‘Trusting the science’ in an age of misinformation

About 13 years ago, "Dr. Google" became my bestie.

My daughter had just turned one, and I was sick – the kind of sick that stops you from living how you want to live.

My primary care provider sent me to a rheumatologist. After lots of tests, I was given a blue post-it note with three things scrawled on it:

- systemic lupus erythematosus
- antiphospholipid antibodies
- undifferentiated connective tissue disease

I was sent on my merry way – sick and scared.

Years passed. The tests continued. I was given meds. I was sent to more specialists. My doctors kept me out of the hospital. But my quality of life still suffered.

I was sick and scared. And stubborn. So I did what any sick, scared, and stubborn person does: I began to do my own research. I found things that helped and many things that didn't. And I uncovered an entire worldview shaped by pseudoscience and misinformation, courtesy of Dr. Google.

It felt like a full circle moment to be able to sit down with two scientists, Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD and Laura D Scherer, to take an honest look at what's happening in the world around science and misinformation. Grateful to my boss Chris Casey for letting me join him as co-host for this chat on Health Science Radio where we tackle the question:

How Do We ‘Trust the Science’ in an Age of Misinformation?

It's a great listen for anyone who has ever googled a symptom, and a must listen for scientists and science communicators (like me) who serve on the front line for communicating health-related information. You can find the Health Science Radio Podcast wherever you listen.

My one & only and I at a lupus walk ~2012