185: Light in the Growing Darkness

5 am. Day 4 of executive plant medicine retreat. The venture capital tech bro sits on a metaverse mountaintop, immersed in deep meditation. He hears a hum—a vibration from the great beyond. A mantra rises up like kundalini gas bubbles just in front of his spine: techno-capital machine. Today we dissect Marc Andreessen’s anarcho-capitalist attempt at a Silicon Valley religious doctrine, The Techno-Optimist Manifesto. If you’ve never donated through GiveWell before, you can have your donation matched up to $100 before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last. To claim, go to GIVEWELL.ORG and pick PODCAST and enter Conspirituality at checkout. Show Notes The Techno-Optimist Manifesto The Ben & Marc Show: The Techno-Optimist Manifesto What the Techno-Billionaire Missed About Techno-Optimism When was the last time Marc Andreessen talked to a poor person? The Futurist Manifesto Marc Andreessen Is the Buyer of Serge Azria’s Malibu Home The Billionaire’s Dilemma The Summer of NIMBY in Silicon Valley’s Poshest Town 37.9 million Americans are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. But the problem could be far worse. Why American wages haven’t grown despite increases in productivity Post-pandemic poverty is rising in America’s suburbs The Federal Reserve says Taylor Swift's Eras Tour boosted the economy. One market research firm estimates she could add $5 billion The Surprising Poverty Levels Across the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Marras 20231h 25min

Matthew’s essay about the transient, disorganized, purificatory pleasure of RFK Jr's campaign for his wellness/yoga/biohacker demographic.  A workshop breakthrough is not a strategy. The pleasure of deconstruction is not a theory of change. With reference to Vincent Bevins’s brilliant new book: If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution. If you’ve never donated through GiveWell before, you can have your donation matched up to $100 before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last. To claim, go to GIVEWELL.ORG and pick PODCAST and enter Conspirituality at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 Loka 202318min

Bari Weiss recently held a "debate" about the failure of the sexual revolution. Expensive tickets to the Theater at the Ace Hotel in downtown LA allowed you to see Grimes and Sarah Haider talk about motherhood, porn, and woke culture with Anna Khachiyan and Louise Perry. And the results were...rather boring, says journalist Michelle Lhooq. Derek gets the lowdown from Lhooq, who wonders how the New Right captured the cool factor of the American counterculture—and how the Left gets it back. Show Notes The Grimes / Red Scare debate was a right-wing psy-op Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 Loka 202329min

Get full access to all of our episodes and listen ad-free on Patreon. Today’s profile by Julian is of a man who connects the dots between the gun-nut fifth column in American law enforcement, local school board and city council anti-woke mania, and grassroots Christian Nationalist/QAnon crossover. Like our other swamp creatures, his involvement in the chicanery around the last two elections make him a clear and present danger to democracy. With him, our poker hand improves to three of a kind, because like Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, he was also indicted by the Mueller Probe—and in his case, pled guilty—only to be granted a full presidential pardon by Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Loka 20234min

Arizona’s recent increase in “sovereign citizen filings” connects to a New Age spiritual center called the Ultimate Light Mission. Julian talks to investigative reporter Isaac Stone Simonelli. Show Notes Sedona's wellness to radicalization pipeline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Loka 202325min

Women journalists spend years meticulously investigating, corroborating and fact-checking allegations that Russell Brand is a serial sex offender. The result? A 6600-word masterpiece of survivor-centered concision, battle-tested by a legion of editors and lawyers. But the manosphere responds! With logorrheic defenses, conspiracy theories, and rationalizations. Peak posting through it. We look at choice man-stan statements from Charles Eisenstein (RFK Jr’s Director of Messaging), and psychonaut Daniel Pinchbeck. We also look at a pre-allegations interview Brand did with meditation guru Jack Kornfield to learn more about how Brand has ingratiated himself to wellness entrepreneurs flattered by his attention.  Show Notes BBC and police begin inquiries as Russell Brand faces more claims  ‘Jimmy Savile police unit’ helps Met with Russell Brand investigation  Russell Brand quizzed by cops 9 YEARS ago over claims he sexually assaulted masseuse and treated her 'like a prostitute' On Mobs, Cults, and Russell Brand - Charles Eisenstein  Brand and Circuses - Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter  Open Letter to Russell Brand — Daniel Pinchbeck's Newsletter A Cultural Crucible - Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter   Alyssa Milano on the #MeToo movement: 'We're not going to stand for it any more' Writer blames ‘predatory’ ways on women | Page Six   #6 - Abusing Power: Taking Predatory Daniel Pinchbeck At His Word   We Refuse to Endorse Daniel Pinchbeck as a Credible Voice in the Psychedelic Movement   Community, Transparency and Accountability—Dr. Ann Gleig in conversation with Egyoku Nakao Roshi & Tenku Ruff Roshi   Jack Kornfield (Morality, Spirituality & AI) - Stay Free with Russell Brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Loka 20231h 20min

Four members of the Florida-based Grenon family were recently sentenced to between 5 and 12 years of prison for selling bleach. The problem? They claimed that bleach, known as Miracle Mineral Solution, cured Covid-19—as well as cancer, autism, AIDS, erectile dysfunction, and over 90% of the world's ailments. The elder Grenon, Mark, had founded the Genesis II Church of Health & Healing alongside of MMS's founder, Jim Humble, who left the church in 2017. How did the Grenons profit from industrial-strength bleach for 13 years before finally being convicted? And why are so many people sprinkling bleach crystals in their morning glass of water to "detoxify?" Derek investigates. Show Notes Family Sentenced for Selling Bleach as ‘Miracle’ Covid-19 Cure Drinking bleach can be deadly but lots of Americans are falling for fake bleach ‘cures’ Fringe 'Church' Founder on MMS: It's No Cure Genesis 2 Church FDA Warning Letter Jim Humble MMS Testimonials Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Loka 20239min

On October 9, RFK Jr. brought his three-podcast-bros-in-a-trench-coat campaign to Philadelphia. On a dias across from Independence Hall, he announced his anticipated departure from the Democratic party and his new status as an independent candidate. Matthew and Julian profile his conspirituality credentials, his diagonalist politics, and his incoherent positions: He attacks public health officials, or corporations—it’s all the same. He can pretend to care about health while making fatphobic and ableist comments. He can rail against the capture of federal regulatory agencies while proclaiming himself a staunch free market capitalist. He can pretend to help advance the lives of Black people by telling them that vaccines are a racist plot against them. He can earnestly identify with and fight in court for dispossessed tribes on American soil, while doubling down on morbid power imbalances abroad. Butcherbox promo: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/CONSPIRITUALITY and use code CONSPIRITUALITY to receive ground beef for life plus $20 off your first order. Show Notes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces independent run for president, ending Democratic primary challenge to Biden 164: The Two Faces of Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.  Brief: The New Age Origin Story of RFK Jr’s Campaign Brief: RFK's Health Propaganda Roundtable Brief: RFK Jr., The Anti-Vax Candidate Brief: RFK Jr Flirts with Body Fascism (w/Natalia Petrzela) Kennedy Condemns Terrorist Attacks Against Israel  Tribal Council | lowerbrulesiouxtribe  Special Report: Stealing Indigenous Voices in Australia (w/Tyson Yunkaporta)  Robert Kennedy’s Indian Commitment  Deep Commitment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Loka 20231h 12min