Episode 42 - Investigating Ghosts
This week, our hosts chat about Ben's new book, Investigating Ghosts.
Episodes
Squaring the Strange
Not just another “skeptical” podcast, it’s a show about critical thinking and evidence-based analysis, using science and critical thinking to examine the world around us, from the mysterious and paranormal to the mundane.
Episodes
Episode 41 - Good. Bad. I'm the Guide With the Tour.
First, Ben looks at current failures of intuition and psychics. Then we take a skeptical look at tour guides! Tours straddle a line between entertainment and education, and tour guides happily embellish local legends and lore as time goes on. We welcome special guest Cindy Boyer from the Landmark Society of Western New York and chat about ghost tours. Pascual confesses to teenaged transgressions, and Ben recounts an egg-balancing lesson with a tour guide in Ecuador.
Episode 40 - Curses Foiled Again!
This week, our boys look into the nature of curses and what it takes to break a curse. From the cultural aspects to the practical applications, Ben's expertise in curses takes the listener through a journey into the weird and scary world of superstition.
Episode 39 - A Diet High in Skepticism
First we hear from photographic mystery investigator Kenny Biddle, who reveals how he solved the souvenir photo mystery Ben shared back in episode 37. Then, for the second part of our New Year’s resolution series, we dive into diet myths. Ben brings some surprising statistics that go against common assumptions about how diet-obsessed Americans are. Rather than being hyper-aware of every pound, it turns out we often don’t notice weight gain (on ourselves or our children), and we rarely put much e...
Episode 38 - Bro-science with The Credible Hulk
This week, Ben and Pascual kick off the first half of the "New Years Resolution" series where they look at woo in the gym. Just in time for your resolution, The Credible Hulk joins our hosts to walk us through some of the myths and misconceptions that run rampant in the bodybuilding/gym world.
Episode 37 - Logical Fallacies
This week, Celestia joins the guys to discuss the idea of logical fallacies and how to identify them, as well as discuss their favorite ones. Ben talks about a curious mystery postcard to start the show.
Episode 36 - The Importance of Replication
This week, Ben, Celestia, and Pascual discuss the importance of replication in everything from skeptical inquiry to scientific experimentation. Pascual is also skeptical about a certain reason for the season, and Celestia has another fortune cookie for us.
Episode 35 - Champ's no Chump: The Best Evidence for Lake Monsters
Ben first reminds us all that the History Channel still has not made good on their promise to be transparent about their Amelia Earhart research debacle, and then the guys discuss a listener question regarding “asking questions” in a leading way. Then, for our main topic, we turn to Champ, the legendary monster said to inhabit Lake Champlain, which borders New York and Vermont. The best-known report of this monster is said to be from Samuel de Champlain himself in 1609—except it’s a falsified qu...
Episode 34 - This is an Outrage!!!
This week, Ben and Pascual talk about the phenomenon of outrage, especially on the internet. They break down some classic outrage from the last year and even have an update on a big story from last year! Celestia also stops by with another tasty fortune cookie. Wish Background Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Episode 33 - "They" Divide and Conquer
This week, our boys break down the idea that the government is out to divide us. Ben is skeptical of psychics and Pascual chats about a flat-earther who is going to prove the earth is flat. Celestia pops in with a great fortune cookie as always!
Episode 32 - Practical Skepticism
This week Ben, Pascual, and Celestia have a roundtable discussion on the practical aspects of everyday life as a skeptic. Boots-on-the-ground skepticism efforts include social media presence, etiquette, and tactics; picking your battles; and knowing when you need your own little echo chamber for sanity’s sake. Keeping a salon discussion from devolving into a flame war is always the goal, but can anything be gained by out-and-out fighting? Ben talks about the importance in his own investigation w...
Episode 31 - Our Skeptic Heroes
This week, Ben and Pascual are joined by Celestia to discuss their skeptic heroes! Also, a heroic fortune cookie!
Episode 30 - Halloween Horrors and Hoaxes
This week, Ben and Pascual dissect the myths and misunderstandings that surround Halloween. From tainted candy to evil predators, our boys take a bite out of these spooky Halloween treats so you don't have to! Also in this episode, Ben brings us another tale from the road!
Episode 29 - Bad Clowns
For week 3 of our spooky Halloween series, Ben, Celestia and Pascual delve into the spooky and fascinating topic of evil clowns. Ben talks about all the different kinds of evil clowns, Celestia tells a tale of her experience with a bad clown of her own, and Pascual makes obscure pop culture references throughout. Also in this episode, Pascual breaks down a new conspiracy theory with the help of our two co-hosts.
Episode 28 - Ghost Lovin'
Buckle up for part 2 of our Squaring the Strange Halloween series! This week, our spooky hosts bring us an exciting adventure into the tantalizing world of ghost sex. From celebrity spectral affairs to unwanted advances from the other side, Ben and Pascual look into the cases and the facts.
Episode 27 - Chupacabra Cha Cha
This week, the boys explore a topic that Ben literally wrote the book on (and got an award for!): El Chupacabra. From the origins to the events that led to what we now know as the Chupacabra, our fearless fellows leave no stone unturned. But first, the boys unpack some of the misconceptions of the recent Vegas shooter and try to shed some skeptical light on how these events could be viewed from a rational standpoint. Also in this episode, Celesta stops in with another tasty morsel of a fortune c...
Episode 26 - Live from the Apocalypse!
This week, our boys are live at the New Mexico Podscape Festival. First, Ben dissects cryptozoology and how natural disasters come into play. Then, our strangers delve into the newest end times prediction and talk about the history of these claims. Last, Pascual digs into one of our favorite woo-peddlers, Gwenyth Paltrow, and her newest product. Celestia also stops in with a great Fortune Cookie!
Episode 25 - Conspiracy Theories THEY Don't Want You to Know About
Episode 25: Conspiracy Theories THEY Don’t Want You to Know About (released September 28, 2017) Ben ruminates on the blowup over Trump’s NFL tweets this week, wondering why so many people (especially Trump’s critics) seem to give him more power by fueling the outrage machine, thus distracting themselves from the core issues. Owing to Trump’s clear track record of lies, exaggerations, contradictions, and impulse thoughts, perhaps the best skeptical approach is to not give his tweets any weight at...
Episode 24 - The Copycat Effect
This week, Ben is skeptical of the History Channel bland promise to be transparent and do more investigation on their recent Amelia Earhart fiasco (spoiler: they haven’t). For the main topic, the copycat effect, Ben talks about behavior modeling versus ideation, covering everything from fears of anorexia to the artistry of crop circles. Moving onto serious crimes, the guys discuss the church fires during the 1990s: after President Clinton addressed the issue and formed a task force, the fires ac...
Episode 23 - Allegedly Psychic
While Pascual tends to his offspring, Ben and Celestia discuss a recent story about a waitress being allegedly stiffed due to her pride tattoo. They go through numerous similar stories, some hoaxed, and discuss whether this is becoming a modern-day folk tale. Faked stories undercut and blur real issues, and writing a story around a mere Facebook post has become a recurring journalistic failure. Pascual steps back in for our main topic, a lively discussion on “alleged psychic” John Edward, as Ben...
Episode 22 - Time Travel and Bubonicon
This week, the Strange crew talks time travel. Everything from their favorite time travel fiction to a little bit of science! Then they head to Bubonicon to ask people about their favorite time travel heroes! Video content is available to Patrons, as well as Ben's talk on UFOs!
Episode 21 - Never Sleep Again
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the oft-horrifying phenomenon of sleep paralysis. After watching the documentary "The Nightmare", our hosts decided it would be apt to talk about sleep paralysis, particularly because Pascual has a long history of first-hand experience. Also in this episode, Ben discusses EVP and Pascual is skeptical of a product that protects people from radio frequencies in the air. Celestia stops by with a very magical fortune cookie as well!
Episode 20 - Deadly Urban Legends
This week, Ben and Pascual explore how urban legends can sometimes turn dangerous and even deadly. From the unintended consequences of rumor to what happens when people believe too strongly, the boys take us on a journey through the dreadful outcomes when people become a bit too credulous regarding urban legends. Also in this episode, Celestia opens another fun fortune cookie packed with some extra firepower.
Episode 19 - Mixed Bag of Tricks
This week, we had a bad bit of timing for our outrage episode in that the events that occurred in Charlottesvile, VA were two days after we finished recording. So as to not deprive our listeners of a new episode, we put together some bonus content that we would like you all to enjoy!
Episode 18 - Chewing the Fat on GMOs
Episode 18: Food Evolution Documentary and Chewing the Fat on GMOs This week Ben, Celestia, and Pascual open with a discussion on what people consider uncanny, bizarre, or strange. What takes something from implausible to downright mysterious? An understanding of statistics is one angle to consider, but ignorance of particular fields is also at work: from the World Trade Center to the pyramids to cancer remissions, people who lack the relevant technical knowledge are the ones gobsmacked by parti...
Episode 17 - Legal Skepticism with Andrew Torrez
This week, Ben and Pascual are joined by Andrew Torrez of the Opening Arguments podcast! They chat a bit about misconceptions and controversial ideas in the law. Also, Celstia joins in for a talk about the new Doctor Who and what the public thinks about the change.
Episode 16 - The Lizard Man of Scape Ore
This week, Ben and Pascual discuss the Lizard Man of Scape Ore, a legendary creature from the swamps of the American South. Also in this episode, Ben expands on the "Blue Whale" game, which has been haunting his inbox since he first cast skepticism at it.
Episode 15 - In Defense of Pedantry
This week, Ben and Pascual chat a bit about being pedantic, and how it sometimes can be a good thing. Ben is skeptical about some new developments in the "Blue Whale" urban legend, and Pascual takes some sketchy claims about sunscreen and cancer to task. As always, Celestia drops in for another awesome fortune cookie. For our Patrons, we've included a bonus segment at the end of the episode about Amelia Earhart and the current investigation into a mysterious photo that has recently surfaced. Che...
Episode 14 - Stonehenge Surprise: The Best Case for Crop Circles
This week, Ben and Pascual explore what is considered to be the best case for alien crop circles. Ben questions intuition and Pascual digs into the gross-out story of the week. As always, Celestia swings by with another yummy fortune cookie, AND Squaring the Strange announces the newest Patron perk, sure to be a pleasant surprise!
Episode 13 - Uphill Both Ways
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the topic of nostalgia and how a good dose of skepticism is needed in how we remember things. Pascual is skeptical about some claims about the nature of sperm and women's bodies and Ben has a chat about the use of the word "terrorism" in the media. Celestia also stops by with a fortune cookie about a much beloved figure in the skeptic world.