Yardie Skeptics Radio

Calling all heathens, it’s the Yardie Skeptics Season Finale this Sunday, April 14th at 12:30pm (11:30am Jamaica time)! For the first time we are having the trifecta of Caribbean social media secular podcasts all in one studio - Yardie Skeptics (Jamaica), Freethinking Island (Barbados), and Haitian Freethinkers - to talk about the current status of Caribbean secularism. Do social media platforms make any real impact on secular movements in Caribbean societies? What are the next steps for fostering a more secular and inclusive philosophy grounded in Caribbean traditions and customs? Tune in this Sunday and tell us what you think!

The awful, dreaded, monstrous “big C” - cancer - will be the focus on the next episode of Yardie Skeptics radio this Sunday, April 7th at 12:30pm DST (11:30am Jamaica time). What are some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease? What do we mean when we say we are in a “fight” against cancer? Can we cure cancer with powerful green juices and prayer? We all know someone who has been affected by the disease, so we all have a personal story. Tune in this Sunday and feel free to tell us yours!Joining us live on air will be:Jamie Palmer, RN with experience in the oncology unit in Boward County, FloridaDanae Peart, Lead Administrator at Emery Keelesdale Nurse Practioner - LED Clinic, TorontoTehuti Maat, lifestyle transformation consultant and medical nutritionist from JamaicaCarol Levy, cancer survivor from JamaicaPauline Ameir, Healthcare professional and cancer survivor

What is it like to be Muslim in Jamaica? What is it like to navigate Christian hegemony at every turn while at the same time wanting your religion to be acknowledged and given the same space for expression as the dominant religion? How do Muslims in Jamaica promote their religion as one of peace even as Islam has become synonymous with terrorism in our modern world? Is there conflict between one’s identity as Jamaican, and one’s identity as Muslim? Tune in this Sunday, March 31st at 12:30pm DST (11:30am Jamaica time) as the Yardie Skeptics tackle these questions live on air. Joining us live will be Taariq Abdul-Majeed, the Media Liaison Coordinator of the Islamic Council of Jamaica. Joining him will be Sheik Musa Tijani and Kareema Muncey - also members of the Islamic Council of Jamaica.

It's a wrap, folks! The Yardie Skeptics are leaving the building after yet another riveting season batting for reason and skepticism over the past few months. Thank you for your support!  Needless to say, we're going out guns blazing!  We turn our attention to that impenetrable wall between church and state. In the case of some states, like Jamaica, this wall is more like a sieve, where the distinction between the two is blurred. Does it have to be like this? Can the state operate in a context without being influenced, derailed, or hijacked by the actions of the church? Or must we in Jamaica get used to parliament being a part time revival tent?  Join us in this discussion along with featured guest Dr. Latoya Lazarus of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies UWI, Cave Hill, who published an article entitled; "Religion and rights: Is there still room for Christianity at the table?" If that wasn't enough, we'll also be joined by veteran Jamaican journalist and champion Christian apologist Ian Boyne, whose recent article in the Gleaner, "Sin, Sex, and the Church" warned the church that it needs to "wake up!"  But hold the press! We still have more... a general in the #TambourineArmy will be with us none other than the firebrand Stella Gibson, who has been hurling brimstone boulders at the Moravian church in Jamaica after the sex scandal dropped earlier this year. Will her advocacy finally be the catalyst to change the rape culture in Jamaica's churches, or will her fiery social media persona ultimately raze the movement before it even gets off the ground?  

The Yardie Skeptics are back this Sunday, January 22 at 12:30pm EST to conclude our discussion on the church and rape culture. The social media outrage surrounding the Moravian church sex scandal is still scorching hot even as the story has lost some traction in traditional media. Is there a risk of this being a nine-day wonder or will Jamaicans finally seize the moment for a revolutionary change in attitudes towards sexual violence?   Joining us live on air will be Jamaican academic Nicole Cameron, PhD candidate in health communication at the Washington State University. She and her coauthors recently wrote a paper in which they argue that exposure to sexualized images of women in the media desensitizes bystanders from intervening in acts of sexual agression towards women. We've always suspected this to be the case, now we have the data to support it! Don't miss this episode! as we turn our attention to possible solutions!    

DISGRACE!! After the bombshell news that 62-year-old pastor at Nazareth Moravian Church in Jamaica, Rupert Clarke, was caught in a sexually compromising position with a minor in the community, the entire island has been split down the middle with those who are calling for a total overhaul of the way the church operates and those who want compassion for the accused rapist. The fallout from the incident continues to deepen as evidence of a cover-up by church leadership has emerged as well as suggestions that the Rev. Clarke has had sexual relations with other girls in the SAME family while they were minors!! Tek di wheel!! You don't want to miss this Sunday's episode as the Yardie Skeptics return for just a few more episodes to close out Season 4. Join us on Sunday, January 15th at 12:30pm EST and share your views and on what has been an ongoing attempt to directly and indirectly maintain the culture of sexual abuse inside the church.  Joining us live on air will be Dr. Michael Abrahams, OBGYN and convenor of the Save our Children campaign and Taitu Heron, women's advocate and gender researcher. 

#lifeinleggings: Caribbean Women & Sexual Violence Not since the critically acclaimed Yardie Skeptics' sister network Air Me Now dealt with the topic of violence against women, have the Cool Dude and Fire Breather shone the light on the culture of sexual violence which affects and impacts Caribbean women from the cradle to the grave. Why are we, in 2016, still not fully ready to acknowledge and combat the spectre of sexual violence which terrorizes our Caribbean women and girls?  This Sunday, Dec. 4th at 12:30pm EST the Yardie Skeptics addresses #lifeinleggings which has been taking social media by storm over the past week and a half. Two brave women in Barbados decided to start the movement and create a space for Caribbean women of all ages and walks of life to share their stories of navigating and surviging the crushing culture of sexual violence pervasive throughout the Caribbean, and social media hasn't been the same since! You don't want to miss this episode folks - this is our final episode before our season break and it promises to be one for the records! Come out and share with us what it's like to live a #lifeinleggings.  Our special guests include: Risée Chaderton-Charles,Juliette Maughn, Mandy Cummins, Ronelle King, Arte Maria Clarke (Allyson Benn), Taitu Heron, and former Air Me Now panelist - Sharon Smith UPDATE: We will have an opening segment on Cuba after Castro featuring Donna Forde, Charge D'Affaires of the Barbado

What's the deal with men and intimacy? Why are men's ideas about intimacy so divergent from the ideas that women possess? And, is intimacy really what we think it is?  Come get intimate with the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday, November 27th at 12:30pm EST as we pull on those masculine heart strings and get the low down on what's up with masculine ideas of intimacy. We already made two trips to the bedroom earlier this month, so perhaps what we need this time around is a little discourse, before the intercourse! Joining us live in studio will be: Dr. Peter Weller - clinical psychologist and founder of CARIMAN Owen "Blakka" Ellis - humourist, actor, and gender researcher Klyde Brooks - poet  To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  For a full list of ways to contact the Yardie Skeptics, click this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EEyUtd44w3hT5dvu6sxuFYkKxZjlijbLdx04C2cfa6w/edit?usp=sharing "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"?

It's starting to settle in now - Trump is indeed the next president. We're not dreaming, but it's no less of a nightmare. Last week we opened the flood gates of discussion with a packed studio when we allowed our guests to voice their opinions on the results of the recent US elections and the implications for the social climate moving forward in the USA. We return this Sunday, November 20th at 12:00noon EST (half hour earlier just this Sunday) to conclude our "group therapy" session, and as usual we want to hear from you! Our special guest will be Ambassador Richard Bernal who was unable to connect with us last week due to technical difficulties. He will discuss with us the options open to the Caribbean to be incorporated construcively in US foreign policy. Tensions are at fever pitch all across the USA as racists slowly start to crawl out of the woodworks now that they realize they have a man in the castle. But with Trump already backpedalling on some of his campaign rhetoric, might there be a glimmer of hope?  To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  For a full list of ways to contact the Yardie Skeptics, click this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EEyUtd44w3hT5dvu6sxuFYkKxZjlijbLdx04C2cfa6w/edit?usp=sharing

Kiss mi neck! The unimaginable has actually occured! What started out as a side show distraction to the US presidential campaign has now turned into a living nightmare for millions in the USA and the world over. Did it really happen? Will Americans have to sit by and watch as 8 years of the Obama presidency become undone? How have Caribbean folk abroad been dealing with the bombshell election results? Where do we go from here? Well this Sunday Nov. 13th at 12:30pm EST the Yardie Skeptic are inviting you to come and sit on our couch and tell us what's on your mind. That's right folks, we are open for group therapy on our next episode as we seek to unpack, analyze, and indeed recover from the shock of an impending Trump presidency!  To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  For a full list of ways to contact the Yardie Skeptics, click this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EEyUtd44w3hT5dvu6sxuFYkKxZjlijbLdx04C2cfa6w/edit?usp=sharing Be sure to like our new Facebook page "Yardie Skeptics Network!"

- Can the bible be used as erotica? - How do you tell your spouse you're into BDSM? - Can orgasms bring couples closer spiritually? - What man wants a woman with an extensive sexual history? We dealt with all of those topics in the last episode and it was still just the tip! This Sunday November 6th at 12:30pm we plan to plunge into this topic all the way up to the hilt and wont withdraw until we're completely spent! You heard that right folks, last week's quickie discussion was indeed a broadcastus interruptus so we are back for a round two on the Yardie Skeptics radio show!  We hope to re-invite our erudite panel from last week back into the bedroom: Dr. Karen Carpenter, psychologist & sexologist Shaneka Harris, IT specialist and "sexpert"  and our mystery guest Michael who caused a heated discussion when he insisted that women are either wives or "thots!" If you are a Christian, or know one who wants to contribute, don't hesitate to call us on Sunday. You can't afford to miss this one folks! Late addition to our panel: Christine South, a thinking Jamaican Christian based in London, England! To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  For a full list of ways to contact the Yardie Skeptics, click this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EEyUtd44w3hT5dvu6sxuFYkKxZjlijbLdx04C2cfa6w/edit?usp=sharing

"Sex and Religion" Ever since Adam picked that sweet, succulent, scintillating forbidden fruit, sank his teeth into it and let the juices explode into the back of his throat, we've all been screwed. How has religion influenced or views and attitudes towards sex? Has religion allowed us to free our inhibitions or has it blue balled us into sexual frustration? Don't miss out on this steamy episode, jump into the bedroom with the Yardie Skeptics! Live on air we'll be joined by:  Dr. Karen Carpenter, psychologist & sexologist Damien Williams, biblical scholar and Christian minister Shaneka Harris, IT specialist and "sexpert"  Call in number: (619) 924-9749

"Social Media and Modern Communication" Now that we're able to communicate with each other instantaneously from thousands of miles away and in different time zones, have we become better as a result? Are we slowly forming more meaningful communities around shared ideals, or have we simply drifted apart as islands of individualism and narcissism? Does social media promote the democratization of information and ideas, or is it simply controlled by players who have the right culture, language, and power? Special guests: Dr. Alison Irvine-Sobers, sociolinguist, Dr. Natalie Bennett, sociologist & Dr. Joseph Farquharson, lexicographer. To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom. 

Caribbean Perspectives on the US Presidential Election Mass shootings, police brutality, military ineptitude in the Syrian war, the USA appears to be going to hell in a hand basket while the devil himself "trumps" along merrily to the impending doom. What are the implications for the Caribbean when the new President is chosen? Have Caribbean nationals chosen sides either way? Don't worry, we promise not to grab or grope you! Featured guests include: Sharon Smith Garth Delapenha Shaneka Harris Rain Jarrett All are Jamaican-US nationals, and will have plenty to contriibute! UPDATE: We have now booked a Caribbean-American Trump supporter to come on the show... At the beginning of the show, we will have an update on the post-Hurricane Matthew situtation from special guests Serge Bellegarde, Marie Hitchins, and Lesley Richards. Serge is a Haitian national resident in the US; Marie is a Haitian-Jamaican resident in Jamaica, and Lesley Richards is a Jamaican national currently based in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.  To listen to any episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page "Yardie Skeptics Network!"

What is it with rules designed to police black hair, black bodies and black identity? Where does one draw the line between an outright abrogation of freedom of expression and a request to obey basic rules of decency and decorum? Are we trying to tame the #unkempt black hair, or subdue the rebellious black spirit?  Joining our discussion will be noted Jamaican attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, and his daughter Ayanna T. Samuels, together with Marie Hitchins.  Bert and Ayanana wrote a column in the Daily Gleaner on this subject which can be seen here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/focus/20160925/bert-and-ayanna-samuels-hopefield-prep-are-rules-just-rules Call in number:(619) 924-9749 You can also reach us via the Skype interface in the chatroom (which will be opened shortly before the show).

Be prepared to hear the shocking stories of ex-SDA members who turned their backs on what was once their spiritual home and the struggles to reclaim their identities as individuals. A story of redemption after escaping a cult, or just a bunch of backsliders who wanted out to live a life of sin? You be the judge! 

It's that time of the year again when the Yardie Skeptics wrap up yet another successful season! Come join us this Sunday, November 1st at 12:30pm EDT (12:30pm Jamaica time) as we bring the curtains down on our third season, doing a season review and looking ahead for new topics to explore next season. Come relive some of your memories from this season and tell us what direction you'd like to see the Yardie Skeptics branch out into for season 4.  Live on air will be Prof. Verene Shepherd to tell us about the recently concluded symbolic trial of Governor Eyre, where Governor Eyre was found guilty of the debacle which was the Moran Bay incident of 1865 and subsequently deported back to England to serve his prison sentence. Also joining us will be Jamaica's public defender Arlene Harrison-Henry who, having declared that the St. Hilda's head girl removal was a clear case of religious discrimination, has renewed the call for the implementation of anti-discrimination legislation. That's right folks, we're going out with a bang this season! 

  The Yardie Skeptics are back for their penultimate episode in Season 3, this Sunday October 18th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to revisit an issue which we have dealt with for an unprecedented three times in our media networks - religious encroachment in a Jamaican public school. But this time things are different; the vast majority of voices in the public all agree that religious influence has gone too far and is in clear violation of a code of ethics, and the Jamaican public defender as official declared as much. The removal of a student from the post of head girl on religious grounds proved to be the tipping point for tolerance of religious privilege, and the Yardie Skeptics are putting this issue front and centre.  Joining us live on air will be none other than veteran Jamaican human rights advocate Yvonne McCalla-Sobers. Be sure to catch us early in the broadcast to listen to Prof. Verene Shepherd recount the "Walk to Stony Gut" in remembrance of the fateful Morant Bay Rebellion which resulted in the hanging of Jamaican National Hero, Paul Bogle.  To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page Yardie Skeptics Network! "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"? "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"?

The Yardie Skeptics come roaring back this Sunday October 11th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) following the recent visit to Jamaica of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who entered into a (non-binding) memorandum of understanding with the government of Jamaica to provide a grant of £25M to construct a brand new PRISON! Yes, you heard that right, a spanking new maximum security penal facility - provided we can find the other 60% of the cost.   The veritable hurricane of views this has sparked has resulted in no less than a public outcry against the MOU, a parliamentary walk out by the opposition party, and calls for the Prime Minister of Jamaica to have a press conference for full disclosure of the deal. But will that happen?   Live in studio to discuss this issue are returning guests Sen. the Hon. Mark Golding, Minister of Justice of Jamaica, and Prof. Verene Sheppard, Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and Reparations Committee member. Rounding out the panel will be Robert Collie, attorney-at-law, and member of the Jamaica Labour Party. You can't miss this one folks, and as Mr. Cameron so eloquently put it, if you don't like this deal you need to "get over it!"

  Come hang with the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday, October 4th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) while we sit down to explore the prospects and possibilities for an integrated Caribbean . Has that ship already sailed? Is there still room for an integrated Caribbean and what do member states stand to gain from being a part of such a union? With CARICOM receiving so much skepticism from the average Caribbean citizen, and heads of state hesitant to throw their full support behind it, is Caribbean political integration destined to remain a fantasy? Joining us live on air will be Dr. Edward Green, Professor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies and UN Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean; Sen. Lisa Shoman, Leader of Opposition Business in Belize; Hon. Damian Gomez, Minister of State for Legal Affairs in the Bahamas, and Ed Bartlett, shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jamaica. Feel free to check us out this Sunday and be a part of this important discussion! To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page Yardie Skeptics Network! iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yardie-skeptics/id655758991?mt=2 "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"?

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Hot on the heels from last week's grab bag section where we started the fascinating story of the Bacon family from Nicaragua and Jamaica, the Yardie Skeptics are back this Sunday, September 27 at 12:30pm (11:30am Jamaica time) to conclude the discussion on the Bacons and explore the wider Jamaican-Latin American connection. What kinds of cultural similarities does Jamaica have with our various Latin American neighbours? How have Jamaican migrants to Latin American territories dealt with the cultural adjustments, and to what extent has their new home embraced Jamaican cultural expressions? Is there more to show to the world from these areas aside from crime, poverty and political corruption? Come join the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday as we investigate and celebrate our Latin American neighbours.  To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page Yardie Skeptics Network! Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"? "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"?

The Yardie Skeptics return this Sunday, September 20th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to take into the very private, rarely investigated professional life of Caribbean judges. What kind of training is required to be a judge in the Caribbean and what is the philosophical framework which informs the notion of "justice" in the Caribbean - is it restorative or simply about vengeance? What is the role of the judiciary in the establishment and protection of human rights and what ideologies influence such rights - secular or religious? Joining us live on air will be Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius of the High Court of Barbados; Justice Douglas Mendes, former Court of Appeal Judge for Belize; and Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith also from Belize. This promises to be quite an educational episode so do tune in and land a coveted opportunity to talk justice with a Caribbean judge!  Be sure to catch us at the beginning when we explore the interesting Jamaican-Nicaraguan connection as seen from the perspective of the Bacons - a family brought together by a whirlwind romance between two love birds on different sides of the Caribbean. 

The Yardie Skeptics are returning all hot and bothered from last week's episode on ography, which was just foreplay for the steamy upcoming episode this Sunday, September 13th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) when we ask the question "Is Sex Addition Real?"  This one has the studio cracked right down the middle with Dr. Karen Carpenter, sexologist and sexuality researcher, skeptical that such a condition exists, while Dr. Asa DeMatteo clinical psychologist, suggests that sex addition is indeed very real. This is shaping up to be a good romp in the Yardie Skeptics studio! Also expect to hear from return panelist from last week Dr. Julian Walters to round out this veritable orgy of guests! Be sure to tune in early while we chat to Dr. Michael Abrahams for a quickie during the grab bag section of the show about his recent article to the Gleaner declaring that "God is NOT merciful" and the raging social media storm it caused. We have a full schedule this Sunday so be sure to make it a date!

The wait is finally over and the Yardie Skeptics are blazing back from a one week hiatus to scorch the airwaves this Sunday September 6th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) with a steamy discussion on ography! You heard that correctly, we're taking a no holds barred discussion to the social phenomenon which is and we want you all to cum ;)  Joining us live on air will be Latin American scholar and gender studies researcher Dr. Danielle Roper, as well as lawyer and secularist Glenroy Murray. We will also be joined by Jamaican youth pastor Elizabeth ("Betty") Lloyd-Lawrence and adult and child psychiatrist Dr. Julian Walters (also a Jamaican and Christian).How do we negotiate the delicate balance between decent adult entertainment and censorship of obscenity? With "revenge " at an all time high, is it time to seriously discuss the legal and ethical issues at stake? And what of the growing market for child ography? Would we be better off simply closing down the industry? Let's have your views on this issue - call in and talk dirty to us!

  Raising a child is said to be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can hope for - watching a little human grow into adulthood, overcoming life's challenges and reaching important milestones. But, imagine if you were permanently denied this privilege on account of your sexual orientation? On what grounds should same sex couples be prohibited from raising children?  The Yardie Skeptics are yet again breaking new ground this Sunday, August 23rd at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) as we do our first exposé on same sex parenting. What are some of the challenges same sex couples face when they decide to become parents? Do children raised in same sex households turn out as "normal" as other children? Joining us live on air will be one same sex couple - partners Christopher Inniss and Shelton Stroman - and three other same sex parents - Judith Williams, Natalie Bennett, and Nigel Simon to round out our full house on this discussion. Join us for this first ever exploration of the highs and lows of same sex parenting!

  Yes, you read that title right, the Yardie Skeptics will be having none other than the venerable Ian Boyne in studio this Sunday, August 16th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to discuss the finer points of the theistic worldview. This man has been called everything from elitist, to snobbish, to detached from the reality on the ground, but love him or hate him, none can deny that veteran journalist Boyne has distinguished himself as one of Jamaica's most outspoken public intellectuals and erudite Christian apologists. You don't want to miss this episode when the Yardie Skeptics and Boyne stop trading barbs in the national newspaper for a second, and sit down to discuss the merits of maintaining a theistic worldview in the 21st century. What purpose does theism serve in society? Has there ever been a single tangible benefit of religiosity? Does God have a place in figuring out our current social problems? Get ready for what promises to be a highly informative and scintillating episode!

"In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected." - United Nations The Yardie Skeptics are back this Sunday, August 9th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaican time) to discuss the inauguration of the International Decade on People of African Descent 2015-2024. What are the goals of this initiative? Why are we still chanting "Black lives matter" a whole four decades after the civil rights movement? Will the lived realities of Afrodescended persons improve in any meaningful way over the next 10 years, or are we destined to suffer under the heal of racism?  Joining us live on air will be Prof. Verene Shepherd, professor of social history and director of Gender and Development studies at UWI, Mona, and Alison Moses, founder and president of RICA Diaspora LLC, a business consultancy firm geared for persons of African descent. We want to hear from you folks of African descent - what do want for yourselves as a group over the next ten years? To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page Yardie Skeptics Network! Yardie Skeptics Radio iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yardie-skeptics/id655758991?mt=2 "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" ?

The Yardie Skeptics return this Sunday, August 2nd ar 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to blaze up the airwaves with yet another hot button topic - can secular humanism serve as a guiding principle for a society? Can a philosophical system which is not subjected to the dictates of a deity provide the necessary moral framework for social stability? If gods aren't in charge, then who? Men? Is secular humanism simply a way for atheists to impose their ideology on society and force theists into the margins?  Joining us live in studio will be secular humanists Peter John Williams and Robin Gane-McCalla, Suzette Gardner, and Mandisa Thomas. We will be hearing from them about their journeys as humanists as well as their involvement in organizations which seek to foster and educate persons on the principles of secular humanism. You don't want to miss out on your chance to put secular humanism under a microscope! "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" 

Hey folks, it's here for the first time this season when the Yardie Skeptics put YOU the listener into the spotlight! Yep, you got that right, this Sunday July 26th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) the Yardie Skeptics will have our first listener centred episode where take a back seat and allow out listeners to decide what the topic will be.  So, what do YOU want to talk about? The recent murders of members of the Jamaican Constabulary Force? The mysterious suicides of black women in custody in the USA? Deep sea volcano off the coast of Grenada threatening Caribbean? NAACP chapter director turn hairdresser? Hey heeey! You call us with YOUR topic and we'll accommodate, because this Sunday is your turn to take the spotlight!

The Yardie Skeptics return this Sunday, July 19th at 12:30PM (11:30AM Jamaican time) to tackle one of the most perplexing questions which has ever faced mankind. A question so great it has confounded learned philosophers and the common-folk alike. More profound than the question "why are we here" and with more far reaching implications than "is there life after death?" A question which touches on the inner-most fundamentals of what it means to be human and reaches all the way to the borders of the cosmos:  WHAT DO WOMEN WANT?  You got that right! The Yardie Skeptics are going there on the next episode and there's no guarantee we'll make it out in one piece at the end... if there can BE an end. Come join the Yardie Skeptics on this adventurous journey into the frontier few men have gone before. Our tour guide will be none other than Jullieth Maughn, one half of the editorial team of the recently published "Sensesha: Memoirs of the Caribbean Woman." We want to hear from you our female listeners; come take the Yardie Skeptics to school and give us an education.   

What do people mean when they claim they "know" God, and what exactly do they know when they declare such a thing? How is it that believers use their natural faculty to detect the supernatural (e.g. eyes and ears), but when pressed for evidence none is forthcoming? Is there anyway to speak factually about the "spiritual" realm or the supernatural claims of religions? Or, will the answers to these questions remain forever shrouded in the "mysterious" ways of gods?  You don't want to miss this episode of the Yardie Skeptics radio show this Sunday, July 12th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) as we interrogate the connection between epistemology and religion. Joining us live on air will be none other than a friend of the Yardie Skeptics network, Dr. Anna Perkins, educator and Catholic theologian. Come journey with the skeptics as we try to uncover whether one can have "knowledge" of the supernatural or nothing more than simply wishful thinking. Believers, we want to hear from you!  

The Yardie Skeptics are back at it this Sunday, July 5th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to investigate the recent news in the Dominican Republic of "ethnic cleansing" where Haitians born to Dominican parents have been deported for no other reason but being Haitian. The caricature of the superstitious, backward Haitian has always been a part of the political scapegoating in Dom. Rep., but why has it escalated to the point of an all out Haitian purge?  Joining us live in studio will be  Celso Perez, the author of "We are Dominican" a recent Human Rights Watch Report on the situation in the Dominican Republic;  Serge Bellegarde, Haitian born interpreter/translator and retired Organization of American States (OAS) employee; Marie Hitchens, Haitian born business owner residing in Jamaica; Azolin Jean Baptiste, who has extensive experience working on the Dom. Rep./Haiti relationships; and  Alfredo Oguisten, a Haitian-Dominican who has been affected by the denationalization process in the Dominican Republic.

Come join the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday, June 28th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) for our first joint broadcast with our fellow Caribbean skeptics the Haitian Freethinkers Show. You don't want to miss this episode as both sets of radio hosts tackle the challenges and opportunities for skepticism and freethinking in the Caribbean region.  Also in this episode, we explore this issue of "forgiveness" in the wake of the church shooting in South Carolina. Can forgiveness legitimately come so quickly after such an atrocity, or was it done just so that members of the African American community can head back to genuflecting in church? Be sure to tune in for this Yardie Skeptics first!  To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in and share your views live on air or interact with other listeners in the live chatroom.  Be sure to like our new Facebook page Yardie Skeptics Network!

The Yardie Skeptics are back next Sunday, June 21st at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to revisit one of the bloodiest masacres in recent Jamaican history - the Tivoli Gardens incursion of May 2010, and the subsequent commission of inquiry established to investigate the operations of the security forces. What, if anything, has the commission unearthed to date? And will the security forces be held accountable for the innocent lives which were mowed down on that fateful day?

The Yardie Skeptics are back this Sunday, June 7th, 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to tackle and ongoing and sensitive issue affecting Jamaica - the protection and well being of our children. Have we as a nation completely failed our children? Are we more concerned about keeping children safe from sexual education than we are about keeping them safe from sexual predators? Will marching down the road with cardboard placards change this?  Live in studio will be none other than the incomparable Dr. Michael Abrahams, OBGYN, poet, humorist, and human rights advocate. Dr. Abrahams recently started the social media campaign "Protect Our Children" which produced a march to promote the protection of children recently in Kingston. What is at the heart of this persistent issue? And can social media campaigns have any real impact on this problem?

Season 3 Premiere: In our season premier, we introduce to you co-editors Shakirah Bourne and Juliette Maughan who compiled the scintillating anthology "Senseisha: Memoirs of the Caribbean Woman." Come join us in the boudoir as the authors talk about the insemination, gestation, and birth of this anthology which explores the experiences of Caribbean women through the lens of the sensual. We're bound to break both taboos and hymens this Sunday!

  The Yardie Skeptics are back this Sunday, September 28th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) for one last hoorah as we bring a close to Season 2! Come join us as we review season 2 and share your ideas and comments for topics you'd like to see in season 3. Come join the party and hang with your favourite skeptics. Early in the show we re-invite Christina Fenton, lecturer in the Faculty of Liberal Studies at UTech Jamaica and intern at the Bellevue Hospital to talk about Mental Health Awareness Day. Why do we need such a day and how comes no one knows about it? Later in the broadcast we link up with Kenroy Davis, Jamaican journalist and teacher, to hear his reasons for supporting school devotions. Yep, the season finale is a mixed bag of delights, so we're looking forward to hearing from you.  Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"   

The Yardie Skeptics return this Sunday, September 21st at 12:30pm (11:30am Jamaican time) for our penultimate episode in season 2 as we explore the vast range of issues experienced by Diasporic Jamaicans. Why is there still ongoing tension between persons who live inside Jamaica who see themselves as "authentically" Jamaican, and Jamaicans living in the Diaspora who are constantly accused of being "deserters?" Diaspora members keep the economy afloat with a steady flow of foreign currency via remittances, but are scoffed at if the possibility of a Diasporic vote is ever mentioned. Local Jamaicans are the ones who have to deal with the every day realities and hardships of life at home and are tired of being chided as backward and archaic by Diasporic Jamaicans.  Can there be any reconciliation? Is it possible to harness the collective energy of each and every person who identifies themself as Jamaican regardless of geographical location?  Tune in as the Yardie Skeptics go on a guided tour of Diaspora issues with our special guest Rain Jarrett, adjunct professor of sociology at Florida International University. Wherever you are, if you call yourself a "Yardie" we want to hear from you!

Fresh into the new school year, the Yardie Skeptics return this Sunday, September 14 at 12:30 pm EDT (11:3 0am Jamaica time) to ask the question, are we devoting too much time to "average" students? Average students go on to produce average results and then leave school and become average employees, striving, as it were, for mediocrity and never pushing the boundaries. Why invest this inordinate amount of time with the "averages" while ignoring the gifted and talented prodigies? Our special guest, general manager at FYAH 105FM, Ronald Sutherland, believes that too much time is given to average students with not enough time spent nurturing gifted students. Sutherland suggests that the environment in the Jamaican education system is "hostile to excellence" - filled with students who lack enthusiasm for learning and teachers who end up in the vocation as a last resort. And all the while, the geniuses suffer. Does Sutherland have a point, or is this a complete miscalculation of how the education system operates?  To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Join the discussion in the live chatroom and ask questions and offer comments or call in during the show to interact with the hosts and guest.  Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" 

"I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings what an alteration there would be if they were brought under Anglo-Saxon influence, look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominions gives." - Cecil Rhodes, 1902 (extract from last will and testament) The Yardie Skeptics turn their attention to the most prestigious international scholarship - the Rhodes Scholarship - this Sunday, August 31st at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) to ask the unthinkable; is it time to abandon the Rhodes Scholarship? The endowment for this scholarship comes directly from the exploitative venture of Rhode's mining company in South Africa, where it was well known that Rhodes fully supported British imperialism on account of inherent white supremacy. Why is it then that this scholarship is so celebrated given it's very dark history? Should scholars from former British colonies turn down these scholarships in the future out of respect, or should they accept and convert the proceeds into a force for positive change?  You don't want to miss this episode as we are joined in studio by Rhodes Scholar, and former selection committee member, Dr. David McBean. To listen to this episode live, or catch the uploaded version afterwards, simply click the link below. Join the live chatroom to to ask questions and share your comments or call in via Skype to talk to the hosts.  Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics

Have the Yardie Skeptics gone completely mad? Why do they want to take their heathen wagon and steamroll the Christian connection with Jamaica's national symbols? The national anthem, a prayer from start to finish, and the national pledge, said "before God", both demonstrate how Christianity has co-opted Jamaica's national symbols, and the Yardie Skeptics have those symbols in their sights!  Is it time to consider national symbols which truly reflect the faith diversity in Jamaica? Or are there more pressing areas for secularization before turning attention to songs and pledges? Join the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday, August 24th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) as we dissect the issues at stake. Joining us live in studio will be Dr. Anna Perkins, Catholic theologian.  At the start of the show, during the grab bag segment, we talk to Renee-Lauren Ellis and Lisa Soares, organizers of the recently concluded Caribbean Youth Summit in Philadelphia to get a report on the issues being tackled by Caribbean youth as it relates to identity, gender, and sexuality among other concerns.  To listen to this episode live, or catch the uploaded version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in via Skype or participate in the live chatroom to share your comments and ask questions.  Yardie Skeptics Radio  "The Home of the Ackee of Rationality and the Saltfish of Skepticism"  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics?

The Yardie Skeptics are roaring back from their two week mid-season break with the usual provocative topics served up by the ineffable Fire Breather and Cool Dude! This Sunday, August 17th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) the Skeptics are back to tackle the contentious issue of gender equality in the post independence era. How far have we come as a society in ensuring that women and men operate on a level playing field? Are women poised to finally receive equal treatment in all aspects of Jamaican life, or is there a push to hearken back to the "good old days" when women "knew their place?" Be sure to check it out! As if that wasn't enough, earlier in the show we catch up with the newest public atheist on the block, Keiran King, and ask him about his recent Gleaner article which declares there is no transcendent meaning to life. And for desert, we examine the curious suggestion by government minister Damion Crawford that Jamaica's problems are due to a decrease in the fear of God. Does he have a point, or is this the usual bullshit we've come to expect from elected representatives? Oh yeah, we're back alright! To listen to this episode live or catch the uploaded version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in via Skype or participate in the live chatroom to share your views and ask questions. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism!"

The Yardie Skeptics close off their series on "Changes and Transitions" this Sunday, July 27th at 12:30pm (11:30am Jamaica time) by turning the lens on YOU our loyal supporters. This Sunday we'll have a Listening to Our Listeners segment where we want you to call in and tell us about the kinds of changes and transitions happening with you and/or the kinds of changes and transitions you'd like to see for yourselves and your country. With all that's going on in the world these days, we sure could use some changes if not full scale upheavals.  Halfway through the show, we'll connect with psychology graduate and intern Christina Fenton who will engage with the Yardie Skeptics on the topic of mental health stigma and the methods we can use to gradually change attitudes on this matter.  To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply go to the link below. Join the live chatroom on the day of the interview to share your views and ask questions.  Yardie Skeptics "The home of the the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics

What happens to someone, especially from a very religious community from the Caribbean, when they finally find the courage to boldly declare that they're atheist? Is there any way they can prepare for the potential fall out from family and community? Are Caribbean atheists destined to be relegated to the category of social pariahs or will they be able to stand boldly in the light of reason and assert their non-belief? The Yardie Skeptics continue their changes and transitions theme on Sunday, July 20th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) as we consider the potential implications of coming out atheist. Joining us live in studio will be Ferlin Pedro, Guyanese national and founder of the Guyana Secular Movement, as well as members from his group. What has the experience been like for Ferlin when he came out to his family in the deeply religious country of Guyana? And how has he progressed since then?  In the first half of the show we'll conclude our interview with author, poet, and Brooklyn based educator Mo Beasley on the subject of "Religion, Sexuality and Spirituality in the African American Community."   Tune in and catch this revealing episode! To listen live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Join the discussion in the live chatroom where you can share your views and aske questions, or call in live and interact with your guests on air.  Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics

Join the Yadie Skeptics this Sunday, July 13th at 12:30pm as we begin our "changes and transitions" episodes for the remainder of July starting off with a discussion of the social and psychological implications of transitioning from one gender to the next. Joining us live in studio will be Alexa Hoffman, Barbadian national who underwent an mtf (male-to-female) gender reassignment.  What has been the overall experience of Alexa, and how does she cope with the stigma and confusion meted out to trans persons even sometimes by the wider LGBT community?  Earlier in the program, in our grab bag session, we talk with Dr. Tonya Haynes and Dr. Angela Nixon about their article, "No Science is Neutral" on the controversial Prof. Bain affidavit http://groundationgrenada.com/2014/07/01/no-science-is-neutral-a-long-hard-look-at-bains-affidavit-and-the-aftermath/ To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, click the link below. Feel free to log into the live chatroom and leave your comments and questions.  Yardie Skeptics Radio "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"

"I may be bad, but I'm totally good at it, Sex in the air and I like the smell of it,  Stick and stones may break my bones,  But chains and whips excite me!"  - Rihanna, S&M Returning hot and bothered from last week's episode, Sex Ed 101, the Yardie Skeptics are heading back to into the classroom this Sunday, June 6th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) this time undertaking a comprehensive sex education for one and all. What exactly is age appropriate education and what should the content look like? Are children expected to have one "talk" with their parents, or should this be an ongoing discussion into adolescence? And what does a proficient sex IQ look like for adults?  Tune into the Yardie Skeptics Radio for this timely discussion. As Jamaicans at home are still up in arms about the recent "inappropriateness" of a sex education manual used in state run children's homes, what are the standards for sex education found around the globe? You don't want to miss this episode as we go for high honours and graduate cum laude from "University Erotica!" To listen to this episode live, or access the archived version, simply click the link below. Log into the live chatroom and leave your questions or comments for the hosts. Yardie Skeptics Radio  "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics

The Yardie Skeptics close off our month long focus on men and masculinity this Sunday, June 29th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) with a no holds barred discussion of Sex Ed! Are Jamaican men sufficiently educated about matters of sex AND sexuality? What should sex education look like in modern societies today? Do men experience sexual insecurity? Is religious conservatism a help or hindrance to accurate and comprehensive sex education? Come jam with the Yardie Skeptics this Sunday as the men sit in the classroom and get schooled by the women! Special guests live in studio are Dr. Karen Carpenter, clinical psychologist and certified sexologist, and Shaneka MzNice Harris, who declares herself to be an adventurous "sexplorer." And we want to hear from YOU the men out there as well - what are some of the sexual myths and misconceptions you harboured while growing up and how you overcame them. To listen to this episode live, or access the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Feel free to call in via the guest phone number of through Skype (free of charge), or share your views in the live chatroom. Yardie Skeptics Radio episodes are available in the iTunes store or from any podcasting app on Android.  Yardie Skeptics Radio  "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics

Real Men Don't Cry: Interrogating matters of depression, abuse and stress in men and boys: Specia guest -Dr. Tammy Haynes, Jamaican clinical psychologist/neuro-psychologist.   This show is hosted by two of Jamaica's most outspoken secular humanists - Clive Forrester, linguist and professor at York University in Toronto, and Hilaire Sobers, human rights lawyer in Washington DC. We have spent copious amounts of time debating with and challening the notion that Christian privelege should proceed unchecked in Jamaica, and have successfully managed to rally a group of other secularists to collaborate on a publication (forthcoming 2013). This radio show provides a medium in which skeptics can discuss matters of science, critical thinking, religious imposition, and the seperation of church and state all from a Jamaican perspective, but playing close attention to the interconnectedness on the global landscape. Tune in as we tackle the big questions each and every Sunday at 12:30EST (1:30PM Jamaican time) - lively banter, music and trivia, probing questions... we are Yardie Skeptics. 

Fatherhood, Masculinity and Religion: Must fathers ascribe to the idea of divine male leadership? Guests: Dr. Peter Weller, Owen "Blacka" EllisTune in as we tackle the big questions each and every Sunday at 12:30EDT (11:30am Jamaican time) - lively banter, music and trivia, probing questions... we are Yardie Skeptics. 

  "You see man made the cars To take us over the road Man made the train To carry the heavy load Man made the electric light To take us out of the dark Man made the boat for the water Like Noah made the ark" - James Brown, "It's a Man's World"  Well, so what? Is this really a man's world? Is there something inherently unique about masculinity which promotes innovation in science, technology, and commerce or was it because the "other gender" was strategically excluded from such opportunities? Is there a gender specific role for men in society, and if so, who determines this? Are men now truthfully experiencing a systemic institutionalized marginalization or is this charge of marginalization pointless bellyaching as society moves towards gender equality?  The Yardie Skeptics will be continuing their month long examination of masculinity this Sunday, June 8th at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am Jamaica time) as we ask the question, is it a man's world? Tune in and be a part of this timely and relevant discussion! To listen to this episode live, or catch the archived version afterwards, simply click the link below. Call in via the guest number or via Skype (free of charge) or log into the live chatroom to ask questions and post comments.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yardieskeptics Yardie Skeptics Radio  "The home of the ackee of rationality and the saltfish of skepticism"?