0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:06 Kate & Allie With the close of 2024 drawing near and the start of a new year dawning, Kate and Allie both had the idea of making a quiz for the last episode of the year to surprise each other - so surprise, the loons ended up with two quizzes! Play along with their tag-team trivia and take time to look at new year's eve superstitions from around the world, see how many traditions you've heard about. 0:20:16 Drones Droning on about Drones Are drones from outer space? Do they come from the ocean? Are they manufactured in factories and bought by people and companies? We look at the recent influx of drones in the United States and find a stunning prediction for the year 2025! Mick West looks at the drone phenomena. https://youtu.be/ZK4HFxzsjgo 00:26:38 For Crying Out Load! It's Kat McLeod The white lady, the lady of the lake, pale, semi-transparent ghostly apparitions all seem to have some commonalities. This week Kat is going to delve into the reasons why we think of ghosts the way we do, and explore how society's perception of ghosts hasn't changed much over the centuries. 0:36:36 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Failed Predictions". 1990.03.10 - The Canberra Times 1990.04.13 - The Canberra Times 1991.01.02 - The Canberra Times 1994.05.31 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:58 New Moon Superstitions Lara Benham (and the Skeptic Zone cats) take a look at some of the myths and superstitions regarding the new moon. Included is a clip from our friend Kenny Biddle. 0:14:18 Flat Earthers fall flat in the Antarctic A report of a group of hopeful flat earthers and globe earthers who travel to the Antarctic to view the 24 hour sun... or not! 24h Timelapse of Antactic Sun https://youtu.be/in0B1OQG3-M 0:24:58 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:03:42 Richard Saunders' Skeptical Challenge Over the past 25 years Saunders had the opportunity of being involved in numerous preliminary tests for the Australian Skeptics challenge, as well as the James Randi Educational Foundation's (JREF) US$1,000,000 prize in the 2010s, where he served on the committee that met annually in Las Vegas. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 44 No. 4 (2024) http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:43:36 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to New Moon Superstitions. 1892.03.12 - The Queenbean Age 1943.09.29 - The Inverel Times 1908.11.21 - The Pastral Times 1834.03.25 - The Sunday Mail 1924.06.14 - The Queenbean Figero http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Kenny Biddle with Kat McLeod and Lara Benham https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytPtiuunFdc

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:03:50 A Review of The Skeptic We take a peek into the latest issue of one of the world's oldest skeptical magazines. What reports, interviews and stories can you expect to see this time? Find out. 0:11:48 You can count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill chats with infectious disease immunologist and science communicator David Miles about his book called "How Vaccines Work: The Science and History Behind Every Question You've Wanted to Ask." https://www.variolator.com 0:28:44 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Spoon and Skeptical. 1975.03.13 - The Australian Jewish Times 1986.04.03 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Kenny Biddle with Kat McLeod and Lara Benham https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytPtiuunFdc  

 

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:56 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill Adrienne Hill talks with fellow Calgarian, psychologist, and science communicator Jonathan Stea, who recently published Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry.

https://www.jonathanstea.com

0:19:10 For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Do you ever question your memory? Of course, we all do, however, people of a certain age may often start to feel older when they misremember things that they felt certain about. Is it a sign of senility? Probably not. This week Kat is examining the Mandela Effect and why people can't always trust their own memory. 0:31:26 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:44:00 I Think We Need To Think! With Susan Gerbic This week Susan heads off to a local "Psychic" Fair and has readings that shock and amaze.... no one! What mysterious insights did those claiming paranormal powers have for her? Find out with Susan. 0:51:46 Maynard's Spooky Action Interviews from Skepticon XL

• Richard Saunders
• Alanta Colley
• Nate Eggins
• Ben Radford - "Radford or What?"
• Paul Gallagher

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:01:08 Squaring the Zone On the final day of Skepticon XL, Richard Saunders from The Skeptic Zone podcast joins Ben Radford from the Squaring the Strange podcast along with the one and only Maynard. Topics include the history of both podcasts, investigations, "What are you skeptical of this week?", and a TROVE segment. Also questions from the audience. Also https://squaringthestrange.libsyn.com

 

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:32 Ben Radford in Sydney A chat with Ben Radford about his first trip to Australia and his adventures and the Squaring the Strange Podcast. 0:07:24 The Bent Spoon Award for 2024 The announcement of the 2024 Australian Skeptics Awards. 0:18:56 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:06 Maynard's Spooky Action From Sydney Skeptics in the Pub, Maynard talks to Dr Liam Brierley a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK. He uses biostatistics, computer science, and AI to investigate how viruses evolve and transmit between animal species. Liam is also a Media Ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society and has worked with national press including The Guardian and BBC's Panorama to make sense of health data. 0:37:42 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Alien Autopsy of 1995. 1995.06.29 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au  

 

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders and Maynard from the William Shatner Room at Maynard's International Studios. 00:05:42 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill. Tim Binga is director of Libraries and IT manager at the Center for Inquiry and an adjunct instructor at the University at Buffalo. He holds a master's degree in library science and dual B.A.'s in history and humanities. 0:12:50 A Brave New World? A peek into the world of fake scripts read by fake podcast presenters. Notebook LM takes reports and other documents, even web pages, and turns them into an audio conversation. In tnis example we hear what AI make of The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project. https://notebooklm.google.com 00:29:54 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the fourth and last part in this series, Rob chats to the host of 502 Conversations Brian Kerby and TV Producer Malorie Mackey. 0:39:56 A The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Dr Susan Blackmore. 1990.12.31 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also SitP - War, Pestilence, Death and Statistics https://youtu.be/3d2OYI12pvs

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:46 The Loons from Canada Kate and Allie catch up with Abhijit Chanda from the Rationable Podcast in India. This interview was conducted on the sidelines of the recent CSICON meeting in Las Vegas. 00:11:26 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the third part in this series, Rob chats to Kevin Folta, Bill Patterson and Jeff Gehlbach. 0:24:34 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:37:34 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Tea Cup Reading". 1932.08.12 - The Labour Daily 1932.12.20 - The Brisbane Courier 1932.12.20 - The Evening News - Rockhampton 1933.10.22 - The Sunday Times - Perth WA 1950.02.15 - The Brisbane Telegraph http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Maynard 00:03:56 The Loons From Canada Urban Legends Quiz! Fact or Fiction? This week Kate and Allie have a Halloween themed quiz! Kate, the Inquisitor, will be giving urban legend summaries, asking Allie and the listeners to decide if they are total works of fiction, or if they have a basis in reality. Please be advised that some of these urban legends may be creepy, spooky, or disturbing for some listeners. If you are brave enough, put on your critical thinking tiaras and see how you do. 00:26:14 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the second part in a series, Rob chats to famed mentalist Banachek, anti-creationist youtuber Forrest Valkai and Brazilian science writer Natalia Pasternak. 0:40:16 A The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Spirit Channeling. 1988.06.15 - The Canberra Times 1989.04.23 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders with those 'Loons from Canada', Kate and Allie, and Dr Sue Ieraci. 00:03:34 CSIcon Las Vegas interviews with Rob Palmer In the first in a series, Rob chats Dr Sue Ieraci, Dr Angie Mattke, Richard Saunders, Leonard Tramiel, Adrienne Hill and Stephen Hupp. 0:22:00 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:34:12 A The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to so-called "Alternative Medicine". 1992.02.01 - Woronie 1986.05.15 - The Canberra Times 1993.01.06 - The Hills Messenger - South Australia 1994.03.21 - The Canberra Times http://www.trove.nla.gov.au