Misguided: The Podcast

In this episode of Misguided: The Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Jared Stacy, a theologian and former pastor who studies how conspiracy theories take root within evangelical communities. Jared completed his PhD in ethics at the University of Aberdeen and is the author of the new book Reality in Ruins, which examines how disinformation becomes uniquely resistant to correction when it gets woven into religious belief.We start by talking about Jared’s concept of holy paranoia: the idea that conspiracy theory isn’t a bug in American evangelicalism but a feature. The core argument is that once conspiratorial thinking gets absorbed into a religious story, fact-checking alone can’t dislodge it. It’s not that people lack access to good information; it’s that the conspiracy has already been integrated into something that feels coherent, total, and true.From there, we dig into the media ecosystems that make this possible — the radio networks, podcasts, and influencers that create a seamlessly reinforcing reality for many evangelical Christians, one where conservative political content and worship music flow together without friction or distinction.We close by discussing what science communicators and public health professionals get wrong when trying to reach faith communities, and why Jared believes the most effective interventions will require theologians and scientists working together rather than talking past each other.You can listen to the full episode here or via the links below. As always, if you find my podcast useful or interesting, feel free to share it with someone who might also enjoy it. Buy Jared’s book: Reality In RuinsJared’s websiteFollow Jared on Threads and InstagramKeywords: Jared Stacy, disinformation, conspiracy theories, religion, Evangelicalism, media, science communicationMisguided: The Podcast - Apple PodcastsMisguided: The Podcast | Podcast on SpotifyMisguided - YouTube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewfacciani.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Misguided: The Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Cecilie Steenbuch-Traberg, a professor at the Copenhagen Business School who studies how social context shapes our susceptibility to misinformation, and what interventions actually work to counter it. Cecilie’s path into the field took a detour through marketing before she found her true passion: not trying to persuade people, but protecting them from being persuaded.We start by talking about how the classic pre-bunking games (like Bad News and Harmony Square) hold up when you test them in more realistic social conditions. The short answer is that they mostly work, but people are still vulnerable to the surrounding social cues: who’s sharing something, how many likes it has, whether the source feels politically similar to you. Even a handful of comments can make a fringe belief feel like consensus. That gap between individual-level learning and real-world social context is where Cecilie sees the biggest unmet need.From there, we dig into her new project, Solomon’s Secret: a murder mystery game designed to teach social influence literacy without ever announcing that it’s a misinformation game. The goal is to reach people who would never seek out a media literacy tool, by making the learning feel incidental to the fun. We also connect this to some of my own research comparing pre-bunking games across cultural contexts.We close by discussing how AI is reshaping both the threat and the opportunity. AI can certainly be used as a tool for scaling manipulation, but it can also help personalize interventions in ways that weren’t previously possible.You can listen to the full episode here or via the links below. As always, if you find it useful, feel free to share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation.Follow Cecilie on LinkedInCecilie’s websiteCecilie’s Google ScholarSolomon’s SecretKeywords: Cecilie Steenbuch Traberg, prebunking, media literacy, AI, social influence, psychological inoculation, social media, psychologyMisguided: The Podcast - Apple PodcastsMisguided: The Podcast | Podcast on SpotifyMisguided - YouTube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewfacciani.substack.com/subscribe

Matthew Facciani, social scientist and author focused on misinformation and media literacy. He explores why people accept false info through social identity and confirmation bias. They discuss creating cognitive friction by diversifying groups and hobbies, platform incentives that amplify outrage, and practical media-literacy moves like critical ignoring and lateral reading.

Dr. Steve Rathje, a social psychology researcher and incoming assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon, dives deep into the psychology behind virality and social media. He discusses how posts targeting political outgroups often go viral, revealing the algorithmic bias towards outrage and conflict. Rathje shares promising research on reducing animosity through unfollowing hyper-partisan influencers. He also explores the implications of sycophantic AI chatbots and how they can inadvertently reinforce belief extremity.

In this discussion, Sander van der Linden, a social psychology professor at the University of Cambridge, delves into misinformation and how to counter it. He shares his unexpected journey from banking to academia, driven by early experiences with deception. Sander explains the concept of psychological inoculation—training individuals to identify misinformation before it's encountered—and the innovative Bad News game designed to enhance awareness. He also explores the economics behind fake social media accounts and emphasizes the need for media literacy and platform reforms while expressing cautious optimism about bipartisan efforts to combat misinformation.

Renée DiResta, a social media researcher and author of *Invisible Rulers*, dives into her journey from tech and finance to studying online influence. She identifies the concerning rise of anti-vaccine content on social media that sparked her research. Renée discusses the concept of ‘bespoke realities’—how communities, not just algorithms, shape public beliefs. She also explores the role of AI in information dissemination, highlighting the need for transparency in training sources and the challenges institutions face in maintaining credibility online.

Andy Norman, a philosopher and cognitive immunology expert, dives deep into the concept of mental immunity. He unpacks how harmful ideas spread like viruses and emphasizes the need for teaching critical thinking and skepticism in education. Norman shares insights from his experience fostering communities of inquiry where students actively test ideas. He argues that doubts can serve as cognitive antibodies, strengthening our reasoning skills. Ultimately, he champions the idea that thinking is not only powerful but liberating in our information-saturated world.

In this episode, I talk with sociologist and author Barry Markovsky about his path into social science and his career studying science vs. pseudoscience. Barry shares lessons from his hit “Sociology of the Paranormal” class, previews his forthcoming book Everyday Extraordinary, which pairs front-stage stories with back-stage analysis, and explains how social networks and identity shape what we believe. We also talk about writing, AI’s effect on thinking, and finding a sense of wonder through science instead of the supernatural. I was fortunate to take several of Barry’s classes in graduate school, and he also served as an advisor on my master’s thesis, so it was very cool to have him on my podcast.Barry’s forthcoming book: Everyday ExtraordinaryBarry’s websiteKeywords: Barry Markovsky, sociology, paranormal, critical thinking, education, pseudoscience, science, identity, beliefMisguided: The Podcast - Apple PodcastsMisguided: The Podcast | Podcast on SpotifyMisguided - YouTube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewfacciani.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I chat with educator, political scientist, and author Tim Redmond to discuss his path from a PhD in political science to a high school teacher building a standout course on critical thinking. Tim shares how discovering psychology after academia reshaped his approach, why identity sits at the center of our information habits, and how blending psychological literacy, media literacy, and scientific literacy helps teens (and the rest of us) think better. When talking to Tim, I actually summarized his work into those three pillars of literacy as they map onto my own work as well. Maybe I’ll teach my own course focusing on those pillars!Tim’s book: Political Tribalism in America: How Hyper-Partisanship Dumbs Down Democracy and How to Fix ItRead about Tim’s high school class on media literacy and critical thinking hereKeywords: Timothy Redmond, high school education, misinformation, critical thinking, media literacy, political science, identity.Misguided: The Podcast - Apple PodcastsMisguided: The Podcast | Podcast on SpotifyMisguided - YouTube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewfacciani.substack.com/subscribe

David Robert Grimes, a physicist and author known for his work in medical physics and science communication, takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of misinformation. He explains why mere facts often fail to change minds and discusses the emotional biases that shape our understanding. Grimes emphasizes the urgent need for media literacy and critical thinking to combat misinformation, especially in crises. He also explores healthcare disparities between the U.S. and Europe, highlighting systemic reforms for better public health outcomes.