We start out with the sad news that Mark Edward has passed away. Mark was a mentalist, an author, and an active skeptic. Mark, sometimes with with his partner (and good friend of the show) Susan Gerbic , investigated many paranormal claims and exposed psychic frauds. He will be long remembered and missed by the skeptics movement. After some listener feedback and catching up, we go to TWISH , where we hear about Louis Leakey and his important, but often controv...
Aug 09, 2024•55 min•Ep 439•Transcript available on Metacast The three of us are (sort of) together again, so after the customary greetings, András joins us with Adrienne Hill all the way from Canada (Sparky studios?!) for a prerecorded chat. In TWISH we hear about how Adolf Hitler secured his position as Führer , which is scary since the tactics of modern would-be-dictators have not changed that much. Then we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL : Science and fairytales FRANCE : BS and pseudoscience at the Olym...
Aug 02, 2024•59 min•Ep 438•Transcript available on Metacast Thirty-two years ago this week the Vatican tried to explain why discrimination against gay people is not really discrimination. That's basically still their position today, which we hear about in this week's TWISH . Then we have quite a few news items to go through: SWEDEN : Swedish telecom companies have blocked more than 50 million scam calls in 2024 INTERNATIONAL : Global SCAM markets on the rise INTERNATIONAL : UV index apps used to get MORE sunburns DENMA...
Jul 29, 2024•47 min•Ep 437•Transcript available on Metacast Just the boys this week and we have a lot to talk about – climate change (András needs a new job), Türkiye vs. Turkey , Dutch vacations , homeopathy , Skeptical Science , and even some politics. In TWISH we hear about the skeptical priest Giuseppe Piazzi who discovered Ceres , the first asteroid ever detected. Also, if you catch this in time here is the link to the 19 July Global Skeptics in the Pub Zoom meeting . Then we ha...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 436•Transcript available on Metacast Some listeners have started to join our Discord – why don’t you do that do! In the news today: TURKEY : Turkey revokes radio station’s license for discussing Armenian genocide UK : Ultra-processed food fear – simply the next big nutritional moral panic? SPAIN : HIV patients often take other SCAM that interfere with their treatments The Church of England has plans to evangelising in UK schools – even the secular ones! For that the receive this week’s award for being&...
Jul 12, 2024•45 min•Ep 435•Transcript available on Metacast To start out we nerd out a bit about how to say ‘hello’ in Hungarian , launch the new ESP Discord thread and give a shout-out to Malmö Pride where people can team up with Pontus to fight against prejudices at Malmö Pride. In TWISH we for once hop across the pond to explain the origin of so-called Barnum statements . Then it’s time for the news: EU : University of Lund withdraws research application after AI generated references INTERNATIONAL : Lie-...
Jul 05, 2024•42 min•Ep 434•Transcript available on Metacast The band is back together for the first time in months! First we mention an important (but likely depressing) new book documenting Catholic child sex abuse . In TWISH we look back at the Brexit referendum and analyze why it went so terribly wrong, and then it’s time for the news: SWEDEN : Swedish EU election trends were a bit different GERMANY : New publication out on esotericism in in political education UK : There will not be 14 million immigrants over the next 12...
Jun 28, 2024•54 min•Ep 433•Transcript available on Metacast Annika and András talk a bit about the EP elections again, mostly reacting to listener feedback. We also mention the Belgian skeptical organisation SKEPP's Skeptical Awards and in TWISH we commemorate evolutionary biologist, humanist, eugenicist and internationalist extraordinaire Sir Julian Huxley . Then in the news: SCOTLAND : Parliament votes to implement abortion safe access zones INTERNATIONAL : How to help health care professionals on the forefront of vaccinat...
Jun 22, 2024•37 min•Ep 432•Transcript available on Metacast In Pontus' absence we talk a bit about EP elections and in TWISH we commemorate the Italian heroine of science and skepticism Margherita Hack . Then it is time to check out the news: UK : Zero hour for climate action NORTHERN IRELAND : NI Assembly passes motion to ban conversion therapies INTERNATIONAL : Edzard Ernst finds SCAM research to be in decline INTERNATIONAL : Intervention against misinformation might increase skepticism... against reliable sources, too The...
Jun 15, 2024•36 min•Ep 431•Transcript available on Metacast Pontus comes back from the European Skeptics Congress with a new title , applications to talk at Skepticamp QED is now open and Evidence Week is postponed by UK elections . In TWISH we hear about James Hutton , the father of modern geology, and then it is time to check out the news: INTERNATIONAL : The Catholic church’s first ‘millennial saint’ INTERNATIONAL : Edzard Ernst did it again INTERNATIONAL : ‘Foolproof’ gives us vaccinat...
Jun 07, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast We start with some listener feedback and also worry if Neil DeGrasse Tyson and his Star Talk show are falling for some alternative medicine. On the good side Skeptical Science , led by John Cook , is continuing their quest for science literacy and has a new online quiz you can take to check your “bullshit detector”. In TWISH we hear about the trial against Joan of Arc in 1431. Then we turn to the news: SWEDEN : H...
May 31, 2024•53 min•Ep 429•Transcript available on Metacast In Pontus' absence Annika is back for a quick visit before her planned return next month. We mention the terrible assassination attempt against Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico and how it's a new source of fake news. On TWISH you can hear about Franz Anton Mesmer, who was the foremost proponent of "animal magnetism". Then, we look at the news: GERMANY: GWUP has a new leadership - Congratulations! VATICAN CITY : The Inquisition introducing new rules for the...
May 24, 2024•35 min•Ep 428•Transcript available on Metacast Meeting up with fellow skeptics is always a blast. We recommend reading the recent article in Skeptic UK about the history of European skepticism and ECSO – the ESC (European Skeptics Congress) is only two weeks away! Pontus reports from last week’s annual meeting with VoF (the Swedish Skeptics) and in TWISH we hear about Pierre Curie who, apart from being a brilliant scientist also was intrigued by spiritualism . Then...
May 17, 2024•46 min•Ep 427•Transcript available on Metacast Tickets for QED in Manchester (19-20 October) are now on sale and don’t forget Skepticamp on the day before! If all goes to plan, both András and Pontus may be among the speakers. But first we are looking forward to the European Skeptics Congress 2024 , less than a month from now, 31 May – 2 June in Lyon, France! In TWISH we hear about how smallpox was announced eradicated this week in 1980 and then we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL :...
May 10, 2024•47 min•Ep 426•Transcript available on Metacast Every Swede has celebrated Valborg (Walpurgis / Walpurga) this week although no one really knows why, and András reports from Sicily on volcanic activities . In TWISH we hear about Pierre Teilhard de Chardin , a theologian so controversial that popes nowadays still cannot agree on what to think of him. Then it’s time for this week’s news: INTERNATIONAL : How local communities shaped ‘Cranky Uncle Vaccine’ game SWEDEN / UK : Computer game in school ...
May 03, 2024•42 min•Ep 425•Transcript available on Metacast It is European Immunization Week! Get your boosters and jabs folks, and make you and the people around you are safe! In TWISH this week we hear about John Oliver , British comedian who (whether you like him or not) understands science and the need for healthy skepticism. Then we of course take a look at the news: ITALY : Italy passes measures to allow anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinics HUNGARY : The Flat Earth Award goes to the Hungarian Association o...
Apr 26, 2024•48 min•Ep 424•Transcript available on Metacast The report on DISC analysis and Thomas Erikson from last week generated some good feedback, it’s time for the John Maddox prize again and Susan Gerbic has a new YouTube channel that you should definitely check out. Don’t forget to book your ticket for the European Skeptics Congress in Lyon! In TWISH we hear about Norbert Schobert , the Hungarian fitness guru that seems to keep asking for a Flat Earth ...
Apr 19, 2024•42 min•Ep 423•Transcript available on Metacast A bit of a correction first, regarding earthquakes . Then we get some Vatican news with speculation about a Swedish ‘papabile’ , plus idiotic statements about genders . In TWISH we hear about Paolo Frisi , an Italian university dropout who in the 18th century went on to become a polymath . Then we have a look at the news: EUROPE : Whooping cough on the rise – due to covid BELGIUM : Alternative medicine and god hindering willingnes...
Apr 12, 2024•45 min•Ep 422•Transcript available on Metacast There are two great European skeptical events to sign up for this year – European Skeptics Congress in Lyon (30 May- 2 June) and QED in Manchester (18 – 20 October) – there is still time to catch the Early Bird discounts for both! In TWISH we hear about the earthquake in L’Aquila in Italy in 2009, that not only shook the ground but also the trust in science. Of course, we also give our take on the news: UK : Rumours about Ki...
Apr 05, 2024•49 min•Ep 421•Transcript available on Metacast Who knew that Hungarian intellectuals where numerologists – András reveals all! We have correction from last week and also reflect over the illness of Princess Kate , naturally we wish her well. In this weeks TWISH we hear about Percy Shelley and how his atheism ruined his academic career – to the benefit of mankind. Then, it’s time for the news: INTERNATIONAL : Nordic people are the happiest in the world RUSSIA / UKRAINE : Russian TV channel using deepf...
Mar 29, 2024•51 min•Ep 420•Transcript available on Metacast Flying unicorns exist in Portugal and you can vote for your favorites on the Portuguese Skeptics’ web site (COMCEPT) before 1 April . By coincidence this is also the deadline for getting the Early Bird discount for the European Skeptics Congress in Lyon , so sign up in time! On a sadder note, Annika will have to take a few months off from the podcast, but she promises to return in June. But before that, we have a whole lot of news to go throu...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 419•Transcript available on Metacast Brian Eggo is certainly bo no stranger to this podcast. Relentless in his quest to spread the skeptical world, he is known as the main force behind the Glasgow Skeptics, one of the great people behind Skeptics in the Pub - Onlin and a frequent speaker and guest on several podcasts. This week we interview him about the time when the big C came to his family and he decided to find out what the internet would have to recommend someone in his position. While a lot of the advice he got wa...
Mar 16, 2024•49 min•Ep 418•Transcript available on Metacast We start with some listener feedback and corrections regarding Tridentinosaurus Antiquus – the origin of its name was wrong and despite what we said, it wasn’t a a dinosaur. In TWISH we hear about Gerardus Mercator , the man behind most world maps. Then we get to the news: SWEDEN : Companies exploit fear of war to sell pretty useless and expensive “emergency equipment” RUSSIA : Rumors surrounding the death of Alexei Navalny INTERNATIONAL : Ho...
Mar 08, 2024•48 min•Ep 417•Transcript available on Metacast This week we have the great pleasure to interview our friend Prof. Chris French! We hear a lot about his research into the paranormal – or Anomalistic Psychology as he prefers to call it. Chris has a new book coming out on 19 March . It’s called “the Science of Weird Shit” and we cannot recommend it enough! (we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek) Enjoy! Segments : Intro; Greetings; Interview; Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
Mar 01, 2024•57 min•Ep 416•Transcript available on Metacast This week we’ve had some feedback regarding AI – always glad to hear from our listeners! In TWISH we hear about Charles Clermont-Ganneau, famous French archeologist with a flare for spotting fake artifacts. Then we turn to the news: INTERNATIONAL : Fossil forgery – famous specimen shown to be fake, and it is not alone FRANCE : Experts identify Moscow-based disinformation network GREECE : Legalization of same sex marriage Good news for once! The French National Assembly has adopted a new law aime...
Feb 23, 2024•40 min•Ep 415•Transcript available on Metacast Luna sits in for András(!) and we talk about conspiracy theories regarding the earthquake in Turkey last year, a new study about peoples worldview and in TWISH we get into the curse of Tutankhamun – what really was going on? Then we have a look at the news: UK : Sexual harassment anyone? Chiropractic council is there for chiropractors, not for patients EU : EU won’t use dental amalgam anymore EU : EU parliament votes to ease regulation of gene edit...
Feb 16, 2024•44 min•Ep 414•Transcript available on Metacast King Charles III is ill and although we seldom agrees with him we still whish him a speedy recovery. Marcus Wandt , the Swedish astronaut, took time off his busy schedule and gave a called via link with students at a Swedish school – the teacher setting it up is active in VoF, the Swedish skeptics . Well done, Philippe! Marcus has been stuck on the ISS for several days but as this episode comes out he is finally on his way back to Earth. We remind everyone to sign up for ...
Feb 09, 2024•53 min•Ep 413•Transcript available on Metacast We start with some listener feedback and ponder the wonders of European languages before we turn to TWISH , where we hear about Bertrand Russell and his teapot . Then we go into the news: INTERNATIONAL : Measles update SWITZERLAND : Homeopathy in Switzerland AUSTRIA : The Austrian Medical Academy exposed for peddling pseudomedicine INTERNATIONAL : Funding, not talent, is the problem in the skeptical sphere UK : Dragons’ Den: BBC defends show after ME criticism...
Feb 02, 2024•46 min•Ep 412•Transcript available on Metacast This week we interview the fabulous Anja Harrison (no relation to any of the hosts) about a great initiative – The Collaborative Library . Having met Anja at QED last year, we decided we just had to get her on the show. The ambitious plan of the Collaborative Library is to make scientific research much more accessible for the public, by making sure that there is a lay summary of as many papers as possible. Enjoy! Segments : Intro; Greetings; Interview; Farewell; Outro Hosted on...
Jan 26, 2024•52 min•Ep 411•Transcript available on Metacast By the time this episode comes out, Sweden hopefully has its third and latest astronaut in space! Marcus Wandt is schedule for launch on Wednesday , (nope) Thursday evening, European time. For a little more down-to-Earth skeptical fun, sign up for the European Skeptics Congress , 30 May – 2 June, in Lyon, France. Registrations are now open! No TWISH today in this slightly shorter than usual episode, but we still take a look at the news: SWED...
Jan 19, 2024•30 min•Ep 410•Transcript available on Metacast 
