Skeptical Thinker Podcast

Welcome Back! This week's episode has had a few technical difficulties. After loosing the whole show, we tried to re-record the episode, but it sounds like Jamie had some issues with the transmission and so, the sound work will need to continue. We appreciate you listening, and hope you will stick with us as we learn more about how to work this podcast while being in two different locations! Enjoy the episode! This week we talk about a book on Enlightenment that Leah read called, How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, by Mike Waldmen and Andrew Newburg.

resources:

1. Andrew Newberg. (n.d.). Andrew Newberg. https://www.andrewnewberg.com/
2. Insight Network, Inc. (n.d.). Insight Timer - #1 free meditation app for sleep, relax & more. Insight Network, Inc. Copyright (C) 2021. https://insighttimer.com/
3. Lovering, C. (2022, March 31). How to practice Loving-Kindness Meditation. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/loving-kindness-meditation#definition
4. NeuroWisdom – Control your mind with neuroscience. (n.d.). https://www.markrobertwaldman.com/
5. Newberg, A., & Waldman, M. R. (2016). How enlightenment changes your brain: The New Science of Transformation. Penguin.

Hi there! Today, Jamie and Leah are discussing a class that Jamie is taking on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in science education. Particularly, how to get students to develop a STEM Identity. We are discussing a book by Dr. Christopher Emdin, an amazing advocate and visionary in the field of education. Join us as we dig deeper into science education and how students today need to identify and feel competent in everything science.

Citations:

1. D, C. E. P. (2022). Stem, steam, make, dream: Reimagining the Culture of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. International Center for Leadership in Education.
2. Davis, T., PhD. (2024, May 29). Want to increase your chances of success? Then develop your growth mindset. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-for-happiness/201904/15-ways-to-build-a-growth-mindset
3. Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership | Mendoza College of Business | University of Notre Dame. (n.d.). The Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. https://ethicalleadership.nd.edu/thought-leadership/how-to-stop-the-spreadof-misinformation
4. Promoting Identity and Equity in STEM: Messages from the Learning. (n.d.). NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/winter-2025/promoting-identity-equity-stem
5. Psychology, P. (2022, July 4). Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Thinking and Examples. Practical Psychology. https://practicalpie.com/fixed-vs-growth-mindset-thinking-and-examples/
6. Romero, C. & MASTER, A. (2015). WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. https://studentexperiencenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/What-We-Know-About-Growth-Mindset.pdf
7. Shaping positive STEM identity for Student success | ASM.org. (n.d.). ASM.org. https://asm.org/articles/2023/september/shaping-positive-stem-identity-for-student-success
8. Teaching current events. (2019, August 2). Facing History & Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-current-events
9. Three mindset shifts that can help students succeed. (n.d.). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_mindset_shifts_that_can_help_students_succeed

Jamie finally finished the book, "How To Talk to a Science Denier." Join Jamie and Leah as they discuss the difficult process of unpacking denial mentality and the arduous process of trying to talk to deniers.

Citations:

1. Author Lee McIntyre. (n.d.). https://leemcintyrebooks.com/
2. Gwazi Magnum. (2014, November 23). Vaccines cause Autism - If Google Was A Guy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77GGn-E607E
3. Kahan, D. M. (2017). Misconceptions, misinformation, and the logic of Identity-Protective Cognition. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2973067
4. McIntyre, L. (2021). How to Talk to a Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason. https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/5169/How-to-Talk-to-a-Science-DenierConversations-with

Hi there! In today's episode, Leah and Jamie discuss the need to change the way science communicators show how they all agree on the data. It may seem like just semantics, but the word consensus has been confusing the general public for a long time, and it is easy to manipulate this confusion to sway public opinion. This will lead us to the next episode where we will discuss a 2021 book: How To Talk to a Science Denier. Enjoy today's episode!

Citations:

1. Hawks, J. (2025, April 27). Consilience, convergence, and consensus. John Hawks. https://www.johnhawks.net/p/consilience-convergence-and-consensus
2. Podcast: Scientific Consensus: A concept past its expiration date? (2025, May 21). American Council on Science and Health. https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/05/21/podcast-scientific-consensus-concept-past-its-expiration-date-49497
3. Starling, M. (2025, May 19). Monkeys are kidnapping babies of another species on a Panamanian island, perplexing scientists. CNN Science. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/science/monkey-kidnappings-jicaron-island-panama
4. Thomas, L. (2020, July 10). Single, Double & Triple Blind Study | Definition & Examples. skribbr.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/double-blind-study/
5. Thorp, H. H. (2025). Convergence and consensus. Science, 388(6745), 339. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady3211

This week's episode was a little late in getting out, but here it is: the second part of the State of the Heart Report, from 6seconds.org. Leah and Jamie discuss the idea of Emotional Intelligence and how there appears to be a downward trend in EQ (Emotional Quotient) in the world, especially in certain demographics. Check out the citations if you want to access the complete report.

Citations:

1. Affordable Counseling | Affordable Therapy | Open Path Collective. (n.d.). Open Path Collective. https://openpathcollective.org/
2. Emotional Intelligence Test. (2025, April 10). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/personality/emotional-intelligence-test
3. Freedman, J. (2024). State of the heart. In https://6sec.org/soh.
4. FunkyFrogBait. (2025, May 2). How to be a MAN (According to Instagram reels) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV8RfJVwaoE
5. Six Seconds. (2022, February 2). Interactive Wellbeing Balancing Scale • Six seconds. https://www.6seconds.org/scale/

Today's episode comes from an article that Jamie and Leah read about urgency and the power of emotional intelligence. This led us to an even bigger report on the State of the Heart, a report of the state of EQ, or Emotional Intelligence. While this week we discuss mainly the first article, we will circle back to the bigger article next week. Enjoy!

Citations:

Tanon-Olsson, A. (2025, May 7). Overcoming Urgency: How emotional intelligence helps you slow down and focus on what truly matters. Six Seconds. https://www.6seconds.org/2025/05/06/overcoming-urgency-how-emotional-intelligence-helps/

This week, Leah and Jamie discuss a short article that summarizes a longer article from the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS). Both articles are found in the citations listed below, but the longer article is behind a paywall. Jamie gives a pretty good review of both articles, and they both discuss how white matter can be affected by the stability of the environment in which children live. A sobering and crucial discussion that has significant impact on children of color and those who live in struggling family environments.

Citations:

1. Black, R. (2025, April 14). Is this really a dire wolf? Here’s how the ‘de-extinct’ pups compare to the real thing. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/dire-wolf-deextinction-colossal-paleontology
2. Early experiences shape the brain’s ‘communication superhighways’ to affect cognition. (2025, April 7). American Academy of Applied Science. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.science.org/content/article/early-experiences-shape-brain-s-communication-superhighways-affect-cognition
3. Ghosh, P. (2025, April 17). Scientists find promising hints of life on distant planet K2-18b. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39jj9vkr34o
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, February 16). Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_James_Webb_Space_Telescope

Hi there! Jamie and Leah took the week off last week to get some personal things done. Hope you didn't miss us too much. This week, we re-recorded an episode that didn't work out because of bad audio. We focused on an article of the 50 things women couldn't do before 1970. It's quite a list. Hope you enjoy!

Citations:

1. 40 basic rights women did not have until the 1970s - History collection. (n.d.). History Collection. https://historycollection.com/40-basic-rights-women-did-not-have-until-the-1970s/
2. Erber, E. (2025, March 26). The real Story - Kathrine Switzer - Marathon Woman. Kathrine Switzer - Marathon Woman. https://kathrineswitzer.com/1967-boston-marathon-the-real-story/

It's getting trickier than ever to be a skeptical thinker. This week's episode wades into the turbid waters of genetics and the views coming from the fringe that there are real genetic differences between races - in particular the idea that white genetics are superior to any other race. While this is preposterous, there appears to be groups who are feeling more emboldened to push these false narratives using pseudoscience. Leah and Jamie try to debunk without giving voice to the platform. Check out our show citations below. Also, like us on any of the platforms. We don't do this for any monetary gain, but it would be great to hear if you are out there listening. you can email us at this link: email. You can also like us on our Facebook Page.

Citations:

1. Smart, A. (2025, March 26). In genetics, a tense coexistence of mainstream and fringe views. Undark Magazine. https://undark.org/2025/03/26/unleashed-genetics-intelligence/?et_cid=5575266
2. Smithsonian Natural Museum of American History. (n.d.). Homepage The Bias inside Us. https://biasinsideus.si.edu/
3. Staff, H. B. (2025, April 2). The Moments that Change Us | Hidden Brain Media. Hidden Brain Media. https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-moments-that-change-us/
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025a, March 14). Human Genome Project - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project
5. Wikipedia contributors. (2025b, March 22). Mankind quarterly. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mankind_Quarterly

This week Jamie and Leah try to tackle an article that discusses the need for better representation of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) Fields. We try really hard to stay on topic, but the Transgender issues are so large, that we tend to struggle with focus. No doubt, we will be covering this issue and gender issues again. We do think that this is a great episode - and one that will get you thinking different about gender. Check out the original article here, and check out all the interesting sources in the show notes below.

Sources:

1. Adamczeski, R. (2024, June 28). Gender-affirming care is primarily used by cisgender people. Advocate.com. https://www.advocate.com/health/gender-affirming-surgery-minors-rate
2. Honoring Nex Benedict, a 16-Year-Old Non-Binary Oklahoma High School. . . (2024, April 18). HRC. https://www.hrc.org/news/honoring-nex-benedict-16-year-old-non-binary-high-school-student-who-tragically-died-after-school-beating
3. Jacobs, P. (n.d.). ‘We’re hurting.’ Trans scientists call for recognition and support from research community. https://www.science.org. https://www.science.org/content/article/we-re-hurting-trans-scientists-call-recognition-and-support-research-community?et_cid=5575266
4. Krisha Et Al., A. (n.d.). Rigorous science demands support of transgender scientists. Cell, 6, 1327–1334. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00187-9
5. Sex and gender in science. (n.d.). https://www.nature.com/immersive/sex-and-gender-in-science/index.html
6. The Hastings Center. (2023, June 14). Gender-Affirming Care for Cisgender People: Q&A with Theodore Schall and Jacob Moses - The Hastings Center. https://www.thehastingscenter.org/news/gender-affirming-care-for-cisgender-people-qa-with-theodore-schall-and-jacob-moses/
7. Turban, J. (2024, February 20). The Disturbing History of Research into Transgender Identity. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-disturbing-history-of-research-into-transgender-identity/
8. Why it’s essential to study sex and gender, even as tensions rise. (2024). Nature, 629(8010), 7–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01207-0