Archaeologist Carl Feagans traces the rise of pseudo-archaeology and its role as a “gateway drug” to larger conspiracy theories. He opens by examining the Cerutti Mastodon claims, outlandish assertions of a 130,000-year-old American mastodon, showing how selective evidence and sensational headlines drive false narratives. Listeners will hear Carl dissect the methodology of amateur “myth hunters” and contrast it with rigorous field practices.

We also chat about prohibition-era moonshine stills unearthed in the backwoods, where Carl shares stories of discovering hidden distilleries and connecting them to local oral histories. He discusses the process of authenticating improvised copper pot stills, the nuances of dating illicit equipment, and how these finds offer a window into rural ingenuity and cultural resilience. Throughout, Carl emphasizes the value of peer review, structured community forums, and transparent reporting to keep real archaeology, and public trust, intact.

#Archaeology #Conspiracies #History

📖 Visit Carl's Blog → https://ahotcupofjoe.net

𝕏 Find Carl's Facebook Group here → https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16ekfikMyP

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00:00 Intro: Pseudo-Archaeology as a “Gateway Drug”

04:31 Cerutti Mastodon Site & 130,000-Year Claim

06:53 Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary Evidence

33:29 Provenance & Site Disturbance as Crime Scenes

35:23 Millimeter-Perfect Recording & Handheld LIDAR

36:08 LIDAR “Last-Bounce” Technique Explained

38:42 The “Casey Jones” Square Still Innovation

41:54 Discovering & Measuring a Hidden Still

45:17 Ethnography & Oral Traditions of Hollow Stills

59:58 Dinosaur Misconceptions & Archaeology vs. Paleontology

Real science is in a slug‑fest against viral conspiracy creators—and Professor Dave Farina is swinging the biggest hammer on YouTube. In this episode of Elevated Thoughts, Dave breaks down how sensational thumbnails, anti‑establishment rhetoric, and the platform’s own algorithm push fringe theories ahead of peer‑reviewed facts. From Graham Hancock’s pseudo‑archaeology to Flat Earth fantasies, he reveals why debunk videos must blend entertainment with airtight evidence if they hope to cut through the noise. Expect candid stories about late‑night research sessions, creator burnout, and the weird satisfaction of delivering a “nuclear bomb” rebuttal.

We also dive into the billion‑dollar influence network funding misinformation online. Dave names tech oligarchs, dark‑money think tanks, and click‑bait farms that profit from public confusion about climate change, vaccines, and gender science. He argues that rebuilding trust means highlighting scientific consensus first, then unpacking the uncertainties honestly—no more pretending every opinion is equal. You’ll hear why trolls in the comment section can actually boost visibility if you handle them with strategic replies.

Finally, we ask whether grifters really believe their own hype or just chase ad revenue and cult followings. Dave shares the one “hill he’ll die on,” offers practical tips for spotting credible sources, and explains why curiosity beats cynicism when learning astronomy, zoology, or any field you love. If you’re tired of doom‑scrolling fake facts and want tools to sharpen your critical thinking, this conversation is your antidote. Smash play, share with a skeptic friend, and join us in proving that real knowledge can still win the click war.

SUBSCRIBE to Professor Dave Explains on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorDaveExplains

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💬 What do you think? Comment below!

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00:00 – Intro & Welcome Professor Dave

01:00 – How Dave Chooses His Debunk Targets

03:50 – Pseudo-Archaeology & Graham Hancock’s Cult Following

05:30 – Trolls, Comments, and Boosting the Algorithm

08:00 – Flat Earth: The Most Delusional Cult?

10:00 – Entertainment vs Truth: Winning the Click War

12:00 – Viral Moments & Content Strategy Secrets

15:30 – Distrust in Institutions: Where It Comes From

18:00 – Rebuilding Public Trust in Science

21:00 – Do Grifters Believe Their Own Claims?

23:00 – Creator Burnout & Workflow Realities

25:00 – Dave’s Favorite Topics: Astronomy, Zoology & More

27:00 – The Science Behind Sex & Gender Misinformation

29:00 – Where to Find Professor Dave & Episode Wrap-Up

New parents are Googling “Are baby vaccines safe?” and the answers can feel like a shouting match. Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin breaks down the entire childhood schedule, from the vitamin K shot to MMR, using clear risk-vs-benefit data that busy moms and dads can trust.

Get her free, research-backed vaccine guide → https://pedsdoctalk.com/vaccine-guide

You’ll also hear why COVID shook public confidence and how to separate peer-reviewed facts from Instagram fear-bait.

But shots are only one piece of the puzzle. We dive into late walking, milestone anxiety, and the real-world feeding challenges that every toddler parent faces—puffs, purées, and all. Dr. Mona explains why development is a marathon, not a sprint, and shares the exact red-flag signs that mean it’s time to call your pediatrician. Along the way, Cooper and Mike admit their own parenting fails so you don’t feel alone.

Finally, we zoom out to modern fatherhood. Millennial dads are more hands-on than ever, yet work-from-home life piles on new pressures. You’ll pick up quick wins for splitting bedtime duties, using humor to defuse tantrums, and choosing presence over perfection. Whether you came for vaccine facts or sanity-saving hacks, this episode delivers science, empathy, and zero fluff.

📖 Find more from Dr. Mona here → https://www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk/ and https://pedsdoctalk.com/

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🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535

💬 What do you think? Comment below!

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00:00 Intro – why dads need straight answers

02:50 Dr. Mona’s journey & Peds Doc Talk origin

05:30 Vaccine hesitancy: centuries in the making

09:55 How COVID rewired public trust

14:45 Empathy hacks for hard vaccine talks

18:10 “I’m not anti-anything—I’m just scared”

21:20 Government vs. parents: who sets the schedule?

25:40 Vitamin K myths & brain-bleed ER stories

31:00 How vaccine trials actually work

38:40 Milestones: when to worry, when to chill

46:05 Feeding battles, baby-led weaning, protein myths

52:45 The new role of dads in child health

59:00 Debunking viral parenting myths

1:03:00 Key takeaways & where to follow Dr. Mona

Gen Z spends more than seven hours a day on screens yet reports the highest loneliness ever recorded—fully one-quarter of young American men say they feel isolated every day. Award-winning civics teacher Jeremy S. Adams, author of Lessons of Liberty and the bestseller Hollowed Out, joins Elevated Thoughts to unpack why perpetual connection breeds emptiness and how schools, families, and faith communities can fight back.

Jeremy recounts classroom moments that shocked even him: seniors admitting “we cheat on everything,” AI tools ghost-writing homework, and attention spans that vanish after 90 seconds. Hosts Cooper Simmons and Mike Marro grill him on Gallup’s new loneliness data, TikTok’s looming U.S. ban, and whether radical individualism has turned freedom into misery. They also debate real-world fixes—from reviving family dinners to mandatory civic service—and why Jeremy still sees a path to purpose for the “hollowed-out” generation.

Parents, teachers, and students: this hour delivers blunt stats, vivid stories, and a hopeful blueprint to refill Gen Z’s civic and emotional tank.

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week & smash the like if you enjoyed this video.

📖 Get our guest's book → https://a.co/d/7vVSrK6🛍️ Support Elevated Thoughts by shopping our affiliate link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/broopersimms🧠 Find more from us → http://www.ElevatedThoughtsPod.comWe are also on YouTube and Apple Podcasts!🎧 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ElevatedThoughtsPod🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535💬 Please drop a comment: What’s the ONE habit Gen Z must change first?

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00:00 Introduction to Hollowed Out and Its Themes

01:34 The Impact of Technology on Gen Z

07:30 Liberty vs. Licentiousness in Modern Society

10:41 The Unhappiness of Today's Youth

12:17 Civic Engagement vs. Political Distraction

18:35 The Loss of Meaningful Connections

22:19 Awareness of Technology's Impact on Youth

29:38 The Role of Teachers in Society

34:03 Navigating Political Discourse in Education

36:58 The Evolution of Social Gatherings

39:26 Generational Shifts in Attention and Engagement

40:38 The Political Divide: Gender and Ideology

44:05 The Changing Landscape of Political Identity

49:52 The Complexity of Trump and Conservatism

55:59 The Resilience of American Political Culture

Brad Polumbo joins us to break down today’s political discourse, right-wing media shifts, and cancel culture in the Trump era. We explore how social media accelerates public opinion swings, why checks and balances matter more than ever, and what independent media can do to keep both sides honest.Brad explains how Trump narrowed the “big tent” of conservatism, the internal GOP fights over fiscal responsibility, omnibus bills, and proposed age limit reforms. They also dive into immigration policy, focusing on due process versus national security. Plus, Brad shares audience engagement trends—rising social division and heated gender identity debates reshaping online communities.🔑 Key Topics:• Political discourse & media polarization• Cancel culture’s impact on debate• Evolution of right-wing media in the Trump era• GOP fiscal battles, omnibus bills, age limit reforms• Immigration policy & due process• Social division & gender identity trends👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Elevated Thoughts. #BradPolumbo #ElevatedThoughts #MediaPolarization #CancelCulture #Conservatism00:00 Restoring Productive Discourse03:42 The Evolution of Right-Wing Media07:28 Navigating the New Independent Media Landscape09:37 The Pendulum of Political Discourse12:53 Checks and Balances in a Polarized Era17:14 Legislating for Possibilities vs. Realities22:01 The Role of Due Process in Immigration Policy28:12 Defining Modern Conservatism30:46 The Evolution of Conservatism33:06 Deficits and Spending: A Conservative Dilemma36:29 The Internal Struggle of the Republican Party39:58 The Omnibus Bill Crisis41:51 Age Limits in Politics: A Necessary Reform50:15 Engaging with the Audience: A Two-Way Conversation𝕏 Follow Brad on X → https://x.com/brad_polumbo🛍️ Support Elevated Thoughts by shopping our affiliate link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/broopersimms🧠 Find more from us → http://www.ElevatedThoughtsPod.comWe are also on YouTube and Apple Podcasts!🎧 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ElevatedThoughtsPod🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535💬 What do you think? Comment below!

We sat down with Dr. Hugh Thomas, field director at Zagora and co‑lead of the Pack_Up archaeological project in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, to separate sensational pseudo‑archaeology from rigorous science.

From the 7,000‑year‑old mustatil ritual rectangles scattered across the desert to the epic excavations at Zagora in Greece, Dr. Thomas takes us behind the scenes of real fieldwork: the stakes of destructive excavation, the necessity of ethical reburial of human remains, and why each dig is literally a “one‑shot” opportunity to preserve context.

We explore how community archaeology empowers local stakeholders to combat conspiracy theories and how groundbreaking lab methods like radiocarbon (C¹⁴) and bioapatite dating, isotope analysis, and even protein fingerprinting of ancient cattle teeth, are transforming our understanding of Neolithic ritual practices.

If you’ve ever wondered how honest archaeology stacks up against fast‑and‑loose myths about Atlantis, aliens, or lost super‑civilizations, this is the conversation to stick around for.

𝕏 Follow our guest on X → https://x.com/hughs_news

And Follow the Pack_Up Project here → https://x.com/PAKEP_KSA

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🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535

💬 What do you think? Comment below!

--

00:00 Introduction to Archaeology and Its Misconceptions

02:54 Real Experiences in Archaeology

06:02 Excavation Techniques and Ethical Considerations

09:04 Challenges of Field Work in Remote Locations

12:00 The Reality of Excavating Human Remains

14:55 Understanding Ancient Structures in Saudi Arabia

18:03 The Significance of Mustatil Structures

20:52 Ethics in Archaeology and Human Remains

23:56 Cultural Perspectives on Archaeological Practices

33:08 Ancient Cults and Community Structures

36:26 Modern Archaeological Techniques and Discoveries

39:24 The Role of Local Communities in Archaeology

42:37 Challenging Archaeological Orthodoxy

46:11 The Importance of Science Communication in Archaeology

49:44 Adapting Theories in Light of New Evidence

55:44 The Physical Demands of Archaeological Excavation

01:04:34 Engaging with the Public and Future of Archaeology

Classical archaeologist Dr. Joseph Wilson (UMass Amherst) takes us inside the world of archaeological echo chambers and alt-history conspiracies.

Learn how click-bait communicators block critical voices, why “symmetrical vases” aren’t proof of lost ice-age civilizations in the archaeological record, and how forged artifacts flood the antiquities market. Joe breaks down the real scientific methods—field excavation, provenance analysis, isotope testing—that professional archaeologists use to separate fact from fiction.

Whether you’re curious about Atlantis myths, Gobekli Tepe preservation, or the tactics behind echo-chamber thinking, Dr. Wilson arms you with the tools to spot bad archaeology and demand better discourse. Hit subscribe and ring the bell so you never miss another deep dive with Elevated Thoughts.

𝕏 Follow our guest on X and BlueSky:

https://x.com/JosephAPWilson1

https://bsky.app/profile/josephapwilson.bsky.social

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We are also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

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💬 What do you think? Comment below!

#archaeology #ancienthistory #debunkingmyths

00:00 – Intro & Podcast Welcome

02:09 – Meet Dr. Joseph Wilson

02:50 – Joe’s Academic Background & Early Research

07:10 – The Rise of Alternative Archaeology Online

13:57 – Science vs. Pseudoscience in the Field

20:00 – Confronting Echo Chambers & Troll Tactics

26:18 – Authentic vs. Forged Artifacts Explained

32:00 – Site Preservation & Infrastructure Myths

40:08 – Archaeology as Humanities & Science

50:45 – Funding Cuts & Policy Challenges

57:44 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Joe

China's critical mineral supply chains, rare earths, cobalt, tariffs, US reliance—our latest episode unpacks how exposed America has become with our guest, Mahnaz Khan, VP of Policy for Critical Minerals at the Silverado Policy Accelerator.

We dig into where we get the tiny magnets inside your AirPods, the subsidies that warp “free trade,” and the high‑stakes game of critical minerals exports and imports. From China’s early acquisition of DRC cobalt mines to the 95% U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earths, this conversation reveals exactly why critical minerals have become the centerpiece of global competition.

You’ll hear Mahnaz explain the “Great, mineral hope” for domestic production, the urgency behind a proposed Trade Defense Pack, and the real costs of letting Beijing steam‑roll ahead. Whether you’re curious about the politics, the economics, or the tech under your fingertips, this episode delivers both insider insight and actionable takeaways.

💎 Follow Mahnaz on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahnaz-khan

🇺🇸 Follow Silverado Policy Accelerator on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/silverado-accelerator?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company

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🎧 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ElevatedThoughtsPod

🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535

💬 What do you think? Comment below!

#supplychain #chinaeconomy #minerals

00:00 Introduction

03:02 Understanding Critical Minerals

06:04 The Role of U.S. Trade Agencies

09:05 China's Influence on Critical Minerals

12:08 The Rare Earths Story

15:00 Cobalt and Global Supply Dynamics

18:12 U.S. Domestic Production Challenges

20:48 China's Belt and Road Initiative

24:10 Strategies for Ethical Supply Chains

28:05 Navigating Parenthood and Professional Life

28:56 Understanding Bilateral Relations and Trade Policies

30:07 Critical Minerals and Trade Agreements

33:05 China's Influence in Global Supply Chains

35:54 Challenges of Product Dumping and Tariffs

38:56 Addressing Labor Issues in Mining

41:59 The U.S. Perception in Global Markets

44:04 The Role of the U.S. in Global Supply Chains

46:02 Circular Economy and Recycling Initiatives

50:00 Future Directions for U.S. Trade Policy