Why do smart people believe irrational things? Why do we cling to our beliefs even in the face of overwhelming evidence? The biggest obstacle to critical thinking isn't always "out there"—it's inside our own heads. Our brains are hardwired with mental shortcuts, or cognitive biases, that once helped us survive but now lead to systematic errors in judgment.In this episode, we turn the magnifying glass inward. We're going on an expedition to confront the saboteurs in our own minds. By understanding these universal glitches in our mental software, we can learn to spot them in action and mitigate their powerful, invisible influence. This is the crucial step toward becoming a truly objective thinker.In this episode, you’ll meet: Confirmation Bias:The internal "yes-man" that constantly seeks evidence to prove you're right and ignores everything else. The Dunning-Kruger Effect:The "double curse" of incompetence that explains why beginners often have the highest confidence. The Anchoring Effect:The tyranny of the first piece of information and how it secretly influences your decisions about everything from salary to shopping. Practical Strategies:Learn concrete techniques to recognize and counteract these biases in your daily life. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don’t forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!