Truth Wanted

Latest Episodes:

Truth Wanted 05.01 01-07-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Ross Blotcher Jan 08, 2022

Show notes

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week, Fox Mulder returns to aid Objectively Dan on his quest for truth. Hmm? Correction, It’s Ross Blocher of the Oh No Ross and Carrie podcast!
First up is a returning caller, it’s Tony in Mexico, asking about the dangers of Scientology. Ross compares their hard sales tactics to hi-pressure timeshare tactics, and gives us a glimpse into how Scientology sells themselves to new candidates. We get a brief history of the faith, before Dan flat-out recommends against attending a “new members” seminar. Careful Tony!
Next is Bob from Colorado, he claims that psychics at two different times and fairs gave him a similar past life regression story. Bob was a Vietnam-era sniper, and tells us that he has an interest in marksmanship and ballistics. Fascinating coincidence? Ross suggests cold reading techniques may be at play here. Bob’s psychics also told him he would marry a General’s daughter, and he’s married two. Ross thinks Bob had more to do with his marital outcome than the psychic, and all three agree that if you discount the 95% of predictions that weren’t accurate, the remainder isn’t that impressive. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day!
Our Patron of the week is calling! Sheila is an atheist, but still has some superstitious idiosyncrasies, and wants to know why she might be holding on to these. Dan points out that humans are creatures of habit, and habits can be tough to shake. Ross offers that pattern seeking is a human trait, a trait that science and superstition share. Keep that inner dialogue going, and keep asking questions Sheila. You’re never too old to grow as a person, all the best, thank you for supporting the show!
Sprout from Canada is looking for tips on how to investigate like Ross and Carrie do on their podcast. Ross recommends taking notes, and approaching any topic with an open mind. We’re not debunkers, we’re truth seekers! Both hosts recommend being kind, funny, and original. Can’t wait to see what you come up with Sprout!
Jenn in Australia believes that in a past life she was a tree, killed by a strangler fig, and offers her fear of this particular plant as evidence. Jenn does seem to be aware of how preposterous this sounds, but asks our hosts to examine their phobia. Ross points out that consciousness can’t exist without a brain, and since plants don’t have brains, we’d need a mechanism for how a tree’s experience transfers to a human. We think there’s another explanation for this phobia Jenn, and perhaps you do too. (Show Notes Writer: This plant is terrifying, no judgement here Jenn).
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Truth Wanted 04.51 12-24-2021 - Holiday Trivia Challenge Round 2 Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Quarter Finals Part 1 - Year End Special.
We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends.
This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows:
The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and was aired on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central. You can watch the episode now by going to tiny.cc/acahtc1
The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth
The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp
The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp
Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-991-99242 or http://tiny.cc/calltw
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Truth Wanted 04.50 12-17-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and ExXtian Erin Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

Truth Wanted Episode 4.50 with ObjectivelyDan and ExXtian Erin
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Truth Wanted 04.49 12-10-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Richard Gilliver Dec 11, 2021

Show notes

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week’s guest comes from across the pond, Mr. Richard Gilliver!
First up is Kyle in Indiana, and we’re gonna talk about the multiverse, and how infinite universes may include ghosts, gods and the supernatural. Richard doesn’t think many universes must include magic, but we can’t rule it out. It’s tough to judge the properties of universes we don’t belong to. Dan thinks physical constants could be different, but reserves his opinion of the supernatural until we have evidence of it here, in our little backwater.
Second we have Peter in Canada, who’s wants to talk about abortion and has decided life begins at six weeks. Peter also states that a heartbeat = human life, two conflicting assertions. Our hosts point out that consent to sex is different from consent to pregnancy, and Peter comes out of left field with an assertion that the pro-choice movement is out to eliminate black people, and that Dan has been brainwashed. We’re gonna move on before this gets cray cray.
Starman in Arizona has a hot take on cryonics. He believes that one’s opinion on a singular issue forms a worldview, and wants our hosts to offer an opinion on how mortality affects morality. Richard asks why this single contentious issue necessarily informs our views. If we lack information on the end result of a burgeoning technology, how can we make a judgement as to whether it’s a good idea?
Mark wants to ask, if people knew what was coming, would they opt out earlier? How does one react when faced with their own mortality? Richard offers his perspective on end of life care, and his experience with his father. Dan finds purpose through activism.
Strap in for Biblical in Australia, and he’s serving up a word salad that’s heavy on Biblical croutons. Richard chews on these cronchy bits by asking for a demonstration that a god even exists, and Dan’s gonna go ahead and drop the call, after offering a Biblical example of how Yahweh got beat by some chariots.
Setuf is once again going to offer a weak argument from the pro-life camp. We’re not going to waste a lot of time on this, get a uterus and give us a call Setuf.
That’s our show tonight folks! Stay frosty out there, have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannuhak, a Craaazy Kwanzaa, and ya know… just enjoy your time with family, no matter what you believe.
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Truth Wanted 04.48 12-03-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Anthony Magnabosco Dec 04, 2021

Show notes

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. We have a special treat this week as Objectively Dan is joined by Anthony Magnabosco!
We’ll kick it off with Aelora in Oregon, who is curious what Street Epistemology has to offer for someone with a mental health issue. Anthony thinks that by helping others, you help yourself, and practicing SE with others will ingrain the process into one’s own introspection. Both hosts agree that the process is not a therapy method and urge caution, but encourage the pursuit of truth as a path to wellbeing. We wish you a healthy recovery Aelora!
Second we have Barrie in New Zealand, who wants to talk about how applicable the process of SE can be to other facets of life, in schools, with street preachers, and especially with followers of a particular zealous church in NZ. Anthony recommends steering away from contentious issues in the interest of building trust. Be a mirror, ask questions, and let your interlocutor reveal why they believe what they believe in a long form conversation.
Jake in Texas wants to talk to his father about political views. Anthony wants Jake to take a broader approach, asking questions like “When was the last time you changed your mind” instead of getting into social issues. Dan points out that the goal of SE should never be to change someone’s mind in a single conversation. We’re planting seeds here Jake, especially with family.
Next we have Philipp in Germany who wants to know if there’s a point where a person becomes unreachable. Dan thinks assuming a person can’t change their mind isn’t constructive, and reminds us that people can surprise you. Anthony asks Philipp to try roleplay, ask the people in your life that think others can’t be reached to steelman those people. Get some practice in!
Queer Atheist asks if “new atheism” and big names like Dawkins and Harris are harming the movement. Dan refutes the idea that a handful of people can represent such a wide demographic, and reminds us that getting atheists to agree on anything is like herding cats. Atheism is just a response to one claim, people can be wrong on plenty of other things. Anthony agrees that big names have played a role in bringing atheists to the forefront and removing stigma, but outdated views can’t speak for the ever-evolving zeitgeist of the 21st century.
That’s a wrap folks, stay safe, ask questions, and think for yourselves! See you next week!
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Truth Wanted 04.47 with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin and PCK Thankful to our Haters special Nov 28, 2021

Show notes

Truth Wanted 03. for August 12, 2020 with ObjectivelyDan.
Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-686-0279 or use our green call the show button to save on long-distance charges: http://www.atheist-experience.com/
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Truth Wanted 04.46 11-19-2021 with Puck and Krafty Keelah Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth Wanted! Tonight Puck’s special guest is Krafty Keelah.
First up is Walt, who has a Theory of Everything predicated on assumptions and conjecture. While this is a great conversation to have over a beer, Walt’s hourglass hypothesis is just that, a hypothesis. Speculation and curiosity are the parents of discovery, do some tests and get back to us!
Second we have Jason from Indiana, who’s had some tough conversations with fellow mental health professionals promoting pseudoscience and homeopathy. Krafty offers some great tips on how to maintain professional integrity in a field that doesn’t always have a yes or no answer.
Next up is Jon in Canada, who believes that vaccine mandates violate bodily autonomy, and wants to draw a comparison with abortion. Krafty wisely points out that a person’s choice to have an abortion does not put public health at risk, there’s a huge difference there. Jon equates regulation to communism, and our hosts take a few minutes slapping that argument around.
Spicoli in Florida offers an interesting perspective on how toxic nationalism contributes to vaccine hesitancy and other social issues. Krafty has some great commentary on how any myopic worldview is dangerous, and offers a uniquely Irish perspective on American exceptionalism.
Muhammed wants to ask our hosts about morality and legality, is it wrong to steal to feed your family? What values trump others? How do we decide what’s most important? This is a great conversation about how we as individuals and societies decide what matters to us.
Tony in Mexico thinks that pharmaceutical companies may be disguising side effects in the interests of profit. While our hosts agree that profit is huge to these corporations, they also point out that these companies are competing against each other to have the “best” vaccine, and if money is their big motivator, it’s in their best interest (and ours) to minimize harms from their product.
Finally, Steven is going to talk about Christian mental health services. Krafty, coming from a very religious nation, talks about how excluding any method in favour of one that espouses your favourite imaginary friend is unethical.
That’s our show tonight folks! Keep seeking veracity through tenacity and perspicacity!
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Truth Wanted 04.45 11-12-2021 with ExXtian Erin and JMike Nov 13, 2021

Show notes

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ExXtian Erin is joined by a Talk Heathen favorite, welcome back JMike!
First up tonight is Kyle, he’s got ancient Sumer on the mind. The notion that aliens visited early Bronze Age humans is fascinating, but our hosts are unconvinced. Kyle suggests that the Drake Equation supports the likelihood that we’ve had visitors, but JMike illustrates that Drake’s conjecture is just that, and we can’t draw conclusions from speculation. Kyle is clear that he doesn’t subscribe to this belief, he’s just spitballing. Call again Kyle!
Next we have Liam in Louisiana, who met the Ancient Aliens guy! We chat about the burden of proof when it comes to potential explanations that employ unfounded claims, and land on the old axiom that it’s best to scale your belief with the available evidence. Thanks for providing the title for this clip Liam, this was an interesting conversation!
Alex in Colorado wants to drill down on how presupposition is necessary for any constructive conversation. We must move past the problem of hard solipsism and value what we experience to be true, otherwise any wacky unprovable explanation could have us bogged down for days. Gods, for example.
That’s our show tonight folks! Wear your masks, get your booster shots, and let’s get back to some kind of normal!
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Truth Wanted 04.44 11-05-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Brently Nov 06, 2021

Show notes

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Brently!
First up tonight is Robert from CA who wants to vent his frustration with the right wing’s use of “dog whistle” terms to rile up their base. The caller specifically dislikes their use of the word “indoctrination” with regard to education & science as it devalues the issues caused by actual religious indoctrination.
Next up is Monty from ID who wants to discuss his experience with sleep paralysis and how their plan to stay calm and not panic the next time it happened may have helped keep them from experiencing it again.
Next is Tony from Mexico who presents seemingly credible doctors who are against the mRNA vaccine as authorities to dispute the pro-vaccine position.
Kelly from CA is back in the queue and this time has his evidence for a God. Technically the caller believes in the Christian God but opts to justify a more general God using genetic “code” as evidence. Unfortunately, the caller doesn’t really understand the scientific consensus or the burden of proof.
Next is Brian from OR who tells our hosts a cool story regarding demons that could be heard on a cassette tape, but was really just radio interference.
Next up is John from TX who starts by asking how evolution can exist in a universe with entropy, and then follows up by quietly accusing our hosts of just regurgitating information without thinking just like theists do with religious texts.
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Truth Wanted 04.43 10-31-2021 Live from the Driskill Hotel with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin, and Puck Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

First up tonight is Connell from FL who doesn’t want to break his dad’s heart with his Atheism and wants advice on what to say so as not to hurt him.
Next is Frank from IL who has a detailed sleep paralysis/lucid dream story and explains how they go about testing whether they are dreaming or if they are awake.
Next is Micha from WA who is a paranormal investigator who doesn’t believe in the supernatural or ghosts. Despite being unconvinced, they continue investigating in the hopes of uncovering something incredible, specifically regarding an afterlife.
Next is Zach from HI who explains his story of nearly hitting what he and others believed to be an evil demon pig. Now, after careful thought, the caller no longer believes that it is a spirit trying to kill him, but they still don’t have an explanation for what happened.
Next up is Queer Atheist from IL who wants advice on how to deal with presup apologists and their circular scripts.
Next is Joe from MI who has another story where they saw something spooky while they were riding a bike. Was it a Ghost or something sinister?
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