I was recently exploring the intersection of Karl Popper's Falsification theory and the Illusion of Explanatory Depth and discussed these concepts, and their relevance to social media, with Google Gemini (the live audio interface).

The ability to engage in nuanced discussions with Google Gemini is remarkable. To further explore these ideas, I utilized Google's NotebookLM to create an audio interview based on the transcript of my conversation wth Gemini. This format allows for a deeper dive into the topics, while maintaining accessibility for a broader audience.

The audio explores how the ease of information sharing on social media can often lead to a shallow understanding of complex issues, and the importance of critical thinking and falsifiability.

This is the audio interview that was generated.

Falsification Theory - Illusion of Explanatory Depth - Social Media

What happens when political narratives, media manipulation, and foreign influence collide? In this episode of Truth Talks, we speak with Anuška Delić, founder and editor-in-chief at Ostro, to uncover the disinformation dynamics in Slovenia. From fake narratives about national safety and migration, to manipulated debates around freedom of speech, Anuška explains how political actors, foreign-linked media portals, and even fake Putin speeches are shaping public opinion.

She shares insights on how disinformation circulates through both social media and mainstream outlets, the murky financial ties behind propaganda channels, and why fact-checking alone may not be enough.

🎧 Tune in to learn why Slovenia’s fight against disinformation is both uniquely local and deeply global — and what can still be done to protect democratic public debate.

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.



Truth Talks: Disinformation in Slovenia

🎙️ In this episode, Karolina Zbytniewska talks to Dr. Eileen Culloty from Dublin City University – a researcher focusing on disinformation and media. They discuss the landscape of disinformation in Ireland and why the country, despite growing geopolitical tensions, remains outside of NATO.

In this episode:
🔹 dominant disinformation narratives in Ireland (anti-immigration, Islamophobic, health-related, anti-EU)
🔹 the role of Russia and China in spreading disinformation
🔹 Ireland’s stance on military neutrality and NATO
🔹 how Irish citizens perceive EU strategic autonomy

🎧 Tune in for a deep dive into the complexities of Irish neutrality in a turbulent world.

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.



Truth Talks: Disinformation in Ireland

How do fake news and manipulation shape society? In this episode, we dive deep into disinformation strategies in Denmark, how they spread, and their impact on politics and security. Our guest, Thomas Hedin, a media and communication expert, explains how to identify false narratives, who is behind them, and what disinformation means for democracy.

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.





Truth Talks: Disinformation in Denmark

How does disinformation adapt to the national context? In this episode, we take a deep dive into Spain’s disinformation landscape with Pablo Hernández from Maldita.es, a fact-checking and investigative journalism platform.

🔍 Topics we explore:
	•	Persistent disinformation against migrants, especially from North Africa
	•	How fake news exploited the 2024 floods in Valencia
	•	Wild conspiracy theories involving “cloud theft” and climate denialism
	•	Anti-EU and anti-system narratives
	•	Why some influencers pretend to be journalists — and the damage it causes
	•	The role of domestic vs. foreign actors in spreading falsehoods

💡 “Disinformation doesn’t create public debates—it hijacks them.”

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.



Truth Talks: Disinformation in Spain

What makes Portugal’s disinformation landscape unique—and why is anti-immigrant rhetoric so persistent?

In this episode, we talk to Filipe Pardal, COO of Polígrafo and board member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, about the most dangerous and recurring fake news narratives in Portugal.

📌 Topics we cover:
	•	How false claims about immigration dominate Portugal’s disinformation space
	•	The use of fake statistics in political campaigns
	•	AI-generated health scams involving well-known doctors
	•	Signs of foreign interference in recent elections
	•	The growing role of pre-bunking and media literacy as countermeasures
	•	How Portugal’s colonial past is weaponised in historical revisionism

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.

Truth Talks: Disinformation in Portugal

In this episode, we talk to Vladimír Šnídl, journalist at Denník N and author of Truth and Lies on Facebook.

🎯 You’ll learn about:
	•	The emotional logic behind viral fake news
	•	Why Slovaks are more likely than Czechs or Poles to blame Ukraine or the West for the war
	•	How distrust in institutions fuels disinformation
	•	Why Facebook is the country’s disinformation battlefield
	•	What civic society is doing to fight back

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.



Truth Talks: Disinformation in Slovakia

🇱🇻 How does Latvia resist Russian disinformation while rebuilding trust in media and democracy?

In this episode, we speak with Anete Bērzkalne, fact-checker and disinformation researcher at Latvijas Radio, about Latvia’s complex battle with fake news—from NATO myths to narratives of “oppression” targeting Russian-speaking communities.

🔍 Topics include:
	•	May 9 and the divide over historical memory
	•	Disinformation about NATO, the EU, Ukraine, and Latvian sovereignty
	•	Russian-language influence and “compatriot” propaganda
	•	Populist politicians amplifying fake news
	•	Latvia’s systemic response: bans, media literacy, and deepfake legislation

🎧 “Disinformation doesn’t say ‘support Russia’—it says ‘don’t support Ukraine”.

The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.



Truth Talks: Disinformation in Latvia

În cadrul acestui episod al Podcastului cuMinte am discutat despre dezinformarea electorală și ce rol joacă presa în combaterea acestui fenomen, cât de important este jurnalismul de investigații într-o societate ca cea din Republica Moldova și cât de greu este să rămâi credibil într-un spațiu mediatic polarizat.  

Invitata acestei ediții a fost jurnalista Alina Radu, directoarea Ziarului de Gardă - una dintre cele mai importante publicații de investigații din Republica Moldova.

Urmăriți-ne pe canalul nostru de Youtube și ascultați-ne pe cele mai populare platforme de podcasturi: Buzzsprout, Youtube Music, Spotify, Soundcloud. 


#cuMINTE cu Alina Radu, despre jurnalism ca scut împotriva manipulării electorale

Between the Lines explores the intersection of local and national issues. This episode features Dave Rogers, Editor of the Daily News, and Journalism professor Sue Hertz, discussing media literacy, misinformation, and the importance of local journalism.

Host: Eben Diskin
Editor, The Townie

Guests:
Sue Hertz is an associate professor of English and Journalism at the University of New Hampshire, and author of Write Choices: Elements of Nonfiction Writing, and Caught in the Crossfire: A Year on Abortion's Front Line. Her work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Yankee, Redbook, Boston Magazine, and Shondaland. She began her career as a newspaper feature writer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Hartford Courant.

Dave Rogers joined the Daily News of Newburyport in 2010 as its court/breaking news reporter and was promoted to editor in July, 2022. He lives in Newburyport with his 16-year-old daughter.

Link to video version: https://youtu.be/xHJUJGYDD2w

GENERAL DISCLAIMER: All opinions expressed by the Program Participants are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of NCM Hub, PortMedia, and WJOP 96.3 FM​

Training & Resources Provided by the Public Access Facilities of PortMedia, a division of the Newburyport Community Media Hub. © Diskin 2025

Between the Lines Episode 3: Why We Believe What We Believe - Media Literacy in Local & National News

Podcast Europejski to aktualne wiadomości z Polski, Europy i świata. Najważniejsze wydarzenia polityczne, społeczne i kulturowe komentowane są przez dziennikarzy redakcji EURACTIV.pl oraz zaproszonych ekspertów.

New tracks tagged #media literacy