Episodes
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Why do people reject information meant to help them?
In this episode of UnSpun, we explore psychological reactance â the instinct to resist control â and how it shapes our reactions to fact-checks, corrections, and even each other. From COVID-19 warning labels to social-media fatigue and holiday-table arguments, DrSturg traces how the need for freedom can make truth feel like pressure. And she offers a better way to get people to stop rejecting facts.
Topics covered:
â What psychological reactance is
â How social media architecture amplifies defiance
â Why corrections often backfire
â How to talk to friends or family who reject facts
â The emotional balance between truth and autonomy
#Reactance #Misinformation #MediaLiteracy #UnSpunPodcast #SocialMediaPsychology
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In todayâs wars, the battlefield is more than land, sea, or airâitâs information.
This episode of UnSpun examines how media has become both a weapon and a target in the age of hybrid warfare. From Russian deepfakes in Ukraine to meme wars in U.S. politics, information has become the terrain where global power is contested.
Learn how disinformation systems are built, how governmentsâboth authoritarian and democraticâdeploy them, and how ordinary citizens can defend themselves.
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode of UnSpun, we trace the invisible architecture that keeps truth alive when communication is forbidden.
From Phyllis Latour Doyleâs coded knitting in Nazi-occupied France to encrypted mesh networks during Hong Kongâs pro-democracy protests, âThe Geometry of Trustâ reveals how humans build secret systems of meaning under surveillance.
This episode explores how communication itself becomes resistance when power demands silence.
đ Check my book on the #AltGov resistance movement here: https://amzn.to/4qDapCvđ§ Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
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In this episode of UnSpun, we examine a phenomenon hiding in plain sight â the rise of civil religion. From stadium memorials that look like worship services to presidents who sound like preachers, faith and politics have fused into something new â and dangerous. We trace how Americaâs patriotic rituals became sacred texts, how global leaders have learned the same language, and what happens when dissent becomes heresy.
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What exactly is âhate speechââand who gets to decide?
This episode of UnSpun traces the shifting definitions of hate speech across a century of mass media. From Henry Fordâs antisemitic newspaper in the 1920s to Father Coughlinâs radio sermons, from Rwandaâs radio-fueled genocide to Roseanne Barrâs infamous tweet, Don Imusâs firing, and the recent suspensions of Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbertâwe follow how governments, corporations, and audiences have drawn, erased, and redrawn the boundaries of speech.
Along the way, we uncover how U.S. free speech law differs from Europeâs, how the Chans incubated extremist movements, how YouTubeâs âadpocalypseâ reshaped platform rules, and how the FCCâs regulatory power still influences what voices we hear.
đ Subscribe for more episodes exploring the forces that shape public perception, journalism, and democracy.
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Law and Orderâ â it sounds reassuring. But what does it really mean?
In this weekâs episode of UnSpun, we unpack how those three words have been used across centuries â from 1500s England to 1960s Alabama to 2020s America â not just to fight crime, but to reshape societies.
In this episode, we explore:
The hidden history of âlaw and orderâ as a political weaponHow leaders like George Wallace, Richard Nixon, and Donald Trump used the phrase to suppress dissentThe role of economic fear in making people trade freedom for controlGlobal examples from Canada, China, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and beyondWhat the phrase means today â and why we should all listen carefully when itâs usedâLaw and Orderâ isnât just a slogan. Itâs a signal â and sometimes, a warning.
đ§ Listen now to learn whatâs really being promised.
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âYou either agree with us⊠or youâre out.â
Ever felt like saying the wrong thingâeven gentlyâcould get you exiled from your community, your party, your friend group?
In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explores the rise of ideological purity tests:
Why your social feed feels like a loyalty gauntletHow politicians, religious leaders, and even scientists use purity rhetoric to silence dissentThe hidden power of wedge issues in dividing movementsAnd how the internet has made it faster, more punishing, and more profitableLearn how groupthink spreads, what purity logic does to our ability to think clearly, and what we can do to fight back.
Real-world examples from the U.S., Canada, Hungary, South America, Reddit, Wikipedia, and more.
Itâs about identity, fear, and power and if you feel silenced, this oneâs for you..
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Have you ever believed a video, article, or photoâonly to realize it was completely fake? Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are making it cheaper and easier than ever to create convincing misinformation. In this UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explores the unsettling rise of AI-driven lies, what it means for journalism, politics, and democracy, and how you can keep yourself from falling for convincing fakes.
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Politicians donât just post onlineâthey surf the trends. In this episode of UnSpun, Dr Sturg explores agenda surfing: hijacking trending topics to gain attention, distract from controversy, or push unrelated agendas. From Germany''s far-right 120 decibels campaign to Trump's Twitter distractions and coordinated WhatsApp groups in India, we show how political actors use digital platforms to dominate the conversation. Plus, we explain how crises and media events create golden moments of âshared attentionââand how elites use them to amplify their power.
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Ever wonder why the same protest looks peaceful on one news channel and chaotic on another? In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg looks at how media coverage frames public demonstrations. Learn about the "protest paradigm," explore how journalists' choices shape your perception, and discover real-world examples from Black Lives Matter to historic marches in Birmingham and Occupy Wall Street.
đ What you'll learn in this episode:
How media framing can turn peaceful demonstrations into perceived threatsWhy dramatic images of violence dominate headlinesReal-world examples from global protests and what media gets wrong (and right!)Practical tips on how YOU can critically evaluate protest coverage
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Why do repeated lies workâeven when we know theyâre false? In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explores the Big Lie in American politics, the psychology behind the illusory truth effect, and how figures like Kari Lake have used rhetoric to reshape public belief. She also talks to rhetoric expert Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, author of Demagogue for President, about how demagogues manipulate language to avoid accountability, build loyalty, and undermine democratic norms.
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What does Jan. 6 have to do with cherry picking? A lot, it turns out. Find out how. Plus Dr. Sturg tells what the research says about Thanksgiving dinner with the relatives. Can you change Aunt Gladys's mind?
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What do politicians really mean when they say âlaw and order,â âtraditional values,â or âglobalistsâ? In this episode of UnSpun, we explore the use of dog whistlesâcoded phrases that sound harmless but carry covert messages to particular audiences. From Nixonâs Law and Order to Trumpâs use of âglobalist,â we break down how this language works, why itâs effective, and how to spot it.
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Why are so many people turning away from evidence-based medicine? In this weekâs episode of UnSpun, we explore the rise of health misinformation, the breakdown of public trust, and how philosophy, social media, and emotion are shaping our views of science. From vaccine skepticism to the raw milk debate, we walk through real-world examples and explain the logical fallacies behind modern health myths. Learn how constructivism, personal experience, and flawed definitions of âsafeâ and âeffectiveâ are muddying the watersâand how to push back against the infodemic.
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âMistakes were made.â âKinetic military action.â âEfficiency.â These phrases sound harmlessâuntil you dig deeper. This week on UnSpun, we explore the subtle, slippery language politicians use to avoid accountability, shift blame, and reframe controversies. From Obama and Elon Musk to Stephen Miller and the 2025 immigration updates, we break down real examples of weasel words, equivocation, and blame avoidance in action. Learn how to spot vague language, passive voice, and emotional manipulationâand stay sharp in a world of political spin.
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Political grandstanding is everywhereâfrom Congress to Tik Tokâand it's shaping how we talk, think, and even legislate. In this weekâs episode of UnSpun, we break down performative patriotism, online outrage, and the troubling new USCIS policy monitoring social media for âanti-Americanism.â What happens when dissent gets misbranded as disloyalty? And how does grandstanding erode trust and civil discourse? Listen in as we explore the narcissism behind moral posturing and its consequences for democracy.
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Metaphors shape how we thinkâand feelâabout politics. In this episode of UnSpun, we decode the hidden power of language, visuals, and music in political messaging. From Obamaâs âarc of historyâ to crime-as-a-stain ads, learn how metaphors manipulate perception, stir emotion, and frame entire debates. Whether itâs a red hat, a patriotic soundtrack, or a cartoon donkey at the borderânothing is accidental. #PoliticalMetaphors #MediaLiteracy #UnSpunPodcast
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On this week's UnSpun, DrSturg explores why authoritarian governments target the press and educational institutions, and how these tactics are appearing in democracies worldwide:
Why authoritarian governments restrict press freedom:Common tactics of information control:The consequences of information control:Ways to overcome the censorshipResources mentioned:
Survey: http://bit.ly/UnSpunSurveyBooks: "Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News" and "We Are #AltGov: Social Media Resistance from the Inside"
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Satanic Panic to Gaza Protests: What Happens When News Misunderstands Religion
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In this episode of UnSpun, host DrSturg explores the past, present, and uncertain future of local journalism. Learn how local newspapers and TV stations went from thriving community pillars to empty shellsâand why it matters. We examine the roles of money, consolidation, platforms like Facebook and TikTok, audience habits, misinformation, and AI in dismantling local media. If youâve ever wondered what happens when no one covers city council meetings or school board votes, this episode is for you.
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