Libsyn Directory

14: Becoming Smarter News Consumers, with the founder of Ad Fontes Media, Home of the Media Bias Chart

Release Date: 12/02/2025

19: The Conversations We All Need to Have About Black History Month

What Do You Mean By That?

Here we are, February, which is also Black History Month (and for the record: Black history is American history. We’ll say this all day, every day, until everyone gets on this train.). It’s not lost on us that this is the shortest month of the year. It’s also not lost on us that, currently, our administration is actively erasing or whitewashing our nation’s history in real time, including this month itself, and we are being gaslit in the process. So, this Black History Month, we encourage everyone out there to take a moment to learn our real history, expand the narrative of Black...

18: What to do about (Secret Pol)ICE In Our Communities

What Do You Mean By That?

*** We recorded this episode before ICE murdered Alex Pretti, a 37 year old ICU nurse who was attempting to help a woman up who had been pushed to the ground by ICE agents in Minneapolis on the morning of January 24, 2026. Despite the administration's attempt to cover up and justify this murder by claiming that Pretti was holding a gun (he wasn't, it was a phone), the facts are clear: ICE is murdering American citizens. And then, they are lying about it. This is not the America we want for ourselves or for our children. We stand with Minnesota, Maine, and everywhere else that is...

17: New Year of Actions + Why Getting Names Right Matters

What Do You Mean By That?

If you’re a repeat listener to the podcast over the last almost SEVEN years, you know that sometimes, we’ve done seasonal arcs in which we focus on a topic or theme for the season. (And if you’ve just found us - hello!) This year, we’re doing something different: a year-long focus on action, which is the third pillar of our listen, learn, and act framework. It moves us from “what can I do?” to “here’s how I show up.” We’ll take the things that you’ve been curious about (but didn’t want to ask about, maybe), break down the history behind them, and walk...

16: Leaving 2025 Behind: What We’re Letting Go Of and What We’re Taking Into 2026

What Do You Mean By That?

We’ve had rough years before—but 2025? This one hit different. If you’ve been listening to us for the last six years, you know we’re no strangers to hard conversations. DEI. Wellbeing. Systems that don’t work the way they should. And this year pushed all of that—from the global to the deeply personal. So what did we learn when everything felt heavier than usual? Let’s talk about the biggest lessons this year forced us to learn - what we’re leaving behind in 2025, and what we are carrying forward, with purpose, into 2026. What to listen for: Mindsets...

15: Raising Boys in an Age of Backlash: Soraya Chemaly on Power, Gender, and What Comes Next

What Do You Mean By That?

In today’s episode, we sit down with feminist author and activist Soraya Chemaly for a conversation that feels both urgent and deeply grounding. Soraya’s new book, All We Want Is Everything, traces how male supremacy shows up everywhere—our politics, our homes, our faith spaces, our workplaces, and especially in the lives of our children. Together, we talk about the rising backlash against women and queer people, the ways boys are being pulled into misogynistic online spaces, and why so many young men are drifting toward anti-democratic movements without even realizing they’re...

14: Becoming Smarter News Consumers, with the founder of Ad Fontes Media, Home of the Media Bias Chart

What Do You Mean By That?

In an age where AI can fake a video, social platforms reward outrage, and even the word ‘misinformation’ means different things to different people, one question rises above the noise: how do we know what to trust? Today, we’re joined by Vanessa Otero, the lawyer-turned-media-analyst behind Ad Fontes Media and its well-known Media Bias Chart, to explore exactly that. Vanessa takes us inside the mechanics of bias, the structures driving extreme content, and the habits that actually make us smarter news consumers. This episode is your practical guide to staying informed...

13: How to Have Difficult Conversations, featuring Dr. Bill Doherty, Co-founder of Braver Angels

What Do You Mean By That?

, our primer for holiday seasons

12: Uncompete: The Case for Redefining Success, Together - with Ruchika Malhotra

What Do You Mean By That?

When we have repeat guests back on the pod, it’s because we love them, their work, and the message that they’re not only sending out into the world but embodying themselves. And we think all of this can be said a million times over for today’s guest and her brand new book (out today!). As we think about this conversation, which we can’t wait for you to listen to, there were those mic drop moments, but there were also those contemplative moments where we were not only deep in conversation, but we really felt the power of this notion of uncompeting. We can’t wait for you...

11: What We Meant By That - The Debrief on Elie Mystal’s Brilliance

What Do You Mean By That?

Welcome to our first Debrief episode, where we reflect and digest what our brilliant guests shared in a prior conversation. We were blown away by the sheer brilliance and clarity in our last episode with former litigator and political commentator Elie Mystal, author of Bad Laws and Allow Me to Retort. We’ve read and recommend both books, and especially want Bad Laws to get in the hands of our Democratic lawmakers for whenever (fingers crossed) they get back in power. But say you don’t have time or desire to go back and listen to a full hour of...

10: Elie Mystal on Bad Laws, Big Truths, and How to Change the System

What Do You Mean By That?

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt like legal talk is impossible to understand (👋 Sara included!). We’re joined by , brilliant legal mind, powerful truth-teller, and New York Times bestselling author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, to break down the complex world of American law and what Democrats are doing all wrong (and can do better) in a way that’s sharp, accessible, and even funny. 💥 He’s back with a bold new book: Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America. If you're fired up about the state of...

More Episodes

Today, we’re joined by Vanessa Otero, the lawyer-turned-media-analyst behind Ad Fontes Media and its well-known Media Bias Chart, to explore exactly that. Vanessa takes us inside the mechanics of bias, the structures driving extreme content, and the habits that actually make us smarter news consumers.

This episode is your practical guide to staying informed without getting manipulated.

What to listen for:

What the Ad Fontes media bias chart looks like, and how to use it: their mission is to rate all the news to positively transform society.
Knowing that there's a high correlation between high bias and low reliability
Advice for media consumers who are trying to recognize bias without all the tools – including considering disbelieving everything until you can verify it through multiple sources
New ways to discuss the media landscape. Example: Instead of saying “fake news” or “misinformation,” which are politically charged and open to interpretation, consider using more accurate language like “misleading information” or “inaccurate information.”

About our guest:

Vanessa Otero is the Founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media, the company that rates news for bias and reliability.

Ms. Otero founded Ad Fontes in 2018 with a mission to rate all the news to positively transform society. She created the original Media Bias Chart in 2016, which was the seed idea for creating the company. She is passionate about bringing people together and overcoming the challenges of political polarization in our present environment. Prior to starting Ad Fontes, she practiced as a patent attorney specializing in software. Vanessa holds a B.A. in English from UCLA and a J.D. from the University of Denver.

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