The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

The number curse is getting worse! The Dutch Meester Kakadoris Award has been awarded, Patreon is changing its rules (but please still subscribe!) and next week sees two big Skeptical events: Global Skeptics in the Pub and ESC Liverpool . Join one of them or both! In TWISH we hear about Henry Cavendish (no relation to bananas) and then we get to the news: ISRAEL / INTERNATIONAL : Conspiracy theori...

Pontus report back from the bookfair and András has apparently also been struck by the numbers curse . In TWISH we look back at the first TAM London conference in 2009 and find that it can been seen as a milestone for European Skepticism . Then we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL : Rare pregnancy infections may triple the risk of autism NORTHERN IRELAND : What do 16-year-olds believe? UK : U...

We start by Pontus correcting himself on numbers he uttered, then we contemplate whether the recent Russian election results hold water. In TWISH we celebrate the real giant of science Michael Faraday commemorating his brilliant method to prove the ideomotor phenomenon. Then we turn to the news: INTERNATIONAL : a 'Godzilla level' el Niño coming up? UK : Meta deepfake safeguards deemed “fun...

For over a decade we have mispronounced a certain publisher’s name (duh!) but it’s never too late to learn… The Swedish election results are more or less in, and hopefully it’s a sign of reason that the party spreading the most disinformation lost almost 15% of their seats in parliament. In TWISH we hear the mesmerizing story about Jean Sylvain Bailly who was a French astronomer, mathematician, fr...

Hurry up to get the early bird price for ESC Liverpool ! You have until 14 September! Isar Aerospace achieves first launch to orbit from continental Europe and in TWISH we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek , a show that brought humanism into science fiction. Then, it’s time for the news: SWEDEN : General elections update plus early voting screwup GERMANY : AfD wins in Saxony-Anhalt INTER...

Nominate candidates both Das Goldene Brett and the Ockham Award (including the Rusty Razor! ), links are in the show notes. In TWISH we hear about that Russian space visionary Konstantin Tsiolkovsky who over a 100 years ago established still valid theories about space rockets and more, needed for space flight. Then we have the news: INTERNATIONAL : Elsevier to ‘soon investigate’ two Macchiarini pa...

With András back in the saddle, we advice against climate doom and also encourage listeners to nominate for the Ockhams Awards . In TWISH we go back almost 2500 years for an example of how superstition can ruin your quite innocent Sicilian expedition , and then we head for the news: SWEDEN : Elections coming up fast, rife with AI fakes and populistic opportunism SPAIN / INTERNATIONAL : Investigati...

ESC Liverpool speakers announced, Wasp-watch big reveal and listener feedback about Triodos Bank . The bulk of the episode is a trip down memory lane with a rebroadcast of our interview with James the Amazing Randi from ten years ago. It’s really worth a listen! The Really Wrong Award goes to Richard Tice of Reform UK for saying people should “enjoy the heat” of the recent climate crisis. Enjoy! h...

This week we have a special solar eclipse report ( video available! ) and two tips of UK free tourist tours relevant for skeptics. In TWISH we hear about Wilhelm Wundt , the founder of experimental psychology . Then, it’s time for the news: EUROPE : Warmest summer ever in Western Europe, warmest global sea temperatures on record – and the economy suffers too HUNGARY : Fake AI ads exploit Semmelwei...

Super packed episode this week, with four of Annika’s Skepticon interviews and Brian Eggo sitting in for András. We talk about the upcoming SkeptiCamp in Liverpool , the on-going Edinburgh Fringe and its skeptical series of events, and next week’s solar eclipse in Europe. After interviews with Cara Santa Maria, Eran Segev, Lara Benham, Steve and Bob Novella , we get into TWISH where we hear about...

This week we mention World Hepatitis Day (28 July) and new study that (again) finds no relationship between mobile cellphones and cancer . We also have two short interviews by Annika(!) from Skepticon Australia , with Richard Saunders and George Hrab ! In TWISH we hear about John Tyndall , Irish physicist and great science communicator . Then we take a look at the news: SWEDEN : Quackery round-up:...

We start with some listener feedback from Poland and a short follow-up regarding last week’s report on pet whisperers . In TWISH we hear about Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel , a German astronomer, physicist and mathematician whose way of thinking still influences both scientific rigor and skepticism today. Then, we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL : New weather-related threat: Forecast prediction...

The heatwave continues and analysis finds that most news reporting fails to mention climate change . In TWISH we hear about the founding of Accademia del Cimento , in many ways the start of scientific experimentation during the enlightenment. Then we go into the news: UK / RUSSIA / US : Musk family foundation funded Tommy Robinson’s trip to Moscow GERMANY : IGeL Monitor rates osteopathy for non-sp...

We received some listener feedback regarding Ricky Gervais , and the Hungarian state media apologizes for the lies during Orbán(!). In TWISH we hear about Robert Chambers , the anonymous publisher who helped pave the way for Darwin . Then, it’s time for the news: SWEDEN / NORWAY : Resurgence of JW in Sweden and Norway AUSTRIA : Austrians seem to have lost confidence in homeopathy INTERNATIONAL : Q...

Science shows that the heatwave in Europe was made much worse by climate crisis , and in TWISH we hear about an old but classic ‘UFO encounter’ in France . Naturally, we also take a look at the news: SWEDEN / INTERNATIONAL : Pontus Pokes the Politicians: Psychologist argues that politicians focus too much on values to explain crimes SPAIN / INTERNATIONAL : Boiron shifts to dietary supplements as m...

The applications to talk at SkeptiCamp in October are now open, don’t be shy ! In TWISH we hear about how the jesuit priest Angelo Secchi unwittingly became the origin of tales about green men on Mars . Then, it’s time for the news: EUROPE / WORLD : European heatwave / El Niño officially under way AUSTRIA : Study links authoritarian attitudes to belief in Anthroposophic medicine EUROPE / WORLD : I...

Some people still ignore the climate crises while there have been 200,000 preventable deaths due to heat only in Europe in the last four years. In TWISH we hear about the pope tried to strike back against Martin Luther with a papal bull (isn’t it all bull?) this week in 1520. Then, we turn to the news: NETHERLANDS : Freek Rikkerink of Suzan & Freek-fame is turning to paleo diet to combat termi...

Climate crisis reaches all the way up to Scandinavia and in TWISH we hear about Roger Bacon , an early advocate for investigative science. Then we have the news: SCOTLAND / INTERNATIONAL : Research integrity and transparency in SCAM journals ENGLAND : Church of England spends a fortune on evangelism SWEDEN : Scandals and corruption as Sweden prepares for September elections UK : Doctors and NHS co...

These days even cognitive biases are automated . In TWISH we hear about the skeptical TV-series X-Aknák (X-Mines) that ran on Hungarian TV in the early 2000s. Then, it’s time for the news: UK / INTERNATIONAL : Canadian man admits sending ‘suicide packets’ to hundreds of people in the UK and around the world UK / INTERNATIONAL : John Maddox Prize open for nominations INTERNATIONAL : Online ads are...

Not even June and people are already dying from heatwave in Europe . Skepkon 2026 in Regensburg looks to have been a hit and speaking of conferences – don’t forget to plan your trip to ESC Liverpool in October! In TWISH we hear about the man behind the Watchmaker analogy and then it’s time for the news: NORWAY / SWEDEN : Assisted death pushed too far UK : Wellness coach dies of frog poison INTERNA...

With the return of a super-El Niño it may be a hot year and in TWISH we hear about James Lind ‘s famous scurvy experiment from 1747. Then we have the news: INTERNATIONAL : Antidepressants in pregnancy do not raise children’s risk of autism or ADHD BELGIUM / DENMARK : Attempted control and recommendations regarding meat consumption spark disinformation campaigns INTERNATIONAL : Hantavirus myths and...

The new Hungarian government are making all the right noises and we hope they will live up to it. Don’t forget to get your ESC Liverpool tickets , and in TWISH we here about Magnus Hirschfeld , a pioneer in fighting for what we today call LGBTQ rights . Then, we head for the news: NORWAY / EU : Warning to athletes: Do not buy dietary supplements online, even from within Europe ITALY : PM Georgia M...

ESC Liverpool 2026  tickets are now available!  Get yours now!   Chris French  wrote a eulogy for  Nick Pope , UFO profile who passed away, and in  TWISH  we hear about  Gustave Le Bon  who identified the  mass psychology of crowds  over 150 years ago. Then we head for the news: UK : Humanists UK celebrates 130th anniversary INTERNATIONAL : Ha...

Next week on  6th May  the  tickets are released for ESC Liverpool . They may sell out fast, so be quick! In other news we note the demise of  Desmond Morris  and if you liked are interview with  Kat Ford , a  preprint of her Glastonbury article  is now available online! In  TWISH  we learn about the Scottish polymath  John Arbuthnot , and the...

Lots going on this week! It’s  European Immunization Week ,  Pontus went to a spa and got ‘cupped’ , and we have news about  two skeptical events : the launch of  Skeptival 2026 in Berlin  and  tickets for the European Skeptics Congress 2026 in Liverpool  (ESC 2026) will be released on 6 May! In  TWISH  we take a look at the misinformation surrounding t...