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Conspirituality

Conspirituality

By: Derek Beres Matthew Remski Julian Walker
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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.© 2023 Conspirituality Philosophy Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Book Club: America, USA

    Book Club: America, USA
    Jul 4 2026
    “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
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    30 mins
  • 315: Lifestyles of the Rich and Optimized

    315: Lifestyles of the Rich and Optimized
    Jul 2 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Bonus Sample: Why Does JD Vance Think Catholic Social Teaching is Cool?

    Bonus Sample: Why Does JD Vance Think Catholic Social Teaching is Cool?
    Jun 29 2026
    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
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    6 mins
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