Podcast Summary: "How Smart People Can Make Dumb Choices & The Serious Dangers of Social Media"

Podcast: Something You Should Know
Host: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
Guests: Christopher Ferguson (Professor of Psychology), Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler (Physician & TikTok Influencer)
Date: August 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Something You Should Know features two major themes:

1. Why smart people make bad decisions – Professor Christopher Ferguson explains the psychological underpinnings behind poor decision-making, especially under stress or in group situations.
2. The real dangers of social media addiction – Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler shares his personal and professional insights on how social platforms impact mental health and relationships for both adults and teens.

Mike Carruthers expertly guides the discussions, blending expert advice with relatable stories and practical strategies for listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Decluttering Life: Throwing Out the Unnecessary

[03:16]

• Host Mike Carruthers opens with a practical tip segment, listing commonly hoarded household items people should let go of – from old buttons and holiday cards to useless kitchen packets and dead pens.
• Tone: Friendly, slightly humorous, encouraging listeners to free up space for peace of mind.

Why Smart People Make Bad Choices

Guest: Christopher Ferguson, Professor of Psychology at Stetson University
Author of: Catastrophe: How Psychology Explains Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse

Emotional States and Decision-Making

[05:55, 08:21]

• Ferguson uses the Air France 447 crash as a case study: even well-trained, intelligent people can fall into error during crises, repeating ineffective actions due to panic.
• Quote:

  "When we're in a period of experiencing heightened emotion, we tend to make worse decisions. The more frightened we are, the more angry we are... Even with positive emotions... we tend to make worse decisions."
  — Christopher Ferguson [00:43, 08:21]

Evolutionary Roots & Cognitive Shortcuts

[09:24]

• Our brains evolved to make fast decisions (potentially life-saving on the savannah) based on minimal data—leading to cognitive biases that are no longer adaptive in modern society.
• These biases now contribute to issues like ethnocentrism and racism.

Common Cognitive Biases

[11:00]

• Availability heuristic: We overestimate the frequency of memorable, dramatic events (e.g., plane crashes, mass shootings), leading to skewed perceptions of real risk.
• Ferguson highlights similar biases in perceptions of crime and other societal threats.

When Good Intentions Go Wrong

[13:06]

• We may either try to fix problems that don’t exist, address the wrong issues, or "fix" problems incorrectly—sometimes worsening real challenges.
• Nuclear energy example:
  • Many resist nuclear energy out of fear, despite strong evidence it’s statistically safer than coal or gas.
  • Germany’s shutdown of nuclear plants, influenced by public fear, led to increased coal use and worsened climate change issues.
• Quote:

  "There's a lot of resistance... People are overestimating the risk of nuclear energy and it's actually causing people... to move back into using a lot of fossil fuels."
  — Christopher Ferguson [13:06]

The Power of Groupthink and Social Conformity

[17:45, 18:20]

• People from any political or social group often adopt positions less due to knowledge than from "tribal" loyalty.
• "Science" is often misunderstood as upholding group values rather than being a messy, nuanced process.
• Standing up to your own group’s beliefs is rare and frequently punished.

Toilet Paper Panic as a Behavioral Cascade

[20:50]

• The toilet paper shortage during early COVID-19 illustrates the "availability cascade"—everyone starts hoarding because others are, even if they know it's irrational.

Changing Minds Takes Time

[22:53]

• Societal beliefs can shift with steady presentation of solid evidence, but it often takes years.
• Example: Growing public understanding that violent video games are not linked to violence.
• Quote:

  "If you have good data and present it over and over... you can expect within 15 years to have changed public attitudes."
  — Christopher Ferguson [22:53]

Emotional Investment Prevents Backtracking

[24:28]

• Highly invested activists rarely change their minds, even when confronted with contrary evidence. The general public, however, is more persuadable.

Takeaways & Advice

[22:45+]

• Present data calmly and repeatedly to change beliefs.
• Be mindful of emotional triggers and group pressures.
• Understand that beliefs are influenced by more than mere facts.

The Serious Dangers of Social Media

Guest: Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, Physician & Popular TikTok Influencer
Author of: Influence: The Impact of Social Media on Our Perception

Personal Journey into Social Media Addiction

[29:17]

• Dr. Boxer Wachler shares how he began correcting viral health misinformation on TikTok, gaining millions of followers—but became addicted to the platform’s dopamine-driven feedback.
• This addiction began affecting his relationships, especially with his family.
• Quote:

  "Even though I'm a doctor, this problem affected me... If it could affect me, it could affect you too, or affect anybody."
  — Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler [29:29]

What Social Media Addiction Looks Like

[31:20]

• Social platforms are designed to deliver unpredictable dopamine hits—likened to pulling a slot machine lever—leading to compulsive scrolling.
• The compelling loop impacts both influencers and regular users.

Defining Addiction

[32:41]

• The "hallmark of addiction" is interference with key life areas—relationships, job, school—not necessarily monetary loss.
• Boxer Wachler missed out on meaningful family events, including sneaking out of his daughters’ volleyball game to do a TikTok live.
• Quote:

  “I was actually ignoring essentially my kids, and that was damaging the relationship I had with them... It wasn't a monetary cost, but it was a relationship cost.”
  — Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler [32:41]

Warning Signs and Interventions

[35:56, 37:00]

• His family staged a "TikTok intervention" when his absence became obvious.
• Only after a forced break (caused by a platform penalty) did he recognize the extent of his problem.
• Personal realization led to guilt, contrition, and eventual change.

How Widespread Is the Problem?

[38:33]

• Roughly 21% of adults admit to being addicted to social media—suggesting it's not just an adolescent issue.
• Effects on kids are even more concerning, because their brains (prefrontal cortex) are still developing, making them more vulnerable.

The Social Experiment on Youth

[39:00, 40:22]

• Current teens are the first large-scale group exposed to constant, portable social media through key developmental years.
• Long-term effects remain unknown, raising public health concerns.

Social Media Versus TV

[43:09]

• Unlike television, which stays at home, social media is ever-present, increasing its addictiveness and the difficulty in regulating use.

FOMO and the Urge to Check

[44:20]

• "Fear of missing out" (FOMO) and constant notifications drive compulsive checking, even in social settings.

Practical Advice & Strategies

[45:16, 45:55, 47:49, 48:03]

• Social media is like fire: useful, but dangerous if uncontrolled.
• Actionable tips:
  • Turn off notifications to reduce compulsive checking.
  • Engage in healthy dopamine-boosting activities: laughter, exercise, socializing.
• For parents:
  • Join the platforms your kids use to understand their world and gain credibility when discussing limits.
  • Discuss influencers and content critically together.
  • Avoid dictatorial bans; instead, collaborate on healthy boundaries.
• Quote:

  “Social media is like fire. It can be used for illumination, but you can also badly burn yourself.”
  — Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler [45:16]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "It makes it more tempting for us to look for evidence that supports the way we view the world already and ignore that which does not."
  – Christopher Ferguson [08:21]

• "It's actually fairly rare to find people who are willing to... say that their own group may be wrong. And, of course... they're usually immediately punished for doing so."
  – Christopher Ferguson [18:20]

• “About 21% of adults admit to being addicted to social media. So it's definitely more pervasive than people think, especially in adults.”
  – Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler [01:11, 38:33]

• "You don't carry a TV around with you all day long. Once you leave the room, you're not watching TV anymore. Whereas… your phone is with you all the time."
  – Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler [43:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:43 – Emotional states and bad decisions (Ferguson)
• 05:55 – Air France 447 example and panic-driven errors
• 09:24 – Evolution and cognitive bias explained
• 11:00 – Availability heuristic and overestimating risks
• 13:06 – Harmful good intentions, nuclear power vs. coal case
• 17:45 & 18:20 – Group conformity and "tribal" beliefs
• 20:50 – The toilet paper panic "cascade"
• 22:53 – How (slowly) minds and culture can change
• 29:17 – Dr. Boxer Wachler's story: becoming a social media influencer and addict
• 31:20 – The dopamine slot-machine effect of scrolling
• 32:41 – The cost: relationship damage and denial
• 35:56 – Family intervention and the road to recovery
• 38:33 – Adult addiction rates and dangers for youth
• 43:09 – The difference between TV and social media addiction
• 45:16 – Social media as a double-edged sword
• 45:55 – 48:03 – Strategies for users and parents to regain control

Conclusion

This episode provides a nuanced look at why smart, well-intentioned people can make irrational choices—from pandemic panic shopping to groupthink in politics—and connects these patterns to social media’s unique grip on our lives. Through candid expert stories and actionable advice, listeners are prompted to question their own assumptions and digital habits, and are equipped with tools for healthier decision-making in an increasingly complex world.

Further Resources

• Christopher Ferguson's book: Catastrophe: How Psychology Explains Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse
• Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler's book: Influence: The Impact of Social Media on Our Perception
• Mentioned website for pet care planning: petrustlawyer.com