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.

Avsnitt(503)

Mythology (STORYTELLING) with John Bucher

Mythology (STORYTELLING) with John Bucher

Superhero movies. Bastardized fairy tales. The psychology of celebrity. Star Wars. And yes, some ancient Greek and Roman myths. Professional mythologist and screenwriting consultant John Bucher spins ...

27 Feb 20181h 12min

Teuthology (SQUIDS) with Sarah McAnulty

Teuthology (SQUIDS) with Sarah McAnulty

Squids. Cuttlefish. Octopusseseses. The world's most impassioned squid nerd, Sarah McAnulty, gets locked in a basement with Alie to talk about cephalopods, alien DNA, camouflage, invisibility cloaks, ...

20 Feb 201858min

Sexology (SEX) with Shan Boody  aka Shannon Boodram

Sexology (SEX) with Shan Boody aka Shannon Boodram

Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Also sex. Buckle up, Ologites, because clinical sexologist and author Shannon Boodram (known for her sex educational YouTube channel ShanBoody) chats with Alie about sexual identit...

13 Feb 20181h 12min

Gelotology (LAUGHTER) with Lee Berk

Gelotology (LAUGHTER) with Lee Berk

The. Study. Of. Laughter. It exists, and it's called gelotology. In one of the oddly more somber episodes, Alie sits down with Dr. Lee Berk, a doctor who is "serious about laughter" and has dedicated ...

6 Feb 201855min

Ichthyology (FISHES) with Chris Thacker

Ichthyology (FISHES) with Chris Thacker

ALL. ABOUT. FISH. Hilariously charming fish expert and LA County Natural History Museum Curator of Ichthyology, Dr. Christine Thacker, sits down with Alie in a basement full of several million jars of...

30 Jan 20181h 6min

Herpetology (SNAKES, FROGS, ETC.) with David Steen

Herpetology (SNAKES, FROGS, ETC.) with David Steen

Sea turtles, frog storms, Indiana Jones trivia, the triumph of will that was Snakes on a Plane, plus dissembling your anti-sneck feelings with Dr. David Steen. Learn more about what makes a herp a her...

23 Jan 20181h 10min

Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE) with Sari Shepphird

Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE) with Sari Shepphird

Sweaty palms before a date. Racing heart during a presentation. Needing a diaper while delivering a wedding toast. We've all been there. On the heels of New Year's resolutions, sports & performance ps...

16 Jan 20181h 21min

Hematology (BLOOD) with Brian Durie

Hematology (BLOOD) with Brian Durie

Bloooood. In this special episode, Alie sits down with Scotsman and hematologist Dr. Brian Durie to talk about blood: what it is, and what can go wrong. As an oncologist, Dr. Durie is a leading resear...

9 Jan 201848min

Populärt inom Komedi

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
ursakta
alex-sigges-podcast
den-som-skrattar-forlorar-podcast-2
hogt-i-tak-2
filip-fredrik-svarar
jocke-jonna-sanningen-maste-fram
gynning-berg
mardromsgasten
alla-goda-ting-ar-tre
skaringer-nessvold
rss-vafalls
fordomspodden
filip-fredrik-podcast
kafferepet
rss-vastgotapodden
rss-alla-goda-ting-ar-tre
hor-har
da-ar-vi-igang
wahlgren-wistam