Your Brain’s Blind Spots: How to Think Critically in the Disinformation Age with Dr. Brie Kara

Scenic Route, Social Change and Mental Health Conversations for Perfectionists

We are living in the Disinformation Age — a time unlike any other in history. Never before have we been bombarded with so much information, yet so little clarity. Our feeds are flooded with misleading headlines, personal opinions disguised as facts, and viral narratives designed to manipulate us. Even the sharpest minds can fall for misinformation—so how do we learn to see through the noise?

In this episode of The Scenic Route, I sit down with Dr. Brie Kara, a psychologist specializing in disinformation and media literacy, to break down:

• The real difference between misinformation and disinformation (and why it matters)
• Why our brains are wired to fall for cognitive biases and mental shortcuts
• How disinformation campaigns hijack our instincts—and how to fight back
• Practical strategies to sharpen critical thinking and media literacy skills
• Why fact-checking isn’t enough—and what to do instead

We’re constantly being pulled in different directions by algorithms, outrage-driven media, and our own subconscious biases. This episode will give you the tools to think more clearly, question more effectively, and reclaim your mental autonomy.

Listen now and upgrade your brain’s operating system!

Mentioned in this episode
Brie Kara's website
On Instagram
On Threads

Thinking Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman

New episodes drop every Tuesday.
See you on the Scenic Route.

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Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

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1. Introduction: Welcome to the Scenic Route (00:00:00)

2. Meet Dr. Brie Kara: Expert on Disinformation and Deep Fakes (00:02:00)

3. Understanding Misinformation vs. Disinformation (00:14:00)

4. The Impact of Social Media on Information Processing (00:22:00)

5. How Our Brain Falls for Lies (00:32:00)

6. Practical Tools for Critical Thinking (00:42:00)

7. Media Literacy: Enhancing Our Skills (00:55:00)

8. Navigating the Misinformation Landscape (01:00:00)

9. Closing Thoughts and Resources (01:10:00)