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Skeptic and debunker Susan Gerbic joins the show to talk about celebrity psychics who prey on the grieving and vulnerable. Her team has spent years exposing these "grief vampires," and we discuss.http://www.abouttimeproject.orgVIDEO of this conversation: https://youtu.be/gEVcnhnoY7g
This week on RfRx, we will be continuing the conversation about psychic mediums with Susan Gerbic. A skeptic activist, Susan spent the last two years battling “Grief Vampires” during lockdown. She will explain how grief vampires took advantage of online resources and why we should, too. Susan will also discuss her work on Wikipedia fighting against the nonsense and the battle to stay in the game. Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the founder of Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW), Monterey County Skeptics and is a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. A Skeptical Inquirer contributor Gerbic is a fellow of CSI and winner of the James Randi Foundation award for 2017. In 2018, Susan founded and now manages About Time, a non-profit organization focusing on scientific skepticism and activism. While her particular focus has been “Grief Vampires” (psychics), her activism encompasses all areas of skepticism. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/recovering-from-religion/message
The February 2019 New York Times Magazine reported on Susan Gerbic and her team's successful work exposing psychic medium Thomas John in a sting called Operation Pizza Roll. Throughout the pandemic Gerbic's team (Guerilla Skeptics) researched and exposed multiple mediums operating on Zoom using hot and cold reading to appear to be in communication with the dead; this series of reports was called Operation Lemon Meringue. In April 2021, medium Thomas John scheduled an 8-person Spirit Circle for children ages 5–12, charging $400 per reading. After trying unsuccessfully to get the Spirit Circle cancelled, the Guerilla Skeptics decided to attend and report back on the event. Susan will be discussing what happened in Operation Onion Ring and how they say they once again caught "grief vampire" Thomas John. For more information on the work the Guerilla Skeptics have done concerning various "grief vampires," visit their website. About the Speaker Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the founder of Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) and the Monterey County Skeptics, and is a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. A Skeptical Inquirer contributor Gerbic is a fellow of CSI and winner of the James Randi Foundation award for 2017. In 2018, Susan founded and manages About Time, a nonprofit organization focusing on scientific skepticism and activism. While her particular focus has been “Grief Vampires” (psychics), her activism encompasses all areas of skepticism. You can find out more at AboutTimeProject.org. MLF ORGANIZER Patrick O'Reilly NOTES MLF: Psychology SPEAKERS Susan Gerbic Founder, Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW); Founder, Monterey County Skeptics; Founder and Manager, About Time Patrick O'Reilly Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist; Chair, Psychology Member-Led Forum, The Commonwealth Club of California—Moderator In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on January 10th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The February 2019 New York Times Magazine reported on Susan Gerbic and her team's successful work exposing psychic medium Thomas John in a sting called Operation Pizza Roll. Throughout the pandemic Gerbic's team (Guerilla Skeptics) researched and exposed multiple mediums operating on Zoom using hot and cold reading to appear to be in communication with the dead; this series of reports was called Operation Lemon Meringue. In April 2021, medium Thomas John scheduled an 8-person Spirit Circle for children ages 5–12, charging $400 per reading. After trying unsuccessfully to get the Spirit Circle cancelled, the Guerilla Skeptics decided to attend and report back on the event. Susan will be discussing what happened in Operation Onion Ring and how they say they once again caught "grief vampire" Thomas John. For more information on the work the Guerilla Skeptics have done concerning various "grief vampires," visit their website. About the Speaker Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the founder of Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) and the Monterey County Skeptics, and is a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. A Skeptical Inquirer contributor Gerbic is a fellow of CSI and winner of the James Randi Foundation award for 2017. In 2018, Susan founded and manages About Time, a nonprofit organization focusing on scientific skepticism and activism. While her particular focus has been “Grief Vampires” (psychics), her activism encompasses all areas of skepticism. You can find out more at AboutTimeProject.org. MLF ORGANIZER Patrick O'Reilly NOTES MLF: Psychology SPEAKERS Susan Gerbic Founder, Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW); Founder, Monterey County Skeptics; Founder and Manager, About Time Patrick O'Reilly Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist; Chair, Psychology Member-Led Forum, The Commonwealth Club of California—Moderator In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded via video conference on January 10th, 2021 by the Commonwealth Club of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello everyone. Don, Shawn and Eric welcomes you to our podcast. We are professionals that have come together to talk about aspects of life from the viewpoint of living with a disability. If you are a person with a disability, caregiver, family member or someone who is interested to learn about the life's of people living with a disability, than this channel if for you. We talk with special guest Gabriel Gerbic Let us know what you think about this by leaving a comment. SUBSCRIBE. Resources at AZSICA: https://www.azspinal.org/ Shawn's business website: http://rollonrehab.com/ If you would like to talk to Gabe than please email him at: painless@cox.net
0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:51 VAXXED Bus Banned Blue Mountains City Council - Matter of Urgency - That the Council now considers a matter arising in relation to NSW Heath order and Council bookings by VAXXED Bus tour that has been ruled by the Mayor to be a matter of great urgency. https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/2020-07-28-council-meeting-unconfirmed-minutes 0:10:30 Australian Skeptics Newsletter Highlights from the recent newsletter from Australian Skeptics. Find out what's going on around the skeptical world and especially right here in Australia. https://www.skeptics.com.au 0:19:47 Participating in the Predictions Project Ease drop in on the very first meeting of the international prediction project participation partnership program. An interesting look into how to score and mark the homework of so-called psychics and mystics. With Richard Saunders and skeptics from all over the United States. Follow Susan Gerbic on Facebook for details of Prediction Project Zoom meetings. https://www.facebook.com/Gerbic 0:33:45 Typewriter Time A very short trip to another planet. 0:36:35 Ghost in a Box Want to talk with dead people? Ari Moore says there's an app for that. It doesn't take much time on YouTube before the video-hosting website's algorithm will automatically recommend a video referring to the paranormal. Hundreds of paranormal investigation channels promote their 'research' on the platform, with larger channels reaching upwards of 1 million subscribers. A recent trend in YouTube paranormal entertainment has content creators using smartphone 'spirit box' apps to communicate with whatever spirits and/or demons are in the vicinity. https://www.skeptics.com.au/the-magazine Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Online https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics Corona Conspiracy - Upload Images https://coronaconspiracy.cloud Skepticon 2020 https://www.skepticon.org.au
On this week's episode of Point of Inquiry, we are thrilled to have friend of the Center for Inquiry, Susan Gerbic to talk about the recent New York Times featured story that detailed Gerbic and her team's work exposing celebrity psychics. Kavin Senapathy and Gerbic also explore why exposing fake psychics and mediums is important, the methodologies Gerbic and her team employ in these kinds of sting operations, how psychics performed hot reads before the days of the internet (and exactly what a hot read is), and the issues that arise from companies giving mediums and psychics platforms. Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project. She is a frequent contributor to Skeptical Inquirer (CSICOP) and Skepticality Podcast. She is the winner of the CSI In the Trenches Award from 2012, James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest 2013. In 2018, Susan founded and manages About Time a non-profit organization focusing on scientific skepticism and activism.
First we chat with Susan Gerbic about the recent buzz surrounding her soon-to-be published expose in the New York Times Magazine, describing the undercover stings she and Mark Edwards have pulled on several prominent psychics, cleverly showing their use of social media in hot readings. Then for our main topic we are joined by filmmaker Erik Kristopher Myers to discuss those original gangsters of ghosthunting, Ed and Lorraine Warren. In this first part (1 of 2), we talk about several of their prominent cases and discuss some background info and their modus operandi.
Encore release October 2, 2018. Encore release June 25, 2017. We interview Susan Gerbic, coordinator of Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia, an international team of writers and editors whose goal is to ensure that skeptical topics on Wikipedia are fair, accurate, and have the level of detail they deserve. Those interested in participating should befriend Susan on Facebook. Plus: Herbert and Catherine Schaible have been on probation for the last two years for relying on prayer rather than medical care, resulting in the death of their young son from pneumonia in 2009. Now they're back in court after another son--this one an 8-month-old--died in agony from diarrhea. At home. While his parents prayed. Amazingly, the worst these callous nutjobs could get is 10 years in prison. In sports-related news, basketball pro Jason Collins becomes the first active player in the four major American sports leagues to come out of the closet. Most applaud his historic action, but a few have voiced (inevitably religiously-based) criticism. And Tim Tebow might be painting Bible verses on his cheeks and kneeling dramatically from the sidelines next season--the Jets have let him go. Finally, the Baseball Bat of Doubt swings into action once again.
Susan Gerbic spent her career photographing babies at a department store in Salinas, California, just 100 miles south of San Francisco. Today, the retired 55-year-old has dedicated her life to something entirely different: Wikipedia. As a member of the skeptical movement, Gerbic is committed to promoting critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and empirical evidence—particularly when it comes to fringe ideas.
QUICK NOTE: The online recording software we used for Matt's interview did something wonky to our audio for a moment. Pascual spent the last few hours making it sound better (believe us, it sounded worse) and we think it's good enough for the few short questions that it affects. Thank you for bearing with us on this. This week, the boys bring Susan Gerbic in to chat about all things skeptical, but most importantly, her organization "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia", a great group of people whose mission is to improve skeptical content on Wikipedia. But first, we have a fun conversation about "The Condom Challenge" with friend of the show Matt "The Tube" Crowley. You may know him from the Jim Rose Circus and might have caught him on Lollapalooza in the early 90s (as one of our hosts may or may not have). Matt Crowley with Jim Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Pt3eaRusA Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia: https://www.facebook.com/GSoWproject/
This week Derek has a conversation with Sheldon Helms, a member of the Bay Area Skeptics, and one of the people involved with Operation Bumblebee, a scouting operation put together by Susan Gerbic to go to one of the big events put on by Chip Coffey, a self described psychic. Sheldon provides some details about his involvement in the operation, and how two teams of skeptics worked to put together a fairly detailed event.