Ayesha Roscoe

Right now, go to stations.npr.org to find your local NPR station.

Right now, go to stations.npr.org to find your local NPR station.

Right now, go to stations.npr.org to find your local NPR station.

I'm Ayesha Roscoe, and this is The Sunday Story, where we go beyond the news to bring you one big story. Since the COVID pandemic, lots of conspiracy theories have been floating around the Internet. For some, these ideas and the conspiracy thinking that fuels them may not have had much of an impact. But for others, they can feel urgent and personal. This is the case for journalist Zach Mack.

I'm Ayesha Roscoe, and this is The Sunday Story, where we go beyond the news to bring you one big story. Since the COVID pandemic, lots of conspiracy theories have been floating around the Internet. For some, these ideas and the conspiracy thinking that fuels them may not have had much of an impact. But for others, they can feel urgent and personal. This is the case for journalist Zach Mack.

I'm Ayesha Roscoe, and this is The Sunday Story, where we go beyond the news to bring you one big story. Since the COVID pandemic, lots of conspiracy theories have been floating around the Internet. For some, these ideas and the conspiracy thinking that fuels them may not have had much of an impact. But for others, they can feel urgent and personal. This is the case for journalist Zach Mack.

Mack's father holds a number of conspiratorial views. He believes, among other things, that a shadowy cabal secretly runs the world, a group he calls the globalists. Last year, as Zach tried to make sense of his dad's beliefs, he began recording their conversations with his dad's permission, of course.

Mack's father holds a number of conspiratorial views. He believes, among other things, that a shadowy cabal secretly runs the world, a group he calls the globalists. Last year, as Zach tried to make sense of his dad's beliefs, he began recording their conversations with his dad's permission, of course.

Mack's father holds a number of conspiratorial views. He believes, among other things, that a shadowy cabal secretly runs the world, a group he calls the globalists. Last year, as Zach tried to make sense of his dad's beliefs, he began recording their conversations with his dad's permission, of course.

Here's a moment from one conversation in which Zach's dad urges Zach to start stockpiling emergency supplies.

Here's a moment from one conversation in which Zach's dad urges Zach to start stockpiling emergency supplies.

Here's a moment from one conversation in which Zach's dad urges Zach to start stockpiling emergency supplies.

Today on The Sunday Story, a look at what happens to one family in this age of misinformation and conspiracy theories. A conversation with reporter Zach Mack when we return.

Today on The Sunday Story, a look at what happens to one family in this age of misinformation and conspiracy theories. A conversation with reporter Zach Mack when we return.

Today on The Sunday Story, a look at what happens to one family in this age of misinformation and conspiracy theories. A conversation with reporter Zach Mack when we return.

We're back with a Sunday story and reporter Zach Mack, who spent the last year documenting his father's conspiratorial thinking and its effect on his family. Mack says his goal was to bring his father, quote, back to reality. He turned his reporting into a new series called Alternate Realities for NPR's Embedded Podcast. Zach Mack joins us now. Welcome to the podcast.

We're back with a Sunday story and reporter Zach Mack, who spent the last year documenting his father's conspiratorial thinking and its effect on his family. Mack says his goal was to bring his father, quote, back to reality. He turned his reporting into a new series called Alternate Realities for NPR's Embedded Podcast. Zach Mack joins us now. Welcome to the podcast.

We're back with a Sunday story and reporter Zach Mack, who spent the last year documenting his father's conspiratorial thinking and its effect on his family. Mack says his goal was to bring his father, quote, back to reality. He turned his reporting into a new series called Alternate Realities for NPR's Embedded Podcast. Zach Mack joins us now. Welcome to the podcast.

So to start, you know, can you tell me a little bit about your family? Like what was it like growing up for you?

So to start, you know, can you tell me a little bit about your family? Like what was it like growing up for you?