Nobody's Fool - Understanding Truth Bias and Disinformation

"It's a kind of information that we find particularly appealing that people looking to fool us will use, but it can lead to innocent spreading"

Host Paul Brandus explores the concept of truth bias and its implications in today's society with guests Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, authors of the book "Nobody's Fool, Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It." They discuss how our innate trust in familiar sources can make us vulnerable to misinformation and the importance of skepticism in evaluating information. The conversation delves into the challenges of focusing on only what is directly in front of us, potentially overlooking crucial context. Meredith Wilson, CEO of Emergent Risk International, joins the discussion to provide insights on how trust and skepticism play a crucial role in navigating the complex landscape of information consumption. The episode highlights the need for critical thinking and awareness in an age where information is constantly at our fingertips.

[00:02:06] Truth bias and deception.

[00:05:47] Calibrating trust and skepticism.

[00:09:50] Familiarity and trust on social media.

[00:12:25] Focusing on selective information.

[00:17:07] Trust in societal systems.

[00:21:29] Familiarity and trust in information.

[00:24:27] Human nature and information consumption.

Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Special thanks to our guests Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael Dealoia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.