

Rociwiththenewthrusters

I drive around a lot for work and listen to podcasts all day, this is by far my favourite podcast and I actually get a little jolt of excitement when I see a new ep is up.
Good times

08/05/2022

1357n

Kind of feels like Endless Thread picked up where Reply All fell off the ledge - internet weird with thoughtful journalism. Like it :)
Great show!

25/02/2022

Ahab01

Interesting topics, gentle humor and excellent hosts. Great show for everyone.

Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the internet's vast and curious ecosystem of online communities to find untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories online and IRL.