This week we start with a discussion of Spike Lee's Black Klansman movie and the notion of holding narrative movies "based on" real events to some imagined standard of full accuracy. Then all aboard for the ghost train express! Ben and Celestia discuss the lure of the locomotive (and train wrecks) in the American imagination, the flickering lights said to be distant spiritual echoes of trains, and the dangers of ghost-trainspotting on elevated trestles. Ben looks into fabled "virtual underground...
Aug 24, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast We start with a look at some so-called logos unveiled as a fundraiser and compare them to NASA's logo to see how a real Space Force manages branding. Then Pascual, our resident spider-apologist, schools us on the brown recluse, possibly the most feared spider in America. We'll look into the many things regularly mistaken for recluse bites, as well as why people seem more willing to assume (and advertise) they've been bitten. And we'll also dip into some spidery folklore and urban legends!...
Aug 17, 2018•55 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast This week is a potpourri of space and sci-fi strangeness, starting with a look back (and forward) at Project Blue Book, the Air Force study of UFO sightings 1952-1969 soon to be a new drama series on the so-called History Channel. Joining Ben and Celestia is F. Andrew Taylor, journalist and cartoonist, who spent the San Diego Comic Con drawing attendees' descriptions of UFO encounters to help promote the series for the History Channel. Then we head to the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, where...
Aug 10, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast This week Celestia is skeptical of Rule 34, as even creatures that don't really exist are making news this week for being in porn. Ben takes us on a quasi-serious tour of Bigfoot "erotica," some of it presented by authors as true tales. Then we discuss a compelling urban legend from Costa Rica: the mystery of the Toucan Man, a figure said to abduct children by luring them into the forest with his flute music. Ben puts the pieces together after talking with an eye-witness (or at least an ear-witn...
Aug 02, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast Celestia opens with a mea culpa and introduction, then is joined by Ben and Pascual to talk about some mysterious abilities animals are said to have. We look into a few things you might not know about that famous horse Clever Hans, as well as a lesser-known "psychic horse" named Lady Wonder. And then we look into evidence and rumors about how some animals might sense earthquakes, as well as a viral panic about Yellowstone's volcano triggered by a photo of jogging bison.
Jul 26, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast Ben and Celestia discuss a few topics in the world of pregnancy that are best viewed through a skeptical lens. Ben touches on some folkloric warnings for expectant mothers. Celestia takes us on a tour of “baby brain,” the idea that women lose cognitive ability while pregnant, and looks at self-reported studies versus objective tests and imaging. Then we move on to CAM in popular pregnancy books, and (just to make Ben squirm) we look at the recent trend of women eating their placentas.
Jul 20, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast This week Ben and Celestia start by looking at a recent active shooter scare created by a psychic premoniton. Then we dive into a challenge that led Ben into a 9-month investigation into a decades-old murder case and the psychic detective who claimed she knew a list of details about the killer. But did she?
Jul 14, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast This week we all look at some timey-wimey stuff that paranormal researcher Joshua P. Warren claims to have discovered near Vegas. Then it’s all about founding father Ben Franklin! He was a legendary science enthusiast, polymath, inventor, philosopher, satirist, hoaxer, extreme kite-flyer, printer, ladies’ man, and skeptic. He was also an early proponent of inoculation and inadvertently provided a backstory for a well-known cryptid! Oh, and he helped found our country or something too.
Jul 05, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Ben and Celestia chat with Erik Kristopher Myers, writer, director, and actor in the new found-footage horror movie "Butterfly Kisses," featuring Ben and Pascual on the Blu-Ray audio commentary!
Jun 29, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast A grab-bag of mini topics for your skeptical digestion.
Jun 22, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast First, Celestia is skeptical of a certain effect we've all been privy to in the internet age. Then, our team dives into the world of film legends and myths. Everything from time traveling silent film extras to Elvis sightings, our crew takes a lighthearted and skeptical look at some fun stories.
Jun 15, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast First we look back at an alien theory of the 90s, then we revisit our old pal Alex Jones’s legal troubles. Then we carefully peel back some layers on the tragedy that occurred two years ago at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern American history, and it seemed self-evidently driven by hate, targeting the LGBTQ community. Yet, the FBI and terrorism experts have reached different conclusions than the public and the media, and Ben brings his researc...
Jun 08, 2018•2 hr 33 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast After a quick revisit to the History Channel’s sidestepping, the gang dives into pseudo-experiments. We see them almost every day, often aimed at making a social point or sometimes carefully contrived in order to sell us something. From the Pepsi Challenge to the Dove ad to reality TV, we pull up some examples to help familiarize you with the lure of these demonstrations. The results always seem to speak for themselves--but it’s never quite so simple.
Jun 01, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our crew is joined by Pascual's good friend Kyle Konkiel of the band Bad Wolves, the heavy metal band currently topping the charts with their cover of the Cranberries classic "Zombie". Kyle steps in to help us break down famous (and infamous) music myths that you may or may not have heard of. We also discuss Kyle's band and their new record as well as touch in on their releasing of the song "Zombie" in the wake of the untimely death of Cranberries' vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, who was ...
May 24, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our crew talks about the ins and outs of how our senses fail us. First, they delve into a highly appropriate internet phenomenon regarding how we hear the word "Laurel" in a recording. With technical breakdowns and inquiry as to how our hearing may have failed us, the Strangers reach a strong conclusion about this mystery. Then, they expand the topic by talking about how senses and memory are not all they seem. Nobody can be too sure of what they see, hear, feel, taste, or smell and o...
May 18, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our crew dives into a curious case of a teenager being hypnotized and not remembering the night. Then, we dig up zombies. Not just the Hollywood zombie we've grown to love, but the real root of our horror staple, the Hatian zombie. Ben brings folklore and research into real-life details that have helped form our idea of these movie monsters.
May 12, 2018•1 hr 25 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast First, Ben looks at some opinions passing for news about the Cosby verdict, then Pascual schools us on the real history behind Cinco de Mayo. For our main topic, the whole gang pitches in for a talk about research: what IS research, what ISN’T research, and helpful hints that will benefit everyone from the laziest Googler to the most intrepid of investigators. Wikipedia, Snopes, and your local library all have a role to play, as do real live experts.
May 04, 2018•1 hr 28 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast First we say a mixed farewell to Art Bell, radio host and conspiracy monger. Then we discuss the Near-Death Experience phenomenon, or NDEs. We go from Hollywood fan theories to real medical history and fear of premature burial. We touch on how children’s NDEs are shaped and exploited by adults. Then our special guest, Margaret Downey, discusses her non-religious journey of understanding her NDE. To wrap up, Celestia examines a UK nurse's “experiment” to find evidence that patients really do some...
Apr 26, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Ben unpacks a particularly curious moment in a Herzog documentary, and then we get to our main topic. Our trio dives deep into the world of school shooting conspiracies, especially around Sandy Hook. Ben uses real information to battle the wild rumors that many people seem to believe about the nature of these events and the roles of the people involved. Just as the episode was finished, BREAKING NEWS about Sandy Hook came to light and Pascual was able to punch a quick update in before...
Apr 20, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast QUICK NOTE: The online recording software we used for Matt's interview did something wonky to our audio for a moment. Pascual spent the last few hours making it sound better (believe us, it sounded worse) and we think it's good enough for the few short questions that it affects. Thank you for bearing with us on this. This week, the boys bring Susan Gerbic in to chat about all things skeptical, but most importantly, her organization "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia", a great group of people who...
Apr 13, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Pascual brings in some information on California’s Prop 65 and what it really means to say that coffee causes cancer. Does a proliferation of warning signs do the opposite of what lawmakers intended, and is there a better way? We read some listener emails and answer questions, reflecting on the evolution of the show after one year. We chat about topics that made us proud, made us nervous, or made us giggle like little schoolgirls—as well as some potential future topics, like the royal...
Apr 06, 2018•1 hr 28 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast We start with Mad Mike Hughes and his flat-earth-funded rocket. Then we talk treasures: hiding them, hunting them, and passing along rumors of them! Treasure hunting is rife with folklore and sometimes danger. People seeking riches have trespassed, committed crimes, and even died. Celestia talks about murdered casino magnate Ted Binion’s buried vault and rumors of more treasure. Then Pascual and Ben discuss Santa Fe eccentric Forrest Fenn, who claims he hid a treasure you can find with clues in ...
Mar 30, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast First, Pascual is skeptical of mutating astronaut DNA, and looks closely at the media misinterpretation of a recent NASA press release. Then the gang discusses various ways that folklore is used to control behavior—a trick used on children and sometimes on the general public, too. We look closely at the Hispanic ghost La Llorona, a frightening tale that keeps children away from flood-prone river banks in New Mexico, and then some of her even scarier cousins, the Japanese kappa, who seem to have ...
Mar 23, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our crew digs into health panics and what's in our food. Focusing on the notorious "pink slime", the Strangers break down the history of the hysteria and talk about how bad it really is (or isn't). Also in this episode, Ben is skeptical of the tragic tale of a Tasmanian Devil named Jasper.
Mar 15, 2018•58 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our strangers start the episode with some listener mail about Ben's SWAYSO on Peter Rabbit. Our three amigos break down an article about it as well as debate the reality of how impressionable kids can really be. Then, our intrepid crew sets sail to the Indian Ocean to discover our once-extinct friend, the Coelacanth. They recall the story of the discovery of our fishy friend and also discuss the use of its story in certain cryptozoological arguments. Celestia delights us with a fun fo...
Mar 09, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast This week, the Strange crew chats a bit about "crisis actors" and how far people will go to link tragic events to push conspiratorial ideas. Then, the boys are joined by Sharon A. Hill, geologist and skeptic author of the new book "Scientifical Americans" a look into the culture of amateur paranormal researchers. They talk a bit about the utility of the title "skeptic" and go into a discussion about her fascinating new book. Find Sharon and her book at: http://sharonahill.com
Mar 02, 2018•1 hr 24 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Ben and Celestia dig into what makes bad documentaries bad.
Feb 23, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Ben and Pascual dig into the legend of Kuchisake-Onna, aka the Slit-mouthed Woman. From the origins of her terrifying story to the modern day pop culture references, the guys explore every creepy detail. Also in this episode, Ben is skeptical of what makes something fictional "problematic" and just how serious the implications are. Link: Pascual references a webcomic, which actually turned out to be a Korean one that has similarities but is not the slit-mouthed woman. Warning: Jump sc...
Feb 16, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast While Pascual recovers, Ben and Celestia discuss outrage over the hypothetical new product “Lady Doritos.” Then we go over Ben’s investigation of a staircase in Santa Fe said to have been built by Saint Joseph in answer to the prayers of the Sisters of Loretto. Lacking a central support, the stairs are the focus of several legends and are said to have no scientific explanation. Upon systematic examination, and with the help of dogged historian Mary Straw Cook, Ben unravels the mystery and gives ...
Feb 08, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast This week we start with Celestia’s tale of having a “tongue analysis” while on a cruise, which amounted to an alt-med version of cold reading. Then we examine a critical but controversial topic: are accusers routinely disbelieved in sexual misconduct cases? Ben brings some statistics on the public’s view of high-profile accusations, and Celestia tackles data on police handling of rape reports. How true is this notion, and, more importantly, what harm does inflating such a notion cause?...
Feb 02, 2018•1 hr 25 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast 
