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After spending too much time doomscrolling, Rey and Steph started to notice a similar pattern between climate change and AI communication. From the doom and gloom narratives to shaming, there are lots of unhelpful tactics being used that might backfire in the process of making AI more safe and ethical.  References: “Yale Climate Opinion Map” https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/ “Emotion and the Psychological Distance of Climate Change” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1075547019889637 “Hopium or empowering hope? A meta-analysis of hope and climate engagement” https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1139427/full “Hopeless Average 10-year-old” https://www.instagram.com/p/DdVSpKziWDH/ “Please Protect Your Hope” https://www.instagram.com/p/DdHf2nxHTw-/

Rey and Steph are reviewing the Journal of Science Communication commentary "Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment" from Anne Toomey and Kevin Elliott, PLUS John Besley and Sara Yeo's response to that commentary. We talk about how each paper defines persuasion, what we liked about each author's claims, and who do we side with? Also, why do we always reference pandemic communication in every freaking episode???? Special thanks to the Civic Science Media Lab for supporting our work in gossiping about all things scicomm. https://civicsciencemedia.org/  References: “Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment” https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2501_2026_C07/  “A response to: “Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment” — A defense of certain types of persuasion” https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2504_2026_L01/

You might have heard of Hank Green’s AI use and its aftermath in the science and SciComm community. You might have also gotten a bit worried about being the target of the next shaming campaign OR that AI users are not being shamed ENOUGH. In this episode, Steph and Rey discuss their thoughts on the whole drama and try to figure out their own boundaries, roles in keeping the community safe for experimentation, yet accountable.  Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit http://scicommhotline.com  References:  The AI penalty and disclosure paradox: Trust, authenticity and knowledge uptake in AI-mediated communication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882126000551Hank’s comment about his AI use. Posted here as its own thing to find easily.https://www.reddit.com/r/nerdfighters/comments/1vc37aw/hanks_comment_about_his_ai_use_posted_here_as_its/?share_id=AIVpWkwkHYrBNO67kyPkU&utm_content=share_button&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1Colin and Samir video on Hank Green situation: https://youtu.be/cVT7MbRBiLY?si=ea4HPR2u9FCU3V01 NYT Opinion, “If You’re Over 40, You’re Ready to Use AI”: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/opinion/teaching-kabbalah-ai.html AI, Craftsmanship, and Scaling Up https://www.instagram.com/p/Db09LxaSD6b/Do people prefer AI-generated stories? https://www.instagram.com/p/DbozJESP2Jh/

Who is your favorite host? What do you like about them? What makes a good host? It’s not just the person but a whole team and environment that can have an effect. Listen to Rey and Steph fangirl about their favorites and get into the nitty gritty of hosting. Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit http://scicommhotline.com

There is a lot of uncertainty around communicating uncertainty. Despite that, there are a lot of good strategies that we have confidence in. Join Steph and Rey as they discuss the topic with their BFF, Dr. Alex Dainis, who has spent a decade grappling with it and working to identify effective strategies to address uncertainty, such as communication about the Covid pandemic.   Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit ⁠http://scicommhotline.com⁠  References:  Communicating uncertainty to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of the literature: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23808985.2022.2085136 Climate Change Debate: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuGCJJUGsg Jon Stewart on Media's Hantavirus Panic & Klepper on MAGA's Missing Trump Phones | The Daily Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrEYcwOBB0

How can Jujutsu, Muay Thai and Kendo teach us communication?! Listen to your favorite martial arts girlies, Rey and Steph, and their superstar guest, Dr. Samantha Yammine, talk about how doing these sports has not only taught them to be better communicators but also kept them sane! Dr. Samantha Yammine, PhD (she/her), is a Neuroscientist-turned-Science Communicator better known as Science Sam. She is the host of Curiosity Weekly, the flagship science podcast for Discovery, founder of Science is a Drag, and a Regular Science Expert on CTV’s award-winning daily lifestyle show The Good Stuff with Mary Berg. Check her work out here: https://www.samanthayammine.com/ Hydroxide IG account: https://www.instagram.com/hydroxide.foodscience/ The Astro Stud (Kihana Wilson) IG account: https://www.instagram.com/the_astro_stud/ Dr. Mike Confronting Dr. Amen: https://youtu.be/J-SHgZ1XPXs?si=PCqZgcJvJ_8MlFuN Bowling Alone book: http://bowlingalone.com/ (Bowling Alone author) Join or Die with Robert Putnam | What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SwzXdJQDg

Out of fear that their favorite content is propaganda, Rey and Steph go down a rabbit hole to understand what persuasion and propaganda are. Join their spiral to leave the episode even more confused than when you started. You’re welcome.  References  What Is Propaganda, and How Does It Differ From Persuasion? https://us2.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11847_Chapter1.pdf How Hitler’s Propaganda Machine Worked https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uaAms7ZIxYDHxCc5baIbL Difference Between Propaganda and Persuasion https://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-propaganda-and-persuasion/ Dr. Becky’s post  https://www.instagram.com/p/DXPXX7GjIB6/ Iran’s lego propaganda https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/world/video/iran-lego-propaganda-vrtc-digvid

There is lots of content out there about the science of the Hail Mary Project movie, but not much really about the science communication side of the movie! Listen to Rey and Steph talk about (some unexpected) SciComm ideas that showed up in the movies, from emotional flow and trust-building principles to the importance of bad science!  References  Listen to our friend from opinion Science talk to Dr. Robin Nabi about emotions and emotional flow: https://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/persuasion-via-emotion-with-robin-nabi/ What are you assessing when you measure “trust” in scientists with a direct measure? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302?casa_token=k3EXyLiapGkAAAAA%3A4WppvSLj0WU9uK3Q9mzbv9UuGud-gCmJWpFfb_N8rOC0UaY7sLHBJRkFofPK3u5IwZLIuJkom4I Ryan Gosling says Project Hail Mary is ‘a reminder of what we’re capable of’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/ryan-gosling-talks-project-hail-mary-hopeful-science-fiction-and-the/ Ryan Gosling chats to an astrophysicist | Project Hail Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_AbV1Ph90 “Science and Entertainment: How Astronomers Use Pop Culture References for Science Communication” Rey’s very old presentation that she hates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUxolp4A1A&t=411s SciComm Updates  SciComm Bite Article “Can AI Make Science More Trustworthy?” https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4 The Science of SciComm e-summit, May 3, 8-4 ET https://www.theecowell.com/science-in-science-communication-esummit Artistic Expression of Original Research: Art based science communication improves the public's relationship to science and scientists https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1794106/abstract?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Examining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for Third Spaces https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2405_2025_Y01/

In this candid conversation, hosts Reyhaneh and Stephanie explore the complex issues of creepiness, harassment, and boundaries within academic and social settings. They share personal stories, analyze social dynamics, and offer advice on handling uncomfortable situations with humor, assertiveness, and support.

The deficit model of communication, strategic messaging, and “THE EVIL BIG APPLE INDUSTRY” are all things Steph and Rey talk about in this episode. Listen to them discuss examples of how communicators could strategize to have impactful messages and break down strategic SciComm principles.     Deficit model of communication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_model Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTY http://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/ Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchers https://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode

The world is chaotic; there is grief and heartbreak. And in the midst of it all, we’re dealing with misinformation and conflicting perceptions. Listen to Steph and Rey trying to make sense of the world based on their identities as immigrants, science communicators, and weirdos. Learn about confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, motivated reasoning, and tools that can help you understand your audience better. Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://scicommhotline.comSubmit your gossip or questions to [email protected] in the episode: For Hamid, the brave firefighterhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DQl9DAFDno6/Ethan Zuckerman on Truthinesshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AiWoJLJj0Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Communityhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone-Revised-and-Updated/Robert-D-Putnam/9781508230595Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism―Understanding the Social Science of Cult Influencehttps://www.amazon.com/Cultish-Language-Fanaticism-Amanda-Montell/dp/0062993151Irony of satire: Political ideology and the motivation to see what you want to see in The Colbert Reporthttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUbNhYziXWH/https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/irony-satire-political-ideology-colbert-report/Festinger, End of the world, and cognitive dissonancehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUWFHOLCQ4M/SNL Sketch: Mom Confessionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wQhY5CMMl4Harmony Lab’s Narrative Observatory:https://narrativeobservatory.org/

Another episode of Rey and Steph oversharing. You’re welcome. Listen to the two catch up after a mini-hiatus, chatting about all things from TMI health updates and science communication of taboo topics, to relieving grad school trauma and lessons learned. *Correction: it wasn’t an award, it was Sagan’s nomination rejection to the National Academy of Sciences. Check out these resources they mentioned in the episode: Naomi Koh Belic: Hot Girls Have IBShttps://www.instagram.com/reel/CgOZxNVjfd3/The Hello PhD podcast with Josh Hall and Daniel Arneman, interview with Mónica feliu Mójerhttps://hellophd.com/2018/05/092-making-time-science-communication-monica-feliu-mojer/The Carl Sagan Effecthttps://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/36/7/2077.full.pdfThank you for joining us for this experiment of a podcast and for tuning in to our creative outlet. Just two friends talking crap about all things science and how it's communicated. Hope you join us next year as we try to explore more areas of SciComm with professionals.

In this conversation, Reyhaneh and Stephanie discuss the importance of authenticity and self-awareness for personal and branded science content. We emphasize the need to recognize and embrace one's true values rather than projecting a false image. The discussion highlights how individuals can leverage their unique traits, such as humor and vulnerability, to create a genuine connection with others. And how the rules change when you're representing a large science organization. Learn more about Rey and Steph at: http://scicommhotline.com Submit your creep story to [email protected] Studies mentioned:Assessing the Credibility and Authenticity of Social Media Content for Applications in Health Communication: Scoping Review https://www.jmir.org/2020/7/e17296/ Constructing and influencing perceived authenticity in science communication: Experimenting with narrative https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226711Link in Bio Substack: https://www.milkkarten.net/

AI: Rey and Steph are a bit embarrassed to admit they use it, but they do. Listen to them talking about all the ways AI comes in handy in media production, research, and job search. They also talk about the dark side of AI, some of the pitfalls and philosophical thoughts around it!  Learn more about Rey and Steph at: http://scicommhotline.com Message your hot takes to [email protected]  More about the Jackson Summit here; https://www.jacksonwild.org/ Follow Rey’s 30-day ChatGPT “Going Viral” plan https://www.instagram.com/p/DPTuSgIADFN/ Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Tasks https://metr.org/blog/2025-03-19-measuring-ai-ability-to-complete-long-tasks/  Palisade Research (AI whistleblower org) https://palisaderesearch.org/  More Perfect Union: On AI and energy consumption https://www.instagram.com/p/DPTv9Mkjrgu/?img_index=1 The Oatmeal: Let’s Talk About AI https://theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art Instagram Reel on the ChatGPT exchange https://www.instagram.com/p/DPeshTAgdNm/ The white paper for The National Academies of Sciences “Sustained Public Engagement in Science and Engineering via Digital Spaces and Communities” here: https://overdeck.org/portfolios/spotlight/nasem-sustained-public-engagement-in-science-and-engineering-via-digital-spaces-and-communities/ NotebookLM https://notebooklm.google/

Steph and Rey go down a rabbit hole of their comedy grievances. With lots of examples from social media, they dissect what it is that annoys and worries them about how we consume comedy, while also discussing what they hope for in comedy.