Today, the Spotlight shines On freelance journalist and author Tea Krulos.

Tea wrote two books that I enjoyed this year: Heroes in the Night: Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement from 2013 and 2020’s American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness. 

Both of those works take the reader deep into parts of contemporary American society that are not often explored and if they are, it is usually done with ridicule or scorn. Tea takes a different approach. He seeks to understand what kind of people are drawn to non-mainstream beliefs and movements, often at the risk of their personal relationships, their livelihood, credibility, and in some cases, their lives.

He’s also not afraid to insert himself into his stories, observing up close and often becoming an active participant in the world of his subjects. The results are a much more vulnerable and empathetic look at our fellow citizens and their sometimes troubling worldviews.

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Tea Krulos at teakrulos.com
• Follow Tea Krulos on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and Twitter (X)
• Check out books by Tea Krulos at Bookshop, Powell's, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
• How to talk to conspiracy theorists—and still be kind
• How to Spot Misinformation and Disinformation Online
• For expanded show notes and other episode information, go to this episode’s page on spotlightonpodcast.com 

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