Skeptics with a K

Marsh investigates a new paper from China, which supposedly shows that drinkers of plant-based milk alternatives are more likely to be depressed. Meanwhile, Mike visits Bristol and Alice has a haggis.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike looks at the modern days myths surrounding the Betamax format, and Alice has to tackle an infestation of spider mites. Meanwhile, Marsh recounts his efforts to interview Erich von Däniken.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the updated guidelines from the US government around diet, particularly around alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, Mike spends the weekend in Accident & Emergency and Marsh gets new curtains.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Happy New Year! For the first episode of 2026, Marsh takes a look back at the predictions psychics made for 2025 and how many came true.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike looks at stories about Tesco removing Christmas from products to avoid causing offence, and Marsh has an encounter with a fan of Joe Rogan on the train home.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh talks about what happened when he asked every Trading Standards office about consumer complaints and Cancer Act investigations. Meanwhile, Mike still has no luck trying to find a massage.

The Good Thinking Society video investigating psychics in Blackpool can be found on YouTube.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice presents her top five favourite bits of Christmas gift wellness woo, before preparing to jet off to Lithuania for a long weekend.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike asks what is really happening when people report 'out of body experiences' and how we know. Meanwhile, Alice has to handle a job interview with a dislocated jaw.

Watch Susan Blackmore's excellent talk on the science of out of body experiences for QED 2016 over on YouTube.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the increase in employers offering egg freezing as a perk of the job, and the knock-on effects of that. Meanwhile, Mike has trouble leaving Brighton.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike takes a brief look at the human trials mentioned in the systematic review being used to support a link between autism and paracetamol.

You can sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.