Episode 46: Innumeracy--the Mathematical Equivalent of Illiteracy

Episode 46: Innumeracy--the Mathematical Equivalent of Illiteracy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265189/fan_mail/new] In this episode, April outs herself as being "bad at math;" but after researching, writing, and publishing this episode, she's taken a vow to become more numerate. You should, too! Listen to the episode to find out how. Episode 46 Show Notes Bio of British economist Geoffrey Crowther: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Crowther,_Baron_Crowther [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Crowther,_Baron_Crowther] A great article about the history of innumeracy (honestly I don't know what "captive board" refers to): https://www.captive.com/articles/how-numerate-is-your-board-the-case-for-captive-board-numeracy [https://www.captive.com/articles/how-numerate-is-your-board-the-case-for-captive-board-numeracy] Here's the link to the download for Paulos' book on innumeracy: https://jirsresourcecentre.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/innumeracy.pdf [https://jirsresourcecentre.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/innumeracy.pdf] The OECD's discussion of numeracy skills among Americans: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/adult-numeracy-skills.html [https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/adult-numeracy-skills.html] How many students need to take remedial math classes? Lots of them. I disagree, however, with the idea that the cure for this is to no longer require algebra courses in higher education, although something definitely needs to change: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/26/almost-no-one-needs-college-algebra-anymore/ [https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/26/almost-no-one-needs-college-algebra-anymore/] Martin Gardner's home page: https://martin-gardner.org/#:~:text=First%20and%20last%2C%20he%20was,people%20all%20over%20the%20world [https://martin-gardner.org/#:~:text=First%20and%20last%2C%20he%20was,people%20all%20over%20the%20world] Math anxiety explained: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6087017/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6087017/] Discalculia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23949-dyscalculia [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23949-dyscalculia] Gender differences in math performance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2138794/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2138794/] The crazy story of the GoFundMe project to build the wall: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Build_the_Wall [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Build_the_Wall] Why people misunderstand probability: https://untamedscience.com/blog/why-humans-are-bad-at-understanding-probability-and-what-science-says-about-it/ [https://untamedscience.com/blog/why-humans-are-bad-at-understanding-probability-and-what-science-says-about-it/] Diego Ribiero's excellent Medium article: https://neverforget-1975.medium.com/innumeracy-8b2112c5787b [https://neverforget-1975.medium.com/innumeracy-8b2112c5787b] A review of Innumeracy in the Wild: https://newbooksnetwork.com/innumeracy-in-the-wild [https://newbooksnetwork.com/innumeracy-in-the-wild] Plane vs. car accidents: https://www.fellermanlaw.com/blog/is-flying-safer-than-driving/ [https://www.fellermanlaw.com/blog/is-flying-safer-than-driving/] Career Addict article about becoming more numerate: https://www.careeraddict.com/develop-numerical-skills [https://www.careeraddict.com/develop-numerical-skills] Khan Academy website:  www.khanacademy.org [https://www.khanacademy.org] Duolingo website: https://www.duolingo.com/math [https://www.duolingo.com/math] Tablet Class Math YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/tabletclass [https://www.youtube.com/user/tabletclass] Financial Literacy Resource Directory: https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumers-and-communities/community-affairs/resource-directories/financial-literacy/index-financial-literacy-resource-directory.html [https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumers-and-communities/community-affairs/resource-directories/financial-literacy/index-financial-literacy-resource-directory.html] The UK's National Numeracy Challenge page: https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/ [https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/]

Episode 45: Misconceptions--"Factoids" That Aren't Really Facts

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265189/fan_mail/new] In this episode, April debunks some common misconceptions and discusses why they are so "sticky" in our brains. Episode 45 Show Notes Definition of "factoid"--https://www.oed.com/dictionary/factoid_n?tab=meaning_and_use#4942990 [https://www.oed.com/dictionary/factoid_n?tab=meaning_and_use#4942990] Drs Carroll and Vreeman's great book debunking lots of health myths: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Cross-Your-Theyll-Stuck/dp/0312681879 [https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Cross-Your-Theyll-Stuck/dp/0312681879] AOA's article discussing strabismus (crossed eyes): https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/strabismus [https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/strabismus] Great article debunking several misconceptions your parents probably believed were true: https://www.uchealth.org/today/10-myths-you-may-have-heard-from-your-parents/ [https://www.uchealth.org/today/10-myths-you-may-have-heard-from-your-parents/] The five-second rule, explained: https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/the-origin-of-the-five-second-rule/ [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/the-origin-of-the-five-second-rule/] The Cleveland Clinic's article setting the record straight about body heat loss: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-heat-loss [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-heat-loss] The truth about chastity belts: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-chastity-belts-are-myth-180956341/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-chastity-belts-are-myth-180956341/] Why you should be more afraid of your tray table making you sick than the air on an airplane: https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/safety/avoid-airplane-germs/#:~:text=%7C%20An%20airplane%20offers%20the%20perfect,soggy%20tissues%20and%20dirty%20diapers [https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/safety/avoid-airplane-germs/#:~:text=%7C%20An%20airplane%20offers%20the%20perfect,soggy%20tissues%20and%20dirty%20diapers] What "vomitorium" really means: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/purging-the-myth-of-the-vomitorium/ [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/purging-the-myth-of-the-vomitorium/] An in depth-discussion of the term "Xmas:" https://eu.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2023/12/06/xmas-vs-christmas-why-offensive-origins-history-greek-chi-means-christ/71810050007/ [https://eu.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2023/12/06/xmas-vs-christmas-why-offensive-origins-history-greek-chi-means-christ/71810050007/] https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/xmas-origin [https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/xmas-origin] An extremely deep dive into the psychology behind misconceptions: https://philpapers.org/rec/DELIMA-3 [https://philpapers.org/rec/DELIMA-3]

Episode 44--Misinformation, Disinformation, Bots, and Trolls

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265189/fan_mail/new] While it's always been the case that "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on," it's exponentially more true since the rise of the internet, particularly social media. In this episode, April looks at how and why misinformation and disinformation (which are not the same thing, btw) travel so quickly around our media landscape and affect the way we view the world. Episode 44 Show Notes (I have so many sources I can't put descriptions on them because I would go over the character limit, but they're generally in the order they are found in the episode): https://theonion.com/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex-1819572640/ [https://theonion.com/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex-1819572640/]  https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/#:~:text=Misinformation%20is%20false%20information%20disseminated,intentional%2C%20whereas%20misinformation%20is%20unintentional. [https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/#:~:text=Misinformation%20is%20false%20information%20disseminated,intentional%2C%20whereas%20misinformation%20is%20unintentional.] https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/north-carolina-man-sentenced-four-year-prison-term-armed-assault-northwest-washington [https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/north-carolina-man-sentenced-four-year-prison-term-armed-assault-northwest-washington] https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections [https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/alex-jones-sandy-hook-settlement-supreme-court-appeal-00607361 [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/alex-jones-sandy-hook-settlement-supreme-court-appeal-00607361] https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/the-hks-misinformation-review/ [https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/the-hks-misinformation-review/] https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308 [https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308] https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/reimagining-social-media-news-sharing-research-finds-users-habits-key-safer-and-more#:~:text=One%20important%20aspect%20that%20contributes,professor%20of%20psychology%20and%20business. [https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/reimagining-social-media-news-sharing-research-finds-users-habits-key-safer-and-more#:~:text=One%20important%20aspect%20that%20contributes,professor%20of%20psychology%20and%20business.] https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/ [https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/] https://www.clrn.org/how-much-of-the-internet-is-ai-generated/ [https://www.clrn.org/how-much-of-the-internet-is-ai-generated/] https://theconversation.com/how-ai-bots-spread-misinformation-online-and-undermine-democratic-politics-234915 [https://theconversation.com/how-ai-bots-spread-misinformation-online-and-undermine-democratic-politics-234915] https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2018/October/troll-farms-and-fake-news-social-media-weaponization#:~:text=Russian%20%E2%80%9Ctroll%20farms%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94groups,%E2%80%94literally%E2%80%94divide%20and%20conquer. [https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2018/October/troll-farms-and-fake-news-social-media-weaponization#:~:text=Russian%20%E2%80%9Ctroll%20farms%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94groups,%E2%80%94literally%E2%80%94divide%20and%20conquer.] https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/ [https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/]

Episode 43: Agnotology--the Study of Ignorance and Manufactured Doubt

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265189/fan_mail/new] In this episode, April explains that ignorance and stupidity are not the same thing. But when doubt is deliberately created as a strategic ploy by powerful entities, the ignorance that results can be not only stupid, but dangerous. Episode 43 Show Notes Definition of "epistomology:" https://www.britannica.com/topic/epistemology [https://www.britannica.com/topic/epistemology] Good explanation of agnotology by Dr Mark Crislip: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance/ [https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance/] Dr Robert Proctor on Alie Ward: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology] The post-truth world: https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-a-word-for-studying-the-post-truth-world-agnotology-71542 [https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-a-word-for-studying-the-post-truth-world-agnotology-71542] Medium article https://medium.com/@porlando_84392/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance-351ba8ae432d [https://medium.com/@porlando_84392/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance-351ba8ae432d] Find out about, and buy, Merchants of Doubt here: https://www.merchantsofdoubt.org/ [https://www.merchantsofdoubt.org/] Great article on "the science of spin:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7996119/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7996119/]  Michael Facciani's website: https://www.matthewfacciani.com/ [https://www.matthewfacciani.com/] Agnotology explains why social media platforms don’t investigate the negative impacts of their messaging: https://www.cigionline.org/articles/social-media-platforms-and-upside-ignorance/ [https://www.cigionline.org/articles/social-media-platforms-and-upside-ignorance/] Changes to social media sites involving previously banned content: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/everything-to-know-about-meta-political-content-update/737123/ [https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/everything-to-know-about-meta-political-content-update/737123/] Yes, scientists do agree on climate change: https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/faq/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/ [https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/faq/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/] Jake Scott's Senate testimony: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Scott-Testimony.pdf [https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Scott-Testimony.pdf] Here are a few good sources I didn't have time to discuss: How scientists deal with what they don’t know https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/evan.21303?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/evan.21303?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db] How agnotology might work to fight disinformation https://www.wired.com/story/agnotology-misinformation-opinion/ [https://www.wired.com/story/agnotology-misinformation-opinion/] Agnotology and political rhetoric https://www.aaronhuertas.com/invisible-messaging-the-power-of-agnotology-in-political-rhetoric/ [https://www.aaronhuertas.com/invisible-messaging-the-power-of-agnotology-in-political-rhetoric/]

Episode 42: Why We Are So Good At Fooling Ourselves--Understanding Motivated Reasoning

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265189/fan_mail/new] In this episode, April explains how this biased form of reasoning keeps our identities and emotions safe from the harsh glare of reality. Using justifications to support what we really want to be true lies at the heart of motivated reasoning, so the next time you eat a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers and wash it down with chardonnay, remind yourself that you exercised that morning, so it's ok.* *note--when she says you, she means herself... Episode 42 Show Notes: The News Literacy Project article on motivated reasoning: https://newslit.org/educators/resources/in-brief-confirmation-bias-motivated-reasoning/ [https://newslit.org/educators/resources/in-brief-confirmation-bias-motivated-reasoning/] Science Direct is a scientific, health, and technical literature database containing millions of peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of topics: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/motivated-reasoning [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/motivated-reasoning] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026137941400105X [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026137941400105X] Mental Health Matters is a website devoted to mental health conditions and disorders: https://mental-health-matters.org/2024/12/12/an-overview-of-motivated-reasoning/ [https://mental-health-matters.org/2024/12/12/an-overview-of-motivated-reasoning/] Matt Grawitch's substack page, The Eel-Filled Hovercraft, is full of great information about psychology and decision-making: https://mattgrawitch.substack.com/ [https://mattgrawitch.substack.com/] Information about climate change beliefs: https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/2024-poll-americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-12-charts/ [https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/2024-poll-americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-12-charts/] Excellent article about the link between conspiracy theories and motivated reasoning: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajps.12234?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajps.12234?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db] Nobel prize winner Gordon Pennycock talks about why conspiracy theorists think that their beliefs are widespread: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/07/conspiracy-theorists-think-their-views-are-mainstream/ [https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/07/conspiracy-theorists-think-their-views-are-mainstream/] This Psychology Today article, also by Matt Grawitch, discusses the problems that can occur when goals and values collide: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hovercraft-full-eels/202106/the-collision-among-goals-and-accuracy [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hovercraft-full-eels/202106/the-collision-among-goals-and-accuracy] Ivan Jureta's article about avoiding motivated reasoning when making corporate decisions: https://ivanjureta.com/motivated-reasoning-how-to-detect-and-mitigate-its-risks/ [https://ivanjureta.com/motivated-reasoning-how-to-detect-and-mitigate-its-risks/] This vs That's article on critical thinking vs reflective thinking: https://thisvsthat.io/critical-thinking-vs-reflective-thinking [https://thisvsthat.io/critical-thinking-vs-reflective-thinking] YouGov article about popular conspiracy theories and the numbers of Americans who believe them: https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48113-which-conspiracy-theories-do-americans-believe [https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48113-which-conspiracy-theories-do-americans-believe]