
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
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.
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Listen to the full episode Influential right-wing pundit turned celebrity conspiracy-peddler, Candace Owens, just visited Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. While at “Russia’s Davos” she marvelled at the cleanliness and beauty of Moscow, explained that Americans were never given any real reason why Putin invading Ukraine was bad, and deflected questions about her potential presidential run. She’s not alone. MAGA has increasingly found a warm place in its heart for Vladimir Putin and other strongman dictator-types (like Viktor Orban). Owens rubbed shoulders with accused sex traffickers, the Tate Brothers, fake martial artist and aging film star, Steven Segall, Trump’s head of the Commission of Fine Arts, and representatives of the Taliban, North Korea, Iran, and China. In this reimagining of Russia—the same “evil empire” of GOP patron saint, Ronald Reagan—the post-Soviet dictatorship is poo-pooed as a danger to European democracies by a growing cadre on the right. Figures like Owens, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Tim Pool, Nick Fuentes, and Marjorie Taylor Green all oppose US support for Ukraine and involvement in the war in Iran. In another interesting turn, they now also all oppose US support for Israel—which makes for some strange diagonalist bedfellows with certain figures on the left, like Hasan Piker. Julian unpacks this story. Stay tuned for claims that Carlson and Green have been less harmful to Gaza than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as for erstwhile left-wing pundit Ana Kasparian’s come-to-Jesus moment on Owens’ show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the first edition of the Conspirituality Book Club, Derek dives into Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us by Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall, PhD. First, he looks at how RFK Jr and Jay Bhattacharya forced Hall out of his nutrition research position at the NIH in 2025. Then he covers some of the book's most intriguing findings, including: Why most people don't have "slow metabolism" Why most of us don't actually need more protein The origins of the wellness industry's fascination with products over science Why ultra-processed foods are actually dangerous (it's not what MAHA claims) The importance of calorie absorption Those microbiome tests are more scam than science Show Notes Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A plague is coming. We don’t know when or which one, but we do know that since humans started gathering in groups numbering in the thousands, plagues became a consistent feature of existence. So a plague is always on the horizon, and public health is the response of a healthy society. How healthy is America right now? Given that a recent NY Times investigation found that RFK Jr is laser-focused on vaccines and food dyes and not much of anything else, the news is not great. Today we look at candidates for the next plague, how unprepared the government is, and, in classic Conspirituality fashion, the wellness influencers selling products they just know will help your immune system stave off any little virus destined to become a plandemic. In This Week in Conspirituality, Matthew checks in on someone else’s health: Donald Trump, and the online prediction market that’s emerged to appease a cultural wish fulfillment. Show Notes We’re Not Ready for the Next Pandemic Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories Are Already Spreading Online Ebola, hantavirus: Is the world prepared for the next pandemic? ‘It's completely out of control’: Scientists warn bird flu could spark a human pandemic in 2026 Ebola Spread Shows Deadly Cost of Aid Retreat Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks raise questions about Trump’s health agency cuts RFK Jr. cuts jobs at minority health offices at HHS Trump admin plans to divert $2 billion in health funding to pay for USAID closure US funding cuts have hampered response to the deadly Ebola crisis, aid workers say RFK defends 25% cut to HHS budget in FY 2026 request after shrinking workforce US Withdrawal of Global Health Funding is ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ Amid Ebola, Hantavirus Outbreaks, Democrats Decry Trump's Health Cuts Viral outbreaks are always on the horizon – here are the viruses an infectious disease expert is watching in 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matthew investigates whether Pope Leo XIV's appeals to Liberation Theology represent genuine solidarity with the poor or a sophisticated form of spiritual bypassing. Drawing on Ole Jakob Løland's analysis of Francis's papacy, Remski traces how Rome has metabolized Liberation Theology into compatibility with 135 years of Catholic Social Teaching by absorbing its pastoral language while suppressing its structural conclusions. This involves a close reading of Cardinal Ratzinger's 1984 rebuke of Gutierrez et al. Ratzinger’s framing of empathy as temptation prefigures the "toxic empathy" discourse of our present moment. Francis's eulogies for Oscar Romero and Gustavo Gutiérrez honored their sacrifice but erased their politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FDA is bleeding out Covid contrarians. Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad, Tracy Beth Høeg—all gone. Jonathan Howard returns to discuss why so many RFK Jr's friends have reached the end of their bureaucratic road. Show Notes FDA Swaps Top Drug and Vaccine Regulators in Staff Overhaul F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Weeks of Pressure No One Should Care About or Trust Anything Dr. Marty Makary Says Ever Again My Sincere Message to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya: Welcome Aboard and Good Luck. We Are Rooting for Your Success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Leo the XIV wrote a big letter about a hyperobject. Many thoughts and debates are triggered. Today we’ll look at what the hell an encyclical is, the Vatican's decade-long conversation with Silicon Valley about coding morally-sound AI, and the broken and laundered echoes of Liberation Theology in Leo’s text. Show Notes Rerum Novarum, Leo XIII, May 15 1891 Catholic Church largest non-governmental landowner Magnifica Humanitas full text Paragraph 177: memory of past complicity in slavery Thiel’s Antichrist Framing Collides with Church Doctrine Why Silicon Valley is Turning to The Catholic Church Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation (1971/1973) Medellín Conference 1968, CELAM documents Camilo Torres Restrepo, ELN Colombia Ratzinger CDF investigation of Gutiérrez, 1984 James Martin SJ, "A capitalist priest reads Magnifica Humanitas," America Magazine Word on Fire publishing Magnifica Humanitas in hardcopy Brief: US v. Liberation Theology (Part 1) — November 1, 2025 Bonus: US v. Liberation Theology (Part 2) — November 3, 2025 Conspirituality Episode on Leo XIV vs Trump (Leo's immigration remarks through Good Friday) — April 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Derek reports on the role of journalism after attending the News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City last week. Show Notes 2026 News & Documentary Emmy Awards | NEWS NIGHT (LIVE) You Might Have Already Fallen for MAHA’s Conspiracy Theories Student awarded CBS News scholarship explains why he called out network at event: ‘I had to do it’ Jorge Ramos, who's anchored the news for nearly 4 decades, is leaving Univision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matthew investigates the under-construction STACK data centre at 3650 Danforth Avenue in Scarborough, two miles from his home, tracing what he finds through concentric circles of capital, neglect, hype, and deception. When complete, the 56MW hyperscale facility will draw the power of 50K Ontario homes. But it was built without public consultation, environmental monitoring, or any info on who the tenants will be. Its financing and ownership details track back through a web of investment firms with connections to both the Ford (provincial) and Carney (federal) governments. Show Notes STACK Infrastructure — About National Observer — One data centre or one million homes? Mapping Ontario's proposed hyperscaler boom Dirty Data — Environmental Reporting Collective ASME — Data Centre Ambient Heat Study, May 2026 Environment Canada — Heat Warnings City of Toronto — R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant Ontario Environmental Registry — Bill 40 Toronto City Council — Motion MM39.47 Democracy Now! — Karen Hao Interview AI Resist List Data Center Watch Indigenous Insider — Kevin O'Leary and Wonder Valley Parksville Qualicum News — BC Greens oppose Nanaimo data centre AI is Capital - Jodi’s Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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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.
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