The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP TheESP.eu

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

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

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

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

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

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A bit of a correction first, regarding earthquakes. Then we get some Vatican news with speculation about a Swedish ‘papabile’, plus idiotic statements about genders. In TWISH we hear about Paolo Frisi, an Italian university dropout who in the 18th century went on to become a polymath. Then we have a look at the news:
EUROPE: Whooping cough on the rise – due to covidBELGIUM: Alternative medicine and god hindering willingness to vaccinate?FRANCE: Didier Raoult and his unethical researchLong time charlatan Thomas Erikson finally gets his dues when he receives a Really Wrong Award as his latest book on nonsense personality types is published.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Wrong; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:12:20 TWISH
0:18:19 News
0:29:16 Really Wrong
0:41:31 Quote And Farewell
0:43:24 Outro
0:44:39 Out-Takes

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There are two great European skeptical events to sign up for this year – European Skeptics Congress in Lyon (30 May- 2 June) and QED in Manchester (18 – 20 October) – there is still time to catch the Early Bird discounts for both! In TWISH we hear about the earthquake in L’Aquila in Italy in 2009, that not only shook the ground but also the trust in science. Of course, we also give our take on the news:
UK: Rumours about King Charles III’s illness on the riseRUSSIA: Russia linked to ’Havana Syndrome’. We’re not convinced…NETHERLANDS: New study may help us understand wishful thinkingThis week we hopefully hand out our last PiS related Really Wrong Award. More specifically it goes to Polish president Andrzej Duda who did a doo-doo and vetoed access to women’s health care.
Enjoy!
Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:49 Greetings
0:06:36 TWISH
0:16:35 News
0:40:22 Really Wrong
0:45:54 Quote And Farewell
0:46:58 Outro
0:48:12 Out-Takes

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