The Irrational Ape: Facts, Feelings, and the Spread of Misinformation
Misguided: The Podcast · Matthew Facciani, PhD and David Robert Grimes
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Show Notes
Physicist and author of The Irrational Ape, David Robert Grimes, joins me to explore why facts alone rarely change minds. Drawing on his background in medical physics, statistics, cancer research, and public health—as well as his work in science communication—David explains how conspiracies spread, why the “information deficit” model falls short, and what effective media literacy actually looks like.
The conversation also dives into the deeper social and structural forces that shape our health, why changing your mind should be celebrated rather than stigmatized, and how to rebuild trust in institutions without simply demanding it. Along the way, David and I reflect on the challenges of science communication in the digital age and the urgent need for critical thinking to protect our information ecosystem.
If you’re interested in critical thinking, public health, and navigating misinformation in the age of AI, this episode is for you.
Read about David’s work on his website
Follow David on Instagram
Read David’s Book: The Irrational Ape
Keywords: David Robert Grimes, misinformation, conspiracy theories, critical thinking, media literacy, public health communication, trust in institutions
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