The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:28 Ghostly Radios Skeptical investigator Kenny Biddle joins Richard Saunders to discuss so-called ghost or spirit boxes. Can a radio receiver that scans the AM/FM frequencies really put you in touch with your dear departed? Why do ghost like listening to the radio... or do they? Are the ghosts simply failed radio announcers? 0:27:18 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:39:42 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "talking with the dead". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also ACA - Psychic says he's Australia's best. Story and video. https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/psychic-cael-odonnell-melbourne/3685b599-e4e4-4aa7-9873-2b293a8953b8 Psychics Explained - Susan Gerbic interviews Richard Saunders https://youtu.be/5Q0hdIxp_88 HangOut with Ric

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:48 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Will the best psychic please stand up? Skeptics have, for many years, heard of psychics, clairvoyants or mystics all claiming to be the best. Adrienne, together with Richard Saunders and Susan Gerbic, list the would-be number ones from Australia, Canada and United States. Surely they all can't be the very best at their game? https://www.skeptics.com.au/who-is-australias-best-psychic/ 0:22:55 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Communication Breakdown Tim looks at the pseudoscience of "facilitated communication", called the single most scientifically discredited intervention in all of developmental disabilities, or the "cold fusion" of human services. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 43 No. 2 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:36:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to phrenology. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Als

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:40 Where are the Aliens? A look at the social media reaction to the congressional subcommittee of June 26th to hear testimony from several military officers who allege the government is concealing evidence of UFOs. We discover many people now wrongly think that the US government has admitted to having real alien space ships in their possession. https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSLxj47ER/ 0:21:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:32:30 The Skeptical Fairy Looking for Maple Syrup in the Supermarket, Adrienne and Susan discover much more! https://tinyurl.com/logicalzone 0:35:14 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Flying Saucers". 1952.07.01 - Examiner (Tas) 1948.01.08 - Border Watch 1968.05.05 - The Canberra Times 1947.06.07 - The Age (Mel) 1952.02.27 -

0:00:00 Introduction Maynard with Richard Saunders 0:05:40 The Next Wave From the pages of the Skeptic Magazine, the Journal from Australian Skeptics, Richard Saunders casts an eye to the horizon in search of predicted tsunamis. He's still waiting. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:15:50 QED - Andy Wilson QED is a two-day science and skepticism convention taking place at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester from the 23rd-24th September 2023. Fantastic speakers from the worlds of science and entertainment will be joining them for a weekend celebration of science, reason and critical thinking. They aim to be an inclusive event, welcoming attendees from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders. http://www.qedcon.org/ 0:26:52 You Can Count on Adrienne Skeptical visitors in Calgary, Canada. Adrienne, plays host to various visiting skeptics from around the world. Listen in as she meets up with Craig and Susan Shearer from New Zealand, Faith and Rodriguez from the United States, and A

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:10 Nobody's Fool Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do about It Hardcover by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris. Interview with with Daniel Simons. From phishing scams to Ponzi schemes, fraudulent science to fake art, chess cheaters to crypto hucksters, and marketers to magicians, our world brims with deception. In Nobody's Fool, psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris show us how to avoid being taken in. http://dansimons.com https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/daniel-simons/nobodys-fool/9781541602236/ 0:18:32 Maynard's Spooky Action Maynard and Saunders head to Sydney Skeptics in the Pub. Featuring Annie McCubbin and Tim Mendham. 0:24:40 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:36:37 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for refe

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:52 Premium Wine Card Richard Saunders (with help from Ian Bryce and Steve Roberts) tests the Premium Wine Card, and shows that marketing and pseudoscience can leave a bad taste in the mouth. From the pages of The Skeptic Magazine from Australian Skeptics. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221114819/http://premiumwinecard.com https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2040%20(2020)%20No%202.pdf 0:30:08 Maynard's Spooky Action Maynard and Saunders head to Sydney Skeptics in the Pub to put the Wine Card to the test with a bunch of willing volunteers. 0:38:54 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Jack the Ripper. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:56:36 Conspiracy of One The song THEY don't want you to hear Nate Eggins' mission is to encourage interest in science, promote critical thinking and offer new perspectives on the

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:14 Susan Gerbic Quick, Quack Update and Social Adventures. Susan talks about the TikTok quack being investigated. Also an adventure with local skeptics to visit a man who said he has seen a Bigfoot. https://centerforinquiry.org/groups/santa-cruz-county-skeptics/ 0:25:12 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:37:30 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Russia. NOVA Secrets of the Psychics. James Randi https://youtube.com/watch?v=41hJ6DY8xLI http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Sydney Skeptics in the pub https://meetu.ps/e/MbbcL/SSz1/i 10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #245 - 30.June.2013 Dr Rachie chats to Rose Shapiro about her book, "Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All" - A Week in Science - The Australian Senate and the

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:04 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Looking at the New Age part #1 The Arcturian Healing Method is a set of cosmic energies inspired by higher beings called Arcturians from the star system Arcturus. Brandi Kahn - Believes in Everything - Still not Psychic Video chat with Adrienne Hill and Susan Gerbic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6JTNMx0juk 0:18:34 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Cancer Cures. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Skeptical Toolkit. With Kenny Biddle, Susan Gerbic and Richard Saunders. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LEKVTNNFee4 10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #244 - 23.June.2013 Maynard's Spooky Action... Special guest this week is Wilson da Silva, the departing editor of Cosmos Magazine - A Week in Science - Sharon Hill - Cornered and Someone Wants to Tell Me Their Paranormal Story - Dr Rachie Reports. This week Dr Rach

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:18 Vale Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan We reflect on the life and legacy of Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan, podcaster, champion for the cause of animal welfare and, in the last years of her life, helping to spread the word on ovarian cancer. Siobhan was and remains an example of grace in the face of adversity. She will be sorely missed, and we extend our sympathies to her friends and family. Siobhan talks about her Ovarian Cancer on a ghost hunt with Maynard and Richard. https://youtu.be/ykB67Sj5cYs?t=1081 0:11:40 Susan Gerbic and the TikTok Quack Susan looks at the Wiki page views of a discredited so-called health care expert and how that same Wiki page is helping to educate people as to the real story behind the banning of this person from providing healh care and advice. https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_idz/video/7227154247962332442 0:23:16 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:28 Again with the UFOs We look at yet another "Any Day Now" (or ADN) story about UFOs. Yes, it appears that, once again, the lid is just about to be lifted and we'll all learn the truth about aliens visiting earth... again. Imagine the frequent flyer points! Story of Dramatic New "UFO Whistleblower" Begins to Crumble https://badufos.blogspot.com/2023/06/story-of-dramatic-new-ufo-whistleblower.html Mick West on NewsNation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDqfGkifPEA 0:15:10 More Local Skeptics in Action Susan Gerbic interviews Daniel Reed from the West Virginia Skeptic's Society. The West Virginia Skeptic's Society is a community of truth-seekers dedicated to promoting critical thinking and skepticism. Their mission is to explore the mysteries of the world around us, from the depths of the cosmos to the depths of the human psyche. They aim to engage in lively discussions, spark new ideas, and solve perplexing mysteries, all while promoting rat

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

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 par

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:12 You Can Count on Adrienne. Wiki UFOs #2 This week Adrienne takes a look at some of the many UFOs reports from the second half of the 20th century as recorded on Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reported_UFO_sightings 0:19:56 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Includes the Canadian Word of the Week, "Skookum". Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:48 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian and Canadian newspapers on a search for references to "Ogopogo". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Susan Gerbic's talk in Berkeley https://baskeptics.org/hangouts 10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #239 - 20.May.2013 Dr Rachie Reports with Dr Rachael Dunlop This week Dr Rachie interviews Sonya Pemberton about her upcoming documentary "Jabbed – Love, Fear and Vaccines" (Genepool Productions, 2013) - Mind Body

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:46 Walking with Canadian Dinosaurs Join a merry band of skeptics as they wander the vast exhibits of one of the world's foremost natural history museums. Interviews with Vincent Stevens, Adrienne Hill, Celestia Ward and Lilith Thompson. The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the study of ancient life. In addition to featuring one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs, it offers a wide variety of creative, fun, and educational programs that bring the prehistoric past to life. https://tyrrellmuseum.com 0:23:00 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Alien Honeycomb Tested By Mark Plummer A report about the time skeptics examined what was claimed to be an alien artefact, possibly part of a UFO! A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 1 No. 1 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:31:58 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to The

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders with Adrienne Hill and Celestia Ward We Can Reason! Our trio talk about being part of this conference in Calgary, Canada. 0:03:44 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:10:48 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Skeptical Investigations Tim chats to Richard Saunders about the skeptical investigations carried out by Australian Skeptics over the past 40 yesrs. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:17:06 UFO Car Wash Richard Saunders joins podcaster and film maker Brian Dunning in a car wash to talk about the upcoming documentary "The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See". http://theufo.movie 0:22:00 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 Harry Houdini. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also   10 Years Ago The Skeptic Zone #237

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 d

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

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.Ap

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 Simons

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:06 An Interview with Kenny Biddle Kenny Biddle is a science enthusiast who investigates claims of paranormal experiences, equipment, photos, and video. He promotes science, critical thinking, and skepticism through his blog I Am Kenny Biddle. He frequently hosts workshops on how to deconstruct and explain paranormal photography. Richard Saunders on Kenny Biddle's show https://www.youtube.com/live/4HiK8LiX0fQ 0:18:17 The Skeptic Magazine We review, take a peek inside, examine, and generally look at the latest issue of the Skeptic Magazine, the Journal from Australian Skeptics. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:24 Ian Bryce and Paranormal Investigations from 1988 In a rare recording from decades ago, we discovered Australian Skeptics were investigating Wayback in 1988. 0:41:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Ghosts. 1980.04.01    -    The Bulletin 1904