Conspiracy Theoryology
Conspiracy Theoryology focuses on why some alternative theories and beliefs capture popular imagination and work themselves into the public consciousness. Often times it's just a matter of good timing, the "right place, right time" scenario. Other times it seems all too convenient, and the popularity only strengthens the skeptics while deepening the suspicions for the proponents all the more. The conspiracies are summarized, with the most well-known version and details discussed. Then we dive into historical events, contemporary social occurrences, and even layman explorations into psychology and sociology as an explanation for the widespread appeal. There are so many conspiracy theories, urban legends, paranormal beliefs, popular rumors, and mythical lore, that we often take for granted that we know what they are really about. Once you gain a fresh perspective, you may just find yourself taking a new look at old stories.
Podcast Episodes
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Haunted Houses and Prospect-Refuge TheoryOctober 31st, 2019
Episode 39
Haunted houses have a long and storied history. One of the earliest stories which we have originates in Ancient Rome. Pliny the Younger writing in the first century, recounts in a letter the story of the philosopher Athenodorus and his brush with a haunted house. Per the story, Athenodorus arrives in Athens and picks up a villa with a very reasonable rent, largely due to it’s haunted reputation. On his first night in the home, the philosopher is confronted by the ghost of an old man bound with chains. The apparition leads Athenodorus to the courtyard, at which point, he vanishes. The following day Athenodorus has that location excavated, resulting in the discovery of a skeleton. These remains are then given a proper burial and the ghost never appeared again.
Tales of this nature have permeated throughout centuries of media and entertainment, filling our literature, cinemas, theater stages and televisions with ghostly tales of haunted residences. I could spend the entire episode simply listing all the epic poetry, tombs of short stories, prose and novels, and the catalog of movies, radio shows, television series and now even social media content, that encompasses the topic. We won’t, simply out of practicality, and I would assume that you already have your never-fail-go-to haunted house story favorites of books and movies.
More than any other haunted location the haunted house resonates. Today ghost stories and paranormal investigations are replete with tales of haunted houses and residing spirits that run the gamut from past residents, and lingering family members, to frightening entities and residual haunting that act as living memories of the home, or the land on which it sits.
The haunted house is now such a part of our culture that we have turned them into attractions, even going so far as to build them and recreate the spooky experience with special effects and actors. And in truth, we can’t bring up the concept of the haunted house, without exploring this most visible manifestation of our infatuation with the spirit laden domicile.
Skeptics are quick to claim reasonable explanations for the phenomenon, crediting the power of suggestion and confirmation bias. The physical effects of toxic exposure to carbon monoxide, pesticides and formaldehyde are also used to justify the haunting experiences as hallucinations.
These perfectly rational and mundane explanations are so common that any respectable paranormal investigation team called into a home by the concerned owners will first exhaust these influential possibilities as an explanation before even considering the paranormal option. If you’ve ever wondered why so many investigators use devices that seem best suited for use by electricians, plumbers and home inspectors, now you know.
This skeptical view certainly does provide evidence for why we might find a location haunted, and why the label of “haunted” can come to be attributed to otherwise average homes of any given time period. I think it appropriate to emphasize this, as I had made it clear earlier that I come to this topic with a definite bias. It is true that haunting can be explained, and I do make sure when approaching a story of experience with a checklist of physical world possibilities. Yet, these explanations don’t answer every situation, and they certainly do not explain why we find the haunted house so fascinating and why they have pervaded our imaginations for so long.
Conspiracy Theoryology Store - https://www.zazzle.com/store/theoryologypod
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod | Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast | Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
Links:
https://time.com/5433554/haunted-houses-fear-brain/?amp=true
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-haunted-house-180957008/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-ooze/201511/what-makes-house-feel-haunted
https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-psychology-behind-instilling-a-sense-of-home/
https://medium.com/@social_archi/prospect-refuge-theory-ca5d80379e51
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Seeking Witchcraft (w/ guest Ashley of Seeking Witchcraft Podcast)October 18th, 2019
Episode 38
Witchcraft intrigues us and captures our imagination. The concept is steeped in history, and the practice is shrouded in magick and the mystical. Even so, many have no idea how this ancient practice has translated into the modern day. In fact, most don't even realize that it exists in modern day, and that witches are in their midst within everyday life. Witchcraft, through all it's incarnations in our pop culture, is explored through stories. Movies, television, books and other media all use witches are often used as character reflections for ourselves, and our desire to influence and control the chaos around us. Ultimate it's left to personal interpretation and impact. Still, as much as we surround ourselves with the imagery, most of us have little, if any, understanding of the witches that live next door. You probably don't even realize they do, because they do not fit the mold of expectation.
But modern witches are just modern people. They grew up in regular households. They face daily challenges. They have degrees in Psychology and deal with a commute to work, and find time to get their cats to the veterinarian....and that is exactly who our guest is on this episode.
This time I am joined by a Wiccan Priestess named Ashley, who also hosts the amazing podcast "Seeking Witchcraft". Ashley has joined this discussion to introduce us to the modern concepts of witchcraft and the Wiccan religion, and share with us a bit of her story that began this journey of exploration and adherence to a modern "pagan" religion that is born of ancient beliefs and understanding.
This is not our usual research driven episode. It's a story. Witchcraft is a personal journey for it's practitioners. Even when covens are formed such as those of the various Wiccan traditions, initiates are guided by the experienced members and encouraged to explore their own understandings. On Seeking Witchcraft, Ashley takes her listeners through her personal understandings of Wicca and witchcraft, introducing tools, concepts, rituals and practices that she has found beneficial and effective, while also not being afraid to bring in guests to explore topics that she is still exploring as well.
Links:
https://anchor.fm/seekingwitchcraft
Conspiracy Theoryology Store - https://www.zazzle.com/store/theoryologypod
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod | Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast | Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
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Mass Hallucination (w/ guest Jason Charbonneau)October 3rd, 2019
Episode 37
Spoiler alert. Mass Hallucination is not a real phenomenon. It does not exist. At least not as depicted in popular media. Regardless, it’s a term bantered about by both sides in many skeptical debates. Today we’re going to break down the mass hallucination theory and find out why it often surfaces as the go-to excuse for the unexplained.
This time I am joined by guest host, Jason Charbonneau, creator of the fascinating YouTube channel, Think Anomalous. As you will see, I reached out to Jason for very good reason, I think you will very much enjoy.
Links:
http://www.thinkanomalous.com/myth-of-mass-hallucinations.html
https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-016-1127-1
https://www.compellingtruth.org/hallucination-theory.html
https://www.emmys.com/bios/jason-charbonneau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Strauss
http://www.process.org/discept/2012/07/12/mass-hallucination-hysteria-miracles/
Conspiracy Theoryology Store - https://www.zazzle.com/store/theoryologypod
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod | Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast | Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
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Flying Tic Tacs, UFO and Paradigm ShiftsSeptember 24th, 2019
Episode 36
This time Ryan jumps on the microphone for a bit of off-the-cuff discussion regarding the hot UFO topic of US Navy admission that the released "tic-tac" videos, which surfaced in 2017, are legitimate footage of unidentified aerial phenomenon captured between 2004 and 2015. Additionally, they were never meant to be released to the public.
Of course, we cannot just discuss these videos for what they show, or even the story behind them. No, Theoryologists, we explore what they mean. Big picture what they mean! They are a catalyst. A moment of crisis. A beginning to a major paradigm shift. Of course that means diving into an understanding of paradigms and how this little video sensation could possibly signal a huge shift in thinking.
Links:
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-paradigm-shift-2670671
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/paradigm-shift-social-change/
https://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/ParadigmChange.htm
http://www.expandedperspectives.com/category/podcast/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CdAj1rveMTjR72_LdDBpQ/videos
Conspiracy Theoryology Store - https://www.zazzle.com/store/theoryologypod
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod | Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast | Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
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Theoryology Bites: Last Thursdayism & Listener UpdatesSeptember 19th, 2019
Episode 35: Theoryology Bites
Time for a short Bonus Episode! Theoryology Bites is a bit of a side show idea to cover things that simply don't have any theoryology behind them. These are ideas, beliefs, and even conspiracy theories that didn't gain any traction in the public imagination....usually for good reason.
Still, they are fun to talk about and this gives y'all a chance to hear about them without trying to create an episode that created a theoryology that wasn't there. Hopefully you find it entertaining.
Also, Ryan takes the time to update listeners with updates on the show, explain what it upcoming, and announce the arrival of the Conspiracy Theoryology merchandise store!!!!!
Links:
Last Thursdayism - http://www.last-thursday.org/
Conspiracy Theoryology Store - https://www.zazzle.com/store/theoryologypod
email - contact@conspiracytheoryology.com
Twitter - @TheoryologyPod | Facebook - @TheoryologyPodcast | Patreon - www.patreon.com/conspiracytheoryology
Music is by adamhenrygarcia.bandcamp.com
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