Conspirituality Podcast - Episode 249: Kings of Pain

Release Date: March 20, 2025
Hosts: Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker

Introduction

In Episode 249 of Conspirituality, titled "Kings of Pain," hosts Derek Barris, Matthew Remski, and Julian Walker delve deep into the intricate web where conspiracy theories intersect with spiritual movements. This episode dissects the dangerous convergence of New Age cults, wellness grifters, and the alt-right, highlighting how these factions undermine public health and foster widespread paranoia.

Investigation into Joe Mercola

Timestamp: [04:31]

The episode opens with a discussion on a new investigation into Dr. Joseph Mercola, a prominent figure in the alternative health industry. Julian Walker introduces the investigation conducted by Jonathan Jerry, a science communicator at McGill University, who scrutinizes Mercola's collaboration with a psychic named Balon.

Notable Quote:

Jonathan Jerry [05:19]: "Dr. Joseph Mercola is one of the biggest, most influential alternative health gurus out there... I finished watching it this morning. It is fascinating and let's just say Mercola did not hold back."

The investigation reveals that Mercola, under the influence of channeler Balon, has been promoting violent actions against veterinarians and heavily relies on dubious sources like ChatGPT for his "health insights."

Health Misinformation and Its Consequences

Timestamp: [07:14] - [09:32]

The hosts explore the real-world dangers posed by health misinformation. Derek Barris outlines three primary risks:

1. Avoiding Professional Medical Care: Individuals forgo necessary treatments, leading to severe health deterioration or death.
2. Financial Wastage on Ineffective Supplements: People spend substantial money on unproven supplements instead of effective medical solutions.
3. Unregulated Supplement Industry Risks: Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements aren't required to disclose all potential contraindications, posing additional health hazards.

Notable Quotes:

Derek Barris [07:28]: "The most dangerous in my estimation are people who choose not to see a doctor and forego the care that they need."

Julian Walker [08:29]: "It's such an unintended side effect of regulated versus unregulated industries."

The conversation underscores the irony that supplements, often perceived as safer, lack the stringent regulations that govern pharmaceutical drugs, making them potentially more dangerous.

Political Shifts and Public Health Cuts

Timestamp: [10:43] - [17:23]

The hosts highlight alarming cuts in public health funding under the current administration. Derek Barris enumerates significant reductions:

• $800 Million Cut to Johns Hopkins University: Resulting in over 2,000 job losses, impacting critical research in biomedical engineering and vaccine development.
• NIH Grant Cuts: Over 40 grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and immunization improvements were canceled.
• FDA Vaccine Advisory Meeting Canceled: The FDA proceeded without expert input, risking the effectiveness of influenza vaccines.

Notable Quotes:

Derek Barris [13:45]: "The NIH has directed all scientists to remove references of mRNA from their grant applications."

Judith Remski [15:36]: "So why are we even gonna bother with it anymore?"

These actions are portrayed as deliberate attempts to destabilize public health infrastructure, with devastating implications both domestically and globally. The New York Times report indicates that cuts to USAID could result in 1.65 million deaths due to reduced funding in HIV prevention, vaccines, food aid, malaria prevention, and tuberculosis control.

Language of Purification and Historical Parallels

Timestamp: [22:18] - [35:03]

A significant portion of the episode examines the rhetoric used by the alt-right and its historical roots. The hosts draw parallels between current purging language and that of fascist and authoritarian movements, particularly referencing Nazi Germany's purification efforts.

Notable Quotes:

Julian Walker [30:50]: "We all need to cleanse. But then there are also some ailments or diagnostic assessments that can really indicate how crucial it is that you do some kind of cleansing..."

Matthew Remski [39:11]: "You know, of all of the things that have made me feel insane with rage and depression in waves, I think the scrubbing of the US Air Force's websites of black and people of color veterans is almost peak."

The discussion extends to how contemporary political figures use metaphors of purification to justify exclusionary and oppressive policies, echoing the "America First" rhetoric and white supremacist ideologies.

Economic Policies: Detoxing and Privatization

Timestamp: [22:18] - [27:58]

The hosts critique the administration's economic policies framed as a "detox" from government spending to stimulate private sector growth. Derek Barris illuminates how this narrative masks a shift towards privatization, potentially leading to higher inflation, reduced purchasing power, and diminished trust in institutions.

Notable Quotes:

Derek Barris [25:36]: "If you're picking strains that are completely ineffective, all of a sudden, you could say this just never works. So why are we even gonna bother with it anymore?"

Scott Besant [49:15]: "This is just shock therapy coming home to roost."

The discussion highlights the flawed economic reasoning behind policies like the Mar-a-Lago Accords, which propose sweeping tariffs and a Bitcoin reserve to weaken the US Dollar—an approach likely to cause economic instability rather than the intended growth.

Discussion with Quinn Slobodian

Timestamp: [48:10] - [60:50]

The episode features guest Quinn Slobodian, a professor of International History at Boston University. Slobodian provides a scholarly perspective on the intertwining of economic policies and authoritarian ideologies.

Notable Quotes:

Quinn Slobodian [50:37]: "Charles Murray bridges the gap... transforming the welfare state was to actually make people suffer again."

Scott Besant [52:12]: "Spencer says... we cannot repress and gradually diminish this body of relatively worthless people without inflicting much pain."

Slobodian and Besant explore how historical eugenic ideas influence contemporary policies that marginalize and purge vulnerable populations. They discuss the resurgence of rhetoric that dehumanizes certain groups, aligning with neoliberal shock therapy concepts that advocate for painful economic reforms under the guise of long-term stability.

Cleansing and Purification Metaphors in Modern Politics

Timestamp: [37:44] - [44:29]

The hosts connect historical fascist purification metaphors to current political strategies, emphasizing how these language tools are repurposed to justify oppression and exclusion.

Notable Quotes:

Julian Walker [42:44]: "They erase the history of the Navajo Code Talkers... It's incredible."

Matthew Remski [35:03]: "We have this ancient history and there are resonances, but the pipeline doesn't go exactly from Ayurvedic ashrams... to Marjorie Taylor Greene's post crossfit massage parlor."

This segment underscores the continuity of oppressive language and strategies from past authoritarian regimes to today's political climate, where historical symbols and narratives are manipulated to serve contemporary agendas.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [61:20] - [64:53]

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the pervasive influence of conspiratorial and puritanical ideologies in shaping current societal and political landscapes. They caution against the seductive nature of purification metaphors that justify systemic harm under the pretense of greater good.

Notable Quotes:

Scott Besant [60:50]: "The idea of a surplus population is something that is lurking not too far beneath the surface."

Julian Walker [62:44]: "They have their own version of evolving fragments... retaining some notion that there's something holistic that they're trying to hang on to."

The final discussion emphasizes the cyclical nature of oppressive ideologies and the urgent need for awareness and resistance against the manipulation of spiritual and conspiratorial narratives to legitimize authoritarian measures.

Key Takeaways:

1. Intersection of Conspiracies and Spirituality: The blending of conspiracy theories with New Age spirituality creates potent cult-like movements that undermine public health and foster societal division.

2. Danger of Health Misinformation: Misinformation leads to real-world harm, including the avoidance of medical care, financial loss on ineffective treatments, and increased health risks due to unregulated supplements.

3. Authoritarian Rhetoric in Modern Politics: Current political discourse employs historical purification and eugenic metaphors to justify oppressive policies and marginalize vulnerable populations.

4. Economic Policies as Purification: Policies promoting privatization and reducing government spending are framed as necessary "detox," masking the underlying intent to dismantle public health infrastructure and increase economic disparity.

5. Historical Continuity of Oppressive Ideologies: There is a troubling continuity of language and strategies from past authoritarian regimes to present-day political movements, emphasizing the need for vigilance and resistance.

End of Summary