Conspirituality

From a repurposed orphanage in the North of England, Abdullah Hashem tells his audience in five languages, across two satellite TV companies, and multiple social media channels that he is the successor of Jesus and Mohammed, the “one true Pope” for Christians. In his carefully staged and ominously lit “basilica,” he lectures to his 200 residential followers (who emulate his idiosyncratic fashion style) about angels, aliens, reincarnation, and a planet where giant rabbits keep humans as pets. Oh and all about the coming apocalypse and his divinely chosen role in it.

Who is this American-Egyptian cult leader? Hashem grew up in Indiana, and got his start in college making documentary films debunking cult leaders and UFO hoaxes. Some time in his early twenties he went full conspiritualist, made an eight-hour film about esoteric knowledge, Quranic-prophecy, the Illuminati, and the End Times. He moved to Egypt and declared himself the Mahdi—a messianic figure from Islamic eschatology.

Former members tell of bizarre loyalty tests, financial exploitation, and other forms of abuse. Meanwhile Hashem broadcasts that the fall of the Iranian theocracy clears the way for his ascension into his divine appointment as philosopher king.
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There's been talk about the "male loneliness epidemic" for years. Yet what about women? Derek reviews economist Corinne Low's recent book, Having It All, in light of this question, contrasting it with Scott Galloway's recent self-help book for men. The contrasts between the books couldn't be clearer.

Show Notes

Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours
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When Hannah and Daniel Neeleman recently went on camera to explain their position on raw milk, they assured their 22 million-plus following that they were going to follow regulations—with a bit of a grudge. The couple behind Ballerina Farm wasn’t going to let a little bacteria get in the way of their farming operations, so they’ll just focus on pasteurized products.

While not associated with MAHA, some of their takes on health certainly rhyme. So today we’ll get into this uber-popular feed: who they are, what they’re doing in the mountains of Utah, and how privilege plays out in farming and childbearing aesthetics.

Show Notes

Is Hannah Neeleman Mormon? Inside Ballerina Farm’s Religion After Lifestyle Controversy

The story of Ballerina Farm and the 2 co-CEOs behind it

Meet the queen of the ‘trad wives’ (and her eight children)

Why influencers with 7, 8, or 10 kids are having a moment

The Trad-Wife Revolution Is Upon Us

Ballerina Farm pauses raw milk sales after samples fail health tests

Ballerina Farm’s Hannah Neeleman explains the dairy’s decision to stop selling raw milk

JetBlue’s Founder Helped Fund A Stanford Study That Said The Coronavirus Wasn’t That Deadly

Hannah Neeleman’s “Viral” Glowy Skin Secret

You’ll Never Really Know Ballerina Farm

Postpartum Weight Retention Risk Factors and Relationship to Obesity at One Year - PMC

Effect of grand multiparity on adverse maternal outcomes: A prospective cohort study

Are tradwives and feminists two sides of the same coin on women’s labor? | KUER 

Tia Levings on Fundie Parenting 

Number of siblings and intellectual development. The resource dilution explanation - PubMed

WAGES AGAINST HOUSEWORK | caring labor 
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The Pitt recently exposed fans to the complexities and reality of panic attacks. Derek uses that moment in the exceptional show to discuss his own longstanding struggle with anxiety, exploring the latest science and interventions for dealing with them.

Show Notes

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder in Adults

Management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in general health care settings: new WHO recommendations

Anxiety Disorders Guidelines

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies in Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Interoceptive Exposure

Short, intensive cognitive behavioral therapy can ease panic disorder

Brief, intensive exercise helps patients with panic disorder more than standard care

Panic attacks and interoceptive acuity for cardiac sensations

Rapid Reconfiguration of the Functional Connectome after Chemogenetic Locus Coeruleus Activation

Anxiety Disorders are Associated with Reduced Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis

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Turning Point USA's Women’s Leadership Conference returns to Dallas in June. Derek and Julian take a look inside.

Show Notes

Antifeminist women’s summit: ‘The kitchen is where the real revolution starts’

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