The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:12 You Can Count on Adrienne with Adrienne Hill Migraines Adrienne has suffered from migraine headaches, with some mind-bending auras, for most of her life. What is a migraine? According to the Mayo Clinic, "migraine can cause severe, throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and ex...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:23 Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan Around 1,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in Australia. Often, ovarian cancer feels like nothing. For that reason, most women are diagnosed when they are Stage III or IV. Siobhan tells us her story with this cancer and her advice for women. (With the help of Mr. Tom Toms the cat.) Siobhan O'Sullivan is an Aust...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:08 You Can Count on Adrienne with Adrienne Hill Not for Prophet From the pages of 'The Skeptic' magazine from Australia, Adrienne reports on the ups and downs of checking thousands of mystical predictions covering the years 2000 - 2020. https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2041%20(2021)%20No%201%20(Cover).pdf 0:24...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 Maynard's Spooky Action Dr Brad McKay - Part #1 The return of Maynard. In this, the first of a three part interview with Dr Brad McKay, Maynard finds out about Dr Brad's new book and asks the big questions about Vampire Facials and much more. Dr Brad McKay is an Australian science communicator, TV host and GP at his clinic in Sydney. He is an experienc...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:06 You Can Count on Adrienne with Adrienne Hill A new segment for The Skeptic Zone. Do bad things really happen in 3s? Adrienne looks at some of the psychology about this "bad things" myth and finds how easy it is for people to come to believe there might be something in it, even something mystical. 0:11:40 Alert on Anti-Vaxxers Police are making a list o...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard 0:04:45 Crystal Healing: The Science and Psychology Behind What Works, What Doesn't, and Why An interview with Dan Lynch and Julie A. Kirsch Whether you're new to the practice of crystal healing or have a level of experience with it, chances are you have questions: What works? What doesn't? How and when should I spend my money etc? Forget the magic...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:43 Pete Evans Banned (Again!) Pete Evans' Instagram shut down for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. Also his bid for a Senate seat has been widely criticised. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/pete-evans-instagram-account-has-been-shut-down-for-spreading-coronavirus-misinformation 0:11:21 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "A...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:23 Queensland Chiropractic Bad Advice Chiropractor forced to take down video on COVID-19, claiming 'nonsense' about 'big bad bug' and other bad advice. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/chiropractor-forced-to-take-down-video-on-coronavirus-claiming-nonsense-about-big-bad-bug/news-story/57390e8ab06cce03ba5eba8e23f7f694 0:09:12 Logica...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:44 Test Your E.S.P. From 1977 comes this test from 'The Australian Women's Weekly'. How do you rate your psychic abilities? Have you ever experienced astral travel, levitation, mental telepathy . . . or seen a ghost? https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/5845338 0:19:03 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Appeal to...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:24 The Great Australian Prediction Project A look at some of the 'psychic' predictions for HM Queen Elizabeth II over the past 20 years. What was foreseen or maybe not foreseen for the monarch?   0:16:45 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Fallacy of Composition" . This fallacy is about transferring or projecting the pro...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:42 The Great Australian Prediction Project A look at some of the 'psychic' predictions for Donald Trump over the past 20 years. What was foreseen or maybe not foreseen for the former president? 0:20:13 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Perfect Solution Fallacy" . The perfect solution is an 'all or nothing' way of t...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:20 Society of Homeopaths in Hot Water From 'The Good Thinking Society'. Professional Standards Authority suspends the Society of Homeopaths (UK). The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) announced it had suspended the accreditation of the Society of Homeopaths (SoH). - Read by Lara Benham https://goodthinkingsociety.org 0:09:24 Logical Fallacies with Mi...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:25 An interview with Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill from Canada tells us about Tourette Syndrome and some of the so-called alternative treatments that have been offered over the years. https://tourette.ca https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/resource/tourette-ocd/home Monterey Skepticamp Youtube (at 4:53:10) https://youtu.be/DktlgzdFUTI 0:22:30 Logical Fallacies with...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:36 COVID-19 Conspiracy An alleged quarantine escapee left her hotel after she denied the existence of coronavirus in a series of bizarre online rants. Self-proclaimed "world changer" Jenny D'ubios sparked a manhunt in Perth when she was found missing from her Perth hotel while in COVID-19 quarantine. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/jenny-d...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 Pete Evans Booted Off Pete Evans has been removed from Facebook just days after telling Sydney followers to not get tested for COVID-19. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/facebook-boots-celebrity-chef-pete-evans-over-covid-19-misinformation-20201223-p56px0.html 0:11:30 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Th...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:07 Susan Gerbic We find out what GSoW are doing to support those fighting COVID-19. Also the latest ravings from two time Bent Spoon winner, Pete Evans. https://abouttimeproject.wordpress.com 0:17:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Uri Geller in the 1970s.   1973.12.08    -...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:36 Doctor at LARGE Ken McLeod reports on how anti-vaccination campaigner Judy Wilyman is trading on her flawed doctorate, and the implications for her, the University of Wollongong, and the community. - Read by Richard Saunders. https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2040%20(2020)%20No%204%20(Cover).pdf 0:27:16 A Di...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:54 Living a Skeptical Life From a talk given some years ago by Richard Saunders at a meeting of the Victorian Skeptics, what does it mean to be a skeptic from day to day? The Mysterious Monsters 1975 https://youtu.be/44BUjnxwC_g 0:31:04 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Wa...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:30 Ben Radford's New Book The famed skeptical investigator, podcaster and author tells us about his new book, a collection of stories covering almost 2 decades. http://benjaminradford.com 0:17:25 ESP - 250 We join a live broadcast of the European Skeptics Podcast to congratulate them for 250 episodes. https://theesp.eu 0:19:52 Logical Fallacies. With Mich...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 His Goose is Cooked Another twist in the ongoing sad Soap Opera that is former celebrity Pete Evans. He's lost his sponsorships, he's lost his TV deals, he's lost his book deals along with his marbles. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54972101 0:13:04 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Fallacy Fallacy" ....

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:26 From 9/11 to COVID-19 An interview with Claus Larsen from Denmark about the ongoing research into some of the biggest conspiracy theories in recent history. What are some of the COVID-19 conspiracies doing the rounds and why do people believe in them? http://www.911facts.dk 0:29:50 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 The Misadventures of the VeXXed Bus We look at the bumpy road and comic mishaps of the "Vaxxed II" bus as it travels along its sorry road. 0:16:44 James Randi, a quiet chat. In 2014, Randi and Saunders toured Australia. During some downtime they chat about magic, memories and TV productions. James Randi: Psychic Investigator - YouTube https://youtu.be/...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:00 James Randi on The Skeptic Zone Since the podcast begain in 2008, James Randi appeared on about 22 episodes. We present some edited highlights from over the years. 0:39:32 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the James Randi, with a focus on the year 1980, the year of the fame...

0:00:00 A tribute to James "The Amazing" Randi. 1928 - 2020. 0:06:20 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:10:45 Australian Skeptics Inc. Annual Awards 2020 Join President Jessica Singer, E.O. Tim Mendham and Chief Investigator Richard Saunders as they annouce this year's awards, as heard at Skepticon 2020. The Fred Thornett Award for the promotion of reason - The Barry Williams Award for media - The Sk...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:02 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer , a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World , was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #3 -...