Should we ever take conspiracy theories seriously?

Conspiracy theories used to be dismissed as paranoid fringe thinking, found only in the far corners of the internet or every day hearsay. But today, they've migrated to the mainstream. Claims about election meddling, the real origins of COVID-19, and the deep state circulate widely and are even repeated by government officials.  

This episode asks whether conspiracy theories have any actual value in a world where uncertainty is high and institutional accountability is low. Do they only make the spread of misinformation and disinformation worse? Or are they a way for people to express real suspicion toward systems that often feel hidden or unaccountable? 

💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  

Featuring:  

• Heather Berlin: Associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 

• Alex Berenson: Novelist; journalist; author, Unreported Truths Substack  

• Nuurrianti Jalli: Assistant professor of professional practice, Oklahoma State University  

• Andrea Kitta: Professor of folklore, department of English at East Carolina University 

Moderated by international presenter and host Dareen Abughaida