The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP TheESP.eu

In Pontus' absence Annika is back for a quick visit before her planned return next month. We mention the terrible assassination attempt against Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico and how it's a new source of fake news. On TWISH you can hear about Franz Anton Mesmer, who was the foremost proponent of "animal magnetism". Then, we look at the news:

GERMANY: GWUP has a new leadership - Congratulations!VATICAN CITY: The Inquisition introducing new rules for the assessment of potentially "Supernatural Phenomena"SCOTLAND: According to 2022 census released recently, majority of people not affiliated with any religions.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Quote and Farewell; Outro
00:00:25Intro
00:00:51Greetings
00:09:05TWISH
00:17:20News
00:30:11Quote & Farewell
00:33:50Outro

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Meeting up with fellow skeptics is always a blast. We recommend reading the recent article in Skeptic UK about the history of European skepticism and ECSO – the ESC (European Skeptics Congress) is only two weeks away! Pontus reports from last week’s annual meeting with VoF (the Swedish Skeptics) and in TWISH we hear about Pierre Curie who, apart from being a brilliant scientist also was intrigued by spiritualism. Then, it’s time for the news:
SWEDEN: Fake news during Eurovision Song ContestGERMANY: German Medical Association wants to ban homeopathySWEDEN: SD and the troll factoryUK: Whooping cough surgingTadusz Wojda is the head of the Catholic Church in Poland, and he proves again that the Church has no morals. For that, he receives this week’s award for being Really Wrong.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Wrong; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:12:55 TWISH
0:20:15 News
0:37:46 Really Wrong
0:42:17 Quote And Farewell
0:44:04 Outro
0:45:19 Out-Takes

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Tickets for QED in Manchester (19-20 October) are now on sale and don’t forget Skepticamp on the day before! If all goes to plan, both András and Pontus may be among the speakers. But first we are looking forward to the European Skeptics Congress 2024, less than a month from now, 31 May – 2 June in Lyon, France! In TWISH we hear about how smallpox was announced eradicated this week in 1980 and then we take a look at the news:
INTERNATIONAL: Big data reveals true climate impact of worldwide air travelSWEDEN: Swedish Skeptics’ awards for 2023INTERNATIONAL: Scottish Medical Journal retracts 13 papers due to concerns over potential paper mill activityFRANCE / INTERNATIONAL: Didier Raoult vs. Elisabeth Bik – case dismissed!The Really Wrong Award goes to the UK for two cases of educational malpractice regarding allowing religious indoctrination.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Wrong; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
Show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-426.html
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:07:02 TWISH
0:15:16 News
0:37:39 Really Wrong
0:41:56 Quote And Farewell
0:44:57 Outro
0:46:12 Out-Takes

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Every Swede has celebrated Valborg (Walpurgis / Walpurga) this week although no one really knows why, and András reports from Sicily on volcanic activities. In TWISH we hear about Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a theologian so controversial that popes nowadays still cannot agree on what to think of him. Then it’s time for this week’s news:
INTERNATIONAL: How local communities shaped ‘Cranky Uncle Vaccine’ gameSWEDEN / UK: Computer game in school made students better at detecting fake newsUK: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccine uptakeUK: SCAM diet almost killed a former modelEU: Investigations of misinformation on Meta platforms ahead of June EP electionsVaccination efforts have saved over 150 million lives over the last 50 years, and therefore Maurice Hilleman gets a Really Right Award as a representative of those who dedicate their lives to the cause.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Right; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:53 Greetings
0:08:45 TWISH
0:14:10 News
0:34:02 Really Right
0:37:38 Quote And Farewell
0:39:49 Outro
0:41:04 Out-Takes

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It is European Immunization Week! Get your boosters and jabs folks, and make you and the people around you are safe! In TWISH this week we hear about John Oliver, British comedian who (whether you like him or not) understands science and the need for healthy skepticism. Then we of course take a look at the news:
ITALY: Italy passes measures to allow anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinicsHUNGARY: The Flat Earth Award goes to the Hungarian Association of Homeopathic DoctorsEUROPE: ‘Extreme heat stress’ pushing temperatures to record highs and numbers of deathAUSTRIA / GERMANY: The Heinz Oberhummer Award for Best Science Communicator goes to Methodically Incorrect!EUROPE: EU elections in times of propaganda, misinformation and spiesUK: Creating sexually explicit images to be made illegal in UKThe Really Wrong Award this week goes to NutriLight with their silly “Red Light Therapy”
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Wrong; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:08:01 TWISH
0:12:56 News
0:35:09 Really Wrong
0:43:28 Quote And Farewell
0:45:42 Outro
0:46:57 Out-Takes

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The report on DISC analysis and Thomas Erikson from last week generated some good feedback, it’s time for the John Maddox prize again and Susan Gerbic has a new YouTube channel that you should definitely check out. Don’t forget to book your ticket for the European Skeptics Congress in Lyon! In TWISH we hear about Norbert Schobert, the Hungarian fitness guru that seems to keep asking for a Flat Earth award. Then, we look at the news:
SCOTLAND: NASA asked to help find Loch Ness monsterUK: Sense About Science asks people to show parliament they care about evidenceBack to Hungary for the Really Wrong Award, where a public Hungarian Hospital in Orosház is offering Reiki treatment to patients.
Enjoy!
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:15:28 TWISH
0:21:12 News
0:32:59 Really Wrong
0:38:30 Quote And Farewell
0:40:36 Outro
0:41:51 Out-Takes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.