Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Why do people believe conspiracy theories?
This short documentary explores that question by bringing together the lived experience of Brent Lee (Former Conspiracy Theorist & Co-host of Some Dare Call It Conspiracy) and academic insights from Dr Daniel Jolley (Professor of Psychology at Nottingham University).
Rather than framing conspiracy belief as stupidity or ignorance, it looks at how beliefs form through community, identity, and meaning making, and why facts alone are rarely enough to change minds.
The film also examines the real world consequences of conspiracy beliefs, including vaccine hesitancy, climate denial, and political radicalisation, while ending with a message that is often missing from these conversations: there is a way back.
This film is intended for anyone trying to better understand conspiracy beliefs, including those with friends or family affected by them.
Why do people believe conspiracy theories?
This short documentary explores that question by bringing together the lived experience of Brent Lee (Former Conspiracy Theorist & Co-host of Some Dare Call It Conspiracy) and academic insights from Dr Daniel Jolley (Professor of Psychology at Nottingham University).
Rather than framing conspiracy belief as stupidity or ignorance, it looks at how beliefs form through community, identity, and meaning making, and why facts alone are rarely enough to change minds.
The film also examines the real world consequences of conspiracy beliefs, including vaccine hesitancy, climate denial, and political radicalisation, while ending with a message that is often missing from these conversations: there is a way back.
This film is intended for anyone trying to better understand conspiracy beliefs, including those with friends or family affected by them.
![Deep Dive • Paul Is Dead!? (10/14) Was McCartney Replaced? [Full Series On PATREON]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGSCbVWFQbc/mqdefault.jpg "Deep Dive • Paul Is Dead!? (10/14) Was McCartney Replaced? [Full Series On PATREON]
What if one of the most famous musicians in the world died in the 1960s and the public never realised? For decades a corner of the conspirasphere has insisted that Paul McCartney didn’t survive the height of The Beatles. According to the story he died in a car crash in 1966 and was quietly replaced by a look-alike. A man some believers claim was called Billy Shears. It sounds ridiculous. And yet the theory has refused to die.
In this brand new 14 part Deep Dive we take the most detailed modern version of the claim, Billy’s Back, an abridged version of The Memoirs of Billy Shears, and use it as a springboard to investigate the whole thing properly.
We go through the claims piece by piece. The supposed clues in album artwork, lyrics and interviews. The timeline the theory relies on. The people who helped spread it in the first place. And some of the modern voices in the conspirasphere who still promote it today.
Along the way we also dig into where the story actually came from and how a rumour from the late 60s managed to evolve into a fully fledged conspiracy theory that still circulates today.
Webpage for photos referenced in the series ＞ https://www.somedarecallitconspiracy.com/paul-is-dead
Join us on Patreon to hear the full series right now
https://www.Patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy 5932731/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy 5932731/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Some Dare Call It Conspiracy is an award-winning podcast that examines conspiracy theories, misinformation, and moral panics — not from the outside, but from the inside.
The show is co-created and hosted by Brent Lee and Neil Sanders, both former insiders in the conspiracy world who spent years immersed in conspiracy belief, alternative media, and grassroots activism before walking away. Their experience gives them first-hand insight into how conspiracy narratives are built, why they feel so convincing, and why leaving those communities can be difficult.
Drawing on lived experience, deep research, and expert interviews — alongside a distinctly British sense of humour — the podcast breaks down conspiracy culture with clarity and bite. Episodes vary in format, but all focus on who benefits when misinformation spreads, how harm is done, and how bad ideas gain influence.
The result is a show that is sceptical without being smug, serious about real-world consequences without losing its edge, and unafraid to call out grift and power where it thrives.
Join us to discover where the truth… lies.
Website: https://www.somedarecallitconspiracy.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Twitter/X: https://x.com/somedarepodcast
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/somedarepodcast.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Facebook: https://www.facebook")
![Deep Dive • Paul Is Dead!? (1/14) Was McCartney Replaced? [Full Series On PATREON]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xAlnDmqmLY0/mqdefault.jpg "Deep Dive • Paul Is Dead!? (1/14) Was McCartney Replaced? [Full Series On PATREON]
What if one of the most famous musicians in the world died in the 1960s and the public never realised? For decades a corner of the conspirasphere has insisted that Paul McCartney didn’t survive the height of The Beatles. According to the story he died in a car crash in 1966 and was quietly replaced by a look-alike. A man some believers claim was called Billy Shears. It sounds ridiculous. And yet the theory has refused to die.
In this brand new 14 part Deep Dive we take the most detailed modern version of the claim, Billy’s Back, an abridged version of The Memoirs of Billy Shears, and use it as a springboard to investigate the whole thing properly.
We go through the claims piece by piece. The supposed clues in album artwork, lyrics and interviews. The timeline the theory relies on. The people who helped spread it in the first place. And some of the modern voices in the conspirasphere who still promote it today.
Along the way we also dig into where the story actually came from and how a rumour from the late 60s managed to evolve into a fully fledged conspiracy theory that still circulates today.
Webpage for photos referenced in the series ＞ https://www.somedarecallitconspiracy.com/paul-is-dead
Join us on Patreon to hear the full series right now
https://www.Patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy 5932731/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy 5932731/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Some Dare Call It Conspiracy is an award-winning podcast that examines conspiracy theories, misinformation, and moral panics — not from the outside, but from the inside.
The show is co-created and hosted by Brent Lee and Neil Sanders, both former insiders in the conspiracy world who spent years immersed in conspiracy belief, alternative media, and grassroots activism before walking away. Their experience gives them first-hand insight into how conspiracy narratives are built, why they feel so convincing, and why leaving those communities can be difficult.
Drawing on lived experience, deep research, and expert interviews — alongside a distinctly British sense of humour — the podcast breaks down conspiracy culture with clarity and bite. Episodes vary in format, but all focus on who benefits when misinformation spreads, how harm is done, and how bad ideas gain influence.
The result is a show that is sceptical without being smug, serious about real-world consequences without losing its edge, and unafraid to call out grift and power where it thrives.
Join us to discover where the truth… lies.
Website: https://www.somedarecallitconspiracy.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Twitter/X: https://x.com/somedarepodcast
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/somedarepodcast.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somedarecallitconspiracy
Facebook: https://www.facebook")
