The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #740 - 11.December.2022 Dec 10, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:07:56 ChatGPT What can AI tell us about a skeptical podcast from Australia, Brian Dunning's movie, why people believe in UFOs, and the Skeptical Fairy Godmother Angel from the Internet? 0:00:00 The European Skeptics in Sydney A relaxed chat around the table with the European Skeptics Podcast crew who were in Sydney as part of their Australian tour. 0:36:32 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Erich von Daniken". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #739 - 4.December.2022 Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Adrienne Hill 0:03:02 Skepticon 2020 Tim Mendham phones in his report from the first day of the Australian Skeptics National Convention, including the winnner of the Bent Spoon Award. 0:07:54 A chat with Andras Pinter During a recent visit to Sydney, Andras Pinter from the ESP, European Skeptics Podcast, spoke with Richard Saunders about podcasting and the trip to Australia by the European Skeptics. 0:17:55 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Stanton Friedman". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a Changed World 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #738 - 27.November.2022 Nov 26, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Maynard with Richard Saunders 0:05:50 Claire Klingenberg Claire Klingenberg is the President of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations and co-organizer of the Czech Paranormal Challenge. Since 2013, she has spoken at multiple science and skepticism conferences, and has consulted on a range of projects where pseudoscientific belief meets science. This week she headed to the Skeptic Zone studios to chat with Richard Saunders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vji9ygw00ZU 0:22:10 Rob Palmer at CSICon 2022 In his final report, Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vegas and bumps into Natalia Pasternak and Carlos Orsi from Brazil, Abhijit Chanda from India and Thomas Westbrook from Holy Koolaid on YouTube. https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/rob-palmer 0:40:58 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "UFOs".

The Barrier Daily Truth - 30th May, 1950

The Sydney Morning Herald - 8th January, 1954

The Canberra Times - 8th July, 1965
The King Island Times - 9th June, 1976

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #737 - 20.November.2022 Nov 19, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:04 An interview with Zion Lights Zion Lights was a spokesperson for the 'Extinction Rebellion' organisation before leaving it owing to fundamental disagreements with the group's reasoning and activities. Today her focus is on the importance of communicating science effectively, the climate and ecological emergency, the problems with environmentalism and clean energy. Skeptics in the Pub video https://youtu.be/f0mHZe1JEGM https://www.zionlights.co.uk https://www.emergencyreactor.org 0:32:54 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. Video https://youtu.be/4jakYguXUks cumming.ucalgary.ca/resource/tourette-ocd/children-and-adults/disorder-specific-resources/tourette-syndrome-and-0 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:42:04 Rob Palmer at CSICon 2022 Guest reporter Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vagas and bumps into Hollywood actor Aaron Fors together with Hannah Johnson. Then Brain Dunning swings by with another update on 'The UFO Movie THEY Don't want you to see'. Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Special Guests, 24th Nov. https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics/events/287036082 Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #736 - 13.November.2022 Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:06:42 A Strongly Worded Letter Skeptics receive all sorts of interesting letters from the public, some complimentary, some not. It seems that many people also believe that skeptical organisations wield much more power or influence than we really do. On today's show, Richard Saunders reads one of the more noteworthy examples of frustration from a corespondent. 0:18:16 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill The Story of 'Lady Ganga', Michele Frazier Baldwin, daughter of Kendrick and Ruth Frazier. When Michele, a 45 year old Mother of three was diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer, she took this as a call-to-action. She decided that she would travel to India to paddle board over 700 miles down the Ganges River, spreading awareness about this disease that was going to kill her and breaking a World Record in the process. https://www.ladyganga.world LADY GANGA: NILZA'S STORY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5yMCzx0ctU 0:23:34 Rob Palmer at CSICon 2022 Guest reporter Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vagas and bumps into Kyle Polich from the Data Skeptic Podcast, Karl Withakay and JD Sword. 0:38:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Kendrick Frazier. 1989, Nov 25 - Kenosha News 1976, July 26 - Benton Courier 1995, Aug 28 - Clovis News Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Special Guests, 24th Nov. https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics/events/287036082 Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #735 - 6.November.2022 Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:34 Rob Palmer at CSICon 2022 Guest reporter Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vagas and bumps into David Robert Grimes, a physicist, cancer researcher, and author. Rob also catches up with Ramiro Rodriguez from the 'Triangle Skeptics' and finaly to Prof. Richard Dawkins. 0:15:12 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:27:24 Evidence Please! With Jo Alabaster A classic report from 2016 about Biodynamic Gardening. Yes, truth can be stranger then fiction! 0:41:02 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to James Randi and Uri Geller. Geller on Tonight Show https://youtu.be/zD7OgAdCObs Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Special Guests, 24th Nov. https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics/events/287036082 Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #734 - 30.October.2022 Oct 29, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:48 Rob Pamler at CSICon 2022 Guest reporter Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vagas and bumps into Joseph Uscinski who is a professor of political science at the University of Miami and speaker at the convention. He also catches up with Wendy Hughes to talk about 'Romance Scams'. Next he chats to Adrienne Hill and finaly to Prof. Richard Wiseman. 0:22:55 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill The tables are turned as Adrienne interviews Rob Palmer about his Sunday Papers presentation of 'The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kcly0Ooczo 0:37:15 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Timothy Good". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #733 - 23.October.2022 Oct 23, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 You Can Count on Adrienne CSICon 2022. Skeptics from all over the world are in Las Vegas for this major convention. Adrienne gives us her preview of the meeting. https://csiconference.org 0:12:07 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Richard Saunders. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:23:52 Evidence Please! With Jo Alabaster A classic report from 2016 about the dangers of 'Black Salve'. No good for cancers or anything else! Black salve, also known by the brand name Cansema, is a pseudoscientific alternative cancer treatment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_salve 0:35:15 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "The Psychic Side". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #732 - 16.October.2022 Oct 15, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:28 UFOs! We catch up with podcaster of Brian Dunning to learn more about the process of making a documentary film. Brian's new movie will be called "The UFO movie they don't want you to see!" https://www.briandunning.com/ufo https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4208 0:25:34 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the "Disappearance of Frederick Valentich".

Canberra Times - 23 October 1978
Canberra Times - 25 October 1978
Canberra Times - 29 October 1978
Papua New Guinea Post - 27 October 1978

https://skepticalinquirer.org/2013/11/the-valentich-disappearance-another-ufo-cold-case-solved/ https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4385 http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:46:04 Australian Science Communicators Jirana Boontanjai and Tom Carruthers The Australian Science Communicators is the peak body for science communicators and science journalists in Australia. Established in 1994, the Australian Science Communicators has grown to a national network of more than 1650 subscribers and 450 financial members working in science and technology communication, including science journalists and writers, public information officers for academic and research organisations, scientists, museum professionals, science educators, science film-makers, and many other diverse professions united by the common theme of making science accessible. https://www.asc.asn.au https://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2022/09/05/the-2023-science-communicators-conference https://pintofscience.com.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

The Skeptic Zone #731 - 9.October.2022 Oct 08, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:09:09 The Real ESP Great news for Australians, The ESP are coming to Canberra for Skepticon 2022. We chat to the team, Andras G Pinter, Pontus Bockman, Annika Harrison (and special guest) and find out what they will be talking about at the upcoming convention. https://theesp.eu 0:16:32 Queen Elizabeth II Predictions from 1952 What were some of the amazing predictions made back in the 1950s about Queen Elizabeth II? We dive into some digital archives to find out what people were thinking and predicting 70 years ago. 0:24:52 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Richard Saunders. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:35:18 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to "Psychic Surgery". https://skepdic.com/psurgery.html James Randi video: https://youtu.be/41hJ6DY8xLI?t=984 http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected