Resisting Influence in an Over-Influenced World

Why are we so susceptible to persuasion? In this episode of The Curiosity Shop, Brené Brown and Adam Grant discuss a tip Brené picked up from Seventeen magazine in the ‘80s and end up exploring why we fall for misinformation and persuasive messaging. They examine how vulnerability makes us more receptive to fear-based messaging, how appeals to authority can sometimes stand in for real evidence, and why recognizing misinformation isn’t always enough to protect us from it. Brené and Adam also consider the role of belonging, including the ways our desire for connection, community, and shared identity can make certain ideas especially persuasive. Along the way, they develop a practical framework for resisting unwanted influence: recognize your vulnerability, build your persuasion literacy, and trace information back to its source.

Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World - Adam Grant, 2026, Viking

MythBusters: Rinsing Your Hair In Cold Water - Into The Gloss, 2015

I Washed My Hair With Coca-Cola (and Other Teen-Magazine Beauty Experiments) - Seventeen

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die - Chip Heath & Dan Heath, 2007, Random House

Free Resources, including 'Making Presentations That Stick' - Chip Heath & Dan Heath, HeathBrothers.com

Jayne Modean - Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia

Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900 - Alzheimer's Association

Dr. Cialdini's Biography - Influence at Work

Dispelling the Illusion of Invulnerability: The Motivations and Mechanisms of Resistance to Persuasion - Stanford Center on Longevity, 2011

Resistance to Persuasion - Dolores Albarracín & A. Karan, 2022, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology

Dr. Jessica Knurick - Jessica Knurick