Conspirituality
Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
Dismantling New Age cults, wellness grifters, and conspiracy-mad yogis. 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 28, 2026 • 32min
Brief: Eulogy for Joseph Baker, Faithful Listener
A heartfelt eulogy for a longtime listener who blended A Course in Miracles with grounded social work. The host recounts an unlikely online friendship that challenged cultural biases and opened new perspectives on faith. Conversations touch on political radicalization, abolitionist views, and a book envisioning horizontal spiritual communities. Funeral scenes and lasting presence in memory are described.
22 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 13min
301: Gen X Meets the Manosphere
They dissect Louis Theroux’s streaming film and whether its style normalizes the manosphere. They trace cult tactics from Synanon to Cesar Chavez and the fallout of renaming public honors. They probe OnlyFans economics, monetized misogyny, and risky influencer trends like looksmaxing and peptide use. They debate documentary ethics around consent, safety, and who pays the price.
7 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 8min
Bonus Sample: The New Age Muslim Apocalyptic Prophet
Abdullah Hashem, a self-styled messianic figure from Indiana turned Egyptian/UK-based broadcaster, claims to bridge Christianity and Islam. He discusses apocalyptic prophecy, angels and aliens, reincarnation, ritualized follower practices, and geopolitics tied to his rise. The conversation highlights his theatrical broadcasts, multilingual outreach, and the strange beliefs that attract devoted followers.
Mar 21, 2026 • 30min
Brief: The Book Men Actually Need
A data-driven look at gendered life pressures and why women may be more exhausted than often portrayed. A sharp contrast between a work-first self-help approach and arguments to stop romanticizing long hours. A close look at household labor tracking, childcare burdens, negotiation differences, and policy fixes like leave and wage changes.
12 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 56min
300: Farming Ballerinas
A deep dive into a mega-influencer farming couple, their shift from raw milk to pasteurized products, and the testing controversy that followed. The conversation digs into ballet aesthetics, trad-wife branding, and how elite presentation masks labor and privilege. It also covers family wealth ties, business expansion, and the politics of large-family parenting.
Mar 16, 2026 • 7min
Bonus Sample: Anxiety is The Pitt(s)
A candid dive into real panic attacks and what makes them feel so immediate. Personal reflections on an ER scene and why medical realities ring true. Discussion of accurate physical signs and current science and interventions for anxiety. Brief looks at therapy approaches and research on physiological markers.
Mar 14, 2026 • 30min
Brief: The Stepford Wives Conference
A deep look at a conservative women’s leadership summit and its upbeat promotional spin. They unpack ticket tiers, influencer lineups, and the event’s wellness-pseudoscience crossover. Conversation explores branding, retro gender messaging, and the politics hidden behind claims of being apolitical. They also question profiteering and contradictions among presenters.
13 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 15min
299: American Jihad
A tense look at US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the Christian nationalist rhetoric seeping into the military. Reports of commanders framing war as biblical Armageddon and Pentagon prayer services raise constitutional and morale concerns. A financier’s language is unpacked for how it masks power as principle. Betting platforms turned political prediction markets and their ethical problems are also explored.
Mar 9, 2026 • 5min
Bonus Sample: Michael Parenti Went to a Yoga Ashram
A surprising tale about Michael Parenti attending a Sivananda yoga retreat and spotting the performative posturing. A look at Parenti’s Marxist background and the political lens he applied to spiritual spaces. Recounts his earlier activism, arrest, and media vilification that shaped his perspective. Ends with a prompt to explore more bonus content.
24 snips
Mar 7, 2026 • 45min
Brief: Bishop Bootlicker Barron
A critique of a prominent Catholic figure's shift into rightward political influence. Discussion of selective readings of Thomas Merton and an emphasis on beauty over radical politics. Examination of a major Catholic media empire's reach and business model. Questions about silence on ICE raids and the meaning of religious freedom in U.S. politics.
