Matt D’Elia Is Confused

Latest Episodes:

Mike Rothschild | The Conspiracy Age Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

Journalist Mike Rothschild joins the show for a discussion about his area of expertise (and one of Matt’s all-time favorite subjects)... conspiracy theories! Listen as Matt picks Mike’s brain about some of his ‘favorite’ conspiracy theories of the decade— from QAnon to Flat Earth to Chemtrails to ‘false flag’ mass shootings. All of which leads to a deeper conversation about the history of conspiracy thinking in general, where these kinds of theories come from in the first place, why they’re so widespread right now, how they eventually seep into mainstream culture— and why adherents to these unproven, unprovable beliefs rarely (if ever) change their minds.

Sarah Landry | Leaving A Cult Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

Matt finally speaks to a cult survivor! For 9 years, Sarah Landry was a dedicated, trusted member of the secretive ‘Nithyananda’ Hindu sect— as well as its top recruiter. But now Sarah is speaking out about the organization, which she calls a controlling and abusive cult. And it’s hard to argue with that assessment, with the group’s leader currently on the lam, hiding out in Ecuador as he evades charges of sexual abuse. Sarah candidly walks Matt through her personal experience, and then Matt picks her brain about what it’s like to be in a cult, how they start the brainwashing, how they keep you in line, what it takes to eventually realize you’re in a bad situation, the decision to finally get the hell outta there— and ultimately the courage required to speak out about it.

Martin Geddes | Safe & Uncertain Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Matt finally fulfills his longtime dream of talking to a believer in the QAnon conspiracy theory. The reason it took so long to find a suitable QAnon-believing guest isn’t because Q-Heads are hard to find. (Believe it or not, they’re actually easy to find.) It’s because most of them are rigid and illogical, which would have resulted in a not-so-great episode. But eventually Matt found his man: Martin Geddes. More than just a Q-Head, Martin actually subscribes to many of what most people call ‘conspiracy theories’ — from the popular (9/11 was an inside job) to the not-so popular (Obama was a ‘Manchurian Candidate’-style foreign agent). Despite their disagreements, Matt and Martin manage to have a civil and surprisingly enlightening conversation about Martin’s ideas, Matt’s concerns with them, the allures and pitfalls of believing in conspiracy theories, and why so many of us desire safety and certainty at seemingly any cost.

Nir Eyal | Big Tech Madness Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Bestselling author Nir Eyal joins Matt to discuss his new book, ‘Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life’, which touches on a question that has been on Matt‘s mind a lot lately: why the hell can’t any of us put our phones down? Matt picks Nir’s brain about this and much more, including the difference between addiction and distraction, the psychology behind distraction, how Big Tech actually effects our lives versus how we’ve been told Big Tech effects our lives, the dangers of accepting simple answers to complex problems, and why we all feel so damn attached to our smartphones in the first place. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

News & Privacy Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

In his second solo episode, Matt talks about things that have been confusing or upsetting him lately, including the ways people behave towards loved ones on social media, the sudden omnipotence of the term ‘quid pro quo’, the overwhelming shittiness of CNN headlines, and the true value of privacy. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

Troy Duffy + Sam Macaroni | Cult Films Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

Matt sits down in person with filmmakers Troy Duffy and Sam Macaroni, who have both been making movies or producing content in one way or another since the 1990s— during which a whole lot has changed within their industry. As you may already know, Matt has a few problems with the current state of cinema, so they’ve got a lot to cover. Listen as they discuss the making of Troy’s legendary cult film “The Boondock Saints”, the nearly-as-legendary documentary “Overnight” about Troy’s doomed first attempt to make Boondock, what it’s like to make movies now versus what it was like when Troy and Sam were first breaking into the business, the uncertain future of the cult film, Matt’s confusion about why people watch what they watch, and why there is now simply too much ‘content’ out there for anyone to know what to do with.

Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

D. Marble | Globe Denial Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Matt picks the brain of Darryle Marble, renowned flat earther (or as he prefers, ‘globe denier’), to understand the surprisingly widespread belief that that the earth is... well... flat. Matt wholeheartedly disagrees with Darryle— but he also has no interest in arguing with him. He just wants to understand where Darryle is coming from. Listen as they put aside their disagreements to discuss Darryle’s initial embrace of conspiracy theories in general and then globe denial specifically, his detachment from ‘mainstream’ thought and belief systems, the stigma that goes along with being labeled a ‘flat-earther’, and, of course, his take on the earth’s true shape (hint: it’s not round)— and why we’ve all been lied to about it for our entire lives. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

Dr. Eben Alexander | The Near Death Experience Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

Neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander was nearly killed by the sudden onset of an extremely rare form of bacterial meningitis. Doctors gave him less than a 2% chance to live. But he somehow survived to tell the tale— and that tale just so happens to involve a near death experience. Since then, Dr. Alexander has written numerous books on the subject, including the bestseller ‘Proof Of Heaven’, which details his experience in full. Matt has always been perplexed by NDEs, and a bit skeptical, but he still wants to know the deal— and Dr. Alexander was the perfect guy to talk to about it. Listen in as they discuss the true definition of consciousness, the limits of science, and the strange phenomenon that is the near death experience.

Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

Toni Natalie | The Demented Mind Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

Toni Natalie was the longtime girlfriend of infamous cult leader Keith Raniere, head of the so-called ‘self-help’ organization called NXIVM, which recently made national headlines for running a sex slave operation within its ranks— one that held secret orgiastic ceremonies and branded the skin of its members (all female) with Keith’s initials. But this was merely the end of Keith’s story. For years, Toni was at Keith’s side as he rose from smart but shady businessman to the full blown cult leader we know him as today. Toni tells all about Keith, his uber-loyal followers (who especially confuse Matt), how she escaped his clutches, the devilish way Raniere preyed on those who sought his help, how access to vast amounts of money allowed him to evade any potential legal trouble— and why seemingly good and smart people join cults in the first place. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia

Caroline Calloway | Collective Bloodletting Oct 09, 2019

Show notes

Caroline Calloway is a controversial figure— but Matt doesn’t really understand why this is the case. Lucky for him, Caroline was willing to come on the show and explain it. What follows is an honest conversation about why she was accused of being a scammer in the first place, why everyone got so mad at her, why everyone hates influencers, the blurred lines between people and their online personas, and what it’s like to be mobbed by the mainstream media and internet trolls alike.

Please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #mattdeliaisconfused, and find Matt online here: @mattdelia