Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Lack of FDA Food Safety Oversight
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Aaron discuss the inadequate oversight of food additives by the FDA, particularly the agency's GRAS or “Generally Recognized as Safe” process, which allows unsafe additives to reach the market without proper scrutiny. Dr. Aaron highlights industry conflicts of interest, the lack of reporting requirements, the need for stricter regulation to protect public health, and discusses what is needed for the FDA to be better able to make impactful changes. Key Takeaways: The majority of food additives in the US are not vetted by...
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Dr. Paul Schulz: Hot News About Preventing Alzheimer's
Critically Speaking
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of staying up to date on your vaccines is? Well, new research is showing that not only does it help to prevent the disease the vaccine is protecting you from, but it may also reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Paul Schulz discuss the exciting discovery that influenza vaccines may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 40%. Dr. Schulz’s research suggests that high-dose vaccines (offered to those over the age of 65) are more effective, particularly in women....
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Dr. Zaldy Tan: What if it's Dementia?
Critically Speaking
Worried about what your forgetfulness really means and whether it’s just aging or the start of something more serious? Listen in as memory expert Dr. Zaldy Tan breaks down the different types of dementia, how early detection really works, and what you can do now to protect your brain and plan for the future. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Zaldy Tan discuss his new book, “What to Remember When You Are Forgetting,” which addresses cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Tan discusses the main types of dementia, the importance of early diagnosis, and how dementia varies from...
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Dr. Darren Linvill: Detecting Rampant Disinformation
Critically Speaking
Have you ever wondered how trolls, bots, and paid influencers are quietly manipulating what you see online and why even smart, skeptical people fall for it? Today, disinformation expert Dr. Darren Linvill pulls back the curtain on the tactics that bad actors are using to try and shape our beliefs. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Darren Linvill discuss the various forms of digital deception and the strategies used by state actors to manipulate global discourse. Dr. Linvill distinguishes between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation and gives examples of each,...
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Timothy Caulfield: The Certainty Illusion
Critically Speaking
Drowning in wellness hype, viral “experts,” and five-star opinions that feel more real than facts? In this episode, law and public health scholar Timothy Caulfield exposes the certainty illusion — how “scienceploitation”, predatory journals, and weaponized opinions quietly shape what we believe about our health. Today, Therese Markow and Timothy Caulfield discuss Tim’s latest book, break down the misinformation drivers that are contributing to the delegitimization of scientific expertise, and the three illusions that are being used to distort public perception. From...
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Dr. Aly Cohen: Killers in the Environment
Critically Speaking
The last few decades have seen a continuing rise in really serious and often fatal health problems. The list is long: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, autoimmune diseases, and autism, just to name a few. While vulnerability to disease often has an underlying genetic predisposition, there have to be environmental triggers to set these diseases in motion. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Aly Cohen discuss just these topics and what we can look for on a daily basis, as well as the small changes that we can, individually, do to make our lives a little healthier. ...
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Dr. Andrew Novick: Antidepressants and Mental Health
Critically Speaking
Have you or someone you loved considered taking antidepressants for mental health, but had concerns? Listen in as Dr. Andrew Novick talks about the research and the science behind these drugs and other options for those struggling with MDD and other mental health concerns. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Andrew Novick discuss major depressive disorder (MDD) and its treatment options. Dr. Novick explains the key characteristics of MDD and discusses some of the many treatment options, which include psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological...
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Dr. Justin Dubin: Men’s Sexual Health Q&A
Critically Speaking
From testosterone craze headlines to myths about prostate cancer, fertility, and aggression, men are getting a lot of confusing messages about their sexual health. Today, urologist and men’s health expert Dr. Justin Dubin cuts through the noise with science-backed answers to the questions men are often too embarrassed to ask. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Justin Dubin discuss listener questions regarding men’s sexual health. Dr. Dubin explains the nuances of testosterone levels, noting that normal ranges vary and can impact overall health. He highlights the importance of...
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Dr. Allison Daminger: Cognitive Labor in the Household: Is it Equal?
Critically Speaking
Do you ever feel exhausted by home life, even when the chores look “even”? This episode uncovers the hidden mental load running beneath every household and reveals how it quietly shapes stress, careers, and relationships. Today, Therese Markow and Dr. Allison Daminger discuss her research on cognitive labor, which reveals gender inequality in household decision-making. Allison interviewed 92 couples, and they discuss the results found between both queer and heterosexual couples throughout the study. These decisions were categorized into 10 domains, ranging from maintenance to...
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Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.: Beware of Narcissists
Critically Speaking
In this episode, Therese Markow and psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Scott discuss narcissism, its clinical definition, and the characteristics of “malignant narcissism”. Dr. Scott explains that narcissism involves patterns of grandiosity, a need for constant admiration, a lack of empathy, high levels of manipulation, and the narcissist’s “kryptonite” - criticism. They view themselves as the victim, never at fault. Despite their arrogance, they are very insecure. Dr. Scott also discusses why treatment is challenging and why therapy often focuses on managing symptoms rather than the deeper...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered how trolls, bots, and paid influencers are quietly manipulating what you see online and why even smart, skeptical people fall for it? Today, disinformation expert Dr. Darren Linvill pulls back the curtain on the tactics that bad actors are using to try and shape our beliefs.
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Darren Linvill discuss the various forms of digital deception and the strategies used by state actors to manipulate global discourse. Dr. Linvill distinguishes between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation and gives examples of each, including tactics used by different international organizations from Iran, China, Israel, North Korea, and others. He also discusses the psychological impact that this disinformation has on humanity.
Key Takeaways:
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Fraud is the oldest form of disinformation, and it's rampant across social media. It's a multi-billion-dollar industry.
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The main way that AI is being used right now to disseminate false information, disinformation, whether it's fraud or political disinformation, is the scale at which this content is created.
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Sometimes there is not enough information to attribute disinformation accounts to a specific person or group. Sometimes it can be traced either through the content being posted or similar information on other websites.
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At the end of the day, people will believe what they want to believe, regardless of whether it is true or has been fact-checked as false.
"At the end of the day, all of us humans are emotional animals. And we are interpreting the world around us, including the information we find on social media, through an emotional lens, especially when it comes to the communities that we're a part of, and our emotional attachments to those communities and our emotional needs that we derive from those communities, that absolutely affects the lens through which we interpret information." — Dr. Darren Linvill
Episode References:
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Clemson University Media Forensics Hub: Spot the Troll - https://spotthetroll.org/
Connect with Dr. Darren Linvill:
Professional Bio: https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/about/profiles/darrenl
Twitter: https://x.com/DarrenLinvill?lang=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-linvill-6673655b
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gQl4PlQAAAAJ&hl=en
Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social
Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast
Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.