The Social Chemist

Send us a textOn today's episode, I am joined by Renée DiResta, the technical research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, a program dedicated to the study of abuse in information technologies, to talk about her new book "Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality" a book that dives into how our information ecosystem has evolved in the 21st century and how health practitioners and policymakers should engage with misinformation on social media. In our conversation, we cover the difference between misinformation and propaganda and the future of misinformation research under Trump's presidency. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackRenée DiResta's BookAmazon.com: Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality: 9781541703377: DiResta, Renee: BooksReferencesMisunderstanding the harms of online misinformation | NatureRecommended Social Chemist EpisodesThe Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob WareHow Susceptible are you to Misinformation? w/ Dr Rakoen MaertensNews Media Literacy: An Educators Tool Against Misinformation w/ DeMario Phipps SmithA New Era in Disinformation: AI Generated Imagery w/ Todd C. Helmus

Send us a textIn today's episode, Dr. Sophia Moskalenko joins me in the program to discuss the various factors that contributed to the insurrection on January 6 and how exposure to conspiracy theories can lead believers and non-believers to engage in political violence. We also cover the topic of how to label Q movement and whether a comparison between QAnon and addiction can be made with the current studies on the subject. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackSophia Moskalenko Literature Review / NBC Article(PDF) Mere exposure to conspiracy theories: effects on radical intentions among believers and nonbelievers (researchgate.net)Why QAnon followers are like opioid addicts, and why that matters (nbcnews.com)Sophia Moskalenko BooksPastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon: Bloom, Mia, Moskalenko, Sophia: 9781503630291: Amazon.com: BooksAmazon.com: Friction: How Radicalization Happens to Them and Us: 9780199747436: McCauley, Clark, Moskalenko, Sophia: BooksRadicalization to Terrorism: What Everyone Needs to Know®: Moskalenko, Sophia, McCauley, Clark: 9780190862589: Amazon.com: BooksRecommended Social Chemist EpisodesQAnon: A Psychiatric Assessment of a Delusion Like Belief w/ Dr. Brian Holoyda (buzzsprout.com)Here Comes the Storm: The Origins of QAnon w/ Mike Rothschild (buzzsprout.com)A Psychosocial Assessment of QAnon w/ Dr. Joseph Pierre (buzzsprout.com)

Dr. Jessica White, Acting Director of Terrorism and Conflict Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, delves into the intricate links between online gaming and extremist recruitment. She discusses how digital spaces are exploited for radicalization, particularly among the 3.32 billion gamers worldwide. Jessica emphasizes the importance of gender mainstreaming in counter-terrorism, critiquing conventional approaches that overlook gender's role. She also highlights how far-right narratives manipulate gender stereotypes, urging a comprehensive strategy to combat these issues in gaming communities.

Send us a textOn today's episode, former assistant secretary for counterterrorism and prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Elizabeth Neumann, joins the podcast to discuss her book "Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace." We dive into her experience pushing back against Trumpism within the Evangelical community, the history of Christian Extremism in America, and the future of the Republican Party.  InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackElizabeth Neumann's Website/X (formally Twitter) Navigating the Path Back to Peace – Breaking the Rage Cycle and Navigating the Path to Peace with Elizabeth NeumannElizabeth Neumann (@NeuSummits) / XElizabeth Neumann's Book Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace: Neumann, Elizabeth: 9781546002055: Amazon.com: BooksRecommended Social Chemist EpisodesThe Role of Social Workers in Prevention Violence Extremism w/ Patrick R. Riccards (buzzsprout.com)The Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (buzzsprout.com)The Global State of Antisemitism & an Examination of the Zionist Project w/ Kenneth Stern (buzzsprout.com)Undercover within the New Face of White Supremacy w/ Matson & Tawni Browning (buzzsprout.com)News Media Literacy: An Educators Tool Against Misinformation w/ DeMario Phipps Smith (buzzsprout.com)How the Far-Right hijacked the Wellness Movement w/ Dr. Stephanie Alice Baker (buzzsprout.com)ReferencesUK Braces for More Far-Right Riots Fueled by Misinformation (yahoo.com)

Send us a textOn today's episode, Patrick R. Riccards, CEO of Life After Hate, joins the podcast to discuss how his organization uses evidence-based practices to help former extremists deradicalized and reintegrate into society. We cover whether prevention of violent extremism programs are well equipped for the potential Trump presidency and the rise of far-right domestic terrorism. I also cover some of the challenges social workers face in establishing their expertise in this field.  InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackLife After Hate WebsiteLife After HatePatrick R. RiccardsPatrick R. Riccards (patrickrriccards.com)Recommended Episodes Social Workers Role in Addressing Political Extremism w/ Royce Hutson, Ph.D. (buzzsprout.com)The Global State of Antisemitism & an Examination of the Zionist Project w/ Kenneth Stern (buzzsprout.com)The Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (buzzsprout.com)Undercover within the New Face of White Supremacy w/ Matson & Tawni Browning (buzzsprout.com)How the Far-Right hijacked the Wellness Movement w/ Dr. Stephanie Alice Baker (buzzsprout.com)ReferencesJim Jordan Issues Information Requests to Universities Researching Disinformation — ProPublicaJim Jordan's war on disinformation experts is working as planned (msnbc.com)Vivek Ramaswamy fires back at reporter asking if he condemns white supremacy: ‘Stupid question’ (youtube.com)

Send us a textOn today's episode, Robert Green, a Ph.D. student from Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice, joins me to discuss the origins of the incel community and the black pill radicalization process that can lead to men in the movement engaging in acts of domestic terrorism towards women. We cover what interventions can be implemented at the local and federal levels to deter men from falling into the subculture movement of extremism.  InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackRobert Green Research ArticleThe Black pill pipeline: A process-tracing analysis of the Incel’s continuum of violent radicalization - Robert Green, Kurt Fowler, Allan Palombi, 2023 (sagepub.com)Recommended EpisodesThe Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (buzzsprout.com)Social Workers Role in Addressing Political Extremism w/ Royce Hutson, Ph.D. (buzzsprout.com)Undercover within the New Face of White Supremacy w/ Matson & Tawni Browning (buzzsprout.com)ReferencesFBI Paid a Violent Felon to Infiltrate Racial Justice Movement (theintercept.com)

Send us a textOn today's episode, the director of the Bard Center for Study of Hate and author of "Conflict Over the Conflict: The Israel/Palestine Campus Debates," Ken Stern, joins me to discuss the events of October 7th and how the Antisemitism Awareness Act is being used to censor speech. A scholar who developed the working definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Ken offers discussions about how political discourse is a more effective way of combatting the hatred of Jews. In the episode, we also touch upon the history of Zionism and whether it is essential for Judaism.  InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | Substack Kenneth Stern Website Staff: Director Kenneth S. Stern – Bard Center for the Study of Hate Kenneth Stern BookAmazon.com: Stern: The Conflict over the Conflict: 9781487507367: Stern, Kenneth S., Strossen, Nadine: BooksArticles about Kenneth Stern The Problem with Defining Antisemitism | The New Yorker  Colleges Use His Antisemitism Definition to Censor. He Calls It a ‘Travesty.’ (chronicle.com)  Author of a definition on antisemitism: It wasn't meant to chill speech (bostonglobe.com)  ‘The Conflict over the Conflict’ | Penn Today (upenn.edu) Recommended Social Chemist Episodes The Origins of the Rothschilds Conspiracy Legends & Rise of Modern Antisemitism w/ Mike Rothschild (buzzsprout.com) The Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (buzzsprout.com) Antisemitism: The Conspiracy Theory of the Enemy Above (buzzsprout.com) References The State of Antisemitism in America 2023: AJC's Survey of American Jews | AJC  Majority in U.S. Now Disapprove of Israeli Action in Gaza (gallup.com) 

Send us a textOn today's episode, Mike Rothschild returns to discuss his new book, Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds & 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories. We go over the history and legacy of the Rothchild's name in Judaism and how they became target number one for antisemitic narratives.  We also speak about the current state of antisemitism and whether the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2024 is the best way to reduce the hatred of Jews. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackMike Rothschild Twitter/WebsiteMike Rothschild (no relation) (@rothschildmd) / XMike Rothschild – Conspiracy theory researcher and debunker (themikerothschild.com)Mike Rothschild Book Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories: Rothschild, Mike: 9781685890643: Amazon.com: BooksMcNally Jackson BookstoreMcNally Jackson Books |Recommended Episodes Here Comes the Storm: The Origins of QAnon w/ Mike Rothschild (buzzsprout.com)Antisemitism: The Conspiracy Theory of the Enemy Above (buzzsprout.com)References'Who elected George Soros to dictate laws?': El Salvador President Bukele blasts global elites (youtube.com)

Send us a textOn today's episode, lecturer and researcher on conspiratorial beliefs Ilya Yablokov joins me to discuss Russia Today's usage of conspiratorial ideologies and how that has helped the Kremlin villainize the U.S. He shares his thoughts on how U.S. and Russian conspiracy theory culture is similar and different. As well as address the effectiveness is news media literacy. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsSubstackThe Social Chemist Newsletter | SubstackIlya Yablokov's Book and New York Times articles Russia Today and Conspiracy Theories: People, Power and Politics on RT - Kindle edition by Yablokov, Ilya, Chatterje-Doody, Precious N. Politics & Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Opinion | How Putin’s Propaganda System Keeps Him in Power - The New York Times (nytimes.com)How conspiracy theories help to maintain Vladimir Putin’s grip on power in Russia (theconversation.com)Recommended EpisodeNews Media Literacy: An Educators Tool Against Misinformation w/ DeMario Phipps Smith (buzzsprout.com)

Send us a textIn today's episode, Royce Hutson, Ph.D., joins me to discuss the role of social workers in addressing political extremism and the effectiveness of violent extremism prevention programs. We also discuss the state of political extremism with the upcoming 2024 elections. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThreadThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) on ThreadsRoyce A. Hutson Literature Review Preventing Violent Extremism and Social Work: Recent US History and Prospects | Journal of Human Rights and Social Work (springer.com)Recommended Episodes The Evolution of Far-Right Terrorism in the 21st Century w/ Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (buzzsprout.com)