About Andy Norman
How to Strengthen Your Mind's Immunity to Bad Ideas
In this interview with Fair Observer magazine, CIRCE founder Andy Norman explains why mental immunity cultivation is so important, and how we can all build next-level resistance to viral misinformation.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
It was a pleasure discussing my ideas with Jordan Harbinger on his always-entertaining show. Can we find and employ better ways to think? We'd better, or we're in big trouble...
All Sides with Ann Fisher –WOSU
In this episode of Ann Fisher's award-winning public radio show, she asks all the key questions about the new science of mental immune health. Succinct and touches all the bases. Check out my public radio debut!
The Joe Rogan Experience
In this long-form podcast, I got the chance to talk with Joe Rogan about the Mental Immunity solution: an exciting new way to inoculate minds against viral nonsense. Great conversation!
The Naked Scientists – BBC
Host Gillian King-Cargile talks with authors "whose books ignite enthusiasm for reading and learning." In this episode of her NPR show, we discuss an exciting new approach to teaching critical thinking.
The You Project Podcast
Imagine a conversation with a podcaster - in this case the uber-entertaining Craig Harper - where you are introduced to listeners as "one of the smartest minds on the planet." Wow. It's hard not to like a guy like that. But what happens if your topic is "How to resist manipulative messaging"?
The Seize the Moment Podcast
How should we deal with internet trolls? And what about people who play devil's advocate and inadvertently come across as trolls? Here Andy discusses the importance of interpreting contrary arguments with charity: as good-faith efforts to deepen our understanding. There are trolls out there, but it almost always works to assume that people mean well and meet their arguments with charity and appreciation.
Think with Krys Boyd – KERA
I loved discussing the ideas of Mental Immunity with KERA's Krys Boyd, winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award. She'd really done her homework and gave a great interview. This show aired in 22 states!
The Voices of War
This discussion with podcaster extraordinaire Vedran Maslic allowed us to explore how the science of mental immunity can help us prevent pointless conflict and future wars.
Northern Public Radio's STEM Read Show
Host Gillian King-Cargile talks with authors "whose books ignite enthusiasm for reading and learning." In this episode of her NPR show, we discuss an exciting new approach to teaching critical thinking.
Nature & Nurture
Here, I discuss mental immunity with Adam Omary. Adam is a PhD student at Harvard University. He conducts a really good interview.
Humanists UK Interview
In 2021, I had the honor of discussing my book with Andrew Copson, CEO of the Humanists UK. He conducted a super interview: check it out!
The Rational View podcast
I enjoyed this chance to discuss cognitive immunology with Dr. Al Scott on The Rational View. See what you think!
Salon
In this interview for Salon, Mary Elizabeth Williams asks me to spell out the ideas that have driven Mental Immunity into the national conversation. How do we combat misinformation and hinged thinking? By understanding the infectious nature of viral nonsense and developing our immunity to it!
The Conversation with David Shuster – The Young Turks
In this succinct and substantive interview, David Shuster of The Young Turks and I cover the basics of Mental Immunity and talk about some practical applications in today's world.
Behavioral Grooves
I was honored to share the ideas of mental immunity with the audience of the Behavioral Grooves podcast.
The David Pakman Show
Jake Newfield and I explore some deep philosophical questions in this podcast, including "Why do people believe conspiracy theories?" and "What is evidence, anyway?"
The Cognitive Crucible
This episode of the Cognitive Crucible podcast (produced by the Information Professional's Association) will introduce you to CIRCE, an organization raring to take on the "Great Infodemic" of our times. We don't have to allow disinformation to tear apart our world. The alternative? Critical thinking skills sharpened by the insights of cognitive immunology.
The Follow-Up Question with Michael Ashford
How often do you get to hear a devout Christian and a staunch atheist talk respectfully to one another about the ideas that shape our world? Here's your chance.
Future Hindsight Podcast
Mila Atmos hosts the exceptional podcast Future Hindsight,
and her interview questions prompted me to delve deep into the science of mental immunity.
The Tom Sumner Program
Tom Sumner—the Flint, MI radio personality—had me on his show. "Old-Fashioned Radio for a New Generation"!
Forthright Radio with Joy LaClaire
In this episode of Joy LaClaire's popular radio show, we discuss the art of strengthening our resistance to bad ideas.
All Systems Good
It was a true pleasure to talk about the intersections between mental immunity and culture with Eli Rebich. We talked about philosophy, disinformation, and the divisions that dominate today's public discourse.
The Open Highway
Eric Erickson and I get to discuss some big ideas on 'The Open Highway'. Check it out!
Live Life in Motion
Host Sam Kleckley and I had a great conversation about the principles of cognitive immunology and what we need to do to build mental immunity in ourselves and our society.
The Rewired Soul Podcast
Really enjoyed this conversation with Chris Boutte. In it, we talk about how crazy ideas spread like viruses, how we can develop our minds' immune systems, and how to avoid autoimmune disorders of the mind.
The Sentientism Podcast
My conversation with Jamie Woodhouse at the Sentientism Podcast was full of philosophy and probing questions. I was honored to share the ideas of Mental Immunity with the Sentientist audience.
Mentally Fit
Dan Pierce and I discuss mental immune health—on overlooked aspect of health and fitness.
For the Sake of Argument
Jake Newfield and I explore some deep philosophical questions in this podcast, including "Why do people believe conspiracy theories?" and "What is evidence, anyway?"
Inquiring Minds
It was an honor to appear on the Inquiring Minds podcast with Indre Viskontas. We had a great conversation about how the ideas of cognitive immunology can help our society get past this point of division and disordered thinking.
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures
This lecture with the renowned Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures organization marked the official book launch for Mental Immunity. A brief online lecture was followed by a Q&A session with PA&L Executive Director, Stephanie Flom.
The Skeptic’s Toolbox - Center for Inquiry
I delivered a talk entitled "Five Ways to Inoculate Against Viral Nonsense: Practical Lessons from the Science of Mental Immunity" for the Center for Inquiry's Skeptic's Toolbox series. It was a pleasure to discuss the concepts of mental immunity with CFI's Jennifer Beahan, who hosted the event.
Hidden Forces
It was a pleasure to speak with Demetri Kofinas of Hidden Forces about the concepts of mental immunity at play in our culture, our minds, and our history.
American Humanist Association
I spoke with Emily Newman as part of Speaking of Humanism, a program run by the AHA's Center for Education, discussing Mental Immunity and outlining the dangers of mental immune collapse.
Rising Laterally
Arjun Sachdev & Jay Beaulieu, hosts of the Rising Laterally podcast, asked a lot of insightful question about mental immunity and its applications. I was so pleased to be able to have this in-depth conversation with them about the book.
The Hidden Why
I enjoyed this thoughtful and in-depth conversation with Leigh Martinuzzi about Mental Immunity and its applications. The Hidden Why is a lifestyle podcast dedicated to finding meaningful ways of being.
"What is Cognitive Immunology?" Article at Psychology Today
Psychology Today asked me to blog on their platform, and this is my inaugural post. It covers the basics of cognitive immunology, the emerging science of mental immunity
Harvesting Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen
"Infodemic Inoculation: Exercising Thought Intelligence Through Whole Brain Thinking" - I appeared on this episode with Dr. John Cook, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Climate Change Communication Research Hub at Monash University.
The Vermont Conversation
I was a guest on Vermont Conversation with David Goodman. We spoke about the ancient roots of idea-testing and its modern-day applications.
Going Deep with Aaron Watson
I was pleased and proud to appear on Aaron Watson's podcast Going Deep with Aaron Watson. We got into the finer details of mental immunity and the implications for our society.
Merion West
Henri Mattila asked a lot of thoughtful, probing questions as we explored the ideas of Mental Immunity and their application in the context of current events.
Keen On - Now.TV
I spoke with Andrew Keen, host of Keen On, about mental immunity and answered some tough questions about what these ideas mean. Watch the video or read an excerpt of the interview on LitHub.com.
Mental Immunity: Mind-Parasites and the Search for a Better Way to Think
Leighann Lord and her team at Skeptical Inquirer Presents were wonderful hosts for this talk I gave on March 18th. I understand it was very well attended, and I was gratified by the feedback.
Mental Immunity: The Antidote to Infectious Ideas
My friends at the Secular Student Alliance hosted this zoom event. I got to share my research with a lively group, then answer questions about my book. Thanks to Kevin and team at SSA!
Mental Immunity: How to Inoculate Against Mind-Parasites
I gave this talk to Houston Oasis, a community of freethinkers from Texas, then another version of the same talk to a counterpart community in Toronto. Got some great questions each time!
Upending Scientific Orthodoxy
My review of Rutger Bregman's Humankind will appear in Free Inquiry magazine in April/May 2021! Check out what I have to say about a truly important contribution to our understanding of human nature!
What to Do About Big Tech? A Panel Discussion With Congressman Mike Doyle
In this October event sponsored by the CMU College Democrats, I got to discuss how unregulated Big Tech is unhinging many minds. It was fun sharing my ideas about mental immunity with Congressman Mike Doyle, among others. We even discussed applying them to forge novel solutions!
We Evolved. What About Faith?
In this 2019 event at Carnegie Mellon University, I offered a humanist's point of view on faith. My counterpart was Professor of Biology David Lahti, who offered a Christian point of view. Sponsored by my friends at the Veritas Forum and attended by about 200.
The Meaning and Legacy of Humanism: An Exchange With Yuval Noah Harari
In this 2018 symposium in Free Inquiry magazine, Yuval Noah Harari and I defend competing views of humanism and its historical legacy.
A Conversation With Richard Dawkins
As part of Carnegie Mellon University's 2017 Sagan Fest, I got to present our Carl Sagan Award to Richard Dawkins. We then discussed some of the philosophical issues raised by his work. Among other things, I invited him to explain his (largely overlooked) "Atheists for Jesus" essay!
The Dissenter
I was glad for the chance to speak with Ricardo Lopes of The Dissenter at length about the philosophy and psychology behind Mental Immunity.