Shows
Misguided: The PodcastBetween Worlds: Identity, Vulnerability, and the Power of Critical ThinkingI had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Esha Lovrić—social scientist, educator, and advocate for critical thinking—about how life transitions and emotional vulnerability shape the way we interpret the world around us.Esha shares her personal journey as a Fijian Indian immigrant navigating Western culture, and how those early experiences led her to sociology—and eventually to teaching critical thinking as a tool for self-understanding. We explore the concept of liminal spaces—those uncertain, in-between phases of life—and how they can leave us more open to misinformation, conspiracy thinking, and ideological pull, especially...2025-07-2830 min
This Week in Science – The Kickass Science PodcastGuided by ScienceWhat is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Matthew Facciani, Australia, Stonehenge, Blood Pressure, Moth Dreams, Friendly Brains, Replication Win, Undoing Strokes, Meaning & Memory, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can […]
The post 23 July, 2025 – Episode 1023 – Guided by Science appeared first on This Week in Science - The Kickass Science Podcast.2025-07-252h 19artificial intelligence Archives - This Week in Science - The Kickass Science PodcastGuided by ScienceWhat is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Matthew Facciani, Australia, Stonehenge, Blood Pressure, Moth Dreams, Friendly Brains, Replication Win, Undoing Strokes, Meaning & Memory, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can […]
The post 23 July, 2025 – Episode 1023 – Guided by Science appeared first on This Week in Science - The Kickass Science Podcast.2025-07-252h 19
This Week in Science (TWIS)Guided by ScienceWhat is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Matthew Facciani, Australia, Stonehenge, Blood Pressure, Moth Dreams, Friendly Brains, Replication Win, Undoing Strokes, Meaning & Memory, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can […] The post 23 July, 2025 – Episode 1023 – Guided by Science appeared first on This Week in Science - The Kickass Science Podcast.2025-07-252h 19
This Week in Science – The Kickass Science PodcastGuided by ScienceThis Week: Interview W/Matthew Facciani, Australia, Stonehenge, Blood Pressure, Moth Dreams, Friendly Brains, Replication Win, Undoing Strokes, Meaning & Memory, And Much More Science!2025-07-252h 19
Embrace The VoidReconsidering Anti-wokeness with Jonathan ChurchMy returning guest this week is Jonathan Church (@jondavidchurch.bsky.social), a chartered financial analyst, and author of books like Reinventing Racism: Why White Fragility is the Wrong way to think about racial inequality, and Virtue in an age of identity politics: A stoic approach to social justice. He’s also a contributing editor and podcaster with Merion West. When we last we talked he was primarily critical of woke social justice, though also skeptical of some forms of anti-woke overreach. Now he's back to talk about his disillusionment towards the anti-woke movement.Why I have converted to d...2025-07-251h 03
Battle Ready For BrunchA mini episode on the media As congress approved defunding the Public Broadcast Corporation, President Trump sued the Wall Street Journal, and a new Pew Research survey showed that most people are not getting behind the paywall of news content. Trump sued the Wall Street Journal Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy LettersCongress rolls back public media funding Americans are not paying for the news Prof. Matthew Facciani on Threads 2025-07-1909 min
Misguided: The PodcastThinking Is Power: Helping People Navigate Truth, Science, and BiasIn this episode, I talk with Melanie Trecek-King — biology professor, science communicator, and creator of Thinking Is Power. I’ve been a fan of her content for years, and it was great to finally chat with her on my podcast. We discuss her journey from teaching biology and ecology to developing a critical thinking course that teaches skills, not just facts. Melanie shares how her frustration with traditional science education inspired her to focus on critical thinking education, skepticism, and understanding our own biases. We also talk about the challenges of engaging with misinformation online (and social medi...2025-07-1541 min
Nuance Needed54. How to Combat Misinformation with Matthew FaccianiToday we chat with misinformation researcher Matthew Facciani, PhD to explore the psychological factors behind how we process information in our increasingly polarized world. From social media algorithms to the comfort of echo chambers, we dive into why challenging our beliefs feels so threatening and what we can do about it.In conversation, we discuss—* The evolution of "misinformation" from a psychology research term to a polarizing concept in today's media landscape* The concept of "social identity complexity" and why having separate, independent identities makes us more resilient to misinformation* Signs yo...2025-06-241h 00
Misguided: The PodcastPreparing High School Students to Navigate Disinformation and PolarizationIn this episode of Misguided, I’m joined by Dr. Kevin Meuwissen, professor of education at the University of Rochester, to explore one of the most urgent questions in education today: how do we prepare young people to navigate a world overflowing with disinformation, political polarization, and fractured trust?We discuss Kevin’s journey from high school teacher to researcher, and how those experiences shaped his work training educators to tackle tough topics like conspiracy theories, fake news, and historical distortion in the classroom. He shares how his professional learning cadre helps teachers engage students in meaningful conv...2025-06-2046 min
Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin BreyWhy Does the Left Protest More Than the Right?Last show has Kristin and listeners asking: Why does it seem like Democrats protest more than Republicans?
Kristin was also joined by Dr. Matthew Facciani, an expert on misinformation; CEO of Sojourner Family Peace Center Carmen Pitre to talk about the need for a new public safety building in Milwaukee; and Wisconsin Policy Forum president Jason Stein on the future of federal funding in Wisconsin.2025-06-171h 04
Rethinking WellnessWhy Wellness Misinformation Is Rampant, and How to Avoid It - with Matthew FaccianiThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.comMisinformation and media-literacy researcher Matthew Facciani joins us to discuss how he defines misinformation at a time when even the term itself is polarizing, why there’s so much misinformation about health and wellness in particular, how to navigate the current information landscape given the continued erosion of trust in institutions, and why people with certain ideologies are more likely to believe claims about “forbidden knowledge.” Behind the paywall, we get into how to avoid falling for misinformation (especially in an inform...2025-06-1634 min
Misguided: The PodcastBeyond the Buzzword: Rethinking Misinformation with Claire WardleToday’s guest is Dr. Claire Wardle, a professor in the Department of Communication at Cornell University and one of the world’s leading experts on misinformation, media literacy, and public trust in science. Over the past two decades, she’s trained journalists around the globe, worked with organizations like the UN and the BBC, and co-founded both the nonprofit First Draft and the Information Futures Lab at Brown University.In this conversation, we dive into the challenges of defining and labeling misinformation, the importance of clear communication during times of uncertainty, and the emotional and social reason...2025-04-1739 min
The Social ChemistThe Psychology of Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories w/ Dr. Joseph PierreSend us a textOn today's episode, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Pierre returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "False: How Mistrust, Disinformation, and Motivated Reasoning Make Us Believe Things That Aren't True." We explore how confirmation bias has been put on steroids, the democratization of influence in the online world, whether it has made us less or more informed, and whether the excessive consumption of conspiracy theories should be thought of as an addiction disorder. InstagramThe Social Chemist (@socialchemistig) • Instagram photos and videosThread2025-03-2647 min
The Skeptical Leftist PodcastWhy We Fall For Misinformation with Matthew FaccianiMisinformation is everywhere, but why do we keep falling for it? Social scientist Matthew Facciani joins me to explain how our beliefs are shaped by identity, bias, and the media we consume. We discuss the psychology of misinformation, why both the left and right fall into their own traps, and how bad actors exploit these weaknesses. We also discuss the role of AI, fact-checking, and whether we can ever really fix this problem.You can find Matthew’s podcast and writing at these linkshttps://www.matthewfacciani.com/https://matthewfacciani.substack.com/...2025-03-2355 min
Misguided: The PodcastBridging the Past and Present: History, Truth, and Social ConnectionIn this episode of Misguided, Matthew Facciani speaks with historian and Analog Social founder Shae Omonijo about making history accessible, the importance of community, and how digital culture is reshaping human connection. Shae shares what inspired her to pursue a PhD in history, her efforts to bring historical knowledge to the public, and the origins of Analog Social, a project focused on reclaiming real-world interactions in a digital age. They also discuss how history is shaped, erased, and distorted—and how those lessons can help us combat misinformation today.Shae’s Harvard WebsiteShae’s Person...2025-03-1328 min
Misguided: The PodcastHow to Think Like a Fact-Checker with Joel BreakstoneIn this episode of Misguided, Dr. Joel Breakstone, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Digital Inquiry Group, joins me to discuss how we can better equip students to evaluate online information in an era of misinformation and AI-driven content. We explore the challenges of digital literacy, why some traditional fact-checking methods fall short, and evidence-based strategies—such as lateral reading—that actually help students distinguish credible sources from misinformation. Dr. Breakstone also shares insights from his research on how fact-checkers, students, and academics approach online sources differently, and what educators can do to integrate digital literacy into existing curricula. If y...2025-03-0519 min
Clarity LabThe Battle for RealityMisinformation is everywhere. Matthew Facciani spends his days trying to understand it.We discuss his definitions of misinformation and disinformation, how we engage with algorithms, and his focus on health misinformation.Matthew Facciani is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame. He is an interdisciplinary social scientist with a background in neuroscience and psychology and a PhD in sociology. His first book, Misguided: Where Misinformation Starts, How It Spreads, and What to Do About It, will be published by Columbia University Press in July.-- --Matthew Facciani on...2025-02-2618 min
Misguided: The PodcastKate the Chemist: From Blowing Things Up to Breaking Down MisinformationIn this episode of Misguided: The Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Kate Biberdorf—also known as Kate the Chemist—to discuss her journey from chemistry professor to science communicator and her new role as The University of Notre Dame’s Professor for the Public Understanding of Science. We explore the importance of making science engaging, the challenges of combating misinformation, and how social media can be both a powerful tool and a challenge for scientists. Dr. Biberdorf also shares insights into her approach to breaking down complex topics, her experiences blowing things up on TV, and her plans for a...2025-02-2439 min
Misguided: The PodcastParenting in the Age of MisinformationSummary In this episode of Misguided the Podcast, host Matthew Facciani interviews Kavin Senapathy, a science writer and author of The Progressive Parent. We discuss various types of misinformation in parenting, the complexities of trust in scientific organizations, and the need for a nuanced understanding of health and medicine. Kavin also addresses the societal pressures surrounding breastfeeding and advocates for a broader perspective on child well-being.Kavin Senapathy’s new book: The Progressive ParentFollow Kavin on Instagram and FacebookKavin’s websiteKeywordsscience communication, parenting, misi...2025-01-3132 min
Misguided: The PodcastAttack from Within: Rebuilding Trust in an Age of MisinformationSummaryIn the first episode of Misguided: The Podcast, host Matthew Facciani speaks with legal analyst and professor Barbara McQuade about the rise of misinformation and disinformation in the modern media landscape. They examine how technology accelerates the spread of false information, the erosion of public trust in institutions, and the role of transparency and community engagement in rebuilding that trust. McQuade highlights the need for both systemic reforms and individual action, emphasizing education and digital literacy as key tools for combating misinformation. The conversation ends on a hopeful note, recognizing the potential of younger generations to...2025-01-2228 min
Succeed in Medicine#399: Stop the Spread of Misinformation with Matthew Facianni, PhD—- 👋 Freed.AI is here to free you from medical documentation. Join the movement to eliminate clinician burnout. Visit Freed.AI and improve your lifestyle. Coupon Code for $50 off your first paid month: PGD —- 👋 This episode tackles misinformation in healthcare with Dr. Matthew Facciani exploring the psychological and social factors behind susceptibility to misinformation. He explains that strong identity adherence can lead to biased information processing, making it essential to maintain diverse identities to approach information objectively. They discuss the challenges of engaging patients and peers who may believe misinformation and outline s...2024-10-0330 min
Unbiased ScienceFall Of The House Of Misinformation: Science At WorkOn this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Matthew Facciani, social scientist, to talk about media literacy, misinformation, and polarization. The two kick things off with a conversation about mis- and disinformation and why some people are more susceptible to it. They then shift gears slightly to chat about motivations behind the intentional spread of false information. Next, they share some media literacy tips and ways to spot red flags of misinformation. They bring tech into the conversation and discuss the role of AI in the future of debunking misinformation. We hope you'll walk away...2024-04-1749 min
The Wellness Driven Life Show🗣️Where Misinformation Starts, How It Spreads, & What to Do About ItIn this enlightening conversation, we're joined by sociologist and author Matthew Facciani. His academic journey, from neuroscience to sociology, has enabled him to unearth the profound influence of identities and networks on our belief systems. 🌐🔍We explore his groundbreaking health misinformation research conducted at Vanderbilt and discuss his current work at Notre Dame, which focuses on media literacy in Southeast Asia and the innovative use of games for education. 🎮📚Matthew also unveils his 5-step strategy for engaging in constructive dialogues with those harboring differing views, offering valuable insights for anyone looki...2023-12-0852 min
The Social ChemistA Sociological Assessment of Anti-Vaccine Attitudes and Behaviors w/ Matthew FaccianiSend us a textOn today's episode, Matthew Facciani a sociologist at the University of Notre Dame in the Computer Science and Engineering department joins me to discuss how negative vaccine attitudes don't necessarily tell us about public health behaviors. We touch upon whether government regulations of social media to mitigate misinformation are effective and other strategies in reducing conspiracy theory consumption. Lastly, we talk about his first book "Misguided: Where Misinformation starts, how it spreads, and what to do about it" and the central theme of his work. FacebookThe Social Chemist | Facebook2023-11-0143 min
The Assignment with Audie CornishDoes Fact-Checking Work?The political landscape has never been more confusing, and to some, even overwhelming. How do we determine fact from fiction? What keeps fact-checkers up at night? And what’s a democracy to do when even the professionals aren't believed?Today, we have Daniel Dale, a CNN senior reporter who rose to prominence for fact-checking former President Donald Trump, and Matthew Facciani, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame. He studies people who fall victim to misinformation and how to best engage with them in a compassionate way.Call us with your political Assignments: (202) 854-880...2023-10-1025 min
The Progressive BitcoinerMisinformation and How to Frame Bitcoin with Matthew FaccianiMy guest today is Dr. Matthew Facciani, who is an expert in misinformation. He is a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University in the Medicine, Health, and Society department. His forthcoming book, Misguided: Where Misinformation starts, how it spreads, and what to do about it, will be published in 2022. We cover: What is misinformation and how does it differ from disinformation? Demographics susceptible to misinformation How to counteract misinformation How to frame Bitcoin for progressives http://www.matthewfacciani.com/ https://theprogressivebitcoiner.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to...2022-05-3157 minThe Progressive BitcoinerMisinformation and How to Frame Bitcoin with Matthew FaccianiMy guest today is Dr. Matthew Facciani, who is an expert in misinformation. He is a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University in the Medicine, Health, and Society department. His forthcoming book, Misguided: Where Misinformation starts, how it spreads, and what to do about it, will be published in 2022. We cover: What is misinformation and how does it differ from disinformation? Demographics susceptible to misinformation How to counteract misinformation How to frame Bitcoin for progressives http://www.matthewfacciani.com/ https://theprogressivebitcoiner.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to...2022-05-3157 min
Succeed in MedicineScience Communication: SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Edition, with Matthew Facciani, PhDMatthew Facciani, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University in the Medicine, Health, and Society Department. His research interests include LGBTQ health, social networks, political polarization, and misinformation. We discuss science communication and how to find ways to make complicated science easier to understand. This is particularly relevant because of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, so we need to be sure we can effectively communicate how it works and any potential risks. We even get into how to effectively conceptualize and communicate risk. I fumbled during the interview to think of a quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson, which is “The go...2021-02-0745 min
Grad ChatNavigating a Career Path w/ Dr Matthew FaccianiHow can we navigate the job market right after graduation? Is it important to practice self-care when searching for a job? What is the interview process like?
This week, we will be joined by Dr Matthew Facciani (@MatthewFacciani) (he/him). Matthew is a postdoc researcher at Vanderbilt University who just graduated with a PhD in sociology from the University of South Carolina this summer. Before that, he was in a different PhD program studying cognitive neuroscience before changing fields. He is studying how different social factors impact the health of LGBTQ individuals, while his dissertation was on p...2021-01-2741 min
Jerb The HumanistJerb Hangout 2 - Matthew FaccianiJeremiah talks to Matthew Facciani, where they discuss problems in skeptic spheres. These include problems such as denying that ingroup bias exists in skepticism, and the complaints of attempts to diversify science communities.Matthew's Blog, According to Matthew - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/accordingtomatthew/Follow Matthew on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewFaccianiNature article that stirred controversy:https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05326-3Case study on sports fouls:https://www.romolocapuano.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TheySawAGame.pdf2018-06-221h 02
A Better LifeEpisode 37 - Matthew FaccianiChris chats with atheist activist and blogger Matthew Facciani. They talk about his work in sociology, gender studies, and sexual violence prevention.2018-03-1040 min
Trolling With Logic#059 - Why People Reject Evidence, According to Matthew FaccianiWhy People Reject Evidence, According to Matthew Facciani
What are some of the social and psychological factors which lead people to reject evidence that conflicts with their worldview? Joining us to tackle this and related questions is Matthew Facciani. Currently working on a PhD in sociology at the University of South Carolina, Matthew is an activist, speaker, and writer who teaches psychological statistics at USC. He received his B.A. in Psychology at Westminster College. Before switching into sociology, Matthew was working on a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. He currently writes for Patheos with his blog titled...2018-02-021h 00
Serious Inquiries OnlySIO57: Problems in Academia Today's conversation is with Matthew Facciani and Jeremiah Traeger. They're here to educate us on some of the problems in publishing and academia! Matthew began his academic career in cognitive neuroscience and later switched to sociology where he is now finishing his PhD at The University of South Carolina. Currently, his main research area investigates why people reject scientific evidence. Facciani is also involved with secular and gender equality activism. His blog and podcast are both titled According to Matthew. @MatthewFacciani on Twitter. Jeremiah is currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado, Boulder; who has been involved in secular an...2017-07-1051 min
The Science Enthusiast PodcasttSE 037 - Sociologist & Science Communicator, Mathew Facciani!Hosts: Natalie Newell (Skeptical Parenting) and Dan Broadbent (A Science Enthusiast)!
Check out the patron-only LIVE record session we did on YouTube at https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-only-8011604!
Sponsor: Nazi punching: the secular equivalent of 'thoughts and prayers.'
God of the week: Ishtar: Mesopotamian War Goddess
Interview: Matthew Facciani!
Matthew is a sociologist, activist, and science communicator. He contributes to Patheos, which hosts his blog “According to Matthew” (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/accordingtomatthew).
Follow Mathew on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MatthewFacciani) and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MatthewFacciani)!
Why we love the internet:2017-02-0800 min
Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa MariaNeuroscience of Religion w/ Matthew FaccianiCara speaks with Matthew Facciani, a PhD candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of South Carolina. Topics include: his work as a gender-equality activist, concerns about the simplicity of "new atheism," and the neuroscience of religiosity.2015-03-161h 13
A Matter of Doubt PodcastEp. 58: Neuroscience and FeminismIn this episode of A Matter of Doubt we speak with cognitive neuroscience Ph.D. candidate, Matthew Facciani. Matt describes how interests in neuroscience eventually caused him to doubt his Catholicism. We conclude our discussion with his involvement in the Feminism movement.2013-09-171h 11