Unspun

By Amanda Sturgill

Unspun is critical thinking about the news. Hear real examples, past and present, of newsmakers attempting to mislead you and understand how they manipulate the truth. Learn how to avoid being sway

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4.6

118118 ratings

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FAQs about Unspun:

How many episodes does Unspun have?

The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

Unspun episodes:

June 25, 2024 Using rules as a weapon (Episode 21 feat. Ajay Parasram and Alex Khasnabish )
We learn as children to follow the rules, but sometimes people use the rules deceptively to avoid addressing uncomfortable topics. Dr. Sturg goes through examples of misplaced focus and talks with Ajay Parasram and Alex Khasnabish, hosts of a YouTube series called "Frequently Asked White Questions."
Check out Frequently Asked White Questions
Follow Ajay Parasram
Follow Alex Khasnabish

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
35min
June 18, 2024 Episode 20.5 Why do people pay attention to the news?
You have a lot of choices about how to spend your time, so how and why do you choose to spend it with certain media? In this episode, Dr. Sturg breaks down the things that make media appealing and shows how deceptive newsmakers can use these human tendencies against you.
Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
17min
June 11, 2024 Episode 20: Data journalism (feat. Ben Welsh)
From COVID to presidential sex scandals, newsmakers use distraction to tell the story they want and take your attention from the story you *need*. Dr. Sturg breaks down this common issues with several examples of politician deception for you to try your skills.
Then, she and award-winning journalist Ben Welsh talk about data journalism. Data stories are some of the most popular that journalists do, letting them get first-hand truth and create fun interactive pieces like election maps and more.

Follow Ben Welsh
Follow Ben on social media

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
38min
June 04, 2024 Episode 19.5 - How news interviews work
How does the news decide who to interview, and what do they do with people who just don't want to answer the questions? Dr. Sturg breaks it down in this week's mini-sode of UnSpun.

Here's an example of a newsmaker being evasive in an interview.

Send us your questions and comments at [email protected] and don't forget to like and subscribe!

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Website - [email protected]
The Book - We are #AltGov
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
20min
May 28, 2024 Episode 19: Courts and media coverage (feat. Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti)
Do attorneys plan for media coverage as a part of a trial? Do reporters covering courts do a good job, or are they missing things. Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti answer questions about the intersection between the courts and the media in this episode of UnSpun. Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti have a ton of experience in different parts of the justice system and host the It's Complicated podcast that's part of MSW Media. They talk about how lawyers see the reporters who cover courts and what they think about defendants who want to speak to the public.
Listen to It's Complicated.
Follow Asha Rangappa
Follow Renato Mariotti

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
39min
May 21, 2024 UnSpun Rewind - Getting along with difficult people
They are name-calling in congressional committees and judges don't like it when witnesses roll their eyes. It's summer travel time in North America, and as we get ready to go see those relatives we really disagree with, we're re-airing an episode on getting along across difference.
Dr. Sturg breaks down the research on how you can get along and maybe even help someone change their mind.
Send us your questions and comments at [email protected] and don't forget to like and subscribe!

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Website - Sturg says
The Book - We are #AltGov
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
19min
May 14, 2024 Episode 18.5: Headlines for news are changing
Headlines are a changing art, as the pressures of digital algorithms are forcing news makers to emphasize the popular over the important. In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explains how headlines come to be and shares the latest research on how that affects you, the audience.
Tweet about NYT article with buried lede.

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov: Inside the Resistance on Social Media

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
25min
May 07, 2024 Episode 18: The Big Lie (feat. Jen Mercieca)
If you repeat a lie enough, people may start to believe it. This idea of the big lie has been around for a while, but the last 8 years it has been so bad that fact checkers had to create a whole new rating level for how bad the lying is. Dr. Sturg breaks down the history of the big lie and shows how surrogates and supporters help to spread it.
In the interview, author and professor Dr. Jen Mercieca breaks down Texas politics, explains how dead Greek guys have a lot to say about productive communication and how fraught the present moment is in politics and democracy.
Follow Jen
Twitter (X): @jenmercieca
Resolute Square
Check out Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump
Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov: Inside the Resistance on Social Media

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
44min
April 30, 2024 Episode 17.5 Are press briefings PR?
In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg breaks down how press conferences work and how they are used to shape the public's view of what a newsmaker is doing. Plus, a logical thinking review.
Washington Post article on Chanel Rion and OANN's presence at White House Press Conferences

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
17min
April 23, 2024 Episode 17: The final word on bad analogies (feat. Frangela)
Angela V. Shelton and Frances Callier, Frangela, host the very popular The Final Word podcast on the MSW Media Network. But the podcast is just one waypoint in an accomplished career in comedy and acting. The artists discuss the rewards and challenges they have faced in their careers, explain why representation benefits everyone and give the inside scoop on what happens at a comedian house party.
Follow Frangela
Final Word podcast
Idiot of the Week podcast
Social Media

Follow Dr. Sturg
Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack
Questions and Tips
[email protected]
Dr. Sturg’s Books
Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News
We are #AltGov

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
47min

FAQs about Unspun:

How many episodes does Unspun have?

The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

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