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PODCAST

Unspun

Amanda Sturgill

Unspun is critical thinking about the news. Hear real examples, past and present, of newsmakers attempting to mislead you and understand how they manipulate the truth. Learn how to avoid being swayed by fake news and misinformation. Get Unspun, because you deserve the truth.

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All Episodes

11:25

Deepfake videos make lies feel more true: UnSpun...

Unspun ·

2026/02/24

Deepfakes don’t just tell you lies. They show you “proof.”In this episode of UnSpun Journal Club, I break downresearch from by Hwang, Ryu ad Jeong Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking examining whether deepfake videos make misinformation more believable than text alone.The findings are concerning:But there’s good news. A short media literacy lesson—just seven minutes—helped a lot.I'll unpack:Why video feels more like evidenceWhether media literacy education actually worksWhat this

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27:47

Are independent journalists doing a better job?

Unspun ·

2026/02/17

Newsrooms are shrinking and experienced reporters are getting pushed onto Substack or into freelance work.Does it change the news you receive when journalism moves from institutions to individuals?In this episode of UnSpun, DrSturg looks at the complicated trade-offs that come with at the rise of freelance and independent journalism. From Washington Post layoffs to Substack newsletters, and from Don Lemon’s arrest to Nick Shirley's video about Minnesota daycares, we she considers how ethics,

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12:18

How social media markets reward fake news; UnSpun...

Unspun ·

2026/02/10

Why don't fact checks stop fake news from spreading?In this episode of UnSpun Journal Club, I break down research by Carlos Diaz Ruiz from the Hanken School of Economics that argues disinformation spreads not just because people believe it, but because digital media markets reward it.We look at how attention turns into money. How platforms, advertisers, and influencers all benefit when content spreads fast—whether it’s true or not. From Macedonian fake news sites during the 2016 U.S. election

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23:50

How Ideas Go From Unthinkable to Obvious (And Why...

Unspun ·

2026/02/03

Political change doesn't start with politics. Evidence suggests something else happens first.In this episode of UnSpun, we look at how media attention, repetition, and trust quietly shape what ideas feel acceptable long before policy is written. And news events like shooting protesters in Minneapolis can get liberals talking about gun rights and conservatives advocating for the right to protest a republican government. Using real research and real-world examples,, explore

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9:22

The moral side of misinformation: UnSpun journal club

Unspun ·

2026/01/27

Most efforts to stop misinformation focus on helping people recognize what’s wrong. But new research suggests that knowledge isn’t always the problem. Sometimes people share misinformation on purpose—because it feels useful, political, or appealing. This editon of UnSpun journal club breaks down Moral Deliberation Reduces People’s Intentions to Share Headlines They Recognize as “Fake News” by Daniel A. Effron Judy Qiu, Deborah ShulmanThese authors report on a reason why people might sometimes share

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27:01

Why Social Media Makes You Feel Informed (Even When...

Unspun ·

2026/01/15

ou probably don’t go looking for the news anymore.It finds you.A post. A clip. A friend’s reaction. A meme that feels like a headline. Before you’ve read a single article, you already have an opinion.In this episode of UnSpun, look at how social media has quietly changed what news feels like — and what that change does to trust and understanding. Drawing on recent research, we explore why feeds can make us feel informed without giving us context, why trust shifts from institutions to individuals,

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27:08

"Don't tell me what to think" : Why we push back...

Unspun ·

2025/11/18

Why do people reject information meant to help them?In this episode of UnSpun, we explore psychological reactance — the instinct to resist control — 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:– What psychological reactance is–

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29:37

Invisible weapons: How media makes you a casualty in...

Unspun ·

2025/11/05

In today’s wars, the battlefield is more than land, sea, or air—it’s 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 governments—both authoritarian and democratic—deploy them, and how ordinary citizens can defend themselves. Advertising Inquiries:

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22:05

From Knitting Codes to Encrypted Chats: The Evolution...

Unspun ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of UnSpun, we trace the invisible architecture that keeps truth alive when communication is forbidden.From Phyllis Latour Doyle’s coded knitting in Nazi-occupied France to encrypted mesh networks during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, “The Geometry of Trust” reveals how humans build secret systems of meaning under surveillance.This episode explores how communication itself becomes resistance when power demands silence.🔗 Check my book on the #AltGov resistance movement here:

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32:16

Is nationalism the new religion?

Unspun ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of UnSpun, we examine a phenomenon hiding in plain sight — 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 — and dangerous. We trace how America’s patriotic rituals became sacred texts, how global leaders have learned the same language, and what happens when dissent becomes heresy.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out:

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23:19

Who Decides What Counts as Hate Speech? From Henry...

Unspun ·

2025/09/23

What exactly is “hate speech”—and who gets to decide?This episode of UnSpun traces the shifting definitions of hate speech across a century of mass media. From Henry Ford’s antisemitic newspaper in the 1920s to Father Coughlin’s radio sermons, from Rwanda’s radio-fueled genocide to Roseanne Barr’s infamous tweet, Don Imus’s firing, and the recent suspensions of Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert—we follow how governments, corporations, and audiences have drawn, erased, and redrawn the boundaries of

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26:32

Law and Order: When safety becomes suppression

Unspun ·

2025/09/08

Law and Order” — it sounds reassuring. But what does it really mean?In this week’s episode of UnSpun, we unpack how those three words have been used across centuries — from 1500s England to 1960s Alabama to 2020s America — not just to fight crime, but to reshape societies. In this episode, we explore:The hidden history of “law and order” 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

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27:14

Divided We Scroll: How Wedge Issues and Purity Tests...

Unspun ·

2025/08/12

“You either agree with us… or you’re out.”Ever felt like saying the wrong thing—even gently—could 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,

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22:25

The real threat from AI is truthiness

Unspun ·

2025/07/21

Have you ever believed a video, article, or photo—only 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out:

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22:25

Hijacking hashtags to control the conversation: How...

Unspun ·

2025/07/01

Politicians don’t just post online—they 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

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22:00

Riots or Rights? How Media Shapes Your View of Protests

Unspun ·

2025/06/24

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.🔍 What you'll learn in this episode:How media framing can turn peaceful demonstrations into

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43:44

Demagogues, Misinformation, and the Death of Truth in...

Unspun ·

2025/06/17

Why do repeated lies work—even when we know they’re 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.Advertising Inquiries:

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21:29

Dog Whistles & Double Meanings: How Politicians Hide...

Unspun ·

2025/06/03

What do politicians really mean when they say “law and order,” “traditional values,” or “globalists”? In this episode of UnSpun, we explore the use of dog whistles—coded phrases that sound harmless but carry covert messages to particular audiences. From Nixon’s Law and Order to Trump’s use of “globalist,” we break down how this language works, why it’s effective, and how to spot it. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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27:34

Science, Health & Hype: How Misinformation Undermines...

Unspun ·

2025/05/27

Why are so many people turning away from evidence-based medicine? In this week’s 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 “safe” and “effective” are

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22:17

Mistakes Were Made: The Art of Political Equivocation...

Unspun ·

2025/05/13

“Mistakes were made.” “Kinetic military action.” “Efficiency.” These phrases sound harmless—until 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 manipulation—and

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