"<p>Whether you're a fan of conspiracy theories or not, you have to admit they have a certain level of intrigue about them. Hardened skeptics scoff at the mere thought of believing in them and hardcore conspiracy theorists frequently fall down rabbit holes in search of the ""truth."" </p><p>But what exactly <em>is</em> the truth, and what about the fallout that accompanies some of these theories that encourage dangerous behavior—remember the bizarre <a href=""https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a51268/what-is-pizzagate/"" rel=""nofollow noopener"" target=""_blank"" data-ylk=""slk:Pizzagate"" class=""link rapid-noclick-resp"">Pizzagate</a> conspiracy? And what are we supposed to make of new conspiracies constantly popping up? For instance, consider the recent <a href=""https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a35925244/suez-canal-blocked-ever-given-ship-stuck/"" rel=""nofollow noopener"" target=""_blank"" data-ylk=""slk:Suez Canal fiasco"" class=""link rapid-noclick-resp"">Suez Canal fiasco</a> and how some people baselessly claimed that the stuck ship was involved in human trafficking. </p><p>👽 <strong><em><a href=""https://join.popularmechanics.com/pubs/HR/POP/POP1_Plans.jsp?cds_page_id=250088&cds_mag_code=POP&cds_tracking_code=edit-inline-best-conspiracy-theory-podcasts"" rel=""nofollow noopener"" target=""_blank"" data-ylk=""slk:Let's explore the unknown together, join Pop Mech Pro!"" class=""link rapid-noclick-resp"">Let's explore the unknown together, join Pop Mech Pro!</a></em></strong></p><p>Conspiracy theories have a lot of power, especially in the age of today's internet when news—both real and fake—travels at the speed of light and has the potential to reach millions of people almost instantly. To help debunk some conspiracy theories and provide a deep dive into the science behind some of the wildest ones we've heard, we gathered a list of 13 different conspiracy theory podcasts to break down what's really going on behind the curtain.</p><p><em><strong><a href=""https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a30119985/why-people-believe-conspiracy-theories/"" rel=""nofollow noopener"" target=""_blank"" data-ylk=""slk:[Read More: Why You've Been Conditioned to Love Conspiracy Theories]"" class=""link rapid-noclick-resp"">[Read More: Why You've Been Conditioned to Love Conspiracy Theories]</a></strong></em></p>"
{}