logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2022
42m 48s

The Age of Conspiracy?

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by comedian and author David Baddiel, psychologist Prof Karen Douglas, biologist Prof Matthew Cobb and philosopher Dr Timotheus Vermeulen to discover why conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists seem to be booming. From flat earthers to moon hoaxers and holocaust deniers, is there something about society today that encourages beliefs that seem to go against all evidence and reason? Or are conspiracies just part of the human condition, and each to their own? Why do some of these alarming theories seem to hold more truth for many than overwhelming data and evidence to the contrary, and how far should we go in accommodating views that seem to have no basis in reality?

Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

Up next
Yesterday
201st Birthday Bonanza - Mel Giedroyc, Deborah Meaden and Nish Kumar
Get ready for a landmark episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage as we celebrate our 201st show! Brian Cox and Robin Ince invite a lively panel of celebrity guests to pose their burning scientific questions to a top-tier team of scientists. Mel Giedroyc is tunnelling into the world o ... Show More
42m 35s
Mar 2025
Nature's Shapes - Dave Gorman, Sarah Hart and Thomas Woolley
Brian Cox and Robin Ince unpick the hidden codes behind the shapes we see in nature with mathematicians Sarah Hart & Thomas Woolley and comedian Dave Gorman.The panel marvel at how evolution so often beats mathematicians to finding the most elegant solutions, after all, it’s had ... Show More
42m 27s
Mar 2025
The Sound of Music - Brian Eno, Sam Bennett and Trevor Cox
Brian Cox and Robin Ince explore the history of music recording, joined by acoustics professor Trevor Cox, music professor Sam Bennett and musician and producer Brian Eno. Together they guide us through the evolution of sound recording, a space in which technology hasn’t stood st ... Show More
42m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
251. Kelly Weill on Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything
Since 2015, there has been a spectacular boom in a nearly 200-year-old delusion — the idea that we all live on a flat plane, under a solid dome, ringed by an impossible wall of ice. It is the ultimate in conspiracy theories, a wholesale rejection of everything we know to be true ... Show More
1h 42m
May 2019
Conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories: Laurie Taylor talks to Thomas Konda, Professor of Political Science at SUNY, Plattsburgh, about the history and changing nature of conspiracy theories. Why have such wild theories overrun America? Also, Hugo Leal, Methods Fellow at the University of Cambridge ... Show More
28m 28s
Nov 2022
Cosmic Queries – Why do we believe conspiracy theories? with Michael Shermer
Why do rational people believe irrational things? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice break down media literacy, the psychology behind conspiracy theories, and how to combat our cognitive biases with author and science historian, Michael Shermer.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen ... Show More
53m 1s
Oct 2023
Clear Thinking | Applying Logic to Conspiracy Theories, Part 1
Why conspiracies theories are popular 
1h 6m
Feb 2022
Conspiracy Theories
In this episode, I present a conference presentation I gave about conspiracy theories organized by Brian Keeley and MRX Dentith. It's titled, "A Critique of Skeptical Reason." Dr. Dentith hosts a podcast called The Podcaster’s Guide to the Conspiracy and can be found here: https: ... Show More
40m 26s
May 2024
Conspiracy and belief | Michael Shermer
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?Looking for a link we mentioned? Find it here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesIn this intimate interview, Michael Shermer explores how conspiracy theories undermine objective truth or the generally accepted scientific, material ... Show More
28m 34s
Sep 2022
Sociology Ruins Conspiracy Theories
There are some wild theories about the Denver International Airport. But is it really the headquarters of the Illuminati, guarded by the demonic statue of a blue horse? Believe it or not, conspiracy theories like these can be useful to sociologists and other social scientists. Th ... Show More
36m 4s
Mar 2023
814: Matt Frederick & Ben Bowlin | Stuff They Don't Want You to Know
Matt Frederick & Ben Bowlin (@ConspiracyStuff) are the conspiratorial masterminds behind the Stuff They Don't Want You to Know podcast and co-authors of a book that, to avoid any confusion, goes by the same name. What We Discuss with Matt Frederick & Ben Bowlin: Why people believ ... Show More
1h 18m
Sep 2020
David Farrier
David Farrier is a New Zealand investigative journalist known for his documentary Tickled and documentary series Dark Tourist. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss all things conspiracy theories, from QAnon to Wayfairgate to Flat Earthers. The two discuss how these conspira ... Show More
1h 40m
Aug 2023
871: Julian Walker | How Conspiracy Theories Make Society Sick
Conspirituality co-author Julian Walker joins us to discuss how influencers have curdled New Age spirituality and wellness with the politics of paranoia. What We Discuss with Julian Walker: Why have so many wellness influencers gone off the conspiracy deep end since COVID began? ... Show More
1h 25m