The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #850 - 19.January.2025 Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:58 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. Modern Mystery School - Part #1 Adrienne is joined by guests Faith Newsome and Ramiro Rodriguez to dive into the world of the dazzling domain of the Modern Mystery School. Never heard of it before? Neither had we! But it is another New Age group with a worldwide wave of followers. Part #2 next week. 0:23:42 UFO Disclosure is Coming Any Day Now... I Promise... Will journalist Ross Coulthart end up with alien egg all over his face? Any day now we've been promised disclosure and more evidence from so-called whistleblowers. So far these whistleblowers have been more "blow hards" than anything else. Take a deep breath, a stiff drink and prepare to hear yet more amazing revelations from the UFO believers just like the "amazing revelations" of months and years gone by. Ross Coulhart on Tiktok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS64c1hwM/ 0:29:50 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:40:48 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian and Canadian newspapers on a search for references to Creationism in Schools. With Kat McLeod, Lara Benham, Adrienne Hill and Richard Saunders. 1975.02.03 - The Daily Herald Tribune - Canada 1952.04.23 - The Adelaide Advertiser 1930.05.31 - The Kangaroo Island Courier 1923.07.12 - The Brisbane Courier 1978.11.17 - The Calgary Albertan http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #849 - 12.January.2025 Jan 11, 2025

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:14 Channeling Aliens on TikTok We look at some of the many people on TikTok who claim to be in touch with aliens from the far reaches of the galaxy. Very long distance calls! 0:16:52 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Can you trust what you were taught in health class? Do you think you know basic human anatomy? For crying out loud, Kat McLeod is back this week and will have you questioning what you thought was common knowledge. 0:30:32 Maynard's Spooky Action Maynard travels to the Bermuda Triangle, virtually. This week Maynard gives his review on the various TV shows and movies that take place in the Bermuda Triangle over the years. With Lara Benham and Richard Saunders 0:43:10 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "The Coogee Beach Virgin Mary". 2003.02 - The Sydney Morning Herald 2003.02.03 - The Sydney Morning Herald 2005.02.05 - The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.museumoflost.com/the-virgin-mary-at-coogee-beach http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also https://karenbijkersma.com.au

The Skeptic Zone #848 - 5.January.2025 Jan 04, 2025

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:05:04 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Were the medieval times as torturous as we are led to believe? What do torture devices and GSoW have in common? Find out this week as Kat ties it all together as she reviews what we think we know about the past and reminds us to always consider the source whenever we are learning new things. 0:18:30 Jimmy Carter's Message to the Cosmos A message penned in 1977 by the late President Jimmy Carter was sent with spacecraft currently traveling in interstellar space, intended for alien eyes. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/voyager-spacecraft-statement-the-president 0:24:32 The TROVE Archives With guest Lara Benham A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Bermuda Triangle. 1978.11.05 - The Canberra Times 1995.12.14 - Army 1977.06.09 - The Port Lincoln Times 1977.10.11 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #847 - 29.December.2024 Dec 28, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:06 Kate & Allie With the close of 2024 drawing near and the start of a new year dawning, Kate and Allie both had the idea of making a quiz for the last episode of the year to surprise each other - so surprise, the loons ended up with two quizzes! Play along with their tag-team trivia and take time to look at new year's eve superstitions from around the world, see how many traditions you've heard about. 0:20:16 Drones Droning on about Drones Are drones from outer space? Do they come from the ocean? Are they manufactured in factories and bought by people and companies? We look at the recent influx of drones in the United States and find a stunning prediction for the year 2025! Mick West looks at the drone phenomena. https://youtu.be/ZK4HFxzsjgo 00:26:38 For Crying Out Load! It's Kat McLeod The white lady, the lady of the lake, pale, semi-transparent ghostly apparitions all seem to have some commonalities. This week Kat is going to delve into the reasons why we think of ghosts the way we do, and explore how society's perception of ghosts hasn't changed much over the centuries. 0:36:36 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Failed Predictions". 1990.03.10 - The Canberra Times 1990.04.13 - The Canberra Times 1991.01.02 - The Canberra Times 1994.05.31 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #846 - 22.December.2024 Dec 21, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:58 New Moon Superstitions Lara Benham (and the Skeptic Zone cats) take a look at some of the myths and superstitions regarding the new moon. Included is a clip from our friend Kenny Biddle. 0:14:18 Flat Earthers fall flat in the Antarctic A report of a group of hopeful flat earthers and globe earthers who travel to the Antarctic to view the 24 hour sun... or not! 24h Timelapse of Antactic Sun https://youtu.be/in0B1OQG3-M 0:24:58 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:03:42 Richard Saunders' Skeptical Challenge Over the past 25 years Saunders had the opportunity of being involved in numerous preliminary tests for the Australian Skeptics challenge, as well as the James Randi Educational Foundation's (JREF) US$1,000,000 prize in the 2010s, where he served on the committee that met annually in Las Vegas. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 44 No. 4 (2024) http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:43:36 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to New Moon Superstitions. 1892.03.12 - The Queenbean Age 1943.09.29 - The Inverel Times 1908.11.21 - The Pastral Times 1834.03.25 - The Sunday Mail 1924.06.14 - The Queenbean Figero http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Kenny Biddle with Kat McLeod and Lara Benham https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytPtiuunFdc

The Skeptic Zone #845 - 15.December.2024 Dec 15, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:50 A Review of The Skeptic We take a peek into the latest issue of one of the world's oldest skeptical magazines. What reports, interviews and stories can you expect to see this time? Find out. 0:11:48 You can count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill chats with infectious disease immunologist and science communicator David Miles about his book called "How Vaccines Work: The Science and History Behind Every Question You've Wanted to Ask." https://www.variolator.com 0:28:44 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Spoon and Skeptical. 1975.03.13 - The Australian Jewish Times 1986.04.03 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Kenny Biddle with Kat McLeod and Lara Benham https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytPtiuunFdc

The Skeptic Zone #844 - 8.December.2024 Dec 08, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:56 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill talks with fellow Calgarian, psychologist, and science communicator Jonathan Stea, who recently published Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry.

https://www.jonathanstea.com

0:19:10 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Do you ever question your memory? Of course, we all do, however, people of a certain age may often start to feel older when they misremember things that they felt certain about. Is it a sign of senility? Probably not. This week Kat is examining the Mandela Effect and why people can't always trust their own memory. 0:31:26 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:44:00 I Think We Need To Think! With Susan Gerbic This week Susan heads off to a local "Psychic" Fair and has readings that shock and amaze.... no one! What mysterious insights did those claiming paranormal powers have for her? Find out with Susan. 0:51:46 Maynard's Spooky Action Interviews from Skepticon XL

Richard Saunders
Alanta Colley
Nate Eggins
Ben Radford - "Radford or What?"
Paul Gallagher

The Skeptic Zone #843 - 1.December.2024 Nov 30, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:01:08 Squaring the Zone On the final day of Skepticon XL, Richard Saunders from The Skeptic Zone podcast joins Ben Radford from the Squaring the Strange podcast along with the one and only Maynard. Topics include the history of both podcasts, investigations, "What are you skeptical of this week?", and a TROVE segment. Also questions from the audience. Also https://squaringthestrange.libsyn.com

The Skeptic Zone #842 - 24.November.2024 Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:32 Ben Radford in Sydney A chat with Ben Radford about his first trip to Australia and his adventures and the Squaring the Strange Podcast. 0:07:24 The Bent Spoon Award for 2024 The announcement of the 2024 Australian Skeptics Awards. 0:18:56 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:06 Maynard's Spooky Action From Sydney Skeptics in the Pub, Maynard talks to Dr Liam Brierley a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK. He uses biostatistics, computer science, and AI to investigate how viruses evolve and transmit between animal species. Liam is also a Media Ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society and has worked with national press including The Guardian and BBC's Panorama to make sense of health data. 0:37:42 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Alien Autopsy of 1995. 1995.06.29 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #841 - 17.November.2024 Nov 16, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard from the William Shatner Room at Maynard's International Studios. 00:05:42 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. Tim Binga is director of Libraries and IT manager at the Center for Inquiry and an adjunct instructor at the University at Buffalo. He holds a master's degree in library science and dual B.A.'s in history and humanities. 0:12:50 A Brave New World? A peek into the world of fake scripts read by fake podcast presenters. Notebook LM takes reports and other documents, even web pages, and turns them into an audio conversation. In tnis example we hear what AI make of The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project. https://notebooklm.google.com 00:29:54 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the fourth and last part in this series, Rob chats to the host of 502 Conversations Brian Kerby and TV Producer Malorie Mackey. 0:39:56 A The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Dr Susan Blackmore. 1990.12.31 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also SitP - War, Pestilence, Death and Statistics https://youtu.be/3d2OYI12pvs

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