
721 episodes

The Skeptic Zone Richard Saunders
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- Science
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4.7 • 103 Ratings
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The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason.
Join Richard Saunders and his team of reporters for your weekly dose of skeptical news and interviews, reports and comments.
Past guests have included, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Tim Minchin, Eugenie Scott, Dr Phil Plait, Michael Marshall, Dr Steve Novella, Dr Pamela Gay, Jon Ronson, Dr Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Prof. Richard Wiseman, Dick Smith, Banachek, Prof. Chris French, George Hrab, Tim Ferguson, Dr Paul Willis and many, many more.
Featuring Australian radio legend Maynard with his Spooky Action, Jo Alabaster from the 'Evidence Please' blog, Eran Segev's Grain of Salt, Dr Rachael Dunlop with 'Dr Rachie Reports' and Heidi Robertson aka 'The Raw Skeptic'.
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The Skeptic Zone #710 - 15.May.2022
0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:04:12 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
Adrienne Hill and Susan Gerbic visit "Explore & More", The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum in Buffalo NY and talk to Rebecca Glon, IT & Exhibits Manager.
http://www.exploreandmore.org
0:17:46 TikTok Paranormal
We scroll through the endless, live TikTok videos featuring people who think they have psychic insights. Others include dowsing rods, pendulums, bones, giant matches and more.
0:37:56 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Unsolved Mysteries".
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 1909, 17 January - The Sunday Times 1924, 1 March - The Herald - Victoria 1939, 13 March - The Northern Star -
The Skeptic Zone #709 - 8.May.2022
The Skeptic Zone #709 - 8 May 2022
Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:02:50 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
This week Adrienne finds herself riding shotgun alongside Susan Gerbic as the tour they east coast of the USA. Also we learn about the new award given to Susan for her skeptical activism.
Grief Vampires, Wikipedia and More - Presented by Susan Gerbic
https://youtu.be/b6_dVTsBcxA
0:13:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter
What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week?
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:22:40 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham
Father Figure. Part 2. By Dr Tony Wheeler
A look at the truth and the myth behind Father Christmas or Santa Claus.
A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 15 No. 4
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:32:50 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to "UFOs".
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 1991, 22 October - Tharunka - UNSW Student Newspaper 1968, 10 June - The Canberra Times 1968, 6 June - The Canberra Times 1971, 12 July - The Canberra Times 1966, 10 October - The Canberra Times 1988, 28 January - The Canberra Times -
The Skeptic Zone #708 - 1.May.2022
0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:03:37 Maynard's Spooky Action
Maynard interviews author George Ivanoff about his new book, "The Supernatural Survival Guide".
How should young people approach investigating the strange, the mysterious and the unknown? What can we learn from George's book about the claims of the paranormal in Australia?
THE SUPERNATURAL SURVIVAL GUIDE will tackle these and other questions about all things paranormal. There is so much WEIRD stuff out there . . . but the TRUTH is IN HERE!
https://georgeivanoff.com.au/books/survival-guide
0:23:28 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham
Father Figure. Part 1. By Dr Tony Wheeler
A look at the truth and the myth behind Father Christmas or Santa Claus.
A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 15 No. 4
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:34:49 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to skeptical stories from the United States.
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au -
The Skeptic Zone #707 - 24.April.2022
0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:04:22 Homeopathy on Trial
On January 13, the Center for Inquiry reached a major milestone in its groundbreaking consumer-protection lawsuits against retail giants Walmart and CVS. CFI is suing these mammoth corporations over their deceptive sale and marketing of homeopathic products under the Consumer Protection laws of the District of Columbia, and on January 13, CFI Legal Director Nick Little presented oral argument for our cases before the DC Court of Appeals.
https://centerforinquiry.org/news/cfi-meets-walmart-and-cvs-in-dc-court-over-homeopathy-lawsuit/
https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/14130827/CFI-v-Boiron-Complaint-FINAL.pdf
0:18:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter
What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week?
Read by Adrienne Hill.
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:26:22 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham
Out of Body, Out of Mind. Part 2. By Prof. Marcello Costa
Pinocchio, self-mutilation, having someone else's limbs and feeling presences - our sense of body is strange and wonderful thing.
A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 30 No. 1
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:37:12 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Naturopaths". 1995, 20 June - The Times - Victor Harbour, South Australia 1946, 14 May - The Telegraph - Brisbane 1946, 15 May - The Telegraph - Brisbane 1951, 6 Apil - The Courier-Mail - Brisbane 1953, 6 September - Truth - Brisbane https://quackwatch.org/naturopathy/
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
Also Susan Gerbic, 11am AEST Sunday 24th. - https://bond.zoom.us/j/96246943879 -
The Skeptic Zone #706 - 17.April.2022
0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:05:35 Science Friction with Brain Dunning
You know those TV documentaries you see, and the science experts they feature? Did you know that producers often edit them out of context, and twist their words, to make it seem like they promoted some pop sensationalism instead of the real facts?
Science Friction exposes this practice and gives the scientists a chance to clear the record.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09RQFWJ4L
https://tubitv.com/movies/661210/science-friction
0:18:54 Maynard' Spooky Action
A visit to Manard's International Studios (annex) in Sydney.
http://maynard.com.au
0:27:47 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham
Out of Body, Out of Mind. Part 1. By Prof. Marcello Costa
Pinocchio, self-mutilation, having someone else's limbs and feeling presences - our sense of body is strange and wonderful thing.
A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 30 No. 1
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:40:24 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Canada.
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au -
The Skeptic Zone #705 - 10.April.2022
0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
0:04:10 Bob Swanson's Critical Thinking Videos
Bob Swanson, Instructor / Lab Coordinator from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Mississippi State University, tells us of his videos about critical thinking, inspired by the claims of Power Balance wrist bands.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4znmeoL66Lkpaae5DYMHQWqQQl4jkG23
0:23:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter
What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week?
Read by Adrienne Hill.
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:30:40 An Eye to the Sky By Tim Harding
A look at the history of Astrology and Astronomy.
A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 33 No. 4
http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:47:53 A Dive into a Trove
A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Astrology".
http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 1950, 27 March - South Coast Times 1941, 17 May - Smith's Weekly
Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub
https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/AustSkeptics
Customer Reviews
Love it!
Informitive, entertaining and just fun!
Bravo from an American
Although the podcast typically deals with Australian issues regarding pseudoscience and quackery, much of this is universal - even to an American like me.
This was one of the first skeptical podcasts I discovered, and the show pushed me off the fence and got me to become a skeptical activist myself. In fact, several years after I found the podcast, I was interviewed on it, and then went on to serve as a guest reporter for three episodes!
Good job
Keep up the good work.