This is episode 20 of Evil Sugar Radio. In this episode, we interview Nick Tumminello. We had planned to talk about general strength and fitness concepts, but Nick dropped a bomb on us with this “How to be scientific” interview. This is seriously better than anything we had planned, so we let it roll.

This interview basically covers how to detect bullshit. How do you evaluate scientific claims? How does the scientific method work? What are the major problems with health and fitness claims made by gurus and how can you challenge them?

As always, if you’re enjoying the show, please rate us in iTunes.

Episode 20 Overview

Here’s an overview of what we’ll be talking about in this episode:

• About Nick Tumminello and Performance University
• How do we detect bullshit?
• How do we know who to trust with so much conflicting and confusing info? How do we filter the good from the bad?
• It’s not what you think but how you think
• Good reasons and bad reasons for believing
• Why do you believe what you believe?
• In science, there are experts, but no authorities
• Is there a hierarchy of reliability in information?
• How do we assess information?
• Burden of proof
• Falsifiability
• Negative evidence
• Logical consistency
• What about scientific consensus?
• Is the person claiming to have secret knowledge that no one else knows?
• How does this claim line up with our knowledge of reality?
• Find out “How can I be wrong?”
• Do people need to read studies and the references?
• Is there an underlying element of human psychology that doesn’t like not having answers?
• Look for Strength Training for Fat Loss coming in March

Show Notes

Nick Tumminello’s Performance University

Why Smart Trainers Believe Stupid Things

Intro music from Baba Brinkman’s Revenge of the Somatic. Purchase any of Baba’s music at http://bababrinkman.bandcamp.com/

Let us know what you think in the comments