From body language bullshit to behavior science, with Vincent Denault

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Previously titled “The dangers of “reading people,” with former behavior pseudoscience believer Vincent Denault” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 11, 2026

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Recorded12 Mar 2026

Publisherfeeds.megaphone.fm

Handlerec:16874168

Show notes

Vincent Denault once believed he was learning how to read people’s hidden thoughts through analyzing body language. As a young lawyer in Quebec, he attended behavior analysis and “synergology” trainings that promised the ability to detect lies and determine hidden thoughts from small gestures and movements. But after digging into the research, he realized much of what he’d been taught wasn't true. In this talk, Vincent describes that journey and we explore how body-language myths spread through trainings, media, and YouTube behavior “experts.” We also discuss his research on how judges use behavior to assess witness credibility, his views on Paul Ekman, and his views on how bad-behavior-information spreaders protect themselves from criticism and responsibility. Along the way, we examine why nonverbal behavior still matters in human interaction—just not in the reliable lie-detection ways many people assume. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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