Best Anti Vax Conspiracies Podcasts (2025)

1
The Super Bowl Trafficking Myth I Helped Spread: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 5 26:02

4M ago26:02

26:02

Why does the Super Bowl sex trafficking myth persist, despite repeated debunking? In the miniseries finale, Cristen unravels this sex trafficking myth she helped spread. So, why did major sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Cup and Olympics become seen as sex trafficking playgrounds? These red strings criss-cross from Greece to the United Na…

1
Satanic Daycare Panic: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 4 41:30

4M ago41:30

41:30

Why were daycare centers the prime targets of the 1980s Satanic Panic, and how did it blow up into America's longest and most expensive criminal trial? Cristen unravels the anti-cult anxieties, paranoid cowboys and "communist" childcare seeded wild conspiracy theories about devil-worshipping predators invading the suburbs. But when law enforcement …

1
Anita Bryant, Bathrooms and Backlash: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 3 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

In the 1970s, America’s moral panic machine found its perfect scapegoat: gay and lesbian teachers. Also bathrooms. Historian Gillian Frank unravels the roots of child trafficking and "groomer" conspiracies back to Red Scare paranoia, civil rights backlash, a conservative women's movement against the Equal Rights Amendment and the pageant queen-turn…

1
The Groomer Rumor Mill: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 2 35:02

5M ago35:02

35:02

How did human trafficking conspiracy theories give rise to a politicized pedo panic targeting teachers, trans kids and drag queens? Researchers Daniela Peterka-Benton and Bond Benton connect the dots between QAnon's obsession with saving the children, the 2022 revival of anti-LGBTQ "groomer" rhetoric and Disney's recurring role in American culture …

1
Sex Traffickers in Parking Lots: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 1 43:49

5M ago43:49

43:49

Why are suburban white women so afraid of getting snatched out of parking lots and sex trafficked? Journalist Caitlin Dewey unravels the tangled threads of modern sex trafficking panic, the impact of QAnon, and the role of influencers and media in laundering misinformation as "safety" advice for women and moms. Caitlin and Cristen also highlight ho…

1
Emotional literacy for misinformation? 12:21

5M ago12:21

12:21

Ever heard of emotional literacy? In this mini episode (a breadcrumb? red thread?), climate misinformation expert and content creator Abbie Richards explains what it is, why it pairs so well with conspiracy theories, and how we all stand to benefit from more of it. Because if debunking won’t stop the misinformation crisis, maybe it's time to start …

1
Escaped Nuns from Evil Convents 20:01

6M ago20:01

20:01

In the late summer of 1834, a torch-wielding mob burned down a Boston convent for reasons that sound a lot like . . . Pizzagate. Fueled by rumors of kidnappings, papal paranoia and phony exposés, conspiracy theories about nuns in their convents spiraled out of control in 19th-century America. Cristen unravels why that happened and how it set the st…

1
The Feminine Draw of Contemporary Conspiracy (Culture Study with Anne Helen Petersen) 1:10:26

6M ago1:10:26

1:10:26

What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and gossip? When does joking around about Kate Middleton’s abduction turn into something much darker? Are women actually more susceptible to contemporary conspiracy theories — or are we just finally paying attention to it? Cristen joined Anne Helen Petersen on Culture Study Podcast to unpack all of …

1
The Kamala Harris Disinfo Dossier 31:51

6M ago31:51

31:51

From cuckoo claims she’s secretly a man to attacks questioning her Blackness, Kamala Harris conspiracy theories are one of the most predictable features of the 2024 election, it turns out. Disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz unravels the three main disinfo narratives that have targeted Kamala for years and what they sound like today, and Crist…

1
The Transvestigation of Michelle Obama 43:33

7M ago43:33

43:33

What can an obscure conspiracy theory involving Michelle Obama, Joan Rivers and the deep state tell us about the gender panicked rise of reactionary politics? Enter “transvestigation”—a brain-rot conspiracy genre trafficking in wonky eyes, bad photoshops and a gender-inclusive Illuminati. Digital researcher Lexi Webster unravels the nonsense and wh…

1
Did #FreeBritney Really Free Britney? 41:17

7M ago41:17

41:17

Free Britney started as fan sleuthing, which ultimately helped end Britney Spears’ conservatorship, sparked a pop cultural reckoning and galvanized a disability rights movement. Podcaster and comic Tess Barker (Pop Mystery Pod) unravels that journey of pursuing the truth about Britney–and its thornier consequences–while digital sociologist Naomi Sm…

1
Greta Thunberg: Climate Conspiracy's Forever Scapegoat 38:18

7M ago38:18

38:18

At just 16, Greta Thunberg led the largest climate protest in history—and became a target for right-wing conspiracy theories. Scholar Emily Ryalls dissects how Greta was recast as a hysterical pawn of globalist billionaires and why the “Greta Effect” continues to provoke such powerful backlash. Then, TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards …

1
Avril Lavigne's Clone Hoax That Won't Die 37:54

7M ago37:54

37:54

Who sparked the bizarre conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a clone named Melissa, and why does it still persist? Snopes reporter Nur Ibrahim unravels the allure of celebrity death hoaxes, political body double rumors and how to sort the fakes from the facts. Cristen also connects the dots between Avril Lavigne, the Beatles’ Paul M…

1
Meghan Markle's Royal Pregnancy Truthers 36:44

7M ago36:44

36:44

Why did Meghan Markle's pregnancies unleash tabloid rumors and unprecedented speculation? Royal reporter Ellie Hall unravels the community committed to exposing their “Duchess of Deception,” from claims that Meghan faked her pregnancies to masterminding the #WhereIsKate PR crisis. Scholar Moya Bailey also connects the dots between Meghan skeptics, …

1
Megan Thee Stallion vs. Misogynoir 48:25

8M ago48:25

48:25

When Megan Thee Stallion revealed the truth about being shot by Tory Lanez, why was she met with disbelief, Bigfoot jokes, and Illuminati rumors? NPR Music reporter and longtime hottie Sidney Madden (Louder Than a Riot) unravels how hip-hop culture put Megan on trial, while Tory Lanez’ team claimed the slut-shame defense in court. Scholar Moya Bail…

1
Beyoncé’s Illuminati Mess 35:47

8M ago35:47

35:47

From secret messages in “Single Ladies” to the infamous Blue Ivy bump gate, Beyoncé has been at the center of countless conspiracy theories. But nothing tops (or stops) the Illuminati rumors. Where did they start, and how much is Jay-Z to blame? Scholar Moya Bailey unravels the fixation on Beyoncé, revealing the misogynoir driving these conspiracie…

1
Taylor Swift: From Aryan Queen to Left-Wing Psyop 44:21

8M ago44:21

44:21

How did Taylor Swift go from being (falsely) labeled a far-right dream girl to a left-wing psyop in conspiracy narratives? Host Cristen Conger untangles the conflicting stories that have turned Swift into a culture war lightning rod, from Nazi sympathizer rumors to the Travis Kelce psyop theory. Sociologist Brian Donovan unpacks why her celebrity m…

1
Anti-Vax Influencers, Tradwives and Fangirls 30:05

8M ago30:05

30:05

Why were women and lifestyle influencers so pivotal to spreading QAnon lies about pedos, cabals and child trafficking via Wayfair furniture? Grab your red string and follow along with host Cristen Conger into the female-dominated landscape of "conspirituality," where wellness and woo-woo get extra delulu. Researcher, journalist and QAA podcast corr…

1
The Women Who Resurrected the Illuminati Myth 32:29

9M ago32:29

32:29

If it weren't for rich lady fascist Nesta Webster, Illuminati conspiracy theories might've died off ages ago. Host Cristen Conger (Unladylike) unravels the unhinged women's history of antisemitic Illuminati propaganda and its role in shaping today’s conspiracy-pilled, post-factual era. Cultural historian Lindsay Porter further introduces us to the …

1
Here Comes Conspiracy, She Wrote 1:26

10M ago1:26

1:26

From the original Illuminati influencers to celebrity pregnancy truthers today, host Cristen Conger unravels the red strings connecting women, gender and conspiracy culture gone wild. Because QAnon moms, tradwives and even Taylor Swift government psyop conspiracy theories reveal a lot about power, pop culture and politics. Conspiracy, She Wrote sta…

1
Trending is moving to the Documentary Podcast 0:43

10M ago0:43

0:43

BBC Trending's podcast feed is closing, but we'll be publishing new episodes in the BBC World Service's Documentary Podcast from now on. Search for The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts, and subscribe to get new episodes of BBC Trending along with a range of exciting new documentaries from around the world.…

1
Colombia’s guerrilla recruitment video problem 18:06

10M ago18:06

18:06

Fighters from dissident armed groups in Colombia are using TikTok to glorify their lives as guerrillas and recruit youngsters. These armed groups didn't like the terms of a peace treaty negotiated between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government in 2016, and they kept fighting against the Colombian government. These grou…

1
The Kenyan influencer championing climate denial 18:07

10M ago18:07

18:07

Jusper Machogu is a farmer from southwestern Kenya who describes himself as a “climate sceptic”: he wrongly claims that climate change is a “scam” or a “hoax” designed to hold Africa back. On social media, he has also become known as a staunch defender of fossil fuel exploration in Africa. His views have caught the eye of those in the West who, lik…

1
Is Russia targeting Poland's farmers’ protests? 20:11

11M ago20:11

20:11

Farmers' protests have been erupting across Europe, and on February 20th one image from a protest in Poland went viral. It showed a tractor carrying a soviet flag and bearing a slogan calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to ‘bring order to Ukraine, Brussels and our rulers.’ The man driving the tractor was arrested and is currently awaiting t…

1
Love and deception in the age of AI 20:19

11M ago20:19

20:19

In a viral thread posted on X in January this year, a 23-year-old Russian man claims he used ChatGPT to filter through and chat thousands of women on Tinder, eventually proposing to one that was selected by the algorithm.The scale and success of his experiment sparked scepticism. Some raised doubts about the technical plausibility of it, while othe…

1
Long Covid: Think yourself well? 18:19

11M ago18:19

18:19

Long Covid can ruin lives, and scientists are striving to understand the condition and beginning to get some early clues about possible treatments. While there are still more questions than answers, though, many have turned online for help. But could what they find there sometimes do more harm than good? Rachel Schraer goes undercover to investigat…

1
The anti-vax candidate? 20:02

1y ago20:02

20:02

In 2024 yet another Kennedy is making a bid for the White House. Robert F Kennedy Jr - nephew of the late President John F Kennedy - is enjoying strong polling numbers for an independent candidate. He’s running on a platform of promising to take on powerful vested interests to create a better life for the average American. But away from his Camelot…

1
Democracy on the brink in Tunisia? 19:36

1y ago19:36

19:36

In 2011, Tunisians took to the streets against the ruling authoritarian regime. Catalysed by social media, the protests would reverberate around the world, spark the Arab Spring and lead to significant democratic reforms in the country. More recently, Tunisia’s democracy has reached a turning point. In 2021, as public frustration with the pandemic …

1
The new fight for land rights 18:20

1y ago18:20

18:20

In Malaysian Borneo, indigenous people have struggled for land rights against companies and the state. Using new mapping technology, communities in Borneo’s rainforests are racing to prove their claims. In this episode of Trending we’ll be exploring how technology and social media are being used and misused to shift the balance of power. Reporter: …

1
Fear and conspiracies in Las Vegas 19:22

1y ago19:22

19:22

Marianna Spring talks to a survivor of the mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 about how posts on a social media account made him question an event he’d witnessed with his own eyes. Presenter: Marianna SpringProducers: Ben Carter and Emma CloseEditor: Flora CarmichaelSound Engineer: Tom BrignellBy BBC World Service

1
The disinformation war in the Middle East 20:22

1y ago20:22

20:22

"A flood of disinformation has erupted across social media in the online propaganda battle that’s being waged alongside the physical conflict between Israel and Hamas. Everything from video game clips falsely presented as genuine combat footage, to the outright denial of civilian deaths, have been deployed to try to skew the online narrative and wa…

1
The Mexican mayor and a deepfake scandal 18:48

1y ago18:48

18:48

When an audio recording alleged to be from the Mayor of one of the world's largest cities started circulating online, reality was called into question. Mexico City's mayor, claimed the clip- which sounded like he was discussing a campaign against a political candidate- was AI generated. Others are convinced the audio is real. In this episode of Tre…

1
Crude fakes in Uganda 20:13

1+ y ago20:13

20:13

A BBC investigation has uncovered a network of fake social media accounts seemingly working together to promote the Ugandan government and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Online, an information battle appears to be going on – one being waged by hundreds of social media accounts set on pushing narratives in line with those of the Ugandan govern…

1
Serbia’s real life ‘bots’ 19:02

1+ y ago19:02

19:02

Over the summer, a mysterious Twitter persona published details of over 14,500 social media accounts - all of them controlled by real-life Serbian citizens, it's claimed. They stand accused of posting… whatever the President’s party tells them to. It’s long been rumoured that Serbia’s ruling SNS party commands the online activity of a small army of…

1
Exposing people smugglers 19:16

1+ y ago19:16

19:16

People smugglers are selling illegal routes out of Pakistan to Europe on social media.We’ve gone undercover with BBC Newsnight and BBC Urdu to expose how smugglers are luring potential migrants into taking dangerous voyages.They advertise online… in plain sight. Promising people safe passage to Europe. Presenter: Reha KansaraProducers: Samrah Fatim…

1
The Voice: conspiracies and Australia's referendum 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

Earlier in October, Australia took to the polls in a referendum and rejected the establishment of an indigenous advisory body in the constitution - the Voice. Beyond the typical controversies, social media became flooded with false information. In this episode of Trending, we’ll delve into how online conspiracy groups garnered support for their ext…

1
Trolled by a life coaching cult 20:13

1+ y ago20:13

20:13

A life coaching group has been accused of trolling former members.Lighthouse International Group promises to help people realise their dreams and ambitions, but the reality is more sinister.Lighthouse obsessively records and stores mentoring sessions and group calls. But when people ask questions or try to leave, that’s when the trouble really star…

1
Inside America’s political battleground 22:00

1+ y ago22:00

22:00

Mike Wendling and Maxine Hughes explore how extreme conspiracies and right wing rhetoric went mainstream in America. From the Proud Boys' Enrique Tarrio, to far right militias and Antifa, we hear from individuals on the extremes of American politics about what they believe and why, and explore what part social media has played in the radicalisation…

1
India's latest 'love trap' 19:08

1+ y ago19:08

19:08

Videos taken across India are going viral on social media. They show hordes of men harassing and even attacking young couples in the street. The clips are accompanied by a hashtag #BhagwaLoveTrap - and have been inspired by an inflammatory narrative. The theory suggests Hindu men are trying to seduce Muslim women and lure them away from their commu…

1
TikTok frenzies 20:33

1+ y ago20:33

20:33

TikTok started as an app for posting lip syncs and dance videos, but quickly developed into a platform where users can follow along world events, criminal investigations and social unrest in real time. From frenzied speculation over true crime to vandalism and protests at schools, TikTok seems to be connected to harmful behaviour offline as the app…

1
How to exit the manosphere 19:35

1+ y ago19:35

19:35

You may have heard about how young men are being drawn into the so-called ‘manosphere’ but how can they escape? Can subreddits such as #IncelExit help men who are involuntarily celibate to put their disturbing views to one side and foster more healthy perspectives about women and dating? We hear from former manosphere subscribers around the world w…

1
The germ deniers 19:14

1+ y ago19:14

19:14

Conspiracy theories about viruses and vaccines have exploded in recent years. At the same time, something arguably stranger has spiralled…groups online who don’t believe germs which cause disease exist at all. They believe that there’s no such thing as viruses and that all diseases are caused by living an unhealthy life, particularly our diet and e…

1
The AI ghosts haunting TikTok 21:20

1+ y ago21:20

21:20

In a gruesome new trend, TikTok has been flooded with videos in which AI-generated versions of real life child murder victims tell the stories of how they were killed. The mother of child murder victim James Bulger and other grieving parents have expressed their disgust that their loved ones digital versions of their loved ones have been created an…

1
Venezuelan deepfakes and propaganda 22:37

2y ago22:37

22:37

Earlier this year videos made using artificial intelligence caused a stir in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans would have thought they were real news reports but a Spanish newspaper exposed them as deepfakes and linked them to a pro-government agenda. The journalist who exposed the fakes was immediately targeted and the Venezuelan government went into da…

1
Who’s trolling successful Asian women? 19:09

2y ago19:09

19:09

Jiayang Fan was targeted by trolls while her mother was dying, and again when they learned of her death.The New Yorker writer is one of several high profile journalists who’ve been systematically targeted with online abuse.The victims are all women of Chinese descent, now living in the West.And according to one group of researchers, the perpetrator…

1
Trolled by a life coaching cult 20:12

2y ago20:12

20:12

A life coaching group has been accused of trolling former members.Lighthouse International Group promises to help people realise their dreams and ambitions, but the reality is more sinister. Lighthouse obsessively records and stores mentoring sessions and group calls. But when people ask questions or try to leave, that’s when the trouble really sta…

1
Ghouling: The trolls targeting bereaved people 19:54

2y ago19:54

19:54

Since the Covid vaccines were rolled out, a trend has sprung up – of accounts online linking virtually any death or illness, of a celebrity, athlete or ordinary person, to the shots without any evidence. A conspiracy theory film called Died Suddenly released last year appears to have supercharged this practice- termed “ghouling”. BBC Trending inves…

1
Brazil’s real life trolls 20:47

2y ago20:47

20:47

In one of the dirtiest electoral campaigns in Brazil's history, figures on the left and right of the political spectrum trolled their opponents with jokes, ridicule and disinformation rocking the country's young democracy. We speak to both sides including a Congressman whose series of ambiguous or misleading posts on Twitter got millions of views a…

1
Twitter ‘ninjas’ against climate denial 20:36

2y ago20:36

20:36

Climate-denying trolls, beware: a group of internet vigilantes is coming for you. They call themselves “Team Ninja Trollhunters”: a ragtag group of activists from around the globe, who have vowed to fight those spreading climate change misinformation on Twitter. The group claims to have succeeded in getting hundreds of users booted off the platform…

1
Myanmar’s digital battleground 21:27

2y ago21:27

21:27

Burmese women have been at the forefront of the resistance against the military junta ever since Myanmar lurched back into a dictatorship in 2021. Online, female activists and politicians have been fighting for their rights, gathering intel and strategizing - hoping that one day Myanmar will return to democracy. But these women have also been on th…

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Anti Vax Conspiracies Podcasts

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