Believe it or not, there are more skeptical podcasts out there than ours – check out the Skeptic podcast for example, the newest one out there from the Skeptic UK . Pierre -Simon Laplace is this week’s topic for TWISH , and then we get into the news: SWEDEN : New study confirms: Tens of thousands of lives in Sweden saved by covid vaccines HUNGARY : State TV keeps citing Russian Defense Ministry’s unreliable data ITALY / UK : Tuscany approves assist...
Mar 07, 2025•51 min•Ep. 469
We are still fascinated by the on-going planetary alignment and this week is an even better opportunity to watch it. And if it’s cloudy and a Thursday, go back inside and join the SITP Online virtual pub , it’s highly recommended! In TWISH we hear about Émile Coué who popularized autosuggestion which in a way paved the way for all self-help books that we are still riddled with today. Then of course, we have the news: NORWAY : Heat...
Feb 28, 2025•52 min•Ep. 468
We talk a little bit of the upcoming Germany federal elections this weekend and in TWISH we hear about Carl von Rokitansky the Austrian physician, pathologist, humanist philosopher and liberal politician and founder of the Viennese School of Medicine of the 19th century. How he managed to dissect tens of thousands of bodies is baffling and just a little bit scary… Then, we turn to the news: UK : Prof. Jim Al-Khalili gets Darwin Day Medal SWEDEN : M...
Feb 21, 2025•51 min•Ep. 467
Lots about guns and politics this week, as well as science , homeopathy and a little bit about lost pants . In TWISH we hear about Descartes and his suspicious death in 1650. Was it murder? Here is a list of the news: SWEDEN : Mass shooting in Örebro GERMANY : Is this the descent of Homeopathy? SWEDEN : Government wants stricter laws regarding guns – Sweden Democrats in uproar UK : Evidence week a big success SCOTLAND : Alien abductee t...
Feb 14, 2025•53 min•Ep. 466
This week we interview Marcel-Jan Krijgsman , Dutch amateur astronomer , data engineer and science communicator . Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-465.html Segments : 0:00:33 Intro 0:00:56 Greetings 0:11:04 Interview 0:45:58 Farewell 0:50:08 Outro 0:51:30 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 07, 2025•52 min•Ep. 465
After discussing Nazi salutes , placebo surgery , scientology follow-up , Massimo Polidoro’s new book and several recommendations for other podcasts , we eventually get down to the meat of the show. In TWISH we hear about Delta , the science TV program that aired 61 years ago on 31 of January. Then, we look to the news: SWEDEN : Swedish Skeptics Awards CENTRAL EUROPE : Disinformation and conspiracy beliefs in East-Central Europe show signific...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 464
The ECDC has declared January cervical cancer awareness month which we support 100%. We also want encourage local skeptical actions such as speaking up when companies promote nonsense and Pontus gives us an example of how easy it can be, if you just take a few minutes and speak up. We also mention that the planets are lined up in a cool way at the moment, so turn your eyes to the skies! In TWISH we hear about Vladimir Bekhterev &n...
Jan 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 463
Happy to be back again and we start by welcoming some new publications by Brian Eggo and Edzard Ernst . In TWISH we wonder if 13 January is Skeptics Day and then we dig into the news: FRANCE : Godfather of modern far-right movement Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96 UK / ESTONIA : Nurosym – an example of scam health device UK : Poll shows more than half of UK voters dislike Elon Musk and his meddling with UK politics This week’s Really Wrong Award was just as hard to guess as the su...
Jan 17, 2025•58 min•Ep. 462
Quite a few things to dive into this week: the Medici popes , some listener feedback , cool dinosaur tracks and some sad news from France . In TWISH we we have an epiphany and then we go through the news: NORWAY / UK : Who Believes in Alternative Medicine? RUSSIA : Cancer vaccine announced, with no published evidence UK : Over 40% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medications while receiving anticancer treatment INTERNATION...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 461
With András unavailable, we drag Annika out of retirement to launch the new year! In TWISH we hear about Martin Luther’s excommunication and while Pontus always enjoy seeing someone stand up to the Pope, Martin Luther himself was far from flawless. Then we have the news-round: SWEDEN / INTERNATIONAL : Multi supplements are at best unnecessary and at worst dangerous EU : Amalgam is history INTERNATIONAL : World endures ‘decade of deadly heat’ as 2024 caps hotte...
Jan 03, 2025•36 min•Ep. 460
We close the year with some topical items related to the season. Happy New Year! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-459.html Segments : 0:00:25 Intro 0:00:49 Greetings 0:05:28 TWISH 0:21:13 Special segment 0:39:37 Quote 0:41:35 Outro 0:42:50 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 29, 2024•43 min•Ep. 459
A little correction to start with, and then in TWISH we hear about the Jesuit and scientist Tommaso Ceva . Of course, we also have the news: SWEDEN : Private clinics on public contracts promoted nonsense cures, denied sick patients and cheated HUNGARY : Government’s own fact checkers cause for concern in Europe UK : Boycott against Arla for trying to reduce methane emissions INTERNATIONAL : New comprehensive review of homeopathy is actually BS UK : Follow up on Church of Englan...
Dec 20, 2024•49 min•Ep. 458
We start with the sad news that this is Annika’s last episode as a regular host. Over the last four years she has brought her unique perspective and insights (and puns!) to the show. But being part of a weekly podcast is tough commitment while at the same time balancing a fulltime job, raising a family and participating in other skeptical activities. We will miss her! And we hope to see her back again from time to time for guest appearances. In TWISH this week...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 457
After the usual pre-amble, we hear about the first prediction of a transit of Venus in TWISH . Calculated by Kepler himself you can only go go “Yay, science!”, and salute the guy. Then we get to the news: INTERNATIONAL : Company linked to cloned journals of major publishers denies cloning journals of major publishers AUSTRIA : The Golden Board in front of the head goes to… Healy UK : The UK ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ – reasons for concern? INTERNATIONAL : 20th translatio...
Dec 06, 2024•52 min•Ep. 456
We start with some reflections on COP29 and then we send our big congratulations to Richard Saunders on receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Skeptics. Well deserved indeed! Another well deserved but shameful award goes to King Charles who received the New Zealand Skeptics’ Bent Spoon Award . In TWISH we look back at the founding of the Royal Society all the way back in 1660. Then, it’s time for ...
Nov 29, 2024•50 min•Ep. 455
As everyone else these days we are moving from X to Bluesky , any help in driving traffic our way is much appreciated. The Humanists UK has published a new exciting book called What I Believe , named after podcast by the same name. You should check it out! In TWISH we hear about how the (then) Prince of Wales got his favorite charity for SCAM (So-Called Alternative Medicine) struck from the UK Charity Commission . Then, we head fo...
Nov 22, 2024•44 min•Ep. 454
It’s one election after another . The same day that the US voted orange, Germany decided on a snap election after the current coalition fell apart. Let’s hope people over here are better informed than the American voters. In TWISH we hear about ‘Doctor Universalis’ Albertus Magnus whose scientific mindset in the 13th century helped Europe begin its long and winding road out of the dark ages. Then we explore the news: ONLINE : ‘Akusoli’ is a t...
Nov 15, 2024•44 min•Ep. 453
This is the first “regular episode” for a while and of course we cannot help to mourn the stupid results of the US elections . But since this is a European show we cannot let that stop us, so after a TWISH story of how Charles Darwin , 130 years after his death, gained over 4000 votes in the elections in the US state of Georgia , it’s time for the news: BULGARIA / NORTH MACEDONIA : Baba Vanga (баба Ванга), the Bulgarian psychic INTERNATIONAL : Wanna help out the Ske...
Nov 08, 2024•51 min•Ep. 452
A longer episode this week, jampacked with interviews from QED! One of the marvelous things with conferences (don’t forget about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney !) is that you meet so many fantastic people. We tried to capture a little of that feeling by recording a bunch of interviews, so tune in to hear from Clio Bellenis, Diana Barbosa, João Monteiro, Igor Stroev, David Glass, and Hayley Stevens! As if that is not enough we also have a longer inte...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 451
We celebrate our 450th episode (wow!) live at QED 2024 (wow!!!) with the help of Brian and Claire ! We also get special greetings from Annika and Jay Novella , who unfortunately could not attend. A slightly different format due to the occasion, but of course we have the news, which this time has the (not so) cheerful theme of Russian disinformation : SWEDEN : An apparent news site focusing on the 2026 election is in fact an A...
Oct 25, 2024•45 min•Ep. 450
Lot’s of listener feedback in this episode which is delightful! Pontus explains whether there was a scandal concerning the Sami peoples at the Gothenburg Book Fair and we prepare for this weekend’s QED ! Speaking of which, this is what we also talk about in TWISH this week. Then, as always, the news: THE NETHERLANDS : Meester Kackadorisprijs awarded to the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO) FRANCE : Minister of Education and Rese...
Oct 18, 2024•51 min•Ep. 449
In both Annika's and Pontus' absence, this week András interviews the "Fairy Godmother" of the show, psychic investigator & debunket, "master puppeteer" and tireless leader of the Secret Cabal (and the About Time Project) that is the international Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia Susan Gerbic. We talk about Mark Edward's legacy, how to start a SkeptiCamp in your local area, and what ways there are to help out the skeptical movement . Enjoy! Segments : Intro; Greetings &...
Oct 13, 2024•44 min•Ep. 448
András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo . Then it’s time for the news: SWEDEN : Secret Service confirms State of Iran behind disinformation text messages re Quran burnings INTERNATIONAL : Social media...
Oct 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 447
This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders . We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone . We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November . Enjoy! Segments : 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:50 Greetings 0:00:53 Interview 0:27:25 Farewell 0:31:11 Outro 0:32:25 Outtakes https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-446.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 27, 2024•33 min•Ep. 446
We start with some follow up from last week – Edward Bach is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if plants can really appreciate music . In TWISH we celebrate(?) the birthday of Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’) and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news: INTERNATIONAL : Ig Nobel prize winners 2024 FRANCE : Brigitte Macron wins lawsuit against fortune-teller and journalist claimins she’s trans-gender FRANC...
Sep 20, 2024•47 min•Ep. 445
With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some numerology . Annika will be more off than on for a while and the promised record heat in Sweden actually delivered. In TWISH we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer Stanisław Lem who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news: SWEDEN : Music makes cucumbers happy UK : Hereditary seats to be removed from Lords INTERNATIONAL : No link between mobile phones and b...
Sep 13, 2024•48 min•Ep. 444
In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news: INTERNATIONAL : Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social media FRANCE : Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon Musk AUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS : Climate communication works! ITALY : Shroud of Turin reloaded The Award for being Really Wrong this week goes to Fleur Agema , Dut...
Sep 06, 2024•52 min•Ep. 443
Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details. Then we have a great chat with Algimantas Kvecys who is the chair of Lietuvos skeptikų draugija , the Society of Lithuanian Skeptics . Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-442.html Segments: 0:00:31 Intro 0:00:55 Greetings 0:10:16 Interview 0:44:33 Farewell 0:47:04 Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
Aug 30, 2024•48 min•Ep. 442
QED is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to sign up as a volunteer ! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time. This week saw a “ full true blue supermoon ” – check out which part of this is nonsense and which parts that are real astronomy. In TWISH we go all the way back to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and why it may not have happ...
Aug 23, 2024•41 min•Ep. 441
We start with a follow-up on the UK riots and the disinformation that triggered them. Regardless of this we look forward to going to QED where the Ockham Awards will be announced. The nominations are now open! See link in the show notes. In TWISH we hear about how it wasn’t that long ago that Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery – we sure are lucky that we we were not born back then. Then it is ti...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 440
