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In this episode of The Proof, I’m joined by Dr. Steven Novella, a clinical neurologist at Yale School of Medicine and host of The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe. Steven has spent decades helping people think more clearly, spot misinformation, and navigate the increasingly noisy world of science, health, and media.
Together we explore what it really means to be a skeptic — not a cynic — and why scientific humility is more powerful than absolute certainty. We talk about how to have better conversations with people who believe in conspiracy theories, the psychology behind motivated reasoning, and why embracing “I don’t know” can actually make us more grounded, not less.
What we cover:
Scepticism vs. denialism
Why stories often override facts
What science literacy actually looks like
The cognitive traps we all fall into
How social media fuels misinformation
Rebuilding trust in science and institutions
If you enjoy this episode, I’d love it if you shared it with someone who values critical thinking and curiosity.
00:00 Introduction
05:48 Sceptic vs. Contrarian: What's the difference?
08:57 Combating Misinformation and Disinformation
12:13 The Role of Critical Thinking
18:06 Why We Reject Facts That Make Us Uncomfortable
21:09 How Echo Chambers Hijack Reality
24:41 The Hardest Choice: Truth or Belonging?
37:54 Why People No Longer Trust Experts
48:16 Debating Pseudoscience
52:53 The Deadly Cost of Misinformation
56:03 The GMO Lies People Still Believe
01:03:00 How to Teach Critical Thinking to Anyone
01:10:00 How to Think, Not What to Think
01:14:34 Why Science Sounds Uncertain and Why That’s a Good Thing
01:23:51 Being Sceptical Doesn’t Make You Automatically Right
01:35:59 The Double-Edged Sword of AI
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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)
• Creator of theproof.com
• Host of The Proof with Simon Hill
• Author of The Proof is in the Plants
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