Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Dr. Rodney Schmaltz is a professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University. His research focuses on the psychology of belief, with a particular interest in how people evaluate extraordinary claims. He is committed to helping people develop strong critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the value of scientific evidence in everyday life. His work aims to improve scientific literacy in both academic and public settings, using research-based strategies to help people separate good information from bad.
In today’s episode, Rodney explains the importance of critical thinking - though he prefers the term scientific skepticism - and why we should expand science education to include how we know what is true, and not just the facts and frameworks of scientific knowledge. We talk about how being intelligent and educated is not related to belief in pseudoscience, and how it’s dangerous to dismiss someone you disagree with as a "conspiracy theorist” in a world where some conspiracies are real.
If you learn half as much as Leslie did from this conversation, you’re going to love today’s episode of Podcast for Inquiry with Rodney Schmaltz.
Email: rodney.schmaltz@macewan.ca
Website: rodneyschmaltz.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rodneyschmaltz
Facebook: facebook.com/rodney.schmaltz.9
Podcast for Inquiry is hosted by Leslie Rosenblood and brought to you by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. Join today! Produced by Zack Dumont, Martin Zielinski, and Leslie Rosenblood. Support Podcast for Inquiry on Patreon: patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry. Send your thoughts and feedback to podcast@centreforinquiry.ca.
Dr. Rodney Schmaltz is a professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University. His research focuses on the psychology of belief, with a particular interest in how people evaluate extraordinary claims. He is committed to helping people develop strong critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the value of scientific evidence in everyday life. His work aims to improve scientific literacy in both academic and public settings, using research-based strategies to help people separate good information from bad.
In today’s episode, Rodney explains the importance of critical thinking - though he prefers the term scientific skepticism - and why we should expand science education to include how we know what is true, and not just the facts and frameworks of scientific knowledge. We talk about how being intelligent and educated is not related to belief in pseudoscience, and how it’s dangerous to dismiss someone you disagree with as a "conspiracy theorist” in a world where some conspiracies are real.
If you learn half as much as Leslie did from this conversation, you’re going to love today’s episode of Podcast for Inquiry with Rodney Schmaltz.
Email: rodney.schmaltz@macewan.ca
Website: rodneyschmaltz.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rodneyschmaltz
Facebook: facebook.com/rodney.schmaltz.9
Podcast for Inquiry is hosted by Leslie Rosenblood and brought to you by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. Join today! Produced by Zack Dumont, Martin Zielinski, and Leslie Rosenblood. Support Podcast for Inquiry on Patreon: patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry. Send your thoughts and feedback to podcast@centreforinquiry.ca.
