Some conspiracy theories are fun, but many end up being dark and concerning. When someone is in too deep, what would it take to pull them out of the rabbit hole? Journalist Zach Mack ventured to find out in his show, Alternate Realities over at NPR, and on today's episode, he debriefs us.

Listen to Zach's show Alternate Realities on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

And for more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show. If you have a question you want us to answer, email us at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our whole lives, we’ve been told the pullout or withdrawal method is not a legitimate form of birth control and a fast-track way to becoming a parent. Some have even referred to it as the pull-and-pray method.

But reproductive health researcher Andréa Becker makes the argument that the pullout method “is not the enemy of public health it’s been made out to be” if done correctly. 

Pre-order Andréa’s book Get It Out: On the Politics of Hysterectomy.

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

Like this episode? Check out Episode 3: Why are slurs making a comeback?

Original music for this episode produced by Zeno Pittarelli.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people have experienced the creepy feeling of getting ads that feel a little bit too targeted, for products they haven’t ever searched for but have maybe talked about IRL. With Amazon announcing a rollback on privacy protections, and the Trump administration ramping up mass surveillance as a scare tactic, it might be time to take stock of what privacy even means anymore. With some help from Andrew Couts, senior editor of security and investigations at WIRED, we get a clear-eyed view of how voice-assisted tech actually works, and why you should care. 

 

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is about RFK Jr., a man who has a completely baffling political trajectory. How does a guy go from “champion of the environment” to joining the most anti-environment administration ever? Thanks to our guest, Derek Beres, that pipeline becomes much clearer, as RFK Jr’s worldview has a lot of overlap with science that is at best, shoddy, and at worst, straight up disinformation.

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

Original music for this episode produced by Zeno Pittarelli

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We just got back from a little weekend trip, which got us thinking once again about how confusing and terrible it is to deal with the TSA. Despite all their yelling—the TSA does not make it clear about what you can or cannot bring on a plane, or what items you actually have to take out of your bag. So I spoke with Darryl Campbell, an aviation safety writer for The Verge and author of Fatal Abstraction, who did a deep dive on The Humiliating History of the TSA.

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

Original music for this episode produced by Zeno Pittarelli!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we tackle movie theater photographers, black coffee, dirty jeans, trebuchets, and more as we answer questions submitted by listeners.

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

We’ll be off next week, so take advantage of the free time by leaving us a five-star rating wherever you listen to podcasts and sharing the show with your friends!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we investigate a shocking conspiracy theory that might explain why Dasani stands out among the titans of bottled water, with the help of water sommelier Martin Riese and Tap Score CEO Johnny Pujol. 

For more, check out our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show, and if you have an argument you want us to settle, email us at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been known for years now that men aren’t the best at asking follow-up questions on dates with women. But a more specific version of this phenomenon has emerged: men aren’t even asking other men follow-up questions, even their good friends! With the help of “mindful masculinity” expert Liz Plank, we get to the bottom of why men don’t know anything about their male friends, and we put our own friendship to the test.

For more, including links to some of the research cited in this episode, visit our website.

Have an argument you want us to settle? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we look into why car headlights seem like they've gotten so much brighter in recent years than they used to be. And, is there any hope for a shift back to a more reasonable brightness level? Our guest today is Daniel Stern, a lighting expert and chief editor of Driving Vision News.

Additional music by Certain Self.

For more, including links to some of the research cited in this episode, visit our website.

Have an argument you want us to settle? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we take a look into a rather divisive issue: school cell phone bans. With more and more states introducing legislature to ban mobile devices in schools, we take a look at the cases for and against the restrictions. Our guests today are Sabine Polak from the Phone-Free Schools Movement and Keri Rodrigues from the National Parents Union.

For more, including links to some of the research cited in this episode, visit our website.

Have an argument you want us to settle? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.