What is True?
Claim This Podcastby Alexa Battler & Chris Garbutt
Podcast Overview
<p><strong>Your world is getting more confusing, isn't it?</strong></p><p>With all the nonsense out there, how do we cut through the BS and know what is actually real?</p><p>Welcome to What is True? Season One: The Disinformation Disaster, is hosted by writers and creators Alexa Battler and Chris Garbutt with the help of media-literacy experts Nina Verishagen and Diane Zerr.</p><p>Deepfakes. AI slop. Propaganda. It's all too much. So we go deep into how misinformation spreads, evolves, and shapes our daily lives, and each episode blends personal anecdotes, scholarly insight, and practical tools to help you navigate an increasingly noisy information ecosystem.</p><p>Remember the iconic “House Hippo” PSA, that 1990s lesson in critical thinking about media? It almost seems adorable by today's standards. Now everything is algorithm‑driven feeds, bot‑run accounts, and viral conspiracies.</p><p>We examine real‑world case studies and the psychology behind belief formation. And we offer concrete strategies to empower you, whether you are a student, teacher, parent, or just needing help with the forces shaping the information you consume.</p><p>Spot the lies. Get media literate. Reclaim your control over your feeds! Listen to every episode of What is True?</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.saskoer.ca/disinformation/">Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.</a></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/19/2025
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Recent Episodes
March 9, 2026
BREAKING NEWS: Why is is it so hard for journalists to fight disinformation?
<p>We. Are Back. This is part 2 of our deep dive into journalism and disinformation. The old news model has broken and new models are making it hard to verify the truth.</p><p>Objectivity is impossible, and really not the point of journalism. Rather, good journalists care about getting their facts right, being aware of their biases, and ensuring that their sources are crdible. </p><p>Canada’s Online News Act (Bill C-18) was supposed to help, but it removed news from Meta platforms, potentially increasing misinformation and pushing people toward AI summaries with unclear sourcing.</p><p>We close with four questions for evaluating news stories: </p><ol><li>What was the process for accuracy and corrections? </li><li>Is the information sourced and verified? </li><li>Does the outlet employ professional journalists? </li><li>Is their mission to inform?</li></ol><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.saskoer.ca/disinformation/">Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.</a></p>
November 25, 2025
Journalism is at the front line of fighting false information
<p>Diane and Nina turn the tables! Alexa and Chris are both journalism school graduates and they try to answer questions about how journalism both fights and falls victim to disinformation.</p><p>Journalism and news have evolved over time, particularly in the context of the internet and social media. Changing business models and consumer expectations have put a strain on journalists while allowing people who make stuff up to just let the lies fly. This is part one of two conversations about the state of journalism in an age of misinformation overload.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.saskoer.ca/disinformation/">Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.</a></p>
November 18, 2025
The more you know, the more you don't know
<p>When you don't know anything, you're likely to think you know everything. Chris didn't know that this is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. So people who know nothing often make confident claims that are lies or at least incorrect. </p><p>So how do we make sure we know who is telling us what's true? It's all about critical thinking. The group discusses ways to verify or debunk information on your own.</p><p></p><p></p>
7 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is What is True??
<p><strong>Your world is getting more confusing, isn't it?</strong></p><p>With all the nonsense out there, how do we cut through the BS and know what is actually real?</p><p>Welcome to What is True? Season One: The Disinformation Disaster, is hosted by writers and creators Alexa Battler and Chris Garbutt with the help of media-literacy experts Nina Verishagen and Diane Zerr.</p><p>Deepfakes. AI slop. Propaganda. It's all too much. So we go deep into how misinformation spreads, evolves, and shapes our daily lives, and each episode blends personal anecdotes, scholarly insight, and practical tools to help you navigate an increasingly noisy information ecosystem.</p><p>Remember the iconic “House Hippo” PSA, that 1990s lesson in critical thinking about media? It almost seems adorable by today's standards. Now everything is algorithm‑driven feeds, bot‑run accounts, and viral conspiracies.</p><p>We examine real‑world case studies and the psychology behind belief formation. And we offer concrete strategies to empower you, whether you are a student, teacher, parent, or just needing help with the forces shaping the information you consume.</p><p>Spot the lies. Get media literate. Reclaim your control over your feeds! Listen to every episode of What is True?</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.saskoer.ca/disinformation/">Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.</a></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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