David McRaney
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
How Minds Change: http://bit.ly/3rwtxFO | YANSS: http://YouAreNotSoSmart.com | Exploring Genius: http://bit.ly/31pO9EI | Speaking: http://davidmcraney.com
According to actual, real studies into this sort of thing, the number of people needed to ensure a protest movement succeeds is much lower than you might assume:
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Apple Podcats: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6og4...
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Apple Podcats: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6og4...
YANSS 313 – Why the number of people needed to make a protest movement successful is much lower than you might assume
If you want to overthrow a dictator, resist an authoritarian regime, or create a movement that can change the national status quo, you don’t need half the country to join, you only need 3.5 p…
youarenotsosmart.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
According to actual, real studies into this sort of thing, the number of people needed to ensure a protest movement succeeds is much lower than you might assume:
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Apple Podcats: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6og4...
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Apple Podcats: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6og4...
Always relevant: youarenotsosmart.com/2024/01/20/y...
YANSS 279 – Why people don’t speak out against, and even defend, norms they secretly despise
Have you ever been in a classroom or a business meeting or a conference and had a question or been confused by the presentation, and when the person running the show asked, “Does anyone have …
youarenotsosmart.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Always relevant: youarenotsosmart.com/2024/01/20/y...
My first morning as the writer-in-residence at Ernest Hemingway's house. Info about this place: comlib.org/hemingway/he...
September 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
My first morning as the writer-in-residence at Ernest Hemingway's house. Info about this place: comlib.org/hemingway/he...
Reposted by David McRaney
Great case for knowing your most cherished identities to recognise when your misinformation radar is likely to fail.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
@matthewfacciani.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/y...
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
@matthewfacciani.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/y...
320 - Misguided - Matthew Facciani
Podcast Episode · You Are Not So Smart · 18/08/2025 · 1h 9m
podcasts.apple.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Great case for knowing your most cherished identities to recognise when your misinformation radar is likely to fail.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
@matthewfacciani.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/y...
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
@matthewfacciani.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/y...
Had to use a VPN to get on BlueSky to let you know that I drank chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast out of a Mason jar for lunch before writing about the role of hermeneutics in the pursuit of intellectual humility when avoiding the fallacy of reification concerning abstractions like "genius" 👋
September 7, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Had to use a VPN to get on BlueSky to let you know that I drank chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast out of a Mason jar for lunch before writing about the role of hermeneutics in the pursuit of intellectual humility when avoiding the fallacy of reification concerning abstractions like "genius" 👋
Reposted by David McRaney
A big THANK YOU to @davidmcraney.bsky.social for featuring the #LoveFactually podcast on #YouAreNotSoSmart!
The episode delves into #TheNotebook, figuring out what the movie gets right -- and what it gets wrong -- about how relationships work.
Enjoy!
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/08/04/y...
The episode delves into #TheNotebook, figuring out what the movie gets right -- and what it gets wrong -- about how relationships work.
Enjoy!
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/08/04/y...
YANSS 319 – What movies often get wrong about romantic love, relationships, and human mating in general
Two psychologists who study love, relationships, and human mating behavior pick apart the movie “The Notebook” and tell us what it gets right and what it gets wrong when it comes to por…
youarenotsosmart.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A big THANK YOU to @davidmcraney.bsky.social for featuring the #LoveFactually podcast on #YouAreNotSoSmart!
The episode delves into #TheNotebook, figuring out what the movie gets right -- and what it gets wrong -- about how relationships work.
Enjoy!
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/08/04/y...
The episode delves into #TheNotebook, figuring out what the movie gets right -- and what it gets wrong -- about how relationships work.
Enjoy!
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/08/04/y...
I think this is super rad and want you to know about it: I am headed to Chicago right now to attend a conference of scientists who study disagreement at the Center for Enlightened Disagreement at Northwestern. Article about the launch of this place: www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/blog/20...
‘Center for Enlightened Disagreement’ launches at Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management
Novel center will attract top academics and thought leaders across sectors to develop better ways to engage across diverse perspectives
www.kellogg.northwestern.edu
July 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I think this is super rad and want you to know about it: I am headed to Chicago right now to attend a conference of scientists who study disagreement at the Center for Enlightened Disagreement at Northwestern. Article about the launch of this place: www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/blog/20...
Reposted by David McRaney
@davidmcraney.bsky.social talking to Britt Frank is one of my favourite things. I loved this episode both times I listened to it. I just hope it won’t take a third time before I put into practice some of the really useful advice that Britt doles out. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/y...
318 - The Intention Action Gap - Britt Frank (rebroadcast)
Podcast Episode · You Are Not So Smart · 21/07/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
July 25, 2025 at 2:53 PM
@davidmcraney.bsky.social talking to Britt Frank is one of my favourite things. I loved this episode both times I listened to it. I just hope it won’t take a third time before I put into practice some of the really useful advice that Britt doles out. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/y...
Reposted by David McRaney
As this episode of one of the best podcasts around explains, people who believe in conspiratorial narratives are often intelligent, & their retreat into dangerous nonsense like Q can be seen as a rational (but flawed & fearful) attempt to make sense of an irrational world. @davidmcraney.bsky.social
YANSS 151 – What we can learn about our own beliefs, biases, and motivated reasoning from the community of people who are certain the Earth is flat
In this episode we sit down with the director and producers of the documentary film, Behind the Curve, an exploration of motivated reasoning and conspiratorial thinking told through the lives of pe…
youarenotsosmart.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
As this episode of one of the best podcasts around explains, people who believe in conspiratorial narratives are often intelligent, & their retreat into dangerous nonsense like Q can be seen as a rational (but flawed & fearful) attempt to make sense of an irrational world. @davidmcraney.bsky.social
Reminder: The smarter a person is and the more education they earn, the better they will become at rationalizing and justifying their incorrect beliefs if so motivated..
Critical thinking is a skill, like playing guitar. It must be learned and practiced (and the person must want to do both).
Critical thinking is a skill, like playing guitar. It must be learned and practiced (and the person must want to do both).
July 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reminder: The smarter a person is and the more education they earn, the better they will become at rationalizing and justifying their incorrect beliefs if so motivated..
Critical thinking is a skill, like playing guitar. It must be learned and practiced (and the person must want to do both).
Critical thinking is a skill, like playing guitar. It must be learned and practiced (and the person must want to do both).
Seems a good time to re-share this episode of YANSS about why civil resistance is incredibly powerful and how that works (scientifically), but also what it takes to make it work after the soldiers and police arrive. Guest: @chenoweth.bsky.social - Links: youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
YANSS 313 – Why the number of people needed to make a protest movement successful is much lower than you might assume
If you want to overthrow a dictator, resist an authoritarian regime, or create a movement that can change the national status quo, you don’t need half the country to join, you only need 3.5 p…
youarenotsosmart.com
June 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Seems a good time to re-share this episode of YANSS about why civil resistance is incredibly powerful and how that works (scientifically), but also what it takes to make it work after the soldiers and police arrive. Guest: @chenoweth.bsky.social - Links: youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Reposted by David McRaney
Why civil resistance works, and why the number of people needed to reach a protest movement's goals is much lower than you might assume: New episode with Erica Chenoweth -
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
YANSS 313 – Why the number of people needed to make a protest movement successful is much lower than you might assume
If you want to overthrow a dictator, resist an authoritarian regime, or create a movement that can change the national status quo, you don’t need half the country to join, you only need 3.5 p…
youarenotsosmart.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Why civil resistance works, and why the number of people needed to reach a protest movement's goals is much lower than you might assume: New episode with Erica Chenoweth -
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Why civil resistance works, and why the number of people needed to reach a protest movement's goals is much lower than you might assume: New episode with Erica Chenoweth -
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
YANSS 313 – Why the number of people needed to make a protest movement successful is much lower than you might assume
If you want to overthrow a dictator, resist an authoritarian regime, or create a movement that can change the national status quo, you don’t need half the country to join, you only need 3.5 p…
youarenotsosmart.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Why civil resistance works, and why the number of people needed to reach a protest movement's goals is much lower than you might assume: New episode with Erica Chenoweth -
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
@chenoweth.bsky.social - youarenotsosmart.com/2025/05/14/y...
Reposted by David McRaney
@davidmcraney.bsky.social introduces a special critical thinking issue—featuring @critikid.bsky.social, @thinkingpowers.bsky.social, @quackwatch.bsky.social, and more.
Explore the intro and full issue: skepticalinquirer.org/2025/04/teac...
#CriticalThinking #ScienceEd
Explore the intro and full issue: skepticalinquirer.org/2025/04/teac...
#CriticalThinking #ScienceEd
May 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM
@davidmcraney.bsky.social introduces a special critical thinking issue—featuring @critikid.bsky.social, @thinkingpowers.bsky.social, @quackwatch.bsky.social, and more.
Explore the intro and full issue: skepticalinquirer.org/2025/04/teac...
#CriticalThinking #ScienceEd
Explore the intro and full issue: skepticalinquirer.org/2025/04/teac...
#CriticalThinking #ScienceEd
Why the people who are most likely to suggest that you “do your own research” are also the least likely to do their own research: youarenotsosmart.com/2023/08/19/y...
YANSS 267 – Why the people who are most likely to suggest that you “do your own research” are also the least likely to do their own research
Sedona Chinn, a researcher who studies how people make sense of competing scientific, environmental, and health-related claims, joins us to discuss her latest research into doing your own research.…
youarenotsosmart.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Why the people who are most likely to suggest that you “do your own research” are also the least likely to do their own research: youarenotsosmart.com/2023/08/19/y...
Hey everyone wondering if you can ever get through to people stuck in cult-like thinking and change their minds (spoiler - you can).
How Minds Change is, right now, a Kindle Daily Deal on Amazon. You can grab the ebook for $1.99
Limited time, ends at midnight, here's a link: a.co/d/gMmjgU0
How Minds Change is, right now, a Kindle Daily Deal on Amazon. You can grab the ebook for $1.99
Limited time, ends at midnight, here's a link: a.co/d/gMmjgU0
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion - Kindle edition by McRaney, David. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion.
a.co
April 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Hey everyone wondering if you can ever get through to people stuck in cult-like thinking and change their minds (spoiler - you can).
How Minds Change is, right now, a Kindle Daily Deal on Amazon. You can grab the ebook for $1.99
Limited time, ends at midnight, here's a link: a.co/d/gMmjgU0
How Minds Change is, right now, a Kindle Daily Deal on Amazon. You can grab the ebook for $1.99
Limited time, ends at midnight, here's a link: a.co/d/gMmjgU0
Saved a turtle. Found him in the garage, took him to a pond. Put down 1,000 words in the manuscript for my next book (about the cognitive linguistic beauty of difficult to define words). Edited tomorrow’s podcast about psychology of parts work. Now learning Money for Nothing on guitar. Good day.
March 30, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Saved a turtle. Found him in the garage, took him to a pond. Put down 1,000 words in the manuscript for my next book (about the cognitive linguistic beauty of difficult to define words). Edited tomorrow’s podcast about psychology of parts work. Now learning Money for Nothing on guitar. Good day.
New episode: The science behind how our propensity for magical thinking can lead us to deceive each other by first deceiving ourselves – youarenotsosmart.com/2025/03/03/y...
YANSS 308 – The science behind how our propensity for magical thinking can lead us to deceive each other by first deceiving ourselves
In this episode, the story of Clever Hans, the horse who changed psychology for the better. We also sit down with psychologist and magician Matt Tompkins. Matt is the author of The Spectacle of Ill…
youarenotsosmart.com
March 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
New episode: The science behind how our propensity for magical thinking can lead us to deceive each other by first deceiving ourselves – youarenotsosmart.com/2025/03/03/y...
On the 10th anniversary of The Dress, I checked in on Pascal Wallisch, one of the NYU psychologists whose research revealed why we see it differently. He told me he considers it “the ultimate temporal touchstone” of the before COVID times. He was also wearing the dress (will post to YANSS Patreon):
February 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
On the 10th anniversary of The Dress, I checked in on Pascal Wallisch, one of the NYU psychologists whose research revealed why we see it differently. He told me he considers it “the ultimate temporal touchstone” of the before COVID times. He was also wearing the dress (will post to YANSS Patreon):
Reposted by David McRaney
Thrilled to talk #misinformation and what we can do about it with @davidmcraney.bsky.social on his wildly popular ‘You Are Not So Smart’ podcast. I was joined by co-authors @katiejoseff.bsky.social and Samuel Woolley—check out the episode here!”
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
YANSS 307 – Why resistance to true news that you would rather not believe can be stronger than susceptibility to fake news that you wish was true
In this episode, we sit down with three disinformation researchers whose new paper found something surprising about both our resistance (and our susceptibility) to both true news we wish was fake a…
youarenotsosmart.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Thrilled to talk #misinformation and what we can do about it with @davidmcraney.bsky.social on his wildly popular ‘You Are Not So Smart’ podcast. I was joined by co-authors @katiejoseff.bsky.social and Samuel Woolley—check out the episode here!”
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
New episode: Why you are more likely to doubt true news that you would rather not believe than you are to believe fake news you wish was true (no matter your ideology): youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
YANSS 307 – Why resistance to true news that you would rather not believe can be stronger than susceptibility to fake news that you wish was true
In this episode, we sit down with three disinformation researchers whose new paper found something surprising about both our resistance (and our susceptibility) to both true news we wish was fake a…
youarenotsosmart.com
February 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
New episode: Why you are more likely to doubt true news that you would rather not believe than you are to believe fake news you wish was true (no matter your ideology): youarenotsosmart.com/2025/02/20/y...
Reposted by David McRaney
Does the culture you grow up in shape the way you see the world? In a new Psych Review paper, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & I tackle this centuries-old question using the Müller-Lyer illusion as a case study. Come think through one of history's mysteries with us🧵(1/13):
January 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Does the culture you grow up in shape the way you see the world? In a new Psych Review paper, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & I tackle this centuries-old question using the Müller-Lyer illusion as a case study. Come think through one of history's mysteries with us🧵(1/13):
Reposted by David McRaney
Super excited to host @davidmcraney.bsky.social this month. Connect with us at www.linktree.com/cflfreethought
January 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Super excited to host @davidmcraney.bsky.social this month. Connect with us at www.linktree.com/cflfreethought
Reposted by David McRaney
Thoughtless Apple tech decisions are imperiling your favorite podcasts. If you want to help, check your feeds and download a bunch of episodes! It’s free!
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
‘This American Life’ faces rare staff cuts | Semafor
Host Ira Glass has quietly discussed the likely cuts with the show’s top leadership.
www.semafor.com
January 13, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Thoughtless Apple tech decisions are imperiling your favorite podcasts. If you want to help, check your feeds and download a bunch of episodes! It’s free!
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
If an article makes your side look bad, then "resistance to true news [is] stronger than susceptibility to fake news" no matter your ideology. And the more objective you believe you are, the stronger the effect: psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
January 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
If an article makes your side look bad, then "resistance to true news [is] stronger than susceptibility to fake news" no matter your ideology. And the more objective you believe you are, the stronger the effect: psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...