Jon Ronson on the Allure of Conspiracies and the Culture War

Natural Nurse or Toxic Influence? The Paloma Shemirani StoryA Five-Part Series from Some Dare Call It ConspiracyThis week, we invite you to join us for an in-depth examination of the story behind one of the UK’s most talked about inquests. "Natural Nurse or Toxic Influence? The Paloma Shemirani Story" brings you a five-part series exploring the case’s many layers, from family dynamics and public controversy to the medical, social, and cultural questions at its heart.Through careful analysis of official inquest findings, publicly available interviews, and both media and expert commentary, we aim to provide listeners with a clear, balanced picture of what happened and why it matters. We’ve drawn on detailed statements and coverage from all sides: Paloma’s brothers, her mother, investigators, and healthcare professionals, ensuring that every episode is anchored in verifiable evidence and thoughtful context.All five episodes will be released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts from Monday to Friday. Want to listen to the entire series right now? Every episode is already available for free on our Patreon page - no paywall for this entire series.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

15 Okt 2h

This week, we invite you to join us for an in-depth examination of the story behind one of the UK’s most talked about inquests. "Natural Nurse or Toxic Influence? The Paloma Shemirani Story" brings you a five-part series exploring the case’s many layers, from family dynamics and public controversy to the medical, social, and cultural questions at its heart.Through careful analysis of official inquest findings, publicly available interviews, and both media and expert commentary, we aim to provide listeners with a clear, balanced picture of what happened and why it matters. We’ve drawn on detailed statements and coverage from all sides: Paloma’s brothers, her mother, investigators, and healthcare professionals, ensuring that every episode is anchored in verifiable evidence and thoughtful context.All five episodes will be released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts from Monday to Friday. Want to listen to the entire series right now? Every episode is already available for free on our Patreon page - no paywall for this entire series.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

14 Okt 1h 30min

This week, we invite you to join us for an in-depth examination of the story behind one of the UK’s most talked about inquests. "Natural Nurse or Toxic Influence? The Paloma Shemirani Story" brings you a five-part series exploring the case’s many layers, from family dynamics and public controversy to the medical, social, and cultural questions at its heart.Through careful analysis of official inquest findings, publicly available interviews, and both media and expert commentary, we aim to provide listeners with a clear, balanced picture of what happened and why it matters. We’ve drawn on detailed statements and coverage from all sides: Paloma’s brothers, her mother, investigators, and healthcare professionals, ensuring that every episode is anchored in verifiable evidence and thoughtful context.All five episodes will be released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts from Monday to Friday. Want to listen to the entire series right now? Every episode is already available for free on our Patreon page - no paywall for this entire series.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

13 Okt 1h 44min

This week, we invite you to join us for an in-depth examination of the story behind one of the UK’s most talked about inquests. "Natural Nurse or Toxic Influence? The Paloma Shemirani Story" brings you a five-part series exploring the case’s many layers, from family dynamics and public controversy to the medical, social, and cultural questions at its heart.Through careful analysis of official inquest findings, publicly available interviews, and both media and expert commentary, we aim to provide listeners with a clear, balanced picture of what happened and why it matters. We’ve drawn on detailed statements and coverage from all sides: Paloma’s brothers, her mother, investigators, and healthcare professionals, ensuring that every episode is anchored in verifiable evidence and thoughtful context.All five episodes will be released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts from Monday to Friday. Want to listen to the entire series right now? Every episode is already available for free on our Patreon page - no paywall for this entire series.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

13 Okt 1h 49min

Initiates! We're jumping ahead in the T.W.A.T.S timeline to cover the recent fall out of some odious characters. Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens had a fall out, Tucker Carlson and Milo Yiannopoulos came out to join Candace in attacking Fuentes.. and everyone forgot about their ties with Ali Alexander which shows how none of them have any integrity, let alone an honest bone in their body.We decided to take this hilarious opportunity to cover the slagging match and give you a profile of these wretched characters.All three episodes are available right now for Patreons!Find the collection here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1718932Enjoy!AD FREE EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE AT https://www.patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy FOR JUST $2 PER MONTH TWO EPISODES PER WEEK AVAILABLE FOR $5 (PATREONS ARE CURRENTLY 5 EPISODES OF T.W.A.T.S. AHEAD OF SPOTIFY/APPLE USERS) JOIN US AND SUPPORT THE PODCASTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

26 Sep 1h 42min

Initiates! We're jumping ahead in the T.W.A.T.S timeline to cover the recent fall out of some odious characters. Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens had a fall out, Tucker Carlson and Milo Yiannopoulos came out to join Candace in attacking Fuentes.. and everyone forgot about their ties with Ali Alexander which shows how none of them have any integrity, let alone an honest bone in their body.We decided to take this hilarious opportunity to cover the slagging match and give you a profile of these wretched characters.All three episodes are available right now for Patreons!Find the collection here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1718932Enjoy!AD FREE EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE AT https://www.patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy FOR JUST $2 PER MONTH TWO EPISODES PER WEEK AVAILABLE FOR $5 (PATREONS ARE CURRENTLY 5 EPISODES OF T.W.A.T.S. AHEAD OF SPOTIFY/APPLE USERS) JOIN US AND SUPPORT THE PODCASTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

18 Sep 1h 27min

Initiates! We're jumping ahead in the T.W.A.T.S timeline to cover the recent fall out of some odious characters. Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens had a fall out, Tucker Carlson and Milo Yiannopoulos came out to join Candace in attacking Fuentes.. and everyone forgot about their ties with Ali Alexander which shows how none of them have any integrity, let alone an honest bone in their body.We decided to take this hilarious opportunity to cover the slagging match and give you a profile of these wretched characters.All three episodes are available today for Patreons!Find the collection here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1718932Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

11 Sep 1h 38min

Today we are releasing the full episode of "Testing MIT’s DebunkBot". This was a premium episode, previously only available for our Patreons. Please consider supported us on Patreon for other exclusive episodes and benefits including early releases and ad-free content. Our members currently have access to the next 10 episodes of "The World According To Some" so join us and don't get left behind!https://www.patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy In today's "premium unleashed" episode, Brent Lee and Neil Sanders embarked on a deep dive to test a new AI chatbot called "DebunkBot" developed by MIT, which is touted to reduce conspiratorial beliefs by 20%.Our journey began with a discussion about the chatbot's capabilities and some initial expectations. As former conspiracists turned debunking enthusiasts, we were keen to explore its effectiveness from our unique vantage point. We simulated our past selves and presented DebunkBot with some of the prominent 9/11-related conspiracy theories, such as the controlled demolition theory, the NORAD war games, and the lack of CCTV footage at the Pentagon.The conversation with DebunkBot was enlightening. It provided detailed responses to each point we raised, explaining the structural collapse of the Twin Towers with insights on building construction and weight distribution, clarifying the routine nature of NORAD's war games and the ensuing initial confusion among responders, and delving into the technical limitations of the Pentagon’s CCTV footage during the attack. The bot was well-equipped with official narratives backed by credible evidence from multiple lines of sources, such as physical plane components, eyewitness testimony, and flight data.Despite the solid responses, we identified several areas where DebunkBot fell short. The explanations, although factually sound, often lacked the depth required to sway deeply entrenched conspiracy theorists. The chatbot delivered answers that were too straightforward, potentially missing the layers of skepticism that seasoned conspiracy believers entertain. We observed that it could appear patronizing and insufficient for those ingrained in these beliefs.To enhance DebunkBot's effectiveness, we suggested a few improvements:1. **Deeper Engagement**: Incorporate more nuanced discussions that consider the various levels of skepticism and alternate narratives conspiracy theorists might hold.2. **Personalized Responses**: Tailor responses to align with the specific doubts or assumptions the questioning individual may harbor, bridging the gap between casual skepticism and deep-seated belief.3. **Interactive Evidence Presentation**: Use interactive elements to present evidence in a more compelling and engaging manner, such as visual aids or comparisons that directly counter alternate theories.4. **Audience Trust Building**: Develop strategies to build trust with users who inherently distrust official narratives, perhaps by showing behind-the-scenes transparency of how evidence is verified and vetted.5. **Expanded Fact-Checking Capabilities**: Ensure the bot can access a broader range of verifiable sources and provide real-time links to comprehensive, detailed explanations and rebuttals.6. **Tone and Approach Variation**: Offer different tones of responses, from formal to jokey, to make the interaction more relatable and less confrontational.Ultimately, our test of DebunkBot demonstrated that while it’s a promising tool for debunking conspiracy theories with credible evidence, there is a significant need for adjustments to more effectively engage and persuade those deeply immersed in conspiracy thinking. As such, continued refinement and enhancing its capability to address both surface-level and deeply ingrained queries hold the key to its wider acceptance and success.Try DebunkBot yourself at https://www.debunkbot.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

28 Aug 1h 6min