The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #519 - 30.September.2018 Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:04:28Life is Wild! With Michelle Franklin The problem of poachingEndangered species that are killed, so that their bones and eyes and various other equally useless body parts can fail to cure anything from malaria to broken arms.

0:23:30Anti-vaccination activist turns expert witness in family court immunisation brawl The country's most prominent anti-vaccination activist is claiming to be an expert witness in a family legal brawl over whether their children should be immunised. - By Kylar Loussikianhttps://www.theage.com.au/national/anti-vaccination-activist-turns-expert-witness-in-family-court-immunisation-brawl-20180922-p505dk.html

0:32:00Maynard's Spooky Action....Talk to the Animals - Part #1During science week, Maynard met up with no end of animal experts has he hosted a public talk in Parramatta. Deborah and Caroline from WIREShttps://www.wires.org.au/branch/sydneynorthwest Dr Grace Thurtell from Sydney Animal Behaviour Servicehttp://www.sabs.com.auDr. Matthew Bulbert – Lab Leader Conflict Ecologyhttps://conflictecology.com/lab-members/

0:43:40The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Byron Bay has become the anti-vaxxer's paradise - by Jane Hansen Two babies have died from whooping cough in the region as a result of the lack of herd immunity. Barely a week goes by without schools sending out the letter that yet another child has whooping cough.https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/byron-bay-has-become-the-antivaxxers-paradise/news-story/2828a5edfe78d3820b6c1f70dd55ec5dhttps://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/

Also... RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct. Convention tickets for Skepticon 2018 https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention/

The Skeptic Zone #518 - 23.September.2018 Sep 22, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:04:28 The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Heidi tells us of her efforts, via her local council, to stop the Anti-Vax crowd from using council facilities in the Byron Shire of NSW.

0:23:30 The end of the world put on hold..... again. DATELINE AUSTRALIA – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – TSUNAMI HITS SYDNEY Yesterday, September 20th 2018 at 9pm, a tsunami wreaked havoc along the NSW coast from Newcastle in the north to Nowra in the south. Huge regions of Sydney where devastated including the seaside suburbs of Cronulla, Bondi and Manly. The Tsunami surge also wiped out inner harbour suburbs such as Balmain and Kirribilli, destroyed the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as the airport and flooded the central business district. Waves reached as far inland as Parramatta.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/09/21/sad-day-for-doomsday/

0:32:00 Maynard's Spooky Action.... Interview with Nathan "Mudyi" Sentence about promoting scepticism in museums, galleries, libraries and archives. Why does putting on a museum shirt make you an expert? Why does something written entering the archive make it history? Fake news is currently a much discussed topic, but for First Nations people fake news has been around for a long time - only it's called history.

Nathan blogs at https://archivaldecolonist.com/ and tweets at @saywhatnathan

0:43:40 In the Zone From the pages of "The Skeptic" the magazine of Australian Skeptics, Richard Saunders gives an overview of 10 years of the Skeptic Zone Podcast.

Also...

RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention

The Skeptic Zone #517 - 16.September.2018 Sep 15, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction Richard Saunders

0:03:45 Interview with Dr Alice Howarth Dr Alice Howarth (PhD) is a cellular and molecular biologist with a specialism in cancer research who is currently researching nanomedicines at the University of Liverpool in the UK. Alice is a board director of the Merseyside Skeptics Society and co-host of the skeptical podcast Skeptics with a K.

https://convention.skeptics.com.au/speakers/dr-alice-howarth/

0:15:20 Dextox? My Foot! One way to scam people is to diagnose and correct a nonexistent problem. Aqua Detox practitioners do this by claiming to remove toxins and balance cellular energy. During treatment sessions, the customer's feet are bathed for 30 minutes in salt water that is subjected to a low-voltage current transmitted through an electrode assembly called an "array" (the dark cylindrical object to which the wire is attached).

https://www.devicewatch.org/reports/aquadetox.shtml

0:25:15 Maynard's Spooky Action.... Another fun night at Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. This week Maynard asks pubbers what they think of "Psychics" seeming to contact the dead at RSL Clubs.

0:38:35 Claire Klingenberg testing claims the paranormal We chat to Claire about her visit to Scotland and Germany where she helped to test paranormal claims.

https://cz.linkedin.com/in/claire-klingenberg-b3146293

Tests (In English)

https://www.dw.com/en/reporter-hocus-pocus-testing-miracles/av-45222413

Tests (In German)

https://www.dw.com/de/alles-hokuspokus-wunder-im-test/av-45222391

0:47:00 Skeptics' Blood Drive Maynard and Richard Saunders report on the Australian Skeptics Blood Drive in Sydney.

https://www.donateblood.com.au/

Also...

RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention/

The Skeptic Zone #516 - 9.September.2018 Sep 08, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:45 Interview with Celestia Ward Squaring the Strange brings evidence-based analysis and commentary to a wide variety of topics, ranging from the paranormal to the political. Investigating ghosts. Debunking conspiracies. Dodging chupacabras. If a claim seems strange, Ben and Pascual will try to square it with the facts.

https://squaringthestrange.libsyn.com/

0:15:00 A Random RANT! With Dr Paulie Interview with Hana Svobodová from Save Turtle. Save Turtle Organization is Czech NGO founded in 2017. It concentrates on the protection of sea turtles and their natural habitat. They wish for a world where people care for nature and take an interest in sea turtles.

http://saveturtle.net/

0:28:20 Open letter to the RSL : Let the Dead Rest in Peace Through its clubs, the Returned Services League commemorates our servicemen and women, including some who made the ultimate sacrifice. We are concerned that those clubs are occasionally used for a form of entertainment that is disrespectful to the departed, and to their relatives and friends.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/09/04/open-letter-to-the-rsl-let-the-dead-rest-in-peace/

0:32:36 Kevin Davies and Star Wars Can the Star Wars movies be used as a real guide to help in military strategy? Kevin chats to Mick Cook and Major General Mick Ryan in Canberra. Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict

The Dead Prussian Podcast http://www.thedeadprussian.com/

Mick Cook https://twitter.com/mick_cook

Mick Ryan https://twitter.com/warinthefuture

0:39:10 Talk like an Australian! Skepticon Speaker Interview

We chat to Lee Murray, a teaching associate and PhD candidate, Linguistics Program School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics at Monash University.

http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/llcl/

0:48:08 Ian Bryce and the Higgs Ian qualified at Monash University in science (BSc, physics) and engineering (BE Hons). His career has involved applying science to spaceflight for companies including Hawker de Havilland, Optus and Asia Pacific Space Centre. He created several space courses and lectured for eight years at four universities. Recently he has turned these skills toward communicating science and philosophy. He is also the challenge coordinator for Australian Skeptics Inc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPOc7TzXhvA

Also...

RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention

The Skeptic Zone #515 - 2.September.2018 Sep 01, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction

Richard Saunders

0:02:57

Prof. Paul Willis

Australian university students appear to give far more credit to the science of human evolution and far less to creationism or divine guidance than the previous generation.

https://theconversation.com/fewer-australian-university-students-than-ever-before-believe-in-creationism-101674

https://www.nationalsecularlobby.org/

0:21:32

Life is Wild! With Michelle Franklin

Maggie the Maine Coon moggie recently moved here from South Africa, and after clearing quarantine she moved into a suburban house in Brisbane. All seems to be going well thus far, except that one day recently Maggie got a new housemate (let's call her Sally the snake), a very large and non-venomous coastal carpet python.

0:37:44

Speed Meet the Scientists at the Powerhouse Museum #3

This week, interviews with...

Dr James Hunter - Maritime Archaeologist

http://www.anmm.gov.au/

Dr Ceridwen Boel - Archaeologist / Evolutionary Biologist

https://epicaustralia.org.au/

Dr Kelsey Zimmermann - Psychologist Dr Kathryn Baker - Behavioural Neuroscientist

http://www.richardsonlab.com.au/

Dr Titia Benders - Linguist – Children's Llearning

https://tinyurl.com/y7eu39hr

Jason Drury - Astronomer

https://maas.museum/sydney-observatory/

Also...

RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention/

The Skeptic Zone #514 - 26.August.2018 Aug 26, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction

Richard Saunders

0:05:10

Stephen Barrett, M.D from Quackwatch

Stephen Barrett, M.D., a retired psychiatrist who lives near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has achieved national renown as an author, editor, and consumer advocate. In addition to heading Quackwatch, he is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

http://www.quackwatch.org/

0:21:33

Speed Meet the Scientists at the Powerhouse Museum #2

This week, interviews with...

Dr Hayley Green - Forensic Anthropologist

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/uws_profiles/doctor_hayley_green

Dr Katherine Dafforn - Marine Ecologist / Ecotoxicologist

http://katherinedafforn.com

Alison Luk - Microbiologist

https://sydney.edu.au/science/people/alison.luk.243.php

0:37:46

Skeptics Award for Critical Thinking in Journalism

Australian Skeptics Inc is adding to its portfolio of annual awards with one for the best piece of skeptical journalism.

The award is named for the late Barry Williams, past president and executive officer of ASI who was a regular on Australian media. The Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism will recognise the best piece of journalism (in any medium) that takes a critical and skeptical approach to a topic that falls within our remit, which is the scientific investigation of pseudoscience and the paranormal.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/08/20/skeptics-award-for-critical-thinking-in-journalism-nominations-open/

0:42:12

Maynard's Spooky Action....

The launch of Science Week #3

Maynard heads to Australian Museum to attend the launch of Science Week 2018.

Includes interviews with

Joanna the Goanna and her keeper Anthony

Jess and Mel from Street Science

http://www.streetscience.com.au

Thomas Jeffries

http://jams.org.au/

Ruben Meerman

http://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/

Also...

RSVP for Australian Skeptics FREE Friday night trivia and meetup 12 Oct.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/event/national-convention/

The Skeptic Zone #513 - 19.August.2018 Aug 18, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction

Richard Saunders

0:04:30

Kate Browne

Kate is an investigative journalist and leader of the news team at CHOICE. She is also known as 'The Gulty Mum' from the ABC TV show 'The Checkout' and will be the M.C. for the upcoming Skepticon in October.

https://www.choice.com.au/authors/kate-browne

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnP8uT1FzoUVv3WOpQDFNlU_YmVszNoP

0:14:33

Maynard's Spooky Action....

The launch of Science Week #2

Maynard heads to Australian Museum to attend the launch of Science Week 2018.

Interviews with

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - All round Science Communicator

http://drkarl.com/

Catherine Polcz - Program Producer (Science) Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences - producer of the Sydney Science Festival.

https://catherinepolcz.com/

0:27:10

Interview with Alethea Dean from Australian Skeptics

Over a coffee or two, Alethea tells us of some of the people lined up for Skepticon 2018. Also news about a possible crèche and sign language interpreter at the convention.

https://convention.skeptics.com.au

0:34:00

Speed Meet the Scientists at the Powerhouse Museum #1

This week, interviews with...

Dr Camilla Hoyos - Sleep researcher

https://woolcock.org.au/sleep-research

Amelie Vanderstock - Ecologist

https://www.crosspollinating.org/

Dr Alexandra Thomson - Marine Ecologist and Biogeochemist

https://www.uts.edu.au/

Frankie Lee - Event Coordinator

Cara Van Der Wal - Marine biologist

https://sydney.edu.au/science/people/cara.vanderwal.168.php

0:49:22

Mrs Mac and Morse Code

Our Canberra reporter Kevin Davies chats to author David Dufty about Florence Violet McKenzie OBE.

Affectionately known as "Mrs Mac", she was Australia's first female electrical engineer, founder of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps and lifelong promoter for technical education for women.

The Secret Code-Breakers of Central Bureau: how Australia's signals-intelligence network helped win the Pacific War

https://tinyurl.com/ycemoee7

The Skeptic Zone #512 - 12.August.2018 Aug 11, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:04:04 Dr Vyom Sharma

Magic - Science - Medicine

Meet Vyom at Skepticon 2018 in October.

https://www.vyomsharma.com.au/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS0yG1kzAeE

0:16:45 Naturopath banned for life following baby's near-death

Marilyn Bodnar, an "extreme diet" naturopath who was acquitted of a manslaughter charge in 1987 when one of her clients starved themselves to death on a water-only diet, has now been banned for life from "providing any health service in any capacity, either paid or voluntary".

https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/08/03/naturopath-banned-for-life-following-babys-near-death/

0:21:30 Maynard's Spooky Action....

The launch of Science Week #1

Maynard and Richard Saunders head to Australian Museum to attend the launch of Science Week 2018.

Interviews with

Alanta Colley - Comedian, Science Communicator and Storyteller

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5547887/when-science-meets-comedy/

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - All round Science Communicator

http://drkarl.com/

0:37:50 Bent Spoon – your chance to nominate an unworthy winner

The Australian Skeptics Bent Spoon award is one of the least sought-after credits in the Skeptical world … or any world, for that matter. It has been awarded every year since 1982 and it recognises the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudoscientific piffle.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/07/31/2018-bent-spoon-your-chance-to-nominate-an-unworthy-winner/

0:40:30 The Mystery Investigators live at Science Week Spoon Bending fun for schools.

http://www.mysteryinvestigators.com/

Also...

Australian Skeptics National Convention 2018 https://convention.skeptics.com.au

The Skeptic Zone - Special Report - 10.August.2018 Aug 10, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Heidi Robertson

0:01:40 The Raw Skeptic Report.... with Heidi Robertson A special report and review of the new documentary "Vitamainia", screened in the Anti-Vax heartland of Mullumbimby, NSW. Also local council under fire for a screening of "Sacrificial Virgins".

https://www.vitamaniathemovie.com/

https://nrvs.info/

The Skeptic Zone #511 - 8.August.2018 Aug 04, 2018

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction

Richard Saunders

0:03:15

Claire Klingenberg heading to Scotland

We chat to Claire about her work as the President of the European Council of Skeptical Organizations and learn of her upcoming trip to speak in Scotland.

https://cz.linkedin.com/in/claire-klingenberg-b3146293

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-skeptics-presents-paranormal-beliefs-in-everyday-lives-tickets-48401971600

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/claire-klingenberg-suspending-disbelief-a-skeptic-visits-a-religious-group-tickets-47916590813

0:12:50

Anti-Vax film minus producer

The creator of an anti-vaccination documentary abandons a planned tour of Australia, due to begin on Thursday, as she has not been granted a visa.

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2017/09/12/another-antivaccine-film-disguised-as-a-documentary-this-time-lying-about-hpv-vaccines/

http://youtu.be/mTprFOmIjIg

0:19:42

Maynard's Spooky Action....

Another fun night at Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. We hear about some new woo and old woo doing the rounds.

Also news about the upcoming Australian Skeptics Blood Drive in Sydney.

With Tim Medham, Trish Hann, Jessica Hazard-White, Jessica Singer, Ian Bryce, Eran Segev, Nick Prowse and more.

BACK 2 THE 80's - Maynard in Perth WA. 11-12 August 2018

https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v25b015ca4d5b42/back-2-the-80s-/evs5b015ca4dcb2d/

Gilford house of miracles (see page 38)

https://tinyurl.com/y7zrcx38

0:44:33

The New Zealand Skeptics Conference 2018

The Chair of the NZ Skeptics Craig Shearer with news of the New Zealand Skeptics Conference 2018

http://conference.skeptics.nz/

Also...

Richard Sauders on ABC Radio (listen from 2:05:00)

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/evenings/evenings/10036782

Australian Skeptics National Convention 2018

https://convention.skeptics.com.au

Sydney Science Week - Speed Meet Scientists

https://maas.museum/event/maasive-lates-science/

Mordi Skeptics in the Pub

https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/

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