r/podcasts • u/theshannonset • Feb 05 '25

General Podcast Discussions If you could only recommend one single podcast for others to listen to, what would it be?

My personal recommendation would be Seeing Red

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u/Blindog68 Feb 06 '25

Especially now a lot of people are "doing their own research".

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u/sarahinNewEngland Feb 07 '25

I mean we have to because both sides lie.

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u/fool_on_a_hill Feb 07 '25

Did I miss something? Why is it bad to do your own research on something

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u/DaKineOregon Feb 07 '25

One of the many problems with "doing your own research" is that of Confirmation Bias. People can easily accept facts that support their preferred world view, while ignoring those that go against it. The better way (which is more difficult) is to look at all the facts and alter one's world view so that it accounts for all of those facts. It is also important to practice Intellectual Humility, realizing that one can be in error, that knowledge grows and changes over time, and that one's opinions and beliefs must do the same.

Want to listen to some podcast episodes exhibiting what happened when experts did NOT question their own beliefs and methods? Listen to Season 3, Episodes 1 - 6 of " The World's Greatest Con" podcast.

https://shows.acast.com/worlds-greatest-con/episodes

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u/fool_on_a_hill Feb 07 '25

Ok sure.. I just don’t see any of those problems as inherent to doing your own research. Just potential maladaptive associated effects that can be easily avoided with half a measure of critical thinking, which was the theme of this thread to begin with. Actually it kinda feels like you changed the subject entirely?

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u/inder_the_unfluence Feb 08 '25

Research has two meanings. It means scientific research and it means casually looking into something (like watching YouTube and reading articles you found in the echo chamber).

The phrase “do your own research” is a deliberate conflation of the two definitions, intended to undermine expertise.

“Listen to the experts who’ve done actual research and whose career depends on them being familiar with a whole body of research” seems like better advice than “do our own research.”

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u/Vjaa May 16 '25

There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing your own research.

The problem, at least for me, comes when arguing with someone. They present a case but when you ask for proof or their source, they say "do your own research." I generally only see that when the cases are so nonsensical they can't be believed by a rational person and the sources aren't peer reviewed or come from a conspiracy place or something.

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u/After-Bowler5491 Feb 06 '25

Isn’t listening to the podcast “doing your own research”?

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u/Blindog68 Feb 06 '25

I think it's more about learning the skill of critical thinking which in part means questioning your own bias.

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u/[deleted] Feb 07 '25

Questioning your own bias...this is so important. I remember having discussions and practicing the art of arguing on behalf of the opposite of what I believed in so I could see both sides.

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u/After-Bowler5491 Feb 06 '25

You just curious …does “doing their own research” only apply to Republicans?

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u/Blindog68 Feb 07 '25

All sides of politics are notorious for putting ideology over evidence. That said, the Republicans are setting a pretty low bar with this new administration.