Conspirituality Podcast Episode 250: The Mercola Tapes

Release Date: March 27, 2025
Hosts: Derek Barris, Matthew Remsky, Julian Walker
Guests: Jonathan Jarry

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

The episode begins with the hosts Derek Barris, Matthew Remsky, and Julian Walker welcoming listeners to another installment of Conspirituality. They set the stage for the deep dive into the leaked recordings known as the "Mercola Tapes," which reveal unsettling interactions between Dr. Joe Mercola and a spirit channeler.

2. Discussion on Brad Schimmel's Parenting Clip

Timestamp: [04:04] - [12:42]

Summary:
Matthew Remsky introduces a contentious clip involving Brad Schimmel, the Attorney General of Wisconsin, addressing his parenting style. In a 2018 speech to a police chaplain's group, Schimmel recounts disciplining his eight-year-old daughter in a manner reminiscent of a "Perry Mason moment."

Notable Quotes:

• Brad Schimmel:
  "I got her back there, and I'm grilling her about this, and I rebut every fib. She piled on the fib, and I got her. She broke down. I just psychologically beat the daylights out of an 8-year-old in the backseat. That was great."
  [06:32]

• Matthew Remsky:
  "Not sounding like great dad work there. Perry Mason. Yes. Dad, no. But Maga really loves him."
  [05:27]

Discussion Points:

• The clip was originally shared by Midas Touch News, a Democratic PAC-turned-resistance news aggregator.
• Progressive commentators reacted strongly, interpreting Schimmel's remarks as indicative of an abusive and authoritarian parenting style aligned with MAGA ideologies.
• Upon further investigation, the hosts discover that the full context of Schimmel's comments reveals a more nuanced perspective, where he discusses personal challenges in balancing work and family life.
• However, Schimmel's broader political activities—such as defending the January 6th crowd, pursuing lawsuits against the ACA, and endorsing conspiracy theories—paint a picture of his alignment with extremist movements.

Analysis:

The hosts critique how selective editing and framing by partisan outlets can distort the perception of political figures, reinforcing narratives that may not fully capture the individual's character or motivations.

3. The Mercola Tapes: Unveiling the Reality

Timestamp: [14:13] - [35:18]

Summary:
Derek Barris introduces the core topic: the leaked "Mercola Tapes," consisting of 200 hours of recordings between Dr. Joe Mercola and a spirit channeler named Christopher Johnson, who claims to channel an entity named Balan. These tapes expose Mercola's unorthodox wellness practices and his potential foray into extremist ideologies.

Notable Quotes:

• Derek Barris:
  "Mercola repeatedly discusses blowing carbon dioxide up his ass as one of his wellness protocols."
  [14:13]

• Julian Walker:
  "Using carbon dioxide instead of just straight up air because the air takes longer to disperse. Yeah, that's it."
  [16:44]

Discussion Points:

• Wellness Practices: Mercola endorses bizarre health practices like carbon dioxide enemas, which lack scientific backing.
• Financial Discrepancies: Tapes reveal Mercola's net worth is significantly higher than previously reported—over $300 million.
• Violent Rhetoric: Mercola discusses plans to recruit 80 million armed Americans to target veterinarians and the livestock industry, underscoring a potential descent into extremist actions.
• Anti-Catholicism: He plans to write an anti-Catholic book, positioning himself as a messianic figure.
• Security Breach: The tapes were leaked due to negligent security practices using platforms like Fireflies AI, allowing unintended access to sensitive recordings.

4. Interview with Jonathan Jarry: Insights into the Mercola Tapes

Timestamp: [36:04] - [58:25]

Summary:
Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator from McGill University's Office for Science and Society, joins the podcast to discuss his investigation into the Mercola Tapes. He elaborates on how the recordings reveal Mercola's belief in pseudoscientific practices and his susceptibility to manipulation by Christopher Johnson.

Notable Quotes:

• Jonathan Jarry:
  "Joe Mercola is not somebody who is conning people. He's not lying to people. He really believes what he says and what he does."
  [36:04]

• Jonathan Jarry:
  "When you're somebody like Joe Mercola, who has spent his entire career being outside the mainstream... you've opened your mind up so much your brains fall out. And that makes you very vulnerable to exploitation."
  [55:17]

• Brad Schimmel:
  "We're doing a fourth round in three weeks, and then he will be able to go to really highly trafficked places like dog parks and woods and things."
  [21:32]

• Jonathan Jarry:
  "Mercola is talking to two different people, supposedly."
  [28:51]

Discussion Points:

• True Believer vs. Grifter: Jarry emphasizes that Mercola genuinely believes in his pseudoscientific claims, distinguishing him from mere opportunistic wellness grifters.
• Manipulation and Control: The tapes showcase how Mercola relies heavily on Johnson for decision-making, often receiving manipulated advice that aligns with his existing beliefs.
• Violent Plans: Discussions reveal plans to incite violence against veterinarians and the broader livestock industry, highlighting a dangerous shift towards extremist actions.
• Compound Plans: Mercola and Johnson discuss establishing a doomsday compound in Mexico, further indicating a move towards insular and potentially violent community building.
• Impact on Followers: The leaks expose the vulnerability of Mercola's followers, who may double down on their beliefs in the face of such revelations, viewing the tapes as orchestrated disinformation.

Analysis:

Jonathan Jarry underscores the peril of echo chambers where individuals like Mercola, entrenched in fringe beliefs, become susceptible to manipulation by charismatic yet unscrupulous figures like Johnson. This dynamic not only perpetuates pseudoscience but also sows seeds for potential extremist actions under the guise of spiritual authority.

5. Conclusion and Reflections

Timestamp: [58:25] - End

Summary:
The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the implications of the Mercola Tapes. They discuss the broader impact of pseudoscientific leaders becoming entwined with extremist ideologies and the challenges in addressing deeply ingrained conspiracy beliefs.

Notable Quotes:

• Matthew Remsky:
  "I think the point that I want to make is that there's no secret that the MAGA movement is packed with authoritarian parenting style dads... fascists are also banal and they're capable of acting and being reasonably perceived as good guys."
  [11:04]

• Julian Walker:
  "If you're somebody like Joe Mercola, who has spent his entire career being outside the mainstream, rejecting the mainstream... you've opened your mind up so much your brains fall out."
  [55:18]

Discussion Points:

• Normalization of Extremism: Pseudoscientific beliefs often serve as a gateway to more extreme ideologies, under the veneer of spiritual or personal empowerment.
• Challenges in Countering Misinformation: Addressing the root causes of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories requires nuanced understanding and strategic communication.
• The Role of Technology: The misuse of platforms like Zoom and AI tools in disseminating and reinforcing fringe beliefs illustrates the complex interplay between technology and misinformation.

Final Thoughts:

The hosts emphasize the importance of vigilance and critical thinking in an age where pseudoscience and conspiracy theories can rapidly spread and morph into more sinister ideologies. By uncovering and analyzing the Mercola Tapes, Conspirituality aims to shed light on the dark intersections of wellness cults, extremist movements, and the exploitation of spiritual beliefs for nefarious purposes.

Notable Quotes Throughout the Episode:

• Derek Barris:
  "Mercola calls for an uprising of up to 80 million armed Americans to protect our pets from damage. And if you're thinking he's talking about killing veterinarians, you're spot on."
  [18:43]

• Julian Walker:
  "Mercola is the apex predator in the pseudoscience food chain, even if he is a true believer."
  [46:37]

• Jonathan Jarry:
  "When you're somebody like Joe Mercola... you've closed yourself off completely to anything that is mainstream knowledge. And now he is reduced to believing into anything that would be thought of as fringe or not scientifically valid."
  [55:17]

Conclusion:

Episode 250 of Conspirituality presents a compelling examination of how deeply entrenched pseudoscientific beliefs can pave the way for extremist ideologies. Through the lens of the leaked Mercola Tapes, the podcast exposes the vulnerabilities and manipulations within wellness cults, offering listeners a critical perspective on the dangers of conflating spirituality with conspiracy-driven agendas.