Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Updated Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor

Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Updated Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor

Yes, there is an -ology for that. And yes, we’re airing this episode -– with a ton of 2025 updates -– because it’s never felt more relevant. Dr. Robert Proctor is a Stanford professor of the History of Science and co-edited the book “Agnotology: The Making & Unmaking of Ignorance,” having coined the word 30 years ago. We chat about everything from tobacco marketing, to the sugar lobby, to racial injustice, horse vision, the psychology of the Flat Earther movement, which countries have the highest rates of climate denial, empathy, how to navigate difficult conversations and why it's critical to dismantle the systems of willful ignorance, starting locally.

Dr. Robert Proctor’s book: "Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance"

His 2021 book: Science and the Production of Ignorance: When the Quest for Knowledge Is Thwarted.

Donations in Dr. Proctor’s name went to: SavingBlackLives.org and the Public Health Advocacy Institute

An additional donation went to The National Black Law Students Association

More episode sources and links, including info on Federal Workers

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may “enjoy”: Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Attention Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Eschatology (THE APOCALYPSE), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Disasterology (DISASTERS), Conservation Technology (EARTH SAVING), Phenology (FALL/SEASONS), Oceanology (OCEANS), Futurology (THE FUTURE), Selenology (THE MOON), Gemology (STONES & GEMS), Nomology (THE CONSTITUTION), Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH), Pedagogology (SCIENCE COMMUNICATION) with Bill Nye, Vaccine Infodemiology (COVID-19 IMMUNITY),

Sponsors of Ologies

Transcripts and bleeped episodes

Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

Editing by Steven Ray Morris and Jarrett Sleeper of Mindjam Media

Encore editing by Jake Chaffee and Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions

Additional encore producing by Mercedes Maitland

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episoder(497)

Audiobook Mixtape: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ Brains

Audiobook Mixtape: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ Brains

Need holiday gift ideas? GET BOOKS. This episode is like an audiobook… but also a mixtape? It's got a little bit of everything, from cozy cabin tales to dark caves to our own reflections, how your ato...

18 Des 201956min

Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS) with Katherine Hatcher

Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS) with Katherine Hatcher

What time should you go to bed? Are you sleeping enough? Is Daylight Savings good for us? Is shift work really that bad? How dark is dark enough? Katherine Hatcher, who studies hormones, sleep cycles ...

10 Des 20191h 12min

Phonology (LINGUISTICS) with Nicole Holliday — Encore Presentation

Phonology (LINGUISTICS) with Nicole Holliday — Encore Presentation

Alie is delirious with the flu, so it’s an encore presentation of a favorite episode. If you slept on this when it first aired, get into Phonology now. Vocal fry. Code switching. Black Twitter. Valley...

3 Des 20191h 4min

Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) with Adam Becker

Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) with Adam Becker

Is anything real? How many universes are there? Do we know what dark matter is all about? Is everything a simulation being run by a quantum computer through a wormhole from a future era? Is the answer...

26 Nov 20191h 19min

Lupinology (WOLVES) with Bridgett vonHoldt

Lupinology (WOLVES) with Bridgett vonHoldt

Wolf howls, wolf packs, wolf pups and more! As the holiday Wolfenoot approaches, lupinologist and Princeton professor Dr. Brigette vonHoldt sits down to talk about her research looking at everything f...

19 Nov 20191h 16min

Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS) with Crystal Dilworth

Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS) with Crystal Dilworth

Serotonin! Dopamine! Norepinephrine! Neurotransmitters: what's their deal? Dr. Crystal Dilworth, aka Dr. Brain, stops by to have a spirited discussion about how chemical messengers change our moods an...

12 Nov 20191h 27min

Chiropterology Part 2 (BATS) with Merlin Tuttle

Chiropterology Part 2 (BATS) with Merlin Tuttle

PART 2: The stunning conclusion of a 3-hour gab session about frickin' bats with America's favorite chiropterologist, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Learn about bat conversations, their close friendships, surpris...

5 Nov 20191h 1min

Chiropterology (BATS) Part 1 with Merlin Tuttle

Chiropterology (BATS) Part 1 with Merlin Tuttle

“People fear most what they understand least." Words of wisdom from explorer/American treasure/bat expert, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Alie headed to the bat capital of Austin and sat down with the legendary c...

29 Okt 20191h 40min

Populært innen Humor

papaya
rss-spartsklubben
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
tore-og-haralds-podkast
tusvik-tnne
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
misjonen-med-antonsen-og-golden
rss-snorre-med-gaute
wolfgang-wee-uncut
hanna-de-heldige
jan-thomas-og-einar-blir-venner
verdens-verste
rss-det-alle-snakker-om-med-siri-og-kim
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5