The good podcast about bad media influences, investigating the bad faith arguments, dodgy data, and moral panics behind claims that the media influence our behaviour and manipulate our minds.
In spring 2025, Andrew Tate was linked to a shocking murder case in the UK. Just days later, Netflix released Adolescence, a drama about a young killer seemingly shaped by the online manosphere. In this episode, we explore the history of the men’s rights movement, the politics of the manosphere, and the difficulty of drawing clear lines of influence around figures like Tate, however toxic their public presence may be.
17 Jul 2025
Blue Lies Matter: Are Police TV Shows 'Copaganda'?
What if your favourite cop show was really a recruitment ad in disguise? This week, Rich introduces Ben to the world of on-screen ‘copaganda’. From Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Wire through to TikTok lip-syncs and even Paw Patrol, is it a problem that TV cops are always so brave, so funny, and so good at breaking the rules for the ‘right’ reasons? What do these stories quietly teach us about crime, justice and law enforcement? Is the badge a prop... or a PR strategy?
3 Jul 2025
Are you friends with Chappell Roan?
Host Ben explores the history of parasocial relationships and their relevance to celebrity interactions, particularly pop star Chappell Roan's experience with fans, offering insight into this mainstream academic concept.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
22 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
14
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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