The Podcaster's Guide to the Conspiracy
Comedy
About
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.
Episodes
- Is Anything New Under the Sun?
In this episode, Josh and M search for novel conspiracy theories across various online sites and networks. While the results are mixed, the discussion touches on topics including phlogiston.
- Does M Remember?
M is tested on their memory of past student radio episodes focusing on conspiracy content. The results of the quiz show mixed recall.
- Conspiracy as Heresy
This episode discusses David Coady's paper titled "Conspiracy as Heresy." The recording date of Easter Monday is noted, alongside the paper's title which carries religious undertones.
- Filler Episode - Martha Mitchell
This episode of The Podcaster's Guide to the Conspiracy focuses on Martha Mitchell, wife of Nixon's Attorney General. It covers her life and the 'Martha Mitchell Effect,' referencing her attempts to reveal information about Watergate.
- The Epstein Of It All
This episode of The Podcaster's Guide to the Conspiracy features Josh and M exploring Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories. They also consider the significance of the Epstein Files for the broader landscape of conspiracy theory.
- Cupcakes and Coups
M is still in the country, so we put another meal on the Patreon expense account and talk about recent and less recent conspiratorial happenings in Iran, while eating delicious baked goods at a Takapuna café. Good news if you like your pod…
- My Dinner with Wallace Shawn
Join Josh and M over dinner as they discuss the recently deceased.
- The Return of the State Secrets II
M has finished Ben Vigden's "State Secrets II" and - as a punishment - Josh has to find out how it ends.
- Problems with Particularism?
A couple of episodes ago, we looked at a paper on particularism by Kurtis, M and Charles - this episode we're looking at the paper that that paper was a response to, making it both a prequel and a sequel. Just like The Godfather Part II. T…
- Keeping it TESCREAL with Peter Thiel
Josh and M discuss TESCREAL, Peter Thiel, and how Silicon Valley hasn't so much found god but, rather, decided to try and create one that they are afraid of...
- Particularism Reaffirmed!
Aw, Particularism - why so glum? You look like you need some positive affirmation - some reaffirmation, even. Well, you're in luck, because M, Kurtis and Charles have just authored “Particularism Reaffirmed: Why Conspiracy Theories (Variou…
- A Chat with Melina (Tsapos) and Pat(rick Brooks)
M chats with Melina Tsapos and Patrick Brooks, two newly minted PhD holders whose works are on or at least touch on the philosophy of conspiracy theory theory.
- State Secrets II (Part 2) - What the Conspiracy!
Josh and M are back together, so the sensible thing to do is destroy both of their brains by having M try once again to find the point to "State Secrets II" - local author Ben Vigden's book of local conspiracy theories - and communicate it…
- Filler Episode - The Montreal Screwjob
Circumstances conspire against M and Josh for another week, but rather than deplete The Can any further, Josh records a filler episode covering an infamously conspiratorial incident from the world of professional wrestling.
- From the Can! - The North Head File
Stuff is happening that means Josh and M can't record this week. But they did record two unreleased episodes back in January, so here's one of them. Consider this a prequel to the "Tunnel Vision" series. Also, it mentions the other "From t…
- Back to the Dreyfus Affair
M is back in China with a functioning larynx, so we record a "Back to the Conspiracy" episode, taking another look at a subject we last covered ten years ago: the Dreyfus Affair. Why is a French soldier convicted of treason like Amber Hear…
- Filler Episode - Forgotten Silver
M's having voice issues, so Josh records a short episode on the NZ mockumentary "Forgotten Silver" to keep you happy until we're ready to record normally. Learn how Peter Jackson and Costa Botes fooled a nation, even though it seems like t…
- State Secrets II (Part 1) - What the Conspiracy!
M guides Josh through chapter one of Dunedinite Ben Vigden's book 'State Secrets II' in this special and incredibly confusing edition of 'What the Conspiracy!'
- The Horizon Post Office Scandal
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…
- Bed of (Irish, well, British) Lies
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?
- The Prophecy of the Popes
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 n…
- The End of Martin Butler's Tunnel (Vision)
Josh and M conclude their discussion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of "Tunnel Vision" by Martin Butler.
- The Final Episode on "Tunnel Vision"
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...?
- Martin Butler's Tunnel Vision - Refocussed!
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 i…
- Martin Butler's "Tunnel Vision" part 1
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 fo…
- Harold dash Holt dot Net
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...
- Mysterious Disappearances (Back to the Conspiracy)
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 circumstanc…
- What is a conspiracy theory, really?
Josh talks to M about their recent presentation at the University of Waikato.
- Filler Episode - The Black Tom Explosion
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.
- Does M Remember... David Icke?
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 win…
- Xmas Bonus Episode - Brian L. Keeley is not an LLM
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.
- The Year that Was (Which Was 2024)
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!
- Episode 448 - A Podcast about a Podcast About Conspiracy Theories
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!
- Episode 447 - The Return of "What the Conspiracy!" (The Berners Street Hoax)
M tells Josh about the Berners Street Hoax of 1810 in this, the return of "What the Conspiracy!"
- Filler Episode - Ioan Petru Culianu
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…
- The Poison Umbrella
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 stab…
- Episode 445 - The Golden Owl and Other Treasure Hunts (Back to the Conspiracy)
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…
- Cassamagain!
"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…
- Cassam's "Conspiracy Theories" II - Right-wing Propaganda (Conspriacy Theatre)
Josh and M get to grips with chapters 3 and 4 of Quassim Cassam's 2029 book "Conspriacy Theories."
- Cassam on Conspiracy Theories (part 1)
M and Josh take their first look at Quassim Cassam's 2019 book "Conspiracy Theories". M would like to reiterate that Cassam is not their archenemy; Josh would like to emphasise that that would be awesome though.
- Episode 441 - Catholic Conspiracy Theories (Back to the Conspiracy)
Josh and M go back (to the conspiracy) and look at Papal plots and plots against papists!
- Does M Remember...?
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!!…
- Episode 439 -Alex Jones was/is Right
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 w…
- Getting Presidential
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 yo…
- Filler Episode - The Ballad of PogChamp
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…
- Filler Episode - The Opal File
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 Sha…
- Workshop Report with Julia Duetz and Patrick Brooks
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.
- The Assassination of Alan Berg
Josh and M discuss the assassination of left-wing "shock jock" Alan Berg, and the White Supremacists who were not convicted of his murder...
- Neil Levy's "Bad Beliefs" 3: Believe Bad with a Vengeance
It's been three long episodes, but Josh and M are at the end of Neil Levy's book "Bad Beliefs" and also of Neil Levy's bad beliefs. But which of his beliefs did the find the baddest and which were barely bad at all? You'll have to listen t…
- Ten Years (Young?)
Josh discovers that it has been ten years since he and M started podcasting...