People-powered, AI-GeneratedSeason 10, Episode 290

⁠FREE Applied Critical Thinking Course – Part 3: Digging Deeper

Finding the Real Problem with Root Cause Analysis⁠

In this episode of Educate The Planet, we move past headlines, outrage, and surface-level explanations to confront one of the most powerful tools of modern media deception: distraction. Using Root Cause Analysis (RCA)—including the Five Whys technique and the Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram—we learn how to identify the systemic failures hiding beneath emotional news cycles and oversimplified political narratives.

Building on Part 1 (Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework) and Part 2 (AEI Self-Liberation Toolkit), this episode equips listeners with a disciplined, repeatable method for diagnosing why problems actually occur—rather than who is easiest to blame.

In this episode, we explore:

• Distraction as Propaganda: How media and political actors focus attention on symptoms to prevent investigation of root causes.

• The Five Whys: A practical technique for drilling past emotional reactions to uncover initiating systemic failures.

• From Blame to Systems: Why blaming individuals (“lazy sharers,” “corrupt elites”) stops analysis and protects broken structures.

• The Fishbone Diagram: A visual tool for mapping complex, multi-factor problems across people, policy, environment, and technology.

• Case Study – The Epstein Files: Applying Root Cause Analysis to move beyond scandal and outrage toward the real issue: structural secrecy, legal loopholes, and failures of transparency in systems of power.

Key Insight:When citizens focus only on symptoms, they become easier to manipulate. When they understand root causes, they become harder to deceive.

This episode prepares you for Part 4: The Calculus of Consequence, where we will map first-, second-, and third-order effects of action and inaction—revealing how today’s narratives shape tomorrow’s realities.

Become a Planetary Protector:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanet⁠Free Civic Education Resources: ⁠https://github.com/freeciviceducation⁠Support the Mission: ⁠https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/⁠Community (Bluesky): ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social⁠

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, with inspiration and research contribution from Vera Locke, and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM, using a human-in-the-middle process to ensure accuracy, rigor, and accountability.

Analogy for Understanding:Think of a breaking news story as a flashing warning light on a dashboard. The light isn’t the problem—it’s a signal. Root Cause Analysis is the diagnostic tool that opens the hood, traces the system, and shows you what actually failed.

People-powered, AI-Generated
Season 10, Episode 290

FREE Applied Critical Thinking Course – Part 3: Digging Deeper
Finding the Real Problem with Root Cause Analysis

In this episode of Educate The Planet, we move past headlines, outrage, and surface-level explanations to confront one of the most powerful tools of modern media deception: distraction. Using Root Cause Analysis (RCA)—including the Five Whys technique and the Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram—we learn how to identify the systemic failures hiding beneath emotional news cycles and oversimplified political narratives.

Building on Part 1 (Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework) and Part 2 (AEI Self-Liberation Toolkit), this episode equips listeners with a disciplined, repeatable method for diagnosing why problems actually occur—rather than who is easiest to blame.

In this episode, we explore:

• Distraction as Propaganda: How media and political actors focus attention on symptoms to prevent investigation of root causes.

• The Five Whys: A practical technique for drilling past emotional reactions to uncover initiating systemic failures.

• From Blame to Systems: Why blaming individuals (“lazy sharers,” “corrupt elites”) stops analysis and protects broken structures.

• The Fishbone Diagram: A visual tool for mapping complex, multi-factor problems across people, policy, environment, and technology.

• Case Study – The Epstein Files: Applying Root Cause Analysis to move beyond scandal and outrage toward the real issue: structural secrecy, legal loopholes, and failures of transparency in systems of power.

Key Insight:
When citizens focus only on symptoms, they become easier to manipulate. When they understand root causes, they become harder to deceive.

This episode prepares you for Part 4: The Calculus of Consequence, where we will map first-, second-, and third-order effects of action and inaction—revealing how today’s narratives shape tomorrow’s realities.

Become a Planetary Protector:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanetFree Civic Education Resources: https://github.com/freeciviceducationSupport the Mission: https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/Community (Bluesky): https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, with inspiration and research contribution from Vera Locke, and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM, using a human-in-the-middle process to ensure accuracy, rigor, and accountability.

Analogy for Understanding:
Think of a breaking news story as a flashing warning light on a dashboard. The light isn’t the problem—it’s a signal. Root Cause Analysis is the diagnostic tool that opens the hood, traces the system, and shows you what actually failed.

People-powered, AI-GeneratedSeason 10, Episode 289

⁠Whose Power is This? Unmasking the Forces Behind Every Major News Narrative⁠

In this podcast, Educate The Planet introduces the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) Self-Liberation Toolkit—a framework for democratic literacy based on the work of political theorist Gene Sharp. We move beyond the internal logic of an argument to examine the massive social and political forces that uphold or dismantle a message. By understanding that power is not monolithic but pluralistic and dependent on the consent and cooperation of the people, you can transform from an overwhelmed consumer of "Fake News" into a strategically informed citizen.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Pillars of Support: Imagine any dominant media narrative or authority as a building. It stands only because it is supported by key institutions—the media, education systems, and business communities. Learn how narratives collapse when the people within these pillars withhold their "skills, time, and resources".
• The Six Sources of Power: We break down the foundations of these pillars, including Authority (the perceived right to lead), Human Resources (the sheer cooperation of people), and Material Resources (control over money and technology). Discover how "Glittering Generalities" and "Fear" are used as intangible psychological factors to secure your compliance.
• Vulnerability Assessment (The Epstein Files): We apply the AEI framework to the release of over 11,000 files by the Department of Justice (DOJ). We analyze why the "Universal Corruption Narrative" is fundamentally vulnerable: the DOJ—the very pillar of authority releasing the files—is explicitly withdrawing its consent from sensationalist, unverified claims.
• The Spectrum of Allies: Learn to move beyond "us versus them" thinking. We discuss how to strategically shift the "passive middle" of the audience one wedge closer to the truth, rather than wasting energy attacking extreme opponents.

True self-liberation begins when you recognize a narrative as a calculated attempt to gain your consent. Join us as we learn to identify which pillars are supporting the truth and which are built on deception.

Become a Planetary Protector:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanet
• Free Civic Resources: https://github.com/freeciviceducation
• Support Our Mission: https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/
• Community: https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, drawing on inspiration and contribution from Vera Locke and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM.

Analogy for Understanding:Think of a dominant media narrative as a large building. It doesn't stay up on its own; it relies on several "Pillars of Support," such as the media, businesses, and the cooperation of the people. Critical thinking is the tool that allows you to inspect these pillars; if you find they are built on "fake experts" or "fear," you can choose to stop providing the "resources and time" that keep that building standing, causing the deceptive narrative to collapse.

People-powered, AI-GeneratedSeason 10, Episode 289

Whose Power is This? Unmasking the Forces Behind Every Major News Narrative

In this podcast, Educate The Planet introduces the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) Self-Liberation Toolkit—a framework for democratic literacy based on the work of political theorist Gene Sharp. We move beyond the internal logic of an argument to examine the massive social and political forces that uphold or dismantle a message. By understanding that power is not monolithic but pluralistic and dependent on the consent and cooperation of the people, you can transform from an overwhelmed consumer of "Fake News" into a strategically informed citizen.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Pillars of Support: Imagine any dominant media narrative or authority as a building. It stands only because it is supported by key institutions—the media, education systems, and business communities. Learn how narratives collapse when the people within these pillars withhold their "skills, time, and resources".
• The Six Sources of Power: We break down the foundations of these pillars, including Authority (the perceived right to lead), Human Resources (the sheer cooperation of people), and Material Resources (control over money and technology). Discover how "Glittering Generalities" and "Fear" are used as intangible psychological factors to secure your compliance.
• Vulnerability Assessment (The Epstein Files): We apply the AEI framework to the release of over 11,000 files by the Department of Justice (DOJ). We analyze why the "Universal Corruption Narrative" is fundamentally vulnerable: the DOJ—the very pillar of authority releasing the files—is explicitly withdrawing its consent from sensationalist, unverified claims.
• The Spectrum of Allies: Learn to move beyond "us versus them" thinking. We discuss how to strategically shift the "passive middle" of the audience one wedge closer to the truth, rather than wasting energy attacking extreme opponents.

True self-liberation begins when you recognize a narrative as a calculated attempt to gain your consent. Join us as we learn to identify which pillars are supporting the truth and which are built on deception.

Become a Planetary Protector:

• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanet⁠
• Free Civic Resources: ⁠https://github.com/freeciviceducation⁠
• Support Our Mission: ⁠https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/⁠
• Community: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, drawing on inspiration and contribution from Vera Locke and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM.

Analogy for Understanding:Think of a dominant media narrative as a large building. It doesn't stay up on its own; it relies on several "Pillars of Support," such as the media, businesses, and the cooperation of the people. Critical thinking is the tool that allows you to inspect these pillars; if you find they are built on "fake experts" or "fear," you can choose to stop providing the "resources and time" that keep that building standing, causing the deceptive narrative to collapse.

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 288

⁠The 8-Step Blueprint: Using Critical Thinking as Radical Self-Care⁠

In this podcast, Educate The Planet introduces the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking framework—the essential intellectual toolkit for navigating a complex world. Instead of being a passive consumer of "slanted reporting," we invite you to become an active analytical investigator of the information you encounter. By recognizing the "structures inherent in thinking," you can safeguard your mental well-being against "emotionally charged narratives" designed to exploit your vulnerabilities.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 8 Elements of Thought: Learn to "X-ray" any news story—including sensational headlines like the Epstein files—to identify its true purpose, hidden assumptions, and logic.
• Avoiding "Red Herrings": Discover how to stay focused on what matters without being distracted by irrelevant points or "Hot Potato" statements.
• Resisting Digital Resignation: Why developing "Intellectual Courage" is the key to overcoming the feeling that engagement is useless in a corrupted information ecosystem.
• Universal Standards: How applying clarity and accuracy acts as a "gateway" to higher-quality collective thought.

True connection and thankfulness start with a clear mind. Join us as we move toward self-liberation from deceptive messaging.

Become a Planetary Protector:

• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanet⁠
• Free Civic Resources: ⁠https://github.com/freeciviceducation⁠
• Support Our Mission: ⁠https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/⁠
• Community: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, drawing on inspiration and contribution from Vera Locke and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM.

Analogy for Understanding:Think of the Paul-Elder framework as a set of high-quality filters for a water system; while the "information ecosystem" may be filled with pollutants like propaganda and bias, these eight diagnostic lenses ensure that what finally reaches your mind is clear, accurate, and life-sustaining.

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 288

The 8-Step Blueprint: Using Critical Thinking as Radical Self-Care

In this podcast, Educate The Planet introduces the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking framework—the essential intellectual toolkit for navigating a complex world. Instead of being a passive consumer of "slanted reporting," we invite you to become an active analytical investigator of the information you encounter. By recognizing the "structures inherent in thinking," you can safeguard your mental well-being against "emotionally charged narratives" designed to exploit your vulnerabilities.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 8 Elements of Thought: Learn to "X-ray" any news story—including sensational headlines like the Epstein files—to identify its true purpose, hidden assumptions, and logic.
• Avoiding "Red Herrings": Discover how to stay focused on what matters without being distracted by irrelevant points or "Hot Potato" statements.
• Resisting Digital Resignation: Why developing "Intellectual Courage" is the key to overcoming the feeling that engagement is useless in a corrupted information ecosystem.
• Universal Standards: How applying clarity and accuracy acts as a "gateway" to higher-quality collective thought.

True connection and thankfulness start with a clear mind. Join us as we move toward self-liberation from deceptive messaging.

Become a Planetary Protector:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@educatetheplanet
• Free Civic Resources: https://github.com/freeciviceducation
• Support Our Mission: https://educatetheplanet-shop.fourthwall.com/
• Community: https://bsky.app/profile/educatetheplanet.bsky.social

This episode was edited and curated by Guy Wolf, drawing on research from Vera Locke and AI-assisted drafting via Google NotebookLM.

Analogy for Understanding:Think of the Paul-Elder framework as a set of high-quality filters for a water system; while the "information ecosystem" may be filled with pollutants like propaganda and bias, these eight diagnostic lenses ensure that what finally reaches your mind is clear, accurate, and life-sustaining.

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 286

For the holidays, we are slowing it down, no more breaking news, we want to focus on you, our listener. This is a time to read and listen and understand that self-care is important this time of year, not breaking news and a relentless deluge of information from current events. This is time to recharge, ignore the rage bait, the urgency and alerting news and relax, love yourself, love others, provide and seek connection, do nice things for others, this is the time to be thankful for being alive!

⁠The Quiet Ways We Matter: Why small, unseen acts of care shape the world more than we realize

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 286

For the holidays, we are slowing it down, no more breaking news, we want to focus on you, our listener. This is a time to read and listen and understand that self-care is important this time of year, not breaking news and a relentless deluge of information from current events. This is time to recharge, ignore the rage bait, the urgency and alerting news and relax, love yourself, love others, provide and seek connection, do nice things for others, this is the time to be thankful for being alive!

The Quiet Ways We Matter: Why small, unseen acts of care shape the world more than we realize

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 285

Is the U.S. going to war with Venezuela? Listen to our analysis to find out!

⁠The False Fentanyl War: How a Manufactured Threat Against Venezuela Echoes the Lies About Weapons of Mass Destruction⁠

People-powered, AI-Generated

Season 10, Episode 285

Is the U.S. going to war with Venezuela? Listen to our analysis to find out!

The False Fentanyl War: How a Manufactured Threat Against Venezuela Echoes the Lies About Weapons of Mass Destruction