Gender War Games Pt. 3: Say It Til It’s True with Amanda Montell

When misinformation becomes a vibe, who gets caught in the crosshairs? In part 3 of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger and linguist Amanda Montell (Sounds Like a Cult, Magical Overthinkers) decodes the cognitive glitches, language games, and algorithmic dynamics fueling today’s gender panic. From the illusory truth effect and magical thinking to the viral power of weaponized words, learn how belief is built—not by facts, but by feelings, aesthetics and repetition.

(00:00) "Gender War" Is a Shapeshifter

(03:22) Decoding the Discourse

(05:07) Cognitive Biases and Gendered Disinformation

(05:56) The Illusory Truth Effect

(06:40) The Rhyme Is Reason Effect

(09:52) Algorithmic Influence

(10:46) This Is Your Brain On Gender War

(15:47) The Gender Nostalgia Trap

(23:52) Moral Overconfidence and Social Justice

(30:06) Radical Imagination

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