Skeptenfreude

Recorded 28 February 2025 (but posted 26 April 2025!). Ms Ann and Richard discuss changes in the world since they last recorded a podcast five months ago and the Trump presidency, the end of Skeptics in the Pub, Richard's experience with a Tarot Cards for Beginners course, how ChatGPT is both brilliant and scary, but regardless we use it for a bit of content, Richard tells his Ed the Canadian environmental engineer story (probably again), we then discuss how long do you display an award, Ms Ann talks Tesla drivers, Elon and the USA, and then with nothing else to talk about, we talk about Ms Ann's new 3D printer and life philosophy. 

Recorded 25 August 2024. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the SGU talking irrelevant personal stuff and episode numbers before Richard talks about his irrelevant personal trip to a folk event in Annandale.  Then we spend the remaining time on the question “What is a women” which for a seemingly obvious answer seems to have got quite muddy and as expected we end up not solving it and only being exasperated. 

Recorded 21 July 2024. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Skeptics World Zoom meeting, the unexpected end of Tenacious D as witnessed by Richard, the Australian Skeptics investigation into Drop Bears, Committed Relationships, the universality of Skeptics in the Pub, James Randi Kindness (again), measuring a persons height, Ross Coulthart, someone actually reviewing the podcast, podcasters who make money, arrogant coffee shops, preparing for the SGU 1000th episode, Kenty's Tree, and heroes who fail you.

Recorded 25 February 2024. Ms Ann and Richard try to ignore reasons why they only did one podcast in 2023 to discuss Skeptic Zone doing 800 episodes, a dud board game gift given to Ms Ann, a Tik-Tok paranormal debacle and the true reason why Kenny Biddle is now Richard's new Skeptic nemesis, Alicia Keys vanishing bum note, Dyson vacuum cleaners, father & son gigs, shared office desks, SGU musical taste, Mega SUVs, a vestibule conversation, rejoining Toastmasters, when gays who kill are homophobic, forgetting the word dementia and death by frog toxin.  

Recorded 26 August 2023. Ms Ann and Richard ignore reasons why they haven't done a podcast and in a new improved shorter episode format briefly discuss kissing at the Women's Soccer World Cup, dead people and their twitter accounts, phones at urinals, shopping for milk, the real John Dory, Skeptics in the Pub, Woolies cameras, gender in chess, gender in general and Evan Bernstein.

Recorded 4 November 2022. Ms Ann and Richard briefly discuss the previous failed attempt at a podcast, how Richard got injured at a concert and the ALARP approach, thoughts of retirement given the decline due to aging, how can SGU and Richard Saunders do weekly podcasts, a long talk on Richard attending the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival (including his tarot card reading, some of the weird cult-like brochures that were handed out, and unfortunately meeting an ex-work colleague with a distinctive shaped head), the story of the lions escaping at Taronga Park Zoo, the Melbourne Cup, the local Parramatta culture, Bob Novella's Forest of Fear, Poor Restaurant Service, the Turmeric Wager, Tattoo Ownership, an incident on a train, 360 Degree Videos on YouTube, and finally Queensland driving.

Recorded 31 July 2022. Ms Ann and Richard briefly discuss the Pauline Hanson and the welcome to Country, the daily prayer said each morning at Federal Parliament, a team building experience, a Dyson vacuum experience, Graggle Simpson, sleep paralysis and dog dreams, hottest day in England and how the naked ape has changed the world environment, a Will Durant quote wrongly attributed and the book it came from, lack of value for money of health insurance, anti-vax colleagues, the heavy rains, Sharon Hill hates everyone, a public urinal experience, and garden air blowers. They then go on a very longer discussion on gender and the purity spiral which at the end they are still none the wiser.   

Recorded 22 May 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the new Australian Government and the associated fallout (i.e. Rowan Dean being a clown), how they voted, what they did and watched on the evening.  We then do a review of the book “Grains of Sands” by Brian J Cano, who impressed us at ParaCon all the way back in Episode #1 and in this podcast welcomed us into his Darkplace.  Finally, a quick run thru of combovers, how to buy a Genri, art appreciation, a podcast with Geraldine Turner, and ultimately how no one cares.

Recorded 3 April 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Skeptic Zone 700th episode, Russian tanks, the Australia Skeptic magazine, the next Australian Skeptic Conference,  Skeptics in the Pub (and other locations), Richard Saunders and his Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project (including water spill and Girl From Ipanema break), COVID lingers, the great Evan Bernstein of the SGU also does Board Gaming podcasts, SGU and daylight savings, teaching your son culinary choices, B&W movies, Will Smith vs Chris Rock, Brian Houston stands down, Number Plate logos and car stickers, the Bing homepage, and a rapid fire sampler of our future Brian J Cano book review.  We then conclude with a new segment: Garth Marenghi Darkspace Trivia.  This time we look as Episode One.

Recorded 20 February 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the latest film technology where you can bring back the dead as a wise investment or cold call marketing, the recent Sydney Great White shark and the Florida version, Gift Vouchers, slacktivists, the SGU segment Quickie with Bob, Barometers, “Is your meal ok?”, Caving TikTok,  Little Plastic Fish filled with Soy Sauce, Survival Bias, Australia River Cottage, some readings from the book “Sensing Psychic” by “Mitchell Coombes” and why is everyone selling a course.   Oh - and an Easter Egg.

Recorded sometime mid Jan 2022 and posted Feb 2022. Ms Ann and Richard go on a COVID rant about the dismal performance of the NSW State and Australian Federal Governments.  Its all a bit depressing, but we try to add a bit of fun where we can.

Recorded sometime October 2021 and posted Jan 2022. Ms Ann and Richard, after recording this thought by their even low standards it was not worth publishing.  But then, we got bored, so here it is.   We talk about COVID at a time before Omicron took off (so its surprisingly optimistic!).  We discuss the new Premier of NSW and his freedom day and reasons why he is new (hint, ICAC), male eyebrows, the Queen, SGU and David Copperfield, Amazon Prime, reaction videos with Telstra interruptions, the demise of Australian politics, assisted dying, America, biased media, freaky owls, and hobbies.

Skeptenfreude Episode #34 Recorded 15 August 2021. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the ongoing woeful COVID-19 lockdown in Australia then walk on the egg shells of sexuality and cultural appropriation, tarot cards, cancel culture and also somehow link it to a few board gaming examples.

Recorded 4 July 2021. Ms Ann and Richard still bereft of content end up talking somewhat about the COVID-19 response in Australia then continue with Richard further outlining all the things he doesn't plan to do with the rest of his life (its a long list).

Recorded 25 April 2021. Ms Ann and Richard bereft of content end up talking about a conspiracy clown that accompanied Richard on an early morning train and also get into life coaching, with Richard outlining all the things he doesn’t plan to do with the rest of his life.

Recorded 21 February 2021. Ms Ann and Richard talk mainly about Pete Evans (Australian chef, restaurateur, author, television, spreader of misinformation on vaccinations and promoter of pseudoscientific dieting ideas (as reported by Wikipedia)). In summary, a danger in chefs clothing.  Although at the end, we get a little off topic.  

Recorded 25 January 2021. Ms Ann and Richard discuss Australia Day Honours and a number of unworthy recipients, a bit on Australia Day, the 7 Up documentary series, Joe Biden being President of the United States but Fox News still won’t go away, a pathetic joke, the tale of Unmasked Leopard-Print Karen, cancel culture on board game Twitter, Armie Hammer and other celebs who have disappointed Ms Ann and those few still left on her list.

Recorded 10 January 2021.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Trump inspired attack on Capitol Hill in an attempt to repurpose and redirect the Skeptenfreude ship, after hitting the iceberg that was 2020, with a new format of one topic and only being thirty(ish) minutes long.  It's our New Years gift to you loyal listener.   

Recorded 20 December 2020. Ms Ann and Richard were going to discuss 2020 as a year in review but just basically rambled a bit too long.

Recorded 8 November 2020 (the day Biden was confirmed winner, but released two weeks later where Trump still won't confirm Biden is the winner).  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the passing of the wonderful James Randi (and hence the end of the skeptic movement as we enjoy it), landing on an asteroid, the Biden vs Trump US election and the associated stupidification of America, the loss of an independent media thanks to Murdoch, the ongoing deaths of horses at the Melbourne Cup, Tom Lehrer, James Packer, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian giving up on love, Jack Nicklaus is no longer a hero, and some other bits about the loss of honesty and integrity.

Recorded 4 July 2020.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the movie Gemini Man, Dyson Heydon and other examples of men treating women poorly, COVID-19 protection methods and impacts, Black Lives Matter in Family Guy, and apology videos.

Recorded 14 June 2020.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss Black Lives Matter and, despite talking endlessly for almost 90 minutes, contribute nought.

Recorded 12 April 2020.  Unsurprisingly, we talk more about living with the coronavirus COVID-19 (exhale loudly), and I really can't be bothered to break it down even further as we discuss the clowns speaking about it.  Be safe people, from both the virus and abject stupidity. 

Recorded 13 March 2020.  Ms Ann and Richard do a further 8 months of dusting from the microphones and have a chat at the beginning of the COVID-19 virus, when all we really were worried about was toilet paper.  A meandering discussion follows involving a Saturday dinner Skeptic presentation on Climate Change, a Skeptic Zone interview (which in post we find didn't happen!), the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and some really good bits that we sadly had to cut out.

Recorded 28 July 2019.  Ms Ann and Richard dust off the microphones, engaged the ambient background noise, and discuss a UFO believer who has challenged the skeptics, the skeptics response, revisit the Skeptic Zone, discuss the accuracy of Ms Ann's Myers-Briggs personality test, contemplate why The Room may be the strangest bad movie, and finally gather around to discuss Wernher von Braun and the Apollo 11 50th anniversary.

Recorded 26 May 2019. Ms Ann and Richard dust off the equipment, not to talk skeptics and skepticism, but rather the conclusion to Game of Thrones.  Because what the world needs now is apparently another rant against Game of Thrones.  No fancy editing or the like, as it has been so long since the last podcast we have mostly forgotten how to use the software.  If you are reading this, thank you for keeping us linked, and we do intend to return a bit quicker next time.

Recorded 16 September 2018. Ms Ann and Richard desperately try to keep their interest plate spinning on its sceptical community stick by discussing the demise of Paracon 18 and its hastily organised replacement ParaCAN (which turned into a fun day at least for Richard). They then move on to discuss Sharon Hill and her drop the mic blog article “Please Don’t Call Me A Skeptic”, Elon Musk, Serge Benhayon, Oliver’s Real Food using less woo, the changing agenda at Skepticon, skeptic input into a porncast, and how neither of them have any current interest in the Skeptical Movement.

Recorded 27 June 2018. Ms Ann and Richard get a bit self-indulgent in discussing and congratulating Richard Saunders completing 500 episodes of the Skeptic Zone (and the people who thanked him).  This is followed by general dismay over Black Salve and the desire of unqualified people to offer medical advice.  We then discuss a theory on why Quiz-o-tron doesn't work then finish on the depressing topic of suicide and death.  Oh - there is an Easter Egg at the end, so stay listening or you will miss the hidden surprise.

Recorded 29 April 2018. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the reasons for their hiatus, why Skeptenfreude is such a stupid name, briefly consider board games & art supplies, how Lawrence Krauss and Tim Ferguson joined David Bowie in Tin Machine, coffee shops that close early or get frequently used by Skeptics, visiting Skeptics in the Pub, and like other skeptic podcasts, do a movie review (the ludicrous Star Wars: The Last Jedi). 

Recorded 10 December 2017.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss vertigo, some Skeptic Zone episodes, and then briefly Brian Dunning and Rebecca Watson mainly for click bait.  After a brief chat on a disappointing Skeptic comic and Angela Lansbury, the rest of the episode is spent discussing the recent Australian Skepticon 2017.  The Skepticon convention included live podcasts by Cognitive Dissonance and the Skeptic Zone, a crying baby during a Q&A session and a hot blood conference dinner.

Recorded 22 October 2017.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Periscope App; an interview with Pamela Gay; Richard Saunders on Sydney morning radio talking aliens, evolution and skeptics; Steve, Jay and Bob Novella reviewing Star Trek Discovery; a work epiphany; our Patreon; our Facebook page; Bag free shopping; forgetting the Vegas shootings; an insulin denying face slapping therapist goes to court; Accountants; Journalists; a movie producer; biodynamic farming; and honorary degrees.

Recorded 17 September 2017.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss people who ruin it for everyone, a possible sighting of a Tasmania Tiger, bottle water not being as good as it claims to be, a ghost tour of Maitland Gaol, and a spoiler discussion of Game of Thrones.

Recorded 27 August 2017.  Ms Ann and Richard stumble thru a discussion on living with an ear infection, the extreme diet technique of a naturopath, heroes who let you down, critical thinking on morning radio, applying the slippery slope to marriage equality, the return of Paracon 18, the distraction of an over-hyped speech, dual citizenship, mixing your professional and social media platforms, and Game of Thrones disappointment.  

Recorded 9 July 2017.  Ms Ann and Richard cover miracle healing as part of the State of Origin football, then briefly on the issues of fondling on trains, skeptical eating habits, mental health at Skeptics in the Pub, bad dice rolling, The One, the trolley problem, photographic evidence, Breatharians, the dentist, Newcastle, and the appropriateness of army advertising.

Recorded 18 June 2017. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the worthiness of those getting Australian Honours, pass on John Edwards, focus on manifestation with Deborah Hutton, drum on why Pete Best was actually lucky, wonder when humour crosses the line from funny to offensive, gaze at the problem with Buzz Aldrin, unbox an interesting tip from a board game convention and finish on logic fallacies by considering briefly the straw man argument.  This episode is dedicated with thanks to our one cumulative listener.

Recorded 28 May 2017. Ms Ann and Richard have a subdued conversation about some current aspects of the skeptical movement - the names, the arguments and the mistakes some would like to forget.  They also briefly mention Schapelle Corby and Margaret Court (only because everyone else has) and Richard's belated crush on Karen Knowles.

Recorded 9 May 2017.  Ms Ann & Richard discuss having a chiropractor as a speaker at Skeptics In The Pub, home-made cheese, skeptical podcasts, the chemtrail conspiracy, John Lennon saying that he don't want an evolution, NECSS or CSICon replacing James Randi & TAM, and who is coming to Skepticon Australia.

Recorded 23 April 2017. Ms Ann & Richard spend this episode mainly discussing the pseudoscience of homeopathy.  They then touch briefly on possible guests for Skepticon Austalia 2017, the legacy of the recently departed John Clarke, and the edibility of moldy green vegan cheese.

Recorded March 2017.  After a hiatus, Ms Ann & Richard return.  They talk about the sad demise of Paracon 17 and start making plans to be more active in the lead-up to Skepticon 17. It was just a pity in their break they still didn't prepare enough nor improve the audio.

Recorded December 2016.  Ms Ann & Richard discuss a little about the skeptical response to a Trump world but end up just fluffing about with commitments to being better prepared next time in terms of content (and audio quality).    

Recorded October 2016. Ms Ann & Richard mainly discuss an enjoyable evening with Ben Goldacre, but also briefly wander into fake foods, a framework for skeptical kindness and a person with a hook for an arm.

Recorded September 2016.  Ms Ann & Richard discuss Mother Teresa, Richards, group probability, cacao, careers, the Fab Four at Reason Rally, lift buttons, post garden shows and toilet etiquette.

Recorded late August 2016.  Ms Ann & Richard spend a moment going in search of hypocrisy, other bespoke word usage, worrying about a future evening with Ben Goldacre, manipulation of business KPIs, train seating protocols, and the security of a brick.

Recorded August 2016. Ms Ann & Richard discuss cupping at the Rio Olympics, Ms Ann's new journey as a vegan and their plans for establishing an International Association of Certified Practicing Skeptics.

Recorded July 2016.  Ms Ann & Richard in search of content talk about Ms Ann's changing views on Tom Hiddleston and then decide to flick through pages of The Skeptic Magazine and LivingNow Magazine.

Recorded June 2016. In this first episode, Ms Ann & Richard try to explain why they think the world needs yet another skeptical podcast and also give their (surprisingly positive) thoughts on Paracon Australia 2016.