Your Mind Is a Propagandist

22 snips

Aug 17, 2026

Owen Fitzpatrick, psychologist and author of Inner Propaganda, researches persuasion, propaganda, cults, and belief change. He describes how our brains invent convincing stories, how mood and identity shape what we accept, and why logic alone cannot unseat entrenched narratives. He also explores propaganda’s real-world harms and how leaders and technology can amplify or counter these inner narratives.

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ANECDOTE

Suicide Note Became The Inciting Incident

Owen Fitzpatrick nearly attempted suicide at 14 and the act of writing a note produced a sudden counter-question that stopped him and shifted his feelings.
That single sentence, Is this how much you love them?, created a competing narrative that prevented him from following through and launched his life's work studying belief change.

INSIGHT

Beliefs Are Stories You Sell Yourself

Fitzpatrick frames beliefs as stories we sell ourselves where the core is feeling certain rather than pure logic.
He argues story is our brain's equipment for living, so beliefs stick because they integrate emotion, identity, and narrative, not just facts.

INSIGHT

Your Brain Runs Inner State Media

The brain functions like an internal news channel that selects evidence to match its current emotional story, producing a coherent but biased reality.
Mood-congruent cognition means when you're anxious or depressed your brain finds memories and future imaginings that reinforce that feeling.

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Your brain is a master storyteller. The problem? It’s also an unreliable narrator.

We like to think our beliefs are built on facts, logic, and careful reasoning. But psychologist and author Owen Fitzpatrick argues that the process often works in reverse: we decide what feels true, then search for evidence that proves us right. This can reinforce limiting beliefs, fuel political polarization, and make us surprisingly susceptible to propaganda.

In this conversation with guest host Michael Kovnat, Owen explores how these narratives shape our confidence, identity, and decisions — and what it takes to change them.

📖 Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times by Owen Fitzpatrick

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