The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #710 - 15.May.2022 May 14, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:12 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill and Susan Gerbic visit "Explore & More", The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum in Buffalo NY and talk to Rebecca Glon, IT & Exhibits Manager. http://www.exploreandmore.org 0:17:46 TikTok Paranormal We scroll through the endless, live TikTok videos featuring people who think they have psychic insights. Others include dowsing rods, pendulums, bones, giant matches and more. 0:37:56 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Unsolved Mysteries". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

1909, 17 January - The Sunday Times
1924, 1 March - The Herald - Victoria
1939, 13 March - The Northern Star

The Skeptic Zone #709 - 8.May.2022 May 07, 2022

Show notes

The Skeptic Zone #709 - 8 May 2022

Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:50 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill This week Adrienne finds herself riding shotgun alongside Susan Gerbic as the tour they east coast of the USA. Also we learn about the new award given to Susan for her skeptical activism. Grief Vampires, Wikipedia and More - Presented by Susan Gerbic https://youtu.be/b6_dVTsBcxA 0:13:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:22:40 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Father Figure. Part 2. By Dr Tony Wheeler A look at the truth and the myth behind Father Christmas or Santa Claus. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 15 No. 4 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:32:50 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to "UFOs". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

1991, 22 October - Tharunka - UNSW Student Newspaper
1968, 10 June - The Canberra Times
1968, 6 June - The Canberra Times
1971, 12 July - The Canberra Times
1966, 10 October - The Canberra Times
1988, 28 January - The Canberra Times

The Skeptic Zone #708 - 1.May.2022 Apr 30, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:37 Maynard's Spooky Action Maynard interviews author George Ivanoff about his new book, "The Supernatural Survival Guide". How should young people approach investigating the strange, the mysterious and the unknown? What can we learn from George's book about the claims of the paranormal in Australia? THE SUPERNATURAL SURVIVAL GUIDE will tackle these and other questions about all things paranormal. There is so much WEIRD stuff out there . . . but the TRUTH is IN HERE! https://georgeivanoff.com.au/books/survival-guide 0:23:28 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Father Figure. Part 1. By Dr Tony Wheeler A look at the truth and the myth behind Father Christmas or Santa Claus. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 15 No. 4 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:49 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to skeptical stories from the United States. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #707 - 24.April.2022 Apr 23, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:22 Homeopathy on Trial On January 13, the Center for Inquiry reached a major milestone in its groundbreaking consumer-protection lawsuits against retail giants Walmart and CVS. CFI is suing these mammoth corporations over their deceptive sale and marketing of homeopathic products under the Consumer Protection laws of the District of Columbia, and on January 13, CFI Legal Director Nick Little presented oral argument for our cases before the DC Court of Appeals. https://centerforinquiry.org/news/cfi-meets-walmart-and-cvs-in-dc-court-over-homeopathy-lawsuit/ https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/14130827/CFI-v-Boiron-Complaint-FINAL.pdf 0:18:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:22 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Out of Body, Out of Mind. Part 2. By Prof. Marcello Costa Pinocchio, self-mutilation, having someone else's limbs and feeling presences - our sense of body is strange and wonderful thing. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 30 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:37:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Naturopaths".

1995, 20 June - The Times - Victor Harbour, South Australia
1946, 14 May - The Telegraph - Brisbane
1946, 15 May - The Telegraph - Brisbane
1951, 6 Apil - The Courier-Mail - Brisbane
1953, 6 September - Truth - Brisbane

https://quackwatch.org/naturopathy/ http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Susan Gerbic, 11am AEST Sunday 24th. - https://bond.zoom.us/j/96246943879

The Skeptic Zone #706 - 17.April.2022 Apr 16, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:35 Science Friction with Brain Dunning You know those TV documentaries you see, and the science experts they feature? Did you know that producers often edit them out of context, and twist their words, to make it seem like they promoted some pop sensationalism instead of the real facts? Science Friction exposes this practice and gives the scientists a chance to clear the record. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09RQFWJ4L https://tubitv.com/movies/661210/science-friction 0:18:54 Maynard' Spooky Action A visit to Manard's International Studios (annex) in Sydney. http://maynard.com.au 0:27:47 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Out of Body, Out of Mind. Part 1. By Prof. Marcello Costa Pinocchio, self-mutilation, having someone else's limbs and feeling presences - our sense of body is strange and wonderful thing. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 30 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:40:24 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Canada. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #705 - 10.April.2022 Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 Bob Swanson's Critical Thinking Videos Bob Swanson, Instructor / Lab Coordinator from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Mississippi State University, tells us of his videos about critical thinking, inspired by the claims of Power Balance wrist bands. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4znmeoL66Lkpaae5DYMHQWqQQl4jkG23 0:23:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:30:40 An Eye to the Sky By Tim Harding A look at the history of Astrology and Astronomy. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 33 No. 4 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:47:53 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Astrology". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

1950, 27 March - South Coast Times
1941, 17 May - Smith's Weekly

Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/AustSkeptics

The Skeptic Zone #704 - 3.April.2022 Apr 02, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:38 AVN Lose Again We talk to noted skeptical activist Ken McLeod about the Federal Court of Australia and its decision made against the Australian Vaccination Risks Network. Why is it that this anti-vax organisation keeps losing court battles? PDF of the court's ruling https://tinyurl.com/2hfubwkj 0:16:38 Nurses and Midwives Protest Once again nurses and midwives in New South Wales feel compelled to take to the streets to voice their concerns. Richard Saunders catches up with some nurses after a recent protest in Sydney to hear about their concerns regarding staff to patient ratios. 0:21:25 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham The Call of the Quack. Part 2. By Tim Harding A look at the history of the word 'Quack'. This week, ancient Rome. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 33 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:32:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to James Randi, Skeptical Convention, Bent Spoon.

1994, 24 June - Australian Jewish News
1993, 23 June - Canberra Times
1984, 10 April - The Bulletin

NOVA: Secrets of the Psychics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41hJ6DY8xLI http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #703 - 27.March.2022 Mar 26, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 Meta Sued by Australian Watchdog Over Scam Ads Facebook owner Meta is being sued by Australia's competition watchdog for publishing scam ads for crypto on its platform. We look at even more questionable ads appearing on Facebook every day for such things as medical products and psychics. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-18/meta-sued-by-australian-watchdog-over-scam-crypto-advertisements 0:14:24 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:23:16 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham The Call of the Quack. Part 1. By Tim Harding A look at the history of the word 'Quack'. This week its place in ancient Greece. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 33 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:38:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the parnormal and more.

1950, 18 November - Sydney Morning Herald
1975, 26 September - Canberra Times

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Skeptic Zone #702 - 20.March.2022 Mar 19, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:10 Arjun Nidigallu and Vulture Watch Vulture Watch is about creating awareness of exploitation, irrationality, discrimination or misinformation. It delves into the motives of such vulturous activities and looks at how it can hold such behaviour accountable. https://youtube.com/c/VultureWatch https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/healy-world-australia-pty-ltd-fined-26640-alleged-unlawful-advertising-tens-device 0:23:52 Another Milestone for GSoW Susan Gerbic joins us to annouce a huge milestone for her team. If that is not enough, she also has information about her upcoming talk for the Gold Coast Skeptics in April. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/301133136317 0:29:38 From Russia with Sorrow We read a letter sent to Brian Dunning from the Skeptoid podcast from a listener in Russia. An interesting if melancholy look into the state of affairs in that country at the moment. 0:34:50 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers... we find "The Extraordinary". The Extraordinary was an Australian television documentary series that featured stories of the paranormal and supernatural. It ran on the Seven Network from 1993 to 1996. The following year it moved to the Nine Network.

1993, 10 May - Canberra Times
1997, 29 June - Brownsville Herald (USA)

The Extraordinary on Youtube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0qq-KpQB_dAj9fwZuWasDIEGIAo3iJ5K http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Richard Saunders at Vic Skeptics, 21 March 2022 https://vicskeptics.wordpress.com/events https://pintofscience.com.au/speaker-eoi

The Skeptic Zone #701 - 13.March.2022 Mar 12, 2022

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:32 Former TV Celebrity Chef Blunders Again Trolls are hijacking the death of 52-year-old Australian cricket legend Shane Warne to spread wild conspiracy theories. Report of the strange actions by Bent Spoon winner, Pete Evans. https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/antivaxxer-trolls-hijack-shane-warnes-death/news-story/c1b84e32411c5ed37f34c2f12a72274f 0:12:22 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:40 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham The Dunning-Kruger effect is the cognitive bias whereby people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 38 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:33:52 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "UFOs Paranormal Psychics". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

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