The Skeptic Zone Podcast

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The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason

The Skeptic Zone #538 - 10 Feb 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:05	Shoot for the Moon We chat to Prof. Richard Wiseman about his new book based on the Apollo Moon missions, 'Shoot for the Moon'. Books on success usually focus on genetically gifted Olympians, hardheaded CEOs and risk taking entrepreneurs. This book presents a radically different perspective on how to achieve your aims and ambitions. https://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/shoot-for-the-moon/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Quirkology
0:15:50	FSM welcomes new President Monash University Associate Professor Ken Harvey AM is the new President of Friends of Science in Medicine. He replaces Professor John Dwyer AO, the founding president. Friends of Science in Medicine, founded in 2011, has grown to become a major critic of unscientific health practices and fraudulent health claims. It has advised governments and media, made numerous submissions to enquiries and provided extensive public advice concerning dubious health claims and practices https://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au/2019/02/06/fsm-welcomes-new-president/
0:20:42	Citizen science Interviews with Paul Flemons from the Australian Museum and Patrick Tegart from the Office of Environment and Heritage. Citizen Science programs provide a very important source of data about biodiversity. Data and insights gained through the efforts of citizen scientists enable us to learn more about our environments by creating additional data sources. https://australianmuseum.net.au/get-involved/citizen-science/ https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/your-research/citizen-science
0:27:40	Testing a 'Psychic' claim From the pages of 'The Skeptic Magazine', we re-visit the time Australian Skeptics attempted to test a man who claimed to have something like psychic powers. Report by Ian Bryce. https://www.skeptics.com.au/the-magazine/
0:41:35	Trish & Chips! With Trish Hann Our reporter Trish Hann heads for Sydney Skeptics in the Pub to ask, "Who should be the Patron Saint of Skepticism?" With Tim Mendham, Jessica Singer, Ian Bryce, Richard Saunders and Jessica Hazzard-White
Also https://canberraskeptics.org

Prof Richard Wiseman

The Skeptic Zone #537 - 3 Feb 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:50	Who is 'The Well-Known Skeptic'? We chat to Rob Palmer, a listener to the Skeptic Zone who has gone on to be involved with investigations and reports. https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/the_well-known_skeptic
0:15:40	Homeopathy Exposed - Again! Australian Skeptics has long regarded homeopathy as little more than outdated quackery. In 2002 Richard Saunders and Peter Bowditch busted homeopaths giving some awful advice at a Babies Expo. https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2025%20(2005)%20No%202.pdf
0:26:00	Remembering Barry Williams A year after his death, we remember famed Australian Skeptic Barry Williams. From 2002 a radio interview with science braodcaster Stuart Gary.

Rob Palmer

The Skeptic Zone #536 - 27 January 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:20	Oh Yow! Oh Yowie! Reports are coming in of a large, unearthly creature attacking a delivery truck in Australia. We talk to famed investigator Ben Radford from the Squaring the Strange podcast to hear his thoughts on this strange and frightening event. https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5868252/qld-truckie-claims-yowie-bashed-his-bonnet/?cs=7 https://squaringthestrange.libsyn.com
0:15:45	Trish & Chips! With Trish Hann This week Trish interviews Dr Bard McKay to learn his opinion on pill testing at music events. With a number of deaths reported, is it time to try a different, more science-based approach? https://www.drbradmckay.com.au
0:36:48	A trip to the California Academy of Sciences The California Academy of Sciences is a research institute and natural history museum in San Francisco, California, that is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 26 million specimens. https://www.calacademy.org

Dr Brad

The Skeptic Zone #535 - 20 January 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:04:24	Oh No! It's Ross Blocher! We travel to the city of Portland, Oregon to see the live show of 'Oh No Ross and Carrie!' http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/oh-no-ross-and-carrie
0:10:40	Climate Science and Educational Outreach In Oakland, California we visit the National Science for Science Education to interview Brad Hoge, Director of teacher support. Brad joined NCSE in 2017 to help steward NCSEteach into its next phase. He has been a classroom teacher, a children's museum curator, a research scientist, and a science educator, including working as an associate professor at the University of Houston - Downtown. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rice University, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M.; http://www.ncse.com
0:36:16	Science Friction and Bigfoot As the snow falls, we chat to Brian Dunning from the Skeptoid podcast about the latest updates with his movie project. Then it's onto our favourite topic Bigfoot! https://sciencefriction.tv

Ross Blocher

The Skeptic Zone #534 - 13 January 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:04:15	Ear Candles: the outcome of TGA complaint Ear candling is a widely promoted alternative medical practice that involves inserting and lighting a hollow candle in the ear canal. It is claimed that candling creates a vacuum that removes wax and that it can also relieve ear ache, glue ear, tinnitus, sinus problems, chronic headache, migraine, sore throat, allergies and many more conditions. In fact, ear candles and candling are ineffective and dangerous. http://www.medreach.com.au/?p=3202
0:14:22	Life is Wild... With Michelle Franklin Cane Toads are a huge problem in the north of Australia. Michelle casts a skeptical eye over a plan to control their numbers.
0:23:00	Trish & Chips! With Trish Hann Our new reporter Trish Hann heads for Sydney Skeptics in the Pub to ask, "Why are the public cynical of Climate Change?" With Tim Mendham, Jessica Singer, Lynden Shields, Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz and Ben Mcavoy.
0:32:12	What is Quackery? From the pages of `The Skeptic` magazine, Dr Richard Gordon GP gives us his overview on quackery. The Skepic Magazine

Trish Hann

The Skeptic Zone #533 - 6 January 2019


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:00	GSoW at the Exploratorium We join Susan Gerbic, Mark Edward and Jay Diamond for a day at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. https://www.exploratorium.edu http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/the-skeptic-zone-453-25june2017
0:21:30	Life is Wild... With Michelle Franklin The Great Emu Invasion. A cautionary tale of what happens when people try to control nature.
0:31:45	Wikimedia from the inside We catch up with Moriel Schottlender, champion of the round earth, who gives us a tour of the Wikimedia headquarters in San Francisco. Skeptic Zone interview with Moriel about the Flat Earthers http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-480-31dec2017
0:45:42	The Diet Skeptic... with Mandy-Lee Noble Naturopath under investigation for aledged claims of cancer treatment and bad breast-feeding advice. Story by Jane Hansen. Naturopathy or naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that employs an array of pseudoscientific practices branded as "natural", "non-invasive", and as promoting "self-healing".
Also Surf Coast Skepticamp https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/surf-coast-summer-skepticamp-vii-tickets-51130149654

Moriel Schottlender

The Skeptic Zone #532 - 30 December 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:40	The Raw Skeptic Report... With Heidi Robertson This week Heidi has a follow up by Jane Hansen to last week's story from the recent ABC TV 7:30 Report on "No Jab - No Play". This is followed by another report by Jane Hansen on the improvment to vaccination rates in Australia, despite the efforts of the Anti-Vax crowd. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/vaccines-are-safe-and-antivax-parents-are-punishing-their-own-kids-say-doctors-and-grieving-parents/news-story/f6dfd32857611bf6d52d8f4a6c46e9e9
0:15:53	Astrology... Still Bunk From the pages of 'The Skeptic' magazine from Australia, Vol. 4 No. 3 - An astronomer's view of astrology. By Philip A. Ianna. One of the impressive things about astrology today is the extent to which it pervades our culture. More people know their sun sign than know their own blood type, and after hundreds of years of very astrology beginning 5000 years you can find zodiac motifs on almost anything. https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%204%20(1984)%20No%203.pdf Richard Saunders v. Milton Black https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-fjymxOrGE
0:32:20	The Diet Skeptic... with Mandy-Lee Noble For this week's (almost) New Year's Eve Diet Skeptic Report dietitian Mandy-Lee Noble has been inspired by social media encouraging us to kick off 2019 with a diet! And the one diet that seems to be the most popular this year is the keto or ketogenic diet.
0:43:42	Things Anti-Vaxxers Say The internet is full of wisdom... it's just that it can get lost with all the stupidity. With Maynard as the voice of reason and Richard as the voice of.... crazy! https://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/please-get-the-vaccines
Also SkeptiCamp Monterey 2019 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skepticamp-monterey-2019-tickets-5379955692 Surf Coast Skepticamp https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/surf-coast-summer-skepticamp-vii-tickets-51130149654

The Zodiac

The Skeptic Zone #531 - 23 December 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:32	The Raw Skeptic Report... With Heidi Robertson This week Heidi gives some background to the recent ABC TV 7:30 Report story on "No Jab - No Play". 7:30 Report Video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V1ySAvY8Ao0 https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2018/12/19/critics-no-jab-no-play-anti-vaxxers/ https://www.patheos.com/blogs/withoutacrystalball/2018/12/no-jab-no-play-anti-vax
0:24:22	Message from Britt Hermes Britt Hermes is an American former naturopath and noted skeptical campaigner, who has spent much time and effort lately in campaigning against naturopathic practices. She is the author of the blog Naturopathic Diaries. https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/12/18/britt-hermes-campaign-an-update-on-the-defamation-case
0:21:00	Maynard’s Spooky Action This week Maynard chats to Science Communicator Officer at Sydney Uni., Tom Gordon. https://physics-people.sydney.edu.au/physics/staff_details.jsp?ID=1145
0:35:10	Australian Medical Position Statement on Complementary Medicine Complementary medicine includes a wide range of products and treatments with therapeutic claims that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. https://ama.com.au/position-statement/ama-position-statement-complementary-medicine-2018
Also https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/surf-coast-summer-skepticamp-vii-tickets-51130149654

Richard Maynard Heidi

The Skeptic Zone #530 - 16 December 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:05:35	Grain of Salt... With Eran Segev Interview with Edva Lotan from Midaat Fighting Anti-Vax nonsense and promoting good health. Midaat was established with the goal of aiding the public in Israel to gain necessary information, identify health risks, and protect itself from those risks. http://midaat.org.il/midaat/midaat_english/
0:24:22	Maynard’s Spooky Action The last of the Skepticon interviews with Dr Ian Musgrave, Dr Brad McKay and Kate Browne
0:32:44	Misleading and Unsafe Practices by Anti-Vaccination Campaigners The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission has received multiple complaints regarding misleading and unsafe practices by anti-vaccination (anti-vax) campaigners and the potential risks that such persons and associations pose to the public health and safety. http://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
0:41:05	Silly Season with Maynard and Richard at the Skeptic Zone Christmas Party Local news photographers are hugely skilled and poorly paid, and get sent to photograph miserable people gurning at uncooked meat products. Maynard and Richard take look at this silly but fun site. http://apiln.blogspot.com New Year’s Eve with Maynard LIVE https://www.thejuniors.com.au/shop/item/new-years-eve-2018
Also https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/surf-coast-summer-skepticamp-vii-tickets-51130149654

show 530

The Skeptic Zone #529 - 9 December 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:35	Maynard’s Spooky Action Skepticon interview with Carrie Poppy http://www.facebook.com/onrac
0:26:00	Sydney Skeptics in the Pub for December We ask pubbers what podcasts they would like to hear. With Trish, Jessica, Rowland, Gavin and Jessica Singer.
0:42:00	The Raw Skeptic Report... with Heidi Robertson Release of NCIRS 2017 Immunisation Coverage Report and Australian Immunisation Register Data Transfer Study Report. Two new reports released by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) shine a bright new light on immunisation coverage in Australia. http://www.ncirs.org.au
0:49:37	Megaquake for Christmas? ‘Quake mystic’ Frank Hoogerbeets warns cosmic event could ‘trigger megaquake’ over Christmas https://www.news.com.au/ https://www.ditrianum.org

Carrie Poppy

The Skeptic Zone #528 - 2 December 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:20	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Part #6 Lee Murray Dr Pamela Gay Luke Freeman Dr Vyom Sharmer
0:33:35	Anti-vax activist charges parents $4000 for ‘expert report’ An anti-vaccination activist with no medical training is charging $4000 for an “expert report” to present in court cases to help parents who do not want to have their children vaccinated. - By Jane Hansen https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au
0:38:00	Radio Skeptics Sydney radio from a few years back with Richard Saunders talking about Chemtrails and Yowies.

Lee Murray - Dr Pamela Gay

The Skeptic Zone #527 - 25 November 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:03:40	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Part #5 Kate Browne Dr Vyom Sharmer Eran Segev and more https://www.finder.com.au/
0:25:00	Science Friction with Brian Dunning Finally, a documentary about scientists who get misrepresented by the media. Those TV documentaries you see, and the science experts they feature? Did you know that producers often edit them out of context, and twist their words, to make it seem like they promoted some pop sensationalism instead of the real facts? Science Friction is going to expose these faux documentaries by name, and will give the scientists a chance to clear the record. https://sciencefriction.tv/
0:40:00	Maynard with Fiona Patten The Reason Party stands for forward-thinking, evidence-based and inclusive change for Victoria. We represent reasonable people who want real change for the better. https://reasonvic.org.au/

Kate Browne

The Skeptic Zone #526 - 18 November 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:05:00	Susan Gerbic from GSoW Update on Facilitated Communication https://www.facebook.com/GSoWproject
0:16:04	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Part #4 Magicians Nick Kay and Peter Rodgers https://nickkaymagic.com
0:37:27	Life is Wild! With Michelle Franklin Bio Control and Cane Toads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkeptiCamp

Susan Gerbic

The Skeptic Zone #525 - 11 November 2018


0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:04:25	Maynard and Richard's Spooky Action... Interviews from the Oz Paranormal & Spiritual Expo 2018 Good Games Miranda https://www.goodgames.com.au/au/stores/nsw/miranda.html Cast from Dungeon fx https://castfromdungeonfx.com UFO PRSA http://www.ufosociety.net.au Secret Witch Business https://www.facebook.com/secretwitchbiz/ Oz Paratech https://ozparatech.com/ APPI Ghost Hunts & Tours https://www.appighosthunts.com/ Beth Darlington https://www.accessparanormal.com/ Peet Banks https://www.ozparaexpo.com.au/
0:32:25	Massimo Polidoro and Stranger Stories Randi Tricks the Trickster. How was the Amazing Randi able to break a spoon and read inside a sealed envelope during an unexpected challenge on a TV show in Canada? Here Randi reveals his secret... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHiMHkvIz0M https://www.cicap.org/n/index.php
0:44:14	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Part #3 Mal Vickers Yvette d'Entremont, also known as The SciBabe Part #3 Kirsten Banks Dr Pamela Gay

Kirsten Banks

The Skeptic Zone #524 - 4 November 2018

0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:04:20	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Yvette d'Entremont, also known as The SciBabe Part #2 Adam Reakes Ruth Ellison Tim Mendham Jessica Singer http://www.herdmentalitypodcast.com/ https://crankybot.com/
0:27:15	Trish Hann and the risks of avoiding Ante Natal Care This week Trish talks about the red flags and dangers of home birthing and the reluctance of some to take advantage of basic medical procedures.
0:35:15	Skeptics in the Pub Pine Gap talk with David Rosenberg Interviews from the bar stools. https://www.amazon.com/Pine-Gap-David-Rosenberg-ebook/dp/B07H3488C7

Skepticon 2018

The Skeptic Zone #523 - 28 October 2018

0:00:00	Introduction Richard Saunders
0:04:20	Crowd Interviews from Skepticon 2018 We chat to Mandy-Lee Noble Heidi Robertson The GSoW Team Dr Sue Blackmore
0:13:33	Aust Skeptics Campaigns and Investigations – have your say Australian Skeptics Inc is regularly involved in a range of campaigns and investigations, some of which have been well-publicised (like the investigation of the PowerBalance wrist band), and others that are on-going and still under wraps. This is your chance to get involved. Feel free to contact us with tips and suggestions. You might also like to add your own active contribution and play a part in the campaign and/or investigation itself. https://www.skeptics.com.au/2018/10/01/aust-skeptics-campaigns-and-investigations-have-your-say/
0:17:42	Maynard’s Spooky Action... Interviews from Skepticon 2018 Yvette d'Entremont, also known as The SciBabe Part #1 Dr Vyom Sharma Trish Hann

Skepticon 2018
Photos: Mal Vickers

The Vaccination Chonicles

Solar Flare

Featuring

Verna Morris, Maureen Chuck, Ken McLeod, Monica Saville, Dr Richard Gordon, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, John Bundock, Peter Bowditch and Lauren Cochrane with Ada and Jack.

YouTube
http://youtu.be/mTprFOmIjIg

The Band of Power

Join the cast of the Skeptic Zone Podcast, and host of special guests, in their first audio adventure as they board the Australian Space Ship Solar Flare to fight the forces of woo thoughout the galaxy!

Also featuring the hit song
FAR by George Hrab.

It's old time radio from the future!

Solar Flare episode 1

Free Origami Posters

Cranes

4,961 × 3,508 pixels, file size: 3.73 MB

Folded and Photographed
by Richard Saunders

Pigasus

4,961 × 3,508 pixels, file size: 3.45 MB

Invented, Folded and Photographed
by Richard Saunders

The Skeptic Zone Podcast is an independent production by Richard Saunders and the team of reporters. The views and opinions expressed on the Skeptics Zone Podcast are not necessarily those Australian Skeptics Inc. or any other skeptical organisation.

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