A Debater’s Guide to Toxic Rhetoric: How to Decode Populism, Fake News, and Online Manipulation - Monica Forman (MA)

How can we navigate a world where information overload and manipulative speech constantly erode the foundation of shared truth?

Toxic rhetoric—encompassing populist messaging, media manipulation, and hostile online discourse—is a persistent challenge in public conversation. This lecture offers a sharp, practical guide to understanding this phenomenon. Drawing on the strategic tools used by professional debaters, alongside insights from psychology, linguistics, and critical thinking, the session will address the core questions:

• How do we identify the mechanics of manipulative speech? The lecture will provide the necessary perspective to understand and spot the red flags of toxic rhetoric, allowing participants to clearly see through the simplification tactics commonly employed in populism and fake news.

• Why are these tactics so effective? The discussion will explain the psychological and linguistic factors that make these manipulative strategies resonate with and persuade large audiences.

  
  

The talk provides accessible frameworks for mitigating the impact of these strategies on both personal belief and democratic norms. Through real-world analysis and methodical examples, the session demonstrates that a clear-eyed approach to argumentation is essential for pushing back against manipulation and fostering productive, informed dialogue.

About the speaker

Monica Forman is a renowned debate coach, lecturer in rhetoric and debate, and an expert in persuasive communication, with over 14 years of experience helping professionals articulate complex ideas with precision and influence.

An elite debater herself, she was ranked the 6th best speaker in the world and 4th best speaker in Europe, and served as the Chief Adjudicator of the European University Debate Championship 2020. She combines an academic background—holding an MA in the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas and a BA in Sociology-Anthropology and General Studies, both earned with high honors—with proven debate-based methodology.

Monica trains a diverse clientele, including founders, executives, professionals, and world-champion debaters, offering practical tools in strategic storytelling, high-stakes presentations, and advanced argumentation training across professional, personal, and public settings.

Doors open at 19:30 – Arrive early, grab a seat, and settle in.

Talk starts at 20:00 and runs until around 21:30.

Price includes light drinks.

Stick around afterward—good conversations don’t have closing times.