Episodes

  • Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear with Miles Mercer.

    Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear with Miles Mercer.
    Jan 27 2026
    Armed & Anxious is a three-part documentary podcast series examining how fear—shaped by crime, media, and uncertainty—drives gun ownership in America. Hosted by Miles Mercer, the series explores why gun sales surge during moments of crisis, how social media and viral crime content distort perceptions of risk, and what the evidence actually says about guns and home defense. Blending data analysis, historical context, and psychological insight, Armed & Anxious separates facts from fear, revealing the complex trade-offs between perceived safety and real-world risk in a nation deeply divided over guns Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series! https://amzn.to/42YoQGI
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    1 min
  • Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear - Home Defense Myths vs. Realities

    Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear - Home Defense Myths vs. Realities
    Jan 27 2026
    20 mins
  • Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear - Social Media Fear Cycles

    Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear - Social Media Fear Cycles
    Jan 27 2026
    “Social Media Fear Cycles” Episode Two of Armed & Anxious explores how social media has transformed Americans’ perception of crime and danger. Host Miles Mercer breaks down how algorithms prioritize fear-driven content—violent videos, crime headlines, and viral security footage—creating a constant sense of threat regardless of actual local risk. The episode examines platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and neighborhood apps, showing how repeated exposure to sensational crime fuels anxiety, normalizes gun ownership, and influences first-time buyers. By unpacking the mechanics behind these digital fear loops, Episode Two reveals how online environments quietly shape real-world decisions about safety and firearms. Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series! https://amzn.to/42YoQGI
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    23 mins
  • Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear -Crime Waves and Panic Buying

    Arms - Armed & Anxious - Separating Facts from Fear -Crime Waves and Panic Buying
    Jan 27 2026
    “Crime Waves and Panic Buying” In the opening episode of Armed & Anxious, host Miles Mercer examines why fear—more than crime itself—drives Americans to buy guns. Focusing on moments of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and election cycles, the episode traces how uncertainty, media coverage, and political messaging fuel panic buying and create surges in first-time gun ownership. Using data, historical trends, and psychological research, Episode One reveals the disconnect between actual crime rates and perceived danger, showing how anxiety, not evidence, often shapes decisions about personal safety and firearms. Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series! https://amzn.to/42YoQGI
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    21 mins