Here’s how conspiracy theories shaped the last 600 years. The printing press helped spread European witch hunts even as it helped usher in the Enlightenment. The Nazis turned radio into a weapon of mass persuasion. Social media promised freedom but gave dictators new tools of control. We trace centuries of conspiracy theories – and ask what AI could bring next.
Aya Labanieh (@ayafrankenstein), Writer and Academic
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Mohamed Hassan, Marcos Bartolomé, Marthe Van der Wolf and Sonia Bhagat. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our engagement producer is Adam Abou-Gad. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.
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November 1, 2026
