Convergence Versus Consensus

from Skeptical Thinker · host Jamie and Leah - Father and Daughter team of skepticists

Hi there! In today's episode, Leah and Jamie discuss the need to change the way science communicators show how they all agree on the data. It may seem like just semantics, but the word consensus has been confusing the general public for a long time, and it is easy to manipulate this confusion to sway public opinion. This will lead us to the next episode where we will discuss a 2021 book: How To Talk to a Science Denier. Enjoy today's episode! Citations: Hawks, J. (2025, April 27). Consilience, convergence, and consensus. John Hawks. https://www.johnhawks.net/p/consilience-convergence-and-consensus Podcast: Scientific Consensus: A concept past its expiration date? (2025, May 21). American Council on Science and Health. https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/05/21/podcast-scientific-consensus-concept-past-its-expiration-date-49497 Starling, M. (2025, May 19). Monkeys are kidnapping babies of another species on a Panamanian island, perplexing scientists. CNN Science. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/science/monkey-kidnappings-jicaron-island-panama Thomas, L. (2020, July 10). Single, Double & Triple Blind Study | Definition & Examples. skribbr.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/double-blind-study/ Thorp, H. H. (2025). Convergence and consensus. Science, 388(6745), 339. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady3211

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 30, 2025

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

Convergence Versus Consensus

0:00 1:00:14

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

API Case Files Aerial Phenomena Investigations API Case Files is the official podcast of Aerial Phenomena Investigations. The API team is out to drain the UFO swamp, bringing a real scientific and skeptical approach to the study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. We don't have all the answers, so we investigate. The Skeptic Zone Richard Saunders The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason. Join Richard Saunders and his team of reporters for your weekly dose of skeptical news and interviews, reports and comments. Past guests have included, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Tim Minchin, Eugenie Scott, Dr Phil Plait, Michael Marshall, Dr Steve Novella, Dr Pamela Gay, Jon Ronson, Dr Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Prof. Richard Wiseman, Dick Smith, Banachek, Prof. Chris French, George Hrab, Tim Ferguson, Dr Paul Willis and many, many more.Featuring Australian radio legend Maynard with his Spooky Action, Jo Alabaster from the 'Evidence Please' blog, Eran Segev's Grain of Salt, Dr Rachael Dunlop with 'Dr Rachie Reports' and Heidi Robertson aka 'The Raw Skeptic'. Rationally Speaking Podcast New York City Skeptics Rationally Speaking is the bi-weekly podcast of New York City Skeptics. Join host Julia Galef and guests as they explore the borderlands between reason and nonsense, likely from unlikely, and science from pseudoscience. Any topic is fair game as long as we can bring reason to bear upon it, with both a skeptical eye and a good dose of humor!We agree with the Marquis de Condorcet, who said that in an open society we ought to devote ourselves to "the tracking down of prejudices in the hiding places where priests, the schools, the government, and all long-established institutions had gathered and protected them."Rationally Speaking was co-created with Massimo Pigliucci, is produced by Benny Pollak, and is recorded in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Skeptical Thinker?

This episode is 1 hour and 0 minutes long.

When was this Skeptical Thinker episode published?

This episode was published on May 30, 2025.

Can I download this Skeptical Thinker episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!