Skepticality - The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine
308 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★ - 466 ratingsWe're tired of pertinent social and science news being buried by claptrap. Our podcast is here to bring you relevant, under-reported current events, as well as in-depth discussions from a scientific, critical, skeptical, and humorous point of view.
Derek and Swoopy are your hosts, filling your pod and your brain with skeptical insight and conversation, sometimes heated, on a plethora of topics that are ripe for critical examination. Bringing truth to podcasting, and all who choose to listen.
In our travels we will tackle the beasts of pseudoscience; the paranormal, supernatural, ufo / alien encounters, misunderstood history, and overwrought legends - urban or otherwise.
Our interview shows feature notable skeptics including; leading astronomy speakers, scientists, philosophy experts, and other scientific, secular, humanist, and skeptical book authors, and critical thinkers.
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Episodes
Skepticality #289 - Intuition and Consciousness
August 29, 2019 00:01 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBSkepticality RETURNS! Meet Derek's new wife... Hear Susan Gerbic and Bob again! Derek interviews Patricia Churchland about her new book Consciousness.
Skepticality #288 - 'Psychic' Detective!
January 19, 2018 00:52 - 1 hour - 96.6 MBDerek sits down with Bob Nygaard, a retired police officer from New York City who moved to Florida and now has a second career helping victims of Psychic fraud. Find out what it takes to help victims of a crime often ignored by law enforcement.
Skepticality #287 - Counting Backwards
December 19, 2017 21:10 - 1 hour - 89 MBAfter a long break, Derek comes back just in time for Christmas. This time he sits down with Henry Jay Przybylo, (Dr. Jay), to discuss his new book 'Counting Backwards'. Dr. Jay is an associate professor of anesthesiology at Northwestern University School of Medicine, specializing in infants and children. The book is his 'Doctor's Notes on Anesthesia', find out more about one of the great mysteries of modern medicine
Skepticality #286 - Fighting Post-Truth
July 04, 2017 19:46 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBFighting post-truth politics, promoting rational thinking and wise decision-making in the political sphere seems like it has become harder in the past couple years or so. Gleb Tsipursky, founder of 'Intentional Insights', which unites reason-oriented people to popularize science-based strategies for wise decision-making and rational thinking in politics and other life areas. Gleb is a tenure-track professor at Ohio State in the Decision Sciences Collaborative and History Department. Derek go...
Skepticality #285 - Houdini's Final Incredible Secret
May 09, 2017 19:36 - 1 hour - 37.8 MBThis episode Derek talks with Bob Loomis, librarian at the Magic Circle, and scholar of the history of stage illusion. His latest work is the book "Houdini's Final Incredible Secret", which is a detailed account of Bob's obsession with figuring out how one trick was performed.
Skepticality #284 - Son of a Buffett - Interview: Peter Buffett
March 15, 2017 01:18 - 1 hour - 16.1 MBThis episode Derek sits down with Peter Buffett, the son of the famous investor, Warren Buffett. Peter became famous not for his investing and banking skills but for his work in music and composing. He and his wife now run a non-profit charity, NoVo, which works to empower women and girls as the primary agents of change throughout the world. Find out more about what it was like to grow up as a Buffett, and more about how he and his wife decided to spend so much of their time, money, and effo...
Skepticality #283 - Lets Get Uncomfortable!
January 24, 2017 23:42 - 1 hour - 39.9 MBThis week Derek has a conversation with returning guest, Dr. Bo Bennett. In the past few months Bo has been working on his latest book, 'Uncomfortable Ideas'. In the book, Bennett discusses many of the 'hot button' topics which even the most rational of us tend to shy away from discussing, or thinking about critically. As Bo says in the book, "Facts don't care about feelings. Science isn't concerned about sensibilities. And reality couldn't care less about rage." Find out why it is important...
Skepticality #282 - Britt Hermes Diary
January 02, 2017 20:13 - 59 minutes - 13.8 MBFor the new year episode of Skepticality, Derek presents an interview he recorded with Britt Hermes, a former Naturopath turned evidence based medicine advocate. Find out what happens when you go from licensed alt-med practitioner to evidence based medicine champion.
Skepticality #281 - The Clades
December 23, 2016 01:36 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBThis episode Derek has another conversation with Jonathan Tweet, game designer, book author, and past Skepticality guest. After the success of his last book, 'Grandmother Fish', a book aimed at teaching pre-school children about Evolution, his follow up is a card game, Clades. Clades is a kids card matching game which centers around the evolutionary concept of Clades. Find out more about the new game, and maybe some updates on the status of Grandmother Fish.
Skepticality #280 - Drawing The Skeptics
November 15, 2016 20:34 - 45 minutes - 10.6 MBThis episode Derek has a conversation with Tini Howard, writer of graphic novels and former comics contributor for Paste Magazine and Teen Vogue. Just a couple weeks ago Tini released her newest comic book series 'The Skeptics'. The series is a political adventure about a pair of hip, clever, teens who fool the world into believing they have superpowers. Loosely based on the real events surrounding 'Project Alpha' and other skeptical investigation tales.
Skepticality #279 - Dream On
October 25, 2016 23:52 - 1 hour - 16.9 MBThis week Skepticality starts out with a touching message about friend of the show and past contributor to Skepticality, Bob Carroll. Then Derek talks with comedian, talk show host, and political commentator, John Fugelsang about 'Dream On', a PBS Documentary about the American Dream, and a road trip across the country to find out if it still is alive.
Skepticality #278 - Medical Nonsense
October 18, 2016 20:30 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBThis episode Derek plays one of the lectures from this past Dragon Con. There is a lot of misconceptions about what can actually heal, and what is *actually* medicine. Find out what some of the most common, and sometimes funny, treatments that seem to crop up in doctors offices and Emergency Rooms. ER Doctor Angie Feazel Mattke gives a talk aimed at explaining just how far reaching some of these 'unscientific' medical ideas can go.
Skepticality #277 - Illustrating Women in Science
September 20, 2016 20:35 - 1 hour - 14.6 MBThis week Derek talks with Illustrator/Author Rachel Ignotofsky. Once a illustrator for Hallmark Greeting cards, she now focuses her talent for creating easy to understand and attractive art on creating works that inform others about science and history. Her first book is just now out, "Women In Science", a illustrated encyclopedia of historical women who made significant contributions to science who are both well known, and those who more people should know. Find out more about Rachael, and...
Skepticality #276 - HALmilton
August 16, 2016 20:44 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBThis episode Derek hands over most of the episode to Swoopy who conducts an in-depth interview with Hal Bidlack, a Hamiltonian scholar and performer who gives Chautauqua performances as Hamilton himself. They discuss how Hal ended up living a double life as Hamilton, and his importance in American history. As well as a bit about the resurgence of Hamilton's popularity due to the smash-hit Broadway play named after the founder. Bet you didn't know there are even folks who are 'skeptical' of H...
Skepticality #275 - Exodus
July 26, 2016 18:43 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBThis episode Derek has a chat with David Person and Chuck Miller about their new documentary project, 'Exodus', a feature-length documentary about the growing number of African-Americans leaving religion. Chuck is a regional director for the American Atheists, and David is a journalist, radio host and a Christian. Find out how two unlikely friends came together to work on a project which looks into the rejection of religion by one of the most religious demographics in the United States.
Skepticality #274 - Science Tales
June 28, 2016 20:55 - 41 minutes - 29.6 MBkppn2u3r Derek has discussion with artist/writer, Darryl Cunningham, about his work and how a health care assistant/cartoonist decided to take on the job of educating the public about misconceptions surrounding psychiatry, science, and even world financial affairs.
Skepticality #273 - A Fishy Evolution Update
June 14, 2016 20:44 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBDerek does a quick update discussion with Jonathan Tweet, the author of 'Grandmother Fish - a child's first book of Evolution'. Since last Jonathan was on Skepticality to discuss his Kickstarter project to create a book which appeals to the youngest of us that also teaches about the scientific theory of evolution, his book has been finished and is now in the hands of many families. Find out if the story was a success in getting kids more interested in evolution and how all life on Earth is i...
Skepticality #272 - The Invention of Science
May 31, 2016 20:43 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBDerek grabs some time with Professor of History, David Wootton, to talk about his latest book 'The Invention of Science: A New History of the Scientific Revolution', a book about the early years where the modern methods of inquiry and scientific thinking came to be. Find out about how a teacher who once focused on historical topics about politics and atheism ended up writing books about science and medicine.
Skepticality #271 - Viewing the World with a Rational Eye
May 17, 2016 22:37 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBDerek nabs some time with Dr. Micheal Shermer, the man in charge of Skeptic Magazine and the Skeptics Society for a little update and chat about his new book highlighting his fifteen years writing a regular column for Scientific American magazine, followed by some discussion about how science factors into the current United States presidential election.
Skepticality #270 - Watching Science
April 12, 2016 18:50 - 58 minutes - 54.1 MBThis episode Derek has a discussion with Dr. Ivan Oransky, MD. Dr. Oransky is the global editorial editor for MedPage Today, and co-founder of Retraction Watch, a site which reports on scientific integrity, fraud, and other issues. He previously was executive editor of Reuters Health and held an editorial position at Scientific American and The Scientist. His main passion is the promotion of science based medicine and encouraging those in the medical field to use a more common sense approach...
Skepticality #269 - The Man, The Myth, The Legend
March 27, 2016 17:42 - 51 minutes - 46.6 MBA special Easter day episode with Raphael Lataster. Raphael is a writer and Religious Studies expert who focuses on the history of religion. Raphael recently has been working with Richard Carrier on the historicity of Jesus, and the likelihood of his existence. So, take a listen while you hunt your colored eggs!
Skepticality #268 - A Numerate Life
March 15, 2016 18:06 - 52 minutes - 36 MBThis week Derek sits down with the author of "A Numerate Life: A Mathematician Explores the Vagaries of Life, His Own and Probably Yours", John Allen Paulos. The author has written books weaving math into facets of life with book topics ranging from math and humor, to the stock market. This new work takes a more 'personal' look at the intersection of math, numbers, and personal stories and histories.
Skepticality #267 - Bad Clowns
February 16, 2016 18:51 - 1 hour - 51.3 MBThis episode Derek chats with Ben Radford, a Skepticality past guest, author, and investigator. Ben has just released his latest book, "Bad Clowns". Clowns might not be your usual idea for a skeptical topic, but Ben thinks you might just change your mind once you delve into the history and stories in his new work. So, turn off the lights, snuggle your favorite creepy clown and join in for some Bad Clown fun.
Skepticality #266 - Breakfast Cereal Skepticism
January 19, 2016 21:15 - 54 minutes - 75 MBThis episode Derek has a conversation with Zack Wienersmith, the creator/author of the popular web comic series 'Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal' (SMBC). Zach was a speaker at The Amazing Meeting 13, so while they were both in the same building Derek was able to get some time with Zack to discuss how he got interested in science, skeptical thinking, and how the two relate... or not.
Skepticality #265 - A Moment With Edell
December 16, 2015 11:09 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBDerek presents another interview from his trip to The Amazing Meeting 13, a recorded interview with Dr. Dean Edell. Dr. Edell had an impressive array of popular media shows on radio and television over the course of his career. He promoted science based medicine to the masses and fought against shoddy medical reporting and pseudoscience throughout his time communicating to the public. Back in 2010 he announced his retirement from his media career, Derek got to catch up with Dr. Edell at TAM ...
Skepticality #264 - Don't Mess With Her Pumpkin Spice Lattes
December 02, 2015 15:05 - 1 hour - 83 MBDerek presents another interview from his trip to The Amazing Meeting 13,a recorded interview with Yvette d'Entremont, AKA SciBabe, an analytical chemist with a background in forensics and toxicology. Before working full-time as a science writer and public speaker, Yvette worked as a chemistry professor and a toxicology chemist researching pesticides for safety. She now runs her own blog/website, SciBabe, dedicated to debunking pseudoscience that tends to proliferate online and in society. I...
Skepticality #263 - Based on The Bible
November 17, 2015 21:12 - 1 hour - 71.5 MBThis episode Derek chats with author/filmmaker Chris Matheson about his recently released book 'The Story of God - A Biblical Comedy about Love (and Hate)'. A funny look at the events as described in the Bible from the perspective of God and how the divine fumbles its way through the origins of reality and all we know. Find out more about how the man who helped create, and film, classic movies featuring Bill and Ted came to write a story which has a supreme being as its main character.
Skepticality #262 - Good Thinking
October 27, 2015 20:32 - 1 hour - 48.2 MBThis episode Derek has a discussion with past Skepticality guest, Guy P. Harrison on his latest book, 'Good Thinking'. In this book Guy took on the challenge of discovering more about human brain evolution, and sought out what the current, best, science is on how we can keep our brains healthy and working the best way possible. Maybe you shouldn't be eating that extra scoop of drive through ice cream after-all....
Skepticality #261 - The Dr. Bo Show
October 06, 2015 23:51 - 1 hour - 30.4 MBThis episode Derek chats with Bo Bennett, popular author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and co-host of 'The Humanist Hour', along with several other critical thought podcasts and radio shows. Find out more about Bo's journey into the world of critical thought, skepticism, humanism and activism.
Skepticality #260 - More About James Randi
September 22, 2015 17:53 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBThis episode features a live recording of Derek and James Randi on stage at Skeptrack 2015 this past Labor Day weekend at Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA. Derek and Randi discuss the origins of The Amazing Randi and his work exposing fakers and other harmful charlatans over the years.
Skepticality #259 - Future Climate Thoughts
September 01, 2015 20:04 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBThis episode Derek digs into a recording which he conducted out in California at the Skeptic Society "I The Year 2525" conference. It is a recording Derek did with Dr. Donald Prothero not long after he finished his talk which was about the current state of the climate, how we know that humans are causing massive change, and what we might be able to do to help mitigate and, possibly, improve things going forward as a global society.
Skepticality #258 - A Conservative Skeptic
August 19, 2015 00:12 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBThis episode Derek brings another interview from his trip to The Amazing Meeting 13, a discussion with Edwina Rogers. Edwina is currently the CEO for the Secular Policy Institute where she is helping bring more critical thought into the halls of American Government. Find out more about how a conservative from rural Alabama came to be such a major champion for science and critical thinking.
Skepticality #257 - Squatchin' Time!
August 07, 2015 11:25 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBThis episode continues our series of special content which Derek recoreded while attending The Amazing Meeting 13. Just after she gave her talk on stage, Derek sat down with Natalia Reagan, anthropologist, writer, actress, and comedienne. Using her specialized knowledge in primatology, she was one of the judges on the television show, "10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty". Find out a bit more about how Natalia decided to leverage her advanced science degree and experience into a form of skeptic...
Skepticality #256 - Hello Reality
July 21, 2015 18:35 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBWith The Amazing Meeting ending only a couple days ago, Derek doesn't wait to give you the first recorded interview from the event. Derek talks with Jim Baggott, author of many books on the nature of reality and physics. His latest work, "Farewell to Reality: How Modern Physics Has Betrayed the Search for Scientific Truth". Baggott argues that there is no observational or experimental evidence for many of the ideas of modern theoretical physics: super-symmetric particles,super strings, the m...
Skepticality #255 - Off To TAM - Update Show
July 07, 2015 20:23 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThis week Derek talks a little about his upcoming trip to The Amazing Meeting. And, runs some news and updates from the band of Skepticality Contributors.
Skepticality #254 - Science-ing
June 09, 2015 20:43 - 40 minutes - 14.1 MBThis week Derek gets back from his trip to the Skeptics Society Meeting and gets right back to 'work' by talking with Sunny Fugate and Jeane Wong. Jeane founded 'The League of Extraordinary Scientists', (LXS), a community effort to bring quality 'science-ing' to K-5th grade classrooms in the San Diego area. Find out how the LXS is determined to bring their proven method of delivering science into the classrooms of the youngest students, and how they believe they can make it happen across the...
Skepticality #253 - A Skepticality Decade
May 12, 2015 23:56 - 1 hour - 38 MBDerek, Swoopy, and Tim Farley jump on stage at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta, GA for a live recording of their 10th anniversary episode. Learn some fun facts about Skepticality, Derek, Swoopy, and even a surprise return of some of their original segments. Find out if Derek and Swoopy have any grand plans for the next ten years...
Skepticality #252 - A Skepticality Guide To The Universe
April 23, 2015 20:42 - 1 hour - 119 MBThis time around Derek has a light hearted conversation with Dr. Steven Novella, clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine. Oh, and the host and producer of ‘The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe’ podcast. Derek and Steve started their skeptic based shows within the same week about 10 years ago this time of year. They discuss a bit about the landscape of the skeptical movement, the impact of new media and… some current skeptical news.
Skepticality #251 - A Skeptics Adventures in Narnia
April 07, 2015 16:08 - 1 hour - 23 MBThis episode Derek interviews Laura Miller, one of the original co-founders of the popular online site Salon.com about her first book, 'The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia.'. A personal story about her experience re-reading her favorite series of books, 'The Chronicles of Narnia', uncovering the meanings embedded into them by C.S. Lewis, then realized how one can still find immense joy in books, even when one does not agree with some of the messages contained within.
Skepticality #250 - Defending Evolution
March 25, 2015 00:57 - 1 hour - 30.1 MBThis episode marks the 250th episode of Skepticality, the 10th Anniversary of the show is coming up very soon. Derek announces where you can see the episode which will mark our 10th anniversary be recorded in person. After which he joins Evolutionary Biology professor Jim Krupa to discuss his latest article which was recently released by Orion Magazine. Find out more about this award winning science professor and defender of evolution.
Skepticality #249 - Skepticality On The Side - Something New
March 11, 2015 00:24 - 1 hour - 22.9 MBSkepticality is almost a decade old. In light of the upcoming landmark, Derek and the show's usual crew of contributors decided they needed to start bringing to listeners different content to supplement the standard format. Today, we present the first installment of Skepticality: On The Side in which you can listen in on Derek, Susan Gerbic, Tim Farley, and Bob Blaskiewicz as they discuss the history of Skepticality, and some of the hot topics they have been following in the realms of skept...
Skepticality #248 - Arcing Toward Morality
February 17, 2015 20:36 - 1 hour - 43 MBThis week Derek has a conversation with Dr. Michael Shermer about his recently released book, 'The Moral Arc: How Science and Reason Led Humanity toward Truth, Justice, and Freedom'. Find out more about how a shift in society which lead to the Enlightenment, abstract reasoning and skepticism have moved humanity toward a more just and moral world.
Skepticality #247 - UndeNYEable
February 03, 2015 21:51 - 2 hours - 147 MBThis round of Skepticality features a Skeptic Society sponsored talk which was given by the well known science communicator Bill Nye. Nye talks about the topics covered in his latest book, 'Undeniable', then afterwards sits down with Dr. Michael Shermer to talk one on one about how Nye got into science communication and the interesting journey he took on his way to become 'The Science Guy' most know him as today.
Skepticality #246 - Let Your Soul Go
January 20, 2015 23:16 - 1 hour - 109 MBThis week Derek has a conversation with Julien Musolino. Julien is an associate professor of cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics and Rutgers University and the author of the book "The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain from Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs". In this episode Julien describes why he argues that the existence of the soul is a testable hypothesis Ð one thatÕs failed time and time again to hold up against the weight of scientific evidence. And, despite these findings, ...
Skepticality #245 - Classic: The Trouble With Christmas
December 23, 2014 21:47 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBThis week Derek decides to get a bit nostalgic and brings you a classic interview from the Skepticality archives. Back in 2005, our first year of the show, Swoopy and Derek had well known author, Tom Flynn, on the show for an interview about his book, 'The Trouble With Christmas'. Since it is the holiday time of year again, find out why so many people seem to find Christmas so troublesome as you unwrap your gifts this year.
Skepticality #244 - The Martian
December 03, 2014 01:22 - 59 minutes - 27.3 MBThis week Derek chats with National Laboratory programmer turned hard science fiction author, Andy Weir, about his book 'The Martian'. The wildly popular book about a stranded astronaut left behind on Mars after a tragic accident. The story uses ideas based on real and near-future tech to drive the plot-line. Find out what inspired Andy to put his ideas down into a novel, and his journey from offering the work for free to now having his book turned into a major motion picture set for release...
Skepticality #243 - Of Cheese And Neuro-Bunk
November 11, 2014 20:44 - 1 hour - 38.2 MBThe simple act of eating a cheese sandwich change your mood? Will taking some commonly prescribed drugs make you more likely to help random strangers on the street? Well-known neuroscientist, Molly Crockett, may have some answers. In this episode of Skepticality, Derek explores altruism, morality, and values-based decision-making in humans, with Molly, who reminds us against blind acceptance of some of the more overstated claims about neuroscience in the media.
Skepticality #242 - Death Business
October 28, 2014 17:47 - 53 minutes - 25 MBThis episode Derek steals some time away from Caitlin Doughty, a past guest of Skepticality from 2012 right around Halloween. Once again, Caitlin comes back for the spooky holiday time of year to discuss her first book, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", which is a personal account about what it is like to work in the 'death business'. Find out a bit more about what brings someone who was born and raised in a sunny location like Hawaii to find herself as a professional in the business of death.
Skepticality #241 - Sting Like A...
October 14, 2014 21:22 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBThis week Derek has a conversation with Sheldon Helms, a member of the Bay Area Skeptics, and one of the people involved with Operation Bumblebee, a scouting operation put together by Susan Gerbic to go to one of the big events put on by Chip Coffey, a self described psychic. Sheldon provides some details about his involvement in the operation, and how two teams of skeptics worked to put together a fairly detailed event.
Skepticality #240 - Critical and Thinking - Interview: Ian Harris
September 30, 2014 22:28 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBThis episode Derek sits down with previous Skepticality guest Ian Harris, a working comedian who focuses on critical thought and skeptical topics for his humorous material. Ian recently released a new video special, and comes on Skepticality to talk a bit more about the climate of humor when performing stand up comedy in front of wildly varied crowds across the United States.