Why do people reject information meant to help them?

In this episode of UnSpun, we explore psychological reactance — the instinct to resist control — and how it shapes our reactions to fact-checks, corrections, and even each other. From COVID-19 warning labels to social-media fatigue and holiday-table arguments, DrSturg traces how the need for freedom can make truth feel like pressure. And she offers a better way to get people to stop rejecting facts.

Topics covered:

– What psychological reactance is

– How social media architecture amplifies defiance

– Why corrections often backfire

– How to talk to friends or family who reject facts

– The emotional balance between truth and autonomy

#Reactance #Misinformation #MediaLiteracy #UnSpunPodcast #SocialMediaPsychology

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In today’s wars, the battlefield is more than land, sea, or air—it’s information.

This episode of UnSpun examines how media has become both a weapon and a target in the age of hybrid warfare. From Russian deepfakes in Ukraine to meme wars in U.S. politics, information has become the terrain where global power is contested.

Learn how disinformation systems are built, how governments—both authoritarian and democratic—deploy them, and how ordinary citizens can defend themselves.

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In this episode of UnSpun, we trace the invisible architecture that keeps truth alive when communication is forbidden.

From Phyllis Latour Doyle’s coded knitting in Nazi-occupied France to encrypted mesh networks during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, “The Geometry of Trust” reveals how humans build secret systems of meaning under surveillance.

This episode explores how communication itself becomes resistance when power demands silence.

🔗 Check my book on the #AltGov resistance movement here: https://amzn.to/4qDapCv🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this episode of UnSpun, we examine a phenomenon hiding in plain sight — the rise of civil religion. From stadium memorials that look like worship services to presidents who sound like preachers, faith and politics have fused into something new — and dangerous. We trace how America’s patriotic rituals became sacred texts, how global leaders have learned the same language, and what happens when dissent becomes heresy.

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What exactly is “hate speech”—and who gets to decide?

This episode of UnSpun traces the shifting definitions of hate speech across a century of mass media. From Henry Ford’s antisemitic newspaper in the 1920s to Father Coughlin’s radio sermons, from Rwanda’s radio-fueled genocide to Roseanne Barr’s infamous tweet, Don Imus’s firing, and the recent suspensions of Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert—we follow how governments, corporations, and audiences have drawn, erased, and redrawn the boundaries of speech.

Along the way, we uncover how U.S. free speech law differs from Europe’s, how the Chans incubated extremist movements, how YouTube’s “adpocalypse” reshaped platform rules, and how the FCC’s regulatory power still influences what voices we hear.

👉 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the forces that shape public perception, journalism, and democracy.

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Law and Order” — it sounds reassuring. But what does it really mean?

In this week’s episode of UnSpun, we unpack how those three words have been used across centuries — from 1500s England to 1960s Alabama to 2020s America — not just to fight crime, but to reshape societies.

In this episode, we explore:

• The hidden history of “law and order” as a political weapon
• How leaders like George Wallace, Richard Nixon, and Donald Trump used the phrase to suppress dissent
• The role of economic fear in making people trade freedom for control
• Global examples from Canada, China, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and beyond
• What the phrase means today — and why we should all listen carefully when it’s used

“Law and Order” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a signal — and sometimes, a warning.

🎧 Listen now to learn what’s really being promised.

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“You either agree with us… or you’re out.”

Ever felt like saying the wrong thing—even gently—could get you exiled from your community, your party, your friend group?

In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explores the rise of ideological purity tests:

• Why your social feed feels like a loyalty gauntlet
• How politicians, religious leaders, and even scientists use purity rhetoric to silence dissent
• The hidden power of wedge issues in dividing movements
• And how the internet has made it faster, more punishing, and more profitable

Learn how groupthink spreads, what purity logic does to our ability to think clearly, and what we can do to fight back.

Real-world examples from the U.S., Canada, Hungary, South America, Reddit, Wikipedia, and more.

It’s about identity, fear, and power and if you feel silenced, this one’s for you..

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Have you ever believed a video, article, or photo—only to realize it was completely fake? Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are making it cheaper and easier than ever to create convincing misinformation. In this UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explores the unsettling rise of AI-driven lies, what it means for journalism, politics, and democracy, and how you can keep yourself from falling for convincing fakes.

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Politicians don’t just post online—they surf the trends. In this episode of UnSpun, Dr Sturg explores agenda surfing: hijacking trending topics to gain attention, distract from controversy, or push unrelated agendas. From Germany''s far-right 120 decibels campaign to Trump's Twitter distractions and coordinated WhatsApp groups in India, we show how political actors use digital platforms to dominate the conversation. Plus, we explain how crises and media events create golden moments of “shared attention”—and how elites use them to amplify their power.

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Ever wonder why the same protest looks peaceful on one news channel and chaotic on another? In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg looks at how media coverage frames public demonstrations. Learn about the "protest paradigm," explore how journalists' choices shape your perception, and discover real-world examples from Black Lives Matter to historic marches in Birmingham and Occupy Wall Street.

🔍 What you'll learn in this episode:

• How media framing can turn peaceful demonstrations into perceived threats
• Why dramatic images of violence dominate headlines
• Real-world examples from global protests and what media gets wrong (and right!)
• Practical tips on how YOU can critically evaluate protest coverage

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