Skeptoid #1040: Food Dyes
Some say artificial food dyes are killing us. The truth is a lot more nuanced. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
May 12, 2026•17 min•Ep. 1040
Skeptoid
The true science behind our most popular urban legends. Historical mysteries, paranormal claims, popular science myths, aliens and UFO reports, conspiracy theories, and worthless alternative medicine schemes... Skeptoid has you covered. From the sublime to the startling, no topic is sacred. Weekly since 2006.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Skeptoid #1039: Chemtrails: Still Haven't Blown Away
The more years go by, the more Americans believe that ordinary airliners are secretly spraying chemicals for some hidden nefarious purpose. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
May 05, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1039
Skeptoid #1038: Project Anchor: Anatomy of a Hoax
This Internet legend claims the Earth's gravity will shut off for seven seconds in 2026. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Apr 28, 2026•17 min•Ep. 1038
Skeptoid #1037: A Skeptic's Guide to Sleepmaxxing
This social media fad promises to supercharge your sleep and make you healthier than healthy, when in fact it probably does significantly more harm than good. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Apr 21, 2026•17 min•Ep. 1037
New Skeptoid Movie: Alien Echoes
Skeptoid is now going into production on our third feature film: Alien Echoes. Get all the details at skeptoid.org/alienechoes Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Apr 17, 2026•5 min
Skeptoid #1036: The Myth of the Alpha Wolf
It turns out there's probably no such thing as an alpha wolf. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Apr 14, 2026•16 min•Ep. 1036
Skeptoid #1035: How Disastrous Are Declining Birth Rates?
Popular influencers claim birth rates are declining disastrously. How true is that, and is it a disaster? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Apr 07, 2026•19 min•Ep. 1035
Skeptoid #1034: The Colorado Martian
The discovery of a Martian sarcophagus in Colorado in 1864: An oddball story, or consistent with the lore of the day? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 31, 2026•15 min•Ep. 1034
Skeptoid #1033: Skeptifying BBC's Uncanny
Supplying some much-needed skepticism to an episode of the BBC podcast Uncanny. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 24, 2026•20 min•Ep. 1033
Skeptoid #1032: Is Germ Theory a Myth?
Even today, some people cling to a pre-scientific belief that germs do not cause disease. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 17, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1032
Sailing the Skeptical Seas! New Orleans Escapade! Mysteries of the Maya Cruise!
Time is running out to grab one of the few remaining cabins for Málaga, Spain to Nice, France on the SV Royal Clipper AND announcing our next adventure to New Orleans followed by the Mysteries of the Maya cruise to the Yucatán Peninsula! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 13, 2026•2 min
Skeptoid #1031: Unearthing Ancient Advanced Civilizations
An exploration of the validity of the Silurian hypothesis, which posits the existence of a pre-human intelligent race on Earth. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 10, 2026•17 min•Ep. 1031
Gentle Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Starts Tomorrow
As a gentle reminder that you will have an hour of sleep robbed from you tonight, enjoy this episode on Daylight Saving Time Myths from the archives! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 07, 2026•12 min
Skeptoid #1030: Testing the Rossi E-Cat
This secretive device has been promising to deliver clean, free energy for more than 15 years — but so far nobody's been allowed to examine it. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mar 03, 2026•15 min•Ep. 1030
Skeptoid #1029: How to Become a Sovereign Citizen
Is there somewhere on Earth where Sovereign Citizens can actually be free of any nation's laws? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Feb 24, 2026•16 min•Ep. 1029
Skeptoid #1028: Manipulative Advertising
Advertising wants your attention, not your soul; and it’s not nearly as good at getting either as you might think. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Feb 17, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1028
Skeptoid #1027: Radioactive Relics: The Missing RTGs
Radioactive nuclear generators sit out in the environment, posing a real hazard. They're mostly — but not all — in Russia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Feb 10, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1027
Mic'd Up: Brian's Blood Donation Interview
Brian gets questioned while giving blood. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Feb 06, 2026•14 min
Skeptoid #1026: Vintage Ceramics: Decorative or Deadly?
How concerned do you truly need to be about vintage ceramicware leaching lead into your food? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Feb 03, 2026•16 min•Ep. 1026
Skeptoid #1025: Pop Quiz: Space Quandaries
Oh no! Another pop quiz. Take the challenge: 9 questions about space. Think you can get them all? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jan 27, 2026•19 min•Ep. 1025
Skeptoid #1024: The Van Meter Visitors
A century-old hoax takes wing again, proof that good stories never stay buried. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jan 20, 2026•15 min•Ep. 1024
Skeptoid #1023: What Accounts for Ghost Encounters?
If ghosts don't exist, then how do we account for all the ghost experiences that people have every day? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jan 13, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1023
Dr. Flint Dibble Interview: Our Resident Expert for Málaga to Nice!
Mediterranean archaeologist Dr. Flint Dibble will be our resident expert on the real history (and the fake history) at our ports of call when Skeptoid Adventures sails from Málaga, Spain to Nice, France this April. He is perhaps best known for his 2024 destruction of pseudo-archaeologist Graham Hancock on the Joe Rogan Experience. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jan 07, 2026•22 min
Skeptoid #1022: Blood Donation Myths
The myths and misconceptions surrounding blood donation and why you might consider donating. Links to resources from Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Donation Need to Know Eligibility Guidelines Eligibility Checker Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Jan 06, 2026•18 min•Ep. 1022
Skeptoid #1021: The First Middle Finger
The history and pseudohistory of this infamous and ubiquitous obscene gesture. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Dec 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1021
Skeptoid #1020: Yule Logs
From fireplace to folklore, how the Yule log got its fake pagan backstory. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Dec 23, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1020
Skeptoid #1019: Testing the Thunderstorm Generator
This device claims to be able to dramatically improve the efficiency and emissions of any internal combustion engine. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Dec 16, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1019
Skeptoid #1018: Might Ghosts Exist?
An exploration of all the scientific possibilities by which ghosts might actually exist in this universe. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Dec 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1018
Skeptoid #1017: The Bell that Tolls for the K-129
It should have been impossible for the CIA's Glomar Explorer to obtain the ship's bell from the K-129 submarine... but they did. How? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Dec 02, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1017
Skeptoid #1016: The Case for Carbon Dating
A roundup of evidence supporting the use of radiocarbon dating to assess the age of organic matter from 500 to 55,000 years old. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Nov 25, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1016
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android