In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with investigative journalist Charles Piller about his explosive new book, Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's. Piller unearths the troubling reality behind decades of Alzheimer's research, exposing how fraudulent data, unchecked ambition, and institutional failures have shaped the field—and wasted billions of dollars—while millions of patients and families await real solutions.

Piller shares:

• How a single falsified study published in Nature helped cement the amyloid hypothesis as the dominant theory of Alzheimer’s, despite mounting evidence against it.
• The role of NIH funding incentives in steering researchers toward confirming flawed findings instead of exploring alternative approaches.
• The rise of scientific sleuths and whistleblowers like Matthew Schrag, who uncovered image manipulation in key Alzheimer’s studies.
• The institutional failures of major scientific journals, regulatory agencies, and funding bodies that allowed bad science to shape drug development for decades.
• Why Alzheimer’s patients and their families are still waiting for effective treatments, and what promising new directions could finally lead to breakthroughs.

Despite the troubling revelations, Piller also highlights reasons for optimism, including emerging research into alternative causes of Alzheimer’s, such as viral infections and neuroinflammation, and promising clinical trials involving GLP-1 inhibitors.

Listen in for a gripping and eye-opening discussion about how scientific fraud derailed progress in Alzheimer’s research—and how we can chart a new path forward. Doctored is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Charles Piller’s new book on Amazon: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn and X

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with Kurt Gray, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding.

Gray’s groundbreaking new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality in Politics and How to Find Common Ground, delves into the psychological roots of moral outrage and the societal divisions it fuels. Through scientific insights and engaging anecdotes, Gray explains how our deeply ingrained perceptions of harm shape our moral convictions and why bridging moral divides is both critical and possible.

They discuss:

• The psychological basis of moral outrage and why it’s driven by differing perceptions of harm.
• How disgust and fear influence our moral judgments and why facts alone rarely resolve disagreements.
• The role of social media in amplifying moral panics and polarizing society.
• Why shared stories and genuine listening are more effective than statistics in fostering understanding.

Gray also explores myths about morality, including the false belief that humans evolved as apex predators, and provides evidence for how our evolutionary history as prey shaped the cooperative moral frameworks we rely on today. Despite the challenges of polarization, Gray offers hope for bridging divides through empathy, understanding, and open dialogue.

Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of how morality drives human behavior, divides societies, and offers pathways for reconciliation.

Outraged is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Kurt’s new Book “Outrage” on Amazon

and visit his website: kurtjgray.com

And connect with Kurt on X and Linkedin

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

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In the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles where people have lost their homes and all their worldly possessions and when many are questioning their purpose it was a timely moment for host Indre Viskontas to sit with hospice physician, financial independence expert, and author Jordan Grumet to discuss his transformative new book, The Purpose Code: How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy. Drawing from his experience at the bedsides of terminally ill patients and his financial acumen Grumet explores how understanding purpose can help us navigate life’s challenges, overcome loss, and build a meaningful legacy.

Grumet shares his insights on:

• The difference between "big P-purpose," which often leads to anxiety, and "little p-purpose," a path to happiness and fulfillment.
• How reframing our approach to purpose can help us build lives filled with enriching activities that connect us to others.
• Strategies for identifying purpose anchors, drawing from childhood joys, regrets, or incremental changes in daily life.
• The impact of social media on purpose anxiety and how to counter its influence with genuine, personal goals.

Jordan’s work weaves together medicine, finance, and the significance of purpose, profoundly impacting those seeking a meaningful life.

Listen in for practical advice on aligning your actions with your values, finding joy in small, meaningful pursuits, and creating a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime.

The Purpose Code is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Jordan’s new Book at Amazon

and visit his website: https://jordangrumet.com/

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information