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46: Back to the Vax (w/Lydia Greene & Heather Simpson)

46: Back to the Vax (w/Lydia Greene & Heather Simpson)

FromConspirituality


46: Back to the Vax (w/Lydia Greene & Heather Simpson)

FromConspirituality

ratings:
Length:
146 minutes
Released:
Apr 8, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Our EP10 guest, Center for Countering Digital Hate founder, Imran Ahmed, has been bringing the heat. His “Disinformation Dozen” white paper made a huge splash, prompting a conference call with Nancy Pelosi’s team ahead of their biannual grilling of Zuckerberg and Dorsey. Ahmed’s paper spotlights the fact that 65% of anti-vax content originates from just 12 social media figures. Conspirituality superstars Sayer Ji, Kelly Brogan, and Christiane Northrup hold positions 8, 9, and 10. Ahmed wants them deplatformed—and he’s making it happen. In response, the Dozen are raising money and having themselves caricatured as superheroes.Who have they been deceiving and emotionally abusing? This week Matthew interviews Heather Simpson and Lydia Greene from Back to the Vax, an anti-disinformation think-tank they founded after fleeing the online cult of anti-vax propaganda. In their first interview together, Simpson and Greene recount how mother-centered anti-vax social media spaces drew them in and exposed them to all manner of anxious conspiracism—and what it cost them to leave. They’ve got a very clear message about how public health communications can meet this entrenched challenge.In the Ticker, Julian tracks the Dozen’s emerging strategy, Derek finally addresses the English elephant in the room, Russell Brand, and Matthew takes an early look at the big reveal of Cullen Hoback’s Q: Into the Storm on HBO.02:43 Ticker1:12:54 The Jab1:18:18 Interview with Lydia Greene & Heather SimpsonAll music by EarthRise SoundSystemSupport Conspirituality on PatreonShow NotesWhat “Causes” Covid? The Virus or The System?Decoding the Gurus: Russell Brand: Spiritual Transcendence and Anarchic Revolution is PraxisMike Rothschild on Hoback’s Q: Into the StormEpisode 136: Into The Storm feat Cullen Hoback by QAnon AnonymousI’m Cullen Hoback, the guy who made that QAnon series on HBO Max. AMA! : televisionRothschild on the HBO reveal: Ron Watkins QAnon: The Truth Has Always Been ThereBack to the VaxLydia on NPR: She Resisted Getting Her Kids The Usual Vaccines. Then The Pandemic HitHeather on CNN: Why this former anti-vaxx influencer is getting the Covid vaccine
Released:
Apr 8, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

A weekly study of converging right-wing conspiracy theories and faux-progressive wellness utopianism. 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.