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Something You Should Know

Why You Should Talk More Often & How People Get Brainwashed

02 Jun 2025

Description

Zoom and other platforms have made virtual meetings very convenient and allow people in different locations to gather together in one place. Still, virtual meetings can be inefficient and can waste a lot of time if people aren’t aware of some common don’ts. This episode starts with a list of things not to do or say that can streamline those meetings. One thing that sets us apart from all other animals is our ability to speak and communicate with a complex language. So, we talk. We talk to each other, to ourselves and to no one in particular. The process of creating speech is complicated and it turns out it does more than just communicate our thoughts. there are a lot of benefits to talking out loud and to ourselves. We need to talk according to my guest Maryellen MacDonald. She is a cognitive scientist and professor of psychology and language sciences at the University of Wisconsin−Madison. She is also author of the book More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World (https://amzn.to/44VKNZ5). You often hear the term – “brainwashing” but what is it really? How does it work to get people to join a cult or believe some fringe theory that most people think is crazy? It’s interesting that we only think people have been brainwashed if what they believe differs from what we believe. Here to help us understand brainwashing is Rebecca Lemov. She is a historian of science at Harvard University and author of the book ok The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion (https://amzn.to/3Fw8Pzn). Price optimization. It’s a term that describes why you may be paying more for car insurance than you need to even if you’ve been a loyal customer to your existing car insurer. Listen and you could end up saving a lot of money. https://consumerfed.org/testimonial/consumer-federation-of-america-sends-letter-highlighting-opposition-to-price-optimization/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! CARAWAY: If you have been eyeing their internet famous 12 piece cookware set, now is the perfect time to buy! Enjoy fast, free shipping, easy returns, and a 30-day trial. Plus, if you visit Carawayhome.com/SYSK you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. Caraway. Non-Toxic cookware made modern. MINT MOBILE: Ditch overpriced wireless and get 3 months of premium wireless service from Mint Mobile for 15 bucks a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Elevate your shopping with Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at https://Dell.com/ai-pc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Transcription

Full Episode

1.434 - 3.655 Maryellen MacDonald

I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the LA Times.

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3.715 - 22.044 Paul Scheer

And I'm Paul Scheer, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from The League, Veep, or my non-eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters. We come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits. Fan favorites, must-sees, and in case you missed them. We're talking Parasite to Home Alone. From Grease to the Dark Knight.

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22.184 - 27.527 Paul Scheer

So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic adventure. Listen to Unspooled wherever you get your podcasts.

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27.867 - 29.228 Maryellen MacDonald

And don't forget to hit the follow button.

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35.026 - 47.41 Mike Carruthers

Today on Something You Should Know, what not to say on a Zoom or conference call. Then, talking. It's something we all do and need to do because talking has so many benefits.

48.05 - 62.935 Maryellen MacDonald

To talk and specifically name what we're feeling clarifies our emotions for us. Therapists ask, and how does that make you feel? Because the act of naming the emotion is beneficial to the talker.

63.815 - 71.557 Mike Carruthers

Also, why you really should shop around for car insurance. And a look into brainwashing. What it is and what it isn't.

72.418 - 87.202 Rebecca Lemov

I think the temptation is to lob the word brainwashing as an insult. To say, oh, those people over there, surely they're brainwashed. I mean, it often ends up as the end of an argument. Like, I have no way of further talking to you. You're surely brainwashed.

87.962 - 90.263 Mike Carruthers

All this today on Something You Should Know.

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