The European Skeptics Podcast

This week we interview Marcel-Jan Krijgsman, Dutch amateur astronomer, data engineer and science communicator.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-465.htmlSegments:0:00:33 Intro0:00:56 Greetings0:11:04 Interview0:45:58 Farewell0:50:08 Outro0:51:30 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After discussing Nazi salutes, placebo surgery, scientology follow-up, Massimo Polidoro’s new book and several recommendations for other podcasts, we eventually get down to the meat of the show. In TWISH we hear about Delta, the science TV program that aired 61 years ago on 31 of January. Then, we look to the news:SWEDEN: Swedish Skeptics AwardsCENTRAL EUROPE: Disinformation and conspiracy beliefs in East-Central Europe show significant differencesBALTIC SEA: Follow-up on the alleged cable sabotage in the Baltic SeaUK: Is Google actually gonna crack down on fake reviews?SWEDEN: Against scientific consensus, the age of criminal responsibility could be lowered to 14Putin and Russia collect a yet another Really Wrong Award, this time for disinformation in schools.Enjoy! (if that’s the word)https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-464.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:20:46 TWISH0:27:57 News0:54:17 Really Wrong0:58:59 Quote1:

The ECDC has declared January cervical cancer awareness month which we support 100%. We also want encourage local skeptical actions such as speaking up when companies promote nonsense and Pontus gives us an example of how easy it can be, if you just take a few minutes and speak up. We also mention that the planets are lined up in a cool way at the moment, so turn your eyes to the skies! In TWISH we hear about Vladimir Bekhterev who was at least as significant in psychology as Pavlov was, but made the mistake to talk badly about Stalin and as a result was almost entirely written out of history. Then, we look at the news:INTERNATIONAL: It’s confirmed: 2024 was the first year with an average temperature 1.5°C above pre-industrial levelsINTERNATIONAL: Pro-Russia disinformation pops up on BlueSkyBALTIC SEA: Damaged cables in Baltic Sea not Russian sabotage?EU: X asked to disclose internal documents about algorithms over fears that far right gets

Happy to be back again and we start by welcoming some new publications by Brian Eggo and Edzard Ernst. In TWISH we wonder if 13 January is Skeptics Day and then we dig into the news:FRANCE: Godfather of modern far-right movement Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96UK / ESTONIA: Nurosym – an example of scam health deviceUK: Poll shows more than half of UK voters dislike Elon Musk and his meddling with UK politicsThis week’s Really Wrong Award was just as hard to guess as the sun going up or down – Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are going full MAGA on us and it is terrible to see.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-462.htmlSegments: 0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:09:48 TWISH0:13:26 News0:42:37 Really Wrong0:53:53 Quote0:55:51 Outro0:57:06 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quite a few things to dive into this week: the Medici popes, some listener feedback, cool dinosaur tracks and some sad news from France. In TWISH we we have an epiphany and then we go through the news:NORWAY / UK: Who Believes in Alternative Medicine?RUSSIA: Cancer vaccine announced, with no published evidenceUK: Over 40% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medications while receiving anticancer treatmentINTERNATIONAL: Another year of Retraction Watch being awesome! Want to work for and with them?INTERNATIONAL: Recent global temperature surge intensified by record-low planetary albedoHUNGARY: Viktor Orbán travels to India, posts photo with Ayurvedic guruSeveral Hungarian organizations close to the government signs up with IFTCC who claims that banning conversion therapy is a threat to human rights – can you be more Really Wrong?Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-461.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51

With András unavailable, we drag Annika out of retirement to launch the new year! In TWISH we hear about Martin Luther’s excommunication and while Pontus always enjoy seeing someone stand up to the Pope, Martin Luther himself was far from flawless. Then we have the news-round:SWEDEN / INTERNATIONAL: Multi supplements are at best unnecessary and at worst dangerousEU: Amalgam is historyINTERNATIONAL: World endures ‘decade of deadly heat’ as 2024 caps hottest years on recordElon Musk, already adorned with the shameful Rusty Razor Award of 2024, add this week’s Really Wrong Award to his collection, this time for supporting the German AfD party.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-460.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:03:19 TWISH0:13:46 News0:29:18 Really Wrong0:33:05 Quote0:34:44 Outro0:35:59 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We close the year with some topical items related to the season.Happy New Year!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-459.htmlSegments:0:00:25 Intro0:00:49 Greetings0:05:28 TWISH0:21:13 Special segment0:39:37 Quote0:41:35 Outro0:42:50 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A little correction to start with, and then in TWISH we hear about the Jesuit and scientist Tommaso Ceva. Of course, we also have the news:SWEDEN: Private clinics on public contracts promoted nonsense cures, denied sick patients and cheatedHUNGARY: Government’s own fact checkers cause for concern in EuropeUK: Boycott against Arla for trying to reduce methane emissionsINTERNATIONAL: New comprehensive review of homeopathy is actually BSUK: Follow up on Church of England scandalROMANIA: Presidential elections called off after Russian meddlingThe EU has a regulation stating that farmers have to prioritize homeopathy before real veterinary medicine to keep their “organic” label, and for that the EU is Really Wrong.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:33 TWISH0:11:56 News0:39:36 Really Wrong0:45:56 Quote0:47:11 Outro0:48:26 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-458.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with the sad news that this is Annika’s last episode as a regular host. Over the last four years she has brought her unique perspective and insights (and puns!) to the show. But being part of a weekly podcast is tough commitment while at the same time balancing a fulltime job, raising a family and participating in other skeptical activities. We will miss her! And we hope to see her back again from time to time for guest appearances.In TWISH this week we celebrate the birth of Robert Koch, one of the ‘fathers of microbiology’ (together with Louis Pasteur). Then we have a look at the news:INTERNATIONAL: Adult skills in literacy and numeracy declining or stagnating in most OECD countriesINTERNATIONAL: Online influencers in urgent need of factchecking toolsINTERNATIONAL: How the far right is weaponising AI generated content in EuropeUK: Update: Sentence announced for ‘slapping therapist’ Hongchi XiaoUK: Resignation at the Royal SocietySWEDEN: Indian sect called ‘On

After the usual pre-amble, we hear about the first prediction of a transit of Venus in TWISH. Calculated by Kepler himself you can only go go “Yay, science!”, and salute the guy. Then we get to the news:INTERNATIONAL: Company linked to cloned journals of major publishers denies cloning journals of major publishersAUSTRIA: The Golden Board in front of the head goes to… HealyUK: The UK ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ – reasons for concern?INTERNATIONAL: 20th translation of the Debunking Handbook now out!INTERNATIONAL: ‘Grey content’: how mainstream journalism accidentally fueled covid vaccine hesitancyWhy is it that all celebrities go bonkers and want to sell nonsense products? We don’t know, but David Beckham is no exception and for that he is Really Wrong.Enjoy!Show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-456.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:08:08 TWISH0:13:45 News0:43:47 Really Wrong0:49:08 Quote0:50:14 Outro0:51:29 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/

We start with some reflections on COP29 and then we send our big congratulations to Richard Saunders on receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Skeptics. Well deserved indeed! Another well deserved but shameful award goes to King Charles who received the New Zealand Skeptics’ Bent Spoon Award. In TWISH we look back at the founding of the Royal Society all the way back in 1660. Then, it’s time for the news:INTERNATIONAL: Measles cases at a massive surgeGERMANY: Court ruling states that informed consent is important when using SCAMNORWAY: Update: true con artists – the Princess and the Shaman have not paid the suppliers for their weddingAUSTRIA: Finalists of the Golden Board announcedSWITZERLAND: Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered JesusThis week’s Really Wrong Award goes to the Dutch minister of Education Eppo Bruins for his plans to slash education funding.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:

As everyone else these days we are moving from X to Bluesky, any help in driving traffic our way is much appreciated. The Humanists UK has published a new exciting book called What I Believe, named after podcast by the same name. You should check it out! In TWISH we hear about how the (then) Prince of Wales got his favorite charity for SCAM (So-Called Alternative Medicine) struck from the UK Charity Commission. Then, we head for the news:INTERNATIONAL: 2024 will be the first year above 1.5°CINTERNATIONAL: Climate crisis to blame for dozens of ‘impossible’ heatwaves, studies revealINTERNATIONAL: Retraction Watch is hiring!SPAIN: Video does not show ‘HAARP ship’ floating near Spain before floodsINTERNATIONAL: WHO teams up with TikTok to combat misinformation on social mediaThe Really Wrong Award goes to the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam for making a chiropractor professor.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-454.htmlS

It’s one election after another. The same day that the US voted orange, Germany decided on a snap election after the current coalition fell apart. Let’s hope people over here are better informed than the American voters. In TWISH we hear about ‘Doctor Universalis’ Albertus Magnus whose scientific mindset in the 13th century helped Europe begin its long and winding road out of the dark ages. Then we explore the news:ONLINE: ‘Akusoli’ is a typical example of woowoo products that are aggressively marketed onlineUK: Assisted dying bill’s ‘strict’ safeguards to include long jail terms for coercionSWEDEN: Warning regarding fake medicine onlineGERMANY: Who trusts science and who doesn’t?UK: The Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church abuse scandalThe Really Wrong Award is split between oil producer Shell and a Dutch court of appeals that overturned Shell’s requirement to reduce their emission goals.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive

This is the first “regular episode” for a while and of course we cannot help to mourn the stupid results of the US elections. But since this is a European show we cannot let that stop us, so after a TWISH story of how Charles Darwin, 130 years after his death, gained over 4000 votes in the elections in the US state of Georgia, it’s time for the news:BULGARIA / NORTH MACEDONIA: Baba Vanga (баба Ванга), the Bulgarian psychicINTERNATIONAL: Wanna help out the Skeptical Science team?UK: King Charles and Queen Camilla on secret Bengaluru trip for woo treatmentINTERNATIONAL: A little help to nurses in combatting vaccine misinformationNORWAY: Spouse of Norwegian princess, ‘shaman’ Durek Verrett, accused of sexual assaultUK: Religious hate crimes at record high levelsThe NHS in the UK has all but done away with homeopathy, but still funds a number of unproven nonsense treatments and for that the receive this week award for being Really Wrong. And then before we sign of

A longer episode this week, jampacked with interviews from QED! One of the marvelous things with conferences (don’t forget about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney!) is that you meet so many fantastic people. We tried to capture a little of that feeling by recording a bunch of interviews, so tune in to hear from Clio Bellenis, Diana Barbosa, João Monteiro, Igor Stroev, David Glass, and Hayley Stevens! As if that is not enough we also have a longer interview with the winner of this year’s Ockham Award, Dr Flint Dibble!Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:11:57 Interviews:0:12:00 Clio Bellenis0:18:19 Diana Barbosa and João Monteiro0:27:58 Igor Stroev and David Glass0:31:51 Hayley Stevens0:36:05 Dr Flint Dibble1:09:04 Farewell1:12:27 Outro1:13:42 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We celebrate our 450th episode (wow!) live at QED 2024 (wow!!!) with the help of Brian and Claire! We also get special greetings from Annika and Jay Novella, who unfortunately could not attend. A slightly different format due to the occasion, but of course we have the news, which this time has the (not so) cheerful theme of Russian disinformation:SWEDEN: An apparent news site focusing on the 2026 election is in fact an AI-generated propaganda tool that mixes real stories with fake news (Pontus)RUSSIA / EUROPE: Heritage Foundation and the Congress of Families (Claire)UK: MI5 chief warns of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting UK as report warns Western support for Ukraine at risk (Brian)INTERNATIONAL: Doppelganger, the Russian disinformation agency and its recently revealed documents (András)We end the show with a one-question quiz to find this weeks’ “Who’s Quacking?” candidate.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:00 Intro0:01:49 Greetings0:09:23 News

Lot’s of listener feedback in this episode which is delightful! Pontus explains whether there was a scandal concerning the Sami peoples at the Gothenburg Book Fair and we prepare for this weekend’s QED! Speaking of which, this is what we also talk about in TWISH this week. Then, as always, the news:THE NETHERLANDS: Meester Kackadorisprijs awarded to the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO)FRANCE: Minister of Education and Research seems to be at odds with scienceSPAIN: Health Minister denounces homeopathyGERMANY / AUSTRIA: Das Goldene Brett Nominations now open (until 11 November)The Award for being Really Right goes to John Wiley & Sons for their decision to terminate the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, infamous for its terrible track record on retracted articles.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-449.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:10:55 TWISH0:16:18 News0:36:03 Rea

In both Annika's and Pontus' absence, this week András interviews the "Fairy Godmother" of the show, psychic investigator & debunket, "master puppeteer" and tireless leader of the Secret Cabal (and the About Time Project) that is the international Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia Susan Gerbic. We talk about Mark Edward's legacy, how to start a SkeptiCamp in your local area, and what ways there are to help out the skeptical movement.Enjoy!Segments: Intro; Greetings & Interview; Outro; Outtakes0:00:33 INTRO0:01:02 GREETINGS & INTERVIEWSusan Gerbicthe About Time Project: https://www.abouttimeproject.org/find Susan Gerbic on Facebook0:41:03 OUTRO0:42:18 OUT-TAKES Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo. Then it’s time for the news:SWEDEN: Secret Service confirms State of Iran behind disinformation text messages re Quran burningsINTERNATIONAL: Social media moguls are a concern to most experts regarding misinformationBELGIUM: And the Pope is still a misogynistPORTUGAL: Public trust drives vaccine uptake regardless of ageTo round up we hand a Really Wrong Award to well-known homeopath Michael Frass, who keeps implying that homeopathy can treat cancer – but his arguments are based on falsified research…Enjoy!All show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-447.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:09:45 TWISH0:16:00 News0:45:10 Really Wrong0:50:34 Quote0:5

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders. We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone. We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:00:53 Interview0:27:25 Farewell0:31:11 Outro0:32:25 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-446.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.