Bonus Sample: Reality, Monsters & Brain Glitches - Conspirituality

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Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. An army hung on her every word.
[00:08]
B
My champions, I have sold my chariot on Carvana. Twas a lovely suv, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it. Tonight we feast. An offer you can feast on. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pick up Fees may apply.
[00:34]
A
Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast with Benjamin Boster. If you're tired of sleepless nights, you'll love the I Can't Sleep podcast. I help quiet your mind by reading random articles from across the web to bore you to sleep with my soothing voice. Each episode provides enough interesting content to hold your attention and then your mind lets you drift off. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. That's I Can't Sleep with Benjamin Boster.
[01:27]
C
Today we're going a little dark friends, but but also kind of trippy. Think zombies, vampires, body snatchers, cloned loved ones, shape shifters and reality simulations. But all in the context of the human mind and how the origins of these popular horror and science fiction tropes may have their basis in rare real world brain disorders. What happens when the lines get blurred between reality and and paranoid fantasy? Now how this relates to conspirituality is that conspiracy theories and various forms of spiritual and religious delusions are built on similar architecture or at least can be understood to have a relationship to what we're going to talk about. Let's start with the strange phenomenon called gang stalking. In August of 2022, a 39 year old Ohio man was arrested after shooting and killing four of his neighbors in their why? He had become convinced that they were involved in gang stalking him. A manifesto on his home computer showed that he believed his neighbors were terrorists involved in a plot to control other people's minds. He said it was the greatest crime of the century. Investigators also found that his search history included seeking information on bomb making. Now we may just dismiss this as one rare instance of a mentally ill person enacting violence based on a lack of elaborate delusions. And of course this is a horrific tragedy, but I think the details are actually fascinating in terms of how we humans form the beliefs about reality upon which we act. The killer turned his paranoid persecution fantasies into a kind of political identity that, according to a pre recorded video, he was willing to die for. In it, he encouraged other targeted individuals to follow suit, characterizing his plan as the first counter attack against mind control in history in which he would specifically execute only those responsible. Now we'll come back around in a minute to what the terms gang stalking and targeted individual mean. In case you're confused, after his arrest, the killer told the FBI he was acting in self defense to protect his family, and that he also wanted to generate exposure of these terrorist mind control cells. He also reportedly said for me, this was an easy decision. Tens of thousands of people gather online, 60,000 on one Reddit forum alone, to discuss their experience of being a targeted individual. That's the language used in these communities to describe someone who believes they are being gang stalked. We'll talk more about this phenomenon in a bit, but first let me say I'm Julian Walker. You're listening to a conspirituality bonus episode, which you'll be able to hear in full if you're a subscriber@patreon.com conspirituality or via Apple subscriptions. Please note that while Apple subscriptions will drop each of these new bonus episodes into your feed as they come out, the Patreon option for the same $5 also gives you all of our episodes ad free. That's Thursday, Saturday, and Monday, and access to the entire archive of around 60 of these bonus episod and Inclusion in a community, having lively discussions and asking us sometimes pointed questions in the comments threads. For today's episode, I'm using gang stalking as a doorway into talking about a set of recognized delusions that often occur after some kind of brain injury. As a super nerd for all things related to neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and philosophy of mind, I find that neurological and psychiatric conditions provide a fascinating context for thinking about how our everyday experience of subjective consciousness and beliefs about reality are created and can become distorted. These disorders are also amplifications of feelings and perceptions we may all recognize that we experience from time to time, and they are reflected in more fantastical forms in the mythologies, supernatural beings, and spiritual beliefs that show up across culture, as well as in science fiction and horror movies. So I'm going to touch on how zombies, vampires, shape shifters, and even films like the Matrix or the Truman show relate to specific conditions. So, for example, today I'm going to tell you about a woman in 1903 in a Prague clinic who tried patiently to explain to the medical staff that the clinic they were in was in fact a perfect replica and not the real clinic itself. The real clinic was in another part of town, she said, and the doctors and the nurses were obviously, for some unknown reason, moving back and forth between the two locations. The Matrix anybody? I'm going to tell you about a man who in 1970s Sacramento believed he was a real life zombie. He didn't use that word, but he was convinced that he was actually dead. And despite appearances to the contrary, he went on to commit a series of grisly crimes based on this delusion and what he thought might save him from it. I'm going to tell you about a woman in 1920s London who believed that two famous French actresses she'd seen on the stage were following her everywhere in hyper realistic disguises. They were taking over her thoughts and even forcing her to touch her own lady parts and pleasure herself. I'm going to tell you about one man in Louisiana and another in Utah who in 2011 and 2017 respectively, tragically killed their own family members because they believed they were really imposters who had done something ominous to their real relatives. What if I told you that all of the cases I just mentioned are connected and that contrary to early psychoanalytic interpretations, they're all examples of of brain glitches that get at the very core of how we humans experience self relationships and the structure of reality?
[07:58]
D
You've been listening to a Conspirituality Bonus Episode sample. To continue listening, please head over to patreon.com conspirituality where you can access all of our main feed episodes ad free, as well as four years of bonus content that we've been producing. You can also subscribe to our bonus episodes via Apple subscriptions. As independent media creators, we really appreciate your support.

Summary5 min read

Conspirituality Podcast
Episode: Bonus Sample: Reality, Monsters & Brain Glitches
Release Date: July 27, 2026
Host: Julian Walker

Episode Overview

This bonus episode, hosted by Julian Walker, dives into the eerie intersection of horror and science fiction tropes—zombies, vampires, shape-shifters, and reality simulations—and rare but real brain disorders that can blur the lines between reality and paranoid fantasy. The episode explores how such neurological phenomena underpin not only pop-culture monsters but also the architecture of conspiracy theories and spiritual delusions. Through case studies and philosophical reflection, Julian links these "brain glitches" to both personal and collective crises of reality—especially relevant to the conspirituality movement’s fusion of wellness, spirituality, and conspiracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Episode’s Core Question and Direction

Julian Walker sets the tone:
- “Today we're going a little dark, friends, but also kind of trippy. Think zombies, vampires, body snatchers, cloned loved ones, shape shifters and reality simulations. But all in the context of the human mind...” (01:26)
- He frames the episode as a journey into the psychological and neurological roots of beliefs that distort reality—a foundation, he argues, for both mythic monsters and modern conspiracy thinking.

2. The Gang Stalking Phenomenon: A Modern Social Delusion

Case Study—Ohio, August 2022:
- Julian recounts a chilling story of a man who murdered four neighbors under the conviction they were engaged in "gang stalking"—a belief in secret groups targeting individuals with mind control.
  - “He had become convinced that they were involved in gang stalking him... characterizing his plan as the first counter attack against mind control in history.” (02:00)
  - The perpetrator left a manifesto and sought to inspire others, viewing himself as part of a political movement against “mind control cells.”
Online Communities:
- Over 60,000 people gather in online forums (e.g. Reddit) to share gang stalking experiences, identifying themselves as "targeted individuals."
  - “Tens of thousands of people gather online, 60,000 on one Reddit forum alone, to discuss their experience of being a targeted individual.” (03:38)

3. Linking Delusions and Monsters: How Brains Distort Reality

The Neuroscience Angle:
- Julian positions conditions like gang stalking as doors into a broader discussion: how neurological and psychiatric glitches can generate powerful delusions of persecution or alternate realities.
  - “For today's episode, I'm using gang stalking as a doorway into talking about a set of recognized delusions that often occur after some kind of brain injury.” (04:29)
- He emphasizes that even the most bizarre beliefs are often exaggerated versions of universal human fears.

4. Case Studies: Real People, Real “Monsters”

Julian presents a series of historical and contemporary cases, illustrating how neurological delusions birth scenarios reminiscent of classic horror and sci-fi:
- The “Matrix” Syndrome (1903, Prague):
  - A woman insists the clinic she’s in is a perfect replica; the real clinic is elsewhere, and staff are swapping between the two.
    - “The Matrix anybody?” (06:08)
- The Walking Dead Delusion (1970s, Sacramento):
  - A man is convinced he is dead—a real-life zombie—leading to criminal acts.
- Fantasies of Persecution and Possession (1920s, London):
  - A woman believes two French actresses are following her everywhere in disguise, controlling her thoughts and actions.
- “Body Snatcher” Homicides (2011, Louisiana & 2017, Utah):
  - Two men kill family members, convinced their loved ones have been replaced by imposters.
- Julian’s Summary:
  - “All of the cases I just mentioned are connected... they're all examples of brain glitches that get at the very core of how we humans experience self, relationships and the structure of reality.” (07:29)

5. Connecting Brain Disorders to Conspirituality

Julian articulates how these neurological syndromes—once thought to be rare anomalies—serve as exaggerated mirrors of ordinary mental processes, emotions, and fears:
- “These disorders are also amplifications of feelings and perceptions we may all recognize... reflected in more fantastical forms in the mythologies, supernatural beings, and spiritual beliefs that show up across culture, as well as in science fiction and horror movies.” (05:10)
He ties these tendencies directly to the architecture of many spiritual and conspiracy-driven communities examined by the podcast.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the stakes of mistaken reality:
- “What happens when the lines get blurred between reality and paranoid fantasy?” (01:42)
On the universality of delusion:
- “These disorders are also amplifications of feelings and perceptions we may all recognize that we experience from time to time...” (05:10)
On the connection between belief and violence:
- “The killer turned his paranoid persecution fantasies into a kind of political identity that, according to a pre-recorded video, he was willing to die for.” (02:40)
On classic movies and brain glitches:
- “The Matrix anybody?” (06:08)
Connecting it all back:
- “All of the cases I just mentioned are connected... they're all examples of brain glitches that get at the very core of how we humans experience self, relationships and the structure of reality?” (07:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

01:26 — Introduction, episode’s theme: horror and brain glitches
02:00 — Ohio gang stalking case introduction
03:38 — Online “targeted individual” communities
04:29 — Gang stalking segues into broader discussion about delusions
05:10 — Delusions as amplifications of common feelings
06:08 — Real-world cases and their “monstrous” parallels: The Matrix, zombies, shape-shifters
07:29 — Connecting all cases: these are all brain glitches distorting reality

Tone and Style

Julian Walker’s delivery is both intellectual and accessible, combining empathetic narration with philosophical inquiry. He often uses pop culture references ("The Matrix anybody?") to connect complex neurological concepts with familiar horror and sci-fi imagery, grounding frightening realities in clinical research and relatable emotion.

Conclusion

This bonus episode offers a compelling, unsettling look at how real-world brain disorders can underlie both fantastical monsters and modern conspiracy thinking. Julian skillfully weaves history, neuroscience, and the digital age of paranoia, making clear that the border between reality and delusion is more fragile—and more universal—than we might like to think. For those fascinated by the mechanics of the mind, or the roots of mass delusions, this sample offers a provocative window into larger discussions at the heart of conspirituality.

Loading summary

Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. An army hung on her every word.
[00:08]
B
My champions, I have sold my chariot on Carvana. Twas a lovely suv, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it. Tonight we feast. An offer you can feast on. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pick up Fees may apply.
[00:34]
A
Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast with Benjamin Boster. If you're tired of sleepless nights, you'll love the I Can't Sleep podcast. I help quiet your mind by reading random articles from across the web to bore you to sleep with my soothing voice. Each episode provides enough interesting content to hold your attention and then your mind lets you drift off. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. That's I Can't Sleep with Benjamin Boster.
[01:27]
C
Today we're going a little dark friends, but but also kind of trippy. Think zombies, vampires, body snatchers, cloned loved ones, shape shifters and reality simulations. But all in the context of the human mind and how the origins of these popular horror and science fiction tropes may have their basis in rare real world brain disorders. What happens when the lines get blurred between reality and and paranoid fantasy? Now how this relates to conspirituality is that conspiracy theories and various forms of spiritual and religious delusions are built on similar architecture or at least can be understood to have a relationship to what we're going to talk about. Let's start with the strange phenomenon called gang stalking. In August of 2022, a 39 year old Ohio man was arrested after shooting and killing four of his neighbors in their why? He had become convinced that they were involved in gang stalking him. A manifesto on his home computer showed that he believed his neighbors were terrorists involved in a plot to control other people's minds. He said it was the greatest crime of the century. Investigators also found that his search history included seeking information on bomb making. Now we may just dismiss this as one rare instance of a mentally ill person enacting violence based on a lack of elaborate delusions. And of course this is a horrific tragedy, but I think the details are actually fascinating in terms of how we humans form the beliefs about reality upon which we act. The killer turned his paranoid persecution fantasies into a kind of political identity that, according to a pre recorded video, he was willing to die for. In it, he encouraged other targeted individuals to follow suit, characterizing his plan as the first counter attack against mind control in history in which he would specifically execute only those responsible. Now we'll come back around in a minute to what the terms gang stalking and targeted individual mean. In case you're confused, after his arrest, the killer told the FBI he was acting in self defense to protect his family, and that he also wanted to generate exposure of these terrorist mind control cells. He also reportedly said for me, this was an easy decision. Tens of thousands of people gather online, 60,000 on one Reddit forum alone, to discuss their experience of being a targeted individual. That's the language used in these communities to describe someone who believes they are being gang stalked. We'll talk more about this phenomenon in a bit, but first let me say I'm Julian Walker. You're listening to a conspirituality bonus episode, which you'll be able to hear in full if you're a subscriber@patreon.com conspirituality or via Apple subscriptions. Please note that while Apple subscriptions will drop each of these new bonus episodes into your feed as they come out, the Patreon option for the same $5 also gives you all of our episodes ad free. That's Thursday, Saturday, and Monday, and access to the entire archive of around 60 of these bonus episod and Inclusion in a community, having lively discussions and asking us sometimes pointed questions in the comments threads. For today's episode, I'm using gang stalking as a doorway into talking about a set of recognized delusions that often occur after some kind of brain injury. As a super nerd for all things related to neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and philosophy of mind, I find that neurological and psychiatric conditions provide a fascinating context for thinking about how our everyday experience of subjective consciousness and beliefs about reality are created and can become distorted. These disorders are also amplifications of feelings and perceptions we may all recognize that we experience from time to time, and they are reflected in more fantastical forms in the mythologies, supernatural beings, and spiritual beliefs that show up across culture, as well as in science fiction and horror movies. So I'm going to touch on how zombies, vampires, shape shifters, and even films like the Matrix or the Truman show relate to specific conditions. So, for example, today I'm going to tell you about a woman in 1903 in a Prague clinic who tried patiently to explain to the medical staff that the clinic they were in was in fact a perfect replica and not the real clinic itself. The real clinic was in another part of town, she said, and the doctors and the nurses were obviously, for some unknown reason, moving back and forth between the two locations. The Matrix anybody? I'm going to tell you about a man who in 1970s Sacramento believed he was a real life zombie. He didn't use that word, but he was convinced that he was actually dead. And despite appearances to the contrary, he went on to commit a series of grisly crimes based on this delusion and what he thought might save him from it. I'm going to tell you about a woman in 1920s London who believed that two famous French actresses she'd seen on the stage were following her everywhere in hyper realistic disguises. They were taking over her thoughts and even forcing her to touch her own lady parts and pleasure herself. I'm going to tell you about one man in Louisiana and another in Utah who in 2011 and 2017 respectively, tragically killed their own family members because they believed they were really imposters who had done something ominous to their real relatives. What if I told you that all of the cases I just mentioned are connected and that contrary to early psychoanalytic interpretations, they're all examples of of brain glitches that get at the very core of how we humans experience self relationships and the structure of reality?
[07:58]
D
You've been listening to a Conspirituality Bonus Episode sample. To continue listening, please head over to patreon.com conspirituality where you can access all of our main feed episodes ad free, as well as four years of bonus content that we've been producing. You can also subscribe to our bonus episodes via Apple subscriptions. As independent media creators, we really appreciate your support.