Facts in Mind
Facts in Mind
Podcast Description
Facts in Mind is a podcast for curious minds. We explore everything from science, psychology, and technology to education, culture, and public health. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into thoughtful, accessible conversations—designed to spark curiosity, promote deeper understanding, and support inclusive learning for all.Co-hosted by Kimia Grigoriev and Amber Parrow, who met at Harvard Extension School while juggling work, family, and school, the podcast was born from their shared passion for making knowledge accessible. As founding President and Vice President of the Harvard Extension School Psychology Student Club, they built a community focused on education, advocacy, and empathy.Whether we’re talking about mental health, AI, grief, language, neurodiversity, or education reform, Facts in Mind connects facts to real-life meaning—because knowledge should be for everyone.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a broad range of themes including science, psychology, technology, education, culture, and public health. Episodes delve into specific topics such as the implications of AI in understanding human cognition, the complexities of mental health, and neurodiversity. For instance, Episode 1 discusses the understanding behind AI with expert Dr. Max Krasnow, highlighting key distinctions between human and AI comprehension.
Facts in Mind is a podcast for curious minds. We explore everything from science, psychology, and technology to education, culture, and public health. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into thoughtful, accessible conversations—designed to spark curiosity, promote deeper understanding, and support inclusive learning for all.
Co-hosted by Kimia Grigoriev and Amber Parrow, who met at Harvard Extension School while juggling work, family, and school, the podcast was born from their shared passion for making knowledge accessible. As founding President and Vice President of the Harvard Extension School Psychology Student Club, they built a community focused on education, advocacy, and empathy.
Whether we’re talking about mental health, AI, grief, language, neurodiversity, or education reform, Facts in Mind connects facts to real-life meaning—because knowledge should be for everyone.
In this engaging and thought-provoking debut episode, Kimia and Amber sit down with Dr. Max Krasnow to unpack the science behind what it means to “understand”—and whether AI models like ChatGPT actually do.
Dr. Krasnow begins by distinguishing true understanding from mere mimicry. He explains that while large language models (LLMs) can produce fluent, convincing language, they lack internal representations and the ability to make genuine inferences, which are crucial for human-like understanding. Using the classic Chinese Room thought experiment, he illustrates how AI may appear intelligent but doesn’t comprehend meaning the way humans do.
The conversation explores why humans so readily assign minds to machines. Dr. Krasnow introduces Error Management Theory, which suggests that our brains evolved to over-detect agency as a survival mechanism—it’s safer to assume a presence than to miss a threat. This leads to our tendency to interpret chatbots as having thoughts or feelings simply because they “talk” like us.
Kimia draws out key distinctions between how AI and humans recognize and apply patterns, prompting Dr. Krasnow to explain why human understanding goes beyond surface-level associations. Her questions help clarify what current AI models are missing—like context, intent, and real-world experience. Amber brings in the education angle, asking how we can help the public better understand AI without confusion or hype. In response, Dr. Krasnow emphasizes that fluency doesn’t equal intelligence and encourages hands-on engagement with AI to reveal its limitations. He cautions against mistaking confident output for genuine understanding or consciousness.
Throughout the episode, the hosts and guest stress the importance of keeping humans in the loop. Dr. Krasnow compares AI to a calculator: useful, efficient, but ultimately a tool—not a mind. He warns that trusting AI without scrutiny could lead to poor decision-making if users mistake surface-level fluency for deep understanding.
Facts in Mind is a podcast for curious minds. We explore everything from science, psychology, and technology to education, culture, and public health. Be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss an exciting episode with the latest thoughts and research from our expert guests!
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.