The podcasts, TV shows, articles and other media re cults and conspiracy theories I found deep in the second Melbourne lockdown when all I had was media + hours alone.
Welcome to my 2020 depression nest! Also the worst ones fuck you for wasting my limited time.
*This list was curated in 2020 (including the tweets) thus, it is dated, sue me!
TV SHOWS
Seduced, Stan
On Stan this series really told the FUCKED UP story of the MLM scam/ sex cult NXIVM and the poor women subject to the narcissistic whims of known maniac Keith Raniere. Totally addictive a great way to waste a day and also build some empathy for the poor women who fall into MLMs - they just want community! Is that a crime!
Wild, Wild Country, Netflix
The OG story of early 80s new age spirituality implodes in a small town in Oregon. Iconic characters, fabulous gowns and poisoning the water supply this series has heaps to keep you interested and you realise how much it impacted ~the culture~
Going Clear: Scientology , Alex Gibney
V creepy and intense documentary from previous members, celebrities that gets right into the upper echelons of members. I watched this ages ago but remember being v creeped out after it. R L Hubbard looks like an evil nautical cat in the hat - bad vibes but good doco
Heavens Gate, Binge
Really wild story and well told! Only three episodes and you can see the slowly decent into where they ultimately end up. Its a really wild tale and I still kind of can’t believe it. Great watch and excellent soundtrack.
Q into the Storm
Finally a doco on the wild conspiracy, now cult that is QAnon. Watching this real time has been very exciting and terrifying but also: SO SO INTERESTING. However after watching this it truly is the meeting that could have been an email of documentaries. Like 2 episodes too long imo. We don’t NEED to know about the 2017 message boards dude, just tell us who is Q! Will say the Reply All episode #166 Country of Liars is a great intro and overview of QAnon.
Shit house
Pretty much anything else on on. Jonestown Paradise Lost is good and so is Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator but being in Australia we obvi don’t get the best TV but also: Im more of a podcast gal, so do your own research diva.
Will say though, most smaller conspiracies/ cult docs end up being too long and like, ultra boring with too much detail (like Q intro the Storm) I need TikTok bites baby!
“Rabbit Hole” The New York Times
Ever wanted to know how the Youtube algorithm radicalises people, destroys lives, families and relationships in blinding speed? Of course not - you are a normal person! Regardless, This is an E X C E L L EN T pod to start to understand how people are groomed into conspiratorial thinking from far right, QAnon and ‘self help’ . This podcast is so easy to listen to and shows how easy it is to slip down ANY rabbit hole.
“How QAnon spread to Australia and spilled into real life” Full Story, The Guardian
Just a great episode explaining how QAnon as a cult can twist and infiltrate almost any community including our own (duh as if a cult formed on shitposting and white supremacy wouldn’t go well in Australia) and how to spot when your gfs from high school have fallen into #SavetheChildren
What is Conspirituality and should we be worried? The Briefing
Hack explains what happened to Pete Evans, v nice I like Tom Tilley! He is hot and smart!
Reply All episode #166 Country of Liars
A great episode re QAnon, not too long, detailed and v funny! Am now on a Reply All binge
Armchaired & Dangerous Podcast
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman talk through some classique conspiracy theories with David Farrier (NZ Loui Theroux). Look, this sounds v bland, I hear you and love you, but they get into wild shit - Bigfoot, Lizard people & 9/11 are just the beginning and its probably as fun as this currently very heavy topic gets. Im docking points for once a month uploads though.
“Conspiracy Theories & Cult Dynamics” Con-spirituality Episode 1:
Spotify recommended this pod to me and I do rate this specific episode about how the wellbeing community is a funnel into conspiracies, racism and abuse because the hosts are all long stays in these communities along with also having experiences in cults.
“Wayfair and Human Trafficking Statistics” You’re Wrong About
Explainer on the Wayfairer conspiracy and an analysis of trafficking stats based on #SavetheChildren ‘stats’
floating on facebook. This is a good pod! I recommend this episode but also the Jonestown, Anna Nicole Smith, Marie Antoinette and Anastasia episodes. They just do their research and debunk a heap of assumed knowledge around pop culture conspiracies and urban legends.
Also in my mind they are Chelsea Pereti and Jo Lo Trugulio having a conversation.
Shit house
All of the Conspirituality Pod. It feels like 3 woke dudes real high on their own supply talking about the same thing over and over again. So you know, a standard pod made by white men.
QanonAnonomous. This pod is like a time capsule of the cult since its been going since 2019. In another world these guys (again white cis het men who don’t appear to have heard of women, people of colour or the LGBTQIA+ community) could have become supporters of Q because they are the target demo and have a very similar sense of humour. These episodes are dense. However they do go to the rallies which are worth listening to if you have a lot of washing to fold or something you really don’t want to be present for.
PODCASTS
(obvi am a podcast diva)
V OLD ASSORTED SOCIAL MEDIA
Science v Conspiracy Theories, @Vice IG
This is just an informative vid re how conspiratorial thinking became mainstream and how its a counter culture to um, literal science. its here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLulGHjnXIu/
How QAnon Crept Into Trump’s Mind + Turned Conspiracy into Reality, @VanityFair IG
Just a good post on how Trump used QAnon to turn his base out and the outcome of riling up lunatics. https://www.instagram.com/p/CG3LrqwJ0ei/
QAnonCasualties, r/QAnonCasualties Reddit
So interesting, terrifying and saddening - real life stories from people who have lost loved ones down the rabbit hole - a very nice way to spend a few hours and then never go back again
V fun thread re everything is a cult, Twitter @izakaminska
Good twitter thread about how cults are literally everywhere and how to work out if you’re in a good or bad one: https://twitter.com/izakaminska/status/1324996247548268544
Former QAnon Followers Explain What Drew Them In - And Got Them Out, RollingStone
Interesting article that humanises QAnon nuts and makes me think of how part of this cult is about dehumanising those outside of the group - ‘deep state/ elites’ which makes it easy to promote violence to these groups. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ex-qanon-followers-cult-conspiracy-theory-pizzagate-1064076/
A Theory About Conspiracy Theories, The New York Times
Really cool article about how some people ~could~ be more prone to conspiracy theories! And we continue to just let the YT algorithm push us all down rabbit holes for profit! I love capitalism! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/health/psychology-conspiracy-theories.html
Old mate Q ousted himself and the masses dont care, @Vice IG
A follow up to the Q Into the Storm doc and how QAnonies are handling it https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVKGsOM3IP/
Science v Conspiracy Theories @Vice Ig
Love this IGTV explainer on how science is used to fuel conspiratorial thinking. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLulGHjnXIu/
The Conspiracies behind Mass Shootings, @Vice Ig
How conspiracy theories radicalise mass shooters and which ones are the worst. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPQIR4jPQO/
Shithouse
List every piece of media on the internet that doesn’t hit it re cults and conspiracies? What did your last slave die of? Get out of my life