Unbiased Science @unbiasedscipod

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Matthew Facciani, social scientist, to talk about media literacy, misinformation, and polarization. The two kick things off with a conversation about mis- and disinformation and why some people are more susceptible to it. They then shift gears slightly to chat about motivations behind the intentional spread of false information. Next, they share some media literacy tips and ways to spot red flags of misinformation. They bring tech into the conversation and discuss the role of AI in the future of debunking misinformation. We hope you'll walk away from this episode with some techniques to protect against bad information online!
All our sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/fall-of-the-house-of-misinformation

(00:00) Intros
(06:23) Interest in Misinformation and Belief Formation
(10:33) Susceptibility to Misinformation
(16:56) Motivations Behind Spreading Misinformation
(25:36) Navigating the Information Landscape
(31:41) The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Debunking Misinformation
(39:28) Challenges in Quantifying Misinformation
(43:07) The Impact of Political Ideology on Belief in Misinformation
(47:19) Final Thoughts: The Importance of Humility and Collaboration in Addressing Misinformation

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Emmy-winning Executive Producer and Journalist, Mosheh Oinounou to talk about communication. The two discuss the ways they are both committed to disseminating non-partisan information to the general public. They discuss balancing the credibility of information, nuance, and context with the clickbait nature of social media and the ways we consume information online. They share some tips for effective communication as well as red flags of misinformation. This is a very interesting conversation that you do not want to miss!
All our sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/mo-science-mo-problems

(00:00) Intro and a Message from Jess
(09:25) Intro to Mosheh
(12:18) The Challenge of Remaining Unbiased
(13:45) Understanding Multiple Perspectives and Reliable Sources
(17:53) Exploring Complex Topics: Israel-Gaza Conflict and Politics
(22:41) The Impact of Chemicals in Our Food
(30:11) The Need for a Toolkit in Science Reporting
(31:17) Balancing Accuracy and Clickbait in Science Reporting
(33:43) The Impact of Algorithms on Information Spread
(37:28) Nuanced Communication in Climate Change Reporting
(42:22) Introducing First Stop News: News for Children and Media Literacy

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess chats with Meghann Featherstun about the Netflix docuseries, "You Are What You Eat." The pair kick things off with a summary of the premise of the docuseries (which centers around the purported benefits of a vegan diet) and the study upon which it was based, the "Stanford Twin Study". They dig deeper into the specifics of the study design, study findings, strengths, and limitations. The two discuss certain clinical markers used in the study to piece together the impacts of a vegan diet (compared to an omnivorous diet). They more generally discuss ways to improve your health through nutrition and debunk some common myths and misconceptions. You do not want to miss this!

Stanford Twins Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/38032644/

All our other sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/you-are-what-you-eat-netflix-docuseries

(00:00) Intros
(01:14) Introduction of Megan Featherston
(04:33) Overview of the Stanford Twin Study
(06:42) Vegan Diets and Heart Health
(08:47) Microbiome and Gut Health
(13:43) Conflicts of Interest
(22:03) Vegan Foods and Health
(23:56) Fish in the Diet
(28:21) Microbiome Claims
(30:05) Biological Clock and Aging
(34:20) Considerations for Dietary Changes
(36:12) Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the pod, Jess is joined by not one but TWO toxicologists to discuss microplastics. The episode kicks off with a recap of some of the claims being made about microplastics that we’ve seen splashed all over the headlines. The team discusses just how prevalent and ubiquitous microplastics really are and some of the main sources of microplastics. Next, they dive into the evidence (or lack thereof) that microplastics have an impact on human health. The trio discusses our current technologies and abilities to detect microplastics, as well as their limitations and implications for future research. Finally, they discuss potential mitigation measures and ways to limit exposure. You won’t want to miss this!

All our sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/are-microplastics-a-macro-problem
(00:00) Intros
(05:26) Understanding Microplastics
(09:59) Emergence of Microplastics as a Topic
(13:11) Sources of Microplastics
(15:42) Concerns about Microplastics in Water
(23:41) Microplastics in Food
(25:02) Addressing Anxiety and Fear
(25:12) Concerns about Microplastics in Seafood
(29:35) Health Impacts and Bioaccumulation of Microplastics
(35:31) Mitigating Risks: Air Filtration and Food Choices
(40:29) Minimizing Exposure and Potential Risks
(44:04) Policies for Mitigating Microplastic Risks
(45:27) Final Thoughts

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Karen Tang (OB/Gyn and science communicator) to debunk common women’s health myths and misconceptions. In honor of Endometriosis month, the two docs start there and discuss what endometriosis is and isn’t, how it’s diagnosed, and treated. Next, they chat about PCOS and discuss the lack of evidence supporting special diets purported to cure it. The conversation shifts to bacterial vaginosis (and BV trends on TikTok that— spoiler alert— are not evidence-based), HPV, birth control, and more. You don’t want to miss this!

All our sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/not-ovary-acting-womens-health-myths
(00:00) Intros and Dr. Tang Book Overview
(05:58) Endometriosis
(20:58) Bacterial Vaginosis
(25:10) Douching
(27:56) No Essential Oils!
(28:52) Misconceptions about the HPV Vaccine
(34:30) Birth Control and Cancer
(37:20) Myths about Birth Control
(43:46) Understanding PCOS
(47:39) Treatment and Management of PCOS
(49:36) Final Thoughts

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the pod, Jess sits down with Dr. Idz to debunk misinformation about food and nutrition (yep, it's time for school)! The conversation kicks off with a discussion about differences in approaches to food policy and regulation in the US versus the UK and other countries. Next, the two discuss common myths including that seed oils cause inflammation (they don't) and that processed foods are inherently bad for you. This leads into a deeper discussion about processed versus ultraprocessed foods-- and how the bigger issue is the proportion of diet that comprises ultraprocessed foods. The main message is that moderation is key! They discuss ways to spot food-related pseudoscience and fearmongering and protect yourself from falling prey to misinformation on social media. This is a great episode that you do not want to miss!
All our sources from this episode are available at: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com/episodes/dishin-on-food-myths-with-dr-idz
(00:00) Intros
(03:25) Preventative Medicine in the U.S. vs. the UK
(06:56) Nutritional Advice From UK Doctors?
(13:58) Foods Banned In Different Countries
(20:09) Idz Pet Peeve Myths
(27:35) Combatting Misinformation
(38:53) Processed vs Ultraprocessed Foods
(47:17) Moderation is Key
(51:20) Final Thoughts

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices