502 Conversations: A Hidden Gem for Critical Thinkers

I was recently interviewed on the show 502 Conversations. It was a lot of fun! If you missed it, you can watch it here:

Produced by Dedham TV, 502 Conversations is an antidote for people who are tired of the constant barrage of pseudoscience, hoxes, and weird conspiracy theories their distant relatives keep sharing on Facebook. The show’s core mission isn’t just to be intellectual, but to dissect misinformation and encourage rational thought in a world where a shocking number of people are falling for the idea that Tylenol causes autism, that astrology just might predict the future, and that that creepy-looking house across the street just might be haunted.

The host Brian Kerby has interviewed some very interesting people on heavy-hitting topics such as the philosophy of science, medical quackery, and the glorious, sparkly nonsense known as pseudoscience—inviting guests like noted vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit, comedian Julia Sweeny, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci, and the legendary James Randi to engage in the kind of discussions that will literally make you smarter. It’s a much-needed beacon of rational discourse on the internet.

As you might imagine, I was thrilled to be on a show with such a great roster of guests to talk about my books. We talked about how I got started writing for kids, why I think critical thinking is so important for children, and ideas for activities you can do with your own child to encourage critical thinking.

If you have never heard of 502 Conversations then you are not alone. I was unfamiliar with the show when Brian reached out, but when I started watching the episodes I quickly binged them all. I highly recommend that you check them out. The YouTube page is helpfully organized by topics such as Alternative Medicine, Critical Thinking, and Folklore and Myths. I think you will find a lot of great information to share with your distant relative on Facebook. And who knows, maybe it will start a great conversation.