Believe It or Not? How To Help Your Family Navigate Conspiracy Theories

What do the French culture, Michael Jackson, Jeffrey Epstein, and aliens all have in common? They're all big conspiracies. So tune in to this episode to hear me and my friend talk about what conspiracy theories can do to your everyday life and even mental health. Hope you enjoy. Welcome to the Family Business Podcast Podcast with the Alessi. My name is Lauren Alessi Burgos, and I am your host for this episode. And I'm joined today by one of my closest friends, Dania Montejo. How are you, Daniel? Hi. Hi. Hi. I'm so happy to be here. Good. Huge fan. Huge fan. I'm a huge fan of you. I am a huge fan of you. So before we dive into our topic, just a few notes and comments for our listeners. We. We have officially hit past 1 million views on YouTube. So that is huge. We just want to take a second to celebrate that. So please also, like, share and subscribe this video if you like it. If you have a friend who is into this topic, which we're going to dive deep into soon. And if you have any friends who are also maybe a little bit conspiracy theorists, I don't know. And then lastly, we are about to hit our 250th video as a podcast and just podcast episode. Not just video, but our family has changed a lot. So please comment below. How has your family changed since we started the Family Business podcast, which was originally in 2021? A lot of us weren't married. No grandkids yet, or I think just one grandkid. I don't even think you guys had boyfriends. I don't even know. I for sure did. Like last year. I didn't have a boyfriend. Yeah. So anyways. No, I did last year. Two years ago. Anyways, anyways, comment down below. How your life has changed since this podcast started. We would like to know. Okay, let's take a breather and let's dive into today's topic. Round of applause. What is it? No. Asmr. Go. So we are talking today about conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories. Conspiracy. Conspiracy theories. Yes. With my friend, who I'm not going to label a conspiracy theorist. I'm going to label her a wonderful, beautiful mother, wife, daughter. Thank you, friend. Everything who happens to love conspiracy, happens to love conspiracies. Okay, Danya, tell us a little bit about yourself. So I've known you guys. I think we're going on 10 years of friendship. It's been a long time. We came here from a conference. It was like some young adult conference. And we became. We Just hit it off, like, immediately. It was my husband at the time. He was my fiance. We just hit it off with, like, all the Alessi kids. And, like, my husband ended up working for church at some point. And honestly, since then, it's been a wonderful friendship that's developed into this. Now, honestly, it's like a sisterhood, at least for me, whether they want to admit it or not. No, it really is, because I'm an only child. So I have inherited this family that loves Ana so well. And. And yeah, I've. I serve at this church, Metro Life. Church is my chur. I have three children, as she mentioned. I have kids. They all are in the kids ministry. They do everything with us. So we're in a very blessed season to be here. And I really have nothing but good things to say about this show and my pastors and this family, and it's just. It's so great. I just. Lauren texted me, and she's like, would you come on and talk about conspiracy? So I'm like, what do you think about me that we're talking about conspiracies? Well, no. Okay. Well, first of all, your husband also works for a podcast, like, a big podcast in Miami. Did you tell him you were coming on? No idea. He has no idea. He has no idea. I'm just gonna surprise him and be like, babe, look what I did. Just as. When it comes out. When it comes out, I'm just gonna be like, hey, look, that's actually perfect. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And your kids are the funniest kids I've ever met. Actually, next door, they're practicing for a drama skit that we're doing with the. With the co op that we do here at church. And they're learning about the Boston Tea Party, which could also be a conspiracy. Okay, but that is my favorite story of all time. Yes. So please don't rag on that one. No, I won't. I won't. I won't rag. Okay, but I don't think you are a conspiracy theorist. But of all my friends, you dive deep into the conspiracy theory world. Yes. And it's really here. And this is probably the funny part, because we always talk about this as a friend group. So. So it's like a group of us. So it's like the Alessi girls, who now are, like, different last names. So Kaladi Boer goes. And so the Alessi girls, plus our other friends, Krista and Kirsten, like, that's our group chat. So when we reference the group chat, that's kind of the People that we're talking about, and that is the group chat is a big thing. It's a big thing. But when we basically. We love to top on the topic that I feel like women don't know how to have conversations outside of children and husbands. Yes. Or like their day to day lives where it's like, we work in ministry and there's like not work, but we serve a lot of ministry that we're also. We're kind of required to have to hold a conversation with new people that you don't know anything about. Yeah. So I think that's kind of where like this intriguing, like, conspiracy topic came from. Is really like topics that anybody. You can have conversations with anybody about. Yeah, right. I don't go deep in with people. I know my people that I can go deep in conversation with, especially conspiracy conversation. But it's a good light, like people know really anything of any topic that you can talk about. So it's just like talking points. And I think that's what got me into it. But then I've gotten just more. It's just fascinating. I think it's like, I like to read. It's funny because one of the producers here is Solange and she's also in a book club that we do here at our church. And I really look at conspiracy theories like a mystery novel. It's a mystery novel because in reality, like, at this point, how is. Like, how can you prove fake or not? Like at this point. Yeah. Fake or real? At this point, fake or real? It's hard. So I don't know. I think that's what stemmed my conspiracy love. And then now it's just. I'll listen to anybody once. Yes, I know that. I listen to anybody. I know that about you. And I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I feel like conspiracy theories used to be like crazy Reddit threads. Right. Or like crazy videos on YouTube. I feel like journalism now has married conspiracy theories and now it's getting a lot more intelligent. Yeah. So before it would be really, really crazy. Now you have a really smart journalist who went to school for something. They got their brain around a conspiracy theory and they're diving into it and you're like, wait, this person actually has a point and they're finding evidence for things. So that can really get you into it. Like, what's the word? Into like a. Like a deep hole of it. Because you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. This person is finding some really cool. Those are the ones that go crazy. Those are the ones. Those are the ones that go crazy. Because, like, I, like, we've seen it, like, we have news anchors that we're thinking about right now in our head that, like, they just go in and like, you see them lose their mind. It's true. But it's a beautiful thing, like the independent journalist space, because now they don't have these huge overheads of people forcing them to talk about specific topics or like, sides. And it's just really like, you could talk about whatever you want at this time and age and like, you have to be careful with that, obviously with everything that you do. But you're now exposed to, like, just different points of views. Especially like, like, the moon landing is such a great conspiracy that I always like to, like, me and my husband will always like, talk about it and like, bring it up, especially when, like, things happen. But it's just crazy to see how technology, right. How has evolved. And it's like those kind of topics, it's just easy topics that you can have conversations about. And it's not anything like, about politics. Right. We're not jumping into like, do you like Trump or not? Or did you vote for Biden or not? Or it's more light hearted but easy conversation. So I don't know. No, it's very true for me. Okay. For me. And the reason I wanted to have you on this podcast, because we've talked about this before, is it's not that I don't like conspiracies. I enjoy a good conspiracy and I've listened to podcasts about conspiracies and I've like, gotten into it. I enjoy a really good story. Like, I really do. For me. And we've talked about this on our group chat is like, and here it made the perfect point. It's like we can get stuck on whether the conspiracy is true or false and not whether constantly going into that deep dive is healthy for us. Yes. And I kind of noticed the switch in, like, okay, when the government literally was like, yeah, here's all these, like, unidentified objects floating around in the sky that have gone back to I don't even know how many years ago here, like, we're just releasing them all for everybody to watch. Like, that does something to like, the whole country. And everybody who's been like, no, UFOs are fake. Aliens are real. Aliens are fake. And then now the government's like, yeah, here's a ton of UFO videos and files. Do what you will, do what you will. Have fun. And it's like, so you've been kind of, like, gatekeeping us and gatekeeping and gaslighting for so long. Not to say now aliens are real, but now it's like, oh, we're not saying they exist. We're not saying they don't. It's just, here's some files for you. Yeah, I mean, listen, I. That does something to our psyche, you know, it does 100%. Like, I agree with you. Yeah, like, fully, like, agree with you. And, like, when you make those comments in our chat, it reels me back sometimes because it's like, you can go crazy. Like, but I feel like that's the beauty of it. And, like, I've had this conversation with my husband where it's like, he. He's not a conspiracy guy. Like, I am. Like, I can sit and listen to hours of conspiracy and it won't put me in a place where I'm, like, having an existential crisis about me. I genuinely just enjoy. Like, I've never heard about this topic. I've always had, I've always said this about myself, is that, like, I love to learn, I love school. I hate the testing aspect of it. So, like, if you put me in a situation where I get to learn something new, I love it. But ultimately, I feel like all these, like, conversations when it comes to topics of conspiracy and how deep you dive into it, like, it really just points me back to God in this weird way because it's like I can't control it. It's beautiful, right? But I can't control it. Like, I can't. Like, there, it just shows you how dark the world is. Like, no, it's true. It's like, it's interesting because, like, yeah, I have kids and, like, yeah, I have to raise them in this world and, like, I'm exposing myself to, like, the real. But I feel like there's some, you know, like, there's some way that it molds me as, like, a person where I can make the right decisions. But, like, the Bible tells us that I can't walk in fear. So, like, I feel like the moment that you step into the fear or you step into, like, that obsession where, like, that becomes your life. That's the problem. Yeah, that's true. Right. Because I do feel like there is truth. Like, for example, I mean, I don't want to go because I don't. Like, again, what I say is not how the Alessi's may believe or this. This podcast believes. So I don't want that to be, like, associated with them. But, like, for example, I started to homeschool Because I felt like I don't like the textbooks that are getting sold to our schools and, like, our kids are getting, you know, fed. Like, it's just something that I don't agree with. And, like, that can become a conspiracy because of. Who was the publishing person that bought those textbooks back in, like, the 1920s? Right. It was Maxwell. And that's conducted to, like, Ghislaine and, like, the Epstein files. Like, oh, my God. So it's like, that's a whole, like, thing. Like, everything is somehow connected, and, like, you can sit here and. And I. I truly feel like if it makes you spiral, it's not for you. Like, 100. Don't dig into it. Yeah. Just don't do it. Like, and I spiral. Yeah. And you've said that. You're like. And you're very clear. Like, guys, this is my line. And she'll stop replying. We'll be in, like, deep in conversation 300 text messages later. And Lauren has not looked at any of them because that's her line and that's the respect. But she knows she can always come to us and ask us, hey, how do you feel about this topic? And we know where Lauren's plugs are. And I feel like it's similar to, like, when you take politics home to, like, a family dinner 100%. Like, you're not gonna go to a Thanksgiving dinner and, like, bring up all these opinions. Like, it's literally gonna cause strife. I feel like conspiracies is, like, the same 100%. And I think it's different when you're like, oh, this is a cool conspiracy. Because I think what you're saying, too, is like, look, I took my kids out of school because I just didn't like what the textbooks were saying. And that also happens to be tied to a conspiracy. But you're not saying, because it's tied to a conspiracy. I'm taking my kids out, so it's. For me, I tend to spiral, so I know I can only go this far and no more. Like, for example, there are some. And we talked about this, like, some environments where, like, women just have the same conversations at times. Not all women and not all the time, but it's like, the same old conversations about kids, about, you know, husbands. And I'm like, where do you get your nails done? Where did you get that shark? I need something new. And then it always loops back to, like, oh, vaccines. Are you giving your kids vaccines or not? No, you can't give your kids vaccines. And then, no you can't give them that baby formula. And then, no, you can't feed them this food. And then, no, you can't feed them with this ingredient. Can't do anything. Then I'm like, can I eat, breathe, and sleep anything? Like. And then I. I had my own issues with food and, like, gluten and sugar and dairy where you'd know this. Like, I'd break out so terribly. My gut had issues, so I had restrictions on my own life that finally I had to get to a point where literally I was like, I am made free in Christ. Well, and then you could also eat the flour from Italy. But not from the United States. But not from the United States. That's a conspiracy. Why is the pesticides. Oh, 100%. At this point, everyone's like, not even a conspiracy. Fact. 100% fact. But. So that's the conversation is that I feel like they're conspiracies until they're proven fact. Right, That's. Yes, that's the. Because, like, that's the part that makes me spiral. But, like, I don't know. I just. But that's the separation. Like, you know you're lying 100%, ultimately. And I feel like even with conspiracists, because I can sit here and be like, no, like, you have to listen to me. Like, this is right. But, like, am I willing to admit that I'm wrong? Like, let's say some sort of fact may come out about something and proves my take complete wrong. Am I willing to say, like, okay, no, I was wrong. I gotta change my. My opinion on it. I feel like that's what kind of, like, balances the healthiness. Because if you're not able to say, I was wrong or change your opinion because you were wrong, I feel like you might be part of a cult. No, that's very true. Well, and I was watching a. A documentary. I'm not gonna say which one, but. Well, I'll just say it because we all have differing opinions, and I'm just gonna say what's in the documentary. But it was the Michael Jackson documentary you're talking about. I was watching the documentary with Michael Jackson. The Netflix won the Verdict. And the whole time I was like, wow, this is like, you know, it all happened when I was little. I don't. I didn't know all the details, but there was one lady, her career was just to take down Michael Jackson. The whole verdict was that he's innocent. And the lady, in the end was so, like, no, he's guilty. He's guilty, he's guilty. That in the end she goes, you know, or, no, no, no, sorry. They proved him not guilty. And her whole point was like, you know, they said he was not guilty. They didn't say he was innocent. And I was like, man, you have to be so wrapped up in your own belief. And again, I don't really know. I have no opinion on that. But just to see her, like, logic behind that was so insane. And it's like you're saying you have to be so tied to your own belief that when fact is presented to you or another side is presented to you, you're still blinded by your own belief. And it's just like, there's a layer, I'll tell you that. Like, I feel like we have to spark our children to want to ask questions. Right? Like, we just can't. Because, like, you just said, you don't know. You didn't live that. No. I remember the other night. This wasn't the other night. This must have been years ago when we went to your house and we started watching Michael Jackson videos and how, like, you, Gabby and Steph had never seen those videos before. And me, Kirsten and Krista are like, how have you never seen. And it's like, so it gets lost. A lot of history gets lost because we are not asking questions. No. And it's funny because something had gotten pointed out to me in high school, and it was. Maybe it was like, my history teacher. Honestly, I have no idea. But they told us they're like, history is written by the winner. And, like, that messed me up. And it's true. Like, who's to say that, like, our history isn't slightly getting changed every day? It's true. You know, so it's like, up to what point are we okay with just taking everything at face value? Especially with things like there's some things that, like, honestly, like, whether Michael Jackson is. Is innocent or guilty, like, does not affect me. Yeah. Like, on a daily basis, I love you, Michael Jackson. Like, homie. But, like, it doesn't affect me. He's passed away. Like, I have no ties to him. So it doesn't. It sucks that this one woman has so much control over his narrative. Yeah. Like, that's his testimony. Like, that sucks. I personally am on the side that I think he was trying to expose Hollywood for all the nasty stuff that they were doing. I was gonna say that is. Please share that conspiracy. That's the craziest conspiracy I've ever heard. I should have rewatched that episode so launch back is back to you. She's like, you believe it? Yeah. You see? Like, I truly. Because it didn't just happen to him. It happened to the other director that wrote the movie, Eyes Wide Shut. Oh, my gosh. What's her name? Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman. What was that guy's. Is it Stanley Kruvik? I could look it up, but. Because that movie referenced. Yes all the time. And he. How. Okay, so they made the movie. I'm getting the chills, guys. I'm getting the chills. And let's not act like Epstein is a conspiracy theory. No, that is, like, yeah, if you're. If you're in 2026 and you're saying that what Epstein went through, like, is fake. Like, come on. Like, please open up, like, any sort of documentary. Like, like. No, no, no, no. But back to my. So basically, I don't remember it word for word. So please don't quote me, and you can find me online and I'll share it with you. I'm not going to tell him to link it because I do not need to feed you guys this sort of topic, but find me online and I'll share it. Was Stanley Kubrick, right? But basically what they were saying is that Michael Jackson, he was trying to expose Hollywood for everything that they were doing. It was nasty. That so much so, like, kind of similar to Britney Spears where he had a handler, right? And, like, on the last couple days of his life, like, they're. They're basically implying that the handler was the one that, like, killed him. So it was. And if you look back to where the handler comes from, he's, like, connected to, like, people who've worked in, like, different countries of, like, the CIA. Look, Solange is not. I'm not on Face, but it's something crazy like that where it's like, you start to look at the. The history of these people, and it's like, man, you're. It's a hard topic to argue when you're connected to, like, the Army. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, why are so many people connected to the Army? And then why is there so much death around it? Yeah, it's definitely strange. So the same with Stanley Kubrick. So Stanley Kubrick was apparently, when he made Eyes Wide Shut, he was trying to expose that whole, like, pedophilia circle ring, and he created this movie. And while that movie, I think it was, like, a few weeks before that movie was ready to be basically shown, like, there was so much pushback from Hollywood Saying, like, you can't add this. You can't do this. And Stanley was like. I mean, if you watched any of his movies, like, he was out to lunch, like, you could not tell him what he couldn't, could or couldn't do. And he basically had a mysterious death, like, two weeks before the movie was set to premiere. And they've changed the entire movie where, like, no one has seen what this movie was supposed to look like. I have heard this. So it's like, you look at this and you're like, how is that something that. That you can just argue, like, that it wasn't intentional, you know? So it's like, I think, how do I look at that and not spiral? You know what that teaches me? Maybe I shouldn't push my kid to be a celebrity, right? Maybe I shouldn't be a child actress. Like, as much as I think it's so cute that my oldest daughter can, like, make people laugh and dance, and she's just so cute. Maybe we shouldn't put her in commercials and put her in those situations where, like, I feel like that's where it teaches you. Now, can you spiral 100%? Because there are nightclubs in New York that wealthy people pay to that do all this stuff that did in that movie, you know, so it's like, it exists. It does exist. It does. But I don't know. And I think the part that makes me spiral is when it's like, oh, and then this person was hired by this person. And then on the government, like, I don't know how to explain it, but when I'm. I'm down for a conspiracy when it's about people in Hollywood, you know, like. Like I said, that doesn't affect me. Or like you said, the whole Michael Jackson thing, that doesn't affect me. Or, like, sometimes those things break my heart because it's so sad and it's terrible. It's ruining his testimony. Like, this woman that did that documentary, like, has literally grabbed his name and slandered him when, like, the. And it's, like, so strategic on Netflix, too, to release that documentary when they're releasing this amazing movie about him. Well, and even. And this isn't a conspiracy. This is in the documentary. The person that created Michael Jackson's documentary back in, like, the early 2000s was the same man that. That created the Diana documentary that created beef between her and the Royals. And, like, that's a whole nother conspiracy. In another whole nother conspiracy, which is one of my favorites. I love it. Well, what's that conspiracy that she was basically exposing. Same thing because about Prince Andrew. Oh my God. That. And, and this is the part. Not that it makes me spiral, but now I'm like, okay, now I'm upset because that's not even a conspiracy. That's fact. Like Prince Andrew, he. He was just imprisoned, right? I think so. I don't know. But see that's, that's where I stop. Like I don't keep up with like the day to day as to where, where we are in the trials and stuff. Like it's too much. It's too much. It's too much. I did keep up with the Amber Heard. That wasn't a conspiracy, I guess. No, there's some topics that I'll like keep up with but that's just like all the Epstein stuff is way too much for me. It's a lot. It's a lot. And like. But yeah, I think Andrew was getting in trouble. Did he. Is he in jail? Yeah, he's in jail. He's gone. He's in jail. Yeah. That's the part that makes me upset is like when the overall audience is gas is gaslit for saying, hey, this is a thing. This is a thing. No it's not. No it's not. No it's not. And then they're titled as conspiracists, conspiracy theorists. And then from one day to the next it's like, oh, Prince Andrew is now taken away to prison because of what he did to this 17 year old girl back when he was on Epstein Island. And it's like this is what people have been saying for years. Not just the actual victims but like as a community people who have been seeing it in magazines and newspapers. And it's just so frustrating because sometimes it feels like like the people at B just have all the control and we the audience have no say. That's when it can get me mad. I think media does a, a really good job at manipulating the narrative though too. 100% because didn't like. This isn't conspiracy. Didn't like someone hook up with someone in the English because the, the age differences are. There was like a celebrity that recently came out that interviewed that he was basically with. Who was it? Whatever. There was a celebrity that came out recently that basically said that he had hooked up with someone who was 16 because the legal rights were different in the state in England. So it's like where does that fit into Epstein? So we hate this like. And I think this is how my mind works where it's like I kind of look at the person as human. Right. Is it right? No, it's not. Right. Like, the. The royal family shouldn't have covered for. For Prince Andrew. Like, we shouldn't be covering for Epstein. But I understand why they would hide that from the public. Does that make sense? 100%, yes. Now, should we be turning against each other because they're hiding all this information from us? I don't think so. Right. Like, it's not fair that you call me a conspiracy, a conspiracist, because I believe this. When you think that's complete bananas. No, I think there's. There should be, like, a healthy conversation to be had. But I can. I can reason. I guess I can play devil's advocate. That's the part that makes me upset, because I think when you immediately go conspiracy theorists, everybody who's like, hey, I'm actually a rational person, rational thinking person who has questions like every other person, and it's like, boom, you get labeled a conspiracy theorist. But we all get put into the box of crazy thinking person, irrational thinking of conspiracy theorist, when if we just had a normal conversation, it's like, no, honestly, I think that way, too. We're just covering for our son. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, I would have probably done that for my son, too. Yeah. It makes sense when we all zoom out, but it's like, no, you're a conspiracy theorist. You're a conspiracy theorist. How could you even think that all these years later? Oh, no, you were right. And it's just all just like. It's funny. We had another. There's been another tiff in our family where we talk about the chemtrails. Have you heard about the chemtrails? How, like, they manufacture clouds to help it rain, but it's like, chemical rain. Is that the same thing as, like, what's the other theory? That, like, they force storms? What's that one? Yeah. So that's all same thing? Yeah, same thing where it's like, they create clouds. Like, there's literally videos online of, like, you could see them because it's like, it's molecules. Like, it's things that they've been able to, like, put together and just do, like. So we had this conversation of how, like, they'll basically feed clouds into the skies to create rain because there's droughts everywhere. But then I think back, it was like, the 19, like, tens or 1920s. They hired some guy to do that somewhere in, like, the. They tested it in, like, the Nevada area, and then they were doing it. I think it was like the state of California was trying to do it to get rain in California, but this man ended up making it like, flood? No, like kill the whole town type of thing. Like, because it was way too much rain. That they're like, scrap this, we can't do this anymore. That it just got forgotten. So then we bring it up because you see it, you can tell when they, when there's been like painted clouds in the sky. That's not how clouds look. Like that reminds me of the Truman Show. Yes, yes. But it's true. But then it's like, then you think of like, I just don't know. And I think that's probably where my disappointment is with our country specifically is like, why do you hide this, like so well? Like, I feel like it should be taught. But like, that was one of my questions. Continue. I'm going to read it. It's so funny. But like, why is it hidden? Like, what do you try to like, I understand why maybe we won't have a class on it in high school. Right. We don't want to create a whole generation of people who are scared of stepping outside. But I wish it was more public knowledge that you can just go to the library and find out about it. It's true. I feel like a lot more people would be level headed about these topics than it being, like, how could you possibly say you can create clouds? That's crazy. Like, it's not crazy. We've been doing it for almost a century at this point. It's true. No, this is one of the questions. If the government is hiding everything, how are they so bad at hiding literally everything else? It's true. Oh no. How? How? I don't know. But it's like, I can't fault the government for hiding things from the public. Yeah, no, it's true. Saying like, I can't, I can't sit here and be like, how could you possibly not tell me that, like, Charlie Cook was going to die that day? Yeah, like, I don't know, you know, but I, I feel like. And I don't. I mean, here's the thing. You don't know if it's like, it's, it's bad if you do, it's bad if you don't kind of thing. Because in their mind they're thinking, if we release this to the public, they're going to go crazy. But then at the same time, if you're forced to hide everything, we're still going crazy. Yeah. Because we still Have a ton of questions. And we still don't trust you because you hit everything with, like, UFOs. And a ton of people were like, this happened to me. I saw it. And then, what, 50 years later, you're like, oh, yeah. Everything they said was right. Here's a ton of videos of ufo. It's like, what? So I don't know. Do you think aliens are real? I don't. I have such a hard time believing. It's like, aliens. And I know this is bad, but, like, I have such a hard time believing dinosaurs roamed the earth. Yeah, I don't. Like, even. That's like, no, I don't know. I don't know where I stand with aliens. I feel like there's not enough evidence. And here's the thing. As soon as you release it to the public, we're like, we don't really care. And I doubt alien. If you have a picture of one that, like, looks cute and, like, looks like E.T. i'm here for it. Like, but as soon as they made it, like, knowledgeable, like, hey, we have unidentified objects. But that's your lesson to the government. Because 100. You, like, literally give peace to a group of people that, like, you see, we've been saying this and it's like, okay, like, now we don't even care. I don't care. I don't care. Again, it doesn't affect my day to day. It doesn't. It doesn't. So I don't know. I. I don't know. They're great topics. Great topics. But I choose to see it. You have to see it lightly. You cannot spiral. I think that's the key. The key is as soon as you start to spiral, you have to put the emergency brake on. So where's the line for you? I think when it's like, all I think about and. Have you gotten there before? I feel like I had to take a break from Candace Owens. Like, our. We did a fast. We do a fast every year for church. And I genuinely fasted Candace Owens, because I was like, I'm addicted. I can't. But it's. It came from a point of addiction. It didn't come from a point of, like. What she was saying was, like, I fully disagreed or agreed with. It was more of, like, I'm literally breaking my back to listen to these episodes. And, like, I haven't opened up my Bible in, like, a week. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, that's. I feel like that's the red flag. When it's like, I am not cleaning my house, I'm not serving my house, I'm not serving my kids, I'm not doing my job. Like, if that's all you think about and all you're like consumed with and your attitude changes a little bit. So I feel like it's true. Yeah. Like if you get like all gloomy and like doomy and like, it's a red flag. It's a red flag. It's a red flag. And like a lack of trust in everything and everything. Yeah. But then that's where that, that goes back to the argument of like, are you willing, are you being willing to like prove it wrong? Like if someone comes into the room and tells you like, no, here are the facts. Are you willing to like take everything that you just said back and apologize? But I think that's just a good human trait. I don't necessarily think that's just a, it's accountability. Just being like, oh, that's what I thought it was. Because I'm like, I feel like we, we struggle with that on a day to day basis that people aren't people who like to admit that they're wrong. Which I find that though in conspiracies. And like, funny enough, our group chat, like this would happen on it, but it was like that would happen. For example, the only thing I could think of right now is like the Charlie Kirk situation left the whole like, I would say, like right side of the country. Like, super. If you guys can zoom into this in post, our bestie made us a cup that said Candace Owens is tearing us apart. That was my text. I was like, get a hold of yourself. Because it was such a hot topic of conversation. It was. But it was like the whole world was talking about it. I would say, the whole world. And then my cousin visited from California and she was like, I literally had no idea who that guy was. The whole conservative world was the whole conservative world just talking about it. So we were talking about it and we were pretty heated about it. I wasn't, I was like, I'm avoiding. But it got pretty heated. But this is where I'm like, okay, where do you, as if you're someone who likes to dive into conspiracies. Where is it? Like, okay, now I'm going to take accountability because it was wrong. Because sometimes specifically in like a situation like the Charlie Kirk one, it was like, oh, the government found the bullet that matched the gun. I was like, oh, no, even that's a conspiracy. I feel like for every New source that's come out. There's a false narrative in the conspiracy world for what the news source has to say. But I feel like that that's with like all news sources. Does that make sense? Like, I just, like, I think the problem is the argument because, like, you're not willing to listen to the other side of it. And I feel like I was always good with listening to the other side of it because that checked me. Like, I'm sitting here like the only person in our church listening to Candace Owens and like, people think I'm crazy, but, like, I'm willing to be proven wrong. I've always dubbed to her as like, I don't know what it. I. Ultimately, this is how I feel about it. It's now put on camera so Stephanie Moynia, you can hear me. I just don't know what it's like to lose a best friend like that. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, imagine, I can't imagine if someone came and shot you in front of me and for millions of people to see. Like, I don't know if I would be able to just like, take that as face value, accept what the government said and then move on. Like, I genuinely see what she's doing for her best friend as something like noble now. Has she gone off the rails? Because, like, her whole show is about that and she hasn't stopped talking about it. Yeah, I feel like that. I feel like unfortunately, like, and this is where I don't know. And I think it took me the fast to realize that, like, I don't know if it's all media related at this point where she's just trying to create rage. Make money and rage bait. Yeah, like rage bait. Or if it's like a genuine, like, just like she's disappointed with how the government treated it because, like, it's not a trend and it feels like it was treated like a trend. Yeah. You know, like, it's. Was how sad for him, I can't imagine. Yeah. And like, the legacy left behind is like your wife. And like, that's not. Like we could say the best about his wife right now. I don't know enough about his. I mean, I honestly don't know enough. And I don't. I only know what the media shows. Yeah. But I'm like, from what the media shows, like, I don't know if I would want that to be my legacy. That's. Yeah, I think that's the sad part. Beyond the person and his wife as a person, it's like, that's the legacy left, which I think. Here's the thing with history. Yes, it's told by the winner, but if you give it enough time, the dust settles and people go, oh, my gosh, this guy was, like, really smart. Or this person was, like, really talented. But I forgot what I was saying that. But anyways, I feel like that's what's sad, is that the media leaves. Like, they get to leave the history. They get to dictate the story. And that's what's really, really sad. But I will say what's where I can give you the benefit of the doubt. Like, a person like Candace, or I think House inhabit is like, a big one. House inhabit was fun, is because they. You get looped in, and they're so good at telling a story. They're so good at telling a story. And it's not that you're hooked because you're like, oh, but they're so good at what they do. You're just hooked into their story. And it's good storyteller. Like, they genuinely have a g. They really have a gift. But those are those journalists that we were talking about. It goes back to journalism even more than it does, like, good conspiracy theorists. It goes back to good journalism. So, like, I will admit I got hooked when she did the whole, like, Bridget Macron. And I literally, I. I didn't watch all of it because it got, like, super kooky at the end. I was like, what is happening? It's just hard to, like, take. It is. It's hard to take in that, like, could the French president really be married to a Pedro? But that's what's funny is that I got looped in because I was like, this is hilarious. Like, to me, this is crazy, but it's funny. So. But I kept watching. I was like, why am I watching almost two hour podcasts? But you get looped into the narrative. You get looped into the story. And then I missed an episode, and I was like, I need to stop. Like, this is insane. This is getting out of hand. But I don't know. I don't know if there's, like, a specific line in the sand for everyone. I feel like you have to gauge it because again, I was able to watch the entire documentary and, like, did not affect me. If anything, Like, I would. I remember when Candace would pull up facts about, like, their lives. Like, it just opens up my mind to want to research, like, the places they live, right? Like, the houses. Like, even the photographers that, like, shot photos of like, them. So it, like, opens up more knowledge that I can just, like, learn more about. So I think, like, for me, that's kind of always how I've looked at it is like, it just. It. It enlightens me towards things that are, like, happen. Right. So, like, I don't know, like, the photographer that shot Macron when he did, like, his whole presidential picture that, like, the books in the. In the desk were all written, like, they were all authors of people who were like, pedophile, like, known pedophiles early. Oh, I remember that. Yeah. So it's like. Like, I would have never even realized that was a book or, like, topics of books or, like, even the photography. Remember when that whole thing happened with the. The fashion? Was it Balenciaga? Oof. Yes. So like, even like that, you just start researching, like, the photographers and, like, that whole world, and it's like, oh, my God, look how they're connected. And like, again, it's not doomsday. It's more of just like, I don't know if I want to follow those kind of people. Yeah. I think it's. If anything, might bring some wisdom to me where it's like, maybe I just shouldn't follow these people. Yeah. 100. But I don't know. I think it's. It's different for everyone. Because again, my point was that, like, my husband can't. He can't listen, sit and listen through a. An episode because he gets existential. He'll be like, how do you listen to this? Like. Like, there's nothing real in this world. Like, we live in the. In a facade. And it's like, for me, I'm like, yeah, but I mean, we know that already. Like, that's why we have Jesus. Like, he gives us the transparency and the discernment because, like, ultimately, like, we live in a world that's broken. It's true. It doesn't surprise. Like, I'm just not surprised by things. I feel like there's crazier things in the Bible that happened than, like, things that we read about. Oh, yeah. You know, there's some super dark stories in the Bible. So I don't know. And I will say I feel like, as long for me, the line is, I'm down to discuss the conspiracy theory. As long as it doesn't get doomsday, as long as it doesn't affect me, and as long as we're on target, because that was one thing. Like, Candace Owens lost me. I'm just gonna be honest. She lost me a long time ago because even listening to the whole Macron story, she was more focused on her possibly being a man than she was on the fact that she married and went after, like, a much younger man when she was older. So I was like, you know, this kind of lost me because there's a much more alarming piece here that we're not addressing. Yeah. And even if the whole country of France knows, like, go into that more so to me it was like a good point, but the target was way off. And I felt like. And that's where I feel like it might be media. Like she's just trying to get like, long enough videos to be able to get more ad sponsorships to, like, to get money to do what she needs to do because she probably needs a really big security team. Yeah. You know, so true. But, yeah, I mean, that was a great conspiracy. I would, I would. I love that one. That one blew my mind. Just because it was like the main, like, back to your topic. Her main point. And I feel like she lost it along the way because you're right. Like, it's true. Like, her main point is that, like, whether it was a guy or girl, like, she. This woman. Let's say she. Let's just call her a woman because we really don't know if she's a guy. But this woman was his teacher when he was like 14 years old. He was her student. And then there's. So there's pictures of them together and it's like they. She was married with children. And then like, there's just. No. And then it's funny because it was like they meet. There's pictures of them in school where she was the teacher. And then it's funny because the French always talk about her like she was this, like, fine little lad. Yes. Like these, like, little skirts. And like, she was just so, like, tempting. But you look at pictures of her and it's like. Well, she just looks like a teacher. She looks like a Karen. Yeah, she's like Karen from, like, Minnesota. Yeah. And it's like, that's what, like real 14 year old, like, and he was handsome. Like, it wasn't like this like, ugly man either. Like. And I know this is super, like, superficial or whatever, but it's just like the fact that she had. Could she have really groomed him? And then there's no documentation of her life, nothing past. I think it's like from her mid-20s to, like 40s when they finally got married or whatever, or whenever they finally came out. But it's like those Are the red flags where it's like, man, maybe I shouldn't defend the French culture when they're on the Olympics, you know, doing those kind of things. Do you remember that whole thing that happened with the Olympics and, like, the whole. What's it called? The last. The Last Supper with, like, the transgender. Yeah. Where it's like, I kind of like when that whole thing came out, because I. If I'm not mistaken, I think Candace's whole, like, story about them didn't come out until after the Olympics. So, like, I don't remember. I remember the time, but I think it was after. But I remember thinking with the Olympics, I'm like, I was. I would defend it. I was like, oh, France is like. It's the city of art. Yeah. You know, like, transgender. I obviously don't agree with transgenderism, especially. Listen, do what you will at your house. That's between you and the Lord. Like, that's between you and Lord. But when it's being publicized to things that my kids are watching on live tv, that's where I have the problem. Sure. So, like. But in my mind, I can rationalize with, like, you know what? It's France. They're liberal. Like, I'm not shocked. It's our stuff. Like that. Yeah. But then you learn about, like, all of this, like, potential reality, and it's like, man, you know, it's not that far off. Maybe that's why she. Because she was actually, like, head of I don't know what. For the Olympics. Creative for the Olympics. I remember that. So it's like, man, if all this is true about you, it doesn't seem so much of a stretch anymore. No, it's true. And I think that's where to sort of bring this into a close. I think that's where my point of view is. If you're looking and taking in different conspiracies and going, okay, that kind of ties in good with this, and it's making more sense. Why? Why? Maybe I should just be careful what my kids are ingesting when they're in school. Right. Because it is not that I'm diving super deep into conspiracies, but I'm just taking a little bit from here. Taking a little bit from here. And I don't see that. That's super far off. I could see how it makes sense. That's very different from going, oh, my God. And then the Maxwell. That's tied to Ghislaine, and that's tied to Epstein, and then Epstein's tied to this and then they're tied to the presidency. Then, oh, my God. And then we can't trust anybody. Then going down the spiral of, like, everything's interconnected and I can't trust anybody because everything is interconnected. The school system, the government, the president. Like, it's when you start to go down that route that I feel like it can become honestly not healthy for your mental health at all. But if you're using it to be like, okay, yeah, that I can see how honestly, like, we. It's no lie. It is a fact. The French president was. She met her now, or he met his now wife when she was his teacher, already married to another man and had kids, and it looks like she groomed him. And then you see something very strange at the Olympics opening ceremony. So it's like, yeah, maybe I should be careful with what I let my kids take in. When it comes to art, when it comes to French art and French culture. Or like, before, you might have been blase about it, where it's like, oh, it's just art. It's just art. Who cares? Who cares? But I don't know. I think. I think, like, if you just always have that. That tinfoil hat of, like, how could I be more careful? It's true. Or how can I make a difference? Because, like, there are people who have the power to make a difference. Like, hello, this guy, what's his name? Not rfk. He wouldn't have got it. His whole campaign was on vaccines and vaccines, like, health and, like, illness. Like, that was all conspiracy until, like, there's enough. I mean, listen, there's still. People look at you crazy when you say vaccines can cause different illnesses. Yeah. He was like, the ultimate conspiracy guy, conspiracy theorist. And now he's like, head up in our government. That's crazy. People love him. Maga. What is it? No, it's Maha. Maha. Maha Make America healthy again. So, Danya, closing comments. Anything you want to say before we close? I thank you for calling me. This was fun. This is fun. This is fun. And we didn't debate. We thought we would debate, but we didn't. We didn't debate. That's good. No, this was great. This is great. And honestly, I would say, turn off your phone, get off of social media, go pick up a book. That's good. Go listen to a podcast. I feel like even that, like, just for fun, it doesn't have to, like, change you. You don't have to, like. But just, like, stop scrolling. Like, go learn something. I don't know. That's my comments. I love that. Well thank you for listening to the Family Business podcast with the Alessi and Danya Lewis. We hope you watched and we hope that this surprised you. Did I make you proud? I hope so. And also Dania is not a conspiracy theorist. She is a friend who loves conspiracies. We hope you enjoyed today's episode and learned a little something, got a little kooky with us. Put on your own tinfoil hat and nothing that was said here is like a matter of fact. It's all conspiracy so please don't take it to heart. We hope you enjoy today's episode and tune in next time. Bye everyone. Bye. Thanks so much for joining the Family Business today. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe, share with a friend and leave us a review. We appreciate your support and can't wait to have you join us next time because family is everybody's business.