The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:55 VALE Jim Wilshire A tribute to our late voice-over man and decades long friend of producer Richard Saunders. Video: Jim in action recording for The Skeptic Zone in 2011 https://youtu.be/nFByyeTIqEQ 0:14:08 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:23:02 Maynard's Spooky Action We catch up wtih our roving and raving reporter. What's up next for Maynard? What does he have on his own podcast and where will he be appearing? Find out as we sip a coffee with our man in the street. https://maynard.com.au 0:30:48 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Pyramid Power". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

• 1979, 18th November - The Canberra Times
• 1977, 19th October - The Australian Women's Weekly https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58588545

The Skeptic Zone #720 - 24 July 2022

Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:54 Lessons in Science and Pseudoscience Science educator Melanie Trecek-King tells us about her recent report in 'The Skeptic' magazine (Australia) about the differences between science, pseudoscience and science denial. Melanie is a science educator at a community college in Massachusetts. A few years ago, while teaching general education biology to students who really didn't want to be there, she thought to herself: What does the average person need to know about science? The stages of mitosis and protein synthesis? Or how the process of science works? https://thinkingispower.com 0:22:34 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Never Ending Story By Anthony Garrett - Part 1 A report on the never ending search for perpetual motion and free energy. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 36 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:41:06 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Alien Abductions". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

• 1992, 18th November - The Nashua Telegraph
• 2019, 27th June - The Chronicle Telegram - Ohio

Also The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See http://theufo.movie

Dedicated to the memory of Jim Wilshire

Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders

Vale Jim Wilshire

0:04:06 Oh No! It's Ross Blocher We catch up with one one hardest working skeptical podcasters in the business, Ross Blocherfrom the popular "Oh No Ross and Carrie" show. https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/oh-no-ross-and-carrie 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 0:29:22 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Astrology". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

• 1986, 15th June - The Canberra Times
• 1986, 2nd August - The Canberra Times
• 1986, 21st August - The Canberra Times

Also The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See http://theufo.movie

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:36 I Think We Need To Think News and views with Susan Gerbic. The end of a paranormal test in New Zealand, GSoW news and the great Jerry Andrus project. https://www.abouttimeproject.org 0:18:31 Mentalism with Mark Edward Mark Edward pulls the wool over Richard Saunders and Susan Gerbic with an amazing display of mentalism with ESP cards. http://themarkedward.com 0:30:54 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Andrija Puharich". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:24 Lunch with the Bay Area Skeptics Join us for a long awaited get together, south of San Francisco with members of the Bay Area Skeptics as they look forward to SkepiCal 2022, the upcoming online convention. Lunching with Richard Saunders are Dr Eugenie Scott, Jay Diamond, Leonard Tramiel, Yau-Man Chan and Greg Dorais. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! The 2022 SkeptiCal Conference will be ONLINE over the weekend of July 16/17. https://www.skepticalcon.com 0:14:48 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:10 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to Uri Geller.

1975.02.14 - The Australian Jewish News 1984.11.29 - The Australian Jewish Times 2001.03.23 - The Australian Jewish News 2000.11.24 - The Australian Jewish News

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:58 Irrational Beliefs in Australia Is Australia truly a land of mystery and wonders? I can only answer that with "yes it is". We are the land of the oldest living culture in the world, that of the indigenous peoples, we have natural wonders from the coast to the desert and great modern cities to rival any in the world. However, like so many other countries, Australia too has no end of paranormal, supernatural and pseudoscientific claims. https://neo-skepsis.blogspot.com/2022/06/por-que-es-que-los-lugares-lejanos.html 0:14:30 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham The Man Who Dated The World & GOT IT WRONG! By Martin Bridgstock James Ussher is still used by young earth creationists as an authoritative source for the age of the earth. In this report, Martin Bidgstock explores the life and time of this man and how he come to his conclusions. A reading from The Skeptic, Vol. 38 No. 3 http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:29:44 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the more odd ball stories over the years. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

• 1937, 12th December - Sunday Mail Brisbane
• 1991, 2nd March - The Canberra Times
• 1950, 21st October - The Daily Telegraph

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:50 Brian Dunning, Bigfoot, Science Friction and more A vist to Skeptoid HQ in Oregon and chat to Brian Dunning about his long running podcast, the Bigfoot in his yard and the sucess of the documentary "Science Friction". https://sciencefriction.tv 0:14:30 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Richard Saunders. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:26:38 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham We drop by Australian Skeptics HQ and chat to Tim Mendham about the latest issue of the journal 'The Skeptic' from Australian Skeptics. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:38:10 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "Psychic Scams". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

• 2000, 28th January - Alington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
• 1982, 21st July - Fairfeild Ledger
• 1997, 1st August - Panama City News Herald

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:12 Susan Gerbic in Haunted Las Vegas Join Susan as she explores the Zac Bagans haunted museum in the company of Kenny Biddle, Ben Radford and Coral Pollock. What do a bunch of skeptics make of a so-called paranormal location? https://thehauntedmuseum.com 0:20:27 TikTok Homeopathy This classic of quackery has found its way onto the popular social media platform. What do TikTok users say about this pretend medicine? Are they for it, against it or both? 0:37:54 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "reflexology". This week's trove segment is brought to you by Adrienne Hill.

• 28.01.2000 - The Australian Jewish News
• 20.09.2010 - Beausejour Clipper Weekly
• 14.02.1990 - Grandview Exponent
• 27.08.1988 - Medicine Hat News

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

Show Notes 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:02:42 New Age Merry-Go-Round Join Richard Saunders and skeptical supporter Daryl Colquhoun as they once more head to the bizarre yet predictable alternative universe known as Mind Body Spirit. This festival of far-fetched and unproven ideas stretches back over 20 years. What new and ridiculous items can be seen this year? 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 0:27:32 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to a "School for water divining". http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:00 Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan An historic vote in the NSW parliament has given Dr Siobhan the comfort of knowing people in her situation, appraoching the end of life, will be able to choose when they take their final breath. Euthanasia was legalised in NSW in the past week, bringing the state in line with the rest of Australia. https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-682-31october2021 https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/ https://www.abc.net.au/religion/siobhan-o%E2%80%99sullivan-will-vad-laws-be-available-to-me/13883018 0:21:36 TikTok Ghost Hunters We scroll through the endless, live TikTok videos featuring people who think they can contact ghosts or spirits. Spooky goings on from the comfort of your own device. 0:39:00 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to "James Randi".

• 1984, 13 March - The Dover Times Reporter
• 1998, 1 January - The Times Record, NY
• 1998, 31 March - The News Herald

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au