Conspirituality Brief: MAHA’s Conspiracy Theories
Sep 13, 2025
Derek shares insights from his extensive work on a compelling video about conspiracy theories in the wellness space. The discussion highlights the problematic spread of health misinformation by influencers and its effects on public trust. They tackle the backlash from critics and the struggle for accountability in health narratives. The podcast also clarifies the distinctions between editorial and opinion journalism, emphasizing the importance of media integrity, especially in an era influenced by billionaires and influencers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How A Media 'Funnel' Radicalizes Health Fans
- The NYT video reconstructed how wellness influencers create a funnel toward anti-medicine beliefs using AI analysis of thousands of clips.
- This funnel turns health-conscious people into distrustful consumers of healthcare by repeating distrust and conspiratorial themes.
Personal Role In The NYT Video Project
- Derek collaborated with Alex Stockton and spent months producing the NYT opinion video starting in November.
- He logged over 100 hours and contributed to script and fact-checking for the 16-minute piece.
Journalism's Intensive Safeguards
- The NYT opinion process required extensive legal review, editing, and repeated script vetting before recording.
- That rigorous oversight contrasts sharply with influencer content that lacks fact-checking or editorial control.
