The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:46 The Loons from Canada Kate and Allie catch up with Abhijit Chanda from the Rationable Podcast in India. This interview was conducted on the sidelines of the recent CSICON meeting in Las Vegas. 00:11:26 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the third part in this series, Rob chats to Kevin Folta, Bill Patterson and Jeff Gehlbach. 0:24:34 Austr...

0:00:00 Introduction Maynard 00:03:56 The Loons From Canada Urban Legends Quiz! Fact or Fiction? This week Kate and Allie have a Halloween themed quiz! Kate, the Inquisitor, will be giving urban legend summaries, asking Allie and the listeners to decide if they are total works of fiction, or if they have a basis in reality. Please be advised that some of these urban legends may be creepy, spooky,...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders with those 'Loons from Canada', Kate and Allie, and Dr Sue Ieraci. 00:03:34 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the first in a series, Rob chats Dr Sue Ieraci, Dr Angie Mattke, Richard Saunders, Leonard Tramiel, Adrienne Hill and Stephen Hupp. 0:22:00 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Rea...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:38 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne was invited by Dr. Rodney Schmaltz , a psychologist, to speak at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton Canada. During the visit, Adrienne interviewed Dr. Schmaltz about the exciting activities in his critical thinking course and his involvement with the upcoming LiliCon 2024 on Thursday, October 24...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:46 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Erika Englehaupt Interview #2 Adrienne interviews Science Journalist Erika Englehaupt about her two books published within the last few years. This is part two of a two-part series in which we discuss her fascinating book Go to Hell: Journey to the Underworld. . http://erikaengelhaupt.com 00:23:56 For Cryin...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:06:14 Black Salve - Dangerous Quackery We look at action taken against those selling and promoting "Black Salve", a corrosive substance claimed to treat and cure skin conditions, even cancer. There are good reasons why this quackery has been banned by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://luckylosing.com/2024/09/25/black-salve-the-austral...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard 00:04:12 Put your money where your mouth is! Mr Skeptic! A look at the history and various examples of skeptics, including the James Randi $1,000,000 challenge, putting up large amounts of money to challenge and possibly reward those who claimed to have paranormal powers. 0:29:28 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:08:50 You Can Count on Adrienne This week Adrienne catches up with Melanie Trecek-King from the website Thinking is Power. An interesting discussion about skeptical outreach and what value is the word skeptic after all? https://thinkingispower.com 0:23:26 2024 Bent Spoon Award Tim Mendham and Richard Saunders discuss the contenders for this year's Bent Spoo...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:38 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Lucky Girl Syndrome, the Law of Attraction, the Power of Positive Thinking, the Secret, Manifesting - the same idea has been preached for nearly 150 years, under different names. Aren't we lucky? This week Kat is going to delve into the Law of Attraction, and tell us "The Secret to Manifesting good things in our li...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham and Richard Saunders From 1986 - ZANEX PAYS GELLER OVER $350,00 The Australian-based mining company Zanex, paid magician and mentalist Uri Geller $US250,000 (over $A350,000) for his advice on where to look for gold in the Solomon Islands and near Maldon in Victoria. Tim also reads a newspaper item about this incident f...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:08 You Can Count on Adrienne The Travels of a Skeptic Zone Reporter Adrienne interviews Andras Pinter from The European Skeptics Podcast and Coleman Watts, a former conspiracy theorist turned science communicator, on her travels to the Rocky Mountains and then onto Iceland. Join her for these informal but informative interviews across the globe. The ESP...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:50 Kate & Allie Folklore or Future Quiz Join Kate this week as she challenges Allie with a quiz. Kate will uncover a mysterious array of treatments and Allie will have to unravel the enigma of whether these practices hail from folklore of old or persist in the modern day. Play along to test your knowledge and possibly discover secret remedies you may hav...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:22 Beyond Belief Bob Nixon tunes in and finds an old aquaintance up to his old tricks - very old tricks. "Like Deja vu all over again" In this report from 'The Skeptic Magazine' in 2001, a former investigator of Australian Skeptics the late Bob Nixon, reviews a farcical TV special about the paranormal, starring among others, Uri Geller. The TV Special, i...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders With a short tribute to skeptical journalist Jane Hansen. 00:04:12 Vale Mark Edward We are saddened to hear of the death in the past week of Mark Edward, skeptic, magician, mentalist, author and partner to Susan Gerbic. Tributes from Adrienne Hill and Susan Gerbic. Mark Edward Wilson, who was known by his stage name Mark Edward, died Sunday, August 4, 2024 at...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:42 The Loons from Canada In part 1 of a 2 part series, Kate and Allie take a look at the phenomena of Access Consciousness and Access Bars. Part one: What is access consciousness and its "Ten Keys to Freedom" and how much does it cost? https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking/rasputin-phrenology-and-dark-allegations-madness-access-consciousnes...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders Also a look at the current nominations and past winners of the Australian Skeptics Bent Spoon Award. https://www.skeptics.com.au/about/activities/bent-spoon 00:09:24 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod This week Kat gives us an overview of the first ever 'Global Skeptics in the Pub', held as part of the SkeptiCal Conferance of the Bay Area Skeptics. Included...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:42 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Challenging Times By Barry Williams Over 20 years ago, one Victor Zammit, a retired Sydney solicitor, apparently decided to take the skeptics on at their own game and has issued a challenge of his own. "$1 Million Challenge to Disprove Evidence of Life After Death." - A reward of one million US dollars is offered to an...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:00 Astrology Trash is Bad News We report on a bizarre situation in Australia where it is proposed to run a regular astrology segment in the evening TV news bulletin. Is this an act of desperation to gain more viewers? What has been the reaction from other media? https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/channel-7-defends-stupid-new-astrology-segment-foll...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:06:52 Ben Radford talks UFOs Once again we welcome the world renowned skeptical investigator, author, podcaster, and deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, the one and only Ben Radford. In a wide ranging interview Ben talks about the Roswell UFO incident, cryptozoology, and his upcoming visit to Sydney Australia to take part in Skepticon 2024 - the A...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:14 Cold and Hot Reading We play a clip of a recent radio appearance by Richard Saunders (ABC Australia), where he discusses so-called psychics and some of their tricks. Also the reading of a report by Ian Bryce, from the pages of 'The Skeptic', when he, Saunders and Alynda Brown tested a 'Palm Reader' in Australia. Richard Saunders on ABC Radio Australia...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:05:02 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. SkeptiCampNM - Presented by New Mexicans for Science and Reason Adrienne flies to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend a meet up of local and regional skeptics. Interviews with... Stirling Forsyth, Mary Catherine Harris, Tom Parker, Kurly Tlapoyawa, Sonia Veronica, Frank T. Etscorn, and from the Squaring the...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:16 UFOs... Where Are You? We take a look at a recent press stories from Australia and Britin regarding UFO promoter and Australian journalist Ross Coulthart. Also we wonder what we can glean from Wiki about his current notoriety. https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/05/ufos-the-unidentified-flying-circus-comes-to-town 0:10:44 Skepticamp Interviews #3 Guest rep...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:26 SkeptiCal 2024 We talk to famed fighter of nonsense Dr Eugenie C. Scott about the upcoming SkeptiCal Conference. SkeptiCal is the scientific skepticism conference brought to you by Northern California Skeptics. The SkeptiCal Conference brings stimulating and entertaining speakers (including Australia's own Dr Karl Kruszelnicki) to a world-wide audienc...

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:58 Kate & Allie This week Kat and Adrienne take a skeptical look at 'Baby Helmets'. Are they truly necessary or just another example of our culture's obsession with over-protection? What is the medical point of view? Baby helmets, also known as cranial orthoses, are seen by some as intervention for infants with positional plagiocephaly (flat spots on the...

  0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:32 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. Adrienne Hill and Janalee Morris share their immersive first experience at the Psychic and Crystal Fair, where they interacted with vendors and attendees. Could anyone predict their future or enhance their health? Tune in to find out. 0:19:42 Reviewing the UFO Documentary We chat to Brian Dunning about...