61. What Do Cornell 7, Sydney Sweeney & Lindsay Clancy Have in Common? With Psychologist Ilia Poznak

<p><b><strong>They've become symbols.</strong></b></p><p>Symbols we use to debate gender, morality, mental health, victimhood, accountability and who we believe is <i><em>good</em></i> or <i><em>evil</em></i>.</p><p>In Episode 61 of the <b><strong>Inner Self-Confidence Podcast</strong></b>, I'm joined by registered psychologist and certified executive coach <b><strong>Ilia Poznak</strong></b> for a conversation about something I think we're rapidly losing: <b><strong>our ability to sit in the grey</strong></b><br /><br />I recently connected with Ilia on Instagram after being drawn to his willingness to talk about subjects many people shy away from — questioning popular narratives, exploring uncomfortable perspectives and bringing nuance back into conversations that increasingly demand we pick a side.</p><p>We get into <b><strong>moral typecasting</strong></b> and why our brains want heroes and villains. We talk about virtue signalling, social media, group identity, moral judgement and what happens when a human being becomes a symbol for an entire social issue.</p><p>We also explore the growing divide between men and women.</p><p>Are women being taught that men are dangerous while men are being taught that women hate or manipulate them?</p><p>Can we believe and support victims without turning allegations into internet entertainment?</p><p>Can we talk about mental illness without removing accountability?</p><p>Can we condemn someone's behaviour without completely dehumanising them?</p><p>Can empathy <b><strong>and</strong></b> accountability exist at the same time?</p><p>And perhaps the question underneath this entire conversation:</p><p><b><strong>Are we becoming so determined to prove that we're on the “right” side that we're losing our ability to see each other's humanity?</strong></b></p><p>This conversation isn't about telling you what to think.</p><p>It's about asking whether we're still willing to <b><strong>think for ourselves.</strong></b></p><p>🎙️ <b><strong>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></b></p><p>• Moral typecasting and our need for heroes and villains<br />• The psychology of “good vs. evil”<br />• Virtue signalling and online morality<br />• Why nuance feels increasingly difficult online<br />• Social media, algorithms and groupthink<br />• The growing divide between men and women<br />• Empathy vs. accountability<br />• Why understanding behaviour isn't the same as excusing it<br />• What happens when people become symbols instead of human beings