Overthinking About Doing Your Own Research

About this episode

Amanda Montell and Dr. Harini Bhat discuss the complexities of 'doing your own research' in the digital age.

“Do your own research.” It sounds empowering… so why does it so often lead us straight into confusion, conspiracy, or complete information overload? This week, Amanda is joined by pharmacist and science communicator Dr. Harini Bhat (@tilscience) to overthink what it really means to “do your own research” in the age of the internet. They unpack how a phrase rooted in curiosity became a cultural catchphrase for skepticism, distrust, and DIY fact finding. Why do we feel so confident after reading a few threads or watching a couple of videos? How do algorithms, bias, and the illusion of understanding shape what we think we “know”? And where’s the line between healthy questioning and going down the rabbit hole? A brain bending spiral about knowledge, misinformation, and why thinking critically might be harder (and more necessary) than ever. Further Viewing: Today I Learned Science by Dr. Harini Bhat - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to…

People in this episode

Host: Amanda Montell

Guest: Dr. Harini Bhat

Topics covered

• doing your own research
• misinformation
• critical thinking
• internet culture
• information overload

Keywords

• research
• misinformation
• critical thinking
• internet
• conspiracy
• information overload
• algorithms

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Magical Overthinkers Club, Shopify, Mint Mobile

Products: The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality

Places: New York

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