Transcripts

429. May Contain Lies with Alex Edmans

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These days, it feels like we’re bombarded with information from every direction, and figuring out what’s true can be overwhelming. 

Yael sits down with Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies, for a fascinating conversation about how misinformation shapes the way we see the world. They talk about why even fact-checking has its limits and how common biases, such as wanting to confirm what we already believe or seeing things in black and white, can cloud our judgment. 

Using everyday examples, from the Atkins diet to debates about breastfeeding, Alex shows how data can be bent to tell almost any story. We invite you to stay curious but skeptical, with practical strategies for navigating opposing views and creating more thoughtful, respectful conversations.

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Listen and Learn:
  • Why simply “checking the facts” isn’t enough and how even accurate data can mislead when context, updates, or evolving evidence are ignored
  • How confirmation bias subtly shapes our judgments, even among experts and leaders
  • Why we’re drawn to simple, black-and-white explanations and how applying scientific thinking and questioning our own biases helps us see nuance, challenge popular myths, and make more informed decisions
  • The danger of oversimplified advice and the lasting impact of misinformation, and why real progress and understanding come from embracing complexity and questioning easy answers
  • Being “data-driven” isn’t enough, and true understanding comes from distinguishing data from evidence
  • How reframing conflict through curiosity and focusing on shared goals, rather than opposition, can transform disagreements into opportunities for collaboration, deeper understanding, and personal growth
  • Managing disagreements by calming their initial reactions, focusing on shared goals, and giving others the benefit of the doubt, turning conflict into an opportunity for understanding and growth
    • Resources: 
    • May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases–And What We Can Do about It https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780520405851 
    • Alex’s Website: https://alexedmans.com/ 
    • Connect with Alex on Social Media: 

      • https://www.instagram.com/aedmans

      https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedmans

      About Alex Edmans: 

      Alex Edmans is a Professor of Finance at London Business School, where his ability to translate complex ideas has earned him 28 teaching awards and the title of Poets & Quants Professor of the Year in 2021. His journey has taken him from Oxford to Wall Street (Morgan Stanley), then to MIT as a Fulbright Scholar for his PhD, followed by tenure at Wharton before joining LBS.

      Alex moves fluidly between academia and the real world—he’s testified in Parliament, spoken at Davos, and somehow convinced 3 million people to watch his TED talks. His latest book, May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—And What We Can Do About It, arrives at exactly the right moment for our post-truth era, where everyone’s an expert and every statistic can be bent to tell the story you want to hear.

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        TranscriptsBy Drs. Debbie Sorensen, Yael Schonbrun, & Jill Stoddard