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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We 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!

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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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🧠 Find more from us → http://www.ElevatedThoughtsPod.com

We 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!

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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/

🛍️ Support Elevated Thoughts by shopping our affiliate link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/broopersimms

🧠 Find more from us → http://www.ElevatedThoughtsPod.com

We 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!

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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