In this excerpt from our sister show PR After Hours, theatre critic and senior editor at ⁠Intelligent Relations⁠ guest Chris Caggiano⁠⁠ delivers sharp, entertaining takes on George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck and Bill Burr’s Broadway debut in Glengarry Glen Ross. If you love smart, no-nonsense theatre talk, this is for you.

Come for the theatre appetizer, stay for the AI meal — because the full conversation iterates into how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the PR and marketing industries.
You can catch the full episode and show page on Spotify HERE or wherever you get your podcasts.

CONNECT:

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Fits That's News on Substack (Free or Paid)⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mysterious Goings On website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠Contact Alex about advertising/sponsorship here⁠⁠⁠.
• Buy a Book!

​

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

Music Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original theme music "Mysterious Goings On" by Jamie Green. Want your own cool score for your podcast or website? Contact Jamie at ⁠⁠⁠Greenhouse Consulting.⁠⁠⁠ Check out Jamie's interview on the show ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

What do Dungeons & Dragons, TikTok, and 17th-century witch trials have in common?
They all played starring roles in full-blown moral panics—times when society lost its mind over exaggerated or imaginary threats.

In today’s episode, Alex explores how moral panics take hold, who profits from them, and why the real damage often lasts long after the headlines fade.
If you've ever wondered why outrage feels contagious—and suspiciously profitable—you'll want to give this one a listen.
Spoiler: the real danger isn’t the thing they tell you to fear. It’s what you’re being distracted from.

In This Episode:

• The anatomy of a moral panic

• How fear gets weaponized for profit and power

• Greatest hits: from Salem to Satanic Panic to Super Predators

• Why critical thinking—not panic—is our best defense

• A personal reflection on the importance of holding fast during cultural storms

CONNECT:

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Fits That's News on Substack (Free or Paid)⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mysterious Goings On website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠Contact Alex about advertising/sponsorship here⁠⁠⁠.
• ⁠Buy a Book?⁠

​

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

Music Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original theme music "Mysterious Goings On" by Jamie Green. Want your own cool score for your podcast or website? Contact Jamie at ⁠⁠⁠Greenhouse Consulting.⁠⁠⁠ Check out Jamie's interview on the show ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

Alex explores the societal pressure to express outrage online, questioning the value of performative empathy versus meaningful action. He discusses the implications of outrage culture, emotional coercion, and the need for diverse forms of engagement in the pursuit of social justice.

He emphasizes that real change often comes from quieter, sustained efforts rather than loud displays of outrage.

CONNECT:

• ​⁠⁠⁠All the Fits That's News on Substack (Free or Paid)⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠Mysterious Goings On website⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠Contact Alex about advertising/sponsorship here⁠⁠.
• Buy a Book?

​

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

Music Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original theme music "Mysterious Goings On" by Jamie Green. Want your own cool score for your podcast or website? Contact Jamie at ⁠⁠Greenhouse Consulting.⁠⁠ Check out Jamie's interview on the show ⁠⁠here.⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

🩺 NEW Bonus Episode: “The Day My Doctor Snapped”🎧 Once only available for paid subscribers of Mysterious Goings On + and All the Fits That’s News. ... listen in now and get a sample of paid subscriber content!

Alex explores the concept of the 'Mystery Box Presidency,' a political strategy that utilizes suspense and ambiguity to engage the public while diverting attention from concrete policies.

Drawing parallels between storytelling techniques in entertainment and political governance, Alex discusses the implications of this approach, including the risks of chaos, confusion, and erosion of accountability, warning against the pitfalls of treating governance like a theatrical performance.

Listen in!

CONNECT:

• ⁠All the Fits That's News on Substack (Free or Paid)⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Mysterious Goings On website⁠⁠
• Contact Alex about advertising/sponsorship here.

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

Music Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original theme music "Mysterious Goings On" by Jamie Green. Want your own cool score for your podcast or website? Contact Jamie at Greenhouse Consulting. Check out Jamie's interview on the show here.

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

Alex explores the significance of names and identity in the digital age, reflecting on how social media has transformed our connections and interactions. He discusses the implications of tribalism, the loss of individual identity, and the importance of recognizing the humanity behind names and beliefs.

Listen in!

CONNECT:

• All the Fits That's News on Substack (Free or Paid)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠Mysterious Goings On website⁠

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

MusicLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

Alex draws parallels between the ancient Library of Alexandria and the modern digital landscape, highlighting the gradual erosion of knowledge and truth in the information age. He discusses the historical decline of the library, the rise of misinformation, and the importance of critical thinking and information literacy in combating these issues.

Listen in!

CONNECT:

• ⁠⁠⁠Alex on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠⁠
• Mysterious Goings On website

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

MusicLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.

Alex discusses the evolving landscape of podcasting, emphasizing the lack of gatekeepers and the responsibility that comes with having a platform. He reflects on his journey from journalism to podcasting, the importance of vetting guests, and the challenges posed by misinformation in today's media environment.

Alex advocates for accountability and the need to provide meaningful content to audiences, rather than succumbing to sensationalism.

CONNECT:

• ⁠⁠Alex on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex on Medium⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Alex's Author Website⁠⁠

Announcer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary McKenna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PR After Hours Theme: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://filmmusic.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Bossa Antigua" by Kevin MacLeod

MusicLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠

This Mysterious Goings On Podcast episode was recorded and mixed at Green Shebeen Studios in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

We are an Amazon Associates seller, and some of our links may earn us a commission.