Cult or Just Weird

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Are you awake yet?

In part two of CoJW's five part series on QAnon, Kayla gets into the nitty gritty mechanics of how it got going and where it's at now.

Special thanks to conspiracy researcher Mike Rothschild (https://twitter.com/rothschildmd) for sharing his insights with CoJW this episode!

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Internet culture; Common interest / Fandom; Destructive; Conspiracy Theory

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*Topic Spoiler*

QAnon, pt2: how it got started

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*Further Reading*

https://www.axios.com/poll-qanon-americans-belief-growing-2a2d2a55-38a7-4b2a-a1b6-2685a956feef.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/09/reddit-qanon-ban-evasion-policy-moderation-facebook/616442/

https://www.bbc.com/news/53498434

https://www.salon.com/2020/09/07/decoding-qanon-from-pizzagate-to-kanye-to-marina-abramovic-this-conspiracy-covers-everything/

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/20/904237192/journalist-enters-the-world-of-qanon-it-s-almost-like-a-bad-spy-novel

https://www.reddit.com/r/Keep_Track/comments/gksrvm/comprehensive_list_of_significant_qanon_related/

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/qanon-trump-timeline-conspiracy-theorists-1076279/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/15/qanon-violence-crimes-timeline

https://slate.com/technology/2020/11/qanon-election-trump-8kun.html

https://www.snopes.com/tachyon/2020/08/q-clearance-patriot.jpg

https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/08/21/qanon-2020-election/

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/09/qanon-republican-party-congress.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/06/trump-racism-comments/588067/

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

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---

Do you know how long this has been going on?

In part one of a five part series, Kayla and Chris tackle a zeitgeisty topic that they've been ruminating on for a while.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Internet culture; Common interest / Fandom; Destructive; Conspiracy Theory

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*Topic Spoiler*

QAnon, pt1: history & context

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*Further Reading*

https://newrepublic.com/article/159529/qanon-blood-libel-satanic-panic?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tnr_daily

https://www.publicmedievalist.com/pizzagate-cults/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAnon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitic_canard

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-10-16/why-do-conspiracy-theories-about-pedophilia-hold-such-sway-with-some-conservatives

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a51268/what-is-pizzagate/

https://www.baltimoresun.com/consumer-reviews/sns-nyt-pizzagate-justin-bieber-qanon-tiktok-20200702-2o3n632ynjcjdewyyhizfjlmgq-story.html

https://time.com/4590255/pizzagate-fake-news-what-to-know/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation_in_the_United_States#cite_note-goliszek-170-171-136

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Teach the controversy.

Chris foolishly dives headfirst into the most controversial debate of the internet age.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Internet culture

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*Topic Spoiler*

The war on how to pronounce GIF

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*Further Reading*

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-gif-early-internet-innovation-ubiquitous-relic-180963543/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAS_syndrome

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym

https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/articles/common-accronyms.html

https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/reference/abbreviations/what-is-an-initialism.html

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/33532/when-did-the-use-of-acronyms-begin

https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/5lium9/whats_the_history_of_acronyms/

https://forward.com/culture/326379/the-true-history-of-the-dreidel/

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/gif

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/GIF

http://howtoreallypronouncegif.com/

http://www.olsenhome.com/gif/

https://jemully.com/gif-pronunciation-hard-g-logic-doesnt-rule/

https://medium.com/@NoTrailScriber/my-irrefutable-three-point-platform-and-final-word-on-gif-pronunciation-d6289b975f3c

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/02/25/how-do-you-say-gif-properly-ask-giphy-jif/4750684002/

https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/tech/web/pronounce-gif/index.html

https://www.newsweek.com/100-percent-wrong-pronunciation-gif-483374

https://gizmodo.com/how-the-hell-do-you-pronounce-gif-anyway-5749451

https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/pronounce-gif-article-1.3007037

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/25/you-may-be-wrong-on-pronunciation-of-gif/

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/its-time-stop-arguing-about-pronunciation-gif/315017/

https://www.languagejones.com/blog-1/2017/7/1/a-linguists-take-on-the-great-gif-controversy

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/551894/how-do-linguists-pronounce-gif

https://mcdowlinguist.github.io/2020/08/31/gif-pronunciation.html

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

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May we live long and die out.

Kayla discovers a group that exists to cease.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Common interest / Fandom

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*Topic Spoiler*

the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

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*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Human_Extinction_Movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Euthanasia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_First!

http://www.vhemt.org/

https://grist.org/article/2010-07-15-want-to-join-the-voluntary-human-extinction-movement/

https://onezero.medium.com/may-we-live-long-and-die-out-6d8688a4b0a3

https://theoutline.com/post/8632/voluntary-human-extinction-movement-death-drive-climate-change?zd=1&zi=qwa3p5ku

https://www.facebook.com/The-Voluntary-Human-Extinction-Movement-VHEMT-158547474186448/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/10/i-campaign-for-the-extinction-of-the-human-race-les-knight

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Voluntary_Human_Extinction_Movement

https://www.inverse.com/article/14056-the-voluntary-human-extinction-movement-is-both-anti-republican-and-anti-death

https://listverse.com/2016/06/23/10-extreme-ways-countries-have-tried-to-control-birth-rates/

http://www.vhemt.org/biobreed.htm

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/8/20/20802413/overpopulation-demographic-transition-population-explained

https://fee.org/articles/the-myth-that-the-world-is-facing-a-population-crisis/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_overpopulation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Paley

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

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---

We hit a mother lode of madness.

Chris complains to Kayla about some extremely weird ads he's been getting on YouTube lately.

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*Search Categories*

New Age; Science / Pseudoscience; Business; Destructive; Conspiracy Theory; Alt Medicine

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*Topic Spoiler*

Gaia Streaming Service

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*Further Reading*

https://www.reddit.com/r/CommercialsIHate/comments/fkrd3s/the_stupid_gaiacom_ads_on_youtube/

https://www.gaia.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia,_Inc.

https://medium.com/money-clip/gaia-the-craziest-streaming-service-or-the-most-dangerous-7a80391a9473

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gaia-Reviews-E1101975.htm

https://www.reddit.com/r/cults/comments/9i82ni/gaia_seems_to_pose_on_the_surface_as_a/

https://adparlor.com/blog/gaia-case-study/

https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GAIA

https://www.facebook.com/Gaia

https://www.inc.com/magazine/19951201/2511.html

https://ir.gaia.com/sec-filings/annual-reports##document-3404-0001564590-20-006072-1

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gaiam-completes-branded-business-sale-120000536.html

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Science is about questions. Self help is about answers.

Kayla and Chris take a bite out of a meaty topic.

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*Search Categories*

Science / Pseudoscience; Business; Destructive; Alt Medicine / Wellness

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*Topic Spoiler*

The Lion Diet

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*Further Reading*

https://shawn-baker.com/about/

https://meatrx.com/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/carnivore-research?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Carnivore_Diet.html?id=T3C9DwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description

https://theswaddle.com/meat-and-masculinity-the-tired-trope-that-wont-go-away/

https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/jordan-peterson-carnivore-diet-mikhaila-meat.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/08/the-peterson-family-meat-cleanse/567613/

https://www.paleofx.com/top-5-things-i-learned-from-mikhaila-petersons-carnivore-diet/

https://carnivoresworld.com/lion-diet/

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/jordan-peterson-daughter-mikhaila-meat-carnivore-diet

https://www.patreon.com/mikhailapeterson/creators

https://twitter.com/MikhailaAleksis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E971572453225844736%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fstephaniemlee%2Fjordan-peterson-daughter-mikhaila-meat-carnivore-diet

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/10/my-carnivore-diet-jordan-peterson-beef

https://nypost.com/2020/08/21/james-blunt-got-scurvy-after-going-on-all-meat-diet/

https://theswaddle.com/meat-and-masculinity-the-tired-trope-that-wont-go-away/

https://nationalpost.com/news/the-doctors-here-have-the-guts-to-medically-detox-someone-mikhaila-peterson-on-her-fathers-condition

https://spectator.us/trouble-carnivore-diet-mikhaila-peterson/

https://web.archive.org/web/20191024160312/https://ourlionslair.com/home

https://www.youtube.com/c/MikhailaPetersonvideos/videos

https://mikhailapeterson.com/lyme-disease-are-you-kidding-me/

https://mikhailapeterson.com/donteatthat/

https://mikhailapeterson.com/

https://twitter.com/SBakerMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://www.facebook.com/groups/478747492969721/

https://twitter.com/MikhailaAleksis/status/1183068229675159553

https://www.instagram.com/mikhailapeterson/

https://www.dmarge.com/2020/01/carnivore-diet-health-impacts.html

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

May you have the courage to change the things you can, the serenity to accept the things you can't, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Chris & Kayla go deeper down the rabbit hole of the Twin Flames Universe, with some former members to help them with the whole wisdom thing.

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*Search Categories*

New Age; Business; Internet Culture; Destructive

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*Topic Spoiler*

Twin Flames Universe, pt2

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*Further Reading*

https://twinflamesuniverse.com/

https://www.thelawofattraction.com/twin-flames/

https://thefaiththatgrows.com/to-all-those-who-believe-twin-flames-universe-is-a-cult/

https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/v747x4/this-youtube-school-promised-true-love-students-say-they-got-exploited-instead

https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/ohmystars/2019/08/escaping-twin-flame-cult.html

https://medium.com/@onenesslove7/following-my-heart-out-of-a-twin-flame-cult-cf25ab24529f

Dragon Heart on Youtube

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/limerence_b_1627089

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

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Do you believe in True Love?

Chris and Kayla talk about soulmates. Well, a particularly "fiery" new age version of them. A version which has the potential to be problematic, and may even provide the foundation for a cult...

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*Search Categories*

New Age; Business; Internet Culture; Destructive

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*Topic Spoiler*

Twin Flames Universe

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*Further Reading*

https://twinflamesuniverse.com/

https://www.thelawofattraction.com/twin-flames/

https://lonerwolf.com/twin-flame/

https://www.goalcast.com/2018/07/19/differences-twin-flame-and-life-partner/

https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-a-twin-flame

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a28609253/twin-flame-signs/

https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/v747x4/this-youtube-school-promised-true-love-students-say-they-got-exploited-instead

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akwy58/accused-cult-leader-threatened-ex-members-after-vice-investigation

https://www.reddit.com/user/imagine1111/comments/ae14c2/beware_twin_flames_universe_jeff_and_shaleia_cult/

Jeff & Shaleia: How to "Scientifically" prove Twin Flames exist

Jeff & Shaleia: Top 10 reasons why people quit their Twin Flame union quest

Jeff rants about the Vice articles

Jeff rants about being compared to a cult

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Your call may be monitored for ghostly assurance purposes.

Turns out Kayla was holding back on the juiciest bits of the Afterlife Sciences story last episode...

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*Search Categories*

Science / Pseudoscience; Business

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*Topic Spoiler*

The Soul Phone

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*Further Reading*

https://www.thesoulphonefoundation.org/

https://neurology.arizona.edu/gary-e-schwartz-phd

https://lach.arizona.edu/veritas

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gary_Schwartz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Schwartz#cite_note-6

http://www.foreverfamilyfoundation.org/site/contact

https://opensciences.org/about/advisors

http://www.eternea.org/mgmt_and_staff.aspx

https://web.archive.org/web/20021230130607/http://www.survivalafterdeath.org/experiments/mental/schwartz03.htm

http://www.jewishaz.com/religiouslife/feature/can-soul-phone-dial-up-the-afterlife/article_0c0d70b6-eea9-11e4-ad59-87295488355d.html

https://www.soulproof.com/about/

http://www.greaterrealityliving.com/

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

The trouble with quotes about death is that 99.9% of them are made by people who are still alive. -Joshua Burns

Kayla and Chris get spiritual, contemplate unknowable questions of existence, and become disappointed in an "academic" ... again.

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*Search Categories*

Science / Pseudoscience

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*Topic Spoiler*

Afterlife Science

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*Further Reading*

https://lach.arizona.edu/veritas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Afterlife_Experiments

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gary_Schwartz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Schwartz#cite_note-6

https://afterlife101.com/HESL.html

https://neurology.arizona.edu/gary-e-schwartz-phd

http://www.foreverfamilyfoundation.org/site/contact

https://www.drgaryschwartz.com/about

https://web.archive.org/web/20021230130607/http://www.survivalafterdeath.org/experiments/mental/schwartz03.htm

https://johnedwardpsychic.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/the-afterlife-experiments-the-testing-of-john-edward/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_DuBois#Criticism

---

*Patreon Credits*

initiates: Michaela Evans

cultists: Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Alyssa Ottum, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T