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Conspirituality

Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated weekly

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.

  1. 12 hr ago

    316: The War on Science

    Support the pod on Patreon With so much emphasis on global politics and the World Cup in recent weeks, we’re going to focus on the somewhat quieter but intensely important bureaucratic dismantling of expertise occurring in health and science. First, Derek looks into a recent 412-page OMB proposal that hands political appointees veto power over federal science grants, effectively killing peer review, blocking research on health disparities, and walling off American scientists from the rest of the world. Matthew counters with Canada’s own corrosive behavior. Then we dig into the contradiction of MAHA: the pro-health movement running cover for the EPA quietly approving new forever chemical pesticides mere days after the Supreme Court gutted Americans’ ability to sue Monsanto (by way of their parent company, Bayer). Again, there’s a Canadian parallel: Bill C-30 hands cabinet the power to override Health Canada’s own scientists and approve pesticides they’ve already ruled unsafe. Finally, Julian removes gravity from the situation by covering congressional UAP hearings where unverified whistleblower claims about alien bodies and secret programs get treated with peer-reviewed science seriousness. Only, as with everything else in Trump’s America, the science is thin and the theater, thick. Show Notes The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it Carney's government is cutting hundreds of environment and science jobs Departmental plans fuel concern over federal job, program cuts Environment Canada disbands radar research team amid cuts to weather services Weather experts concerned about public safety as Environment Canada disbands radar research team Carney government passes law allowing authorization of banned pesticides Pesticide regulation changes raise questions in Northeastern Ontario Amendments buried in Bill C-30 weaken environmental protections Former Haiti prime minister Smarck Michel dies at 75 Omnibus I: the EU concludes CSDDD and CSRD reforms EU scales back corporate due diligence and reporting rules Australia: Labor-Greens deal to fast-track mining and military projects Task Force Tackles MK Ultra UFO Disclosure Movement Goes To Washington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 13min

  2. 3 days ago

    Bonus Sample: Spielberg, Alien Disclosure, and the Death of David Wilcock

    Listen to the full episode Three events converge—everything is connected.  Steven Spielberg releases his new sci-fi film Disclosure Day The American government’s UAP Disclosure Act drops three waves of declassified UFO documents Well-known 2012 prophecy-popularizer, Disclosure movement advocate, and History Channel’s Ancient Aliens host, David Wilcock, tragically ends his own life In the 16th installment of his Roots of Conspirituality series, Julian looks at the how everything inevitably led to this:  How Spielberg got alien-pilled into being a true believer How 2012 prophecy had to end with David Wilcock holding a gun How the MAGA conspiracy chasers now find themselves standing on the steps beside David Grusch as he tells the media about non-human biologics and alien plasmoids Deeper than that, Julian asks if perhaps we are re-enacting a pattern from the mid to late 1800s, when social upheaval in America’s Northeast led to new religions, failed prophecies, the rise and fall of charismatic heroes, and good people quit booze but got intoxicated on some quite bizarre beliefs.  Correction: This recording states that David Grusch lost his security clearance. That is incorrect. In The Intercept article, Ken Klippenstein wondered how he was able to keep his security clearance after his psychiatric holds. Grusch left his job to become a whistleblower.  Show Notes White House Goes All In On UAP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 min
  3. Spielberg, Alien Disclosure, and the Death of David Wilcock

    3 days ago • Subscribers Only

    Spielberg, Alien Disclosure, and the Death of David Wilcock

    Three events converge—everything is connected. • Steven Spielberg releases his new sci-fi film Disclosure Day • The American government’s UAP Disclosure Act drops three waves of declassified UFO documents • Well-known 2012 prophecy-popularizer, Disclosure movement advocate, and History Channel’s Ancient Aliens host, David Wilcock, tragically ends his own life In the 16th installment of his Roots of Conspirituality series, Julian looks at the how everything inevitably led to this: • How Spielberg got alien-pilled into being a true believer • How 2012 prophecy had to end with David Wilcock holding a gun • How the MAGA conspiracy chasers now find themselves standing on the steps beside David Grusch as he tells the media about non-human biologics and alien plasmoids Deeper than that, Julian asks if perhaps we are re-enacting a pattern from the mid to late 1800s, when social upheaval in America’s Northeast led to new religions, failed prophecies, the rise and fall of charismatic heroes, and good people quit booze but got intoxicated on some quite bizarre beliefs. Correction: This recording states that David Grusch lost his security clearance. That is incorrect. In The Intercept article, Ken Klippenstein wondered how he was able to keep his security clearance after his psychiatric holds. Grusch left his job to become a whistleblower.

    1hr 13min

  4. 5 days ago

    Book Club: America, USA

    “I do not love America, and never have, especially now.” With an opening sentence like that, you know you’re in for a ride, and Eddie Glaude Jr does not disappoint. Derek discusses touch points from America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries, with a slight diversion into the surging online activism that purports to be about justice for all yet time and again refuses to acknowledge race as a foundation of our distress. Show Notes America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries Author Talk: Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. — America, U.S.A. - with Jonathan Capehart An African-Centered Critique of Marx’s Logic The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  5. 2 Jul

    315: Lifestyles of the Rich and Optimized

    Wellness for everyone. That’s how virtually every wellness event pitches their offering. If the everyman and woman did these practices or ingested these products or adopted these mindsets, we’d all be better off as a species. Yet what happens when the wellness event in question is hosted in an expensive resort town on the French Riviera and features top-tier celebrities like Oprah Winfrey speaking to guests who paid thousands of dollars to attend? Does it really remain “for everyone?” Show Notes The Impact of the TOMS Shoe Donation Program in Rural El Salvador Shoeing the Children Is Blake Mycoskie of TOMS an Evangelical Do in-kind transfers damage local markets? The case of TOMS shoe donations in El Salvador Instagram — @millennial.therapist It's On Me Sara Kuburic official site Notes From My Phone Alfried Längle's website  Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional Capitalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 16min

  6. 29 Jun

    Bonus Sample: Why Does JD Vance Think Catholic Social Teaching is Cool?

    JD Vance calls Catholic Social Teaching (CST) a "fully integrated theory of a good human life" — and he's not wrong that it sounds good. So how’s he going to weaponize it? Matthew traces why CST's moral critique of capitalism, innovated by Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum (1891), is tailor-made for Vance's political project. CST may be sincere about human dignity, but it actively suppresses structural analysis, while opening two dangerous doors of moralism: scapegoating powerful enemies above, and blaming the poor for their own immiseration below.  Show Notes Rerum Novarum, Leo XIII (1891) Humanum Genus, Leo XIII (1884) Purusha Sukta, Rigveda 10.90 B.R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste (1936) JD Vance, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith David Kertzer, The Popes Against the Jews Canadian Food for Children Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  7. Why Does JD Vance Think Catholic Social Teaching is Cool?

    29 Jun • Subscribers Only

    Why Does JD Vance Think Catholic Social Teaching is Cool?

    JD Vance calls Catholic Social Teaching (CST) a "fully integrated theory of a good human life" — and he's not wrong that it sounds good. So how’s he going to weaponize it? Matthew traces why CST's moral critique of capitalism, innovated by Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum (1891), is tailor-made for Vance's political project. CST may be sincere about human dignity, but it actively suppresses structural analysis, while opening two dangerous doors of moralism: scapegoating powerful enemies above, and blaming the poor for their own immiseration below.

    30 min

  8. 27 Jun

    Brief: Tulsi Gabbard & the Cult Leaders in the News

    Has former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s career been scripted and controlled by the strange leader of a breakaway Hare Krishna group? Chris Butler formed the Science of Identity organization in the seventies. Gabbard’s parents joined when she was two years old. Gabbard claims Butler has no influence on her political life, yet bombshell reporting by the Washington Post piece unearths 25,000 leaked documents to reveal that her guru may have been pulling the strings all along. The kicker? Gabbard resigned two days after journalist Jon Swaine let her team know the article would be published. Meanwhile, another cult-leader story concerns American-born Abdullah Hashem. Claiming to be the “true and only legitimate pope” (as well as successor of Jesus, Saint Peter, and Mohammed), Hashem and 150 followers took over a former orphanage in England—and have been building a significant online following ever since. On April 29, hundreds of police raided Hashem’s headquarters, charging the holy man and eight others with human trafficking, sex crimes, and forced marriage. This is the story of how these two cult operators are influencing minds across the pond. Show Notes British Police Raid Abdullah Hashem’s Compound Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders Granted in AROPL Case Religious Sect Immigration Visas Investigated Patreon Bonus: The New Age Muslim Apocalyptic Prophet WaPo Piece on Tulsi Gabbard’s Mysterious Guru’s Influence on her Political Career Hare Krishna Guru Sought Political Power Starting in the 1970s New Yorker: What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1k
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Conspirituality
  • Show Website
    Conspirituality
  • Provider
    Derek Beres

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