   0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders        0:04:30 Meta Sued by Australian Watchdog Over Scam Ads  Facebook owner Meta is being sued by Australia's competition watchdog for publishing scam ads for crypto on its platform. We look at even more questionable ads appearing on Facebook every day for such things as medical products and psychics.   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-18/meta-sued-by-australian-watchdog-over-scam-crypto-advertisements        0:14:24 Australian Skeptics Newsletter  What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.  http://www.skeptics.com.au        0:23:16 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham  The Call of the Quack. Part 1. By Tim Harding  A look at the history of the word 'Quack'. This week its place in ancient Greece.  A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 33 No. 3  http://www.skeptics.com.au        0:38:20 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the parnormal and more.  1950, 18 November - Sydney Morning Herald 1975, 26 September - Canberra Times  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au    

The Skeptic Zone #703 - 27.March.2022

The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason. 

Join Richard Saunders and his team of reporters for your weekly dose of skeptical news and interviews, reports and comments. 

Past guests have included, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Tim Minchin, Eugenie Scott, Dr Phil Plait, Michael Marshall, Dr Steve Novella, Dr Pamela Gay, Jon Ronson, Dr Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Prof. Richard Wiseman,  Dick Smith, Banachek, Prof. Chris French, George Hrab, Tim Ferguson, Dr Paul Willis and many, many more.

Featuring Australian radio legend Maynard with his Spooky Action, Jo Alabaster from the 'Evidence Please' blog, Eran Segev's Grain of Salt, Dr Rachael Dunlop with 'Dr Rachie Reports' and Heidi Robertson aka 'The Raw Skeptic'.

Social Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

   0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders        00:02:58 Kate & Allie  This week Kat and Adrienne take a skeptical look at 'Baby Helmets'. Are they truly necessary or just another example of our culture's obsession with over-protection? What is the medical point of view? Baby helmets, also known as cranial orthoses, are seen by some as intervention for infants with positional plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head) or brachycephaly (narrow, elongated head shape).        0:12:20 Bend Nerd Night  Energy Trivia. Join Brian Dunning from the Skeptoid podcast as he leads a round of trivia at 'Nerd Night' in Bend, Oregon. Test your knowledge!  https://facebook.com/groups/1113943728813195        0:20:38 Skepticamp Interviews #1  Guest reporter Rob Palmer attended the inaugural Triangle SkeptiCamp that took place on 25th of May 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.  In part #1 of a series of interviews from the event, Rob chats to Coleman Watts, the host of the 'Think This Through' YouTube channel. He also catches up with Erika Engelhaupt, science journalist and author of 'Gory Details'.  https://triskep.org/home/triangle-skepticamp-2024        0:32:48 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Seances.  1967.10.01 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1973.02.12 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1994.08.04 - The Sydney Morning Herald  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au    

The Skeptic Zone #817 - 2.June.2024

       0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders        00:02:32 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill.    Adrienne Hill and Janalee Morris share their immersive first experience at the Psychic and Crystal Fair, where they interacted with vendors and attendees. Could anyone predict their future or enhance their health? Tune in to find out.    0:19:42 Reviewing the UFO Documentary  We chat to Brian Dunning about the thousands of reviews and comments left on his documentary, 'The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See'. Some are insightful, many are just plain ridiculous. It's clear that his movie has certainly caused a stir in the UFO community.  http://theufo.movie        0:36:04 Australian Skeptics Newsletter  What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.  http://www.skeptics.com.au        0:47:42 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Fortune Tellers.  1909.02.27 - The Beverly Times W.A. 1918.03.07 - The Telegraph QLD 1934.01.09 - Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser QLD 1938.12.21 - Argus Melbourne 1949.09.26 - The Daily Mercury QLD 1909.10.29 - The Star, Sydney 1922.08.04 - The Canowindra Star, NSW 1903.03.06 - The Geelong Advertiser 1932.08.08 - The North West Champion, NSW  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au        Also Nerd Night in Bend, 28 May, 2024  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nerd-night-presents-science-trivia-and-strange-energies-tickets-899522735717   Skepticamp New Mexico. 1st - 2nd June, 2024 https://www.skepticampnm.com          

The Skeptic Zone #816 - 26.May.2024

   Show Notes       0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders        0:03:32 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod  This week Kat relates her journey, over the past year, from attending a skeptical conference in Canada to becoming a reporter for the Skeptic Zone. This is right from the 'who could have ever see this coming?' files and is a great illustration of how important it is to support skeptical events. Plus we hear Kat's theme music for the first time.         0:11:28 Ben Radford, Australia Bound  The legend himself! Ben Radford has been a fulltime scientific investigator and writer for 25 years. Now for the first time he is heading to Australia to talk at the Austraian Skeptics National Convention in November in Sydney. Will he find the elusive Yowie during his trip? We also hear about other meetings Ben is attending and more about the Squaring the Stange Podcast.        0:23:56 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham  The History of EUTSBy Barry Williams (aka Sir Jim)  In this classic article, Sir Jim R. Wallaby investigates energies unknown to science... and those that are.  A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 38 No. 4  http://www.skeptics.com.au        0:37:54 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Sixth Sense.  1981.08.09 - The Sun Herald 1981.08.16 - The Sun Herald  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au        Also Nerd Night in Bend, 28 May, 2024  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nerd-night-presents-science-trivia-and-strange-energies-tickets-899522735717   Skepticamp New Mexico. 1st - 2nd June, 2024 https://www.skepticampnm.com    

The Skeptic Zone #815 - 19.May.2024

      0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders        0:04:14 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill.  This week, Adrienne gives us an overview of the recent 'We Can Reason' conference held in Calgary, Canada. We hear about each of the invited speakers and meet one of the delegates, a listener of the Skeptic Zone right from episode #1, Brenda Hill.  Next it's a road trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which houses one of world's premier collection of dinosaur fossils. Here Richard Saunders gives us his thoughts on this wondrous example of science in action.  Finally, on the drive home, Adrienne interviews Jonathan Jarry, one of the hosts of the popular Body of Evidence podcast from Canada. Jonathan was also an invited speaker at the conference.https://tyrrellmuseum.com        0:23:18 Australian Skeptics Newsletter  What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.  http://www.skeptics.com.au        0:35:48 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Psychic Predictions.  1972.01.02 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1973.12.30 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1981.01.02 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1989.01.01 - The Sydney Morning Herald 1992.12.30 - The Sydney Morning Herald  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au        Also Sckepticamap New Mexico. 1st - 2nd June, 2024 https://www.skepticampnm.com         

The Skeptic Zone #814 - 12.May.2024

   0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders with Adrienne Hill and Kat McLeod        0:02:20 Kate & Allie at We Can Reason - Calgary Canada  We are delighted to accounce that 'Kate', Kat McLeod from Edmonton, is our newest reporter on the Skeptic Zone. Hear her reaction as Richard Saunders confirms her appoitment. Weclome Kat! Her segment will be know as "For Cryin' Out! It's Kat McLeod".  Also we hear more about the convention, Adrienne's video presentation from LA Skepticamp, and a short interview with speaker Jonathan Jarry.  LA Skepticamp Videos  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb82CF-DGYCfxT6IKckZtm6KnMNMqxDQr        0:09:34 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham  This week Tim heads to the regional city of Armidale in Australia's 'New England' area to help launch a new Skeptics in the Pub. We hear from the organiser, Walkely Award winning journalist Amelia Willmer.  Armidate Skeptics in the Pub is held at the Wicklow Hotel, 6pm last Wednesday of the month. https://www.facebook.com/WicklowHotel        0:22:38 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill.  This week Adrienne tries her luck with AI as it writes two scripts for her. One in 'her' style, and one in the style of a skeptic from Newfoundland! What could possible go wrong?        0:28:28 A Dive into a Trove  A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Uri Geller.  1977.10.11 - The Sydney Morning Herald  http://www.trove.nla.gov.au    

The Skeptic Zone #703 - 27.March.2022

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