Don't Make It Worse

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

Episode 1: August McLaughlin turns “What is sex?” into the episode’s most complicated question. Makenzie sits down with August to unpack pleasure, purity culture, and the masturbation experience that made her realize her sexuality didn’t depend on anyone else. From Mormon loopholes to porn moves nobody actually wanted, the conversation ends with a simple challenge: look at what you learned about sex, and what nobody ever taught you.RESOURCES:Planned Parenthood: https://weareplannedparenthoodaction.orgScarleteen: https://scarleteen.comAUGUST:IG: https://instagram.com/augustmclaughlinWebsite: https://augustmclaughlin.comGirl Boner Radio: https://augustmclaughlin.com/podcastMAK:TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@makenziemizellIG: https://instagram.com/makenziemizellPatreon: https://patreon.com/makenziemizellWebsite: https://makenziemizell.comCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro00:43 - What is sex?03:40 - Sexual Pleasure05:22 - Performance Culture08:05 - August’s Story 09:53 - Personal Discovery13:43 - Sexual Shame15:50 - Religious Messages19:50 - Purity Culture23:50 - Ethical Porn26:34 - How to Make It Better28:37 - Where to Find August

Enjoy this sample of the first episode of Don't Make It Worse, featuring sex educator August McLaughlin. Full episodes begin Wednesday June 4, with new episodes every Wednesday after that.Find August online at @augustmclaughlin Follow Mak on TikTok at @makenziemizellVisit MakenzieMizell.com