137 - Conspiracy Theories, Hoaxes, and the Detransition Time Bomb with Wilfred Reilly

Stella & Sasha welcome Wilfred Reilly to the program for an intriguing conversation touching on gender and medicalization, political affiliations and extremism, violence and discrimination, societal myths and data analysis, and the impact of the internet on niche interests and mental health.Wilfred Reilly is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, a historically Black institution. His research interests include International Relations, contemporary American race and gender relations, and the use of modern quantitative/empirical methods to test ‘sacred cow’ theories.In this episode, they delve into the issues surrounding gender, addressing concerns about youth and gender transition for children. They explore the challenges of obtaining reliable statistics on detransitioning and the difficulties in conducting research in the field of gender due to ideological biases. The conversation underscores the role of media bias and the evolving landscape of identity, alluding to the potential consequences of the medicalization of gender-related issues and the need for more open discussion and data collection considering that even academic studies are sometimes targeted and obstructed by activists.The discussion also touches on the broader issues of ideological extremism and its implications for society. Wilfred shares his insights into debunking misconceptions related to topics like police violence and discrimination. He also shares about instances of fake hate crimes on college campuses, shedding light on how seemingly innocuous events were misconstrued and magnified, highlighting the prevalence of victimization and the consequences of seeking attention through such incidents. Sasha raises concerns about the impact of such ideological paranoia on people's mental health and interpersonal relationships while Wilfred draws parallels between this ideological extremism and traditional religious beliefs, suggesting that both can lead to a level of paranoia and fear. This conversation offers no shortage of intriguing stories that challenge common narratives and assumptions.Links:Attend Genspect’s: The Bigger Picturehttps://genspect.org/the-bigger-picture-continues-denver-colorado/ Wilfred Reilly on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/wil_da_beast630Buy Wilfred Reilly’s BooksLies My Liberal Teacher Told Mehttps://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Liberal-Teacher-Told-ebook/dp/B0BDZMZJ4C Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk Abouthttps://www.amazon.com/Taboo-Facts-Cant-Talk-About/dp/162157928X Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race Warhttps://www.amazon.com/Hate-Crime-Hoax-Lefts-Campaign/dp/1621577783 The $50,000,000 Question: An Engagingly Empirical Examination of the Relationship between "Privilege" and Pridehttps://www.amazon.com/000-Question-Engagingly-Examination-Relationship/dp/3659846031 Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe