We decided to release this Monday patron bonus episode publicly after receiving a great response on Patreon. Julian draws heavily on the work of neurologist and author V.S. Ramachandran in an attempt to explore Conspirituality after the Capitol insurrection. How might an understanding of synesthesia, epilepsy, super-stimuli, hyper-reality, and fascism help us make sense of the overlap between the QAnon fantasy timeline and real world blood and guts? -- -- -- <a href="https://www.patreon.com/conspirituality">Support us on Patreon</a> Pre-order Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat: <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/derek-beres-matthew-remski-julian-walker/conspirituality/9781541702981/">America</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Conspirituality-Conspiracy-Theories-Became-Public/dp/1039005535/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1671042345&amp;refinements=p_27%3AMatthew+Remski&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1">Canada</a> Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/conspiripod/">Instagram</a> | Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/derekberes">Derek</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewremski">Matthew</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/JulianMWalker">Julian</a> Original music by <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UeZCWSQYhQZwLM4tZxyrf?si=eOol5AckQli7rJgG-3I5tg">EarthRise SoundSystem</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

36: Guru Jagat’s Pandemic Brandwash (w/Philip Deslippe & Stacie Stukin)

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.