Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode.
Today’s main episode was all about how words reveal what’s really inside us. We talked about how speech eventually exposes a person’s true intentions, how our core values shape our words and actions, and how leaders—good and bad—leave a lasting impact based on what they say and how they say it.
But let’s take this a step further. Because words don’t just reveal the truth—they can also be used to hide it. And that’s where things get tricky.
We all know that words have power. They can inspire people to do great things, bring communities together, and shape entire movements. But they can also be twisted to mislead, confuse, and manipulate. So here’s the big question: How do we recognize when words are being used as a tool for control instead of truth?
Think about it—how many times have you heard a politician say something that sounds completely contradictory, only for their supporters to insist, “That’s not what they meant”? Or a religious leader makes a vague, feel-good statement that somehow justifies some wildly unethical behavior? Yeah. That’s not an accident. That’s manipulation.
So today, we’re going to explore some of the most common ways that religious leaders, politicians, and other authority figures use language to manipulate people. And more importantly, we’re going to talk about how to fight back—not with more deception, but with clarity, awareness, and some good old-fashioned critical thinking. Because if we can understand how words are used against us, we can stop them from working. And that’s a power worth having!
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