Breaking Down: Collapse Daily Episode 132 - Anti-Intellectualism in the Age of Colapse
Mar 16, 2026
Anecdotes about rising anti-intellectualism and how conspiratorial thinking seems increasingly normalized. Discussion of possible causes like COVID, media influence, lead exposure, and denial as coping. Tales of climate skepticism tied to strange weather and claims of weather manipulation. Reflections on how ignorance, inequality, and political capture block collective solutions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Snowboarding Escape Reveals Climate and Burnout
- Kory describes feeling low-energy yet escaping on a snowboarding trip and noticing unusually low mountain snow levels this winter.
- He contrasts vacation guilt with returning to heavy workload and reflects nostalgically on washing dishes as a simpler life.
Online Collapse Communities Are Losing Engagement
- Kory notes r/collapse still has large weekly traffic but reduced engagement, making genuine online conversation harder.
- He connects this decline with platforms being flooded by bots and diminishing spaces for thoughtful discussion.
Fringe Beliefs Have Moved Into Everyday Conversation
- Kory highlights a Reddit post about everyday conversations where fringe beliefs are voiced confidently and without shame.
- He notes this normalization means conspiracy talk moved from obscure corners into ordinary social interactions and institutions.