Once a month, Melody and I pick an episode of the Culture Study pod to share with newsletter readers. This week's episode (with amazing co-host Cristen Conger!) is all about contemporary conspiracy theories — and what's drawing women to them. We talk about #WhereisKate, of course, and Katie-Perry-is-Grown-Up-Jon-Benet, but also go much deeper into what makes these sorts of theories particularly attractive at various points in history. Plus, I have a theory that I need you to either debunk or endorse. Can't wait for you to listen, and if you like what you hear, remember Culture Study newsletter subscribers get a MASSIVE discount.
What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and gossip? When does joking around about Kate Middleton’s abduction turn into something much darker? Are women actually more susceptible to contemporary conspiracy theories — or are we just finally paying attention to it? Cristen Conger, host of the new podcast Conspiracy, She Wrote joins me to talk about Taylor Swift’s evil twin, Beyoncé’s illuminati connections, Katie Holmes getting impregnated by Scientology aliens, sex trafficking panics, and how to talk to someone when they start directing a conspiracy theory your way. We go deep down the wormhole in this one, friends, but I think you’re gonna love it.
The corkboard Cristen made as she started research for Conspiracy, She Wrote
We’re so grateful for all of you who’ve helped us make the podcast a reality through your monthly and yearly subscriptions. We love being able to take this show wherever we want, and we’re able to do that because we’re truly independent — and don’t have to read any weird ads for women’s supplements!
Right now, we’ve made enough through subscriptions to pay Melody through December but without more… we can’t keep making the show. (And if you’re already a Culture Study newsletter subscriber, you get a screaming deal, but you have to click there to use it; it is *not* applied automatically).
And if you’d like to add the subscriber-only podcast to your podcast app, here’s how. Also, you can now access the subscriber-only feed in Spotify!!! Go here to set it up.
My piece from earlier this year re: the information vacuum around Kate Middleton’s disappearance from public view
Annie Kelly is one of the leading researchers on QAnon (and women’s involvement in particular). Read her excellent op-ed in the Times and listen to her episode of QAnon Anonymous on Mothers for QAnon
We’re currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:
The Present and Past of NICOLE KIDMAN (with Sam Sanders!)
Midwest [Dad] Masculinity / Tim Walz Memedom
What Happened to the Summer Blockbuster?
The new Gladiator + Paul Mescal JUST GENERALLY
Explaining trends on BookTok
Why does it feel like thrifting sucks now
Anything you need advice or want musings on for the AAA segment
You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here (this is the subscriber-only form!)
For today’s discussion: What do *you* think leads particular groups towards conspiracy theories? Is my ‘women don’t know how to explain patriarchy’ theory full of shit? Let’s talk about it!
