Ethel MwedziwendiraEthel: Hello to all of you die-hard conspiracy fanatics out there. This week, I’ve teamed up with the other design editor, Hayden. I promise there is a purpose behind this theme. Over the summer, I was scrolling through Twitter and came across a thread that highlighted conspiracies that were out of this world, including one about Avril Lavigne. Of course, if you read about the Mandela Effect, the Berenst(e)ain Bears and parallel universes, you suddenly become immersed in the world of conspiracy. Being that the theme this month was spookiness, we thought we would dive into all things conspiracy this week.
Here are our takes:
“Those Conspiracy Guys” is a weekly podcast hosted by two comedians that reveals information about famous conspiracies, true crime and murders. They focus on the wildest truths and wildest mysteries. Each episode, in one or two hours, fills listeners on corruption, conspiracy and suppression. They cover intriguing theories and unanswered questions from the John Lennon and JFK assassinations to sci-fi stories about extraterrestrial sightings. The podcast doesn’t just focus on conspiracies, though. The hosts have recently released episodes focusing on missing persons and serial killers like Albert Fish. What distinguishes this podcast from other conspiracy ones is that it doesn’t follow a particular formula, and the information shared is thoroughly researched and, well, believable.
Mulder Was Right: Conspiracy and Alternative Facts
This podcast is a combination of history and conspiracy. Every Friday, the hosts unveil the mysteries of the elite, with some comedy. Themes in the past have been Denver International Airport and, of course, the Bigfoot conspiracy. The stories and the humor are what make each episode unique. A personal favorite and must-listen is the Mandela Effect episode. This theory was coined by a paranormal consultant after she and a few others were convinced Nelson Mandela died during his imprisonment in the 1980s. The episode details other examples of the effect, like the Flintstones, Looney Toons and other cartoon conspiracies. If you’re witty and enjoy history and cartoons with a twist, then this might be the podcast for you.
Hayden: This week, I am trespassing on Ethel’s podcast territory. Continuing in the spirit of Halloween, we have each chosen a few podcasts about conspiracy theories that we have deemed worthy of your listening ears. I am honored to be teaming up with my co-design editor for this monumental column. Without further ado, here are some conspiracy theory podcast recommendations for your personal Halloween thrills, from the other half of the design desk.
This podcast takes an in-depth look at popular myths, legends and mysteries in society, from the moth man of West Virginia in the 1960s to the vanishing of Amelia Earhart in 1937. Co-hosts Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess provide copious amounts of information and background surrounding mysterious events in history that have left people questioning reality. As they sift through the facts and details known about each case, they also analyze possible explanations for these occurrences. Warning: This is not a casual listen. Each podcast is rather lengthy because of the amount of information provided, so listening through this collection will take a dedicated listener. If you are a podcast junkie who has the time and dedication for this, I recommend giving this series a listen for some classic, eerie stories. If nothing else, you’ll have a good campfire tale to tell on Halloween.
Katelyn Hempstead brings a comedic and lighthearted flair to this podcast series. Each episode, she invites a guest on her show to choose his or her favorite conspiracy to discuss. There is a wide variety of well-known conspiracies featured on her show, raising popular questions for discussion. Is Elvis alive? Is Stevie Wonder really blind? Is Avril Lavigne dead? After the information is presented in each case, the legitimacy of the conspiracy is debated. This is better suited for listeners who want a shorter, livelier podcast that will provide some laughs.
