April, an insightful speaker and thinker, dives into the intriguing world of magical thinking, humorously sharing how her husband views himself as a rain god. She explores how this cognitive distortion evolves from childhood, affecting adult behavior and belief systems. The discussion highlights the benefits of magical thinking—like feelings of control—alongside its dangers in health and mental health contexts. April also navigates the contrast between rational and intuitive thinking, revealing how this impacts our understanding of conspiracy theories.

Send us a textIn this episode, April discusses an unfair and unethical debate tactic used by many politicians, conspiracy theorists, and anyone else who insists on "winning" arguments. She also revisits Brandolini's Law, which means she gets to say "bullshit" more than a few times.Episode 35 Show Noteshttps://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/gish-gallop.htmlA good basic description of the Gish Gallop.https://effectiviology.com/gish-gallop/Itamar Schatz's website, Effectiviology, is one of my go-to places for everything fallacy-related. “On the Trail With RFK Jr." On the Media. Podcast. June 30, 2023. Um, not sure how to link to this, but you can certainly search for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. RFK Jr. is well-known for using the Gish Gallop in his speeches and interviews.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=murvOaHB66AWanna see some really fast talkers? These student debaters can speak at 500 words per minute, which is twice as fast as Congressman Jim Jordan. But unlike him, they have to make sense and provide evidence for their claims.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-FGKxaCdS0I took Congressman Jordan's Gish Gallop example from this succinct YouTube video about how to counter the Gish Gallop technique.https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/11/readout-of-president-bidens-video-call-with-transatlantic-leaders/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/17/readout-of-president-bidens-call-with-president-zelenskyy-of-ukraine-13/Here are two readouts of diplomatic calls President Biden has made.https://qz.com/905252/donald-trumps-lies-are-all-part-of-a-debate-tactic-called-the-gish-gallopCarl Alvioni's excellent article on Gish Gallops.Everything below has to do with the Trump-Ukraine call:https://www.politico.com/news/2019/09/25/donald-trump-ukraine-call-analysis-000039https://www.npr.org/2019/10/12/768935251/trump-ukraine-and-the-path-to-the-impeachment-inquiry-a-timelinehttps://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/14/pelosi-trump-impeachment-ukraine-00061649https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ukraine-transcript-moved_n_5dba4ec5e4b0bb1ea37476e5https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/politics/nsc-ukraine-call.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-lawyer-moved-transcript-of-trump-call-to-classified-server-af

Send us a textIn this episode, April warns people that they might need a break while listening; but in the end, it's surprisingly positive. Just like her!!!Episode 34 Show Noteshttps://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-to-know-existential-dreadGood discussion of the basics of existentialism, existential dread, why existential crises occur and how to handle them.https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220929-the-unsettling-power-of-existential-dreadDavid Robson's article explains how existential dread changes the way we think, reporting on the upswing in conspiracy theories after distressing events that trigger existential dread.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Denial_of_DeathYep, I'm citing Wikipedia here, but it's a decent discussion of Ernest Becker's groundbreaking work.https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/31/the-worm-at-the-core-on-the-role-of-death-in-life-solomon-greenberg-pyszczynski-reviewExcellent review of Solomon, Greenberg, and Psyzczynski's seminal work about terror management theory.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.595990/fullGreat article about how many individuals used creative expression to alleviate their distress during the Covid-19 pandemic.https://www.un.org/africarenewal/web-features/i-was-tested-limit-%E2%80%94-rwanda-genocide-survivorThe harrowing story of a Rwanda genocide survivor.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498956/The original researchers of terror management theory apply their understanding of it to the Covid-19 pandemic.https://mymodernmet.com/what-are-the-lascaux-cave-paintings/Take a look at these beautiful cave paintings--that's how you live forever, people! Do something amazing.

Send us a textTo kick off a new year, April looks at the impact that the emotion of gratitude can have on our mental, emotional, and even physical health. The message here is--the better you feel about yourself and the world around you, the better your cognitive processes will be.Episode 33 Show NotesThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's article on gratitude is, um, kinda deep and intense (and hard to read), but then, it IS the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, so...https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/gratitude/What gratitude is, and some ways to show it:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-wise-brain/202102/how-show-gratitudeLinkedIn article about gratitude in the workplace:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-thank-you-how-engage-your-company-gratitude-/Glenn Fox on gratitude:https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_can_the_brain_reveal_about_gratitudeA.J. Jacob's wonderful gratitude journey:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brainstorm/201811/adventures-in-gratitudeI reference Kendra Cherry a lot, because her articles are always spot on:https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-gratitude-5206817#History%20of%20GratitudeRobert Emmons discusses gratitude: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definitionInteresting article about how gratitude evolved:https://grateful.org/resource/the-evolution-of-gratitude/How practicing gratitude affects the brain:https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brainAnother great article about neuroscience and gratitude:https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/This article focuses on the importance of gratitude in our lives:https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-appreciation/#:~:text=Many%20of%20us%20express%20gratitude%20by,emotion%20that%20serves%20a%20biological%20purpose.&text=Many%20of%20us%20express,serves%20a%20biological%20purpose.&text=us%20express%20gratitude%20by,emotion%20that%20serves%20a

Send us a textIn this episode, April admits that she doesn't always calmly and rationally think things through; but hey, neither do you. Why? Heuristics, that's why. She discusses these handy, if sometimes problematic, mental shortcuts that help get us through the day without our brains literally exploding. And by literally, I mean figuratively; but literally sounds better, plus it makes a great mental image--KABOOM!!!Episode 32 Show Notes:I've recommended Daniel Kahneman's book before, and I'll probably do it again:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slowInteresting article about the history and origins of heuristics: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-heuristic-2795235A basic discussion of heuristics:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/heuristicsDr. Weinberger's blog explaining our unconscious mind: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-unconscious/202001/how-the-unconscious-worksAn easy to read but fairly comprehensive article discussing many aspects of heuristics, including the different types of heuristics and when our brain is likely to use them: https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-a-heuristic.htmlYou're probably aware that some of these jobs are dangerous, but others may surprise you with their position on this list: https://www.ishn.com/articles/112748-top-25-most-dangerous-jobs-in-the-united-statesThe Decision Lab's article goes into some detail about how our brains use heuristics:https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/society/tdl-perspectives-what-are-heuristicsOver-reliance on heuristics can lead to stereotyping in the workplace: https://www.engagetu.com/2020/01/28/heuristics-and-workplace-bias/Kendra Cherry's excellent article about decision making: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-affect-heuristic-2795028#:~:text=The%20affect%20heuristic%20is%20a%20type%20of%20mental,role%20in%20the%20choices%20and%20decisions%20you%20make

Send us a textIn this episode, April realizes that the difference between science and pseudoscience isn't a distinct line, it's more of a continuum. Nevertheless, science remains scientific, while pseudoscience is, well, not so much.Episode 31 Show Notes:Here's the Science Council's definition of science:https://sciencecouncil.org/about-science/our-definition-of-science/ Great discussion of the topic by Lillienfeld, Lynn, and Amaratti:https://scottlilienfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/lilienfeld2015-5.pdfAn extensive discussion of the differences from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pseudo-science/Mario Bunge's article on "cognitive fields:"https://cursosist2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/bungepseureduc.pdfGreat article from the Boston Review about Karl Popper and the pros and cons of falsification:https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/michael-d-gordin-fate-falsification/Newsweek article about "Behind the Curve:"https://www.newsweek.com/behind-curve-netflix-ending-light-experiment-mark-sargent-documentary-movie-1343362Good article that explains "bad" science:https://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-science/why-some-science-is-actually-bad-science/article/455538ThoughtCo's article about "hard" and "soft" science:https://www.thoughtco.com/hard-vs-soft-science-3975989Well, yeah, bad and fraudulent science is a problem:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/09/scientific-misconduct-retraction-watchFun and interesting (but ultimately serious) webpage with lots of great information about pseudoscience by Dr. Rory Koker:https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/~coker2/index.files/distinguish.htmEmily Willingham's Forbes artlcle about commercial pseudoscientific claims:https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2012/11/08/10-questions-to-distinguish-real-from-fake-science/?sh=156ddfb6146c

Send us a textIn this short episode,  April discusses how grief affects our brains--hers in particular, because she just lost one of her best friends and it hurts. So this might be more for her than for you, but you should listen anyway.The good news is that she'll be ok. Eventually...Episode 30 Show NotesGreat article from the Today Show website about how our mind deals with death:https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/grief-changes-brain-rcna13613Two excellent NPR articles that reference works and interviews with grief specialist Mary Frances O'Connor:https://www.npr.org/2021/11/04/1052498852/what-happens-in-the-brain-when-we-grievehttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/20/1056741090/grief-loss-holiday-brain-healingDr Lisa Shulman discusses brain neuroplasticity and dealing with loss:https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/how-tragedy-affects-the-brain/#:~:text=Grief%20and%20loss%20affect%20the%20brain%20and%20body,lead%20to%20cognitive%20effects%2C%20such%20as%20brain%20fogPsych Central article about how grief affects your physical and mental health:https://psychcentral.com/lib/your-health-and-grief

Send us a textIn this episode, April talks to Dr. Eunette Gentry about the public's lack of trust in the press and why we should have more faith in journalists and reporters. It's about codes of ethics, people! Episode 29 Show NotesThis Gallup poll shows the low percentage of trust that the public has in the media: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394817/media-confidence-ratings-record-lows.aspxHere's the article about the press as the "Fourth Estate:" https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-fourth-estate-3368058Marianne Jennings' great article on journalistic ethics: https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/the-evolutionand-devolutionof-journalistic-ethics/The First Amendment Encyclopedia's article on "yellow journalism:" https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1253/yellow-journalismAiden White's article on the origins of ethical journalism: https://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/journalism-ethicsThis fascinating webpage is the Public Affairs page of the US Diplomatic Mission to Germany, and goes into the history of media ethics in the US: https://usa.usembassy.de/media-ethics.htm#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20Yahoo%20-%20Media%20Ethics%20and%20Accountability%20The,accelerating%20the%20U.S.%20exit%20from%20an%20unpopular%20warThe Associated Press Managing Editors Code of Ethics: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/j6075/edit/ethiccodes/APME.html#:~:text=Associated%20Press%20Managing%20Editors%20CODE%20OF%20ETHICS%20This,or%20who%20influence%2C%20news%20coverage%20and%20editorial%20policy.The Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics: https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdfEthics codes from many journalistic sources can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~rcollins/431ethics/codes.htm#:~:text=Professional%20Codes%20of%20Ethics%20American%20Society%20of%20Newspaper,and%20renamed%20%22Statement%20of%20Principles%22%20in%201975.%20PREAMBLE.The Philippe Perebinossoff Ethics Rubric: EVALUATE --The ethical situation needs to be examined in a number of different ways, not just from a single perspective. TRUTH --Make sure you have a clear definition of the facts as well as a definition that can be agreed upon by others. HARM--Consider what harm is likely to ensue from a given action. Real-world situations are involved, and media rumors can ruin lives. INVESTIGATION--Investigation involves going beyond a cursory review, and digging deep to gather the necessary information.CODE OF ETHICS--Codes provide valuable guidelines that can facilitate ethical decision making. SITUATIONAL ETHICS--Approach issues on a case-by-case basis that allows you to adjust ethical beliefs t

Send us a textIn this episode, April explains linguistic ambiguity, equivocation, and the equivocation fallacy. She also tells some really bad jokes. Episode 28 Show Notes:Moore, Brooke and Parker, Richard. Critical Thinking. McGraw Hill. 2017.This is current textbook I use to teach my Critical Reasoning class. Much of what I say here about the types of linguistic ambiguity is taken from this excellent text. ThoughtCo is a reference site that focuses on educational content. Their articles are written by highly qualified educators and experienced instructors.https://www.thoughtco.com/polysemy-words-and-meanings-1691642How many words are there in the English language? This article will tell you:https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/many-words-english-language/This WhatIs.com article discusses how linguistic ambiguity makes it difficult for artificial intelligence (and of course people) to decode language:https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/linguistic-ambiguity#:~:text=Linguistic%20ambiguity%20is%20a%20quality%20of%20language%20that,program%20to%20reliably%20decode%20without%20some%20additional%20informationHere's a good discussion of the expectancy violation and humor:https://thecriticalcomic.com/incongruity-theory/#:~:text=Expectancy%20Violations%20Aristotle%20also%20thought%20humor%20occurred%20with,disappointed%20expectation%20makes%20us%20laugh.%E2%80%9D%20%28ch.%2063%3B%20Morreal%29Was that really the world's funniest joke? According to this guy, it is:https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2014/03/07/287250640/what-is-the-funniest-joke-in-the-worldDr. Itamar Schatz gives a detailed description of equivocation with excellent examples. You should definitely read this:https://effectiviology.com/equivocation/Another good explanation  of the equivocation falllacy:https://examples.yourdictionary.com/equivocation-fallacy-examples.htmlWhat speech is considered "unprotected?" Here you go:https://legalknowledgebase.com/what-speech-is-illegal-in-the-usNo, of COURSE we don't "torture." Except we do (or did, anyway):https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9956644

Send us a textIn this episode, April discusses the concept of intellectual humility, which is something that people could use more of (and by "people," she means herself).Episode 27 Show Notes (so many really good sources!!!):Here's Ed Kang's article from the website YouEQ: https://www.you-eq.com/news-events/emotional-intelligence-skills-intellectual-humility#:~:text=According%20to%20Pepperdine%20University%2C%20there%20are%20four%20dimensions,intellect%204%20Willingness%20to%20revise%20one%E2%80%99s%20own%20viewpointAnother good article from the John Templeton Foundation website (there's also a great YouTube video there called "The Joy of Being Wrong"): https://www.templeton.org/discoveries/intellectual-humilityBrian Resnick's Vox article, from which I gleaned a LOT of information:https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/1/4/17989224/intellectual-humility-explained-psychology-replicationThis is a great, in-depth discussion of intellectual humility by Shane Snow: https://www.shanesnow.com/articles/intellectual-humility#intellectual-humility-introWhile this author and I are on different sides of some important issues, she speaks a lot of truth, and I have great respect for her:https://aleteia.org/2017/08/05/even-if-we-disagree-i-respect-you/Kate Horowitz on the connection between overconfidence and lack of intellectual growth: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/76773/overconfidence-can-stunt-your-intellectual-growth-study-says#:~:text=Being%20overconfident%20is%20a%20barrier%20to%20intellectual%20growth%2C,they%20do%20and%20what%20they%20do%20not%20know.%22How acknowledging our intellectual limitations leads to knowledge:https://www.konsyse.com/articles/what-is-intellectual-humility-why-is-it-important/Gregg Enriquez's discussion of ego: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/202105/what-is-the-egoElizabeth Svoboda on why changing our minds is so difficult: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_is_it_so_hard_to_change_peoples_mindsMatthew Buckley discusses ways to talk to people with whom you disagree: https://www.psychreg.org/respect-other-peoples-opinion/