Skeptics with a K

Marsh and Alice take a long weekend in London to visit the Get Well conference, from the people behind What Doctor’s Don’t Tell You. Meanwhile, Mike looks into claims that Google has created a sentient artificial intelligence.

Tickets for QED 2022 are now available, priced £120 or £80 for students or under 18s. You can pick up your ticket today at qedcon.org.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike, Marsh and Alice are joined by Emma and special guest Aaron Rabinowitz to talk about the anti-vaccine, Sovereign Citizen, Q-friendly conference Better Way. Meanwhile, everyone gets COVID.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

For more from Aaron, you can find him on twitter at @ETVpod, and as host of Embrace the Void and Philosophers in Space. He also writes regularly for The Skeptic.

Part two of Alice and Marsh talking about their experiences at the Great Awakening Tour in Birmingham, where the event turned to Gematria, cryptocurrency, soul contracts, and the bizarre predictive power of the movie Back to the Future.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke

Note: we made an edit to the show after publication to remove some comments about a statue that was made by a problematic sculptor (which we did not realise until after publication).

Marsh and Alice present part one of their experiences at the Great Awakening Tour in Birmingham, a nexus of conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine activism, sovereign citizens, and amateur poetry. Meanwhile, Mike is excited for the casting of the new Doctor.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke

Note: we made an edit to the show after publication to remove some comments about a statue that was made by a problematic sculptor (which we did not realise until after publication).

Emma returns to talk about the planned changes to the parole system, while Mike ponders what was the first ever science fiction story. Meanwhile, Alice and Marsh talk about their adventures in South Wales and Mike cuts a cake with a sword.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice digs into the evidence behind the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and Marsh asks why charities who pedal nonsense about autism are able to maintain their charitable status. Meanwhile, Emma makes a flying visit to talk about the Manchester marathon.

If you want to donate to Emma’s marathon effort for Refugee Women Connect, visit justgiving.com/emmarunsmanchestermarathon

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks into the claims that the COVID-19 vaccine causes changes in menstruation, and Mike falls down a rabbit hole when he asks why dogs need to take vitamins. Meanwhile, the whole team is exhausted from celebrating the civil partnership of regular guest host Emma.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke

Marsh gives an update on Gerson therapy, and how the Charities Commission regulates the promotion of alternative medicine. Meanwhile, Mike looks into the apparently eerie and uncanny ability of The Simpsons to predict the future.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

This week, Mike, Marsh and Alice are joined again by Emma to talk about open prisons and the abscondment of Paul Robson. Meanwhile Alice talks about the human fascination with food and health, and Marsh gives an update about the White Rose and talks about reaching anti-vaxxers.

Please note that Emma’s story contains some references to sexual offences.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

If you want to donate to support Emma fundraising for Women’s Refugee Connect, you can do so at justgiving.com/emmarunsmanchestermarathon

Alice talks about the conspiracy theory which claims HIV cases are rising because of vaccinations, while Mike explains why you probably don’t need a VPN and takes a quick trip to the Apple Store.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.