Shows / Filter It Through a Brain Cell
Filter It Through a Brain Cell
Can you recognize bad thinking, manipulative advertising and tricky arguments when you see them? How about your kids - how will they know whether the memes they're seeing on social media are really true? Critical thinking is the most important skill you can have when you’re living in a world that seems to have lost its mind. Everyone out there is trying to tell you WHAT to think, I want to teach you HOW to think! In every episode, I’m exposing the logical fallacies & cognitive biases being used…
Episodes
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
82. The Psychologist’s Fallacy
There's a good reason we're not mind-readers: we're not good at it! And our assumptions of what someone else is thinking & how they perceive situations is…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
81. The Fallacy of Misleading Vividness
Vivid & dramatic images make a huge impression on us...and sometimes convince us that something is true even when the evidence says otherwise! When you can…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
80. The Fallacy of Presentism
This fallacy is very similar to The Historian's Fallacy, with one small exception... When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by it! Learn…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
79. The Historian’s Fallacy
When we look back on the actions people have taken in the past, we have to be careful about judging them based on what we know now. When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
78. The Non Sequitur Fallacy
Ever met someone who reasons like a 4-year-old? Lol - it's funny, but makes little sense. When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by it!…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
77. The Furtive Fallacy
Ever meet someone who is suspicious of everyone? Or who thinks that some person in leadership is making harmful, secretive decisions? Well, today's episode may…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
76. The Alphabet Soup Fallacy
Ever had someone use a bunch of acronyms or abbreviations to make themselves seem more knowledgeable? Yeah, not cool! When you can recognize the foolishness…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
75. The Appeal to Ridicule Fallacy
Just because someone makes fun of an idea doesn't mean it's a bad idea or that it's not true! When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
74. How to have a conversation with someone who believes differently than you: with my 15-year old daughter, Lena
I have the most special guest today, my 15-year old daughter, Lena! Lena is going to share how she's used the 4 Simple Tools for Brain Surgery in real-life…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
73. 4 Simple Tools for Brain Surgery: Part 4
In this 4-part series, I'm giving you 4 tools you can use to help other people begin to start filtering their ideas through a brain cell! To learn more about…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
72. 4 Simple Tools for Brain Surgery: Part 3
In this 4-part series, I'm giving you 4 tools you can use to help other people begin to start filtering their ideas through a brain cell! To learn more about…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
71. 4 Simple Tools for Brain Surgery: Part 2
The 2nd Simple Tool for Brain Surgery will get the other person to consider the credibility of the authority they're looking to for the ideas & beliefs they're…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
70. 4 Simple Tools for Brain Surgery: Part 1
In this 4-part series, I'm giving you 4 tools you can use to help other people begin to start filtering their ideas through a brain cell! To learn more about…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
69. The Argument Against Self-Confidence (Argumentum Ad Fidentia)
When someone isn't 100% confident in their argument, does that automatically mean they're wrong? Not necessarily... When you can recognize the foolishness, you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
68. The Reification Fallacy
In the 3rd of a 3-part mini-series, we'll look at ways people make ideas or concept either seem like they're alive or have human characteristics. When you can…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
67. Personification
In Part 2 of a short 3-part series, we'll be looking at another way people sometimes give human emotions to non-human things. When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
66. The Pathetic Fallacy
This one is more of a literary device than a common fallacy...but it still happens! Can cows really be happy? That's debatable... When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
65. The Appeal to Hitler Fallacy (Argumentum ad Hitlerum)
It may seem like a made-up name, but it's not! This fallacy is actually a specific type of Guilt by Association fallacy. When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
64. The Guilt by Association Fallacy
Just because you have something in common with an unpopular person or group doesn't mean you're just like them. When you can recognize the foolishness, you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
63. The Poisoning the Well Fallacy
Would you drink from a well even after someone told you it may have been poisoned? Probably not. That's what people are hoping you'll do when they try this…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
62. Can we really know truth? With Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview
What is truth? Where does it come from? Can we really know truth? And how do we stand for truth in a world that says there is no absolute truth? Today's…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
61. Appeal to the Consequences of a Belief
Summer break is over and we're back! WooHoo! Ever met someone who thinks something must be true just because they like the perceived outcome of an idea? Or…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
60. Summer Break
I'm pushing pause on the podcast for the summer - here's what I'll be up to and when it'll be back! In the meantime, find me on Instagram…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
59. The first step to culture-proofing your kids
What is the foundational skill that will equip our kids (and us!) to live in the age of Relativism without falling for the craziness? It's good thinking! And…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
58. Good thinking is the foundation for apologetics: Interview with Apologist Brett Banford
I'm excited to be sharing the very first interview on this podcast! Brett Banford is a scientist who realized he had questions about his faith that he couldn’t…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
57. Moving the Goalposts (Manipulation mini-series: Part 12)
Ever met somebody who just can't accept defeat? Do they keep trying to change the rules or get you to answer more & more questions? They may be moving the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
56. Peer Pressure (Manipulation mini-series: Part 11)
Peer pressure seems to be a normal part of growing up...but it can also be manipulative. Here's the key to combating it! When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
55. Special Knowledge (Manipulation mini-series: Part 10)
You've heard the term, "knowledge is power". But did you know some people will use 'special knowledge' to manipulate you to trust them, believe them, buy…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
54. Reciprocity (Manipulation mini-series: Part 9)
Sometimes, there are strings attached when someone does something nice for you. Here's how to recognize it! When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
53. Confusion (Manipulation mini-series: Part 8)
Have you ever had someone talk and talk so much about something you couldn't quite follow...and then experience huge relief when they finally stopped talking?…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
52. Love-Bombing (Manipulation mini-series: Part 7)
Loving on people is a good thing...unless the person has ulterior motives behind it! Part 7 of the Manipulation mini-series will show you how to tell the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
51. Exclusivity (Manipulation mini-series: Part 6)
Some groups will claim that they are the ONLY group with the truth or the right answers in an attempt to get you to join or stay. Join me for Part 6 in the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
50. Repetition (Manipulation mini-series: Part 5)
Repetition is the foundation for learning...but it can also be the foundation for brain-washing! We're breaking it down today in Part 5 of our Manipulation…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
49. For Your Own Good (Manipulation mini-series: Part 4)
Sometimes people tell you to do things and it really is because they have your best interests at heart...but sometimes, they're doing to help themselves, not…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
48. Snob Appeal (Manipulation mini-series: Part 3)
Companies who sell things that appeal to a desire to be "better than" are selling a false image. When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
47. False Urgency (Manipulation mini-series: Part 2)
Don't let a fake sense of urgency make you do something you don't really want to do! Here's how to recognize it. When you can recognize the foolishness, you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
46. Gaslighting (Manipulation mini-series: Part 1)
Gaslighting is one way others make you think you're crazy. Join me for Part 1 of the Manipulation mini-series! When you can recognize the foolishness, you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
45. The Gambler's Fallacy
When you try to assign probability to a random event, you'll inevitably commit this fallacy! When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
44. The Anecdotal Fallacy
Does one experience mean something is always true? It happens to a lot of us...here's how to be on the look-out for this common mistake! When you can recognize…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
43. The Burden of Proof Fallacy
When you make a claim, it's your responsibility to back it up! When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by it! Learn more about Crazy…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
42. The Fallacy of Accent
When you emphasize the wrong word in a sentence, it can totally change the meaning of the whole sentence. When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
41. The Ambiguity Fallacy
When phrases or sentences are vague & confusing, it leads to a lot of arguments and misunderstanding. Here's what to do. When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
40. The No True Scotsman Fallacy
When someone doesn't want to change their belief about a group of people or things, they'll often try to dismiss the new information rather than change their…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
39. The Personal Incredulity Fallacy
Just because you can't believe it, doesn't mean it isn't true! And just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it isn't false. When you can recognize…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
38. The Hasty Generalization Fallacy
Ever heard of jumping to conclusions? Well, this is the more formal name for it. Learn the specifics of what makes this a fallacy. When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
37. 6 simple ways to help your teen (and you!) learn to think for themselves
Here are 6 super practical ways you can help your teen learn to think better! And the bonus is, you'll learn to think better in the process. The reality is…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
36. The Whole to Part Fallacy
Today, we'll discuss the opposite of the Whole-to-Part Fallacy and learn why someone can be on the champion team and yet just be a mediocre player. When you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
35. The Part to Whole Fallacy
Are all Democrats alike? All Republicans? Just because one believes a certain thing, does that automatically mean all of them do? Here's why we can't make…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
34. 10 questions to help you think about online drama (the Chris Rock & Will Smith debacle)
There is no shortage of drama online, for sure. And there's no shortage of people who have opinions about that drama and would love nothing more than to tell…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
33. The Weak Analogy Fallacy
Just because two things are *somewhat* similar, beware when someone tries to create too much connection between the two! When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
32. The Middle Ground Fallacy
Is meeting in the middle to compromise always the best choice? When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by it! Want to test yourself on how…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
31. The Fallacy Fallacy
Bad reasoning always leads to wrong conclusions, right?....or does it??? Be careful, this is the fallacy you're most likely to commit yourself once you start…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
30. The Appeal to Heaven Fallacy
Ooh, this one is a tricky one if you don't know how to recognize it! And it's tricky because there are some Appeals to Heaven that are proper and some that are…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
29. The Appeal to Possibility Fallacy
Just because something is possible, does that also mean it's a certainty? Of course not! Here's how to recognize this faulty reasoning. When you can recognize…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
28. The Appeal to Ignorance Fallacy
An Appeal to Ignorance happens when someone tries to convince you that something is true just because it hasn't been disproven yet. Or, they try to convince…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
27. The Appeal to Novelty or High-Tech Fallacy
Are things really better just because they're new, just because they're the latest & the greatest? When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
26. The Appeal to Tradition Fallacy
Are things really better just because they're old? Should we keep doing things just because that's how we've always done them? When you can recognize the…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
25. The Appeal to Fear Fallacy
The Appeal to Fear is so insidious. Here's why you have to be especially aware of this emotional manipulation: it has consequences that are far-reaching. Want…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
24. The Appeal to Pity Fallacy
As we continue our mini-series on emotional appeals, let's talk about the Appeal to Pity & how to recognize it. When you can recognize the foolishness, you…
- Filter It Through a Brain Cell
23. The Appeal to Emotion Fallacy
Let's continue to conversation on propaganda by talking about one of the main ways propaganda happens: through an Appeal to Emotions. Want to test yourself on…