The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:05 An interview with Ash Pryce Ash Pryce of the Edinburgh Skeptics Society presents a fully interactive demonstration of various tricks that psychics have used over the years. 0:19:30 A Penny for your Thoughts... with Penny Chan Penny chats to Wendy Hughes and Paula Lauterbach from the The Independent Investigations Group about their recent test of Robert Mooreland who claims to have paranormal powers. This report is a great insight into the process of constructing a fair test for amazing claims.

0:00:00     IntroductionRichard Saunders and Stefan Sojka0:04:20     Dr Rachie Reports with Dr Rachael DunlopThis week Dr Rachie visits Rodd Island in Sydney Harbour. Between 1888 and 1894, the island was used as a laboratory by scientists working for the Pasteur Institute, who were researching the use of the chicken cholera microbe to control Australia's rabbit population. Louis Pasteur sent his nephew, Doctor Adrien Loir to conduct the experimentation in Australia and facilities were constructed on the island.0:19:40     A special report from Science Teacher Aaron Stephens in CalifornaiaIn his recently proposed budget for 2012 – 2013, the Governor of California Jerry Brown proposes to reform K-14 education mandates by eliminating nearly half of them. One mandate that he is recommending for elimination is the Graduation Requirements mandate that requires students to complete two years of science in order to graduate from high school.0:33:30     The Think TankIn the tank this week are Dr Rachael Dunlop, Stefa

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard 0:03:10 A Grain of Salt with Eran Segev Eran live from Sydney Skeptics in the pub with his talk on how a skeptic should evaluate evidence. 0:33:25 Maynard's Spooky Action... Reports and interviews from Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. Maynard asks... "How do you reply when someone asks you why you are a skeptic?" 

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:07:30 Maynard's Spooky Action...Reports and interviews from Sketpicamp Sydney 2012 Including...Tim Mendham - Dave the Happy Singer - Belinda Bowditch - Robin Hilliard  0:36:30 A chat to Terry Kelly, President of Victorian SketpicsThe annual convention of the Australian Skeptics will be held in Melbourne this year, 2012.The convention organisers extend a warm invitation to Skeptics, critical thinkers, free thinkers, or anyone who has ever doubted anything that they’ve ever seen or read, to gather in Melbourne with like minded people for the convention.Special Guest James Randi!Location: The SPOT Theatre, University of MelbourneDates: Friday 30th November to Sunday 2nd December

0:00:00     Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard 0:01:40     An interveiw with Michael Marshall From the 'Skeptics with a K' podcast and the Merseyside Skeptics Society, Marsh is known for his investigations of so-called psychics in the UK. 0:27:50     Maynard's Spooky Action... Reports and interviews from Sketpicamp Sydney 2012 Including... Joel Pittman Shelley Stocken Joanne Benhamu Dr Rachie Dunlop Anja Cohen Belinda Bowditch Ruth Ellison

0:00:00Introduction Richard Saunders0:04:50A Penny for your Thoughts with Penny ChanThis week Penny brings us Ben Radford in conversation with Brian Dunning. Ben is deputy editor of the science magazine Skeptical Inquirer and a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine Skeptical Briefs newsletter, Discovery News, LiveScience.com and MediaMythmakers.com. He examines the science behind cryptozoological (and legendary) creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and werewolves.0:22:00Maynard's Spooky Action...Black panther sightings are reported from time to time in eastern Australia, notable in the Blue Moutains west of Sydney. Today Maynard talks to Lee Harvey who claims he saw one in the Hunter Valley, north-west of Sydney.Maynard then chats to Peter Bowditch from Ratbags.com for a more skeptical take on big cats in Australia.0:34:50The Think Tank In the tank this week are Dr Rachael Dunlop, Bastard Sheep and Richard Saunders.

0:00:00Some thoughts on Homeopathic Vaccination by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki0:01:08     IntroductionRichard Saunders0:05:00     HM Queen Elizabeth II opens the UK ParliamentDr Simon Singh comments on hopeful libel reform0:10:30     An interview with Julie Lada - Quackery at the VetFrom her blog we discover that.... "I am a Purdue University Animal Science graduate embarking on an adventure to obtain my DVM at Ross University on the tropical island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean."Julie tells us that ducks are not the only quacks in the vet business!0:27:40     Reality Bites... with Joanne BenhamuJo comments on International Nurses Day, Saturday, 12 May 20120:31:40     Festival of Mind Body Spirit in SydneyOur small but merry band of reporters head for the Mind Body Spirit to sniff out quackery. Will Richard Saunders, Dr Rachael Dunlop and Maynard make it out in one piece?0:42:30     Maynard's Spooky Action...Tubas.... need we say more?

0:00:00Some thoughts on Astrology from Sydney Radio0:01:18IntroductionRichard Saunders, Dr Rachael Dunlop and Maynard0:06:00ACCC tackles Homeopathy Plus! Whooping Cough claimsPress Release read by Richard Saunders0:08:30An interview with Dr Ken Harvey - Whooping Cough and Homeopathy At last a government department, the ACCC, has taken action against a web site that promotes nonsense and magic over real medicine. Dr Ken Harvey tells us more about Homeopathy Plus! and the ongoing fight to bring them to account. 0:25:50Dr Rachie ReportsNews on moves by the government to cut CAM from rebates and save the taxpayer millions.0:35:00Maynard's Spooky Action...An interview with Ian Bryce with his update on the Rossi "E-Cat" cold fusion machine.Maynard asks attendees Sydney Skeptics in the Pub what woo they believed in when they were kids.

00:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders00:02:00Interview wtih Tim Farley What's the harm? Well you may ask. What's the harm in Acupuncture, Alphabiotics, Alternative dentistry, Alternative medicine, Applied kinesiology, Autism denial, Ayurvedic medicine, Chelation therapy, Chiropractic, Colloidal silver, Colon cleansing and on and on and on?TimFarley has been investigating the real harm caused by these modalities.00:22:22The Think Tank with Dr Rachie ReportsIn the tank this week are Dr Rachael Dunlop, Maynard, Eran Segev and Richard Saunders.During the tank, Dr Rachie reports on the latest news regarding the Austraian (Anti)Vacccination Network and American Airlines. We also have great news for Maynard!

0:00:00     Introduction Richard Saunders0:02:10     A Grain of Salt with Eran SegevThis week Eran interviews the founders of Friends of Science in Medicine. Prof John Dwyer AOProf Alastair H MacLennan AOProf Marcello CostaLoretta MarronProf Rob Morrison OAM Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM) is an association of concerned scientists, clinicians and members of the public who support a rigorous application of the best science to any health-related profession and oppose health education and practice not based on convincing scientific evidence. They are currently campaigning:"to reverse the current trend which sees government-funded tertiary institutions offering courses in the health care sciences that are not underpinned by sound scientific evidence". 0:46:00 Maynard's Spooky Action...An interview with Suzanne Dodd who is the new project manager for NASA's Voyager spacecraft. Suzanne first worked on Voyager in 1984, sequencing science and engineering commands for Voyager 1 and 2 in 1984. She fills Maynard in

0:00:00     IntroductionRichard Saunders0:02:45     A Grain of Salt with Eran SegevThis week Eran joins Dr Paul Willis for a tour of the Royal Institution of Australia in Adelaide.RiAus brings science to people and people to science. It creates real and virtual spaces in which people can listen, talk and think about science in all its shapes and forms, and develop innovative and accessible ways of engaging the general community.0:19:10Dr Richard Wiseman tells us about the new App, Dream ON0:20:50A New Song by Eddie Scott - Mighty Mystic Power BraceletsSing along to the latest Skeptical Hit!0:24:50 The Think TankIn the tank this week are Dr Rachael Dunlop, Maynard, James and Richard Saunders.

0:00:00     IntroductionRichard Saunders0:06:40     Interview with Juliaa Offe from the German SkepticsWe find more about the upcoming 6th World Skeptics Congress in Berlin.0:14:20     Where are they now....?Despite the claims of “…a breakthrough in negative Ion technology…” and such like, the NRG Titanium Ion Bands seem at last to have found their true home.0:19:35Maynard's Spooky Action...Rub a dub dub... Skeptics in the Pub. Why is it that so many people are joining Skeptics in the Pub? Could it be the drinking? Well... yes... but there's much more to it than that! Maynard investigates.0:34:00 Looking for Woo at the Sydney Royal Easter ShowLots of chickens, cows, pigs, cats, dogs.... but any quacks? Richard Saunders takes a walk around the stands at the Easter Show.0:45:18 A Penny for your Thoughts with Penny ChanJust for fun, Penny interviews pub goers in California to find out how much they know of Australia.

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Jim Wilshire with the ISS passing overhead. 0:08:38 Maynard's Spooky Action... Blogging and tweeting without getting sued: ... media law expert Mark Pearson. 0:32:57 CHOICE Magazine with Dr Ken Harvey 0:39:28 Dr Krissy Wilson and SOAP

0:00:00     IntroductionRichard Saunders0:04:45 Maynard's Spooky Action...SEX! Really... SEX. We mean it! Sex. (Is that enough mentions of the word 'SEX'?) This week Maynard interviews the author of 'Sex Drive', Sexual Anthropologist Dr Bella Ellwood-Clayton about female sexuality myths and her ongoing research.0:29:35     A Penny for your Thoughts with Penny ChanPenny interviews Jarrett Kaufman aka 'Timmy' from the popular online show 'Mr. Deity'. Jarrett is also involved with The Independent Investigations Group (IIG) a volunteer-based organization founded by James Underdown in January 2000 at the Center for Inquiry-West (now Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles) in Hollywood, California.0:48:20     QED Interview with Kristin CarlssonPeople from all over the world (and even Norway), flooded into Manchester for QED Con 2012. Richard Saunders found time to chat to famed Norwegian Skeptic (and youtube star) Kristin Carlsson.

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders0:07:40 Interview with Alison Medcalfe and Keir Little from Edinburgh SkepticsAll the way from QED in Manchester, Richard Saunders sits down with some of the people behind the Scottish Skeptics and finds out that they do much more than just look for lake monsters!0:22:25 Interview with Fraser Cain from Universe Today and Astronomy CastIt's the return of 'A Grain of Salt' with Eran Segev. This week Eran chats to Fraser Cain about podcasting, blogging, space and video casts.0:47:10 Maynard's Spooky Action...What you would put on a Skeptics' Billboard? What message, what image? Maynard puts down his drink, picks up his mic and asked pubbers at Skeptics in the Pub in Sydney.

From QED con in Manchester, Richard Saunders chats to Finn and Steve from Irish Skeptics and to Janis from Manchester Skeptics in the Pub

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders0:03:20     Interview with James RandiWe chat to the Amazing Randi about the upcoming TAM10, his visits to Australia and the new movie based on his life and times.0:42:10     A walk with WisemanJoin Richard Saunders as he walks and talks in Edinburgh with Prof. Richard Wiseman

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders, Stefan Sojka and Maynard0:03:10Report on AVN v. HCCC court case followed by comments from Peter 'Ratbags' Bowditch and Richard Saunders 0:08:00Maynard's Spooky Action... What is the story with Schrödinger's Cat? Maynard chats to Eran Segev0:16:30The Think Tank. Join Maynard, Dr Rachie Dunlop, Richard Saunders, Jo Benhamu, Stefan Sojka and Eran Segev for a drink or three as they talk about events of the week.

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders0:06:20Artist and Nurse - Paul O'Brien Paul shares his thoughts on skeptical podcasts and insights gained in over 40 years of nursing. What 'woo' concerns him and what can be done about it. 0:29:40We chat to Ian Bryce from Australian Skeptics about the latest moves in the ongoing 'cold fusion' story, Andrea Rossi's E-Cat. Will Rossi pick up an easy $1,000,000 from Dick Smith?

0:00:00IntroductionRichard Saunders 0:05:40Adam vanLangenberg on national TV! High School teacher and skeptic Adam vanLangenberg appeared on the national TV chat show, 'The Circle' to talk about his skeptics club. 0:12:00Richard Saunders catches up with Adam vanLangenberg to find out more about his efforts to promote skeptic thought in schools. Check out Adam's blog "Sceptic School". 0:37:30Maynard's Spooky Action...Everything you ever wanted to know about George Hrab and much more! 0:55:55George Hrab and Dr Phil Plait sing "Death From The Skies" from the album "Trebuchet".