Why Smart People Believe Stupid Things - Gurwinder Bhogal - #1

Beyond Gender - Episode 1: Why Smart People Believe Stupid ThingsGurwinder Bhogal is a writer and cultural commentator known for his sharp take on misinformation, identity politics, and how narratives shape society. He's also one of our favorite Substack bloggers, best known for his article, "Why Smart People Believe Stupid Things," which was adapted into an animated story by After Skool. In this episode, we take a deep dive into why intelligence can actually make people more susceptible to self-delusion, how social media fuels tribalism, and why academia and media incentivize misinformation.

Gurwinder's Journey: From Tech Analysis to Cultural UnderstandingOriginally working at Microsoft as a behavioral analyst studying how people use the internet, Gurwinder's journey took an unexpected turn when his interest shifted from technological bugs to examining the "bugs in human psychology." As a former web developer who has studied both information systems and extremist ideologies, he brings a unique perspective to understanding how technology and psychology intersect to shape beliefs. Through his writing on his Substack ⁠The Prism,⁠ he works to unweave popular narratives into their constituent elements, revealing the delusions, biases, and agendas that drive today's most compelling stories—including the ones we tell ourselves. His work focuses particularly on how technology and psychology conspire to fool us, and how we can withstand what he calls "the covert assault on our senses" in the digital age.