Author and podcaster Jon Ronson discusses his show Things Fell Apart, explores the mysterious deaths of 32 black sex workers in Miami, controversies surrounding excited delirium as a cause of death, narcissism's effects on behavior, disillusionment towards the medical establishment, belief in conspiracy theories and racist stereotypes, the dangers of over-medicalization, and the trustworthiness of the medical establishment and scientist Judy Bikovitz's claims about COVID-19.
Misplaced trust in authority figures can lead to the spread of misinformation and pseudoscience.
Tasers used by police have been linked to deaths in custody, raising questions about their safety.
Dr. Judy Mikovits' refusal to retract her controversial study on chronic fatigue syndrome resulted in legal issues and imprisonment.
Deep dives
The Mysterious Murders in Miami
In the 1980s, 32 black sex workers in Miami were found dead under mysterious circumstances. They were all found naked from the waist down and in the same position. Dr. Charles Wetley, the county's deputy chief medical examiner, claimed they all died from a combination of cocaine and sex, naming the condition 'Excited Delirium.' However, it was later discovered that these were actually the actions of a serial killer, not a medical condition.
The Unreliable Claims of Dr. Judy Mikovits
Dr. Judy Mikovits, known for her controversial views on vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic, falls into a rabbit hole of pseudoscience. Despite being a smart individual, Mikovits spreads unsupported claims and misinformation, leading many to follow her down their own rabbit holes. This highlights the issue of misplaced trust in doctors and authority figures.
Injustice in Police Custody Deaths
It is revealed in the podcast that hundreds of deaths in police custody have occurred after individuals are tased. Excited delirium is often listed as a cause of death, but the speaker questions the need to disambiguate blame between tasers and police brutality, highlighting the inherent dangers of tasers.
The Controversy Surrounding Dr. Judy Mikovits
The podcast delves into the story of Dr. Judy Mikovits and her research on chronic fatigue syndrome, where she claimed a mouse virus called XMRV was the cause. Science magazine published her study, leading to controversy and millions of dollars spent trying to replicate her findings. Her refusal to retract the paper and subsequent legal issues culminated in her imprisonment for five days. The podcast explores how her wounded pride and potential narcissism may have contributed to her steadfastness in defending her research.
In this installment, Jordan welcomes back to the show author and podcaster Jon Ronson to discuss his show Things Fell Apart, which has a new season out now. Tune in to hear about bad doctors and Jon's thoughts about Friday Night Lights.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode