From cursed video games like Polybius to haunted recordings, we explore the psychology behind our fear of haunted tech and our anxiety that our creations will turn on us.
Sewer Alligators and Bodies in the Bed: The Shocking Urban Legends That Are Actually True
Think all urban legends are fake? Think again. We investigate the chilling cases, from sewer gators to hotel horrors, where unbelievable folklore has a basis in fact.
The Babysitter is Calling from Inside the Patriarchy: A Feminist Guide to Urban Legends
Ever wonder why classic urban legends always star women in peril? We explore how tales like “The Hook” reflect deep societal anxieties about female independence.
The Girl Who Helped Thunder: Inside the Powerful Lenape Legend of Storms and Belonging
Explore the resonant Lenape myth of the Girl Who Helped Thunder. Delve into a timeless story of loneliness, courage, and finding purpose among the gods of the storm.
Anatomy of a Hoax: The Science of Why We Fall for Disinformation
Ever wonder why you fall for online hoaxes? Discover the cognitive biases and emotional triggers manipulators exploit and learn how to build your mental toolkit.
Beyond Logic: Why Understanding Your Biases Makes You a More Empathetic Person
The true goal of learning about cognitive biases isn’t to become a perfect robot. It’s to become a “Rational Empath.” This capstone article explores how understanding our own flawed thinking leads to greater compassion, forgiveness, and wisdom.
The Cognitive Cascade: How a Chain Reaction of Biases Leads to Disaster
Cognitive biases rarely act alone. Discover how biases interact and compound each other in a “cognitive cascade.” Using the legendary “New Coke” failure as a case study, we deconstruct how a chain reaction of flawed thinking leads to disastrous outcomes.
Coded Bias: How AI Is Learning to Think Like Us (and Why That’s a Problem)
Artificial intelligence was supposed to be impartial. Instead, our human biases are being coded into the algorithms that shape our lives. Discover how AI learns our stereotypes, creates feedback loops, and what “coded bias” means for our future.
The Psychology of Our Divided World: How Your Brain Is Trapped in an Echo Chamber
Discover how cognitive biases like Confirmation Bias and Group Polarization are fueling political division and creating social media echo chambers. Learn the science behind why facts fail to change minds and how to have more productive conversations in a fractured world.
How Hidden Biases Are Sabotaging Your Workplace: A Guide to Smarter Teams
Discover the cognitive biases that secretly run your workplace. Learn how Groupthink leads to disastrous decisions, the Curse of Knowledge creates communication silos, and unconscious bias affects hiring and promotions. A must-read guide for leaders and teams.
Recent Posts
The Storybook Origins of Your Smartphone
Ever wonder where innovation comes from? Explore how asking “Imagine what if” – a practice rooted in literature – has shaped our reality, from technology to social change, and how you can use it to rewrite your own world.
The Ghost in the Machine: Can AI Write a Novel That Makes You Cry?
A deep dive into the intersection of AI and literature. We explore if AI can be truly creative, the philosophical questions of authorship, and how AI might augment—not replace—human writers.
How to Start a Reading Habit | Listening Comprehension
Develop a reading habit and improve your English listening! A friendly librarian gives five practical tips. Includes script, vocabulary, and a 10-question quiz for exam prep.
The Story of Literature EP10 | The Global Bookshelf: Migration, Identity, and the 21st-Century Story
In our final episode, we look at the state of literature in our interconnected world. We explore how themes of migration, diaspora, and hybrid identities have come to the forefront. Featuring authors from Oceania, the Caribbean, and the global diaspora, we discuss how technology and globalization are shaping the future of storytelling and creating a truly “world” literature.
The Story of Literature EP9 | The Griot’s Legacy: Oral Traditions and Post-Colonial Voices of Africa
This episode celebrates the immense diversity of African literature, from the ancient oral storytelling traditions of the Griots to the powerful emergence of post-colonial writing. We’ll discuss how authors like Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have used literature to reclaim their history, grapple with the legacy of colonialism, and forge new identities.
The Story of Literature EP8 | Magic and Memory: The Boom of Latin American Literature
We explore the vibrant and revolutionary literature of Latin America in the 20th century. This episode discusses how a generation of writers like Borges, García Márquez, and Allende blended indigenous mythology, political turmoil, and surrealism to create “Magical Realism”—a unique literary style that captured the complex reality of a continent.