Magical Overthinkers

Overthinking About Doing Your Own Research


Listen Later

“Do your own research.” It sounds empowering… so why does it so often lead us straight into confusion, conspiracy, or complete information overload? This week, Amanda is joined by pharmacist and science communicator Dr. Harini Bhat (@tilscience) to overthink what it really means to “do your own research” in the age of the internet. They unpack how a phrase rooted in curiosity became a cultural catchphrase for skepticism, distrust, and DIY fact finding. Why do we feel so confident after reading a few threads or watching a couple of videos? How do algorithms, bias, and the illusion of understanding shape what we think we “know”? And where’s the line between healthy questioning and going down the rabbit hole? A brain bending spiral about knowledge, misinformation, and why thinking critically might be harder (and more necessary) than ever.

  • Further Viewing: Today I Learned Science by Dr. Harini Bhat

    - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.

    - To access early, ad free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.

    - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.


    • Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at⁠ https://SHOPIFY.COM/⁠⁠magic⁠⁠al⁠
    • Shop plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/magical


      Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Magical OverthinkersBy Amanda Montell & Studio71

      • 4.3
      • 4.3
      • 4.3
      • 4.3
      • 4.3

      4.3

      590 ratings


      More shows like Magical Overthinkers

      View all
      This American Life by This American Life

      This American Life

      91,008 Listeners

      Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

      Death, Sex & Money

      7,714 Listeners

      BEAUTY NEWS by Studio71

      BEAUTY NEWS

      113 Listeners

      You're Wrong About by Sarah Marshall

      You're Wrong About

      21,921 Listeners

      Making Moves with TK by Taylor King & Red Circle

      Making Moves with TK

      1,249 Listeners

      The Dream by Little Everywhere

      The Dream

      15,007 Listeners

      American Hysteria by chelsey weber-smith

      American Hysteria

      3,358 Listeners

      Fanboi with Harley Morenstein by Studio71

      Fanboi with Harley Morenstein

      189 Listeners

      Manifest with Tori DeSimone by Tori DeSimone

      Manifest with Tori DeSimone

      1,576 Listeners

      Down to Date with Kendall Long by Studio71

      Down to Date with Kendall Long

      301 Listeners

      Past Gas by Donut Media

      Past Gas

      6,719 Listeners

      Conspirituality by Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker

      Conspirituality

      2,069 Listeners

      You Are Good by Alex Steed

      You Are Good

      2,741 Listeners

      Corey Scherer's Wheel of Fate by Corey Scherer & Studio71

      Corey Scherer's Wheel of Fate

      83 Listeners

      Maintenance Phase by Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes

      Maintenance Phase

      16,833 Listeners

      OutSpoken by Sam Collins & Studio71

      OutSpoken

      1,007 Listeners

      Creative Hotline by Allen Gannett, Shane Snow & Studio71

      Creative Hotline

      61 Listeners

      Sounds Like A Cult by Studio71

      Sounds Like A Cult

      4,170 Listeners

      Erin is the Funny One by Jack Douglass and Erin Breslin & Studio71

      Erin is the Funny One

      1,346 Listeners

      The Man Cave Podcast W/ Big Daws by Dawson Gurley & Studio71

      The Man Cave Podcast W/ Big Daws

      14 Listeners

      Pride House LA by Pride House LA and Studio71

      Pride House LA

      126 Listeners

      Drew Blood's Dark Tales — A Horror Fiction Anthology and Scary Stories Podcast by Chilling Entertainment

      Drew Blood's Dark Tales — A Horror Fiction Anthology and Scary Stories Podcast

      650 Listeners

      Normal Gossip by Normal Gossip

      Normal Gossip

      5,770 Listeners

      Petty Crimes by Podcast Nation

      Petty Crimes

      898 Listeners

      Fear From the Heartland — A Horror Fiction Anthology and Scary Stories Podcast by Chilling Entertainment

      Fear From the Heartland — A Horror Fiction Anthology and Scary Stories Podcast

      160 Listeners

      If Books Could Kill by Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

      If Books Could Kill

      9,412 Listeners

      Girl Talk by Adelaine Morin by Adelaine Morin & Studio71

      Girl Talk by Adelaine Morin

      233 Listeners

      A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein by Matt Bernstein

      A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein

      2,609 Listeners

      Made It Out by Made It Out Media

      Made It Out

      1,064 Listeners

      Culture Study Podcast by Anne Helen Petersen

      Culture Study Podcast

      717 Listeners

      Talk Talk Nation by Donut Media

      Talk Talk Nation

      158 Listeners

      Beautiful Twin Sisters Podcast by Beautiful Twin Sisters

      Beautiful Twin Sisters Podcast

      216 Listeners

      Unfiltered Kitchen with Cheyenne Davis and Kyle Floyd by Cheyenne Davis & Studio71

      Unfiltered Kitchen with Cheyenne Davis and Kyle Floyd

      195 Listeners

      Proxy with Yowei Shaw by Yowei Shaw

      Proxy with Yowei Shaw

      570 Listeners

      Thanks for Tipping with Tim Chantarangsu & Megan Batoon by Tim Chantarangsu and Megan Batoon & Studio71

      Thanks for Tipping with Tim Chantarangsu & Megan Batoon

      70 Listeners