Misguided: The Podcast

In this episode of Misguided, I’m joined by Renee DiResta to talk about how she went from a winding career in tech, finance, and Silicon Valley startups to becoming one of the leading analysts of online influence. Renée traces the shift back to a personal moment: after having her first child in 2013, she noticed a concerning amount of anti-vaccine content across Facebook communities. She started quietly studying those communities and doing network analysis at night, work that eventually became her full-time focus.We spend a lot of time on a core idea from her book Invisible Rulers “bespoke realities.” Renée argues that blaming everything on “the algorithm” misses what truly pulls people into false worlds. Algorithms may guide people toward certain groups, but it’s the communities themselves—identity, belonging, alternative experts, and self-contained information loops—that keep people inside and make outside institutions seem corrupt or irrelevant.From there, we turn to AI. Renée sees chatbots and answer engines as the next major force in shaping reality. As more people skip searching and instead ask a preferred bot for the truth, the information battle moves upstream to the training and reference layer of the internet (especially Wikipedia). Influence those sources, and you can influence what AI confidently repeats back.Finally, we talk about why scientific and medical institutions keep losing ground online. They’re limited by incentives, risk-averse cultures, and a decade-long “network debt” compared to misinformation influencers. Renée’s conclusion is direct: if institutions want to stay relevant, they need to show up where people actually are, build genuine relationships in communities, and treat communication as central to their mission, not a side task or liability.Follow Renee on ThreadsFollow Renee on BlueskyRenee’s Book: Invisible RulersRenee’s articles mentioned during this episode:For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies Source Wars and Bespoke Realities: Wikipedia, Grokipedia, and The Battle for TruthFree Speech Is Not the Same As Free Reach Keywords: Renee DiResta, social networks, vaccine attitudes, AI, misinformation, AI chatbots, bespoke realities, invisible rulersMisguided: 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 talk with philosopher and author Andy Norman, founder of the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative and author of Mental Immunity. Andy shares how a provocative 1990s essay by Richard Dawkins sparked his lifelong pursuit to understand how bad ideas spread, and how we can protect our minds from them.We unpack what it means to build mental immunity, why sketchy ideas behave like mind-viruses, and how habits of curiosity, humility, and self-reflection strengthen our cognitive defenses. Our conversation spans from the philosophy of reasoning to practical education reform, teaching students to “debug their minds,” recognize manipulation, and build communities of inquiry that value truth over tribalism.Together we explore how critical thinking, critical ignoring, and cognitive germ theory can help us navigate today’s polluted information ecosystem, and why thinking is not only power, but freedom.Do Minds Have Immune Systems? (article)Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think (book)Andy Norman’s siteCIRCE- The Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (Institute)Declaration of CIRCE’s Blue-Ribbon Panel (vision statement and call to action)The Mental Immunity Project (educational resources for strengthening mental immune systems)Keywords: Andy Norman, cognitive immunology, critical thinking, critical ignoring, education, mind viruses, inoculation, 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 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.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video with Elisabeth Marnik, PhD! We discussed my new book Misguided, the social science of misinformation, and how we can promote critical thinking and better media literacy. We also discussed the psychology and sociology behind false beliefs, the importance of trust and identity, and what actually works when combating misinformation and promoting science communication. Thanks to everyone who tuned in — more live chats to come! 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 engaging discussion, Dr. Esha Lovrić, a social scientist and advocate for critical thinking, shares her transformative journey from Fiji to Australia. She delves into how navigating cultural identity impacts our perceptions. Esha explores the concept of liminality, discussing its emotional challenges and the susceptibility to misinformation in today's digital age. Emphasizing the importance of authentic connections, she highlights how emotions shape beliefs and the need for critical thinking to combat misinformation and ideological pulls.

Join Melanie Trecek-King, a biology professor turned science communicator, as she shares insights on critical thinking education and battling misinformation. She reveals how her frustration with traditional science teaching led her to focus on developing skills for assessing information rather than rote facts. The conversation touches on the psychological roots of biases, the challenges of engaging with misinformation on social media, and the essential role of personal connections in fostering trust in science—all served with a dose of humor!

In this episode of Misguided, I’m joined by Dr. Kevin Meuwissen, professor of education at the University of Rochester, to explore one of the most urgent questions in education today: how do we prepare young people to navigate a world overflowing with disinformation, political polarization, and fractured trust?We discuss Kevin’s journey from high school teacher to researcher, and how those experiences shaped his work training educators to tackle tough topics like conspiracy theories, fake news, and historical distortion in the classroom. He shares how his professional learning cadre helps teachers engage students in meaningful conversations about truth, credibility, and civic responsibility, all while contending with social, political, and institutional pressures.Keywordsmedia literacy, misinformation, disinformation, political polarization, civic education, critical thinking, information literacy, social studies, public trust, high school education, communication, Kevin MeuwissenKevin Meuwissen’s University of Rochester website‪Kevin Meuwissen‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬Kevin Meuwissen on Bluesky 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

Dr. Claire Wardle, a leading expert on misinformation and media literacy from Cornell University, shares her insights on defining and navigating misinformation challenges. She discusses the emotional reasons behind content sharing and the need for better communication strategies during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Wardle emphasizes breaking down academic silos for interdisciplinary collaboration and advocates for academia to engage more effectively with the public through modern platforms. Her perspectives could reshape how institutions build trust and communicate authentically.