Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test, delves into the origins of culture wars, from left-wing activism to vaccine paranoia. He shares intriguing stories of conspiracy theories, psychic soldiers, and public shaming in the age of social media. Ronson discusses the surprising impact of individuals in shaping divisive social conflicts, including his undercover experience at Bohemian Grove with Alex Jones.
Beliefs in culture wars can lead individuals to extreme behavior and consequences, affecting their personal and professional lives.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' underestimated influence and rise to power showcase the significant impact fringe figures can have on society.
Deep dives
The Impact of Culture Wars on People's Lives
The podcast explores how the beliefs in culture wars can have profound effects on individuals, leading to significant changes in their lives. It shares the story of a friend who became obsessed with a particular culture war issue, losing his family and work as a result. The podcast highlights the modern and shocking malaise of individuals becoming extreme caricatures of themselves, trapped in a rabbit hole they can't escape from.
The Explosive Period of May 2020
The podcast delves into the time period of May 2020, where a series of events, such as the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and fears of Antifa, led to a massive explosion of mistrust in institutions. It explores how media platforms reward extreme and polarizing content, further fueling the division and confusion among society. The podcast aims to shed light on the origins of these conflicts by examining human stories and looking into the moment when it all began.
Underestimating the Influence of Alex Jones
The podcast discusses the underestimated influence of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. It reveals how Jones, who started as a fringe figure, gained immense power and became one of the most successful conspiracy theorists. Despite being deplatformed and facing legal challenges, his popularity and wealth increased. The podcast also explores the role Jones played in the election of Donald Trump, highlighting the surprising impact individuals on the fringes can have on society.
Jon Ronson has spent time with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, uncovered the secret US military program to train psychic soldiers and told the stories of the first people to be publicly shamed in the age of social media.
Now, Ronson’s investigating the culture wars. From fears about left-wing activists taking over the streets to paranoia about vaccines – he charts the surprising origins of our most divisive social conflicts.
Today, author of The Psychopath Test and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Jon Ronson, on the very human stories behind how things fell apart.
See Jon Ronson live in Australia in November: https://www.fane.co.uk/jon-ronson