About this episode

The episode explores the historical and cultural reasons behind the American fascination with conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy theories are not new in the United States, but over the years they have taken on a life and power of their own. How did conspiracy theories become so entrenched in the American mind? Why is it that, even if we don't entirely believe them, we like them? Our guests today are Katherine Olmsted, author of Challenging the Secret Government: The Post-Watergate Investigations of the CIA and FBI and history professor at UC Davis and Derek Arnold, an instructor at Villanova University who teaches communications and conspiracy theory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guests: Katherine Olmsted, Derek Arnold

Topics covered

• conspiracy theories
• American culture
• history
• psychology
• media influence

Keywords

• conspiracy theories
• American culture
• Katherine Olmsted
• Derek Arnold
• media influence
• psychology
• history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Davis, Villanova University

Books & works: Challenging the Secret Government: The Post-Watergate Investigations of the CIA and FBI

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