In short
Zach Mack revisits his “Alternate Realities” story about his father’s slide into conspiracy theories, including a list of 10 predictions for end of 2024 (e.g., U.S. under martial law) and a $10,000 bet challenge. After the show aired, many listeners contacted him about similar situations involving friends/family. Zach asks listeners what interventions or “unusual strategies” have actually worked to change someone’s mind, and what caused a shift in belief.
Guests
No guests are interviewed in this episode; it’s a direct listener call-to-action by Zach Mack.
Key claims
Conspiracy beliefs can spread to others’ circles; many attempts to intervene fail; real examples of what works are needed.
Notable examples
The father’s “10 conspiracy theories” list; the $10,000 bet; listener suggestions Zach mentions (psychologist, “field trip to a vaccine lab,” waiting for “Epstein files”).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOSeeking Listener Experiences with Conspiracy Theories
0:45 to 2:01
Zach invites listeners to share their experiences and strategies for addressing conspiracy beliefs.
“If you haven't already listened, go check that out.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Hey folks, it's me, Zach Mack. Zach, if you are an embedded listener, you likely know me from a recent season called Alternate Realities. Hey Zach, dead again. In it, I talk about my father who's fallen deep down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. You really want to store up two months worth of food and water. I know, I know it sounds like conspiracy theory, but they're going to do... We've been having these circular debates about his beliefs for years, and then one day he did something that he had never done before. He presented me with a list of 10 conspiracy theories that he believed would all happen by the end of 2024.
0:36Number 10, the U.S. will come under martial law. At the bottom of the list was a challenge to a bet for$10 ,000. If you haven't already listened, go check that out. Anyway, after we put out the show, something surprising happened. Hundreds of you reached out. My inbox was flooded with people whose friends and family members had also fallen under the spell of conspiracy theories. Many of them had tried everything they could think of to get that person back and failed. And it got me wondering, has anyone had success at this? What would it take to change someone's mind? I've been looking into that question more, and today I want to ask you for your help.
1:17Have you or anyone you know come up with some sort of intervention or experiment or unusual strategy that actually worked? Did you try your own bet? Did they talk to a psychologist? Did you take them on a field trip to a vaccine lab? Did they get tired of waiting for the Epstein files? I want to know what actually changed their mind. Please shoot us an email at embedded at npr.org with the subject line alternate realities and tell us a little bit about your story. I want to hear from you. And I want to hear about what worked. Once again, that email is embedded at npr.org subject line alternate realities.
1:58Okay, hope to hear from you. Talk soon.
From the publisher
Has anyone had success with this? If you or anyone you know has come up with an intervention or experiment or strategy that actually worked — please email us at embedded@npr.org.
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