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49: Tik Tok Fulfillment Center (w/Abbie Richards)

49: Tik Tok Fulfillment Center (w/Abbie Richards)

FromConspirituality


49: Tik Tok Fulfillment Center (w/Abbie Richards)

FromConspirituality

ratings:
Length:
136 minutes
Released:
Apr 29, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

On the road to the screen, a rich story can flatten into propaganda. On the road to the influencer economy, a complex teaching can degrade into a conspirituality meme. As the Oscar glitter fades, we look at how Amazon could never have signed off on a real nomadland story any more than Gaia TV could have ever done justice to the spiritualities it exploits. In the Ticker, Julian looks at new research into correlations between huffing essential oils and seizures. Matthew looks at Miami’s Centner Academy’s announcement that they’ll fire vaccinated teachers—and wonders whether Kelly Brogan and Christiane Northrup sending kids and grandkids to this elite private school has something to do with it. In the Jab, Julian reviews the state of the nation re: vaccines, and offers three key principles to inject into conversations with the hesitant.Our interview this week is with TikTok anti-disinformation activist Abbie Richards, whose “Conspiracy Pyramid” and tea-time QAnon explainers have gone viral on the next-gen platform. Matthew talks with Abbie about her process, challenges, why she hates golf, and what GenXers (and older cohorts) should keep in mind when they wonder if the kids are alright.02:58 Ticker35:16 The Illusion of Nomadland1:12:16 The Jab1:22:41 Interview with Abbie Richards2:12:56 Interview updateAll music by EarthRise SoundSystemSupport Conspirituality on PatreonShow NotesJim DeFede breaks the Centner Academy storyCentner’s Medical Freedom from Mandated Vaccines (disinfo warning)Biscayne Times profile of the Centner’s: The Privileged ClassTour of the Centner’s Miami penthousePreethaji and Krishnaji, proprietors of O&O AcademyKrishnaji’s culty dad, Kalki Bhagavan: Mystic and the moolah‘It’s Baffling’: Parents Confused After Centner Academy Announces They Won’t Employ People Who Have Been VaccinatedThe Case Against NomadlandWhat Nomadland Gets Wrong About Gig LaborAmazon’s Minimum Wage Hike Comes With Cuts To Other Compensation“Strategic Transparency”: Ann Gleig. “From Sweeping Zen to Open Buddhism: Sex Scandals, Social Media, and Transparency in Western Buddhism” for Buddhism in the West Group. American Academy of Religion, Denver, November 17-20, 2018 (forthcoming)Abbie Richards
Released:
Apr 29, 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.