Episodios

  • Brief: Greta Thunberg’s “Super Power” vs. Fascists and Liberals (Pt 1)

    Brief: Greta Thunberg’s “Super Power” vs. Fascists and Liberals (Pt 1)
    Jun 28 2025
    Greta Thunberg is a burr in the ass of the powerful throughout the world—and not only for rightwing sociopaths. Increasingly, as she grows up, learns more, and networks with other activists around the world, she’s become a scourge for liberals as well. Many of them would prefer she remain a child, providing a theatre of emotional catharsis for a climate crisis industry more interested in raising money from green economy donors than forcing change. Now, as Thunberg broadens her target to capitalism and colonialism writ large, it’s more and more clear that she’s confronting what autistic philosopher Robert Chapman calls “the empire of normality”, from her lived experience of autism, about which so many of the conspiracy theories we cover here swirl. CORRECTION: Robert Chapman's pronouns are they/them. Chapter One: Seizure of the Madleen Why do Fascists Hate Greta Why are Liberals Backing Away from Greta? Neurodiversity and activism Chapter two (Monday on Patreon): Masking, Burnout, Contemplation Hamster Wheel of Capitalism Parenting in Humility Show Notes Israel Intercepts Gaza-Bound Aid Ship With Greta Thunberg Aboard - The New York Times Greta Thunberg “kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces” - YouTube Greta Thunberg Frog Hat - Shibtee Clothing Posts distort 2018 Greta Thunberg tweet on climate danger | AP News Lindsey Graham Fantasizes About Sinking Gaza Aid Ship Carrying Greta Thunberg | Truthout Thunberg gets backlash for pro-Palestinian post – DW – 10/21/2023 Fact Check: Altered image of Greta Thunberg holding antisemitic book | Reuters Right-Wing Attacks Greta Thunberg The cult of Greta Thunberg - spiked Targeting Greta Thunberg: A Case Study in Online Mis/Disinformation | German Marshall Fund of the United States The dangers of depicting Greta Thunberg as a prophet Margaret Atwood says Greta Thunberg is the ‘Joan of Arc’ of environmentalism | The Independent Greta Thunberg speech at climate protest Glasgow, November 5 We are all living in Greta's world now The Greta Effect: a timeline of Thunberg's activism leading to her being on the Madleen Fridays for Future – How Greta started a global movement Greta Thunberg: From a Darling of Liberal Media to Public Enemy No. 1 - Left Voice Why the Media Stopped Covering Greta Thunberg Greta Thunberg Speaks from Aid Ship Heading to Gaza Despite Israeli Threats: It’s My Moral Obligation | Democracy Now! Jason Hickel: Why a Liberated Palestine Threatens Global Capitalism The Climate Movement Breaks Through | The Nation Greta Thunberg Was Targeted for an Octopus. Then Israel Chimed In Greta Thunberg is far from the only neurodivergent climate activist – many who see the world differently also want to change it School strike for climate - save the world by changing the rules | Greta Thunberg | TEDxStockholm Understanding Masking: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Perspective - Autism Society of NC Mask of Your Own Face – Experiences with Masking as an Autistic Adult - Autism Spectrum News Autistic Masking “Masking Is Life”: Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults - PMC What Is Autistic Burnout? | Psychology Today Canada The Treadmill Tendency Greta Thunberg on X: "yes, please do enlighten me. email me at smalldickenergy@getalife.com" / X Our House Is on Fire by Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Malena Ernman, Beata Ernman: 9780143133575 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m
  • 263: The Apostle Assassin

    263: The Apostle Assassin
    Jun 26 2025
    “Dad went to war last night” read Vance Boelter's text to his family in the early hours of June 14. This was sent after his shooting rampage aimed at Democratic lawmakers, which left two dead and two critically wounded. Turns out Boelter is an ordained pastor in a church associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, which sees the world as a spiritual battlefield and whose leaders have preached that political enemies are possessed by demons. This is not some small fringe movement. Key figures in the Trump administration are adherents. We revisit this apocalyptic evangelical Christian cult and consider its political violence and religious extremism. Show Notes Seven Mountain Mandate, Paula White and Trump Home-goods companies prepare new Trump-linked products Who Wants a MAGA Instant Pot? I Tried Pre-Ordering the Trump Phone. The Page Failed and It Charged My Credit Card the Wrong Amount Doug Ford's Bill 5 is now law in Ontario. Here's what happens next Chiefs of Ontario issue urgent warning on Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, and will rally on Parliament Hill CCLA Urges Federal Government to Reverse Course on Bill C-5 Legal experts gear up to challenge Bill 5 as First Nations pledge to ‘close Ontario’s economy Reckless and chilling: Bill 5 is Doug Ford’s most dangerous legislation yet Anti-fascists linked to zero murders in the US in 25 years Brief: Stealing Democracy for Jesus An Audio-Documentary Series on the Christian Leaders and Ideas that Fueled the Capitol Riot The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows Meet the powerful evangelicals who believe Trump is an apostle who will reclaim America for Christ Vance Boelter and the Rise of “Spiritual Warfare” We Should Not Be Shocked That the Alleged Minnesota Shooter’s Christian School Is Connected to Political Violence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Listen Now: Liberty Lost

    Listen Now: Liberty Lost
    Jun 23 2025
    In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The Home says it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a different message: God wants their babies to go to more “deserving” Christian couples. Some girls will find the strength to fight back. Others will have no choice but to give in. And some, like Abbi, will turn their grief into resistance – and take a stand against the system before more mothers lose their children to adoptions they never wanted. From Wondery, host and reporter T. J. Raphael tells a startling true story of young love, coercion, and defiance – and the dangerous resurgence of maternity homes in post-Roe America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Bonus Sample: The Two-For-One Guru of MSIA

    Bonus Sample: The Two-For-One Guru of MSIA
    Jun 23 2025
    He built a lucrative seminar empire in the 80s, owned an Italian Villa, founded a “spiritual university,” and travelled the world with a harem of handsome young initiates. Roger Hinkins claimed to be inhabited by another consciousness that he called “John the Beloved” and the “Mystical Traveller,” which taught the secrets of out-of-body experiences. As he copied those teachings from elsewhere, his lies eventually caught up with him. But he told his loyal followers that critics and defectors were infected with an infectious demonic energy called “The Red Monk.” For this self-contained installment of his popular Roots of Conspirituality series, Julian tells the fascinating story the Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness, and how its leader fooled devotees into thinking he was clairvoyant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Brief: MAHA Mass Casualty Horizon

    Brief: MAHA Mass Casualty Horizon
    Jun 21 2025
    What dangers does an RFK Jr HHS pose to Americans, really? Derek dives into science writer's Laurie Garrett's work, who spoke to the dangers we're facing today in 1994—and who has raised an alarm about the consequences of destroying public health ever since. Show Notes The Coming Plague — Laurie Garrett Betrayal of Trust — Laurie Garrett Laurie Garrett on This Week in Virology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 m
  • 262: Dems Ask “What is a Man?”

    262: Dems Ask “What is a Man?”
    Jun 19 2025
    takeover—legacy media and Democratic strategists have the same question on their lips: What is going on with young men? Though Kamala Harris won the overall 18- to 29-year-old demographic, Trump improved his share by 9 points. Men in this age group voted for Trump by 16% more than women did. What explains this? Perhaps this is due to the right inflaming the anxieties and resentments of young men online. Red-pilled, hyper-masculine, anti-woke conspiracy influencers are filling the gap created by the “meaning crisis.” Maybe the left needs its own Joe Rogan! Not to worry: top political consultants Ilyse Hogue and John Della Volpe have pitched a new research initiative to the Democratic Party donor class. Their response, the widely derided SAM (Speaking with American Men), comes with a proposed $20M budget. No cap, bro, they'll low-key give center-left corporate politics the rizz it needs to slay the MAGA simps and cape for democracy. Politico: Dems set out to study young men RS: Dems $20M Plan to Win Young Men Less Engaged Voters Were Key To Trump’s Victory Kamala Underperformed with Three Demographics Nation: What Caused Dems No-Show Problem Cooke Report: A Comprehensive Analysis on Why Harris Lost Do Not Split: An Illuminating Look at Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Uprising - Human Rights First Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Bonus Sample: The Bethesda Declaration

    Bonus Sample: The Bethesda Declaration
    Jun 16 2025
    In October 2020, three contrarian medical professionals published The Great Barrington Declaration to great applause by the pro-business, anti-closure crowd. One of them, Jay Bhattacharya, now runs the NIH. Things are not going well under his watch. Last week, he was grilled in front of Congress about the $18B in proposed cuts to NIH funding. This happened a day after over 300 people under his guard published The Bethesda Declaration, a document filled with issues occurring under Bhattacharya's leadership. Derek discusses this new declaration and listens in on the Congressional hearing. The Bethesda Declaration An Uproar at the NIH The Disappearing Funds for Chronic Diseases Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 m
  • Brief: The Ghost Lab

    Brief: The Ghost Lab
    Jun 14 2025
    Cable travel channels are filled with haunted houses and other paranormal activity, beyond History Channel’s Ancient Aliens and cryptozoology content. The more radicalized Gaia TV has close to a million paid subscribers gobbling up content about yoga, meditation, and psychedelic consciousness alongside accounts of inter-dimensional cryptids, Q-adjacent vampire reptilians, and channeled messages from benevolent ETs. Julian’s talk with Pulitzer-nominated journalist Matt Hongoltz-Hetling about his new book, The Ghost Lab, How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts are Wrecking Science. In it, he explores the history of ghost hunting and asks if failing trust in educational, religious, and government institutions is fueling a burgeoning obsession with the paranormal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 m