The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #400 - 19.June.2016 Jun 19, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Stefan Sojka

0:09:15 Good Thinking with Michael Marshall NHS Liverpool CCG ends funding for homeopathy - The Good Thinking Society welcomed today's decision by NHS Liverpool CCG to decommission homeopathy services. The decision comes after months of public consultation which showed overwhelming support from Liverpool residents for an end to funding.

http://goodthinkingsociety.org/the-good-thinking-society-welcomes-nhs-liverpool-ccgs-report-on-homeopathy-funding/

0:30:52 The Cass Files with Dr Cassandra Perryman Meet our new reporter, Dr Cassandra who is a PhD in Psychology, specialising in research methods, analysis, and ethics. She's a bicoastal girl who talks to her cats, and reads way too much Pratchett, Gaiman, and Butcher.

0:36:33 Maynard's Spooky Action... Supanova 2016 Look out! It's Maynard and Tim Ferguson for a quick hello and a chance for Richard to thank Maynard for all his hard work.

http://maynard.com.au

0:40:00 Labor scraps rebates for natural therapies Update... Taxpayers won't be subsidising them if Bill Shorten becomes prime minister.

https://ajp.com.au/news/labor-slammed-planned-natural-therapies-rebate-cut/

0:45:44 The Skeptics Guide to the Universe The SGU rouges drop by to wish the Skeptic Zone a happy 400th episode.

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/571

The Skeptic Zone #399 - 12.June.2016 Jun 12, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:09:18 Labor scraps rebates for natural therapies Taxpayers won't be subsidising them if Bill Shorten becomes prime minister. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen announced on Friday that from July 1, 2017, taxpayer-funded private health insurance rebates would no longer be available for natural therapies.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/06/10/labor-scraps-rebates-natural-therapies

0:12:10 The Good Thinking Society welcomes NHS Liverpool CCG's report on homeopathy funding Continued funding or end of funding to be decided on June 14. The Good Thinking Society welcomed a report from NHS Liverpool CCG on the subject of homeopathy, which showed overwhelming support from Liverpool residents for an end to funding.

http://goodthinkingsociety.org/the-good-thinking-society-welcomes-nhs-liverpool-ccgs-report-on-homeopathy-funding/

0:16:24 Does Naturopathy work? The truth about 'natural' medicine - Shelley Stocken Recent reports of a Sydney naturopath allegedly endangering the life of a baby; the son of a naturopath shunning radiotherapy for "alternative therapies"; and a disgraced Gold Coast doctor turning to naturopathy rather than maintaining her registration raise the question, what's the deal with naturopathy?

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/does-naturopathy-work-the-truth-about-natural-medicine/news-story/ebba033e2bad6801f736db1a9235cc9e

0:22:53 Dr Brad McKay on TV Dr Brad appears on TODAY Extra and calls out homeopathy for what it is! What do the viewers think?

https://www.9now.com.au/today/2016/clip-cip8uo3fo000o0jo4cdezivrw/b86e4809-12aa-46c6-b558-62964b24b04a

0:31:46 Failed stockbroking firm consulting a psychic Glenn Rosewall, executive chairman of the failed stockbroking firm BBY, was consulting a psychic and 'vibrational healer' for at least 12 months prior to the firm's demise, according to sources.

http://www.skeptics.com.au/2016/06/01/boss-of-failed-stockbroking-firm-sought-business-advice-from-pyschic/

0:37:43 Threats of assault against Reasonable Hank Explicit and direct threats of physical assault towards the blogger uploaded to facebook.

https://reasonablehank.com/2016/06/10/shawn-dhu-posts-video-threats-of-assault-against-reasonable-hank/

The Skeptic Zone #398 - 5.June.2016 Jun 05, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:09:18 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard at Paracon 2016 Part #2 High up in the Blue Mountains, Maynard goes looking for ghosts, aliens and the unknown... but instead finds... Sheryl Gottschall Delegates Calvin Von Crush

0:32:42 The Raw Skeptic Report Anti-vaccination activists crash immunisation seminar A public seminar on immunisation in Perth was forced to close early after anti-vaccination activists hijacked the event and called doctors liars.

0:48:15 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub This week we ask the big question, what would you think if we make contact with aliens?

The Skeptic Zone #397 - 29.May.2016 May 29, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard

0:04:05 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard at Paracon 2016 Part #1 High up in the Blue Mountains, Maynard goes looking for ghosts, aliens and the unknown... but instead finds... Richard Saunders Alex Cayas Beth Luscombe Part #2 next week

0:27:02 Media Guide to Skepticism With Sharon Hill To provide a clear, easy-to-read guide about the "Skeptical" viewpoint as subscribed to by many who might call themselves Skeptics or critical thinkers; to distinguish practical Skepticism from the popular use of the phrase "I'm skeptical," and from those who claim to be "skeptics" regarding some well-established conclusions (such as climate change).

0:40:30 Legal action against fake cancer sufferer Consumer Affairs Victoria is preparing to take legal action against fake cancer sufferer Belle Gibson following an in-depth investigation into alleged contraventions of Australian consumer law.

0:45:44 Skeptic Zone / Bunga Bunga Cross Over Maynard and Tim Ferguson confront Richard Saunders about... the Mars landings?

The Skeptic Zone #396 - 22.May.2016 May 22, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:04:28 The Australian Sex Party We chat to Dr Meredith Doig to discover more about this political party and their strong stand on sceince and reason.

0:20:45 Dr Rachie Reports... with Dr Rachael Dunlop The vitamin and supplement industry is big business in Australia. An estimated 75% of the population use some form of complementary medicines, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, aromatherapy and homeopathic products. But some vitamin supplements and protein powders at best don't work and, at worst, can cause harm.

0:31:00 The Raw Skeptic Report This week Heidi Robertson with more news of Chiropractors allegedly caught sneaking into maternity wards to treat newborns.

The Skeptic Zone #395 - 15.May.2016 May 15, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

0:03:05 Employing Naturopaths in Chemists Comments on a report by Jane Hansen about the push to sell even more quackery in your local chemist shop.

0:15:20 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard and the Doctor Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall is an Australian rock guitarist and radio presenter. Since 1996, he has been the lead guitarist in punk rock band, Frenzal Rhomb. What are his views on being skeptical?

0:25:18 Anti-vaccination PhD Details have come to light about the examiners' assessments of Judy Wilyman's anti-vaccination PhD thesis at the University of Wollongong, with "serious concerns" and "very critical" comments made about the anti-vaccination document that claims pro-vaccination conspiracies on a global scale.

The Skeptic Zone #394 - 8.May.2016 May 08, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders & Maynard

0:03:24 Choice Magazine Join Maynard, Tim Mendham and Richard Saunders as they head to the HQ of Choice Magazine and chat with Tom Godfrey.

0:22:13 Chiropractor Cracks Baby's Spine Yet more on the story that doctors condemn. A shocking video of a crying FOUR-DAY-OLD baby having her back cracked by a chiropractor has gone viral online.

0:33:00 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Conspiracy theories at Skeptics in the Pub Maynard looks behind the stinking curtain of conspiracy and chats to Dr Chris Fleming, Jessica Singer, Dr Brad McKay and Ian Bryce.

The Skeptic Zone #393 - 1.May.2016 May 01, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00

Introduction Richard Saunders

0:05:41

Chiropractor Cracks Baby's Spine More on the story that doctors condemn. A shocking video of a crying FOUR-DAY-OLD baby having her back cracked by a chiropractor has gone viral online.

0:11:48

The Rotten Thread of Conspiracy Theories This week Australia stopped to remember the Port Arthur massacre of 1996. Sadly but predictably, conspiracy theories continue to dog the friends and family of those lost.

0:25:20

Vaxxed Amid World Immunisation Week, a film by a frontman for the anti-vaccination movement is being rolled out in US cinemas. From the Brisbane Times.

The Skeptic Zone #392 - 24.April.2016 Apr 24, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders and Maynard

0:05:05Maynard's Spooky Action.. At the Lawrence Leung ShowWe attend the new live show, "Very Strange Things" and chat to Eran Segev and Lawrence about magic, mentalism and being skeptical.

0:24:43The Raw Skeptic ReportThis week Heidi Robertson is live on the spot to bring us reports from the first Skeptic in the Pub in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

0:39:23Chiropractor Cracks Baby's SpineDoctors condemn shocking video of a crying FOUR-DAY-OLD baby having her back cracked by a chiropractor - because she is suffering from colic.

The Skeptic Zone #391 - 17.April.2016 Apr 17, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:06:55Lawrence LeungWe catch up with Australia's clown prince of skeptical fun and adventure to find out about his new live show, "Very Strange Things".

0:21:10The Raw Skeptic ReportThis week Heidi Robertson gives us her no nonsense report on Diphtheria.

0:36:18Maynard's Spooky Action.. Random interviews from a Skeptics' DinnerMaynard chats with

Dr Mel Thomson from MelburneCassandra Perryman from BrisbaneWade Ness from BrisbaneTim Mendham from Sydney

Includes A Walk In The Black Forestand a ride in the Skeptic Zone car.

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