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Conspiracy Theoryology is written and produced by Ryan Nelson, who created the show to explore why we’re drawn to conspiracy theories, the paranormal, and the supernatural. Rather than debating what’s true or false, the podcast examines what makes these topics so captivating—and why they inspire such strong belief and skepticism alike. Each episode dives into the cultural, psychological, and historical roots that keep these ideas alive in our collective imagination.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 06, 2018
Tuesday Nov 06, 2018
Episode 14 - Psychic Detectives
The use of psychic abilities to find answers, uncover clues, find victims and even uncover identities of criminal perpetrators goes way back. In ancient times, those who sought missing persons could consult an oracle or divine with activities such as astrology. By the sixteenth century, dowsing became a practiced means of tracking culprits with the use of divining rods. In the nineteenth century, sensitives claimed to receive information for a crime in their dreams, and at the height of Spiritualism, some mediums claimed to solve crimes through the help of their spirit guides.
Modern psychic approaches utilized pretty much all of these old arts, along with many others. A psychic superstar, Noreen Renier, employs still another old divination technique called psychometry, by which she purportedly gets psychic impressions from objects connected with a particular person. Many psychics claim to use clairvoyance ("clear-seeing”) whereby they supposedly “see” remote images and scenes as if they were viewed on a movie screen. Some psychics even study people’s “auras” or read the lines in their palms.
Psychic detective work has been credited for providing valuable information, if not outright solving, many missing persons and murder cases over the years. Of course, some claims are made only from the psychics themselves, and critics are quick to site the lack of any scientific backing and the failure of many purported psychics when their skills are tested and held up to scrutiny.
Regardless, we are fascinated by the idea of psychic abilities providing investigative support, especially in the most unnerving, unsettling, and unsolved cases.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-27/local/me-381_1_murder-victim
http://www.skeptically.org/spiritualism/id10.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_detective
https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/police_psychics_do_they_really_solve_crimes
https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/professionals/complicated-grief-professionals/overview/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/because-im-the-mom/201602/the-myth-complicated-grief
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-grief/201709/ambiguous-loss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-and-praxis/201804/the-uncanny-fear-loss-part-1
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018
Episode 13 - Exorcism
Exorcism, as a practice in some form or another has been around about as long as human beings have been asking themselves why things happen, and it’s never been completely abandoned. Yet, by the mid 20th century, the practices has waned considerably as had public interest. That all changed in 1973 with the cinematic release of “The Exorcist”. This horrific, and terrifying tale, based on a book, which claimed to be based on actual events, scared the pants off of us, and got everyone filling up their bottles of holy water again.
The art of exorcism and demonic possessions are very real for a large percentage of the population. Statistic show that over 50% of Americans believe in the possibility of demonic possession, and current demand for exorcisms have skyrocketed in Europe and Mexico. Clearly there is something happening and people are looking for answers.
Of course, there are criticisms of the practice. While some hold a secular dismissal of the practice as an archaic, medieval throwback, others take a more sympathetic perspective. Those in the mental health fields, psychologists, psychiatrists and fields of neuroscience offer explanation through greater understanding of psychological and physiological disorders that often mimic, symptomatically, conditions of possession.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism
http://historyhole.com/the-history-of-exorcisms/?con=&loc=&utm_source=
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4744643/
https://www.vox.com/2016/10/30/13413864/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-explained
https://thefearandanxietysolution.com/portfolio-items/the-fear-of-losing-control/
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Episode 12 - Alien Abductions
The phenomenon, as documented by researchers, journalists, and skeptics alike, over the years, has become pretty well defined in terms of key aspects, and has led to an array of collected testimonies, assertions to either the validity or the incredulity of the phenomenon, and even the occasional conspiracy theory or two.
The terms alien abduction or abduction phenomenon describe "subjectively real memories of being taken secretly against one's will by apparently nonhuman entities and subjected to complex physical and psychological procedures".
Most discussion of the phenomenon focuses on trying to explain the experiences either through proof of the extraterrestial or through mundane terrestial influences and psychological basis. But what about the rest of us? What explains our fascination with alien abduction stories? Why do we want it to be the subject of our movies, tv shows and books? Perhaps it is because it speaks to a root fear. A fear of the unknown.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction
https://www.mufon.com/travis-walton-abduction---1975.html
https://www.mufon.com/betty--barney-hill-abduction---1961.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B4nio_Vilas_Boas
http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-abduction-and-kidnapping
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618516300469
https://www.somewhereintheskies.com/
https://audioboom.com/channels/4938828
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Alien_abduction
http://www.look4ward.co.uk/weird/tales-of-fairies-modern-concept-of-alien-abduction-experience/
Tuesday Sep 25, 2018
Tuesday Sep 25, 2018
Episode 11 - Workers Buried in Hoover Dam
A worker falls into a pool of wet concrete that’s being poured as part of a major construction project. Before he can be saved, his body slips beneath the surface and he drowns in the thick soup of the concrete.
Pouring concrete is a slow and tedious job, and once “the pour” is started, it can’t be stopped without ruining the whole block, and that section of the project has to completely re-done. So, rather than dig the dead workman out of the concrete pool, construction supervisors and bosses let the body sink further into the concrete, and the poor workman gets entombed forever in the structure he was helping to build.
That's the legend anyway, and it gets told generation after generation when people discover this mega-structure. Is it really just that good of a legend that it keeps going on it's own merits, or is there something else about the Hoover Dam itself that resonates within the public mind?
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortality_salience
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_management_theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/hoover-dam
https://www.sarahwolfe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/RossWolfe_2015.pdf
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tomb-of-the-dammed/
http://professorbuzzkill.com/construction-workers-entombed-concrete-myth/
Tuesday Aug 28, 2018
Tuesday Aug 28, 2018
Episode 10 - Q Clearance
The term "Q Clearance" has been in the news because of the QAnon claims that originated out of 4chan and have since gone mainstream. The claim of a Q level clearance, gave "Q" the nickname and is the basis for supposed insider above-top-secret access within the current US Administration. In this episode, we delve into the claim of Q Clearance, and explore the history of security clearance, some of the misunderstanding about holding a security clearance, and the mystery and public concern of those holding high security access. Join me as we explore this highly touted and misunderstood security clearance, known as Q Clearance.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/gss98.html
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/07/taming_swamp_critters_with_security_clearances.html
https://www.ndtv.com/topic/nuclear-secrets
https://www.sandia.gov/fso/fso_conferences/2011_FSO_Conference/2011_FSO_OriginQandL.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_White
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/09/government-security-clearance/2406243/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/06/who-has-security-clearance/102549298/
Tuesday Aug 14, 2018
Tuesday Aug 14, 2018
Episode 9 - Crop Circles
The name conjures the image in the mind. A crop circle means a golden geometric pattern has been shaped into a field somewhere, and eventually turned into a poster on someone's cubicle wall. Some believe that they are made by extra-terrestrial visitors, or perhaps by magnetic fields flowing from deep within the earth along leylines. Others simply chalk them up to the result of weather phenomena or the artful endeavor of hoaxers known as "cereal artists". Crop circles, whatever the cause, capture our imagination, but why? The answer may lie with an ancient symbol known as the mandala. Thanks to analytical psychologist Carl Jung, we can explore the deep psychological value of both mandala and crop circles as reflections and representation of self and our understanding of our identities, and maybe discover why we find these fanciful field formations so fascinating!
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://artifactsjournal.missouri.edu/2015/08/crop-circles-explained/
https://www.livescience.com/26540-crop-circles.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Crop-Circle
http://www.world-mysteries.com/science-mysteries/strange-phenomena/crop-circles/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_circle
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/crop-circles-the-art-of-the-hoax-2524283/
https://temporarytemples.co.uk/visiting-the-circles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala
https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/spiritual-psychic/psychology-of-the-mandala/
https://fractalenlightenment.com/14683/life/carl-jungs-psychological-diagnosis-using-mandalas
https://www.carl-jung.net/mandala.html
http://www.cropcirclesecrets.org/crop_circles_sacredgeo2.html
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
Episode 8 - Ghost Photography
You've seen them on the internet. You may even have some within your own collection. Ghost photos. Also known as paranormal or spirit photography, the practice of capturing ghostly apparitions on camera is as old as the field of photography itself. Thought to be caused by the environmental affect by the apparition, either through radiation, ionization, or some impact to non-visible light spectrums, the camera captures images that are not seen by the naked eye. Well, it may be a ghost, or it might just be that you are hard wired to make sense of randomness of all that background noise in the photograph. In this episode we explore the history of spirit photography, and discuss the psychological phenomenon of pareidolia that might help explain at least some of those spooky ghost photos that we all love to stare at, looking for something otherworldly.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140730-why-do-we-see-faces-in-objects
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3280816/What-photos-s-faces-suffer-facial-pareidolia.html
http://mentalfloss.com/article/87784/13-historys-most-famous-ghost-photos
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150629-the-intriguing-history-of-ghost-photography
https://psmag.com/social-justice/believe-ghosts-youll-see-ghost-69599
https://futurism.com/pareidolia-why-we-see-what-isnt-there/
https://www.popphoto.com/parapsychologist-steve-parsons-discusses-fallacy-ghost-photography#page-14
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shadow-boxing/201310/how-fake-ghost-photo
https://psmag.com/environment/bloody-mary-bloody-mary
https://neurosciencenews.com/face-pareidolia-frontal-cortex-1019/
https://www.prairieghosts.com/ph_history.html
http://www.theoccultmuseum.com/echoes-from-beyond-the-strange-history-of-spirit-photography/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-sensed-presence-effect/
Tuesday Jul 17, 2018
Tuesday Jul 17, 2018
Episode 7 - The Question of Shakespeare Authorship
We've all studied Shakespeare. You read him in school. You performed a soliloquy in drama class. You've watched all the bad coming of age teen remakes. Did you know, though, that Shakespeare didn't actually write any of his works? At least, that's the theory, and we discuss the historical thought of the day that inspired this hotly debated and contemptuous accusation. We also explore an area of pursuasive argument known as the Argument of Authority, that just might explain why people today continue to jump on the band wagon of Shakespeare "doubters" whether they have a literary background or not.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_authorship_question
http://realunexplainedmysteries.com/the-william-shakespeare-conspiracy-theory
https://www.doubtaboutwill.org/declaration
http://ourfakehistory.com/index.php/season-1/episode-5-did-shakespeare-write-the-plays/#more-131
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/playwrights/shakespeare-the-conspiracy-theories/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority#Fallacious_appeal_to_authority
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Reasonable_Doubt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum
Tuesday Jul 03, 2018
Tuesday Jul 03, 2018
Episode 6 - The New Coke Conspiracy
Are you old enough to remember the introduction of New Coke? Afterward, when Coca-Cola Classic was re-introduced, did you hear all the stories about how the whole thing was a big marketing conspiracy, and New Coke was always meant to fail? Well, join me as we discuss the story behind the well intentioned but ill conceived business decision that lead to one of the biggest consumer backlash events in soda history. Also, find out how a better understanding of how and why rumors spread can help improve discussions of actual conspiracy theory.
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod
Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
http://socialpsychonline.com/2015/09/psychology-why-rumors-spread/
https://www.conspiracies.net/coke-conspiracies-capitalism-finest/
http://www.obscure.org/~bob/stuff/coke.html
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-lore-new-coke
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Episode 5 - Area 51 - Part 2
The conclusion of our discussion about of one of the most secure, highly restricted military installations in the United States, Area 51. This time we dive into an understanding of narrative psychology and how the concept of narrative identity can be used to explain the public appeal of Area 51.
Doesn't the whole thing sometimes feel like a great story? Almost a movie plot, that starts with a crashed UFO, leads into a secret base the is so secure it's own existence isn't acknowledged, and onto the accelerated advancement of our military technology through the reverse engineering of the crash debris. Well, if you think it reads too well to be coincidence, or, you think it's too good to be true because it isn't, this episode is for you.
No matter what you think of Area 51, you think of it. And...you like it. It captures the imagination and sparks a fascination like few other places.
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com