The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #420 - 6.November.2016 Nov 06, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:06:05 Grain of Salt.... with Eran Segev More in the series of interviews from QED. This week Eran chats to Dr Karl Kruszelnicki the Australian science communicator and populariser, who is known as an author and science commentator on Australian radio and television.

http://drkarl.com/

0:15:26 Maynard's Spooky Action... Blast from the past! In 1991 Dr Karl Kruszelnicki appeared with Maynard on radio to take listeners' questions.

0:20:40 The Raw Skeptic Report.... with Heidi Robertson The WHO publishes a list of websites that are found to "facilitate the access of public health authorities, health professionals and the public to reliable information". The Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters group is now one of those websites.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/victory-for-northern-rivers-pro-vaccine-group/3106653/

0:27:39

Orgone Energy Orgone is a pseudoscientific and spiritual concept described as an esoteric energy or hypothetical universal life force, originally proposed in the 1930s by Wilhelm Reich. This "energy" was applied by famed race car driver Peter Brock in the 1980s.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/?s=Orgone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro_F6tosOjk&feature=youtu.be&t=482

0:41:02 Anti-vaxxers target wrong man PETER Tiernan is being bombarded by threatening calls and messages from anti-vaccination activists and fears "one absolute nutter" could attack him or his family. All because some activists think he is Reasonable Hank, a pro-vaccination blogger who has been enraging the anti-vaxxers for years. The problem is Mr Tiernan, a 51-year-old physiotherapist who works in the Byron Shire, is not Reasonable Hank and never has been. By Janes Hansen

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/antivaxxer-activists-wrongly-identify-byron-bay-physiotherapist-as-provaccination-blogger/news-story/9b8bc34dda0476d36ea9484163eebf8f

The Skeptic Zone #419 - 30.October.2016 Oct 29, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:30 The Raw Skeptic Report.... with Heidi Robertson

Every year thousands of Australians are unnecessarily suffering and dying prematurely because of alternative cancer treatments according to a special investigation by Dr Paul Willis, director of The Royal Institution of Australia. Heidi interviews Dr Willis followed by the audio from the special report.

http://www.australiascience.tv/videos/no-alternative-cancer

0:40:06 Grain of Salt.... with Eran Segev More in the series of interviews from QED. This week Eran chats to Cara Santa Maria from the SGU Podcast and Talk Nerdy.

http://carasantamaria.com/podcast/

Also...

Mars: The Live Experience

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MARSLIVE16

Think Inc 2017 Pass

https://www.thinkinc.org.au

Vengaboys Tour with Maynard

http://tinyurl.com/jfmlabp

Sydney Skeptics in the Pub

https://www.meetup.com/AustSkeptics

NZ Skeptics Conference

http://conference.skeptics.nz

The Skeptic Zone #418 - 23.October.2016 Oct 23, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:09:00 Grain of Salt.... with Eran Segev In this, the first of a series of interviews from QED, Eran chats to the crew from the ESP podcast.

András G Pintér, Hungary Jelena Levin, Latvia Pontus Böckman, Sweden

http://theesp.eu

https://qedcon.org

0:22:56 Natural cancer treatment: Patient turned down chemotherapy but 'nearly killed himself' GREG Melhuish turned to natural therapies to cure his cancer and it nearly killed him. That's the message he now wants to share in the hope it will save lives. By Jane Hansen.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/greg-melhish-turned-down-chemotherapy-to-try-natural-remedy-but-nearly-killed-himself/news-story/cb06bc7d6370fc7068683c132b30777b

0:29:18 The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Australia is full of animals that bite, sting, bite some more, scratch and even worse! But what's the truth of the matter? Will you die just walking down the street? Find out with Heidi!

0:40:00 NZ Skeptics Conference 2016 Queenstown, 2nd-4th December Amazing Speakers! NZ Skeptics have lined up some amazing speakers from the USA and Australia, as well as home grown talent from around New Zealand. Find out more with Brad MacClure.

http://conference.skeptics.nz

Also...

Mars: The Live Experience

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MARSLIVE16

Folding Australia 2016 Origami Convention

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/folding-australia-2016-origami-convention-tickets-26347133987

Vengaboys Tour with Maynard

http://tinyurl.com/jfmlabp

The Skeptic Zone #417 - 16.October.2016 Oct 15, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:04:33 More Good Thinking... with Michael Marshall The Good Thinking Society welcomed the decision by NHS Wirral CCG to decommission homeopathy and Iscador services. The decision comes after months of consultation which showed overwhelming support from the public for an end to funding.

At QED 2016, in the Ockham Awards event/campaign shortlist, readers of the British version of 'The Skeptic Magazine' voted for The Good Thinking Society for their homeopathy in the NHS campaign.

http://goodthinkingsociety.org/

https://qedcon.org/

0:32:50 Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia issues position statement on anti-vaccine nurses and midwives On October 11 2016, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia responded to a number of complaints regarding anti-vaccination material and advice being disseminated by registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and registered midwives, by publishing a new position statement on anti-vaccination misinformation:

https://reasonablehank.com/2016/10/13/nursing-and-midwifery-board-of-australia-issues-position-statement-on-anti-vaccine-nurses-and-midwives/

0:37:47 Maynard's Spooky Action... Interviews at "An Evening with Goldacre" in Sydney Robyn Willims from ABC radio's Science Show Signe Dean from SBS radio and Australian Skeptics

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/robyn-williams/2913842

http://nevertoocurious.com/

Also...

NZ Skeptics Conference 2016 - Queenstown, 2nd-4th December

http://conference.skeptics.nz

The Skeptic Zone #416 - 9.October.2016 Oct 08, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Maynard - Richard Saunders - Stefan Sojka

0:06:27 A Grain of Salt - With Eran Segev This week Eran looks at the increasingly bizarre chain of emails being send from anti-vaccine activist Judy Wilyman PhD.

0:28:37 The Cass Files - With Dr Cassandra Perryman What is Hypnosis? Does it work as claimed? You uses it? Find out with Dr Cassandra.

0:34:25 Prize Time The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly. Thanks to Allen & Unwin

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/popular-science/The-Memory-Code-Lynne-Kelly-9781760291327

0:37:00 Signe Dean What has the online reaction to the question of fluoride in the drinking water been in Australia? Signe reviews some of the more interesting comments.

http://nevertoocurious.com

0:45:40 Short break with Maynard in the audiance

0:46:50 Maynard's Spooky Action... An interview with Dr Brad McKay. Anti-vax parents and a trip the Burning Man festival in the USA

1:00:44 Prize Time Suzi Jamil and Desh Amila from Think Inc. Tickets to see Dr Lisa Randall

https://www.thinkinc.org.au/events/lisa/

1:04:48 Take Stock - With Shelley Stocken Top 5 lesser known strange or dangerous complementary and alternative therapies.

0:14:50 Prize Time Pinball Science by Ian Graham. Thanks to Allen & Unwin

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/popular-science/Pinball-Science-Ian-Graham-9781760294243

1:16:20 Dr Stefan Sojka The new new-age internet filter.

The Skeptic Zone #415 - 2.October.2016 Oct 02, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders Also an update to the Vaxxed, Castlemaine Local and International Film Festival story.

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/tag/william-thompson

0:10:14 Dr Lynne Kelly The traditional Aboriginal memory technique that unlocks the secrets of Stonehenge, Easter Island and ancient monuments the world over. Lynne Kelly has discovered that a powerful memory technique used by the ancients can unlock the secrets of the Neolithic stone circles of Britain and Europe, the ancient Pueblo buildings in New Mexico and other prehistoric stone monuments across the world.

http://www.lynnekelly.com.au/the-memory-code

0:16:12 Maynard's Spooky Action... OZ Paranormal and Spiritual Expo A skeptical road trip! Join Maynard, Jessica, Lara and Richard as they head off to the OZ Paranormal and Spiritual Expo. Interviews with... Peter Bowditch Peet Banks Alex Cayas PSY - Paranormal Ghost Hunters Larraine Cilia - pres. UFO and Paranormal Research Society Kerrie McGilvray - Crystal Bed Healings

http://www.australianparanormalandspiritualexpo.com.au

Also...

Skeptic Zone LIVE - 6th October in Sydney https://www.meetup.com/AustSkeptics/events/232095906/

NZ Skeptics Conference 2016 - Queenstown, 2nd-4th December http://conference.skeptics.n

The Skeptic Zone #414 - 22.September.2016 Sep 22, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:07:00 Ben Goldacre Homeopathic hucksters. Nonsensical naturopaths. Anti-intellectual anti-vaxxers. Slippery statisticians. The 'journalists' daring to declare meats as critically carcinogenic. And let's not forget – let's not forget – fraudulent pharmaceutical firms. - We chat to Ben on the eve of his Australian and New Zealand tour.

https://www.thinkinc.org.au/events/ben-goldacre

0:26:35 Take Stock with Shelley Stocken Doctor Google is at it again with millions of people seeking its advice.

0:35:11 Victorian film festival embroiled in anti-vax, social media trainwreck The Castlemaine Local and International Film Festival takes aim and shoots itself in the foot while putting its foot in its mouth. We find out why this festival is planning to screen an anti-vaccination film.

https://reasonablehank.com/2016/09/20/victorian-film-festival-embroiled-in-anti-vaccination-social-media-trainwreck/

Also...

Skeptic Zone LIVE - 6th October in Sydney

https://www.meetup.com/AustSkeptics/events/232095906/

Skeptics Dinner Meeting with Lyne Kelly - 24th September

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2016/08/11/sydney-dinner-sept-24-wisdom-of-the-ancients

NZ Skeptics Conference 2016 - Queenstown, 2nd-4th December

http://conference.skeptics.nz

The Skeptic Zone #413 - 18.September.2016 Sep 18, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:35 Sharon Hill We talk to Sharon Hill about her web site 'Doubtful News' and look into the merits (or not) of Ghost Tours. Also... Bad Clowns?

http://doubtfulnews.com

0:26:42 Anti-vaccine nurses and midwives A visit to the 'reasonable hank' blog and the reading of a list of anti-vax memes posted by the very people who should know better.

https://reasonablehank.com/?s=Anti-vaccine+nurses

0:36:06 Bad Clowns and Loch Ness with Ben Radford Ben tells us more about the strange reports of' Bad Clowns running round and making trouble. Also news of the lastest photo from Loch Ness.

http://benjaminradford.com

Also...

An evening with Dr Ben Goldacre – Think Inc. https://www.thinkinc.org.au/events/ben-goldacre

Skeptic Zone LIVE - 6th October in Sydney https://www.meetup.com/AustSkeptics/events/232095906/

Skeptics Dinner Meeting with Lyne Kelly - 24th September http://www.skeptics.com.au/2016/08/11/sydney-dinner-sept-24-wisdom-of-the-ancients

NZ Skeptics Conference 2016 - Queenstown, 2nd-4th December http://conference.skeptics.nz

The Skeptic Zone #412 - 11.September.2016 Sep 11, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:07:30 Bad Science Watch in Canada We chat to Michael Kruse about so called Naturopathic Doctors in Canada thumbing their nose at the law.

http://www.badsciencewatch.ca

0:29:30 Mind Body Wallet over the years Step back in time to 2002 and 1986 as we look at the Festival of Mind Body Spirit. The New Age never looked so old.

0:43:05 The Raw Skeptic Report This week Heidi Robertson has another report from the recent Brisbane Skepticamp. She chats to Mandy Noble about woo in the health industry.

http://www.brisbaneskeptics.org

Also...

An evening with Dr Ben Goldacre – Think Inc.

https://www.thinkinc.org.au/events/ben-goldacre

Folding Australia 2016 Origami Convention

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/folding-australia-2016-origami-convention-tickets-26347133987

Skeptics Dinner Meeting with Lyne Kelly - 24th September

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2016/08/11/sydney-dinner-sept-24-wisdom-of-the-ancients

The Skeptic Zone #411 - 4.September.2016 Sep 04, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:57 Dr Angie at Dragon Con We catch up with Dr Angie Mattke and ask her about the talk on alternative medicine she gave at the Skeptrack at Dragon Con in Atlanta.

http://skeptics.dragoncon.org

0:19:12 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard and Richard head for the Australian Museum and chat to Rachel Robertson about teaching science via robots.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/science-festival

0:25:32 The Raw Skeptic Report This week Heidi Robertson has another report from the recent Brisbane Skepticamp. She chats to Michelle Franklin from Darwin Skeptics about how her work looking at bio control.

http://www.brisbaneskeptics.org

0:36:08 Maynard and the question of quantum At Sydney Skeptics in the pub, Maynard finds out wha the average pubber knows about the quantum world. Also a chat with Ian Bryce who does actually know!

Also...

The Blue Castle Podcast

http://thebluecastle.libsyn.com

Folding Australia 2016 Origami Convention

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/folding-australia-2016-origami-convention-tickets-26347133987

Skeptics Dinner Meeting with Lyne Kelly - 24th September

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2016/08/11/sydney-dinner-sept-24-wisdom-of-the-ancients