Conspiracy theories have been gaining traction all the way to the highest seats of power. So, are there emotional dynamics at play that we could understand to be able to do something about it? Last year, Zach Mack’s dad sent him a strange email, asking to bet $10,000 to settle once and for all who was correct and who was the brainwashed one.  From NPR’s Embedded podcast, this is episode 2 of the Alternate Realities series: Down the Rabbit Hole.  From the episode: <ul>
<li>Listen to the rest of the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1254713697/alternate-realities-conspiracy-theories-bet">Alternate Realities series</a> from <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510311/embedded">NPR's Embedded</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.zachmack.org/">Follow Zach Mack's work</a></li>
</ul> <a href="https://www.proxypodcast.com/">Proxy</a> is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/ProxyPodcast">consider joining our Patreon</a>. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews. <a href="https://proxypodcast.substack.com/">Sign up for our free newsletter.</a>  Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/proxypodcast/">@proxypodcast</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yoweishaw/?hl=en">@yoweishaw</a> Get in touch at <a href="mailto:proxythepod@gmail.com">proxythepod@gmail.com</a>

Conspiracy theories have been gaining traction all the way to the highest seats of power. So, are there emotional dynamics at play that we could understand to be able to do something about it? Last year, Zach Mack’s dad sent him a strange email, asking to bet $10,000 to settle once and for all who was correct and who was the brainwashed one. From NPR’s Embedded podcast, this is episode 2 of the Alternate Realities series: Down the Rabbit Hole. From the episode: Listen to the rest of the Alternate Realities series from NPR's Embedded Follow Zach Mack's work Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews. Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishaw Get in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Conspiracy theories have been gaining traction all the way to the highest seats of power. So, are there emotional dynamics at play that we could understand to be able to do something about it?&nbsp;Last year, Zach Mack’s dad sent him a strange email, asking to bet $10,000 to settle once and for all who was correct and who was the brainwashed one. &nbsp;From NPR’s Embedded podcast, this is episode 2 of the Alternate Realities series: Down the Rabbit Hole.&nbsp;&nbsp;From the episode:&nbsp;<ul>
<li>Listen to the rest of the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1254713697/alternate-realities-conspiracy-theories-bet" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alternate Realities series</a> from <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510311/embedded" rel="noopener noreferrer">NPR's Embedded</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.zachmack.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Follow Zach Mack's work</a></li>
</ul> <a href="https://www.proxypodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proxy</a> is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/ProxyPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer">consider joining our Patreon</a>. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews. <a href="https://proxypodcast.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up for our free newsletter.</a>&nbsp; Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/proxypodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer">@proxypodcast</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yoweishaw/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">@yoweishaw</a> Get in touch at <a href="mailto:proxythepod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">proxythepod@gmail.com</a>

Alternate Realities (from NPR's Embedded)

It’s the knot you can’t untangle - a problem so specific, it makes you feel alone. But what if you could talk to someone who gets it? On Proxy, we find just the person you were looking for, a stranger who's lived something close enough to help you get a little less stuck. It’s not therapy - it’s emotional investigative journalism™️. Yowei Shaw, former co-host of Invisibilia, at your service. If you’re just discovering the show, a good place to begin is Bisexual Wife Guy, Mic Chooses the Wrong Life, or <a href="https://dovetail-cdn.prxu.org/9862/d1d27edf-7fd7-4d3b-b020-d469ce48cd3f/GWZ9fHi6e7meQXjomksd8BIAXazr-lLHKy8k42KZ__0/260222_Amanda_and_the_Nonstop_Narrator_NEW_CREDITS_MASTER.mp3?le=Wi593qC77aYrpTd_kJyuif1ektmimSBDMvJfYuDteu0&amp;exp=1773078666">Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator</a>.  The team is hard at work investigating another batch of cases, with new episodes returning mid-April 2026 🚀 <a href="https://www.proxypodcast.com/">Proxy</a> is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/ProxyPodcast">consider joining our Patreon</a>. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join our Patreon for free to get the newsletter 🍏 Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/proxypodcast/">@proxypodcast</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yoweishaw/">@yoweishaw</a>Get in touch at <a href="mailto:proxythepod@gmail.com">proxythepod@gmail.com</a>

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

It’s the knot you can’t untangle - a problem so specific, it makes you feel alone. But what if you could talk to someone who gets it? On Proxy, we find just the person you were looking for, a stranger who's lived something close enough to help you get a little less stuck. It’s not therapy - it’s emotional investigative journalism™️. Yowei Shaw, former co-host of Invisibilia, at your service. If you’re just discovering the show, a good place to begin is Bisexual Wife Guy, Mic Chooses the Wrong Life, or Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator. The team is hard at work investigating another batch of cases, with new episodes returning mid-April 2026 🚀 Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join our Patreon for free to get the newsletter 🍏 Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishaw Get in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

It’s the knot you can’t untangle - a problem so specific, it makes you feel alone. But what if you could talk to someone who gets it? On Proxy, we find just the person you were looking for, a stranger who's lived something close enough to help you get a little less stuck. It’s not therapy - it’s emotional investigative journalism™️. Yowei Shaw, former co-host of Invisibilia, at your service. If you’re just discovering the show, a good place to begin is Bisexual Wife Guy, Mic Chooses the Wrong Life, or <a href="https://dovetail-cdn.prxu.org/9862/d1d27edf-7fd7-4d3b-b020-d469ce48cd3f/GWZ9fHi6e7meQXjomksd8BIAXazr-lLHKy8k42KZ__0/260222_Amanda_and_the_Nonstop_Narrator_NEW_CREDITS_MASTER.mp3?le=Wi593qC77aYrpTd_kJyuif1ektmimSBDMvJfYuDteu0&amp;exp=1773078666" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator</a>.&nbsp; The team is hard at work investigating another batch of cases, with new episodes returning mid-April 2026 🚀 <a href="https://www.proxypodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proxy</a> is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/ProxyPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer">consider joining our Patreon</a>. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join our Patreon for free to get the newsletter 🍏 Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/proxypodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer">@proxypodcast</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yoweishaw/" rel="noopener noreferrer">@yoweishaw</a>Get in touch at <a href="mailto:proxythepod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">proxythepod@gmail.com</a>

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Alternate Realities (from NPR's Embedded)

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