Free Britney started as fan sleuthing, which ultimately helped end Britney Spears’ conservatorship, sparked a pop cultural reckoning and galvanized a disability rights movement. Podcaster and comic Tess Barker (Pop Mystery Pod) unravels that journey of pursuing the truth about Britney–and its thornier consequences–while digital sociologist Naomi Smith explains the allure of conspiracy communities and what happens once their detective work is done. Chapters: (00:00) The End of Britney Spears' Conservatorship (00:53) The Struggle to #FreeBritney (01:32) Introducing Conspiracy She Wrote (02:30) Signs, Symbols & Britney's Instagram (04:57) Uncovering the Truth of Britney's Conservatorship (06:53) The Turning Point (07:51) The Mainstream Media Attention (13:19) Britney's Testimony (14:01) After Britney Was Freed (25:10) #FreeBritney 2.0 and The Nature of Conspiracy Theories (33:10) Disability Rights Legacy (38:47) Reflections and Future Directions Episode 9 sources and transcript. Support the show and join The Cabal! . . . Conspiracy, She Wrote is an Unladylike Media production, created, hosted and written by Cristen Conger. It's produced by Lushik Lotus-Lee and engineered by Marcus Hahm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.