Yes, there is an -ology for that. And yes, we’re airing this episode -– with a ton of 2025 updates -– because it’s never felt more relevant. Dr. Robert Proctor is a Stanford professor of the History of Science and co-edited the book “Agnotology: The Making & Unmaking of Ignorance,” having coined the word 30 years ago. We chat about everything from tobacco marketing, to the sugar lobby, to racial injustice, horse vision, the psychology of the Flat Earther movement, which countries have the highest rates of climate denial, empathy, how to navigate difficult conversations and why it's critical to dismantle the systems of willful ignorance, starting locally.

Dr. Robert Proctor’s book: "Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance"

His 2021 book: Science and the Production of Ignorance: When the Quest for Knowledge Is Thwarted.

Donations in Dr. Proctor’s name went to: SavingBlackLives.org and the Public Health Advocacy Institute

An additional donation went to The National Black Law Students Association

More episode sources and links, including info on Federal Workers

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may “enjoy”: Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Attention Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Eschatology (THE APOCALYPSE), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Disasterology (DISASTERS), Conservation Technology (EARTH SAVING), Phenology (FALL/SEASONS), Oceanology (OCEANS), Futurology (THE FUTURE), Selenology (THE MOON), Gemology (STONES & GEMS), Nomology (THE CONSTITUTION), Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH), Pedagogology (SCIENCE COMMUNICATION) with Bill Nye, Vaccine Infodemiology (COVID-19 IMMUNITY),

Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Updated Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor