Chris & Matt make a guest appearance on Science Counterpunch (YouTube) (Patreon)

Ep9: Decoding the Gurus: Exposing Anti-Science Gurus and Grifters ( @decodingthegurus )

#grifters #influencer #conspiracytheory Today on Science Counterpunch, we’re joined by two academics who have made it their job to closely examine some of the most cultish and pernicious anti-science actors in today’s media ecosystem—and how often their confidence and contrarianism outrun evidence. Chris Kavanagh is a cognitive anthropologist and social psychologist, Associate Professor at Rikkyo University and researcher at Oxford. Matt Browne is a Professor of Psychology at Central Queensland University, with a research focus on gambling, addiction, and anti-vaccine beliefs. Together, they host Decoding the Gurus, a podcast that takes a careful, analytical look at self‑styled truth‑tellers, intellectual contrarians, and culture‑war figures to understand the psychological patterns and incentives that keep the guru ecosystem alive. Both Philipp and I have previously been guests on Decoding the Gurus, and this podcast’s work has been a real inspiration for Science Counterpunch. So today’s conversation reflects our shared interest in how science gets put under pressure when online authority is built on vibes, grievance, and monetizable doubt. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction TBC About Science Counterpunch: Science Counterpunch is a podcast that combines hard evidence, frontline scientist testimony, and rapid rebuttal clips to expose anti‑science influencers and actors while centering science and experts under fire in our modern, polarised attention economy. Science Counterpunch is a podcast that forcefully defends the legacy of the Enlightenment by giving reason and evidence a powerful voice in today’s information war. We expose merchants of doubt, amplify the voices of scientists under attack, and make rationality resonate in a world drowning in disinformation. We seek to empower citizens to spot anti-science rhetoric, influencers, and policies. We yearn for a public armed with the facts, the resilience, and the confidence to champion science as their personal shield against myth, manipulation, and magical thinking. Guests: Name: Prof Chris Kavanagh Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Y7BbWDEAAAAJ&hl=en Twitter: https://x.com/C_Kavanagh Name: Prof Matt Browne Website: https://staff-profiles.cqu.edu.au/home/view/772 Twitter: https://x.com/ArthurCDent Decoding the Gurus: https://decoding-the-gurus.captivate.fm/ YouTube: @decodingthegurus Hosts: Name: Sam Gregson Website: www.badboyofscience.com Name: Philipp Markolin Website: https://www.protagonist-science.com/