The Social Chemist
The Social Chemist
Nelson Perez
A podcast that looks into the psychosocial elements that contribute to conspiracy theories and political extremism. Hosted by social worker and conspiracy theory researcher Nelson Perez.
Rudy Ridge: The Day the End Times Arrived w/ Chris Jennings
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Chris Jenning, author of "End of Days: Ruby Ridge, The Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America, which documents the lead-up to the 1992 Ruby Ridge siege, which involved the Weaver family and Kevin Harris against the FBI. A standoff that lasted 11 days and ended the life of an officer, a mother, and a son. We revisit this event 32 years later and assess whether we learned anything about the far right since then. Instagram The Social Che...
May 13
49 min
Women, Extremism and the Lure of Belonging w/ Noelle Cook
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Noelle Cook, an ethnographer and author of The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging, which explores the stories of two middle-aged white women in America, Tammy and Yvonne, and the psychosocial influences that led them down the path of QAnon conspiracy theories and insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. We discuss how identity, social media, and trauma informed their worldview, and learn about their take on Trump dur...
Mar 20
1 hr 16 min
Inside the Capitol on J6 w/ Nora Neus
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, Emmy-nominated producer and author Nora Neus joins the podcast to discuss her new book "24 Hours at The Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6th Insurrection," which documents the testimony of Capitol Hill police officers, lawmakers, and extremism researchers that experience and foresaw the events of J6. We also cover the state of the Trump administration and its path towards fascism. Instagram The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram pho...
Jan 30
45 min
The Fight Against Alex Jones, InfoWars and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook w/ Robbie Parker
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Robbie Parker, the father of Emilie Parker, who tragically lost her life at the age of 6 at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14th, 2012. We discuss his book, A Father's Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook, which covers his journey in addressing the trauma of losing a child, his own childhood trauma, and his journey towards peace while taking on Alex Jones in court. Instagram The Social Ch...
Oct 30, 2025
1 hr 7 min
The Evolution of Lone Actors & Political Violence in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand w/ Dr Nathan Brooks
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Dr. Nathan Brooks, a forensic psychologist who specializes in complex offending behaviors, threat assessment, and target violence. We cover his 2025 book "Mass Casualty: The Rise of Lone Actors, which examines the psychosocial elements that contribute to political violence and mass shootings. Recommendations are given to help neighbors, friends, and families detect radicalization before it's too late. Instagram The Social Chemist...
Sep 27, 2025
38 min
Inside The Movement To Destroy American Democracy w/ Katherine Stewart
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Katherine Stewart, a journalist and author of "Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement To Destroy American Democracy." We cover the donors and strategies that are behind the Christian Nationalist movement, as well as assess how Trump's presidency has benefited from this far-right philosophy. Instagram The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videos Thread The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on Threads Katherine...
Sep 5, 2025
37 min
The State of Terrorism in the U.S. w/ Jacob Ware
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, Jacob Ware from the Council on Foreign Relations returns to discuss the state of U.S. domestic terrorism after the 2024 U.S. Elections. We cover whether the definition of terrorism has been weaponized against marginalized communities by the Trump administration, and debate on whether the charges against Luigi Mangione can be considered terroristic. Instagram The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videos Thread The Social Chemis...
Jun 5, 2025
37 min
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza w/ Peter Beinart
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Peter Beinart, a professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York and author of "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza". A book that assesses how the Zionist movement has rationalized the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza after the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, and why the current Israeli policies towards Palestine are contributing to the next ...
Apr 27, 2025
32 min
Christian Nationalism Under Trump's Second Term w/ Amanda Tyler
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, I am joined by Amanda Tyler, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, to discuss her new book, "How to End Christian Nationalism," where she covers the eight steps you can take to help fight against the influence of Christian Supremacy in U.S politics. Instagram The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videos Thread The Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on Threads Amanda Tyler's Book How to End Ch...
Apr 2, 2025
44 min
The Psychology of Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories w/ Dr. Joseph Pierre
Send us Fan Mail On today's episode, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Pierre returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "False: How Mistrust, Disinformation, and Motivated Reasoning Make Us Believe Things That Aren't True." We explore how confirmation bias has been put on steroids, the democratization of influence in the online world, whether it has made us less or more informed, and whether the excessive consumption of conspiracy theories should be thought of as an addiction disorder.&nb...
Mar 26, 2025
47 min
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