This week Derek spends a little bit of his time before the start of Dragon*Con with Victor Stenger discussing his latest book, "God and the Folly of Faith: The Incompatibility of Science and Religion". Based on his experience as a particle physicist, Stenger outlines how hard science actually has a lot to say about all supernatural and religious claims, even though many have mistakenly gone too far to accommodate ideas for which there is no scientific evidence.

This week on Skepticality, Derek has a discussion with noted humanist Nikki Stern on her latest book, Hope in Small Doses. The book is a journey to find the ultimate meaning of “hope” from a secular point of view without the need or requirement for supernatural thinking. Hope has been something that Nikki has thought a lot about since the tragic death of her husband during the 9/11 terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York City.

From the book of Revelation to global warming catastrophes to the many predictions of the end of civilization, why does culture seem to be obsessed with the idea that the end is near? In this episode of Skepticality, Derek speaks with Mathew Gross: the man responsible for Howard Dean’s internet strategy in his bid for the presidency in 2004. Mathew is a nature trails historian, avid hiker, and recently the author of the new book, The Last Myth, which is a look into the rise of apocalyptic thinking and what it tells us about America.

This week Derek sits down with Mike McRae, a science writer, and touring science communicator for Australia's National Science and Technology Center. Mike has recently released his latest book, 'Tribal Science', Derek and Mike discuss how the book came about and how our current culture still owes many of its common illogical behaviors to our tribal nature.

The landscape of education is changing at a pace which might be considered
'warp speed'. With tools like Google and Wikipedia, along with a more tech
savvy population new hurdles and challenges face professors and teachers
at all levels. Computerized, online media is where many are turning for
good resources and content. This week Derek sits down with Dr. Jeremy
Friedberg, the founder and president of Spongelab, an online community
which bills itself as "A Global Science Community". This community is full
of resources, digital media, educational computer games, lesson plans and
more aimed at professors, and teachers to further enhance and help them
inform and get students excited about learning the beauty of science and
the real world. Best part, all the content is free to use for any
educator. Find out more about how one company is making sure that science
and the real world are communicated in the most effective manner in our
modern, cyber-enhanced world.

About Fifteen years ago the largest mass suicide on American soil was conducted by the Heaven's Gate cult in Rancho Santa Fe, California. While most were hearing, or watching the news coming out of California, not many heard there were other, connected, suicides which happened in cities around the country. This week Derek has a chat with Deborah Simpson, the sister of one of the Heavens Gate group, Jimmy, who was living in Atlanta, GA at the time. In his farewell letter he wrote, "It's past time for me to

go", soon after he took his own life to join his Heaven's Gate brother in the 'next level'.

This week Derek sits with Deb Simpson, author of the new book, "Closing The Gate", a deeply personal book about her brother, and the story about how he got involved with such a destructive, and manipulative group. A rare look into some of the inner workings and the effects that such groups can have on the families which they end up effecting.

It has become quite obvious to many skeptics and promoters and lovers of science that in our current world where it seems that all too many in the world get convinced to turn their eyes blind to the mountains of evidence and rational thought of the past few hundred years, one of the few bright candles in modern times tends to be that of comedy. In this episode Derek has a special in-studio guest, Dr. Peter Ludovice. Peter is a Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech. Dr. Pete is also a popular stand up comedian who performs science, and rational based comedy at events around the United States. Derek discusses with Dr. Ludovice how he uses his interesting mix of professions to reach out to his students, and the people who come to see him perform at any of his events.

In this weeks installment of Skepticality, Derek talks to Ian Harris, a science based comedian who is part of a troupe of comedians who all center their work on topics that science loving folks will really enjoy, the tour is called "The Evolution of Comedy Tour". Ian and Derek discuss how comedy seems to be a great fit for skeptical and scientific issues. Then Derek checks in with Bob Carroll to discuss his new e-book, "Unnatural Acts" which he produced as part his ongoing efforts over at skepdic.com.

This week on Skepticality, Derek interviews Guy Harrison about his latest book, 50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True, a guide to help steer people away from bogus pseudoscience by offering alternative explanations to commonly held unfounded beliefs. Derek also sits down with the founders of the website The Odds Must Be Crazy, a site which highlights extraordinary stories submitted by people who claim to have experienced the supernatural (yet these experiences have perfectly natural explanations).