E032 Tools to Keep Better Informed

09/26/23 • 29 min

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E032

Tools to Keep Better Informed

Key takeaway: Randy and James explore why it’s so hard to feel well-informed nowadays, and what we can do to improve our chances. Among other tools: keep an open mind, be open to the possibility you could be wrong, collect information before making snap judgments, gather information from multiple sources, really consider arguments from the other side, and don’t consider everything as black and white.

Topics covered in this video:

We have more information than ever before, and yet much of it seems less helpful
Sources of information have fragmented; people can find support for any position
The importance of critical thinking in navigating an opinion-rich and polarized time
Thinking is hard, relying on experts used to make sense
What happens when more people are peddling propaganda?
Avoid being passionately wrong by assuming you probably are wrong (or at least that you don’t already know everything and so are open to learning new things)
Don’t be quick to make assumptions about facts or people’s motivations
New sources of information, newsletters from former mainstream media reporters
Many topics people disagree about are not black and white, but gray
Be especially wary of people telling you things you wish were true
Motivated reasoning is everywhere
Why it is so helpful to make the best argument for the other side yourself

Resources in this video

Lex Fridman podcast (https://lexfridman.com/podcast/)

Bari Weiss substack (The Free Press) (https://substack.com/@bariweiss)

Michael Schellenberger substack (https://substack.com/@shellenberger)

Matt Taibi substack (https://substack.com/@taibbi)

Support the show

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe.
Here are ways to connect with us.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggxZuXzexBtEhsX_TpV5yQ
Passionately Wrong Podcast Webpage: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120466
James' Klugne Webpage: https://www.klugne.com/
Randy's Editor Webpage: https://randysurles.com/

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E032

Tools to Keep Better Informed

Topics covered in this video:

We have more information than ever before, and yet much of it seems less helpful
Sources of information have fragmented; people can find support for any position
The importance of critical thinking in navigating an opinion-rich and polarized time
Thinking is hard, relying on experts used to make sense
What happens when more people are peddling propaganda?
Avoid being passionately wrong by assuming you probably are wrong (or at least that you don’t already know everything and so are open to learning new things)
Don’t be quick to make assumptions about facts or people’s motivations
New sources of information, newsletters from former mainstream media reporters
Many topics people disagree about are not black and white, but gray
Be especially wary of people telling you things you wish were true
Motivated reasoning is everywhere
Why it is so helpful to make the best argument for the other side yourself

Resources in this video

Lex Fridman podcast (https://lexfridman.com/podcast/)

Bari Weiss substack (The Free Press) (https://substack.com/@bariweiss)

Michael Schellenberger substack (https://substack.com/@shellenberger)

Matt Taibi substack (https://substack.com/@taibbi)

Support the show

Previous Episode

E031 Establishing Good Financial Habits

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E031

Establishing Good Financial Habits

Key takeaway: Pay attention to small decisions because they add up over time, and use the power of time to your advantage. Imagine your future self, and use that picture to help set goals and guide yourself now. Don’t inflate your expenses as your income grows. Some other mistakes to avoid. And a host of resources that might help you on your way.

Topics covered in this video:

How to create more disposable income; identify excessive spending
The importance of saving and investing the money you free up
Discussion of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement
Why it helps to ask for advice - identifying life goals and thinking about how to get there
Family needs to be on board with your plans
Beware lifestyle expansion that will eat up increased earnings
But don’t let yourself get so frugal that you forget why you saved and invested
Rather, be thoughtful in your approach to money - it should support your life goals
The role of social media and comparisons with others
It is helpful to distinguish between needs and wants
Debt is counterproductive to financial health (except possibly a mortgage)
Mistakes: buying things you don’t have the money for right now (i.e. on credit)
Mistakes: taking too much risk in the hopes of getting rich quickly
Mistakes: pursuing an unlikely path to wealth (lottery, NFL)
Real estate investing, passive income,
Imagining your future self
Randy’s pending book, Army Rich & other resources

Resources in this video:

The Wise Investor (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Y3P465L/)

https://realwealth.com/

https://militarymoneymanual.com/

If You Can, How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly (https://www.etf.com/docs/IfYouCan.pdf)

The Latte Factor (https://www.thelattefactor.com/)

Support the show

Next Episode

E033 Working and Understanding the System

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E033

Understanding Organization Systems

Key takeaway: To be most effective at work, you need to understand the systems that your organization follows. They may be written or unwritten, but your first task is understanding how things really work. Then, if not everything is working perfectly, you might be able to make improvements. Challenging the system head-on can be counterproductive, but James and Randy share ways that you can make progress.

Topics covered in this video:

Understanding the rules of the game (the system you’re in)
First, master the core job - what you’re there for
The military experience: new bosses often, need to align expectations
Bosses also have a key responsibility to help employees thrive
Why asking questions is helpful
How & how often does your boss want you to interact with them? About what topics?
What a status report can do for you
Why fighting the rules of the system itself is unproductive
Why being open-minded is good, as boss and employee
How to work with (and around) a boss or employees who resist change
Read the SOPs, create them if they don’t exist
Why policies are not perfect and how to criticize them effectively
Add value to your organization

Support the show

Passionately Wrong Podcast - E032 Tools to Keep Better Informed

Transcript

James00:00:00.050

So either people believe that they have found, an accurate source of truth and everyone else is an idiot, or they think they're uniquely positioned to figure out what's true and what's not true by reading widely. And to me, both of those are suspect beliefs.

James00:00:16.574

Greetings, friends. I'm James.

Randy00:00:18.914

And I'm Randy. You're listening to The Passionately Wrong podcas