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The Skeptic Zone

Richard Saunders
The Skeptic Zone
Latest episode

914 episodes

  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #913 - 5.April.2026

    04/04/2026 | 1h 3 mins.
    Facts about the Common Cold - Skeptics in the Pub - Iridology
        00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:07:00
    You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
    Adrienne met with infectious disease immunologist and author David Miles at the St Dunstan East Church Garden in London, England, where they discussed David's new book called,
    'Sneeze: The History and Science of the Common Cold'.

    Website: http://www.variolator.com

    Think This Through: Coleman Watts video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mv9Q0WvOd0
        00:22:36
    Sydney Skeptics in the Pub
    Join Richard Saunders, Tim Mendham, Lara Benham, Annie McCubbin, Kate Thomas and Gary from Thailand as they enjoy a fun evening of skeptical conversation and good food.
        00:34:52
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to Iridology.

        1984.03.19 - Times Daily
        1998.09.15 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    www.trove.nla.gov.au
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #912 - 29.March.2026

    28/03/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
    Mind Body Wallet - Australian Skeptics News - UFOs
     
        00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders

    Includes a brief clip of Maynard interviewing singing star Gene Pitney with a strange story concerning astrology.
        00:07:26
    A Journey into the Land of Woo
    Join Lara Benham, Tim Mendham, Kate Thomas and Richard Saunders as they once again venture through the doors of Sydney's Mind Body Spirit festival. What outrageous products and magical thinking did they discover this time?
        00:17:58
    UFOs and False Memories
    To acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the so-called Westall UFO event, the Skeptic Zone takes a look at the problems with false memories and the passage of time. Can we really expect people to clearly remember something that happened decades ago? Also the problem of memory cross contamination can cloud recollections of the original event.
        00:19:30
    Australian Skeptics Newsletter
    What news has caught the eye of news editor Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

    Sign up for Newsletter
    https://www.skeptics.com.au
        00:35:54
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades files for bumpf from Mind Body Spirit.

    www.trove.nla.gov.au
    Also....

    Kate Thomas with Dr Karl - Shirtloads of Science
    https://youtu.be/Vra3iKjlHXE
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #911 - 22.March.2026

    21/03/2026 | 1h 4 mins.
    00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:09:36
    Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas
    Once again we visit Kate's studios to chat to her about woo and the medical matters. This week we review the story of a woman who didn't want to visit her doctor to receive and review her medical reports. What are the pros and cons of this approach? Was she right in thinking GPs are only after more money with more visits? Also, we discuss Kate's podcast, "On The Mones".

    Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram
    https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass
        00:23:06
    You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
    What are those so-called psychics up to now? Adrienne interviews Susan Gerbic from Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia to ask about her latest investigations and stings of people who claim psychic powers. Also, Susan is always interested in getting more people to become Wikipedia editors via her online the course. Find out how to apply in today's show.

    Operation Banana Cream Pie
    https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/operation-banana-cream-pie
        00:36:22
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film from 1967.

        1949.12.10 - The Newcastle Sun
        1982.12.26 - The Canberra Times
        1999.01.11 - The Mount Airy News - NC

    www.trove.nla.gov.au

    Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film from 1967
    https://youtu.be/oPlRr_OfxZI
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #910 - 15.March.2026

    14/03/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
    0:00:00 Introduction
    Richard Saunders
    00:04:28 The Loons from Canada

    Kate and Allie embark on their third ghost hunt with Rodney Schmaltz' MacEwan University students, this time at a new location. They spent the evening exploring the beautiful yet spooky Freemasons' lodge, where the students attempted to recreate the kinds of ghostly "evidence" typically featured on paranormal investigation shows. They went on pareidolia and orb-spotting hunts, using spirit boxes, EVPs, and thermometers to anomaly-hunt, intermixed with spirit communication tools, including Ouija boards, a psychomantium, and divination.
    0:22:16 Anecdotes are not Evidence

    "I know it happened because it happened to me!" This is the statement Skeptics hear all the time. But is somebody's sincerely held belief enough to justify the belief itself? We look at the nature of anecdotes and testimonials.

    Antivaxxers, Acupuncture, And Alternative Cancer Cures | Dr. Steven Novella

    https://youtu.be/Nv1ZaJ9mL1k?si=J9G2v_2gvXldl3Y-
    0:31:24 Australian Skeptics Newsletter

    What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week?
    Read by Adrienne Hill.

    http://www.skeptics.com.au
    0:44:00 The TROVE Archives

    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Perpetual Motion.

    1945.03.17 - The Canberra Times
    1911.06.17 - Worker - Qld
    1910.12.11 - The Sunday Times - Sydney
    1888.07.14 - The North Australian - NT


    http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #909 - 8.March.2026

    07/03/2026 | 1h
    0:00:00 Introduction
    Richard Saunders
    00:05:48 Bend Spoon Award Nomination

    Vivacious Living Centre of Perth, WA bills itself as "a Multi-modality Health & Wellness Centre", offering such services as Crystal Healing, Reiki, Acupressure, Reflexology and Talking to the Dead!

    All of these services are worthy of a Bent Spoon nomination, however it is the claims to diagnose and treat bodily conditions via a device known as the Metatron NLS (Non-linear System), a device from Russia, that is the focus of this nomination.

    https://www.skeptics.com.au/about/activities/bent-spoon/nominations
    00:16:16 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas

    A bit of a Stretch

    We travel to Kate's studio to find out her opinions on the topic of stretching! Do you stretch before or after exercising? What does Kate have to say on the topic?

    Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram
    https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass
    00:26:14 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Trivia

    Once again, skeptics turned up to test their general knowledge and skeptical trivia. Hosts Richard Saunders and Lara Benham supplied the brain teasers while the President of Australian Skeptics Jessica Singer paid tribute to Ian Bryce who has retired from the committee after 45 years of service.

    https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics
    0:37:46 The TROVE Archives

    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Chakras.

    1984.03.06 - Tharunka
    1977.03.28 - Woroni
    1991.07.06 - Tharunka
    1989.04.16 - The Observer Reporter


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

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About The Skeptic Zone

The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason. Join Richard Saunders and his team of reporters for your weekly dose of skeptical news and interviews, reports and comments. Past guests have included, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Tim Minchin, Eugenie Scott, Dr Phil Plait, Michael Marshall, Dr Steve Novella, Dr Pamela Gay, Jon Ronson, Dr Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Prof. Richard Wiseman, Dick Smith, Banachek, Prof. Chris French, George Hrab, Tim Ferguson, Dr Paul Willis and many, many more. Featuring Australian radio legend Maynard with his Spooky Action, Jo Alabaster from the 'Evidence Please' blog, Eran Segev's Grain of Salt, Dr Rachael Dunlop with 'Dr Rachie Reports' and Heidi Robertson aka 'The Raw Skeptic'.
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