0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:22 Homeopathy on Trial On January 13, the Center for Inquiry reached a major milestone in its groundbreaking consumer-protection lawsuits against retail giants Walmart and CVS. CFI is suing these mammoth corporations over their deceptive sale and marketing of homeopathic products under the Consumer Protection laws of the District of Columbia, and on January 13, CFI Legal Director Nick Little presented oral argument for our cases before the DC Court of A...
Apr 23, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:35 Science Friction with Brain Dunning You know those TV documentaries you see, and the science experts they feature? Did you know that producers often edit them out of context, and twist their words, to make it seem like they promoted some pop sensationalism instead of the real facts? Science Friction exposes this practice and gives the scientists a chance to clear the record. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09RQFWJ4L https://tubitv.com/movies/...
Apr 16, 2022•59 min•Ep 706•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 Bob Swanson's Critical Thinking Videos Bob Swanson, Instructor / Lab Coordinator from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Mississippi State University, tells us of his videos about critical thinking, inspired by the claims of Power Balance wrist bands. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4znmeoL66Lkpaae5DYMHQWqQQl4jkG23 0:23:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill...
Apr 10, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:38 AVN Lose Again We talk to noted skeptical activist Ken McLeod about the Federal Court of Australia and its decision made against the Australian Vaccination Risks Network. Why is it that this anti-vax organisation keeps losing court battles? PDF of the court's ruling https://tinyurl.com/2hfubwkj 0:16:38 Nurses and Midwives Protest Once again nurses and midwives in New South Wales feel compelled to take to the streets to voice their concerns. Richard S...
Apr 02, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 Meta Sued by Australian Watchdog Over Scam Ads Facebook owner Meta is being sued by Australia's competition watchdog for publishing scam ads for crypto on its platform. We look at even more questionable ads appearing on Facebook every day for such things as medical products and psychics. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-18/meta-sued-by-australian-watchdog-over-scam-crypto-advertisements 0:14:24 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skept...
Mar 26, 2022•58 min•Ep 703•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:10 Arjun Nidigallu and Vulture Watch Vulture Watch is about creating awareness of exploitation, irrationality, discrimination or misinformation. It delves into the motives of such vulturous activities and looks at how it can hold such behaviour accountable. https://youtube.com/c/VultureWatch https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/healy-world-australia-pty-ltd-fined-26640-alleged-unlawful-advertising-tens-device 0:23:52 Another Milestone for GSoW Susan Ger...
Mar 19, 2022•57 min•Ep 702•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:32 Former TV Celebrity Chef Blunders Again Trolls are hijacking the death of 52-year-old Australian cricket legend Shane Warne to spread wild conspiracy theories. Report of the strange actions by Bent Spoon winner, Pete Evans. https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/antivaxxer-trolls-hijack-shane-warnes-death/news-story/c1b84e32411c5ed37f34c2f12a72274f 0:12:22 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? ...
Mar 12, 2022•50 min•Ep 701•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Stefan Sojka 0:11:35 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. Since this is The Skeptic Zone's 700th episode, Adrienne decided to see if there was anything interesting that she could find about the number 700 and she wasn't disappointed. Get ready for some math facts, more Barnum statements, and the significance of three and seven as it relates to 700. 0:21:08 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Tim looks at Designs, Accidents, Villainy and Stupidity...
Mar 05, 2022•56 min•Ep 700•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:26 UFOs... Again? Today's skeptics tend to look upon reports of UFOs with more a sense of nostalgia than any real expectation of new and startling evidence of alien visitation being produced. As decade after decade passes and the aliens remain... shy... we can look back at all the UFO documentaries, books, TV specials and so on that each promised so much, but delivered so little. https://www.facebook.com/282292778554961/posts/4813523685431825/ UFO TV Sp...
Feb 27, 2022•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:22 Nurses' Protest We head to the parliament building in Sydney Australia to report on the protest by nurses and midwives about the tough conditions they are facing since the outbreak of COVID-19. What we find is a sea of blue scrubs and a sea of blue facemasks. This report includes interviews with some of the nurses who took the time to make their voices heard in the protest. 0:17:12 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham This week Tim looks at the origins ...
Feb 19, 2022•51 min•Ep 698•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:48 Any Day Now... I Promise! From the pages of 'The Skeptic', the journal of Australian Skeptics, Richard Saunders looks at the bait that keeps the believers hooked for years, decades, centuries, and millennia. 0:17:50 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill . http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:38 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers...
Feb 12, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:09 You Can Count on Adrienne This week Adrienne looks at the mystical and mysterious meanings behind the number 7. Is 7 good luck, bad luck, out of luck, lucky duck, or none of the above? What does numerology have to say about your personality? 0:14:29 An Award for Susan Gerbic CSI awards the Robert P. Balles Annual Prize in Critical Thinking annually. The $2,500 award is given to the "creator of the published work that best exemplifies healthy skeptici...
Feb 05, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:36 Interview with Craig Good "Relax and Enjoy your Food" is a new book from Craig Good. The diet and wellness industries, along with the supplement industry, have deep pockets and ill intent. Their primary victims are women, but everybody gets caught up in their web. After reading this book you'll be able to leave all that behind, eat a healthy diet, even reach and maintain a healthy weight. In short, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your food. https:/...
Jan 30, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:38 Sweden Survey Pontus Bockman drops by to tell us about the results of a recent survey into what people in Sweden believe. How many people still believe in a young earth, how many people are into astrology, how many people believe in conspiracy theories? http://www.vof.se 0:25:38 Bits and Pieces From around the Internet we find stories about people and their continuing refusal to take COVID-19 seriously. also your chance to make contact with extra ter...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep 694•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 Facebook and Foot Pads A look at some of the ridiculous advertisements that appear on Facebook news feeds. From Foot Patches to Psychic Fairs and even Astral Projection, just what nonsense is being pushed out to thousands of Facebook users. 0:23:26 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill . http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:26 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades o...
Jan 15, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:40 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Trivia Join Adrienne Hill and Richard Saunders as they deliver 30 tricky skeptical trivia questions. Have you got what it takes to get a good score? Test your skeptical knowledge with our curly questions. 0:28:30 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Power Balance". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Power Balance tested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd...
Jan 08, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 Fired for getting a Vaccination A woman in Australia has been sacked from a wellness clinic for the terrible crime of getting a COVID-19 vaccination. Also we look into the claims of cures using cannabis. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-16/byron-bay-church-of-ubuntu-worker-covid-vaccination/100703588 0:23:52 The Skeptical Fairy The Skeptical Fairy Angel Godmother from the Internet visits a pub to bring cheer and merriment. Starring the voice talen...
Jan 02, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:02 Flags, Magna Carta and Anti-Vaxxers We take a look at why some anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists and 'sov-cits' carry upside down flags and quote the Magna Carta of 1215 while marching in the streets. What would King John say?? 0:20:11 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill . http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:16 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised ...
Dec 26, 2021•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders The Great Australian Prediction Project From the pages of 'The Skeptic', the journal from Australian Skeptics, comes the long awaited offical report into the accuracy of so-called "psychic predictions". Find out the background, the methodology and the all important results and conclusions. Read by Adrienne Hill and Richard Saunders. 00:02:14: The Great Aust. Psychic Prediction Project 00:05:19: History of Prophecies 00:10:37: The Project 00:13:34: Methodolog...
Dec 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:45 The Ockham Awards We talk to Michael Marshall from the UK about the recent Ockham Awards. Michael is the project director of the Good Thinking Society and president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. https://www.skeptic.org.uk 0:18:20 The Book of Tim Tim Mendham calls in to give us an overview of what to expect in the new addition of 'The Skeptic' the journal from Australian Skeptics. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:31:06 A Dive into a Trove A wander t...
Dec 12, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:30 A Day in Court Bradley John Hill - the licensee of a Hunter Valley pub that breached public health orders in regards to COVID-19 - was fined in a Singleton courthouse on Thursday. But just who exactly was in court? Strange story indeed. https://www.singletonargus.com.au/story/7534943/singleton-caledonian-licensee-fined-for-repeatedly-flouting-covid-19-public-health-orders/ 0:11:35 Take Stock - With Shelley Stocken Twins! Are you a twin? Are you psych...
Dec 04, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:06:00 Squaring the Strange with Celestia Ward Our favourite and very talented caricature artist from Las Vegas Celestia Ward drops by to chat about her career as a skeptical podcaster on 'Squaring the Strange'. https://linktr.ee/Squaringthestrange https://www.2headsstudios.com Extra video content. You can watch the complete interview with Celestia Ward, with Richard Saunders, on YouTube via the link below. https://youtu.be/RWFbBW4iPM8 0:34:20 The Book of T...
Nov 27, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders With Susan Gerbic, Rob Palmer, Michelle Bijkersma, Lara Benham and Lynden Shields. 0:05:00 The ESP We catch up with the team from the European Skeptics Podcast to congratulate them on reaching 300 episodes. The European Skeptics Podcast (The ESP) is a weekly podcast recorded in English and hosted by three skeptics from several different European countries: Andras Gabor Pinter from Hungary, Pontus Bockman from Sweden and Annika Harrison from Germany. https://...
Nov 20, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:00 COVID vaccine nurse at Perth clinic charged with fraud Western Australian Police have charged a nurse with fraudulently recording that a patient had been given a COVID-19 vaccine when the jab was allegedly never administered. https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Media-Centre/Media-Releases/4296-Registered-Nurse-Charged--Vaccine-Fraud https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-08/nurse-who-allegedly-faked-covid-vaccines-charged/100602566 0:14:42 The Book of Tim Loch...
Nov 13, 2021•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:47 Uri Geller, James Randi and the CIA We find a document written by James Randi that was circulated in the CIA concerning so-called psychic Uri Geller. What did Geller's former manager have to say about the tricks and shenanigans in the 1970s? Find out with this review. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/uri-geller-no-faker-really-25333616 https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00791R000100450002-7.pdf 0:24:40 The Book of Tim Tim Mendh...
Nov 07, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:10 Maynard's Spooky Action Maynard and Richard Saunders join Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan on a field trip to visit Sydney's most "haunted" street. We also find out more about Dr Siobhan's journey with Ovarian Cancer. Special extended content of this story on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykB67Sj5cYs 0:24:55 The Book of Tim Tim Mendham reads from the pages of 'The Skeptic' magazine, from Australian Skeptics. Sturgeon's Law. Vol 32 No 2 - June 2012 ht...
Oct 30, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:10 Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - Part #2 Famed science communicator Dr Karl tells us about COVID in chickens, making vaccines on a 3D printer, fighting climate change and Mr. Spock. Dr Karl is an Australian science communicator and popularizer, who is known as an author, and as a science commentator on Australian radio and television. Dr Karl is the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow in the Science Foundation for Physics at the School of Physics, University of Sydney...
Oct 23, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:40 Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - Part #1 Famed science communicator Dr Karl tells us about snipers, TikTok, Anti-Vaxers and the way in which social media companies pander to the advertising dollor. Dr Karl is an Australian science communicator and popularizer, who is known as an author, and as a science commentator on Australian radio and television. Dr Karl is the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow in the Science Foundation for Physics at the School of Physics, Univ...
Oct 16, 2021•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast The Skeptic Zone #679 - 10 October 2021 Dedicated to the memory of Michael Wolloghan The Skeptic Zone is very sad to inform you that one of our founding reporters Michael Wolloghan died unexpectedly in October 2021. Episode #679 is dedicated to his memory, including a replay of one of his reports. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Thank you Michael for being there at the beginning. Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:55 The Round Up. With Michael Woll...
Oct 10, 2021•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:44 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill The Herman Cain Freedom Award (HCFA) is reminiscent of the Darwin Awards. Taken directly from the sub-Reddit it says "Nominees have made public declaration of their anti-mask, anti-vax, or Covid-hoax views, followed by admission to hospital for Covid. The Award is granted upon the nominee's release from their Earthly shackles." https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward 0:13:00 YouTube Boot Anti-Vaxers YouT...
Oct 03, 2021•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
