551 episodes

Dismantling New Age cults, wellness grifters, and conspiracy-mad yogis. 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.

Conspirituality Awakener

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 2.0 • 1 Rating

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Dismantling New Age cults, wellness grifters, and conspiracy-mad yogis. 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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Bonus Sample: The Force That Divides Us All

    Bonus Sample: The Force That Divides Us All

    In 2020, former NY Times journalist Isabel Wilkerson published Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The book tells a compelling story: that the root of our social divisions is the invented hierarchical structure of castes, not, as we often assume in America, race. Race, she writes, is only another manifestation of caste.
    While it’s certainly an important topic here in America, Wilkerson shows, by investigating the longstanding caste system in India, the social divisions in Nazi Germany, and America’s founding and expansion through chattel slavery, that caste is a universal phenomenon.
    Derek discusses his thoughts on this powerful and important book.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 6 min
    The Force That Divides Us All

    The Force That Divides Us All

    In 2020, former NY Times journalist Isabel Wilkerson published Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The book tells a compelling story: that the root of our social divisions is the invented hierarchical structure of castes, not, as we often assume in America, race. Race, she writes, is only another manifestation of caste.

    While it’s certainly an important topic here in America, Wilkerson shows, by investigating the longstanding caste system in India, the social divisions in Nazi Germany, and America’s founding and expansion through chattel slavery, that caste is a universal phenomenon.

    Derek discusses his thoughts on this powerful and important book.

    Brief: An Honest Discussion About Food (w/Dr Sarah Ballantyne)

    Brief: An Honest Discussion About Food (w/Dr Sarah Ballantyne)

    Dr Sarah Ballantyne forged a career in science communication and health education advocating for autoimmune solutions in food and the paleo diet. In 2014, she began questioning her approach. Shortly after, she realized she was spreading nutrition misinformation and has dedicated her career to correcting those errors.
    Derek talks to Sarah about the dangers of diet and nutrition misinformation, dealing with obesity and eating disorders, and the challenges of talking about food in public. Her new book is Nutrivore: The Radical New Science for Getting the Nutrients You Need From the Food You Eat.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 44 min
    205: Dismantling Movement Dogmas (w/Laurel Beversdorf & Sarah Court)

    205: Dismantling Movement Dogmas (w/Laurel Beversdorf & Sarah Court)

    We have a real treat today for listeners who love all forms of movement, especially yoga and strength training.
    Derek and Julian talk to Movement Logic hosts, Laurel Beversdorf and Sarah Court, who navigate the curvilinear path of creating irreverent yet high quality science-based movement content that sets teachers and students free from dogma and fear-mongering. Our two podcasts intersect by looking into fallen gurus, pseudoscience health claims, dodgy alignment dogmas, and cults of personality susceptible to the dangers of conspiracism. And this week we’re diving into a recent Movement Logic episode on back pain specialist, Stuart McGill.
    Yet, as this conversation shows, all hope is not lost, and all physical culture is not a pipeline into body fascism, or worse—multi-level marketing. There are still intelligent and grounded educators who share the love of movement, infused with the logic and humility of science.
    Laurel Beversdorf is an international yoga educator, a certified kettlebell specialist, and a strength coach. Sarah Court is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, movement mentor, and yoga teacher trainer.
    Show Notes
    Movement Logic
    Episode 62: Make McGill Make Sense
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    • 1 hr 16 min
    Bonus Sample: Imaginary Children #1: Fetal Remains

    Bonus Sample: Imaginary Children #1: Fetal Remains

    In the first full episode of this ongoing series, Matthew looks at the anti-abortion arcs of two men: Rob Schenck and Frank Pavone.
    Both leaders invested the images and remains of the unborn with passionate but imaginary desires that obscured from them how much harm they were causing. 
    One of them exited that highway, but the other is still burning it up.
    Includes the story of Kermit Gosnell, and how his Philadelphia abortion abattoir exemplified a political and moral disaster worthy of Naomi Klein. An obvious, organized crime, something that everyone could see but some tried to paper over, aided and abetted by the dominant order and progressive hypocrisy. Something that becomes the focal point of reasonable rage, but then leads to twisted conclusions. 
    Content warning: abortion details.
    Full Show Notes available on Patreon.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 5 min
    Imaginary Children #1: Fetal Remains

    Imaginary Children #1: Fetal Remains

    In the first full episode of this ongoing series, Matthew looks at the anti-abortion arcs of two men: Rob Schenck and Frank Pavone.

    Both leaders invested the images and remains of the unborn with passionate but imaginary desires that obscured from them how much harm they were causing. 

    One of them exited that highway, but the other is still burning it up.

    Includes the story of Kermit Gosnell, and how his Philadelphia abortion abattoir exemplified a political and moral disaster worthy of Naomi Klein. An obvious, organized crime, something that everyone could see but some tried to paper over, aided and abetted by the dominant order and progressive hypocrisy. Something that becomes the focal point of reasonable rage, but then leads to twisted conclusions. 

    Content warning: abortion details.

    Full Show Notes available on Patreon.

Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5
1 Rating

1 Rating

deadnic ,

Thoughtful but unethical

Some episodes are very very well done, spoiled recently by some terrible episodes. As a cult survivor it’s sad to see this podcast engage is damaging reporting. Having said that , I would recommend it , so you can judge for yourself.

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