Ru Marshall: American Trickster - Carlos Castaneda
Critically Speaking
Ru Marshall pulls back the curtain on the man behind the myth of Carlos Castaneda, exposing the real lives, lies, and losses buried beneath his legendary books. In this episode, Therese Markow and Ru Marshall discuss the life and legacy of Carlos Castaneda, who claimed to have been trained as a shaman by Don Juan. Castaneda's books, which sold over 8 million copies, were initially believed but later dismissed as fiction. Marshall’s book, "American Trickster," explores Castaneda's origins in Peru and his life in the U.S. Castaneda, born Cesar Arana, was a charismatic storyteller who seduced...
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Patrick Wyman: Lost Worlds
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Patrick Wyman discuss Patrick’s latest book, Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World. Patrick also discusses his journey as a historian from studying the Fall of Rome to popular history. He emphasizes the importance of understanding past climactic changes and their impact on human societies, including the development of agriculture and the rise of social hierarchies. Patrick also highlights the significance of migration and the diverse burial practices that reveal aspects of ancient societies’ beliefs and social...
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Jeanne Marrazzo, MD: NIH-NIAID Lawsuit
Critically Speaking
When a globally respected infectious disease expert is abruptly sidelined by an anti‑vaccine administration, what does it reveal about the future of public health and scientific integrity? In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo discuss her termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the U.S. government. She highlighted NIAID's critical role in infectious disease research, funding $6.6 billion annually. Dr. Marrazzo criticized the new administration's anti-vaccine stance, cessation of global HIV/AIDS funding, and termination of clinical trials, which she argued...
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Dr. Chelsea Polis: Women's Reproductive Rights on the Move
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Chelsea Polis discuss the evolution of reproductive rights in the U.S., highlighting the 2022 Supreme Court decision revoking the right to abortion and the historical context of contraception access. Dr. Polis also explains fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and their effectiveness, noting that some methods have moderate quality studies suggesting high effectiveness, while others are less reliable. She emphasizes the importance of evidence-based information, the need for stronger regulation of femtech products, and the potential privacy risks...
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Osteoporosis and You
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Keith McCormick discuss what you need to know about osteoporosis and bone health. Dr. McCormick explains what causes osteoporosis, the importance of early bone density tests, and breaks down some of the lifestyle factors that affect bone health. They discuss the need for personalized treatment beyond only medication, and Dr. McCormick advocates for patient empowerment and comprehensive understanding to improve treatment outcomes. Key Takeaways: 50% of women will get osteoporosis. 20% of men will get osteoporosis. People...
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Dr. Dawn Sarno: Cyberscams and You
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Dawn Sarno, a leading expert on cyber scams, discuss the prevalence and detection of phishing scams. Dawn explains that phishing often targets older adults due to their perceived lack of tech savvy and higher financial stakes, but notes that younger adults are also vulnerable, often due to impulsivity and poor online habits. She highlights the rise of AI-generated deep fakes, which make scams more convincing and harder to detect. Dawn advises slowing down and verifying suspicious communications, emphasizing the importance of cyber hygiene practices, such...
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Dr. Daniel Buchman: Do You Suffer From Chronic Pain?
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Buchman discuss chronic pain, affecting over 20% of the population in the US, Canada, and Europe. Chronic pain (persisting pain lasting over three months) includes conditions like arthritis, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and phantom limb pain, among many others. Daniel highlights the challenges in pain assessment, the role of AI in pain management, and the ethical considerations, including bias in pain reporting. He notes that chronic pain increases suicide risk, and the conversation also touches on the stigma surrounding pain and opioid use....
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Dr. David Hill: Peanut and Food Allergies in Children
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. David Hill discuss the rise of peanut allergies in children. David explains that anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is common in children, often triggered by food. He emphasizes the importance of early allergen introduction to prevent allergies. The LEAP study from 2015 showed that introducing peanuts before six months reduces the risk of peanut allergy. They also discuss other common allergies and the fact that many children outgrow milk and egg allergies by age four. Key Takeaways: The major allergens are milk, egg, soy,...
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Dr. Fred Miller: The Autoimmune Disease Epidemic
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Fred Miller discuss the autoimmune disease epidemic, highlighting the economic burden and the rise of diseases like juvenile diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Miller explains that autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks the body, affecting various organs. He notes that there are at least 150 types of autoimmune diseases, with prevalence rates varying from 0.1% to 5% of the population - the exact number is unknown due to the need for better registries to track these diseases. Dr. Miller also discusses the role of genetics and...
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Dr. John Kisiel: Early Cancer Detection Liquid Biopsy
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. John Kisiel discuss early cancer detection using liquid biopsies. Dr. Kisiel explains that liquid biopsies detect cancer signals in blood and urine, including tumor cells, fragments, proteins, and DNA. He highlights the FDA's approval of a blood test for colon cancer and the development of multi-cancer early detection tests. Dr. Kisiel notes that false positive and false negative rates vary by test. He emphasizes the potential of liquid biopsies to complement, not replace, standard screening methods and the need for further validation and clinical...
info_outlineIn this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Joe Pierre discuss the phenomenon of false beliefs, as explored in his book, False. Joe explains the distinction between clinical delusions and delusion-like beliefs, emphasizing the continuum of belief conviction and the role of motivated reasoning. He highlights the impact of political affiliation on belief spread and the concept of "suicide by false belief." Joe also discusses the importance of intellectual humility, cognitive flexibility, and analytical thinking in combating misinformation. He notes Finland's success in addressing misinformation through societal education and advocates for a similar approach to foster a culture of truth.
Key Takeaways:
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There is a spectrum of conviction when we are discussing delusion-like beliefs - such as conspiracy theories.
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Misinformation refers to information that isn’t true. Disinformation is usually used to mean deliberate misinformation. Knowing the difference can be tricky because it relies on knowing the intent of the person spreading the misinformation.
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The Holy Trinity of Truth Detection is something people can learn and adopt - they aren’t always intuitive. They must be learned and valued for people to adopt them.
"False beliefs always have at least the potential for harm. They don't always cause harm, but they certainly carry the risk of harm. And these days, because of some of the false beliefs that are going around - like beliefs about vaccines or climate change denialism - I sometimes refer to what's going on right now as suicide by false belief, because these beliefs really are potentially dangerous." — Dr. Joe Pierre
Connect with Dr. Joe Pierre:
Professional Bio: https://drjoepierre.com/index.php/about/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychunseen/
Website: https://drjoepierre.com/
Book: https://drjoepierre.com/index.php/false/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-pierre-1b33469/
Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Threads: @critically_speaking
Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.