Ep 019: May the Best Story Win w Rand Walzman

Before "fake news" or ChatGPT, one computer scientist asked a dangerous question: could a machine invent believable lies? That was 1985. Dr. Rand Waltzman went on to shape DARPA's research into social media and information influence. This work helped define what we now call "cognitive security." We talk about how those early experiments connect to today's manipulation economy, why emotion is the real battlefield, and why the biggest threat isn't the tech … it's US. 😬

Key Topics • The origin of cognitive security—and why it started with a thought experiment about AI and deception

• Why emotion, not information, is the real target in modern influence operations

• "Foreign vs. domestic" is a myth: why today's propaganda is homegrown as often as imported

• From DARPA to disinformation: what Rand learned about how ideas spread (and why they stick)

• The rise of affective computing—machines that read and react to human emotion

• Humor as protest: how "wicked fun" became a tactic for civil resistance in Macau

• Why censorship fails and "displacement storytelling" might actually work

• The danger of apathy and what real pushback against manipulation could look like

Resources + Links • Dr. Rand Waltzman — LinkedIn (best place to find him): https://www.linkedin.com/in/randwaltzman • Books mentioned

◦ Propaganda — Edward Bernays

◦ Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes — Jacques Ellul

◦ Affective Computing — Rosalind Picard (MIT Media Lab)

MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]. — FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!