How much of what we believe about science actually holds up?

In this solo episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie explores the growing conversation around the replication crisis - the discovery that many published scientific studies fail to produce the same results when researchers try to repeat them.

With co-host Toni away for a couple of weeks, Jackie takes a closer look at how trust in science has become a recurring topic in conversations with friends, colleagues, and listeners. If the research keeps changing, how do we know what to believe?

To unpack the issue, this episode reacts to and analyzes key moments from a recent Planet Money from NPR episode hosted by Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, which follows economist Abel Brodeur and his innovative project called the Replication Games. These events bring researchers together to test whether published social science findings actually reproduce.

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/nx-s1-5720653/replication-crisis-games-abel-brodeur

Through short clips and commentary, Jackie explores:

• What the replication crisis actually is

• Why incentives in academia can reward “significant” results

• How researchers sometimes unintentionally manipulate data

• Why transparency and replication are essential for trustworthy science

• What this means for everyday people trying to navigate health, technology, and mental health advice

This episode also connects the issue to a broader theme we discuss often on the show: how systems and incentives shape behavior, whether in academic research, tech platforms, or social media.

Most importantly, Jackie shares practical ways listeners can think about scientific claims without becoming cynical or overwhelmed.

Science is not broken - but understanding how it works can help us build better trust in research, technology, and the information we rely on every day.

The Replication Crisis
Scientific reproducibility
Research incentives and publication pressure
Tech and trust in science
Mental health and information overload
How to interpret scientific studies

Therapy, Tech & Takeout explores the intersection of technology and mental health, how tech shapes our mood, and what it means to be human in an always-online world.

Hosted by Jackie and therapist Toni Teixeira, the show blends real conversations about tech mental health, emotional regulation, leadership, parenting, and modern work with thoughtful analysis of current research and cultural moments.

Planet Money from NPR

Hosts: Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi

Topic: Economist Abel Brodeur and the Replication Games

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