Paleontology with Dr. Meaghan Wetherell

Episode 2 - Professor Meaghan Wetherell has thoughts on dinosaurs, Noah’s Ark, and not being an asshole. Makenzie sits down with her to unpack why facts alone rarely change minds, how science communicators can avoid “winning” people into a wall, and what learning-style myths reveal about everyone’s need to protect their worldview. It all ends with a free paleontology video game and a fossil find she can barely talk about yet.RESOURCES:Finding Lake Chewaucan: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3512920/Finding_Lake_ChewaucanPBS Eons: https://www.meaghanwetherell.com/script-writingGUEST:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@geopetalfabricWeird & Dead Podcast: https://www.weirdanddead.comWeird & Dead Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdandDeadPodcastMAK:TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@makenziemizellIG: https://instagram.com/makenziemizellPatreon: https://patreon.com/makenziemizellWebsite: https://makenziemizell.comCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro01:00 - What is Paleontology?02:08 - Oreodonts03:35 - Noah's Ark04:40 - Science Communication10:09 - Motivational Interviewing13:45 - Role Play16:53 - Early Paleontologists & Religion22:48 - How to Make It Better25:35 - The Knowledge Deficit Model28:25 - Avoiding Being Condescending31:44 - Learning Style Exercise34:59 - Where to Find Meaghan