Taken from the sci-fi classic, The Matrix, the metaphor of the red pill has taken on new meaning within the incel community. It has given rise to the extreme, fatalistic Black Pill; a philosophy that labels women as shallow creatures who are only interested in the most attractive men. The incel community, alongside Men’s Rights Groups and Pick Up Artists, are insular and radical in their ideology – collectively, they make up the manosphere. In today’s episode, we speak to Lisa Sugiura, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Cybercrime, and Maeve Park, a seasoned expert on male supremacy to help us navigate the incel movement, misogyny and violence. 

Media Minded explores the bizarre world of misinformation and conspiracies. Following on from the success of the first season in 2019, each episode platforms a different subject who has previously been a victim of, or a willing participant in, a conspiracy theory… but these lines may be more blurred than you think. Ex-cultists, anti-vaxxers and more describe their slow descent into the untrue, and those who experience the brunt of the lies and hatred explain the effect that the proliferation of these ideas has. All the while, industry-leading academics and experts provide theoretical justifications for the actions taken by all parties.

Presented by Matteo Bergamini

Edited and recorded by Sabina Mckenzie Brown.

This podcast is made possible thanks to the kind support and sponsorship of the US embassy in London.