0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:06 You Can Count on Adrienne with Adrienne Hill A new segment for The Skeptic Zone. Do bad things really happen in 3s? Adrienne looks at some of the psychology about this "bad things" myth and finds how easy it is for people to come to believe there might be something in it, even something mystical. 0:11:40 Alert on Anti-Vaxxers Police are making a list of anti-vax protesters with concerns that they could target storage facilities. A Joint Intelligence ...
Mar 06, 2021•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard 0:04:45 Crystal Healing: The Science and Psychology Behind What Works, What Doesn't, and Why An interview with Dan Lynch and Julie A. Kirsch Whether you're new to the practice of crystal healing or have a level of experience with it, chances are you have questions: What works? What doesn't? How and when should I spend my money etc? Forget the magic, the mysticism, and the mythology. You've come to the right place for answers. Dan R. Lynch is a pr...
Feb 27, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:43 Pete Evans Banned (Again!) Pete Evans' Instagram shut down for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. Also his bid for a Senate seat has been widely criticised. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/pete-evans-instagram-account-has-been-shut-down-for-spreading-coronavirus-misinformation 0:11:21 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Argument from Gibberish" . This occurs when a person makes a claim that something is true, then suppo...
Feb 20, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:23 Queensland Chiropractic Bad Advice Chiropractor forced to take down video on COVID-19, claiming 'nonsense' about 'big bad bug' and other bad advice. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/chiropractor-forced-to-take-down-video-on-coronavirus-claiming-nonsense-about-big-bad-bug/news-story/57390e8ab06cce03ba5eba8e23f7f694 0:09:12 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Fallacy of the Single Cause" . ...
Feb 12, 2021•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:44 Test Your E.S.P. From 1977 comes this test from 'The Australian Women's Weekly'. How do you rate your psychic abilities? Have you ever experienced astral travel, levitation, mental telepathy . . . or seen a ghost? https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/5845338 0:19:03 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Appeal to Common Sense" . The ‘Appeal to Common Sense’ is a specific version of ‘Alleged Certainty’. It occur...
Feb 06, 2021•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:24 The Great Australian Prediction Project A look at some of the 'psychic' predictions for HM Queen Elizabeth II over the past 20 years. What was foreseen or maybe not foreseen for the monarch? 0:16:45 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Fallacy of Composition" . This fallacy is about transferring or projecting the properties shared by a set of individual components to the whole group or product as if they were the one...
Jan 30, 2021•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:42 The Great Australian Prediction Project A look at some of the 'psychic' predictions for Donald Trump over the past 20 years. What was foreseen or maybe not foreseen for the former president? 0:20:13 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Perfect Solution Fallacy" . The perfect solution is an 'all or nothing' way of thinking, unless the outcome is 100% perfect, the baby may end up being thrown out with the bath wate...
Jan 24, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:20 Society of Homeopaths in Hot Water From 'The Good Thinking Society'. Professional Standards Authority suspends the Society of Homeopaths (UK). The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) announced it had suspended the accreditation of the Society of Homeopaths (SoH). - Read by Lara Benham https://goodthinkingsociety.org 0:09:24 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Red Herring" . This is when someone gives irrelevant i...
Jan 16, 2021•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:25 An interview with Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill from Canada tells us about Tourette Syndrome and some of the so-called alternative treatments that have been offered over the years. https://tourette.ca https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/resource/tourette-ocd/home Monterey Skepticamp Youtube (at 4:53:10) https://youtu.be/DktlgzdFUTI 0:22:30 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at the fallacy of "Affirming the Consequent" . This is ...
Jan 09, 2021•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:36 COVID-19 Conspiracy An alleged quarantine escapee left her hotel after she denied the existence of coronavirus in a series of bizarre online rants. Self-proclaimed "world changer" Jenny D'ubios sparked a manhunt in Perth when she was found missing from her Perth hotel while in COVID-19 quarantine. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/jenny-dubios-woman-who-allegedly-fled-covid-hotel-quarantine-shared-bizarre-online-rants-before-incident-c-...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 Pete Evans Booted Off Pete Evans has been removed from Facebook just days after telling Sydney followers to not get tested for COVID-19. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/facebook-boots-celebrity-chef-pete-evans-over-covid-19-misinformation-20201223-p56px0.html 0:11:30 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Slothful Induction Fallacy" . This is when even though there is enough good evidence to support a ...
Dec 26, 2020•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:07 Susan Gerbic We find out what GSoW are doing to support those fighting COVID-19. Also the latest ravings from two time Bent Spoon winner, Pete Evans. https://abouttimeproject.wordpress.com 0:17:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Uri Geller in the 1970s. 1973.12.08 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1974.02.06 - The Canberra Times 1975.01.23 - The Canberra Times 1975.02.24 - Th...
Dec 19, 2020•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:36 Doctor at LARGE Ken McLeod reports on how anti-vaccination campaigner Judy Wilyman is trading on her flawed doctorate, and the implications for her, the University of Wollongong, and the community. - Read by Richard Saunders. https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2040%20(2020)%20No%204%20(Cover).pdf 0:27:16 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for refe...
Dec 12, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:54 Living a Skeptical Life From a talk given some years ago by Richard Saunders at a meeting of the Victorian Skeptics, what does it mean to be a skeptic from day to day? The Mysterious Monsters 1975 https://youtu.be/44BUjnxwC_g 0:31:04 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Water Divining in 1912. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:38:37 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skepti...
Dec 05, 2020•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:30 Ben Radford's New Book The famed skeptical investigator, podcaster and author tells us about his new book, a collection of stories covering almost 2 decades. http://benjaminradford.com 0:17:25 ESP - 250 We join a live broadcast of the European Skeptics Podcast to congratulate them for 250 episodes. https://theesp.eu 0:19:52 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Appeal to Emotion" . Also known as "argument from pa...
Nov 28, 2020•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:00 His Goose is Cooked Another twist in the ongoing sad Soap Opera that is former celebrity Pete Evans. He's lost his sponsorships, he's lost his TV deals, he's lost his book deals along with his marbles. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54972101 0:13:04 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Fallacy Fallacy" . Also known as the bad reasons fallacy, this is when, because your opponent uses logical fallacies, ...
Nov 21, 2020•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:26 From 9/11 to COVID-19 An interview with Claus Larsen from Denmark about the ongoing research into some of the biggest conspiracy theories in recent history. What are some of the COVID-19 conspiracies doing the rounds and why do people believe in them? http://www.911facts.dk 0:29:50 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Appeal to the Stone". This is when you dismiss an idea or statement as absurd, invalid, or inco...
Nov 14, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 The Misadventures of the VeXXed Bus We look at the bumpy road and comic mishaps of the "Vaxxed II" bus as it travels along its sorry road. 0:16:44 James Randi, a quiet chat. In 2014, Randi and Saunders toured Australia. During some downtime they chat about magic, memories and TV productions. James Randi: Psychic Investigator - YouTube https://youtu.be/ix_DEto6nH4?t=820 0:28:57 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Th...
Nov 07, 2020•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:00 James Randi on The Skeptic Zone Since the podcast begain in 2008, James Randi appeared on about 22 episodes. We present some edited highlights from over the years. 0:39:32 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the James Randi, with a focus on the year 1980, the year of the famed water divining tests. 1980.06.28 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1980.06.30 - The Canberra Times 1980....
Oct 31, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep 629•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 A tribute to James "The Amazing" Randi. 1928 - 2020. 0:06:20 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:10:45 Australian Skeptics Inc. Annual Awards 2020 Join President Jessica Singer, E.O. Tim Mendham and Chief Investigator Richard Saunders as they annouce this year's awards, as heard at Skepticon 2020. The Fred Thornett Award for the promotion of reason - The Barry Williams Award for media - The Skeptic of the Year - The Bent Spoon Award. https://www.skeptics.com.au 0:23:20 The Book of Tim. With ...
Oct 24, 2020•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:02 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer , a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World , was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #3 - Brain tells us of the impact of Wakefield's work on vaccination rates, the other authors of the ori...
Oct 17, 2020•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:09 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer , a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World , was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #2 - Brain tells us of why Wakefield left the Royal Free Hospital, conflicts of interest, buying blood f...
Oct 11, 2020•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:32 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer , a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World , was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #1 - An overview of the original Wakefild paper, how the children in the study were recruited, the $100 ...
Oct 03, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:50 Life is Wild. With Michelle Franklin Ever seen a UFO? Many years ago Michelle and her father did and were quite baffled... for a time. What about the time she saw strange red eyes peering at her from the darkness while camping? What this some sort of stragne apparition or did Michelle find a more logical answer? 0:16:05 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the word "Ouija". ...
Sep 26, 2020•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:26 COVID-19 Conspiracy Graffiti Michelle Bijkersma reports on COVID-19 conspiracy theory graffiti in Melbourne. 0:10:42 Protests - COVID-19 Conspiracies Anti-Lockdown protests at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market as police arrest 74 protesters and issue more than $280,000 in fines. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-arrest-74-and-fine-176-after-vic-market-protest-20200912-p55v1z.html 0:17:12 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham What Goes Ar...
Sep 19, 2020•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the words "Yowie Hunt". Did anyone ever find the Australian Big Foot? http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:21:08 CFI - We're Not Backing Down from Walmart Snake oil profiteering has emerged as a genuine crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifying what the Center for Inquiry has been saying for years: Pseudoscientific medicine is dangerous,...
Sep 12, 2020•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:43 Here's My Two Cents Worth. With Jennifer Hathorn Jennifer takes us on a decades long journey through the madness that is Dragon*Con. What are some of the highlights involving skepticism? Find out about the time James Randi appeared with Alice Cooper. 0:13:47 LIVE from Skeptrack! We talk to Dr Angie Mattke and Derek Colanduno from the studio floor ar virtual Dragon*Con. What's coming up this year on this live skeptical event? http://www.skeptrack.com ...
Sep 04, 2020•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 A Drive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the word "clairvoyant". Can we find a little wisdom from the past? 1907, 26 January - Geelong Advertiser 1907, 28 November - Geelong Advertiser 1907, 25 June - The Australian Star 1919, 13 March - Darling Downs Gazette 1928, 12 April - News 1944, 27 May - Mirror http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:20:10 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skep...
Aug 29, 2020•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:04 On the Search for those Elusive Ghosts An interview with Beth Darlington in London, UK. A paranormal investigator who has a very open-minded and fair approach to investigating the claims of the paranormal. https://www.accessparanormal.com 0:18:20 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Anecdotal Evidence Fallacy" . This is when you are swayed into taking up a position or belief based on isolated examples of data, po...
Aug 22, 2020•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:18 Life is Wild. With Michelle Franklin Seeds of Distress? Back in July, Michelle saw a little story on facebook. Someone in America claiming to have received a package of seeds from China in the mail. They said they didn't order anything, but this little package labelled as earrings, but containing what looked like lemon seeds just showed up at their house one day in the mail. The story was about how the US department of Agriculture were asking that an...
Aug 15, 2020•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
