The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episodes:

The Skeptic Zone #390 - 10.April.2016 Apr 10, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:05:15Maynard's Spooky Action.. The evolution of antievolutionism.Maynard Interviews Dr Nick Matzke, a postdoctoral scientist at ANU, holding a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council.Includes A Walk In The Black Forest.

0:26:07Dr Rachie Reports... With Dr Rachael DunlopIn the past week, Dr Rachie appeared on the popular Sunrise TV show to talk about the case of parents who cannot agree on vacination.

0:31:25Gold Coast mother passed on whooping cough to baby after refusing vaccine.The mother, who has gone public in a video posted on the Gold Coast Health website to warn others, said she had refused the vaccine because she was a healthy “organic” kind of woman.

The Skeptic Zone #389 - 3.April.2016 Apr 03, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:06:25Paracon Australia 2016 - Alex CayasWe chat to the director of this spooky event and find out why skeptics should attend.

0:17:10NHMRC $3.3 MILLION ON WIND FARM RESEARCH – “MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN”?From Australian Skeptics

0:22:40Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard catches up with Ian Wolf from the long running Diffusion Science Radio Show.

0:38:22Anti-vaccination lobby flags High Court challenge to ‘no jab, no pay’Anti-vaccination activists are seeking funds to pay for a shot at overturning the government’s “no jab, no pay” policy in the High Court.

The Skeptic Zone #388 - 27.Mar.2016 Mar 27, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders Includes a tribute to Phyllis Saunders and the reading of an item by Steven W Thrasher, "Don't tell cancer patients what they could be doing to cure themselves"

0:12:27The Raw Skeptic ReportThis week Heidi Robertson with news about online memes and posters.

0:23:05Friends of Science in MedicineIntegrative medicine: more than the promotion of unproven treatments?

0:29:40Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard reports from the Podcasters Sydney meetup group.

The Skeptic Zone #387 - 20.Mar.2016 Mar 20, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:10:15Report : Update on Wilyman PhDA short update on the continuing controversy

0:14:14The Skeptic Magazine from Australian Skeptics What goodies await in the new issue of this long running journal.

0:18:50Chiropractic in QuestionWe look at some of the claims and practices of Gonstead Chiropractic. Also, are Chiros as qualified as GPs?

The Skeptic Zone #386 - 13.March.2016 Mar 13, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:05:50Report : An Evening with Alan AldaAlan Alda was in Australia and gave a talk in Canberra about the importance of good science communication.

0:17:16Good Thinking Investigates: Peter PopoffGood Thinking has been investigating ‘faith healer’ Peter Popoff and his highly-lucrative current business of promising to heal sickness and cancel debts in exchange for ‘seed faith’, in other words: cash donations.

0:23:00Psychic Sunday in FairfieldRichard Saunders drops by a Psychic Fair to see if any psychics are on offer.

0:41:30Chiro Board says “toe the line” or elseThe Chiropractic Board of Australia, which regulates Australia’s 5000 chiropractors, has released a statement reinforcing that practitioners need to ensure their advertising complies with the requirements of the National Law, or they risk prosecution and disciplinary action.

The Skeptic Zone #385 - 6.March.2016 Mar 06, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:04:48The Raw Skeptic ReportThis week Heidi Robertson gives us her no nonsense report on Chicken Pox.

0:23:07Good Thinking Investigates: OsteopathyMany osteopaths claim to treat colic with cranial osteopathy – a therapy with no evidence of effectiveness.Following Good Thinking's recent investigation into similar claims made by chiropractors, they decided to find out what an osteopath would tell a distressed parent seeking advice…

0:31:42Anti Vax in the mediaChris Savage, noted anti-vaccination campaigner, has set up operations in Bali, offering intravenous magnesium injections to treat autism.

0:41:30Sydney Skeptics in the PubWhat do skeptics say to "Chemical Free" food?

The Skeptic Zone #384 - 28.Feb.2016 Feb 28, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:04:20Holes in the PlotFrom science fiction fans to water dowsers, why do people work so hard to preserve their belief systems? In this talk, Richard Saunders looks at the thinking and mental gymnastics.

0:27:10Peter Bowditch - Vaccination in OberonA letter to the editor by long time skeptic, Peter 'Ratbags' Bowditch.

0:30:40Good Thinking Investigates: ChiropracticIn 2008, the British Chiropractic Association unsuccessfully sued science writer Simon Singh for highlighting that there is no reliable evidence that chiropractic can treat colic. Six years later, we wanted to find out whether chiropractors would still treat babies suffering from colic.

The Skeptic Zone #383 - 21.Feb.2016 Feb 20, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:03:50Wi-Fried?We look at the fallout from ABC TV's science show 'Catalyst' after its broadcast of a story that many see as nothing more than scaremongering. Included is the reaction from the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) via their science channel.

0:22:40Homeopathic RadioWe join Michael Marshall from the Good Thinking Society in the UK has he appears on BBC radio to counter the strange statements from a local homeopathic G.P.

0:33:40Evidence Please... with Jo AlabasterJo reports on why some parents in the north coast region of NSW are suspicious of vaccinations. Induced are quotes from our very own Heidi Robertson.

The Skeptic Zone #382 - 14.Feb.2016 Feb 14, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:05:36Evidence Please... with Jo AlabasterJo reports on Biodynamic Gardening. WHAT? Find out with Jo.

0:17:54A Week in ScienceThe Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is a national scientific not-for-profit organisation with a mission to bring science to people and people to science.

0:21:04When a letter from Heaven ... isn't. "Letters from heaven": TV psychic Lillyanne sends almost identical readings to dozens of customers. A report with the help of Trish Hänn and James Randi.

The Skeptic Zone #381 - 7.Feb.2016 Feb 07, 2016

Show notes

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders

0:04:04Dr Phil PlaitWe catch up with Dr Plait and talk about the late astronaut Edgar Mitchelll as well as Pluto and UFOs.

0:27:06A Week in ScienceThe Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is a national scientific not-for-profit organisation with a mission to bring science to people and people to science.

0:31:27Anti-Vaxxers react to Mark ZuckerbergSome of the more extreme nastiness from the anti-science trolls.

0:34:35Sydney Skeptics in the PubAnother great evening in Sydney where we ask the big questions!

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