#misinformation
15 episodes
#2613: What Makes an Election Actually Free and Fair?
From ballot secrecy to phantom voters — the real checklist election monitors use to separate genuine contests from theater.
#2531: Worst-Rated Tourism: Seeking Out Terrible Hotels & Restaurants
Exploring the subculture of travelers who deliberately seek out the lowest-rated hotels and restaurants for authentic, entertaining experiences.
#2526: How Peer Review Actually Works (and Fails)
The history of peer review, the Lancet's biggest scandals, and why arXiv is changing everything.
#2430: Where Men's Advocacy Crosses Into Misogyny
How to acknowledge real male grievances without falling into the manosphere's woman-hating fringe.
#2429: When "Believe Women" Has Exceptions
Why did feminist movements go silent on Hamas's sexual violence? A look at ideology, empathy, and whose suffering counts.
#2424: What Feminists Actually Mean by "The Patriarchy
Unpacking the structural concept, the popular shorthand, and where the line gets blurry between critiquing systems and demonizing individuals.
#1883: From Juicero to Yik Yak: Startup Graveyard
We revisit 10 failed startups, from a $700 Wi-Fi juicer to an anonymous social app that turned toxic.
#1524: The Consensus Machine: Inside the New Era of AI Botnets
Discover how AI-powered botnets are moving beyond spam to simulate organic debates and manufacture public opinion at a global scale.
#1521: How Journalists Use Sun Shadows to Catch Fake News
How do newsrooms verify a missile strike in a "black box" scenario? Discover the forensic tools fighting digital disinformation.
#1516: The False Flag: From Pirate Sails to Digital Warfare
Discover how a literal naval trick evolved into a powerful weapon of modern information warfare and global distrust.
#1298: The Wikipedia Wars: Who Controls the Digital Truth?
Is Wikipedia still a neutral gold standard, or has it become a battlefield for ideologues? We dive into the systemic collapse of digital truth.
#1149: The Pattern Machine: The Science of Conspiracy Theories
From ancient Rome to modern forums, why is the human brain hardwired to find patterns in chaos? Explore the science of the "secret."
#998: The Evolution of Woke: From Survival to Slur
Trace the journey of "woke" from its AAVE roots to a global political shorthand and learn why its meaning is so contested today.
#876: Words That Wound: The Global Battle Over Free Speech
Explore the high-stakes tension between the right to speak and the right to safety in an era of digital vitriol and real-world violence.
#70: AI for Crisis: Fact vs. Fear
AI for crisis: separating fact from fear. Discover how automated reports deliver dry facts, cutting through noise for rational preparedness.