Dazed and Confused: Divided We Laugh

Pick a Side. Get Played | Navigating today’s tricky digital landscape through comedy and conversation. You've been lied to. And so has everyone you disagree with. We live in a world engineered for outrage. Algorithms, advertisers, and political operatives have spent billions studying your brain just to exploit it – and it's working on all of us. So what can we do about it? Disagree, laugh, repeat. Join RCIScience for an interactive night of picking sides and making cases — no expertise required, just an opinion and a sense of humour. Hosting the chaos: CBC’s Anthony Morgan (co-host of The Nature of Things), comedian Lexa Graham, and Dr. Aviva Philipp-Muller, whose research on stubborn, hard-to-shift beliefs has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Together, we'll uncover what political polarization and snake oil have in common — why we fall for both, how bad actors exploit the mental shortcuts we all rely on, and why what you think your own side believes might be making things worse. Expect to laugh, be surprised, and leave seeing the news, your feed, and your own certainty a little differently. Come if you're burned out by the noise and the AI slop. Come if you've lost faith in the algorithm, the headline, or the hot take. Or just come if you want to have a good time! This event is perfect for date night, meeting new people, a fun friend hang, or for those looking for something novel to do in Toronto. No outside food or drink are permitted. Concessions and drinks are available for purchase at the venue. More about Freestyle Socials. Part of the annual Love Family Endowed Series. Filming and Photography Notice RCIScience will be filming and photographing this event. By attending, you consent to the use of your image and likeness being used in promotional materials. Please let us know if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed. By attending this event, you agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct.