Alex Edmans, a professor of finance at London Business School, tells us how to avoid the Ladder of Misinference by examining how narratives, statistics, and articles can mislead, especially when they align with our preconceived notions and confirm what we believe is true, assume is true, and wish were true.
Sep 14
348 - The Dress - Decoder Ring
We return to The Dress and the psychological lessons offered by one of the most viral moments in the history of the internet via an episode of Decoder Ring in which David McRaney shares some insights from his book, How Minds Change, with Willa Paskin, the host of Decoder Ring.Dec ... Show More
43m 31s
Aug 31
347 - Under Alien Skies - Phil Plait
Astronomer Phil Plait joins us to discuss his new book, Under Alien Skies, in which he describes what it would be like (through human eyes and real physical experiences) to actually travel to Saturn, Mars, asteroids, and distant stars. Also, we discuss the recent surge in UFO sig ... Show More
1h 10m
Aug 17
346 - No Nocebo Effect - Helen Pilcher
The suffering is real, but the source may not be what you assume. That's the essence of the nocebo effect, the placebo effect's evil twin. As neuroscientist Dr. Helen Pilcher explains, illness is not simply a matter of biology. Our thoughts, conscious or otherwise, can make lead ... Show More
59m 30s
Jul 2024
693: Facts, Data, and Evidence: Knowing What to Trust or Can We Really Trust Evidence? (with Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans)
Welcome to an interview with the author of May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases―And What We Can Do about It, Alex Edmans. In this book, renowned economist Alex Edmans teaches us how to separate fact from fiction. Using colorful examples, he hi ... Show More
49m 26s
Jun 2024
459: Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans, on Facts, Data, and Evidence: Knowing What to Trust or Can We Really Trust Evidence?
<p><em>What if the greatest threat to smart decision-making isn't bad data, but how we interpret it?</em></p> <p> </p> <p><em>In a world overflowing with information, even the most seasoned leaders and investors fall for myths dressed up as facts. Not because they're uninformed, ... Show More
52m 19s
Jul 2024
Ep 297: Raising Skeptical Thinkers
Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies, delves into how confirmation bias and belief polarization skew our perceptions, offering tips for parents to help their teenagers navigate misinformation and think critically.Full Show NotesIn today's digital world, misinformation spreads ... Show More
25m 24s
Nov 2023
Stopping the spread of misinformation, with Sander van der Linden, PhD
Misleading news stories. Propaganda. Conspiracy theories. Misinformation has always been with us, but with the rise of social media it can spread farther and faster than ever. Sander van der Linden, PhD, of Cambridge University, talks about why we’re so vulnerable to misinformati ... Show More
40m 35s