Skeptics with a K
762 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 390 ratingsSkeptics with a K is the podcast for science, reason and critical thinking from the Merseyside Skeptics Society. Each episode features Mike Hall, Michael Marshall, and Dr Alice Howarth chatting about the things which interest them, often from a skeptical angle.
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Episodes
Episode #378
April 25, 2024 09:23 - 80.9 MBAlice discusses the manufacture of argan oil, and the medicinal claims made for it and other similar oils. Meanwhile, Marsh reflects on compassionate skepticism following the death of Daniel Dennett. If you want to support the podcast, you can donate via Patreon - or leave us a glowing review on your podcasting app of choice! Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #377
April 11, 2024 09:23 - 66.9 MBMarsh looks at the relationships between the Free Speech Union and the anti-mask/climate change denial website the Daily Sceptic. Meanwhile, Mike reports on court documents which reveal how Facebook steals data by spying on your encrypted internet traffic. Plus, Alice and Mike feed the animals at the zoo.
Episode #376
March 28, 2024 10:23 - 66.4 MBAlice asks why a relatively small article on cider vinegar for weight loss got so much traction, and Mike looks at companies making overblown claims for cheap products via YouTube advertising. Meanwhile, the team gets the grips with our new recording setup. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #375
March 14, 2024 10:23 - 63.5 MBMarsh looks at the environmental and social impact of outdoor digital advertising, and Mike gives the low down on the risks of glyphosate-based weedkillers. Meanwhile, Mike goes to watch Dune 2, Marsh goes to the athletics, and Alice is back! We survive on donations from listeners like you. If you want to support the show and the work we do, you can sign up for a regular donation at patreon.com/merseyskeptics.
Episode #374
February 29, 2024 10:23 - 59.4 MBWith Alice unwell, Mike and Marsh are joined by guest host Kat to talk about their recent meet-up with a group of flat earthers, and Marsh looks at regulatory problems between Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority. If you enjoy the show, it would be a great help if you can donate to us via Patreon, or leave us a glowing review on your podcasting platform of choice. It's really appreciated. Get well soon, Alice! Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #373
February 15, 2024 10:23 - 65.1 MBAlice investigates labial peels, the unregulated chemical peel for your vulva, while Mike asks whether we really do need to be drinking eight glasses of water per day. Meanwhile, the team is having problems with YouTube. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #372
February 01, 2024 10:23 - 77.8 MBMarsh investigates the recent appearance of 'ear seeds' on Dragon's Den, while Mike looks at how to change your life literally with Quantum Jumping. Meanwhile, Alice has some exciting news about an upcoming project. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #371
January 18, 2024 10:23 - 76.2 MBMike, Alice, and Marsh are joined by special guest Lana, who takes a look at the Drug-Free ADHD proponents. Meanwhile, Mike looks the software problems which resulted in the Horizon Post Office Scandal. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #370
January 04, 2024 10:23 - 61.2 MBWelcome to 2024! Mike, Alice, and Marsh take a break from the usual format to answer listener questions, about skepticism and what we can learn from listening to people who we disagree with. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #369
December 21, 2023 10:23 - 92.5 MBFor the final show of 2023, Marsh and Alice talk go in-depth on the psychic readings they saw at the Newark Mind-Body-Spirit festival. Meanwhile, Mike has a very old correction to make. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #368
December 07, 2023 10:23 - 97.4 MBMike looks at the popular US supplement Prevagen, and Marsh reports on what happened when he and Alice visited another Mind Body Spirit festival. Meanwhile, Marsh and Mike go to watch some Shakespeare. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #367
November 23, 2023 10:23 - 61 MBAlice looks at a new product which sells supplements to enhance esports players, and Marsh looks at the health claims made by Gillian Anderson's G Spot. Meanwhile, Mike has three pizzas. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #366
November 09, 2023 10:23 - 56.4 MBMike looks at the all-in-one shopping app Temu and asks if there is more going on that meets the eye, while Alice looks at claims from TikTok that eating carrots can give you a tan. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #365
October 26, 2023 09:23 - 69.9 MBMarsh fact-checks the parliamentary speech from anti-vaccine MP Andrew Bridgen, and Mike digs into why the first four episodes of Doctor Who are in dispute. Meanwhile, Alice tries to get a tetanus shot. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke. Donate to the Merseyside Skeptics Patreon at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Your donations allow us to do the work that we do.
Episode #364a - Fantastic Fact Cutaway
October 12, 2023 09:23 - 15.4 MBWith QED behind them, the team take a well deserved rest. Instead, we have this rare archive segment originally recorded for episode 200, when Mike, Marsh and Alice were joined by Colin to tackle a new Fantastic Fact.
Episode #364 - Live at QED 2023
September 28, 2023 09:23 - 46.2 MBLive from QED 2023, Marsh looks at what Gematria says about QED and Skeptics with a K, Alice pokes fun at supplement pedlars Black Forest, and Mike reads savage podcast reviews.
Episode #363
September 14, 2023 09:23 - 68.2 MBWith QED looming, Alice looks at the burgeoning Kardashian wellness empire 'Poosh', and Marsh asks if there is more to recent calls to ban nitrates and nitrites from school dinners than there may first appear. This is your final call for QED tickets, with only the last couple of dozen remaining! Tickets are £149, £129 for students or under-18s, or just £39 to watch the live stream of the main stage. Pick up yours today at qedcon.org/tickets Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #362
August 31, 2023 09:23 - 87.4 MBThis week, Mike talks about software piracy and copy protection, and the risk of a video game black hole, and Marsh looks at recent messaging from the World Health Organisation which seems to promote 'traditional medicine'. Meanwhile, Alice and Marsh watch the birds of prey display at a music festival. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke. The final few tickets for QED are available now - grab yours before it's too late!
Episode #361
August 17, 2023 09:23 - 82 MBIn this extended episode, Mike looks at the recent 82 minute video from the YouTuber Medlife Crisis about the amazing power of the placebo effect. Meanwhile, Alice and Marsh stumble upon an injured man and step in to help. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #360
August 03, 2023 14:30 - 67 MBAlice looks into the supposed health benefits of mouth taping, and Marsh dives into the career of the controversial cardiologist, and critic of mRNA vaccines, Aseem Malhotra. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke. For more information about the petition demanding action from the General Medical Council against Dr Malhotra, visit https://goodlawproject.org/petition/the-gmc-must-take-a-stand-against-doctors-who-spread-false-and-misleading-information-about-vaccines/ To help support the judicial...
Episode #359
July 20, 2023 09:23 - 68.4 MBMarsh reports more on the Better Way conference, including the attendance of the MP for North West Leicestershire, Andrew Bridgen. Meanwhile, Mike returns from London to look at viral maths problems and why BODMAS isn't necessarily the answer. Tickets for QED are still available, and Skeptics with a K will be appearing live! If you want to see the show recorded live, or the live InKredulous, you can pick up your tickets now from the QED website.
Episode #358
July 06, 2023 09:23 - 62.3 MBThis week, Alice looks at media reports around the IARC classification of aspartame as carcinogenic and Mike asks 'why did the chicken cross the road?' Meanwhile, Marsh faces off against crypto scammers and Mike takes a holiday. Tickets for QED are available now. Get yours today! If you want to sign up to speak at SkeptiCamp, you can do that at sitp.online/skepticamp To support Emma running to QED for the Prison Reform Trust, you can do that justgiving.com/page/emmarunstoqed
Episode #357
June 22, 2023 09:23 - 41.5 MBThe regular team are joined again by Kat to talk about the recent Panorama documentary on the use of private clinics for ADHD diagnosis. Meanwhile, Mike finds out that his bathtub is incredibly tiny. Tickets for QED are available now, pick up yours at qedcon.org
Episode #356
June 08, 2023 09:23 - 93.6 MBMike, Marsh and Alice are joined by Kat, to talk about the opening session of the Better Way Conference, a three-day anti-vaccine event which promises to unveil a 'better way for health, freedom & sovereignty'. If you want to donate to the Skeptics in the Pub Online QED attendance fund, or apply to the fund, you can do so at sitp.online/qed. If you want to donate to Emma's efforts to run from Liverpool to Manchester for QED, in support of prison reform, you can do that at justgiving.com/pa...
Skeptics with a K: Episode #355
May 25, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 76 MBMarsh looks at the ‘Healy’ bio-resonance tool that works to support the energetic field of your body, and Mike looks at how science communicators can get the placebo effect wrong. Meanwhile, Alice has a swarm of bees appear outside her house. If you want to donate to our Charity Walk in aid of Refugee Action, […]
Episode #355
May 25, 2023 09:23 - 76 MBMarsh looks at the 'Healy' bio-resonance tool that works to support the energetic field of your body, and Mike looks at how science communicators can get the placebo effect wrong. Meanwhile, Alice has a swarm of bees appear outside her house. If you want to donate to our Charity Walk in aid of Refugee Action, you can do that at justgiving.com/page/mss-charity-walk-2023. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #354
May 11, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBThis week, Alice talks about the Alexander Technique and the claims it can help with breathing problems including asthma. And Mike looks at how end-to-end encryption is impacted by the Online Safety Bill. Meanwhile, Marsh and Alice return from a trip to Bratislava. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Episode #354
May 11, 2023 09:23 - 64.7 MBThis week, Alice talks about the Alexander Technique and the claims it can help with breathing problems including asthma. And Mike looks at how end-to-end encryption is impacted by the Online Safety Bill. Meanwhile, Marsh and Alice return from a trip to Bratislava. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Skeptics with a K: Episode #353
April 27, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBMarsh looks at the conspiracist reaction to the UK government Emergency Alerts test, and Alice looks into the TikTok trend of ‘mewing’ and the dental field of orthotropics. Meanwhile, Mike has been watching Porridge. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #353
April 27, 2023 09:23 - 83.4 MBMarsh looks at the conspiracist reaction to the UK government Emergency Alerts test, and Alice looks into the TikTok trend of 'mewing' and the dental field of orthotropics. Meanwhile, Mike has been watching Porridge. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #352
April 13, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBMarsh investigates the radicalisation of the conservative website The Conservative Woman, and Mike takes a look at ChatGPT and its inability to stop lying. Meanwhile, Emma runs 50 miles and Alice climbs Arthur’s Seat. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider subscribing to our Patreon page. We don’t take advertising or sponsorship on the show, […]
Episode #352
April 13, 2023 09:23 - 63.7 MBMarsh investigates the radicalisation of the conservative website The Conservative Woman, and Mike takes a look at ChatGPT and its inability to stop lying. Meanwhile, Emma runs 50 miles and Alice climbs Arthur's Seat. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider subscribing to our Patreon page. We don't take advertising or sponsorship on the show, all our funding comes from our listeners. We can't do this without you.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #351
March 30, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBAlice dives into what is meant by ‘open research’ and why that is valuable, and Mike looks at TikTok and the recent US congressional hearings about banning the app. Meanwhile, Marsh returns from a holiday in France and Mike goes to live with giraffes. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Episode #351
March 30, 2023 09:23 - 84.9 MBAlice dives into what is meant by 'open research' and why that is valuable, and Mike looks at TikTok and the recent US congressional hearings about banning the app. Meanwhile, Marsh returns from a holiday in France and Mike goes to live with giraffes. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Skeptics with a K: Episode #350
March 16, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBIn this one-off episode of Skeptics with a K, the regular team step aside for International Women’s Day. Lana, Emma, and Kat get together to talk about co-sleeping and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, women’s ultramarathon performance, and a recent paper which looks at young women and anal sex. If listeners want to skip Lana’s story on […]
Episode #350
March 16, 2023 10:23 - 59.3 MBIn this one-off episode of Skeptics with a K, the regular team step aside for International Women's Day. Lana, Emma, and Kat get together to talk about co-sleeping and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, women's ultramarathon performance, and a recent paper which looks at young women and anal sex. If listeners want to skip Lana's story on SIDS, it finishes at 0:44:30. If you want to donate to Emma's efforts to raise money for Refugee Women Connect, visit refugeewomenconnect.org.uk/fundraisers/ru...
Skeptics with a K: Episode #349
March 02, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBMarsh looks at the Telegram furore around 15-Minute Cities and Alice investigates the practitioners of Kambo therapy, a folk medicine derived from tree-frog secretions. Meanwhile, Mike takes a last-minute trip to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #349
March 02, 2023 10:23 - 67.2 MBMarsh looks at the Telegram furore around 15-Minute Cities and Alice investigates the practitioners of Kambo therapy, a folk medicine derived from tree-frog secretions. Meanwhile, Mike takes a last-minute trip to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #348
February 16, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBWith Marsh unwell, Alice and Mike are joined by Emma to talk about the efficacy of interventions for prisoners with personality disorders, and the people who cheat at speed running computer games. If you want to donate to Emma’s efforts to raise money for Refugee Women Connect, visit refugeewomenconnect.org.uk/fundraisers/runningreallyfarforrefugeewomen. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #348
February 16, 2023 10:23 - 61.3 MBWith Marsh unwell, Alice and Mike are joined by Emma to talk about the efficacy of interventions for prisoners with personality disorders, and the people who cheat at speed running computer games. If you want to donate to Emma's efforts to raise money for Refugee Women Connect, visit refugeewomenconnect.org.uk/fundraisers/runningreallyfarforrefugeewomen. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Skeptics with a K: Episode #347
February 02, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBAlice looks at the ‘menstrual masking’, the latest beauty trend from TikTok, while Mike looks closer at the Hawthorne Effect and whether the original Hawthorne experiments actually demonstrate the effect. Meanwhile, Marsh leads the rock ‘n’ roll life when he buys a new radiator.
Episode #347
February 02, 2023 10:23 - 63.5 MBAlice looks at the 'menstrual masking', the latest beauty trend from TikTok, while Mike looks closer at the Hawthorne Effect and whether the original Hawthorne experiments actually demonstrate the effect. Meanwhile, Marsh leads the rock 'n' roll life when he buys a new radiator.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #346
January 19, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBAlice investigates the Tesla BioHealing medbed, which promises to recharge every cell in the body, and Marsh looks at the realtime slide of Andrew Bridgen MP into anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist. Meanwhile, Mike plays the Good Samaritan on Christmas Day. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Episode #346
January 19, 2023 10:23 - 60.1 MBAlice investigates the Tesla BioHealing medbed, which promises to recharge every cell in the body, and Marsh looks at the realtime slide of Andrew Bridgen MP into anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist. Meanwhile, Mike plays the Good Samaritan on Christmas Day. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Skeptics with a K: Episode #345
January 05, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBWelcome to 2023! This week, Mike talks about the promotion of misinformation on Twitter by its new owner Elon Musk, and Marsh looks into a website scam based around false copyright claims and backlinks. Meanwhile, Alice has a bad Christmas. You can support the show by donating via our Patreon, or by leaving us a […]
Episode #345
January 05, 2023 10:23 - 59.2 MBWelcome to 2023! This week, Mike talks about the promotion of misinformation on Twitter by its new owner Elon Musk, and Marsh looks into a website scam based around false copyright claims and backlinks. Meanwhile, Alice has a bad Christmas. You can support the show by donating via our Patreon, or by leaving us a positive review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or your podcatcher of choice. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Skeptics with a K: Episode #344
December 22, 2022 10:23 - 1 hour - 105 MBFor the final episode of the year, Mike, Marsh and Alice take a break from the usual format to talk about QED, how the event works, and our top tips on how we think skeptical events can be run. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Episode #344
December 22, 2022 10:23 - 105 MBFor the final episode of the year, Mike, Marsh and Alice take a break from the usual format to talk about QED, how the event works, and our top tips on how we think skeptical events can be run. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke
Skeptics with a K: Episode #343
December 08, 2022 10:23 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBAlice looks at the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, while Mike looks at the evidence for mix-and-match vaccination. Plus, Mike has some very strange dreams. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.
Episode #343
December 08, 2022 10:23 - 53.1 MBAlice looks at the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, while Mike looks at the evidence for mix-and-match vaccination. Plus, Mike has some very strange dreams. Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.