The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #450 - 4.June.2017 Jun 04, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:08:22 Shingles Attack! Richard Saunders learns first-hand of the real life consequences of having Chicken Pox around 50 years ago. Includes an excerpt from the documentary "The Vaccination Chronicles" with G.P. Dr Richard Gordon talking about the condition.

0:19:20 Edith Cowan Uni bans crystal healing training seminars The seminars have apparently been running on the university grounds since 2011, and the next was due to take place on June 25. But in response to queries from Australian Skeptics Inc, ECU Vice-Chancellor Prof Steve Chapman says that "We have written to the organisation and requested that they remove all reference to these events on their website."

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/05/31/edith-cowan-uni-bans-crystal-healing-training-seminars

0:23:40 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Ben Lewis

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-iheart-hacking

If you were going to hack a device, a pacemaker might not be your first choice. But with over 8000 security vulnerabilities it might be your easiest choice.

0:26:10 Speical Report from Susan Gerbic Join Susan as she wanders around the Monterey Bay Aquarium and tells of the importance of supporting scientific institutions to save them from resorting to so-called Ghost Tours.

http://guerrillaskepticismonwikipedia.blogspot.com.au

0:32:20 The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Armed with a new PhD from the University of Wollongong, anti-vaccination campaigner Judy Wilyman has lashed out at a West Australian journalist who questioned the science behind a new documentary on supposed links between vaccines and autism.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/antivaxxer-putting-her-new-phd-to-good-effect/news-story/e13162f0b86d332e688ea81761413314

0:39:16 Maynard's Spooky Action.... Maynard tries is hand at CPR! Will the dummy survive? Another Sydney Skeptics in the Pub with a talk by Trish Hann on basic CPR techniques. Maynard also asks pubbers why they think more people don't apply for the Skeptics' prize money. With Jessica Singer - Lara Benham - Dr Brad McKay - Tim Mendham - Ian Bryce and Alethia Dean.

Also...

NECSS - New York https://necss.org CSI Con - Las Vagus http://csiconference.org European Skeptics Congress - Wroclaw http://euroscepticscon.org SkepticCal - California http://www.skepticalcon.com QED - Manchester qedcon.org

Skepticon Sydney http://www.skeptics.com.au

The Skeptic Zone #449 - 28.May.2017 May 28, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:07:28 The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson 'Your presence here will cause babies to die' - Dr Lance O'Sullivan stuns guests at anti-vax doco by leaping on stage to explain why their message is a killer.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-your-presence-here-cause-babies-die-dr-lance-osullivan-stuns-guests-anti-vax-doco-leaping-stage-explain-why-their-message-killer?auto=5445517891001

0:24:10 Disabled boy in danger of malnutrition removed from parents Online petition calls for malnourished son of anti-vaxxer to be returned home. Supporters of a prominent anti-vaxxer whose disabled and malnourished young son was taken by family services have launched an online petition to have him returned. Documents obtained by the ABC show the four-year-old boy, whose family lives in Newcastle, was severely underfed and was at immediate risk of serious harm.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-22/petition-calls-for-anti-vaxxers-malnourished-son-to-return-home/8547506

0:29:33 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee Interview with Casey Harrigan

https://www.australiascience.tv

Casey joins us from Australia Science TV to chat about how Brew Ha Ha is made and her role in collecting interesting science reports each week.

0:38:44 Mind Body Wallet for May 2017 We tag along with the Stranger Things Downunder group to discover and rediscover the "wonders" of Mind Body Wallet.

https://www.facebook.com/StrangerThingsDownUnder/

0:49:12 "Experimental" Webster technique approved by Chiropractic Australia Chiropractic is in the news again (or should that be, "still in the news"). ABC Radio National's The World Today program ran a piece on chiropractors who are still advertising their provision of the Webster technique to pregnant women, in defiance of warnings from the Chiropractic Board and the College of Obstetricians to stop it.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/05/23/experimental-webster-technique-approved-by-chiropractic-australia/

Also...

Skepticon Sydney http://www.skeptics.com.au

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar/

The Skeptic Zone #448 - 21.May.2017 May 21, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:24 Government funding for UFO group News reports read by Shelley Stocken, followed by an interview with leading UFO expert Dr Steve Roberts from Australian Skeptics.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-ufo-group-funding-mystery-federal-minister-calls-for-urgent-review/news-story/0a8ddefe6910b00e67b660b40dcc06a6

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/porter-launches-probe-into-taxpayer-funding-of-ufo-group/8539084

0:25:00 Complementary medicines body under fire over evidence-based and environmental issues The National Institute of Complementary Medicines is once again under fire for promoting unproven products, as well as having inconsistent views on the use of endangered species in traditional Chinese medicines. The Australian Skeptics have renewed their campaign against the NICM, accusing it of "apparent endorsement of unproven 'traditional medicine' treatments".

https://ajp.com.au/news/unproven-issues

0:31:53 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Casey Harrigan

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-earths-accidental-force-field/

Humanity has accidentally crafted ourselves a nifty little space bubble to protect us from cosmic radiation because of very low frequency radio transmissions to submarines. Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee

0:34:33 Pro Vaccine Measures in 2017 Budget The anti-vaccination lobby will not be pleased with the 2017 Federal Budget. Following on its No Jab No Pay policy, the government has decided that families who fail to immunise their children and who fail to get a health check on their 4-year-olds will lose $28 a fortnight from the Family Tax Benefit.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/05/10/pro-vaccine-measures-in-2017-budget

0:39:11 Disabled boy in danger of malnutrition removed from parents CHILD protection authorities have removed a severely disabled four-year-old from his parents because the boy was deemed at risk of serious harm due to malnutrition. Last year his parents stopped the prescribed total nutrition formula diet fed through a tube into the boy's stomach in favour of a "natural diet of pureed fruit and vegetables" and cannabis oil.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/disabled-boy-in-danger-of-malnutrition-removed-from-parents/news-story/e939768a2f0927b89fbd1abb2e8658ee

Also...

Skepticon Sydney http://www.skeptics.com.au

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar

The Skeptic Zone #447 - 14.May.2017 May 14, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:08:24 The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Rates of Whooping Cough are on the increase in the very region of NSW infested by the anti-vaccination brigade. This week Heidi looks at this increasing problem for not only children, but for the rest of society.

Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters http://nrvs.info

0:23:30 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Ben Lewis

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-csiro-email-leaks/

Emails leaked from the CSIRO show that it can sometimes be Scientist Vs Management ... but we've got a better idea about where scientific leaks should wind up!

0:25:20 EUROPEAN SKEPTICS CONGRESS Claire Klingenberg joins us to talk about the 17th European Skeptics Congress. 17TH EUROPEAN SKEPTICS CONGRESS - September 2017

http://euroscepticscon.org

http://www.sysifos.cz

0:33:25 Dr Rachie Reports... with Dr Rachael Dunlop From 2010, Dr Rachie and Dr Krissy Wilson appear on the Glenn Wheeler radio show to chat about Power Bands, UFOs and more.

Also...

Richard Saunders' radio segment on Cold Reading http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/richard-saunders-4

NECSS - New York https://necss.org CSI Con - Las Vagus http://csiconference.org European Skeptics Congress - Wroclaw http://euroscepticscon.org SkepticCal - California http://www.skepticalcon.com

Skepticon Sydney http://www.skeptics.com.au

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar/

The Skeptic Zone #446 - 7.May.2017 May 07, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders Includes interviews from Skeptics in the Pub and Susan Gerbic on the phone?

Susan Gerbic's talk http://www.baskeptics.org

0:12:00 Interview with Michael Marshall eBay removes listings for dangerous cancer 'cure' after investigation by Good Thinking eBay has removed all listings for black salve after an investigation by Good Thinking revealed that the dangerous (and ineffective) alternative cancer 'cure' was not only available for purchase from the company's website, but could be delivered via their 'Click and Collect' service to a large number of high street stores.

Good Thinking http://goodthinkingsociety.org/

QED https://qedcon.org/

0:31:20

Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Casey Harrigan

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-britain-goes-coal-free/

Britain has gone coal-free for 24 hours for the first time since the Industrial Revolution!

0:35:16 Interview with Dr Paul Doherty - And Then You're Dead What would happen if you stuck your head into a nuclear particle accelerator? What if you jumped into an interstellar black hole, or slipped out of a deep-sea submarine wearing only a pair of Speedos?

The Skeptic Zone #445 - 30.April.2017 Apr 30, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:06:16 Ben Radford A new skeptical podcast is in town! 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.wordpress.com

0:27:35 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Kelly Wong

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-new-hope-for-premmies/

Brew Ha Ha – New Hope for Premmies - An artificial womb has been successfully used to gestate premature lambs, and the next step could be to help premature human babies. But it does raise some questions.

0:29:20 James Randi in Australia - Press reviews from 1980 The archives of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper prove to be a gold mine of information about the 1980 visit of James Randi. We read how Randi and Dick Smith ran water divining tests at the time. Also coverd is the infamous occasion Randi was kicked off the Don Lane TV chat show.

Sydney Morning Herald - 17 Aug 1980 https://tinyurl.com/klckzem

Sydney Morning Herald - 11 Oct 1980 http://tinyurl.com/kmt78w9

Sydney Morning Herald - 9 Novt 1980 http://tinyurl.com/mw5ho4n

Nine News - Don Lane Show (walkoff) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQp3rI6B9Z4

0:46:30 Maynard and Tim Ferguson What have Maynard and Tim been up to since winning their podcasting award? We head to Madame Frou Frou cafe in Glebe to crash their breakfast.

http://www.maynard.com.au

Also...

Sydney Skeptic in the Pub https://www.skeptics.com.au/2014/03/02/sydney-skeptics-in-the-pub-14/

Origami Pigasus to print https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Origami_Pigasus.jpg

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar/

The Skeptic Zone #444 - 23.April.2017 Apr 23, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:06:35 Anti-Vaxxers ordered to "Please Explain" Fundraising The NSW government has served papers on the Australian [anti] Vaccination-Skeptics Network as one step in the government's inquiry into its fundraising activities.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/04/16/anti-vaxxers-ordered-to-please-explain-fundraising/

0:11:50 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Casey Harrigan

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-sperm-drug-smugglers/

Researchers have created a hilarious but incredible new way of tackling cancers. They've recruited sperm to deliver drugs direct to cancer cells. Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee.

0:14:42 Maynard's Spooky Action.... Sydney March for Science A HUGE day out for Maynard and the Skeptic Zone crew in Sydney as we cover the March for Science on the 22nd of April. Included in the report is the press release from Australian Skeptics, and interviews with... Dr Karl - Eran Segev - Jessica Singer - Tim Mendham - Prof. Mike Archer - Alethea Dean - Julie McCrossin - Lara Benham and many, many more!

0:58:40 Washington D.C. March for Science The talented Celestia Ward and the skillful Dr Angie Mattke send us a report live from the march in Washington.... followed by reflection on the event.... and pizza!

http://www.2headsstudios.com

The Skeptic Zone #443 - 16.April.2017 Apr 16, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders Incudes an update on the Belle Gibson story and details on the March for Science in Sdyney.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/07/belle-gibson-hit-with-30000-in-court-costs-over-false-cancer-claims

https://marchforscienceaustralia.org/

0:11:32 Late Night Radio Skeptics Saunders' radio segment throughout Australia with Mike Williams. This week we look at strange energies and even stranger claims.

http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/richard-saunders/

0:23:46 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Kelly Wong

https://www.australiascience.tv/?s=Brew

Black liquorice jelly beans are the worst jelly beans! A Canadian man was recently hospitalised because of his addiction to these treats Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee ? bit.ly/2o0fMN6

0:25:15 $10 Million Dollars! Vitamin company Blackmores has donated $10 million to the National Institute of Complementary Medicine at Western Sydney University. The amount – described as "untied" and "a gift" – is a 50/50 split between the Blackmore Foundation, run by Marcus and Caroline Blackmore, and the Blackmores company itself. It is said to be "the most significant investment into research and development in the history of the company".

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/04/04/blackmores-donates-10m-to-uws-alt-med-researchers/

0:32:24 The Investigators - Psychic Services From 30 years ago, "The Investigators" TV show checks out various sellers of new age flim flam. Also interviewd is Barry Williams from Australian Skeptics.

Also...

Origami Pigasus to print https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Origami_Pigasus.jpg

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar/

The Skeptic Zone #442 - 9.April.2017 Apr 09, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:40 The Diet Skeptic... with Mandy-Lee Noble Are you nuts about Coconut Oil? Is it the wonder food for the 21st century or just another fad? This week Mandy-Lee takes a close look at the claims and the science of Coconut Oil.

0:14:28 Dr Rachie Reports... with Dr Rachael Dunlop Dr Rachie on ABC radio to chat about Conspiracy Theories.

Full interview here: http://www.drrachie.com/research/2017/4/5/afternoons-on-abc-radio-canberra-conspiracy-theories

0:23:34 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Ben Lewis

https://www.australiascience.tv/?s=Brew

If you need 20,000 people in your study, what do you do? Go large! Studies are more and more turning to crowdsourcing their samples, and it's a great opportunity for us. Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order coffee. Further reading about the QIMR Australian Genetics of Depression Study via ABC: ab.co/2owkrt0 To get involved in the study, check out geneticsofdepression.org.au

0:25:03 Chiropractic Complaints Chiropractors make up 0.8 per cent of all registered health practitioners across the National Scheme, and yet complaints about possible statutory offences by chiropractors in 2015-16 constituted 44.6 per cent of all such complaints across all of the 14 registered health professions.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/03/29/chiropractic-profession-outperforms-all-others-on-number-of-complaints

0:33:11 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub The question this week is..... What are your predictions for the rest of 2017?

0:42:22

Great Prediction Project Working Bee Cookies, Pizza, Laptops and Predictions. With Lara Benham, Aletha Dean and Trish Hann.

Also...

Richard Saunders' radio segment - Fads from the 1970s http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/richard-saunders-australian-skeptics

Gravity Waves - Public · Hosted by Mordialloc Skeptics - 11th April https://www.facebook.com/events/1290129051064045

Origami Pigasus to print https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Origami_Pigasus.jpg

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar

The Skeptic Zone #441 - 2.April.2017 Apr 02, 2017

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders Included is Maynard's big moment winning the Cast Away Podcast Award 2017, and a tribute to Jo Alabaster for all her wonderful work.

Video - Cast Away with Maynard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcb95oKN7zI&feature=youtu.be&t=2652

0:09:33 Take Stock... with Shelley Stocken Pete Evans, celebrity chef, Paleo diet promoter, and 2015 winner of the Australian Skeptics' Bent Spoon award, can't understand why the Australian Medical Association thinks he's irresponsible and putting people's health at risk by exercising his "wilful arrogance" in "mischievously questioning medical advice". "Well well well," he said, following a barrage of criticism from the AMA and others. "The AMA has once again tweeted that I am putting people's lives at risk….WHY?"

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/03/29/pete-evans-who-needs-qualifications/

0:17:27 Maynard's Spooky Action.... Dr Brian Greene Maynard and crew head into the city of Sydney to hear a talk by Dr Brian Greene. Time travel, black holes, worm holes, computer simulations and more! Includes vox pops with Eran Segev, Lara Benham, Aletha Dean and from Think Inc., Desh Amila. Think Inc. gleefully welcomes the return of Dr Brian Greene in 2017 for another round of mind-bending (and mending) explanations for reality-altering discoveries.

https://www.thinkinc.org.au

0:33:43 Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order a coffee With Ben Lewis

https://www.australiascience.tv/?s=Brew

Our thoughts are with North Queensland today as it cops a belting from Cyclone Debbie. Here's how to make it through the information overload. Brew Ha Ha: Science in less time than it takes to order coffee.

https://www.australiascience.tv/vod/brew-ha-ha-surviving-a-media-storm

0:36:38 Update on the Geoclense Home Harmonizer Choice has put a so-called Geoclense Home Harmonizer through a test, and found it to be a waste of money and sure to turn off your friends. Geoclense is sold as a "Geopathic Stress and Electromagnetic Radiation Harmonizer". The product, supplied by Victorian company Orgone Effects Australia, is a solid block of green plastic resin with a plug moulded into the back. It has no components or circuitry – it is simply the block and a plug.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2017/03/27/choice-rubbishes-home-harmonizer-no-effect-and-a-waste-of-money

Geoclense Home Harmonizer review https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/gadgets/tech-gadgets/articles/geoclense-home-harmonizer-review

Orgone Geoclense Home Harmonizer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Al295UQas

Also...

Gravity Waves - Public · Hosted by Mordialloc Skeptics - 11th April https://www.facebook.com/events/1290129051064045/

Origami Pigasus to print https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Origami_Pigasus.jpg

Mayanrd's FREE 2017 Calendar http://maynard.com.au/2017-maynard-calendar

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected