The Skeptic Zone

Richard Saunders

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'. read less

The Skeptic Zone #765 - 4.June.2023
2d ago
The Skeptic Zone #765 - 4.June.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:32 You Can Count on Adrienne Interview with Courtney Heard Courtney Heard is the host of the Q-Dropped Podcast, featuring stories of relationships torn apart by QAnon. She has been an active and outspoken member of the online atheist community since 2014, when she launched her blog, www.godlessmom.com. Born and raised secular in British Columbia, she has never been religious but has found the sudden increase of conspiratorial thinking in the mainstream discourse unsettling. She has dedicated much of her free time to telling the stories of people who have lost a loved one to QAnon because her own parents have been lost down the same rabbit hole. https://www.porthosmedia.net/qdropped 0:17:41 Local Skeptics Susan Gerbic chats to Greg Roe from the Santa Cruz County Skeptics, a group for science enthusiasts, critical thinkers, and skeptics in Santa Cruz County, California. They socialize, promote science and critical thinking in their community, host talks, and more. https://www.meetup.com/santa-cruz-county-skeptics https://www.facebook.com/groups/1419831232169981 0:23:06 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. Includes Adrienne's Canadian word of the week, "Kerfuffle". http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:33:44 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references about mysterious India. paper here http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Meet the ex-NYPD cop and private investigator who tracks down fraud psyhics https://youtu.be/2GHt018bMFQ 10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #241 - 2.June.2013 A chat with Canberra Skeptics - A Week in Science - The Think Tank. Once again we head to our club at the end of the street to talk about issues of the day. Joining us this week are Joanne Benhamu, Dr Rachie and Eran Segev. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-241-2-june-2013
The Skeptic Zone #764 - 28.May.2023
May 27 2023
The Skeptic Zone #764 - 28.May.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:22 Dinosaurs in San Francisco Join Dr Eugenie Scott and Richard Saunders as they inspect a new exibition of Sauropod Dinosaurs at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. The largest land animals that ever lived have arrived at the Academy! Get ready for a hot sauropod summer with life-size dinosaur models, hands-on interactives, and programs for junior paleontologists. https://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/the-worlds-largest-dinosaurs 0:13:36 Susan Gerbic in Berkeley Susan tells us of her YouTube series investigating so-called "Grief Vampires", otherwise known as con artists claiming to be able to contact the dead. Psychics Explained - Grief Vampire Edition https://www.youtube.com/@PsychicsExplained 0:25:58 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Mass Hysteria By Dr. Allen Christophers Students of the paranormal are familiar with claims of miraculous cures of disease where the improvement in condition is brought about by suggestion on the part of the healer. The other side of the coin is the situation where diseases are generated by a process of sugges- tion. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 1 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:35:16 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Lake Monsters. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #240 - 26.May.2013 A report from the Sunday Telegraph and ‘Lateline' on the appalling behaviour of the Anti-Vax crowd - This week Dr Rachie appeared on The Project (Network 10) to talk about vaccination rates in Australia - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Dr Rachie chats to Andy Lewis from the web site Quackometer - The tables are turned and Saunders ends up being interviewed, on Radio 2UE with Murray Wilton, about being a skeptic and his upcoming public talk in Canberra. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-240-26-may-2013
The Skeptic Zone #760 - 30.April.2023
Apr 29 2023
The Skeptic Zone #760 - 30.April.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:12 You Can Count on Adrienne An interview with Abhijit Chanda from India, host of the "Rationable" Podcast and skeptical activist. One of Abhijit's skeptical interests is the alternative medicine known as Ayurveda or Ayurvedic. This is a system of traditional medicine native to India, which uses a range of treatments, including panchakarma ('five actions'), yoga, massage, acupuncture and herbal medicine, that claims to encourage health and wellbeing. Abhijit also talks about palm reading in India. https://www.berationable.com 0:20:40 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham SKEPTICS TEST PSYCHIC SURGEON By Mark Plummer When a small paragraph advertisement in "The Age" on January 3rd 1981 stated that an English medium-psychic surgeon would be commencing practice in Melbourne the Australian Skeptics swung into action. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 1 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:30:16 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Fairies. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #236 - 27.April.2013 A chat with Deborah Hyde, editor of The Skeptic magazine (UK). Vampires and more vampires! Move over Buffy as Deborah tells all about the creatures of the night - A Week in Science with Dr Tania Meyer - Dr Rachie Reports with Dr Rachael Dunlop. From QED in Manchester, Dr Rachie chats to ex-cop Stevyn Colgan about problem solving - Maynard interviews Scott Bartle about his concerns with government. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-236-27-april-2013
The Skeptic Zone #759 - 23.April.2023
Apr 22 2023
The Skeptic Zone #759 - 23.April.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 You Can Count on Adrienne. Wiki UFOs This week Adrienne takes a look at some of the many UFOs reports from the first half of the 20th century as recorded on Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reported_UFO_sightings 0:17:11 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:30:48 Vale Rex Gilroy One of Australia's all time great characters from the world of cryptozoology has died. We look back at some of the media reports about Rex and his decades long search for mysterious animals. Maynard interviews Rex Gilroy for the Skeptic Zone. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-291-16may2014 0:42:02 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 1922.05.08 - The Daily Telegraph - Sydney 1923.06.05 - Singleton Argus 1928.07.21 - The Register - SA 1930.07.07 - The Daily Pictorial - Sydney 1930.07.12 - Northern Star - Lismore 1930.07.29 - Border Watch - SA http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #235 - 20.April.2013 Richard Saunders in Olomouc, the Czech Republic - A chat with Jakub RáliÅ¡ from the AFO48 Festival. What is AFO? Find out this long running festival - The Enemies of Reason - at AFO48 Richard Saunders introduces the film by Dr. Richard Dawkins - A quick chat with Rebecca Watson Rebecca was also a guest of the festival. - The winner of the international science film competition at AFO48. Jury member Bechara Saab annouces the winning film, The Grammar of Happiness. Other jury members were Irina Belykh and Richard Saunders - QED in Manchester. A chat with Michael Marshall and Geoff Whelan and many other people at QED - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Maynard interviews James Owen Weatherall about his book, 'The Physics of Wall Street'. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-235-20-april-2013
The Skeptic Zone #758 - 16.April.2023
Apr 15 2023
The Skeptic Zone #758 - 16.April.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:06 Adrienne Hill on the High Seas During a recent visit to the Skeptic Zone studios, Adrienne spoke to Richard Saunders about her voyage from Sydney to New Zealand. What magical thinking and woo did she find on board the vessel? Find out as Adrienne recounts tales of the high seas. 0:24:42 Saunders talks Skeptics in the Pub In 2006, Richard Saunders appeared on Sydney radio to chat with Glenn Wheeler about being a skeptic, TV Psychics and Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. Not much has changed in almost 20 years. http://www.meetup.com/austskeptics 0:37:46 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers where we find a whole page devoted to the paranormal. 1941.02.14 - The Guardian - Perth WA http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also WeCanReason Western Canadian Reason Conference May 5-6 2023 (With guest Richard Saunders live on stage) https://wecanreason.com 10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #234 - 13.April.2013 A chat with Leisha Camden from the Norway Skeptics. What is her view of the state of science, reason and education in Norway? - An Irish Adventure. A stroll in the park with Fionnuala Murphy from the Irish Skeptics and then a visit to a real Irish pub... complete with singing! - QED in Manchester. First day of QED. Richard Saunders and Dr Rachie feed a goose? - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - The Think Tank - USA. Join Travis Roy, Steve Lunquist, Andrew Handsford and Dale Roy as they chat about the recent NEXUS conference, TAM USA, conspiracy theories and.... popcorn? https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-234-13-april-2013
The Skeptic Zone #757 - 9.April.2023
Apr 8 2023
The Skeptic Zone #757 - 9.April.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:16 New Zealand Skeptics' $100,000 Challenge We talk to Craig Shearer, the chair of the New Zealand Skeptics, about the organisation's $100,000 challenge. Can psychics and their ilk in New Zealand live up to their claims? If so, they can collect the large cash reward. http://skeptics.nz 0:19:54 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill in tne Skeptic Zone studio. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:02 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Fisher's Ghost". 1925.02.20 - The Herald - Melbourne Vic 1925.09.24 - The Evening News - Rockhampton Qld 1927.03.09 - The Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal 1948.09.27 - Tweed Daily 1897.01.30 - Australian Town and Country Journal http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #233 - 6.April.2013 A chat with Marit Simonsen and Kristin Carlsson in Oslo. Walking in the snow or visiting skeptics in the pub, Oslo has something for everyone! - An update with Ian Bryce on the operation to restore sight to a blind dog... thank you science! - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Maynard's Spooky Action. He's back in Sydney Skeptics in the Pub to ask the BIG question. Should you tell kids about the Easter Bunny? - "Tesseracts" by Neal A. Yeager https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-233-6-april-2013
The Skeptic Zone #754 - 19.March.2023
Mar 18 2023
The Skeptic Zone #754 - 19.March.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:06 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill WikiProject Folklore With the help Richard Saunders, Adrienne takes a look at the top ten list of topics at "WikiProject Folklore", which states, "Founded in 2018, the WikiProject's goal is simple: to improve Wikipedia's coverage of folklore-related topics by identifying and employing sources from folklore studies. Members build relevant articles that meet Wikipedia's reliable source criteria, develop categories and templates, and work to improve pre-existing problem articles that fall within the scope of the project. " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Folklore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Folklore/Popular_pages WikiProject Report, Special:FAQs https://Wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2013-04-01/WikiProject_report 0:26:18 The Teachings of Carlos A look at some of the pages from the book "The Teachings of Carlos" from the great Carlos Hoax by James Randi in 1988. This book of nonsense was written by Randi and used as part of the press kit for the channeler Jose Alvarez (in reality Randi's companion Deyvi Pena) as part of the "60 Minutes" Australia hoax. The Teachings of Carlos - "60 Minutes" Australia TV Report from 1988 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN54PDwNa6s 0:41:52 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Therapeutic Touch". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #230 - 16.March.2013 The Mighty Mitta Muster Water Divining Test 2013. Join Richard Saunders and a host of skeptics and diviners on the old Mitta Mitta tennis court for a major test of water divining - Diviners' Intervention. Written and performed by Jim Wilshire - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Academia Film Olomouc. More infromation about the festival in the Czech Republic. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-230-16-march-2013
The Skeptic Zone #753 - 12.March.2023
Mar 11 2023
The Skeptic Zone #753 - 12.March.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:00 Nostradamus in Print A chance find of a newspaper clipping in a Berkeley book store leads to Richard Saunders ordering a long forgotten publication from 1983, "The Untold Story - Nostradamus' Unpublished Prophecies". 0:27:26 Nostradamus on TV A trip back to 1979 and 1989 to look at the documentaries produced by the Seven Network in Australia, "The Prophecies of Nostradamus". A case study in how myths and assertions can be presented as fact. https://archive.org/details/the-prophecies-of-nostradamus-1979 0:42:10 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:54:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Nostradamus. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #229 - 10.March.2013 Maynard's Spooky Action.. Look out for Pirates! Maynard talks to Simon Frew from Pirate Party Australia - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Academia Film Olomouc. A quick chat about the festival in the Czech Republic. - Dr Rachie Reports A report from Radio 2SER about vaccination featuring Dr Racie - Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. We chat to pubbers and ask the big questions... Do you think human society on the whole will ever turn to science and reason and if so, how long will it take? https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/the-skeptic-zone-229-9-march-2013
The Skeptic Zone #752 - 5.March.2023
Mar 4 2023
The Skeptic Zone #752 - 5.March.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:48 Planets In View Richard Saunders travels to the Chabot Space & Science Center to meet up with Leonard Tramiel. Together they gaze, in broad daylight, at the planets Venus and Jupiter. https://chabotspace.org 0:13:12 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill An interview with Jonathan Jarry Jonathan is a science communicator for McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, or the OSS, and the co-host of the award-winning Body of Evidence podcast. He is frequently quoted in local, national and international media on issues of science and pseudoscience and is a regular on CTV Montreal News. His subversive video about a fake cancer cure went viral and reminded over 14 million people to be skeptical. Johnathan has been interviewed on the Skeptic Zone before on episode #569 in 2019 about the dangers of ear candling. This is an edited version of the interview. To hear the interview in full, use this YouTube link. https://youtube.com/watch?v=byDSjyTSkWk https://www.mcgill.ca/oss https://www.jonathanjarry.com http://twitter.com/crackedscience 0:29:24 Mythical Horses and Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses A wonderful side excursion to Fairyland, an adventure playground for children, in Oakland California. Dr Eugenie Scott looks at some of the mythical creatures and nursery rhymes. https://fairyland.org 0:38:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to superstitions. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #228 - 3.Mar.2013 We talk to Sharon Hill about her web site 'Doubtful News' - Dr Rachie Reports. The lastest goings on with those wacky folks at the Australian Anti-Vaccination Network - Project DropFox. An interview with Trent Brusky from DropFox, a web site giving back to the skeptical community - A Week in Science with Dr Paul Willis - Maynard's Spooky Action.. Maynard jumps into his time machine to continue interview from the Australian Skeptics Convention, 2012 https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-228-3-march-2013
The Skeptic Zone #751 - 26.February.2023
Feb 25 2023
The Skeptic Zone #751 - 26.February.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Susan Gerbic 0:01:38 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill WikiProject Alternative Medicine With the help Richard Saunders, Adrienne takes a look at the top ten list of topics at "WikiProject Alternative Medicine", which states, "This WikiProject aims primarily to facilitate the development of professional articles on all aspects of complementary, alternative and integrative medicine. The scope of this WikiProject will be referred to throughout our project pages simply as CAM (complementary and alternative medicine)." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Alternative_medicine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Alternative_medicine/Popular_pages WikiProject Report, Special:FAQs https://Wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2013-04-01/WikiProject_report 0:25:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:35:30 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Fake Cures". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #227 - 23.Feb.2013 Water Divining Preview We talk to Laurie Smith about the upcoming water divining tests in Mitta Mitta - Maynard's Spooky Action.. An interview with Simon Taylor, an Australian comedian and Hollywood writer. ... He writes for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and much more - The Think Tank. Join Jo Benhamu, Eran Segev, Guy Segev and Richard Saunders for skeptical talk of skeptical issues https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-227-23-feb-2013
The Skeptic Zone #750 - 19.February.2023
Feb 18 2023
The Skeptic Zone #750 - 19.February.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:28 Brian Dunning - The Dangers of Film Making We catch up with Skepoid Podcast host Brain Dunning who tells us of his unpleasant experience with hypothermia while filming his new documentary The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You to See This interview was record in Bend, Orgeon. http://www.theufo.movie 0:19:14 A Tribute to Dr Harriet Hall Susan Gerbic reads her touching tribute to our late friend and tireless campaigner against quackery. This item was originally posted in the Skeptical Inquirer online. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/harriet-hall-from-passive-skeptic-to-movement-juggernaut/ 0:33:04 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham What Goes Around By Tim Mendham A delusion is a belief that is clearly false and that indicates an abnormality in the affected person's content of thought. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 40 No. 2 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:40:54 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Canberra Skeptics. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #226 - 16.Feb.2013 SOAP! An interview with Dr Krissy Wilson about talking how to get into SOAP or the Science of Anomalistic Phenomena - Maynard's Spooky Action.. Science in the Pub - Join Maynard in Newcastle for Science and beer! - A Chat with Dr Paul Willis. What's the latest inside news about the end of the dinosaurs? Let's ask Dr Paul Willis from the Royal Institution of Australia. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-226-16-feb-2013
The Skeptic Zone #749 - 12.February.2023
Feb 11 2023
The Skeptic Zone #749 - 12.February.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Skeptical Workshops Online Susan Gerbic tells Adrienne of two-hour interactive workshops held over Zoom. These workshops use case studies to practice interactions with people to have more respectful and productive conversations about odd things. The main goal is to become the person that people come to when they have questions about weird things. There are a series of workshop topics that can be customized for your group. https://www.facebook.com/GSoWproject for more information. 0:19:24 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month We catch up with Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan for an update on her journey with ovarian cancer. Siobhan O'Sullivan is an Australian political scientist and political theorist who is currently an associate professor in the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales. Her research has focused, among other things, on animal welfare policy and the welfare state. https://www.ocrf.com.au 0:30:48 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:44:34 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Tics and Tac-Tics #2 By Tim Mendham A look at some of the strange superstitions that sporting people from around the world use to put their minds at ease before the big game. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 42 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #225 - 10.Feb.2013 Penny Chan and Hong Kong. Did she discover any 'Woo'? - AN HONEST LIAR - The Amazing Randi Story - Maynard's Spooky Action.. A chat with Ben Newsome, Director of the science outreach program, Fizzics Education - Science shows & educational products with real WOW factor! - Maynard at Skeptics in the Pub. And the big question this month is... "What do you think intuition is?" https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-225-10-feb-2013
The Skeptic Zone #748 - 5.February.2023
Feb 4 2023
The Skeptic Zone #748 - 5.February.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:10 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill WikiProject Cryptozoology With the help Richard Saunders, Adrienne takes a look at the top ten list of topics at "WikiProject Crypozoology", which is "a group dedicated to improving Wikipedia's coverage of articles related to cryptozoology, a pseudoscience and subculture. The goal of this WikiProject is to improve coverage of cryptozoology on English Wikipedia. This project covers notable figures and topics related to the subculture, its history, geographical diffusion, and related places and people. We will specifically deal with all articles contained in the Category:Cryptozoology and its subcategories." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Cryptozoology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Cryptozoology/Popular_pages WikiProject Report, Special:FAQs https://Wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2013-04-01/WikiProject_report 0:27:29 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Tics and Tac-Tics #1 By Tim Mendham A look at some of the strange superstitions that sporting people from around the world use to put their minds at ease before the big game. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 42 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:36:30 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Iridology". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #224 - 3.Feb.2013 Maynard's Spooky Action.. An interview with Robert Llewellyn from TV's Red Dwarf - Report from the pages of 'The Skeptic', 'Do it Yourself' - Getting the skeptical message across through the mainstream media can be an uphill battle. So why not create your own? - A chat with Dr Meredith Doig, president of 'The Rationalist Society of Australia https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/-the-skeptic-zone-224-3-feb-2013
The Skeptic Zone #746 - 22.January.2023
Jan 21 2023
The Skeptic Zone #746 - 22.January.2023
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:08 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill WikiProject Skeptical With the help Richard Saunders, Adrienne takes a look at the top ten list of topics at "WikiProject Skeptical", which is "dedicated to creating, improving, and monitoring articles related to Scientific skepticism (British English spelling: scepticism), also known as rational skepticism or skeptical inquiry. The focus includes articles about claims which are contrary to the current body of scientific evidence, or which involve the paranormal. The project ensures that these articles are written from a neutral point of view, and do not put forward invalid claims as truth." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Skepticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Skepticism/Popular_pages WikiProject Report, Special:FAQs https://Wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2013-04-01/WikiProject_report 0:28:12 ChatGPT on Skeptical Topics Another trip down the rabbit hole of Artificial Intelligence as we seek answers from ChatGTP on skeptical topics including Psychics, Bigfoot, Spoon Bending, Homeopathy, Ghosts, Astrology and Palmistry. 0:40:19 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Creationism". The Mercury - 18 Feb 1933The Canberra Times - 29 March 1984The Canberra Times - 6 Jan 1986Woroni - 9 Sept 1985 http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #222 - 21.Jan.2013 Maynard's Spooky Action.. An interview with Dr Krissy Wilson about talking to the dead - Danger 5. Just for fun, Richard Saunders checks in with Maynard as he hosts a public Q & A with the cast of this Australian TV show - Skeptical BBQ. Richard Saunders travels to Canberra for a screening of "Here be Dragons" by Brian Dunning and enjoys a chat with Kevin Davies, the president of Canberra Skeptics - The Think Tank. Join a host of Canberra Skeptics as they chat about Conspiracy Theories. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-222-21-jan-2013