After discussing  Nazi salutes ,  placebo surgery ,  scientology follow-up ,  Massimo Polidoro’s new book  and  several recommendations for other podcasts , we eventually get down to the meat of the show. In  TWISH  we hear about  Delta , the science TV program that aired 61 years ago on 31 of January. Then, we look to the news: SWEDEN : Swedish Skeptic...

The ECDC has declared January  cervical cancer awareness month  which we support 100%. We also want encourage  local skeptical actions  such as speaking up when companies promote nonsense and  Pontus gives us an example  of how easy it can be, if you just take a few minutes and speak up. We also mention that the  planets are lined up in a cool way  at the mo...

Happy to be back again and we start by welcoming some new publications by Brian Eggo and Edzard Ernst . In TWISH we wonder if 13 January is Skeptics Day and then we dig into the news: FRANCE : Godfather of modern far-right movement Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96 UK / ESTONIA : Nurosym – an example of scam health device UK : Poll shows more than half of UK voters dislike Elon Musk and his medd...

Quite a few things to dive into this week:  the Medici popes , some  listener feedback ,  cool dinosaur tracks  and some  sad news from France . In  TWISH  we we have an  epiphany  and then we go through the news: NORWAY / UK : Who Believes in Alternative Medicine? RUSSIA : Cancer vaccine announced, with no published evidence UK : Over 40% of cancer pat...

With András unavailable, we drag  Annika  out of retirement to launch the new year! In  TWISH  we hear about  Martin Luther’s excommunication  and while Pontus always enjoy seeing someone stand up to the Pope, Martin Luther himself was far from flawless. Then we have the news-round: SWEDEN / INTERNATIONAL : Multi supplements are at best unnecessary and at worst danger...

We close the year with some topical items related to the season. Happy New Year! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-459.html Segments : 0:00:25 Intro 0:00:49 Greetings 0:05:28 TWISH 0:21:13 Special segment 0:39:37 Quote 0:41:35 Outro 0:42:50 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A little correction to start with, and then in  TWISH  we hear about the Jesuit and scientist  Tommaso Ceva . Of course, we also have the news: SWEDEN : Private clinics on public contracts promoted nonsense cures, denied sick patients and cheated HUNGARY : Government’s own fact checkers cause for concern in Europe UK : Boycott against Arla for trying to reduce methane emissions INTE...

We start with the sad news that  this is Annika’s last episode  as a regular host. Over the last four years she has brought her unique perspective and insights (and puns!) to the show. But being part of a weekly podcast is tough commitment while at the same time balancing a fulltime job, raising a family and participating in other skeptical activities.  We will miss her!  And w...

After the usual pre-amble, we hear about the first prediction of  a transit of Venus  in  TWISH . Calculated by  Kepler himself  you can only go go “Yay, science!”, and salute the guy. Then we get to the news: INTERNATIONAL : Company linked to cloned journals of major publishers denies cloning journals of major publishers AUSTRIA : The Golden Board in front of the head goe...

We start with some reflections on  COP29  and then we send our big congratulations to  Richard Saunders  on receiving his  Lifetime Achievement Award  from the Australian Skeptics. Well deserved indeed! Another well deserved but shameful award goes to  King Charles  who received  the New Zealand Skeptics’ Bent Spoon Award . In  TWISH  we look...

As everyone else these days we are  moving from X to Bluesky , any help in driving traffic our way is much appreciated. The  Humanists UK  has published a new exciting book called  What I Believe , named after podcast by the same name. You should check it out! In  TWISH  we hear about how the (then)  Prince of Wales  got his favorite charity for  SCAM (...

It’s  one election after another . The same day that the US voted orange,  Germany  decided on a  snap election  after the current coalition fell apart. Let’s hope people over here are better informed than the American voters. In  TWISH  we hear about ‘Doctor Universalis’  Albertus Magnus  whose scientific mindset in the 13th century helped Europe begin...

This is the first “regular episode” for a while and of course we cannot help to mourn  the stupid results of the US elections . But since this is a European show we cannot let that stop us, so after a  TWISH  story of how  Charles Darwin , 130 years after his death, gained over 4000 votes in the elections in the  US state of Georgia , it’s time for the news: BULGARIA / NOR...

A longer episode this week, jampacked with  interviews from QED!  One of the marvelous things with conferences (don’t forget about the upcoming  Skepticon XL in Sydney !) is that you meet so many fantastic people. We tried to capture a little of that feeling by recording a bunch of interviews, so tune in to hear from  Clio Bellenis, Diana Barbosa, João Monteiro, Igor Stroev, Da...

We celebrate our  450th episode  (wow!)  live at QED 2024  (wow!!!) with the help of  Brian  and  Claire ! We also get special greetings from  Annika  and  Jay Novella , who unfortunately could not attend. A slightly different format due to the occasion, but of course we have the news, which this time has the (not so) cheerful theme of  R...

Lot’s of  listener feedback  in this episode which is delightful! Pontus explains whether there was a scandal concerning  the Sami peoples  at  the Gothenburg Book Fair  and we prepare for this weekend’s  QED ! Speaking of which, this is what we also talk about in  TWISH  this week. Then, as always, the news: THE NETHERLANDS : Meester Kackadorisprijs aw...

In both Annika's and Pontus' absence, this week András interviews the "Fairy Godmother" of the show, psychic investigator & debunket, "master puppeteer" and tireless leader of the Secret Cabal (and the About Time Project) that is the international Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia  Susan Gerbic.  We talk about Mark Edward's legacy, how to start a SkeptiCamp in your local area, and wh...

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the  Swedish Skeptics  at the  Gothenburg Book Fair  – real life  astronauts  where involved! A little  listener feed back  and then we go to  TWISH  to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist  Xavier Naidoo . Then it’s time for the news: SWEDEN : Secret Service confi...

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague  Richard Saunders . We talk about  skeptical activism  in general and Richard’s podcast  the Skeptic Zone . We also hear all about the upcoming  Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November . Enjoy! Segments : 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:50 Greetings 0:00:53 Interview 0:27:25 Farewell 0:31:11 Outro 0:32:25 Outtakes https://theesp.e...

We start with some follow up from last week –  Edward Bach  is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if  plants can really appreciate music . In  TWISH  we celebrate(?) the birthday of  Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’)  and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news: INTERNATIONAL : Ig Nobel prize winners 2024 FRANCE :...

With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some  numerology .  Annika  will be more off than on for a while and the promised  record heat in Sweden  actually delivered. In  TWISH  we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer  Stanisław Lem  who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news: SWEDEN : Music makes cucumbers happ...

In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news: INTERNATIONAL : Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social media FRANCE : Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon Musk AUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS : Climate communication works! ITALY : Shroud of T...

Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details. Then we have a great chat with  Algimantas Kvecys  who is the chair of  Lietuvos skeptikų draugija , the  Society of Lithuanian Skeptics . Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-442.html Segments: 0:00:31 Intro 0:00:55 Greeti...

QED  is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to  sign up as a volunteer ! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time. This week saw a “ full true blue supermoon ” – check out which part of this is nonsense and which parts that are real astronomy. In  TWISH&nbs...

We start with a follow-up on the  UK riots  and the disinformation that triggered them. Regardless of this we look forward to going to  QED  where the  Ockham Awards  will be announced.  The nominations are now open!  See link in the show notes. In  TWISH  we hear about how it wasn’t that long ago that  Joseph Lister  performed the first&...