Joseph L. Flatley is a Pittsburgh-based journalist, author, and filmmaker whose work investigates fringe movements, conspiracy culture, and the spiritual crisis of modern America. He is the creator of the Failed State Update podcast and the author of New Age Grifter: The True Story of Gabriel of Urantia and His Cosmic Family. His forthcoming book, The Occult Timothy Leary (Inner Traditions, 2026), explores Leary’s esoteric influences and the evolution of his 8-circuit model of consciousness. In addition to his reporting and nonfiction writing, Flatley is a visual artist whose work explores alienation, intimacy, and the blurred line between belief and performance.