The Pete Quiñones Show

The Edward Bernays Episodes - featuring Buck Johnson and Philo's Miscellany

Oct 25, 2025
Join Buck Johnson, a recurring guest known for his sharp commentary on propaganda, and Philo, a research expert providing deep historical insights, as they dive into the life and work of Edward Bernays. They explore the relevance of Bernays' 1947 theories on persuasion in today's media landscape, dissect how public relations shaped modern communication, and discuss the ethical quandaries faced by leaders during crises. The conversation touches on Bernays' use of Freud's ideas in marketing, the origins of wartime propaganda, and the cultural impacts of engineered consent.
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INSIGHT

Media Expanded Persuasion As A Right

  • Edward Bernays anticipated mass media's power and saw persuasion as an expanded democratic right.
  • Modern digital consolidation amplified that reach far beyond 1947's media landscape.
INSIGHT

Consent As A Technical Craft

  • Bernays argues engineering consent is a scientific, repeatable practice to shape public support.
  • He frames this engineering as essential and routine in modern democracy.
INSIGHT

Engineering Supplements Education

  • Bernays says engineered persuasion should supplement, not replace, education but concedes it's often necessary.
  • He asserts publics remain unevenly informed so engineered consent stays essential.
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