Tackling the Rise of Health Misinformation feat. Alanna Smith and Suzi Gage

Tackling the Rise of Health Misinformation feat. Alanna Smith and Suzi Gage

Author: The Cosmic Shambles Network September 22, 2026 Duration: 1:12:29
In today's age of social media algorithms and AI finding accurate and reliable health information online can feel like a losing battle. Someone who has recently published a masters research paper on this is Alanna Smith. Not just a Stanford psychology graduate, but also one of the top basketball players on the planet. Our producer Trent was lucky to sit down with the WNBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year for a rare interview about her journey into psychology alongside her professional basketball career, what she's researching for her masters and her hopes for the future of tackling health misinformation online, particularly around dietary advice. Then we chat with epidemiologist Dr Suzi Gage to look an area where public health information has seen some success in recent times; cigarette packaging, and how this template might be used in other areas. A huge thanks to Alanna for taking the time to chat with us in the middle of the World Cup. And thanks to Michael and the team at Basketball Australia for helping make it happen as well. Buy signed copies of Suzi's book, Say Why to Drugs from our shop (https://cosmicshambles.myshopify.com) or get it from you favourite local indie via https://bookshop.org Follow Alanna on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alannas96 Follow Suzi on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soozaphone) or Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/soozaphone.bsky.social) And here's a link to that Marc Bolan ad Suzi mentioned - https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8782924/if-marc-bolan-kissed-you-would-he-feel-like-this-posters Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at https://patreon.com/cosmicshambles and watch the video version of this podcast plus loads of other goodies.

From the team behind The Cosmic Shambles Network comes Science Shambles, a podcast that sits at the delightful intersection of expert knowledge and genuine curiosity. This isn't a formal lecture series; it's a semi-regular gathering of minds where scientists from every conceivable field are welcomed for sprawling, engaging conversations. You might hear a cosmologist pondering the nature of dark matter one week, and a medical researcher explaining the intricacies of the immune system the next, all approached with a warmth and wit that makes complex ideas accessible. The tone is rooted in the belief that not knowing something is simply the starting point for a fascinating discussion, not a shortcoming. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a lively pub where the topics just happen to be the fundamental workings of the universe, our planet, and ourselves. It's for anyone who enjoys the thrill of connecting dots between disciplines, finding that art, history, or philosophy often illuminate scientific truths in unexpected ways. By weaving comedy and medicine into its core science remit, this podcast from The Cosmic Shambles Network creates a uniquely human and entertaining listen, celebrating the messy, brilliant, and endlessly surprising process of discovery. Tune in for thoughtful, funny, and deeply informative chats that remind us all just how strange and wonderful reality really is.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 50

The Incomplete Shambles Podcast
Podcast Episodes
20 Years of Scientific Discovery - Latitude 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:13
We opened up Latitude 2026 on the Thursday night and as Latitude celebrated its twentieth festival, and Shambles celebrated its twentieth year at Latitude, we took a look back at some of the biggest scientific discoverie…
Experts Review 'The Great ADHD Myth?' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:56
Now that Channel 4's 'documentary' has aired we've got our panel of experts back to discuss if the show was better or worse than expected. Hint: It's not the first one. 'The Great ADHD Myth?' is reviewed from a scientifi…
Some Questions for Channel 4 and its ADHD Documentary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:42
Channel 4 recently announced a new documentary titled 'The Great ADHD Myth?'. The announcement came with a press release that, to put it mildly, raised some questions. So we put together a panel of experts to talk about…
Robin and Josie's Book Shambles with Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
Comedians and Bibliophiles Robin and Josie are back together for a Book Shambles live special with award winning musician and author Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason. Her latest book, To Be Young, Gifted and Black has just been rele…
Batteries Maybe Included? - Latitude 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
We really need to stop burning so much stuff. Sustainable energy needs to drive our future and batteries are going to play a big part in that. The advancement of battery technology has come a long way but there are still…
Climate Change at Sea - Latitude 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:04
The ocean is an all too often overlooked part of our natural world, yet it is the blue engine that drives everything. And it is changing in many ways, at an alarming rate. Rising sea levels, warming oceans, increased aci…
Weirdly Normal - The Science of Neurodiversity - Live from Latitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:17
What if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn't a sign of weakness, but strength? Let some experts help you wade through the 'neurotrash' to talk about the science of…
We're Going On a Dark Matter Hunt - Live from Latitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:43
Recorded live at Latitude 2025, join Dr Clara Nellist of CERN, and two astrophysicists, Sky at Night co-host Dr Maggie Aderin-Pock and Sky at Night regular Dr Jen Gupta alongside Dr Helen Czerski to discuss what we know…
Trust Me, I'am an AI - Live from Latitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:19
AI is in the news everywhere you look at the moment. But amongst all of the sensationalist headlines, what’s really going on, and what should we actually be worried about when it comes to AI? Prof Kevin Fong recently too…
Live from Latitude - Helen Czerski and Kevin Fong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:27
Recorded LIVE at the 2022 Latitude Festival, Dr Helen Czerski and Prof Kevin Fong sit down to talk about the merits of space travel in a time where the Earth is gripped by a pandemic and climate change. Should we still b…