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Cognitive Dissonance

Atheist and Skeptical News
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Elon Musk
Conspiracy Theories
Republican Party
Supreme Court
Trump
Project 2025
Immigration
Mental Health
Joe Biden
Covid-19
Jeffrey Epstein
Climate Change
JD Vance
Abortion
Artificial Intelligence
Iran
Misinformation
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Every episode we blast anyone who gets in our way. We bring critical thinking, skepticism, and irreverence to any topic that makes the news, makes it big, or makes us mad. It's skeptical, it's political and there is no welcome mat.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes939Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Comedy

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Artwork for Cognitive Dissonance

Latest Episodes

Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for service members ICE shared Medicaid data it wasn't supposed to have with Palantir How Republicans Turned Olive Garden Into a Voter ID Talking Point - The New York Times Andrew and Tristan Tate arre... more

Takeaways From Trump's Speech Claiming Election Vulnerabilities and China Interference - The New York Times ​​Over 100 House Democrats vote to block billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, reflecting growing schism in party | CNN Politics 'Jus... more

The Demon Next Door - The Atlantic

Democrat Graham Platner says he plans to withdraw from Maine Senate race after sexual assault claim Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear requests update on Sen. Mitch McConnell's health | whas11.com Masked men with Confederate flags seen chanting, marching, ri... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Paulina Maggibut
Content and creative director at the DNC
Democratic National Committee
Episode: Episode 921: Steven Miller: The Ugly *uckling
Dr. Aaron Rabinowitz
Ethics Director at the Creator Accountability Network; host of Embrace the Void and Philosophers in Space
Creator Accountability Network
Episode: Episode 908: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics with Dr. Aaron Rabinowitz
Michael Marshall
Podcaster from Skeptics with a K and No Rogan Experience
Skeptics with a K, No Rogan Experience
Episode: Episode 890: Murder of Renee Nicole Good, Overthrowing Maduro in Venezuela
Dr. Darryl Ray
Founder of Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project
Recovering from Religion
Episode: Episode 875: No Kings, Santos Sentence Commuted
Jonathan Jarry
Science communicator with McGill University's Office for Science and Society
McGill University
Episode: Episode 843: Jonathan Jarry - Joseph Mercola and His Medium
Noah Lugeons
Co-host of The Scathing Atheist and other skeptic-oriented podcasts
The Scathing Atheist
Episode: Episode 812: President Musk, Vatican on Brink of Bankruptcy - With Noah Lugeons
Heath Enright
Co-host of Skeptocrat, Citation Needed, and Skated Atheism
Skeptocrat
Episode: Episode 799: Vatican Stealing Babies, Brand Name Magic Amulets
Seth Andrews
Host of The Thinking Atheist Podcast, advocate for atheism and critical thought
The Thinking Atheist
Episode: Episode 796: Intelligent Design Discussion With Seth Andrews
Carl Allen
Author of The Polls Weren't Wrong
Episode: Episode 792: Debate Wrap Up and "The Polls Weren't Wrong"

Hosts

Cecil
Host with skeptical, irreverent commentary; engages in deep-dive analysis and banter.
Tom
Co-host known for analysis, quick takes, and reactionary humor.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 5.5k ratings
  • Explored a new (to me) podcast "Cognitive Dissonance," episode 12/1/2025. Lots of cussing, yelling, silly teenage boy-like laughing, locker room humor... Made it until they said Repubs fabricate nonexistent problems in order to (falsely) claim they're fixing things. Their example? Borders that were never open but Republicans are falsely claiming to close and fix borders that have *never* been open. I'm done here. Could people really believe the border wasn't open!?!? Can they ever see reality?

    Podcast Addict
    1
    anon-tx
    3 months ago
  • Good

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Quartz
    3 months ago
  • The purpose of reeses pieces

    Chocolate cake with reeses pieces is next-level. 10/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jorgan_Garlath
    United States3 months ago
  • Decent show for sure

    I’m glad Tom’s wife is doing comparatively well now

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zomfibame
    United States3 months ago
  • Painful Truth Spoke Here

    Just listened to the summary of progress toward meeting Project 2025 goals. As a retired public school teacher, everything you said about the dismantling of public education is on point. It is heartbreaking and will add no value to our nation’s future. Keep speaking truth.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NeverMoreForSure
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews call out perceived bias or strong partisan framing, but overall engagement remains high.
Audience sentiment notes the blend of humor with rigorous analysis and skepticism.
Listeners praise sharp, unapologetic critique and chemistry between hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#183
Finland/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 908: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics with Dr. Aaron Rabinowitz
Q: What are we talking about when we talk about what we currently have as AI?
We define AI broadly as systems that replicate or assist cognitive tasks, with emphasis on generative AI and large language models, while acknowledging that capabilities evolve rapidly and that there are important distinctions between different AI types and uses.
Episode 883: Boat Strike War Crimes
Q: What consequences should Trump and his administration face for their actions?
The hosts emphasize the need for accountability and punishment for those who have committed war crimes and abused their power.
Episode 883: Boat Strike War Crimes
Q: What do you think about the military presence on U.S. soil?
The hosts argue that it creates a target-rich environment for potential attacks, making DC less safe.
Mailbag February 2024
Q: What should we make of the email about Rupert Murdoch's control over media?
They elaborate on Murdoch's motivations, which include maintaining influence and media ratings by keeping Trump in the news.
Mailbag February 2024
Q: How do the right-wing narratives impact people's voting based on morals?
The hosts discuss how the rhetoric from the right frames the opposition as evil, leading to a punitive mindset that adversely affects societal perceptions, especially towards marginalized groups.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cognitive Dissonance

What is Cognitive Dissonance about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers blunt, skeptical political analysis blended with sharp humor and irreverent banter. Episodes cover current events, media narratives, conspiracy talk, and policy debates, often challenging both sides with data-driven criticism and colorful storytelling. A standout trait is the hosts' willingness to riff on wide-ranging topics—from gerrymandering and public education to online radicalization and media ecosystems—while maintaining a fast-paced, contrarian vibe. This mix of rigorous critique and entertaining irreverence makes it appealing to listeners who want fearless commentary, actionable insights for media or sponsorship alignment, and a temperament that thrives on spirited debate rather than polished consensus.

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How many listeners does Cognitive Dissonance get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Cognitive Dissonance?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cognitive Dissonance:

1. The Skepticrat
2. The Scathing Atheist
3. Citation Needed
4. God Awful Movies
5. The Know Rogan Experience

How many episodes of Cognitive Dissonance are there?

Cognitive Dissonance launched 15 years ago and published 939 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Cognitive Dissonance?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Cognitive Dissonance?

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What guests have appeared on Cognitive Dissonance?

Recent guests on Cognitive Dissonance include:

1. Paulina Maggibut
2. Dr. Aaron Rabinowitz
3. Michael Marshall
4. Dr. Darryl Ray
5. Jonathan Jarry
6. Noah Lugeons
7. Heath Enright
8. Seth Andrews

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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