In the second of our two-part series on conspiracy theories, Tom and D turn from how these ideas spread to something even more fundamental: Why do they feel so compelling in the first place—even when the evidence doesn’t hold up?

We sit down with Dr. Ricky Green, a social psychologist at the University of Kent who studies the psychology and consequences of conspiracy theories, to look at what’s happening beneath the belief itself.

Why are some people more susceptible than others? What roles do uncertainty, anxiety, trust, intuition and our need to make sense of the world play? And once a belief takes hold, why can contrary evidence sometimes cause someone to double down rather than reconsider?

The conversation also gets into Ricky’s fascinating research on attachment anxiety and catastrophizing, our tendency to see patterns where none exist, how conspiracy beliefs can affect friendships and romantic relationships—and even what happens when conspiracy theories show up in online dating profiles.

It’s a conversation about conspiracy theories, but also something much broader: how all of us decide what’s true, how easily we can become certain about something that isn’t, and why sometimes the healthiest answer may simply be, “I don’t know.”

Why do conspiracy theories have such a powerful hold on us—and why are even smart, educated people susceptible to them?

In this episode of Tom and D, we talk with journalist and author Mike Rothschild, an expert on conspiracy theories, misinformation and internet culture. Mike takes us inside the psychology of conspiratorial thinking, from our natural tendency to find patterns and explanations in chaos to the role fear, grievance and uncertainty can play in pulling people down the rabbit hole.

We also look at how social media algorithms and online influencers can turn curiosity into something much more extreme, why misinformation can have very real consequences offline, and where healthy skepticism crosses the line into believing things simply because we want them to be true.

Mike also shares what he’s learned from years studying QAnon and other conspiracy movements, his work involving Congress and the January 6 Committee, and his book Jewish Space Lasers, which explores the long history of conspiracy theories surrounding the Rothschild family.

Ultimately, the conversation isn't just about why other people believe strange things. It's about all of us—and how we can stay curious without becoming cynical, skeptical without becoming suspicious of everything, and open-minded without believing everything we hear.

We got him! Josiah Hesse—journalist, author, and a guy who’s lived through some things most people only read about.

We get into his books, including Runner’s High—a deep dive into the hidden culture of cannabis use among elite athletes and the emerging science behind the elusive, exhilarating “runner’s high” they’re all chasing—and his latest, On Fire for God… a brutally honest memoir about growing up in rural Iowa inside the world of fundamentalist Christianity, where faith, fear, poverty, and politics all collide in ways that are hard to fully understand unless you’ve been there—or read his story.

So yeah… we went there. And touched the third rail: religion, politics… and cannabis.

It’s real, it’s thoughtful, it’s surprisingly funny—and it lives right in that messy space where all of these worlds overlap.

This is a must-listen episode—one that might challenge you a little, and stick with you longer than you expect.

In this episode of Tom and D, we sit down with comedian, musician, and all-around chaos agent Dave Hill—a guy who somehow manages to shred on guitar and deliver razor-sharp comedy at the exact same time.

You might know Dave from touring with Tenacious D, where his unique blend of stand-up and face-melting riffs has made him a fan favorite. Or maybe you’ve seen his wildly entertaining online videos—featuring everything from aggressively flipping off inanimate objects to drop-kicking unsuspecting traffic cones with unmatched commitment.

We talk about how he built that signature style, the crossover between music and comedy, life on the road, and the art of committing fully to a ridiculous bit. It’s a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, unpredictable, and genuinely insightful.

If you like your comedy loud, weird, and a little bit rebellious, this one’s for you.

What happens when an AI actor completely bombs an audition?

Sergio Cilli — the Emmy-winning director behind the viral “Director Auditions AI Actor” series that’s been cracking up filmmakers, actors, and AI geeks across the internet.

If you’ve seen those painfully funny videos where a director tries to audition a photorealistic AI actor and the performance goes completely off the rails… that’s Sergio.

Using real prompts (often displayed right on screen), Sergio puts today’s AI video and generative AI tools through their paces — revealing the uncanny, awkward, and sometimes hilariously broken reality of AI acting.

On this episode of Tom and D, we talk with Sergio about the rise of AI in film and media, why these videos exploded online, what AI still can’t do (at least not yet), and whether human actors should be laughing… or quietly updating their résumés.

He’s hilarious. He’s brilliant. And yes — we got the guy.

In this episode of Tom and D, we sit down with Szilvia Gogh, one of Hollywood’s top underwater stunt divers whose work spans major films like Avatar and dozens more across the globe. From growing up in communist Hungary to becoming the youngest female PADI Course Director and a key figure in underwater stunt coordination, Szilvia’s story is as fearless as it is inspiring.

We talk about her new book, Diving Into Dreams, the raw hunger for freedom that pushed her across oceans and industries, built a hollywood career, and how cancer, mindfulness, and entrepreneurship forced a total reset realizing the power of "enough". Plus, she shares some wild behind-the-scenes stories from Avatar and life as one of Hollywood’s top underwater stunt divers. It’s a bold, honest conversation about ambition, burnout, reinvention, and what it really means to stop chasing and start living.

Today’s guest, Parker Rice, is a photographer and NASA commercial spacesuit tech who taught astronauts how to take killer photos… in actual space. He spills the good, the bad, and the deeply gross—from building gear that works in zero gravity, to shooting jaw-dropping images on the space station, to surviving the legendary zero-G vomit spray.

We also get into his wildest wildlife photography stories and why old-school film is making a comeback as the ultimate middle finger to AI fakes, especially for courtrooms and anyone who needs proof that an image is actually real.

It’s part science, part art, part chaos. Laugh, gag a little, and space out with Tom and D.

This week we kick off our 2nd season as we sit down with Husk, the quietly brilliant and quirky mind behind those social videos where AI is dropped into everyday human interactions—and comedically exposes just how weird those moments already are.

By letting AI respond with total sincerity (and zero social instinct), Husk holds up a mirror to modern conversation, etiquette, and overthinking, maybe without realizing it himself . We talk about why these videos work, what AI gets hilariously wrong about being human, and why awkwardness might be the most honest thing we’ve got left. Funnier still, we even do a few live and on-the-spot conversations to see Husk in real-time.

Give Husk a follow on instagram @Husk.irl and on TikTok @Huskistaken