Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition

Center for Inquiry
  • 4.7 (11)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition brings the insightful articles from Skeptical Inquirer magazine directly to your ears. Covering topics in science, skepticism, and critical thinking, each episode features narrated versions of our most thought-provoking content. Perfect for those on the go, SI Audio Edition allows you to stay informed and inspired wherever you are. Support our work and subscribe to the print magazine at skepticalinquirer.org Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is produced at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, NY.

  1. 6D AGO

    RFK Jr. Puts Facilitated Communication Users on the HHS Autism Panel by Stuart Vyse

    HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed proponents and users of Spelling to Communicate—a discredited variant of facilitated communication—to the federal government's top autism advisory panel. Stuart Vyse argues that endorsing these scientifically debunked methods promotes pseudoscience, offers false hope to families, and undermines evidence-based support for people with autism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/rfk-jr-puts-facilitated-communication-users-on-the-hhs-autism-panel/ About the Author: Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is also author of Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money. As an expert on irrational behavior, he is frequently quoted in the press and has made appearances on CNN International, the PBS NewsHour, and NPR's Science Friday. He can be found on Twitter at @stuartvyse. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

    5 min

  2. FEB 3

    Dilbert Dilemma: The Tragic Innumeracy of Scott Adams by Benjamin Radford

    Benjamin Radford shows how innumeracy and poor media literacy can amplify controversy—and why skepticism is a vital safeguard against such traps. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dilbert-dilemma-the-tragic-innumeracy-of-scott-adams/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

    14 min

  3. JAN 28

    Get the Most Out of CSICon (Part 2): Celebrate Our History … Chart Our Future! by Stephen Hupp

    Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026, in this the second of a two part preview of the conference. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-part-2-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

    16 min

  4. JAN 23

    It's Time to Talk About Psychic Medium Dean by Susan Gerbic

    Susan Gerbic investigates UK performer "Psychic Medium Dean," presenting detailed evidence that he relies on hot reading—researching ticket buyers through direct social media and payment interactions—rather than any paranormal ability. She argues that his methods exploit grief for profit and calls for greater public skepticism and controlled testing to expose such practices. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/susan-gerbic/ About the Author:  Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project. She is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and writes for her column, Guerilla Skepticism, often. You can contact her through her website. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

    22 min

  5. JAN 16

    A Sympathetic Understanding of Paranormal Beliefs by Chris French

    Chris French reviews The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience by Terence Hines. Rowman & Littlefield, 2025.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-sympathetic-understanding-of-paranormal-beliefs/ About the Author:  Chris French is professor of psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His latest book is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Beliefs & Experience. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquir

    6 min

  6. JAN 14

    Blind Victoria's Secret by Eugenie Scott

    Eugenie Scott recounts an early Bay Area Skeptics sting in which she posed as a blind woman to expose faith healer W.V. Grant's manipulative tactics and exploitation of vulnerable people. Reflecting on the success and limits of pre-internet skepticism, she argues that coordinated action and information sharing remain essential as skeptics confront enduring pseudoscientific scams in the decades ahead. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/blind-victorias-secret/ About the Author:  Eugenie Scott, a physical anthropologist, is founding executive director of the National Center for Science Education. She is a fellow and member of the Executive Council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry

    18 min

  7. JAN 12

    My Memories of The Amazing Randi: Part One by Banachek

    In this first installment of a two part article, Banachek traces his path to collaborating with Randi on Project Alpha, illustrating how poor scientific controls and investigator bias allowed simple magic tricks to masquerade as psychic phenomena—and why Randi's skepticism mattered. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/my-memories-of-the-amazing-randi-part-one/ About the Author:  Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was schooled in South Africa and the United States. It was while living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Banachek saw his first magician at a high school function at the age of fourteen. He was intrigued but not enough to delve much further into that secret world. In 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States, Banachek moved to the United States. It was at the end of this same year that he picked up a worn copy of James Randi's book The Truth about Uri Geller. Banachek performed Mind Games Live in Las Vegas at the prestigious Strat hotel, Casino and Skypod. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

    25 min

  8. JAN 9

    Revolutionizing Science: Jane Goodall and the Challenge to Conventional Wisdom by Bertha Vazquez

    Bertha Vazquez reflects on Jane Goodall's revolutionary impact on science, highlighting how her patient, humane observation of chimpanzees shattered rigid behaviorist dogma and forced a rethinking of what separates humans from other animals. Framing Goodall alongside other once-dismissed scientific pioneers, the article argues that intellectual humility, openness to evidence, and outsider perspectives are essential drivers of scientific progress. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/revolutionizing-science-jane-goodall-and-the-challenge-to-conventional-wisdom/ About the Author:  Bertha Vazquez has been teaching middle school science in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 24 years. She has BA in Biology from the University of Miami and a Master's in Science Education from Florida International University. A seasoned traveler who has visited all seven continents, she enjoys introducing the world of nature and science to young, eager minds. An educator with National Board Certification, she is the recipient of several national and local honors, including the 2014 Samsung's $150,000 Solve For Tomorrow Contest and The Charles C. Bartlett National Excellence in Environmental Award in 2009. She was Miami-Dade Science Teacher of the Year in 1997 and 2008 and was one of Florida's 2015 finalists for the most prestigious science award in the country, The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

    7 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition brings the insightful articles from Skeptical Inquirer magazine directly to your ears. Covering topics in science, skepticism, and critical thinking, each episode features narrated versions of our most thought-provoking content. Perfect for those on the go, SI Audio Edition allows you to stay informed and inspired wherever you are. Support our work and subscribe to the print magazine at skepticalinquirer.org Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is produced at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, NY.

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