As you all know, I am a lizard, and through the power of 5G and the implants which have been secretly inserted into you via chemtrails and the covid vaccine, or possibly by a UFOnaut which was probing you, I can control your mind.
Well, no. But conspiracy theories do exist, and a new book explores the Australian flavour of these beliefs. My guests are the authors of Conspiracy Nation, journalists Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson, and the book is available from Ultimo Press and all the usual places one buys books.
In this episode we talk about why conspiracy beliefs are so appealing, the aftermath of the Wieambilla shootings, Agenda 21, Qanon, pseudolaw and sovereign citizens, the celebrity chef turned guru Pete Evans, and what to do if one of your friends starts heading down a rabbit-hole.
This podcast is available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, and Speaker.
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Episode Links
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I am an investigations reporter at Guardian Australia with a focus on technology, law and the internet.
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Hello, I’m an Australian tech reporter. I write the daily tech newsletter The Sizzle and report for Crikey.
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Through new investigations and first-hand accounts, Conspiracy Nation takes readers to the rallies, homes, courtrooms, secret chat rooms and $2000 Byron Bay luxury retreats where Australia’s conspiracy theories spread.
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Pseudolaw consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that are claimed to be based on accepted law or legal doctrine but have no actual basis in law and are generally rooted in conspiracy theories. Pseudolegal arguments deviate significantly from most conventional understandings of law and jurisprudence and often originate from non-existent statutes or legal principles the advocate or adherent incorrectly believes exist.
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The Wieambilla shootings were a religiously motivated terrorist attack in Australia on 12 December 2022. It involved the killings of two Queensland Police constables, Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and civilian Alan Dare, at a rural property in Wieambilla, a locality in Queensland.
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Manichaeism (/ˌmænɪˈkiːɪzəm/; in Persian: آئین مانی Āʾīn-ī Mānī; Chinese: 摩尼教; pinyin: Móníjiào) is a former major world religion founded in the 3rd century CE by the Parthian prophet Mani (A.D. 216–274), in the Sasanian Empire.
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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations (UN) members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (abbr. SDGs). The aim of these global goals is "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" – while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests.
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The Great Reset Initiative is an economic recovery plan drawn up by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was launched in June 2020, and a video featuring the then-Prince of Wales, Charles, was released to mark its launch. The initiative's stated aim is to facilitate rebuilding from the global COVID-19 crisis in a way that prioritizes sustainable development.
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The 15-minute city (FMC or 15mC) is an urban planning concept in which most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from any point in the city. This approach aims to reduce car dependency, promote healthy and sustainable living, and improve wellbeing and quality of life for city dwellers.
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QAnon[a] (/ˈkjuːənɒn/ CUE-ə-non) is a far-right American political conspiracy theory and political movement that originated in 2017. QAnon centers on fabricated claims made by an anonymous individual or individuals known as "Q".
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[11 November 2023] From The Good Liars.
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John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Kennedy was in the vehicle with his wife Jacqueline, Texas governor John Connally, and Connally's wife Nellie, when he was fatally shot from the nearby Texas School Book Depository by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine.
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The Great Replacement (French: grand remplacement), also known as replacement theory or great replacement theory, is a debunked white nationalist far-right conspiracy theory originally espoused by French author Renaud Camus.
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Peter Daryl Evans (born 29 August 1973) is an Australian chef, and former television presenter, who was a judge of the competitive cooking show My Kitchen Rules. Evans has been heavily criticised for spreading misinformation about vaccinations, and pseudoscientific dieting ideas such as the Paleolithic diet.
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CONVERSATION TOPICS: Joanna Forbes, Peter Viertel, and one person who chooses to remain anonymous.
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Series Credits
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