Science for the People
649 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 174 ratingsScience for the People is a long-format interview podcast that explores the connections between science, popular culture, history, and public policy, to help listeners understand the evidence and arguments behind what's in the news and on the shelves. Our hosts sit down with science researchers, writers, authors, journalists, and experts to discuss science from the past, the science that affects our lives today, and how science might change our future.
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Episodes
#49 Sex, Genes and Evolution
March 05, 2010 04:00Biologist John Logsdon joins us to discuss the genetic and evolutionary aspects of sexual reproduction. Why do we have sex, anyway? Why do some creatures reproduce sexually, while others don't? And beyond the simple act of making other humans, what role does sex play in the survival of our species? And on Speaking Up, we talk to Don Riefler about the Gen Con Guerilla Skeptical Symposium.
#48 The Interactive Conference
February 26, 2010 04:00We looked at the increasing focus on interactivity at science and skeptical conferences. Science Online 2010 organizer Bora Zivkovic discusses the evolution of that conference model, and his experience putting together a massive multi-day, participant-driven gathering of scientists and science enthusiasts. And on Speaking Up, we talk to Skepticamp founder Reed Esau talks about the creation of the Skepticamp interactive conference.
#47 The Wakefield Study
February 19, 2010 04:00We take an in depth look at the recent Lancet retraction of Andrew Wakefield's research into a correlation between Autism and the MMR vaccine. Pharmacist Scott Gavura, research ethicist Nancy Walton and author and philosopher Chris MacDonald explore the shoddy science, questionable ethics and the repercussions of more than a decade of misinformation. And on Speaking Up we talk to Rodrigo de la Jara of the Greater Edmonton Skeptics Society on the value of basic research.
#46 The Independent Investigations Group
February 12, 2010 04:00We spoke to three members of the Independent Investigations Group, to discuss their organization and their $50,000 Paranormal Challenge. Steve Muscarella, Jim Newman and Spencer Marks explained how they investigate extraordinary claims, and put them to the (scientific) test. And on Speaking Up, we talk superstitions with Joey Haban of Newly Nerfed.
#45 Skeptical Scientist Dr. Rachel Dunlop
February 05, 2010 04:00We spoke to Rachel "Dr. Rachie" Dunlop, Australian scientist and Skeptic Zone podcaster. We discussed her work as a scientist, researcher and blogger, as well as her efforts to promote reason and critical thinking to her fellow Australians. And on Speaking Up, we talk about Skeptic North, the Pan-Canadian Skeptical Blog Collective.
#44 Evolution Education
January 29, 2010 04:00We sat down with Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, to talk about the state of evolution education. How is the science being presented in schools? What new tactics are anti-science advocates using to challenge the teaching of evolution? And how can skeptics and friends of science best communicate the information? Plus, we discussed the new children's book Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be by Junior Skeptic author and illustrato...
#43 Skepticism and Race
January 22, 2010 04:00Is the face of modern skepticism really as monochrome as it appears? How do we make our message appeal to a broader, more diverse audience? And how do racial demographics influence belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal? Our panel includes LaVerne Knight-West, Stephanie Zvan, and Girl 6. And on Speaking Up, we talk to Rhys Chouinard with the University of Alberta Atheists and Agnostics and K.O. Myers from Grassroots Skeptics on their new Skeptical Speakers Bureau.
#42 Climate Change
January 15, 2010 04:00Guest host Mike Harrison spoke to Dr. John Gamon, professor and researcher at the University of Alberta, researcher for the TROPI-DRY Collaborative Research Network, and cofounder of SpecNet, about climate science and research. And on Speaking Up, we talk about dinosaur vocalization with Della Drury.
#41 How Many Licks?
January 08, 2010 04:00We spoke to author and physicist Aaron Santos about his new book, How Many Licks. Have you ever wondered how many calories are in the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? How many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? How long it would take to dig your way to China using a spoon? Aaron knows. Approximately. And on Speaking Up we discuss the merits of paper vs. plastic with Naomi Baker.
#40 Alcohol
January 01, 2010 04:00In honor of your possible New Year's over-indulgence, we discussed alcohol with Dr. Rob Tarzwell and Dr. Ken Mukamal. How does intoxication work? When is alcohol actually good for you, and how much is too much? And of course... how to get rid of a hangover.
#39 The Paradox of Choice
December 25, 2009 04:00Barry Schwartz, psychologist and author, contends that although you may think you want more options, and that having those myriad alternatives will make you happier and more satisfied... you're wrong. It's actually making you miserable.
#38 Microbiology
December 18, 2009 04:00Lisa Hammett talks to us about pathogens, viruses, probiotics, antibiotics... if it's too small to be seen without a microscope, it's up for discussion. And on Speaking Up, we talk to Mike Meraz with Actually Speaking: Exploring the Human Side of Skepticism.
#37 Radiation and Health
December 11, 2009 04:00Dr. Marc MacKenzie, medical physicist, discusses radiation: why a little can be good, why a lot can be bad, and why radiation is more important than you think. And on Speaking Up, we discuss The James Randi Educational Foundation with Bart G. Farkas.
#36 Belief and Education
December 04, 2009 04:00We spoke to Martin Bridgstock and Kylie Sturgess, who recently completed one of the largest surveys of paranormal, pseudoscientific, superstitious and conspiracy theory beliefs in Australia. They've studied how age, gender, religion, and voting preference relate to belief in the paranormal, and whether there's a single underlying tendency to be "a believer". Some of their conclusions are quite different than what we've seen in other studies. What does this mean mean for skeptical education an...
#35 Punk Rock Skepticism
November 27, 2009 04:00We spoke with Nicky Garratt, guitarist for the legendary punk band, the UK Subs, who also happens to be an outspoken skeptic. Does speaking out against pseudoscience, magical thinking and unexamined beliefs get in the way of damning the man? And, by popular demand, we introduced our new semi-regular segment "Ask a Pharmacist" with Scott Gavura. Answering all the questions you'd ask your own pharmacist, if the line wasn't so long.
#34 Health Fraud
November 20, 2009 04:00We spoke with Brent Homan from the Canadian Competition Bureau, about their attempts to combat health fraud. Questionable cancer cures, fake vaccines, miracle machines, creams and treatments. What's the government doing to educate consumers and smack down the bad guys? And is it working?
#33 Human Research Ethics
November 13, 2009 04:00Nancy Walton helps us explore the intricacies of human research ethics. The Millgram Experiment. The Stanford Prison Experiment. Randomized trials on orphaned and abandoned children. Stem cell research. Studying the effects of torture. Does "ethics" mean what you think it means? And on Speaking Up, we talk about chronic illness and alternative health with Joey Haban.
#32 The Skeptical Alt-Heath Practitioner
November 06, 2009 04:00Paul Ingraham is a Vancouver Registered Massage Therapist and science writer who criticizes questionable practices in alternative health care -- and his professional regulator calls it offensively unprofessional and wants to censor his website with tens of thousands of dollars in legal defense expenses at stake. Science-based alternative health? Rebellion within the alt-health ranks? And on Speaking Up, we about Science Online 2010 with Bora Zivkovic.
#31 Science Fiction and Skepticism
October 30, 2009 04:00Discussing the intersection of science fiction and skepticism with Derek Colanduno, co-host of the podcast Skepticality. Saying that "both involve science" is only scratching the surface. And on Speaking Up we talk about horror movie superstitions with Jill Powell.
#30 Digital Footprints
October 23, 2009 04:00Keith Schon of Cataphora discusses how computers can track behavior, and find out all your dirty little secrets. What are the limits on what your company is allowed to find out about you, and how are they doing it? How do we figure out, after the fact, whether "Yeah, go do that" means "Yes, grab me some lunch" or "Yes, perpetrate that multi-million dollar fraud scheme." And what do your online behavior patterns say about you? And on Speaking Up we discuss sports superstitions with Colin McInt...
#29 Getting Noticed
October 16, 2009 04:00From comedy and music, to scientific studies and how we respond to them, to blogging vs. mainstream media, to attention-grabbing stunts... is all publicity good publicity, or do our own efforts sometimes work against us? With Greg Laden, biological anthropologist and author of Greg Laden's Blog and Omar Mouallem, rapper and journalist. And on Speaking Up: Made With Molecules with Raven Hanna.
#28 Canadian Skepticism
October 09, 2009 04:00We discuss the challenges and successes of the Canadian evidence-based community with contributors to the new Canadian skeptical blog, Skeptic North. Guests include Steve Thoms from Ontario's Niagara Region, Jonathan Abrams from Ottawa, and Jesse Brydle from Vancouver.
#27 Randall Munroe of xkcd
October 02, 2009 04:00Randall Munroe, creator of the webcomic xkcd, discusses stick men, math, science, relationships and what it's like to be an internet meme. And on Speaking Up, Omar Mouallem with a Skeptical Ghost Story.
#26 Science Comedian
September 25, 2009 04:00Brian Malow, earth's premier science comedian, discusses using humour as outreach, why people are scared of science, and what's so funny about the second law of thermodynamics. And on Speaking Up we disucss H1N1 anti-vaccination paranoia with Scott Gavura.
#25 Surprise Guest Adam Savage!
September 18, 2009 04:00Adam Savage, co-host of the Discovery Channel's MythBusters will be on the show this week, to discuss skepticism, celebrity advocacy, and of course, the wildly popular TV show and its role in skepticism. And Derek Bartholomaus, creator of The Jenny McCarthy Body Count will discuss anti-vaccination advocates and the recent rise in treatable illnesses.
#24 Richard Saunders
September 11, 2009 04:00Richard Saunders, paranormal investigator and host of the Skeptic Zone podcast, will explain how we can properly use the scientific method to test psychic and supernatural claims, how to become a credible resource for mainstream news, and how to keep a straight face, even, and especially, when it's difficult. And on Speaking Up, Michael Kruse with the Darwin Lecture Series.
#23 The Skeptical Actor
September 04, 2009 04:00Kennedy Goodkey, writer of/actor in the new independent movie The Beast of Bottomless Lake will discuss Ogopogo, being a skeptic in the not-so-skeptical acting community,and what it's like to shoot a movie in a town where the tourism industry is built on the perpetuation of a myth. And on Speaking Up, we talk to K.O. Myers with Grassroots Skeptics.
#22 Genomics
August 28, 2009 04:00Fintan Steele discusses genetic information and research, and its implications for medicine, law and ethics. And on Speaking Up, The Skeptographers with Marion Kilgour.
#21 Skeptical Education
August 21, 2009 04:00Daniel Loxton, the editor of Junior Skeptic magazine, discusses how we can help to ensure that the next generation is thoroughly prepared for all the irrationality, pseudoscience and disinformation that the world will throw at them. And on Speaking Up: Notes from the Skepdad with Brad Salomons.
#20 Ask A Pharmacist
August 14, 2009 04:00Scott Gavura discusses naturopaths prescribing medicine, the right to refuse to fill prescriptions on moral grounds, and how not every remedy in your local pharmacy is evidence-based. And on Speaking Up: Brownian Motion and the Ants.
#19 Gender and The Skeptical Community
August 07, 2009 04:00So where are we with gender and sexism within the skeptical community? The facts and opinions may surprise you. With guests Dana Blumrosen, Marion Kilgour and Jill Powell.
#18 Astrobiology
July 31, 2009 04:00Dr. Maggie Turnbull, consulting scientist for NASA's New World Observer, a space telescope mission to discover and study Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars, and for the MIT Exoplanet-SAT, a mission to search for transits of habitable exoplanets, offers us a glimpse into the possibility of life on other planets. And on Speaking Up: skepticism and weight loss with Jill Powell.
#17 Cyber Security
July 24, 2009 04:00Nullsession explains just how totally dependent we are on our computers, and the myriad ways in which we are vulnerable. I for one, welcome our robot overlords. And on Speaking Up: IQ denialism with Rodrigo de la Jara.
#16 TAM Forever
July 17, 2009 04:00The cast discusses their trip to TAM7, with the goal of making you ridiculously jealous. With surprise calls from Tim Farley, Jeff Wagg and Richard Saunders!
#15 Stormchasing
July 03, 2009 04:00Jeff Richardson talks with us about tornadoes and other extreme weather conditions, and what drives someone to choose such a potentially hazardous hobby. And on Speaking Up: Amy Davis Roth of surlyramics.com. Beautiful jewelry for the fashionable skeptic.
#14 Math
June 26, 2009 04:00The episode in which Simon Rose attempts to assist Des in her ongoing struggle with numbers. Spoiler: numbers win. And on Speaking Up: science-inspired clothing line thephage.com with Sibina.
#13 Astronomy
June 19, 2009 04:00Astronomer, popular author and super-blogger Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy joins us to talk about all things astronomy. Why is Pluto now not a planet? What’s NASA up to lately? And what’s the deal with the Hubble Telescope?
#12 Biotechnology Ethics
June 12, 2009 04:00Author, philosopher and ethicist Chris MacDonald discusses the ethics involved in this broad and sometimes morally ambiguous field. On Speaking Up: Skepticamp with Nathan Hinman.
#11 Nuclear Power
June 05, 2009 04:00Fascinating discussion on nuclear power with Dr. Jeremy Whitlock, reactor physicist and author of the website The Canadian Nuclear FAQ, and Elena Schacherl, founder and Co-chair of Citizens Advocating the Use of Sustainable Energy (CAUSE), which is a member of the Coalition for a Nuclear Free Alberta.
#10 Geology
May 29, 2009 04:00Dr. Hans Machel discusses flood theory, crystals, the concept of a hollow earth, and why all these things can be explained using his Square of Irrational Thought. And on Speaking Up: celebrities and your health with Jill Powell.
#9 Quitting Smoking
May 22, 2009 04:00The cast decides to quit smoking and provides their research on the most (and least) evidence-based ways to go about it. Special appearances by MC Frontalot and Catherine Nissen.
#8 Censorship
May 15, 2009 04:00Dennis Young, leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, and Matthew Johnston, publisher of the Western Standard, discuss censorship and free speech. And on Speaking Up: the epigenome with Mike Harrison.
#7 Skeptical Activism and Bill 44
May 08, 2009 04:00Brian Mason, leader of the Alberta NDP, discusses Bill 44, the Alberta Government's proposal to allow parents to opt-out of classes that conflict with religious belief. Tim Farley, creator of What's the Harm (pictured), explains how to most effectively use the Internet for skeptical activism.
#6 Neuroeconomics
May 01, 2009 04:00Dr. Ming Hsu discusses the way your brain deals with decisions about efficiency, versus how it deals with issues of fairness. And on Speaking Up: skepticism in movies with Jill Powell.
#5 UFOs
April 24, 2009 04:00Jim Moroney of the Alberta UFO Study Group discusses his experiences with and research into aliens. And on Speaking Up: new exoplanet Gliese 581 E with Brownian Motion.
#4 Science of Love
April 17, 2009 04:00Helen Fisher was slated to be on the show to talk about the biological roots of romantic love, but was unable to appear. Mike Harrison substituted. And on Speaking Up: supermarket science with Marion Kilgour.
#3 The Gerson Diet
April 10, 2009 04:00Howard Straus of the Gerson Institute, who is featured in the movie A Beautiful Truth: The World's Simplest Cure for Cancer, discusses this controversial treatment. And on Speaking Up: "Our visit to the Body Soul and Spirit Expo" with Nathan Hinman and Ryan Bromsgrove.
#2 Science of Cults
March 27, 2009 04:00Dr. Stephen Kent discusses brainwashing, ritual abuse and the difference between cults and religions. And on Speaking Up: potty training with Brad Salomons.
#1 Secularism in Alberta
March 20, 2009 04:00Cliff Erasmus, Chair of Centre for Inquiry Calgary, discusses Alberta's secular landscape. And on Speaking Up: the psychology of gender with Mike Harrison.