A humorous and informative analysis of conspiracy theories new and old by Josh Addison and Associate Professor of Philosophy (and conspiracy theory theorist) M R. X. Dentith.
The Podcaster's Guide to the Conspiracy tackles a story torn from today's headlines (about an issue that goes back to the late 90s), as we discuss the Horizon Post Office scandal. If you live in the UK, this may be a story you're familiar with, but for rest of us, it makes for a darkly fascinating affair. (Mentions of suicide, just in case that's problem for you.)
Josh and M review the third series of the podcast 'Bed of Lies', which deals with what the British were doing during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The answer is 'They were up to no good', but what kind of 'no good' was it?
This week we look into a 450-year-old compilation of 900-year-old prophecies about who's going to be the pope. Unless it's actually a 450-year-old fake about who we want to be the pope. In either case, it makes one thing clear: there are now Too Many Popes. (Which is like Too Many Cooks, but with fancier hats.)
Josh and M conclude their discussion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of "Tunnel Vision" by Martin Butler.
This is definitely the last time we'll talk about Martin Butler's book "Tunnel Vision" and the conspiracy theories it contains. We don't have a problem - we can stop any time we want! Or can we...?
Josh and M continue their review of not one, not two, but not quite three editions of Martin Butler's book "Tunnel Vision," the best argument yet for a hidden tunnel complex under Auckland's North Head. In this episode a lot of testimony is discussed...
Conspiracy theories about secret tunnels under the military base on North Head are essentially the reason why this podcast exists in the first place, so we probably should have looked at the book (books?) that puts forward the best case for these conspiracy theories a long time ago. But we didn't - we're doing it now. This will be part one of at least two, depending on how far down the rabbit hole we follow Mr. Butler...
Josh and M revisit the story of the mysterious disappearance of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt by going to a website written and hosted by someone who claims to be at least partially responsible for the event...
We're revisiting a topic from over ten years ago (which we can do, because apparently this podcast is over ten years old, even though that can't be right), as we talk about notable cases of people disappearing in conspiratorial circumstances, never to be seen again. We hit the classics (Hoffa and Lucan) and more besides.
Josh talks to M about their recent presentation at the University of Waikato.
M is off living life, so Josh presents a solo episode about a big bang. But not the sexy kind, the World War I sabotage kind. Which, we think you'll agree, is worse.
We're back! The good news is that M and Josh are in the same country, so can record together in person; the bad news is that this means the usual recording setup isn't available, so the sound quality leaves something to be desired (the wind actually whistling around the building doesn't help either). Nevertheless, it won't stop Josh from making good on his promise to scour more of M's old radio show episodes and throw them back in their face.
It's a Xmas miracle: a formerly patron bonus episode made freely available to all. Here M talks with Brian L. Keeley about that LLM-generated podcast that was based upon his work.
Gather round, children! It's nearly Christmas time, and if you listen closely, you can hear the approach of that most Christmassy of things: a low-effort "year in review" episode to finish off the year! It's a Yuletide miracle probably!
Copyright be damned; Josh and M want you to know about a podcast about conspiracy theories, the contents of which are so scandalous that Josh and M play the entirety of that podcast in their very own!
M tells Josh about the Berners Street Hoax of 1810 in this, the return of "What the Conspiracy!"
Regular recording didn't work out this week, so Josh has recorded a short episode that acts as a companion piece to our last episode on the killings of political dissidents, followed by a brief Public Service Announcement on a matter close to his heart. Also, for some reason this time his microphone picked up every single rustle of fabric every time he moved, so watch out for that.
This week we travel back in time to look at the death by poison-tipped umbrella of a Bulgarian dissident living in London in the 70s. Ah the past - things sure were wacky back then. Not like right now, when everything is as normal and stable as it could possibly be and if you'll excuse me I'm going to stand in a corner screaming for the next 17 months.
Josh and M use the excuse that the Golden Owl has been found to take a trip back to the conspiracy and look at treasure hunts like the Fenn Treasure, Masquerade, Hareraiser, the Eternity Puzzles, and the Publius Enigma. ominous tone.wav by mderr -- https://freesound.org/s/403184/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
"Cassamagain"? Why do we keep letting Josh come up with titles? True, this episode again looks at the work of Quassim Cassam; this time it's "Conspiracy Theories" - not the book, but its remake/sequel article from 2023. Is it the Evil Dead 2 of conspiracy theory theory, or is it the The Craft: Legacy? It's not Desperado, that's for damn sure.
Josh and M get to grips with chapters 3 and 4 of Quassim Cassam's 2029 book "Conspriacy Theories."
M and Josh take their first look at Quassim Cassam's 2019 book "Conspiracy Theories". M would like to reiterate that Cassam is not his archenemy; Josh would like to emphasise that that would be awesome though.
Josh and M go back (to the conspiracy) and look at Papal plots and plots against papists!
It's the inaugural instance of our new "game" where Josh tests M's memory of radio segments they recorded over a decade ago! We see how much M can recall about obscure Internet performance art projects and dodgy goings-on at the Vatican!! It's a fun an exciting game with everything to play for!!! EVERYTHING.
This week Josh and M do something controversial: they argue that on some level, you have to admit Alex Jones is Right. Looking over Alex's long career and recent proclamations, Josh and M pinpoint when and where Jones has been Right, and what that means for conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorising...
M is back and so is their voice, so we can both talk about the only thing there is to talk about at the moment: the latest US election plot twists to come flying at the world. Which includes us, since we are in the world, no matter what you may have heard.
M is back, but unwell, so Josh delivers another bit of filler, this time indulging his love of language by talking about the origins of a bit of Internet slang that happens to have a conspiratorial tie-in. He chose to do this above talking about two different assassinations - one recent and unsuccessful; one historical and probably not an assassination at all - so sorry or you're welcome, depending on how much you like talking about assassinations. The diagram that got Josh started on this can b...
With M off in London and/or Bucharest, Josh fills time by telling you all the secret history of New Zealand as contained in The Opal File (or possibly The Opal Files - no-one seems sure). What do Robert Muldoon, G. Gordon Liddy and the Shah of Iran have in common? They're all in The Opal File!
M talks with prior guests on the podcast Julia Duetz and Patrick Brooks about the CONSPIRACY FX Workshop they all attended at the University of Kent at the end of June 2024.
Josh and M discuss the assassination of left-wing "shock jock" Alan Berg, and the White Supremacists who were not convicted of his murder...
