The Skeptic Zone

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The Skeptic Zone #810 - 14.April.2024 Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:00 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill This week Adrienne talks to the organizers of the Los Angeles Skepticamp on the day after the event which was held on March 24, 2024. Interviewed are Wendy Hughes, Heather Henderson, Paula Lauterbach, Jane Selkie, Deborah Warcken, and Susan Gerbic. https://skepticampla.fmtpo.com https://www.youtube.com/@HeatherHenderson https://www.abouttimeproject.org 0:14:16 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Join Tim Mendham and Richard Saunders at Sydney Skeptics in the Pub as they talk about the special guests lined up for the Australian Skeptics national convention in November. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:21:48 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Australian Skeptics. 1984.07.05 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1987.02.11 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1989.03.17 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1994.11.14 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1998.03.30 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also We Can Reason - Calgary Canada https://wecanreason.com

The Skeptic Zone #809 - 7.April.2024 Apr 06, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 My Mum Talks To Aliens - Or Does She? A review of a TV documentary from 2010. Mary Rodwell travels Australia seeking out those who claim to be abducted by UFOs. Can she convince her son during the course of the two week adventure? What, if any, real evidence does the documentary provide? https://youtu.be/zZ6dJergQ8o https://www.metabunk.org/threads/debunked-2007-avebury-ufo-sighting-military-exercise-flares.6411/ 0:18:34 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham The Pauline Conspiracy By Dr Paul Willis Paul Willis puts on both his pop hat and his tinfoil hat to look at a classic plot from the Fab Four. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 34 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:30:18 Milbourne Christopher Milbourne Christopher (1914 - 1984) regarded those individuals who claimed extrasensory perception or psychic powers to be actually using magic trickery. He wrote three book-length exposes regarding those he said were false seers or psychics: ESP, Seers & Psychics; Mediums, Mystics & The Occult; and Search For The Soul. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milbourne_Christopher 0:47:18 A Dive into a Trove With Kat McLeod A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Anti-Vacation in tne 1950s. 1952.03.14 - The Barrier Miner 1954.10.25 - Daily Mercury in Queensland 1955.05.26 - The Central Queensland Herald 1958.10.03 - The Australian Jewish Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also We Can Reason - Calgary Canada https://wecanreason.com

The Skeptic Zone #808 - 31.March.2024 Mar 30, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:36 Kenny Biddle Tiks on Tiktok It's hard to believe, but much of what you see on Tiktok may not be all it seems! Chief Investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Kenny Biddle, hunts for claims of the paranormal on Tiktok. Can he explain the unexplainable? https://www.tiktok.com/@kennybiddle42 0:20:56 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:32:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to yet more UFOs. 2014.01.27 - Woman's Day 2010.11.29 - New Idea http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Dick Smith's Helicopter Adventure - Parkinson 1982 https://youtu.be/TM_0q3m5i40 We Can Reason - Calgary Canada https://wecanreason.com

The Skeptic Zone #807 - 24.March.2024 Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:00 Skeptical Highlights of Dick Smith As we send our birthday wishes to Dick Smith, who just turned 80 years old, we look back at his influence on the skeptical movement in Australia. We also cover his great friendship and productive cooperation with James Randi. James Randi in Australia - With Dick Smith https://youtu.be/gN-0FEqAkQM This Is Your Life - Dick Smith 1997 https://youtu.be/FEXr2Wh4fPQ 0:17:32 The Skeptic Magazine, From Australian Skeptics - March 2024 A look through some of the features and stories of the current issue of this long-running magazine, including a closer look at a report by Richard Saunders into the so-called "power bands" of the last 15 years. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:04 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham It's Behind You! By Adam van Langenberg Do you ever get that feeling that you're being stared at? Then, when you turn around, you notice somebody looking right at you? Sometimes with a knife? Adam does, and he suspects that most other people do as well. There are lots of reasons why this could happen. It could be a case of confirmation bias. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 32 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:28 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to UFOs. 1991.09.07 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1972.07.02 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1986.09.14 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also https://www.alantacolley.com/upcoming-gigs https://wecanreason.com

The Skeptic Zone #806 - 17.March.2024 Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Redefining Beauty, one tongue press at a time? Can keeping your mouth shut make you more attractive? While some people believe so, it may not be for the same reasons you think. Adrienne Hill has an interesting conversation with Kat McLeod to discuss the controversial beauty trend and viral sensation known as "mewing"; the origins and the myths. 0:19:08 Alanta Colley - Live Show Trick or Treatment at Melbourne International Comedy Festival : 25- 31 March Big pharma gets a bad rap, but what about big chakra? Could horse de-wormers cure a global pandemic? Can I mainline the placebo effect? Come on a science comedy journey through the wild and weird and occasionally effective world of alternative medicine with Alanta Colley as your test subject. https://www.alantacolley.com/upcoming-gigs https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/trick-or-treatment 0:28:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:41:14 A Chat with Dr Eugenie Scott In a follow up interview, Dr Eugenie Scott expands her thoughts on the development of human teeth. Also how you can get involved in the San Francisco Bay Area Skeptics. https://baskeptics.org

The Skeptic Zone #805 - 10.March.2024 Mar 09, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:18 Strange Bedfellows Once again, Susan Gerbic finds herself under attack from an odd assortment of UFO and conspiracy believers. This time they are trying to change her Wikipedia page to include what they think is the truth. it really is a case of the blind leading the blind. https://www.abouttimeproject.org 0:23:08 Nerd Night in Bend, Oregon Join Kathy Rightmire, Brian Dunning and Richard Saunders as they enjoy Nerd Night in the city of Bend in Oregon. This is a regular meet up much like Skeptics in the Pub. Includes a portion of Brian's talk, "Sounds from Beyond". https://skeptoid.com/events/30257 0:35:14 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Bigfoot and Oregon. 1977.05.17 - The Canberra Times 1973.10.26 - PNG Post 1976.08.30 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #804 - 3.March.2024 Mar 02, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:00 Skepticamp 2024 Brian Dunning and Richard Saunders had the pleasure of appearing live via video to the Surf Coast Skepticamp meeting. In this selection from the presentation, Brian and Richard discuss thier interest in the skeptical movement, podcasting and making documentary movies. 0:26:32 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill and surprise a special guest!. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:39:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to psychics. Gerard Croiset - Report on the Skeptic Zone https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-499-13may2018 1978.07.29 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1984.05.19 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1955.07.19 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #803 - 25.February.2024 Feb 24, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:06:56 Healers Quacks or Mystics - A Review In 1983, ABC TV broadcast a 6 part documentary on alternative medicine. On this week's show we take a look at the series and explore some of the claims made at the time. After 40 years, what can we learn from this uncritical series. https://vimeo.com/nevilldrury 0:27:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to so-called psychics and clairvoyants. 1978.12.31 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1987.03.22 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1986.07.02 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #802 - 18.February.2024 Feb 17, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 UFOs Keep Attacking! Alas for the poor UFO diehards, the UFOs just won't come. So they are channelling their anger at this sad state of affairs, towards the skeptics, who point out the fact that the UFOs are still not coming. Once again, Susan Gerbic and Brian Dunning are in the firing line of the believers. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/i-blame-the-australian-skeptics/ 0:16:28 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:29:42 Dr Eugenie Scott Recorded live before an audience at Berkeley Public Library, Dr Eugenie Scott tells Richard Saunders about the importance of studying teeth throughout human history. Also, how goes the battle against the creationists and the climate change denies? 0:43:30 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to psychics. 1985.09.21 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1988.06.16 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1979.05.18 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1994.04.23 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Surf Coast Skepticamp 2024 Special Guests, via video hook up to Oregon, Brian Dunning and Richard Saunders http://tinyurl.com/scsc2024

The Skeptic Zone #801 - 11.February.2024 Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:07:14 Swings and Roundabouts Richard Saunders reports on the fortunes and pitfalls of that merry-go-round of wellness, Mind Body Spirit. - In October 2023, Tim Mendham, Dr Sue Ieraci and Saunders took the long and crooked road to the Festival of MindBodySpirit (MBS) held at the convention centre in Sydney's Darling Harbour. As long-time readers of the Skeptic magazine know full well, this was not their first trip through the gates of ignorance and empty claims. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:26 I Think We Need to Think From Idea to Proclamation: Making 'Critical Thinking Awareness Day' a Reality. Susan interviews Daniel Reed from the West Virginia Skeptics Society. http://www.westvirginiaskepticssociety.com http://www.westvirginiaskepticssociety.com http://www.danielareed.com https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/daniel-a-reed/ https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/from-idea-to-proclamation-making-critical-thinking-awareness-day-a-reality/ https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/no-psychics-and-mediums-are-not-the-new-therapists 0:42:36 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to so-called psychics. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Surf Coast Skepticamp 2024 Special Guests, via video hook up to Oregon, Brian Dunning and Richard Saunders http://tinyurl.com/scsc2024

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