We know how groups on the alt-right recruit at this point. We know who they target, and we know why. 

 

We have a lot less information about how people get out. Not many people do. For the benefit of those trying to find their way out of the radicalization pipeline, this podcast has compiled the stories of four individuals who found themselves sliding towards extremism.

 

Samantha Carter grew up in rural Connecticut, her main tether to the outside world was through 4chan, and she’s always done the majority of her socializing through the internet. Years down the like, she says the voice in her head on her worst days sounds like the ones she used as a Channer.

 

Joe is incredibly smart (in addition to being one of the highest-ranked living swing dancers), but the transition from highschool to college left him feeling lost. The humanities he was exposed to ran counter to his analytical worldview, and when he felt most alone, he went online looking for something he could understand.

 

Freyja worked in heavy industry straight out of highschool. She’s interested in firearms, had no interest in connecting with masculinity when she was young, grew up in a rough household, and found herself running a White Power blog.

 

Ignis watched all of his friends turn to the alt-right, and was left alone in the void when he couldn’t follow them.

 

These are not big players. They’re not people who ever got violent over their beliefs, but they could have been.

 

The Pipeline is produced by me, Madi Cyr, with editorial help from Siobhan Moore. Our theme song is Awful, by Josh Pan, courtesy of the YouTube music library. The music at the very end of our third episode is Stairway, by Patrick Patrikios, from the same source. Both tracks are licensed under Creative Commons.

 

Thank you for listening.

 

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Many sources chose not to use their real names. The authors of this project have independently verified these individuals’ identities and ask you to respect their privacy. Coming forward about a difficult past is not easy, and it is the assessment of the authors that these sources have truly moved on. There is nothing to be gained from seeking them out.

 

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Find the original story I did with Samantha Carter HERE.

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Find Sarah Z's deep dive into Tumblr in Action and other fake screenshot subreddits HERE.

 

The organizations listed below each have programs dedicated to deradicalization, and were recommended by Life After Hate researcher Brad Galloway.

 

Find Life After Hate on their website HERE.

 

Find the Organization for the Prevention of Violence on their website HERE.

 

Find Yorktown Community Services on their website HERE.

 

Find John Howard Society of Ottawa on their website HERE.

 

Find the Centre for Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence on their website HERE.

 

Find Parents for Peace on their website HERE.