From syrup swindles to dairy deceptions, Crime & Nourishment investigates the strange world of Canadian food crimes—and the stories they were never meant to tell.
…
continue reading
Series
Series
Episodes
Red String Media Podcasts
Ever wonder why women get caught up in conspiracies, how anti-vax attracts moms, or where tradwives came from? Host Cristen Conger (Unladylike) untangles the wildest webs of conspiracy theories spun by and about women—from the lady fascists who spread Illuminati conspiracies a century ago to Beyoncé Illuminati rumors today. With expert guests and unexpected angles, each episode unravels the cultural currents that fuel these gendered narratives, connecting the dots between memes, misogyny and ...
…
continue reading
Episodes
Series
Episodes
Sort:
Newest
Newest
Oldest
Longest
Shortest
1
Paranormal Women, pt 3: From Blue Beam to Blood Libel
36:23
36:23
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:23
What did last year's drone mystery have to do with an antisemitic myth that won't die? Medievalist and conspiracy scholar Elise Wang connects the dots between the West’s 900-year-old conspiracy theory playbook and the UFO psyops flooding TikTok today. She and Cristen also unravel the Battle of Los Angeles, hypersexual alien abduction tropes, and ho…
…
continue reading
1
Paranormal Women, pt 2: The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill
45:00
45:00
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:00
Before alien abduction became pop culture cliché, there was Betty and Barney Hill. Why did this couple's 1961 roadtrip define the abduction narrative for generations, and what did their biracial marriage have to do with it - or not? Historian Matt Bowman retraces the Hills' journey from the liberal mainstream to UFO microstardom, and Cristen has qu…
…
continue reading
1
Paranormal Women, pt 1: From Saucers to Starseeds
38:48
38:48
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:48
UFOs aren't a basement boys' club anymore. From Pentagon disclosures to TikTok starseeds and alien romance novels, belief in extraterrestrials is getting spiritual, feminine-coded, and algorithmically viral. Science journalist Sarah Scoles traces the gendered evolution of UFO culture and conspiracies—from Cold War-era military men to the cosmic gir…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 7: A Question No One Wants Answered
9:23
9:23
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:23
The case is closed. But the story isn’t over. In the final episode of Sticky Maple Fingers, we follow the last clues—and the biggest questions. Who really funded the heist? Why did some barrels vanish before the crime was even discovered? And why are certain records still sealed? From anonymous tips and offshore payments to erased files and insider…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 6 - The Vanishing
6:50
6:50
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:50
Most of the syrup was recovered. But not all of it. In the penultimate episode of Sticky Maple Fingers, the investigation takes a strange turn. Some barrels weren’t just stolen—they were erased. Gone before the heist was even discovered. No records. No trail. Just dust and questions. Was it an oversight? Or something far more deliberate? This episo…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 5 - Who Helped the Thieves?
7:02
7:02
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:02
The thieves were caught. The syrup was mostly recovered. Case closed... right? Not quite. In Episode 5 of Sticky Maple Fingers, the cracks in the official story start to widen. The heist was too clean, the timing too perfect, and the syrup? It moved with military-grade precision. That kind of operation doesn’t happen without help. This episode foll…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 4 - The Federation Strikes Back
8:10
8:10
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:10
The Federation has entered the chat. And they’re not happy. With millions in syrup missing and the black market buzzing, the FPAQ finally makes its move—unleashing raids, tracing barcodes, and hunting for barrels that vanished in plain sight. But by the time they act, the syrup is already gone, the money’s in motion, and the thieves have a head sta…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 3 - The Slippery Barrels
6:45
6:45
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:45
It wasn’t a smash-and-grab. It was a slow drip. A barrel here, a barrel there—emptied, refilled, and stacked neatly back into place. In Episode 3 of Sticky Maple Fingers, we return to the warehouse, where the barrels were many, the oversight was minimal, and the thieves were… very patient. There were no cameras. No guards. And no reason to suspect …
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 2 - The Liquid Gold
5:05
5:05
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:05
The barrels were gone. But no one asked where the syrup ended up. In Episode 2, the case leaves the warehouse and spills into something stranger—a network of silent buyers, forged invoices, and stolen syrup flowing through legitimate markets. It moved quietly, vanishing into breakfast tables across the world. No break-ins. No alarms. Just barrels r…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 1 - The Sweetest Heist
8:32
8:32
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:32
Every legend starts somewhere—even the sticky ones. Welcome to Sticky Maple Fingers, the first chapter in Crime & Nourishment, where the trail of a missing ingredient leads to something far messier than a spilled bottle at brunch. In our first episode, we head to rural Quebec, where a routine inspection uncovered one of the most bizarre and lucrati…
…
continue reading
1
Sticky Maple Fingers: A True Crime Pancake Mystery (Season teaser)
1:23
1:23
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:23
Before the barrels went missing. Before the headlines. Before anyone realized the syrup was already gone. This season trailer cracks open the case that stunned the nation: the $18 million maple syrup heist that exposed the sticky underbelly of Canada’s most iconic industry. Was it just theft? Or something deeper—hidden in the slow drip of a cover-u…
…
continue reading
Before the first bite, there’s always a story. Welcome to Crime & Nourishment, a podcast uncovering the hidden truths behind Canada’s most unexpected food crimes. From black-market dairy to stolen syrup, every case starts with missing ingredients—but ends in something far bigger. In this special teaser episode, get a glimpse of the mysteries waitin…
…
continue reading
1
The Super Bowl Trafficking Myth I Helped Spread: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 5
26:02
26:02
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:02
Why does the Super Bowl sex trafficking myth persist, despite repeated debunking? In the miniseries finale, Cristen unravels this sex trafficking myth she helped spread. So, why did major sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Cup and Olympics become seen as sex trafficking playgrounds? These red strings criss-cross from Greece to the United Na…
…
continue reading
1
Satanic Daycare Panic: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 4
41:30
41:30
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:30
Why were daycare centers the prime targets of the 1980s Satanic Panic, and how did it blow up into America's longest and most expensive criminal trial? Cristen unravels the anti-cult anxieties, paranoid cowboys and "communist" childcare seeded wild conspiracy theories about devil-worshipping predators invading the suburbs. But when law enforcement …
…
continue reading
1
Anita Bryant, Bathrooms and Backlash: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 3
36:29
36:29
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:29
In the 1970s, America’s moral panic machine found its perfect scapegoat: gay and lesbian teachers. Also bathrooms. Historian Gillian Frank unravels the roots of child trafficking and "groomer" conspiracies back to Red Scare paranoia, civil rights backlash, a conservative women's movement against the Equal Rights Amendment and the pageant queen-turn…
…
continue reading
1
The Groomer Rumor Mill: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 2
35:02
35:02
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:02
How did human trafficking conspiracy theories give rise to a politicized pedo panic targeting teachers, trans kids and drag queens? Researchers Daniela Peterka-Benton and Bond Benton connect the dots between QAnon's obsession with saving the children, the 2022 revival of anti-LGBTQ "groomer" rhetoric and Disney's recurring role in American culture …
…
continue reading
1
Sex Traffickers in Parking Lots: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 1
43:49
43:49
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:49
Why are suburban white women so afraid of getting snatched out of parking lots and sex trafficked? Journalist Caitlin Dewey unravels the tangled threads of modern sex trafficking panic, the impact of QAnon, and the role of influencers and media in laundering misinformation as "safety" advice for women and moms. Caitlin and Cristen also highlight ho…
…
continue reading
Ever heard of emotional literacy? In this mini episode (a breadcrumb? red thread?), climate misinformation expert and content creator Abbie Richards explains what it is, why it pairs so well with conspiracy theories, and how we all stand to benefit from more of it. Because if debunking won’t stop the misinformation crisis, maybe it's time to start …
…
continue reading
In the late summer of 1834, a torch-wielding mob burned down a Boston convent for reasons that sound a lot like . . . Pizzagate. Fueled by rumors of kidnappings, papal paranoia and phony exposés, conspiracy theories about nuns in their convents spiraled out of control in 19th-century America. Cristen unravels why that happened and how it set the st…
…
continue reading
1
The Feminine Draw of Contemporary Conspiracy (Culture Study with Anne Helen Petersen)
1:10:26
1:10:26
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:26
What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and gossip? When does joking around about Kate Middleton’s abduction turn into something much darker? Are women actually more susceptible to contemporary conspiracy theories — or are we just finally paying attention to it? Cristen joined Anne Helen Petersen on Culture Study Podcast to unpack all of …
…
continue reading
From cuckoo claims she’s secretly a man to attacks questioning her Blackness, Kamala Harris conspiracy theories are one of the most predictable features of the 2024 election, it turns out. Disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz unravels the three main disinfo narratives that have targeted Kamala for years and what they sound like today, and Crist…
…
continue reading
What can an obscure conspiracy theory involving Michelle Obama, Joan Rivers and the deep state tell us about the gender panicked rise of reactionary politics? Enter “transvestigation”—a brain-rot conspiracy genre trafficking in wonky eyes, bad photoshops and a gender-inclusive Illuminati. Digital researcher Lexi Webster unravels the nonsense and wh…
…
continue reading
Free Britney started as fan sleuthing, which ultimately helped end Britney Spears’ conservatorship, sparked a pop cultural reckoning and galvanized a disability rights movement. Podcaster and comic Tess Barker (Pop Mystery Pod) unravels that journey of pursuing the truth about Britney–and its thornier consequences–while digital sociologist Naomi Sm…
…
continue reading
1
Greta Thunberg: Climate Conspiracy's Forever Scapegoat
38:18
38:18
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:18
At just 16, Greta Thunberg led the largest climate protest in history—and became a target for right-wing conspiracy theories. Scholar Emily Ryalls dissects how Greta was recast as a hysterical pawn of globalist billionaires and why the “Greta Effect” continues to provoke such powerful backlash. Then, TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards …
…
continue reading
1
Avril Lavigne's Clone Hoax That Won't Die
37:54
37:54
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:54
Who sparked the bizarre conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a clone named Melissa, and why does it still persist? Snopes reporter Nur Ibrahim unravels the allure of celebrity death hoaxes, political body double rumors and how to sort the fakes from the facts. Cristen also connects the dots between Avril Lavigne, the Beatles’ Paul M…
…
continue reading
Why did Meghan Markle's pregnancies unleash tabloid rumors and unprecedented speculation? Royal reporter Ellie Hall unravels the community committed to exposing their “Duchess of Deception,” from claims that Meghan faked her pregnancies to masterminding the #WhereIsKate PR crisis. Scholar Moya Bailey also connects the dots between Meghan skeptics, …
…
continue reading
When Megan Thee Stallion revealed the truth about being shot by Tory Lanez, why was she met with disbelief, Bigfoot jokes, and Illuminati rumors? NPR Music reporter and longtime hottie Sidney Madden (Louder Than a Riot) unravels how hip-hop culture put Megan on trial, while Tory Lanez’ team claimed the slut-shame defense in court. Scholar Moya Bail…
…
continue reading
From secret messages in “Single Ladies” to the infamous Blue Ivy bump gate, Beyoncé has been at the center of countless conspiracy theories. But nothing tops (or stops) the Illuminati rumors. Where did they start, and how much is Jay-Z to blame? Scholar Moya Bailey unravels the fixation on Beyoncé, revealing the misogynoir driving these conspiracie…
…
continue reading
1
Taylor Swift: From Aryan Queen to Left-Wing Psyop
44:21
44:21
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:21
How did Taylor Swift go from being (falsely) labeled a far-right dream girl to a left-wing psyop in conspiracy narratives? Host Cristen Conger untangles the conflicting stories that have turned Swift into a culture war lightning rod, from Nazi sympathizer rumors to the Travis Kelce psyop theory. Sociologist Brian Donovan unpacks why her celebrity m…
…
continue reading
1
Anti-Vax Influencers, Tradwives and Fangirls
30:05
30:05
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:05
Why were women and lifestyle influencers so pivotal to spreading QAnon lies about pedos, cabals and child trafficking via Wayfair furniture? Grab your red string and follow along with host Cristen Conger into the female-dominated landscape of "conspirituality," where wellness and woo-woo get extra delulu. Researcher, journalist and QAA podcast corr…
…
continue reading
1
The Women Who Resurrected the Illuminati Myth
32:29
32:29
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:29
If it weren't for rich lady fascist Nesta Webster, Illuminati conspiracy theories might've died off ages ago. Host Cristen Conger (Unladylike) unravels the unhinged women's history of antisemitic Illuminati propaganda and its role in shaping today’s conspiracy-pilled, post-factual era. Cultural historian Lindsay Porter further introduces us to the …
…
continue reading
From the original Illuminati influencers to celebrity pregnancy truthers today, host Cristen Conger unravels the red strings connecting women, gender and conspiracy culture gone wild. Because QAnon moms, tradwives and even Taylor Swift government psyop conspiracy theories reveal a lot about power, pop culture and politics. Conspiracy, She Wrote sta…
…
continue reading
