Episodes
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In the 1970s, America’s moral panic machine found its perfect scapegoat: gay and lesbian teachers. Also bathrooms. Historian Gillian Frank unravels the roots of child trafficking and "groomer" conspiracies back to Red Scare paranoia, civil rights backlash, a conservative women's movement against the Equal Rights Amendment and the pageant queen-turned-evangelical superstar Anita Bryant. In part three of the LADIES, STAY SAFE! miniseries, Cristen traces America's twisted history of how fears about “corrupting the youth” became political currency, why those panics still grip us today and whether Anita was ultimately scapegoated, too.
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Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com. Support this 100% independent, Illuminati-free podcast and join The Cabal.
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How did human trafficking conspiracy theories give rise to a politicized pedo panic targeting teachers, trans kids and drag queens? Researchers Daniela Peterka-Benton and Bond Benton connect the dots between QAnon's obsession with saving the children, the 2022 revival of anti-LGBTQ "groomer" rhetoric and Disney's recurring role in American culture wars. Cristen also discovers the surprising source of childhood rumors about subliminal s-e-x in "The Lion King".
part 2 of a miniseries.
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Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com. Support this 100% independent, Illuminati-free podcast and join The Cabal.
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes manquant?
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Why are suburban white women so afraid of getting snatched out of parking lots and sex trafficked? Journalist Caitlin Dewey unravels the tangled threads of modern sex trafficking panic, the impact of QAnon, and the role of influencers and media in laundering misinformation as "safety" advice for women and moms. Caitlin and Cristen also highlight how these viral myths impact real trafficking victims and survivors and connect to sex panicky culture wars.
For WAY more red string, have at The Links x Conspiracy, She Wrote reading guide to America's sex trafficking panic. And treat your inbox to a Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends (highly recommend!!).
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction: The Sex Trafficking Panic
(00:27) Meet Caitlin Dewey: Investigating the Panic
(03:00) Personal Encounters with Sex Trafficking Fears
(04:04) Buffalo Incident: A Case Study
(05:56) The Role of QAnon and Conservative Narratives
(08:04) Practical Advice or Paranoia?
(10:17) Sex Trafficking Myths
(19:31) Historical Context: White Slavery Panics
(22:33) Modern Media and Sex Trafficking Myths
(25:22) Cultural Obsessions and True Crime
(28:56) Political Exploitation of Trafficking Narratives
(34:40) Conclusion: Empathy and Understanding
part 1 of a miniseries
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Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com. Support this 100% independent, Illuminati-free podcast and join The Cabal.
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions. Music also provided by Creative Commons Music: Silent Film Music (No Copyright / Royalty Free).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Facts are no match for conspiracy FEELINGS. In this mini episode (a breadcrumb? red thread?), climate misinformation expert and content creator Abbie Richards explains emotional literacy—what it is, why it pairs so well with conspiracy theories, and how we all stand to benefit from more of it. If debunking won’t stop the misinformation crisis, maybe it's time to start teaching feelings.
Chapters:
(00:00) Re-introducing Climate Conspiracy Expert Abby Richards Emotional Literacy
(00:28) Media Literacy Won't Save Us
(01:57) Re-introducing Climate Conspiracy Expert Abby Richards
(03:24) The Evolution of Climate Conspiracies
(04:32) Why We Need Emotional Literacy
(10:37) Conclusion and Next Steps
Got a rabbit hole you'd like to hop down? [email protected]. Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com. Support this 100% independent, Illuminati-free podcast and join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In the late summer of 1834, a torch-wielding mob burned down a Boston convent for reasons that sound a lot like . . . Pizzagate. Fueled by rumors of kidnappings, papal paranoia and phony exposés, conspiracy theories about nuns in their convents spiraled out of control in 19th-century America. Cristen unravels why that happened and how it set the stage for contemporary culture wars over saving the children.
Chapters:
(00:00) The Mount Benedict Girls Boarding School
(00:40) Rumors and Mob Mentality
(01:30) Pizzagate of 1834
(03:43) America's Manifest Destiny Era
(04:49) The Rise of Anti-Catholic Propaganda
(05:18) "Suspicious" Nuns in Their Convents
(10:30) The Escaped Nun Genre
(11:37) Maria Monk and The Awful Disclosures
(15:09) Impact on Education and Public Schools
(16:41) Abolition and Anti-Catholicism
Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com. For ad-free episodes, join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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 joined Anne Helen Petersen on Culture Study Podcast to unpack all of that, plus 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.
For more Culture Study conversations on theme with Conspiracy, She Wrote:
A Former Trad Wife on What It Actually Takes To LeaveRoyal Gossips and Colonial HangoversHow Christian Rock Fueled the Culture WarsWhy Are We So Obsessed with Taylor + Travis?The Insidious Influence of Moms for LibertyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From cuckoo claims she’s secretly a man to attacks questioning her Blackness, Kamala Harris conspiracy theories are one of the most predictable features of the 2024 election, it turns out. Disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz unravels the three main disinfo narratives that have targeted Kamala for years and what they sound like today, and Cristen follows the red string to the self-proclaimed "queen of the birthers". This is the season one post-finale finale that had to be made, and stick around til the end to find out what's next!
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction and Reflecting on the First Season
(01:30) Breaking News: Biden Steps Down
(02:28) Nina Jankowicz's Knew What Was Coming
(03:16) Women in Politics and Disinformation Study
(06:31) Kamala Harris and Political Disinformation Narratives
(09:28) The Three Major Disinformation Narratives Against Harris
(11:44) Same Old Transvestigation
(15:02) Birtherism and Its Impact
(25:20) Disinformation Governance Board Controversy
(27:31) Nina Jankowicz's Motivation and Hope
(29:54) Coming up on Conspiracy, She Wrote
Find episode sources and transcripts at conspiracyshewrote.com.
For ad-free episodes, join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. Music is from Blue Dot Sessions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Why is the same conspiracy theory that targeted Michelle Obama a decade ago now spreading to all celebrities (and First Ladies)? Enter “transvestigation”—a brain-rot conspiracy genre trafficking in wonky eyes, bad photoshops and a gender-inclusive Illuminati. Digital researcher Lexi Webster unravels the nonsense and why it’s worth understanding, while political scholar Fran Amery connects the dots to organized transphobia and not all radical feminism.
Chapters:
(00:00) The Baby Pool Story
(01:15) Joan Rivers Conspiracy Theory
(03:33) Misogynoir and Michelle Obama
(05:07) The Rise of Transvestigation
(07:03) Joan Rivers' Bad Joke
(10:37) Transvestigation: A Deep Dive
(16:20) Historical Context of Transvestigation
(29:32) Media's Role in Transphobia
(31:30) Organized Transphobia
(32:43) TERFs, But Not All Radical Feminists
(37:04) The Absurd Contradictions in Transphobic Beliefs
(42:14) Season One Finale and Credits
Episode 10 sources and transcript.
For ad-free episodes, interview exclusives and more red string unraveling, join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Free Britney started as fan sleuthing, which ultimately helped end Britney Spears’ conservatorship, sparked a pop cultural reckoning and galvanized a disability rights movement. Podcaster and comic Tess Barker (Pop Mystery Pod) unravels that journey of pursuing the truth about Britney–and its thornier consequences–while digital sociologist Naomi Smith explains the allure of conspiracy communities and what happens once their detective work is done.
Chapters:
(00:00) The End of Britney Spears' Conservatorship
(00:53) The Struggle to #FreeBritney
(01:32) Introducing Conspiracy She Wrote
(02:30) Signs, Symbols & Britney's Instagram
(04:57) Uncovering the Truth of Britney's Conservatorship
(06:53) The Turning Point
(07:51) The Mainstream Media Attention
(13:19) Britney's Testimony
(14:01) After Britney Was Freed
(25:10) #FreeBritney 2.0 and The Nature of Conspiracy Theories
(33:10) Disability Rights Legacy
(38:47) Reflections and Future Directions
Episode 9 sources and transcript.
Support the show and join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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At 16 years old, Greta Thunberg led the largest climate protest in history—and became a target for right-wing conspiracy theories. Scholar Emily Ryalls dissects how Greta was recast as a hysterical pawn of globalist billionaires and why the “Greta Effect” continues to provoke such powerful backlash. Then, TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards clears up why the climate space is so littered with disinfo and media distractions, from anti-Greta memes to the Great Reset conspiracy to private jets at climate change conferences.
Chapters:
(00:00) Greta Thunberg, Time Traveler?
(00:41) Greta's Overnight Global Celebrity
(01:26) The Conspiracy Chart and Greta's Place
(02:36) Harmless Conspiracies vs. Dangerous Ones
(03:02) Media's Role in Amplifying Conspiracies
(05:17) Greta as a Target of Misinformation
(06:26) Conservative Backlash Against Greta
(10:57) Greta's Social Media Savvy
(13:14) The Greta Effect
(17:16) Broader Climate Misinformation Landscape
(29:32) 15-Minute Cities and Climate Conspiracies
(33:42) Concluding Thoughts on Greta and Conspiracies
For podcast deep dives on climate justice, listen to: Drilled, The Climate Question, A Matter of Degrees, The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast and Outrage + Optimism.
Episode 8 sources and transcript. Support the show and join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Who sparked the bizarre conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a clone named Melissa, and why does it still persist? Snopes reporter Nur Ibrahim unravels the allure of celebrity death hoaxes, political body double rumors and how to sort the fakes from the facts. Cristen also connects the dots between Avril Lavigne, the Beatles’ Paul McCartney and conspiracy satire gone wrong.
Chapters:
(00:00) Avril Lavigne's Death Hoax: An Introduction
(01:50) The Origins of the Avril Lavigne Replacement Theory
(03:51) Avril's Rise to Fame
(04:30) The Alleged Clone: Melissa Vandella
(05:26) 'Paul Is Dead' All Over Again
(07:11) The Satirical Blog That Started It All
(11:41) The Conspiracy Accidentally Goes Global
(15:29) The Role of Health Scares in Celebrity Death Hoaxes
(17:39) Celebrity Death Hoaxes: A Broader Look
(26:42) Political Figures and Body Double Rumors
(30:20) Fact-Checking in the Age of the Internet
Episode 7 sources and transcript.
Support the show and join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm.
Sound credit: The Hunter by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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While the rest of the world speculated over Kate Middleton’s whereabouts this spring, why was an old conspiracy theory about the Meghan Markle suddenly trending on X (formerly Twitter)? Royal reporter Ellie Hall unravels the YouTube community committed to exposing their “Duchess of Deception,” from claims that Meghan faked her pregnancies to masterminding the #WhereIsKate PR crisis. Scholar Moya Bailey also connects the dots between the misogynoir targeting Meghan, Serena Williams’ life-threatening childbirth and everyday Black women’s pregnancy experiences.
Chapters:
(00:00) Kate Middleton's Health Crisis & Royal PR Disaster
(01:58) The Venn Diagram of Meghan Markle Truthers
(02:49) British Tabloids and Libel Laws
(05:50) Royal Family's Relationship with the Press
(07:22) Meghan Markle's Negative Press
(12:16) The Birth of Meghan Markle Pregnancy Truthers
(26:08) Misogynoir and Meghan Markle
(29:32) #WhereIsKate
(34:16) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Episode 6 sources and transcript.
Support the show and join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Ameeta Ganatra.
Sound credit: Setuniman via freesound.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When Megan Thee Stallion revealed the truth about being shot by Tory Lanez, why was she met with disbelief, Bigfoot jokes, and Illuminati rumors? NPR Music reporter and longtime hottie Sidney Madden (Louder Than a Riot) unravels how hip-hop culture put Megan on trial, while Tory Lanez’ team claimed the slut-shame defense in court. Scholar Moya Bailey also breaks down the intersection of class, respectability and misogynoir, comparing the conspiracy theories surrounding Megan Thee Stallion to those attached to Beyoncé.
Chapters:
(00:00) Megan Thee Stallion's Rise to Fame
(03:09) A Hottie Is Born
(05:15) Like Mother, Like Daughter
(06:14) Newfound Fame and Old Illuminati Conspiracy Theories
(13:12) The Tory Lanez Shooting and Media Frenzy
(22:40) The Trial and Court of Public Opinion
(26:07) Misogynoir, Class and Perceptions of Megan Thee Stallion
(39:12) Conclusion and the Future of Megan Thee Stallion
Episode 5 sources and transcript.
Support the show and join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From secret messages in “Single Ladies” to the infamous Blue Ivy bump gate, Beyoncé has been at the center of countless conspiracy theories. But nothing tops (or stops) the Illuminati rumors. Where did they start, and how much is Jay-Z to blame? Scholar Moya Bailey unravels the fixation on Beyoncé, revealing the misogynoir driving these conspiracies and what they really say about her power and influence. Plus, Cristen crunches the numbers to see if “Renaissance” was truly a sign of the apocalypse.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:23) Beyoncé's 2013 Super Bowl Performance
(02:56) The Beyoncé Conspiracy Canon
(05:46) Misinterpretation of Black Cultural Signifiers
(08:26) Beyoncé and Jay-Z: The Power Couple
(12:30) Misogynoir and Black Female Celebrities
(17:33) Beyoncé's Blue Ivy Pregnancy Truthers
(25:51) Beyoncé's Renaissance and Apocalyptic Horses
(28:00) The Power and Influence of Beyoncé
(32:46) Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
Episode 4 sources and transcript.
For ad-free episodes, interview extras and exclusive red string unraveling, join The Cabal!
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Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, written and hosted by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Ameeta Ganatra.
Sounds credit: n_audioman via freesound.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How did Taylor Swift’s pop superstardom become fodder for far-right political conspiracy theories? Grab your red string and follow along the conflicting narratives that first (baselessly) claimed her as a covert Nazi and more recently, a left-wing Super Bowl psyop with Travis Kelce. Swiftie sociologist Brian Donovan unravels why her celebrity makes her a prime target in culture war politics and how it compares to the Easter egg hunts she creates for the fandom. Then, media psychologist Leah Dajches takes on the stigmatization of Gaylor Swifties, challenging the idea that they’re just unhinged conspiracy theorists.
This is a video about CSW-YOUTUBE-S1E3-caption only ep UPDATED
(00:00) Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and the Non-Existent Super Bowl Psyop
(02:16) Why Taylor Swift?
(03:01) Swifties, Fandom and Sociology
(05:38) The Alt-Right Co-opting of Taylor Swift's Celebrity
(07:39) Taylor Swift's Political Awakening
(11:49) Rage Against the Billionaire Childless Cat Lady
(22:02) Gaylor & Hetlers
(24:59) Queering Pop Culture and 'Folklore'
(33:32) Taylor Swift's Queer Imagery
(41:24) Taylor Swift, Satanist Clone??
(42:24) Conclusion and Credits
Episode 3 sources and transcript.
For ad-free episodes, interview extras and exclusive red string unraveling, join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, written and hosted by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Ameeta Ganatra.
Sounds credits: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Why were women and lifestyle influencers so pivotal to spreading QAnon lies about pedos, cabals and child trafficking via Wayfair furniture? Grab your red string and follow along with host Cristen Conger into the female-dominated landscape of "conspirituality," where wellness and woo-woo get extra delulu. Researcher, journalist and QAA podcast correspondent Annie Kelly also unravels anti-vax moms’ relatable mistrust, the red-pilled origins of tradwives and whether it’s ultimately all fangirling.
(00:00) The Baby Pool
(01:23) Introduction to Conspiracy She Wrote
(02:00) The Rise of Mainstream Conspiracy Theories
(02:41) Women's Role in Conspiracy Movements
(05:00) What Is Conspirituality
(06:10) Pastel QAnon and Social Media Influence
(08:23) QAnon in the UK
(09:51) The Epstein Factor
(12:43) Moms and Conspiracy Theories
(16:57) Tradwives and Conspiracy Culture
(18:48) Celebrity and Pop Culture Conspiracies
(23:15) The Nature of Conspiracy Theories
(24:38) The Human Appeal of Conspiracy Theories
(27:35) Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Episode 2 sources and transcript.
New episodes every Thursday. For ad-free episodes, interview extras and exclusive red string unraveling, join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, written and hosted by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee. Engineering by Ameeta Ganatra.
Sound effects credits: Juan_Merie_Venter and creek23 via freesound.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Grab your red string and follow along with host Cristen Conger (Unladylike) for the unhinged women's history and Illuminati paranoia that set the stage for today's conspiracy-pilled political and pop cultures. Cultural historian Lindsay Porter introduces us to the fascist foremothers of modern conspiracism who were spreading disinformation about deep state plots, elite cabals and shady secret societies a century ago.
(00:00) Introduction to Conspiracy, She Wrote
(01:17) Understanding Conspiracy Theories
(04:48) The Real Illuminati: Origins and History
(12:37) The Rise of Nesta Webster
(24:58) The Spread of Illuminati Conspiracies
(29:53) Women's Roles in Conspiracy Culture
(32:39) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Episode 1 sources and transcript.
Support the show and join The Cabal!
. . .
Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, written and hosted by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee. Engineering by Ameeta Ganatra.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From the original Illuminati influencers to celebrity pregnancy truthers today, host Cristen Conger unravels the red strings connecting women, gender and conspiracy culture gone wild. Because QAnon moms, tradwives and even Taylor Swift government psyop conspiracy theories reveal a lot about power, pop culture and politics.
Conspiracy, She Wrote starts August 8. New episodes each Thursday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
