Podcasts about skeptical

Questioning attitude or doubt towards one or more items of putative knowledge or belief

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Serious Inquiries Only
SIO517: How Is It That 9 Days in Space Means Weeks of Rehabilitation?

Serious Inquiries Only

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 64:22


Thomas is joined by Dr. Jenessa Seymour to dig into the brain science behind a surprisingly strange phenomenon: why do astronauts who spent just nine days in space need weeks of physical therapy to walk normally again? The answer turns out to involve ancient calcium carbonate ear stones, the same material crabs use for shells, a multi-layered sensory system your brain is constantly running without your knowledge, and a wild evolutionary theory about why motion sickness exists at all. Also: why pilots fly perfectly good planes directly into the ground, and what deaf NASA research participants revealed about how proprioception actually works. Come see me at SkeptiCal! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please support the show on Patreon! You get ad-free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/seriouspod

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1340: ZYNs | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2026 61:31


Are ZYNs gas-station Ozempic or a dopamine loan shark? Nick Pell digs into the nicotine pouch boom this Skeptical Sunday — and the verdict is messy.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1340On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:ZYNs are a tobacco-free nicotine pouch born from Swedish "snus." Swedish Match engineers extracted nicotine salts and loaded them into food-grade fillers, creating a shelf-stable white pouch that doesn't stain teeth or require spitting. Philip Morris bought the company for $16 billion in 2022.The harm-reduction case is strong, but "less harmful" isn't "harmless." ZYNs skip the carbon monoxide, tar, and lung damage of cigarettes, and carry roughly 90 — 99% lower carcinogens. But they still raise heart rate and blood pressure, can cause gum recession, disrupt sleep, and remain wildly addictive.The user base skews young, male, and white. Men are 88% of the market, and the 19-30 bracket is fastest-growing, with use doubling in 2024-2025. Adoption is concentrated in white, high-income, urban circles like tech, law, and finance where smoking is socially radioactive.Nicotine has real cognitive perks — with a catch. A meta-analysis of 41 studies found genuine gains in alertness, reaction time, and focus, plus appetite suppression ("gas station Ozempic"). The catch: for addicts, these benefits mostly just return you to baseline rather than lifting you above it.If you already smoke, switching is a genuine win you can act on today. For a smoker, trading cigarettes for pouches is described as "trading a motorcycle for a minivan" — vastly less likely to kill you. Harm reduction beats abstinence-only, since switchers are twice as likely to stay off cigarettes as those using gum or lozenges.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:SimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comProfile Guru: 50% off through June: MyProfileGuru.com, code JordanJune50AT&T: Get an iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CNN Tonight
Key GOP Senators Skeptical as Trump Eyes Blanche for AG

CNN Tonight

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 48:02


Todd Blanche is facing new hurdles as the president prepares to nominate him for attorney general. Did Pam Bondi just hurt his chances?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Future of Work With Jacob Morgan
Why Hybrid Work Is Breaking Down and Why Anthropic's AI Warning Should Make You Skeptical

The Future of Work With Jacob Morgan

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 39:22


June 5, 2026: Two stories today. First: hybrid work's approval ratings are climbing — but new research finds half of its believers quietly defected over three years. There's a name for what's breaking it, and most organizations haven't seen it yet. Second: Anthropic dropped internal data showing AI is writing 80 percent of its own code and outperforming human researchers on their own turf. The numbers are real — but so is the question of who's really behind the warning. One week after closing a $965 billion valuation and four days after filing for an IPO, Anthropic is calling for AI governance and oversight. That might be genuine concern. It might also be regulatory capture — the oldest playbook in business, where the most powerful incumbent shapes the rules in ways that lock out everyone coming up behind them.

Radio Boston
Rep. Lori Trahan is working across the aisle on AI regulation. Some in her party are skeptical

Radio Boston

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 4:52


Trahan joins WBUR's Morning Edition to respond to criticism from some Democrats and advocacy groups that the bill would fail to rein in AI companies.

21 Hats Podcast
‘I'm Skeptical AI Is Going to Help Us'

21 Hats Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 48:31


This week, we explore some contrasting opinions about artificial intelligence. Paul Downs has serious doubts that AI will ever have a significant impact on his business. Paul, who builds custom conference tables, says his business depends on something AI still lacks: real world experience. While AI can generate impressive images and concepts, he argues that it has no understanding of manufacturing constraints, material properties, production processes, or the capabilities of the people and machines that have to bring an idea to life. “An image of a thing that looks cool is not a design,” Paul says. “A design is a set of information that's informed by intelligence and experience.”Ted Wolf, who helps companies implement AI, agrees that AI can't replace the collective creativity and judgment of skilled people. But he believes Paul may be looking at the problem too broadly. Instead of asking whether AI can design and build custom furniture, Ted suggests breaking the workflow into smaller pieces and experimenting with targeted applications. “You know your business better than anybody else,” Ted tells Paul. “But don't look at the big picture and think that's the entire thing. There are many small pieces that people can start doing today.”The result is a thoughtful debate about one of the biggest questions facing small business owners: Is AI going to change everything, or are there businesses where human expertise will remain irreplaceable?Plus: Channon Kennedy shares what she learned from participating in a Goldman Sachs program for Black women entrepreneurs. And the owners discuss what debt can—and cannot—do for a business: “Funding does not fix a broken business model. It makes it die faster.”

TechTimeRadio
301: Tech Risks Take Center Stage as We Talk DNA Privacy Breaches, Unstoppable Smart‑City Cameras, AI‑Driven Hardware Strain, Wild Research Claims, and Space‑Tech Realities. We Provide Practical Insight and Skeptical Humor | Air Date: 6/2–6/8/26

TechTimeRadio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 55:21 Transcription Available


Episode 301: This week's episode dives into the tech stories that should keep you up at night. We start with the chilling reality of the 23andMe breach—proof that your genetic code, the one thing you can never change, can be stolen, sorted, and sold to the highest bidder. Then we move to smart‑city surveillance gone rogue, where police camera networks keep recording even after the city tries to shut them down, leaving officials resorting to trash bags and tape while the data quietly flows elsewhere. Add in AI-driven hardware shortages now hitting consumer devices, and the picture gets even more unsettling.But the unease doesn't stop there. We tease emerging tech that blurs the line between science and science fiction: Wi‑Fi systems that can identify you through walls, living neuron computers that learn, and AI models struggling to admit what they don't know. Finally, we ground it all with a space‑tech reality check—from Blue Origin delays to SpaceX's crypto holdings—reminding listeners that even the companies shaping the future aren't immune to chaos. If you want the stories that reveal how fragile our digital world really is, this is the episode you don't skip all coming up on TechTime Radio, with a little whiskey on the side.-- Full Episode Details:Your genetic code is now a commodity, and the scariest part is you can't cancel it, replace it, or reset it like a password. We open with the 23andMe breach and lawsuit, unpacking how credential stuffing can unlock deeply personal genetic data, why DNA privacy is permanent, and what it means when stolen data can be resold and targeted by group. If you've ever wondered whether consumer DNA testing is worth the risk, we lay out the tradeoffs in plain terms.Then we head straight into smart city surveillance with a story that's equal parts absurd and alarming: police camera networks that can't be shut off by the city that paid for them. When officials learn data is being shared beyond local law enforcement, the “solution” becomes literal black trash bags over the lenses. It's funny until you realize it exposes a bigger issue in public tech contracts, license plate reader systems, and who truly controls the technology embedded in daily life.We also connect the dots between AI infrastructure and your wallet, using the Steam Deck OLED price hike as a real-world signal of component shortages, supply chain pressure, and AI data centers consuming the same memory and compute ecosystem that powers consumer devices. Along the way, we play Two Truths and a Lie with stories about Wi-Fi based person identification and living neuron biocomputing, then talk AI reliability and the push for models that can finally say “I don't know” instead of hallucinating. We close with a space tech reality check from Blue Origin and a blunt conversation about SpaceX's Bitcoin holdings and why crypto still feels like speculation to a lot of people.If you like tech news that's practical, skeptical, and still fun, subscribe for weekly episodes, share this with a friend who loves debating privacy and AI, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

The Sales Hunter Podcast
5 Proven Ways to Build Trust with Skeptical Buyers

The Sales Hunter Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 12:16


Skepticism is a strength. Join Mark as he reveals how to build trust quickly with even the most doubtful buyers. Discover why handling skepticism upfront transforms resistance into opportunity, and how to use curiosity-driven questions to create real conversations.  This episode teaches on leveraging stories and testimonials at just the right moment, and explores what to do when risk-averse prospects won't budge. Learn how a consultative approach and strategic thinking can turn skepticism into your biggest sales advantage.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1336: Dialysis | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2026 76:46


This Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn explains how dialysis became a $50B industry where under 40% of patients survive five painful years of dependence.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1336On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Dialysis is a life-sustaining external filtration system for the roughly 800,000 Americans in kidney failure — but it's grueling. Most patients endure three to five hours per session, three times a week, indefinitely, and fewer than 40% survive beyond five years.The financial structure is staggering. Dialysis is a $50 billion-a-year US industry, with Medicare spending about $36 billion annually — roughly 7% of its entire budget for under 1% of the population. Two companies, DaVita and Fresenius, control about 70% of all clinics.The system rewards permanence over cure. Since 1972, Medicare has covered kidney failure for everyone regardless of age, creating guaranteed, indefinite revenue. Transplants and home dialysis are cheaper and better for patients, yet under-incentivized because they cost providers customers.The human and safety toll is severe. Infections cause 36% of dialysis deaths, sepsis mortality runs 100 to 300 times higher than average, and understaffing worsens outcomes. Many patients lose their jobs, mobility, and social lives — some choose to stop treatment entirely.The hopeful part: much kidney disease is preventable or delayable, and you have real power here. Manage diabetes and hypertension aggressively, get your kidneys checked with a simple blood and urine test, and see a nephrologist early — catching it sooner can dramatically slow progression.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreCookUnity: 50% off first week: cookunity.com/jordan or code JORDANRevolve Man: 15% off: revolve.com/jordan, code JordanMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing Podcast
Inside the Consumer's Mind: How Buyers Think When Cautious and Skeptical

Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2026 53:21


In this episode, Dan Kennedy and Matt Zagula dive deep into the mindset of the modern consumer, revealing three dominant trends: a spend less mindset, a spend more intelligently mindset, and a demand for more value when spending. They discuss how economic pressures, increased bargain hunting, and the rise of online research have shaped buyer behavior, making trust and personal relevance more critical than ever. Entrepreneurs will learn why creating a unique category of one and selling in a competitive vacuum are essential strategies to protect price and profit. Dan and Matt also share eight practical approaches to succeed with today's consumers, including building extreme trust, identifying buy-now customers while nurturing longer sales timelines, and delivering extraordinary benefits that compel immediate action. They emphasize the importance of authority, celebrity, and exclusivity in differentiating your business and overcoming commoditization. This episode offers actionable marketing wisdom for entrepreneurs aiming to thrive in an environment where buyers are more cautious, skeptical, and selective. MagneticMarketing.com NoBSLetter.com

The European Skeptics Podcast
TheESP – Ep. #533 – Toxic Frogs

The European Skeptics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2026 47:00


Not even June and people are already dying from heatwave in Europe. Skepkon 2026 in Regensburg looks to have been a hit and speaking of conferences – don't forget to plan your trip to ESC Liverpool in October! In TWISH we hear about the man behind the Watchmaker analogy and then it's time for the news:NORWAY / SWEDEN: Assisted death pushed too farUK: Wellness coach dies of frog poisonINTERNATIONAL: Smart phones are promoting populismGERMANY: Historical cryptozoological find has been elegantly debunkedA bunch of AI LLMs mislead voters before the Scottish election this month, and for that they share the Award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-533.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:08:36 TWISH0:20:26 News0:39:06 Really Wrong0:43:13 Quote0:44:48 Outro0:46:11 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You Better You Bet
Nick is Skeptical on the Washington Commanders

You Better You Bet

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 6:24


Nick wraps up the second hour explaining why he's skeptical on the Washington Commanders heading into the season.

House Therapy
Skeptical about Feng Shui…Start Here

House Therapy

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 14:33


Most people don't come to shui because everything in their lives is going well. Usually, it's because something feels…off. That is the starting point for most of my clients.   RESOURCES:   sign up | the 5 Chinese Elements (live class) / May 27th at 11 am CT   follow along | Instagram subscribe to my newsletter | simpleshui.com buy the book | Simple Shui for Every Day: 365 Ways to Feng Shui Your Life explore more | *The Simple Shui Course*

John Williams
Eric Zorn: Skeptical that megaprojects bill will pass

John Williams

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026


Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about why people care so much about their local sports teams, the Chicago Teachers Union members voting down an effort to raise union dues to pay for political campaigns, and the latest on the Texas primary between Texas AG Ken Paxton and Sen. John […]

WGN - The John Williams Full Show Podcast
Eric Zorn: Skeptical that megaprojects bill will pass

WGN - The John Williams Full Show Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026


Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about why people care so much about their local sports teams, the Chicago Teachers Union members voting down an effort to raise union dues to pay for political campaigns, and the latest on the Texas primary between Texas AG Ken Paxton and Sen. John […]

WGN - The John Williams Uncut Podcast
Eric Zorn: Skeptical that megaprojects bill will pass

WGN - The John Williams Uncut Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026


Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about why people care so much about their local sports teams, the Chicago Teachers Union members voting down an effort to raise union dues to pay for political campaigns, and the latest on the Texas primary between Texas AG Ken Paxton and Sen. John […]

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1332: Screen Time | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2026 80:38


Screens are rewiring teen brains and torching their happiness. Michael Regilio cuts through the glare to explain what's really at stake on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1332On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The fear of new technology is ancient and remarkably repetitive. Critics warned the telephone, the printing press, even writing itself would rot brains and shred social bonds. Today's smartphone panic is the latest verse in a very old song, though experts insist this time the data is louder.The "U-shaped" happiness curve — high in youth, dipping in midlife, rising again after fifty — has held steady across cultures for decades. But around 2014, right as every teenager got a smartphone, that youthful high point collapsed, and researchers like David Blanchflower are sounding alarms.Big Tech isn't accidentally addictive — it's engineered that way. Frameworks like the Fogg Behavior Model power infinite scroll, autoplay, and notification floods designed to exploit adolescent cravings for status and novelty. Reed Hastings admitted Netflix's real competitors are sleep and human connection.Internal documents from Meta and Alphabet lawsuits revealed the ugly truth: companies knew their platforms harmed teen girls and deliberately targeted users as young as 11. One memo read, "If we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens" — exploiting developing prefrontal cortexes by design.Screens aren't the devil — how we use them is what matters. Play video games with your kids, FaceTime grandma, keep phones away from babies, and set lights-out rules at night. The best screen time report might be a screen-down report: what did you do with your one short life while you weren't scrolling?Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Michael Regilio at Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube, and check out War Bar, his comedy special!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreRidge Wallet: Get 10% off with code JORDANSimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The European Skeptics Podcast
TheESP – Ep. #532 – Of Scurvy and Science

The European Skeptics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 50:41


With the return of a super-El Niño it may be a hot year and in TWISH we hear about James Lind‘s famous scurvy experiment from 1747. Then we have the news:INTERNATIONAL: Antidepressants in pregnancy do not raise children's risk of autism or ADHDBELGIUM / DENMARK: Attempted control and recommendations regarding meat consumption spark disinformation campaignsINTERNATIONAL: Hantavirus myths and factsUK: Halley's comet named after the wrong person?Swedish influencer Katrin Zytomierska claims her olive oil prevents cancer and for that she receives this week's award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-532.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:00 TWISH0:19:26 News0:40:15 Really Wrong0:43:31 Quote0:48:09 Outro0:49:31 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrestling Mindset
PA State Champ Chase Randolph - Wrestling Mindset Success Story

Wrestling Mindset

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 14:32


Gene Zannetti talks with Pennsylvania state champion Chase Randolph about winning his first state title and then the US Open freestyle championship just weeks later, how mindset training helped him stop losing to kids he should beat and start beating kids he never beat before, why surrendering the result and focusing only on effort and attitude made him feel free on the mat, and how he wrestled 12 matches in two days at the US Open after losing first round in Greco then flipping the switch to win freestyle.Timestamps:1:13 - Skeptical of mindset training at first2:20 - Felt a lot more free at Kids Focused on Nationals2:36 - Surrender the result and focus on what you control4:12 - Wrestling for myself, not caring what people think5:08 - Trusting his mindset coach's knowledge and experience9:03 - Losing first round in Greco then winning six straight in freestyle11:45 - Finding the good in every day and fixing weaknesses

AP Audio Stories
South Carolina House backs congressional map favoring GOP but bill faces a more skeptical Senate

AP Audio Stories

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 0:38


AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the South Carolina House backs a congressional map favoring the GOP.

Apartment Building Investing with Michael Blank Podcast
MB524: Easy Money and Skeptical Investors: Raising Millions in Today's Market - With Bronson Hill

Apartment Building Investing with Michael Blank Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 40:58


In this episode, Michael Blank sits down with veteran capital raiser Bronson Hill to unpack what's really happening in today's alternative investment landscape—and how investors should respond. After years of easy money, rapid appreciation, and aggressive multifamily growth, the market has shifted dramatically. Bronson shares candid lessons from raising over $55 million across multifamily, debt funds, oil & gas, mobile home parks, and private equity, while discussing the painful realities many operators and investors have faced over the last few years. Together, they explore market cycles, investor psychology, diversification, risk-adjusted returns, AI-driven due diligence, and why today's challenging environment may actually create the best buying opportunities of the next decade. This is a masterclass in navigating uncertainty while staying focused on long-term financial freedom.Key TakeawaysThe Best Investment Opportunities Often Appear During Fearful Markets Historically, the strongest deals emerge when investors are hesitant, cautious, and sitting on the sidelines—not when everyone is rushing in.Market Cycles Matter More Than Most Investors Realize Understanding when to buy, hold, pause, or sell within an asset class is critical to long-term success and capital preservation.Diversification Can Help Investors Weather Volatility Exploring non-correlated assets like debt funds, precious metals, oil & gas, or private equity can create stability during turbulent market cycles.Cash Flow Is King in Today's Environment Investors are prioritizing assets that generate immediate or near-term cash flow over speculative appreciation plays.Great Operators Communicate During Difficult Times Strong communication, transparency, and accountability matter even more than perfect track records when navigating challenging investments.AI Is Becoming a Powerful Tool for Investor Due Diligence Investors can now use AI tools to analyze deals, uncover risks, generate questions, and align opportunities with their personal financial goals faster than ever before.Connect with MichaelFacebookInstagramYouTubeTikTokResourcesTheFreedomPodcast.com Access the #1 FREE Apartment Investing Course (Apartments 101)Schedule a Free Strategy Session with Michael's Team of AdvisorsExplore Michael's Mentoring ProgramJoin the Nighthawk Equity Investor ClubReview the Podcast on Apple PodcastsSyndicated Deal AnalyzerGet the Book, Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session524/

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1329: Psychic Detectives | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2026 61:10


Psychics keep wedging themselves into police cases — and grieving families pay the price. Nick Pell explains the grift on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1329On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Psychic detective work traces back to 19th-century spiritualism, which surged after the Civil War and WWI as a grief-coping mechanism — part therapy, part pop religion, part proto-reality TV. The post-WWII pulp era rebranded it as "science," birthing the modern psychic detective archetype.The genre's most-cited "successes" — Etta Smith in the Melanie Uribe case, Dorothy Allison on the John List murders, and Noreen Renier's many TV appearances — all collapse under scrutiny. Police never credited any of them with usable leads, and Allison reportedly tried to bribe cops to vouch for her.Sylvia Browne is the cautionary tale that turns this from harmless grift into genuine harm. She told Amanda Berry's mother her daughter was dead in 2004 — Amanda was alive, held captive in Cleveland until 2013. Mom died never knowing. Browne botched the Shawn Hornbeck case too.Four mechanisms explain every "psychic solved it" story: confirmation bias (remembering hits, forgetting misses), post-hoc reasoning (vague claims retrofitted to fit), emotional vulnerability of grieving families, and Barnum statements — deliberately vague phrases like "I see water" that let your brain fill in the blanks.Real cases get cracked by forensic evidence, behavioral profiling, and community tip lines — the unsexy, methodical work that rarely makes headlines. Families seeking closure are better served by counseling and victim support than by false hope, and learning to spot the four tells above makes anyone a sharper media consumer.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreSimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanWhatnot: Start selling today: whatnot.com/sellZipRecruiter: Learn more at ziprecruiter.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The European Skeptics Podcast
TheESP – Ep. #531 – It's all AI

The European Skeptics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2026 60:29


The new Hungarian government are making all the right noises and we hope they will live up to it. Don't forget to get your ESC Liverpool tickets, and in TWISH we here about Magnus Hirschfeld, a pioneer in fighting for what we today call LGBTQ rights. Then, we head for the news:NORWAY / EU: Warning to athletes: Do not buy dietary supplements online, even from within EuropeITALY: PM Georgia Meloni uses deepfake of herself to warn of misuse of AIINTERNATIONAL: AI fitness instructors selling unreal gainsUK: AI platforms pushing Reform?Endometriosis can be a debilitating condition but what the Bucharest Endometriosis Centre is doing to their patients seem terrible. For that they are Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-531.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:10:46 TWISH0:19:24 News0:44:55 Really Wrong0:54:55 Quote0:58:32 Outro0:59:54 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Minimum Competence
Legal news for Fri 5/15 - Musk Case Goes to Jury, Major Crypto Bill Advances in Senate, Trump Law Firm Orders Face Skeptical Judiciary

Minimum Competence

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2026 6:56


This Day in Legal History: Abe Fortas Resigns SCOTUSOn May 15, 1969, Justice Abe Fortas resigned from the United States Supreme Court, becoming the first justice to leave the Court under the threat of impeachment. Fortas had been appointed to the Court in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a close friend and political ally. His reputation had already been damaged in 1968, when Johnson tried to elevate him to Chief Justice and the nomination failed after senators criticized his outside income and ties to the president. The controversy deepened when it became public that Fortas had accepted a financial arrangement from the family foundation of Louis Wolfson, a financier who was later convicted of securities violations. Although Fortas returned the money, the arrangement created the appearance that a sitting Supreme Court justice might be financially entangled with someone who had legal troubles. That appearance alone was enough to cause a major crisis for the Court's legitimacy.Members of Congress began discussing impeachment, and Fortas ultimately resigned before a formal impeachment process could remove him. His departure became an important example of how judicial ethics are not limited to actual corruption, but also include conduct that undermines public confidence in judicial independence. The episode also showed the tension between life tenure and accountability for federal judges. Article III judges are protected from political pressure through lifetime appointments, but they can still face removal through impeachment for serious misconduct.Fortas's resignation left a lasting mark on debates over Supreme Court ethics, outside income, recusals, and financial disclosure. More than fifty years later, the Fortas controversy is still cited when questions arise about whether Supreme Court justices should follow clearer and more enforceable ethics rules.Closing arguments ended Thursday in Elon Musk's federal trial against OpenAI, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft, with the case now headed to a nine-member jury. Musk's lawyer argued that OpenAI violated its charitable mission by shifting assets, employees, and value from its nonprofit structure into a for-profit enterprise now worth hundreds of billions of dollars. He focused heavily on Altman's credibility, telling jurors that OpenAI's defense depends on believing Altman and pointing to testimony and documents that Musk says show dishonesty, conflicts, and self-enrichment. Musk's side also attacked Brockman's large equity stake and cited old journal entries as evidence that OpenAI insiders were thinking about personal wealth while controlling a nonprofit mission. Microsoft was portrayed by Musk's team as helping the alleged breach by investing billions and gaining major access to OpenAI's intellectual property and business structure. OpenAI's lawyers responded that Musk's claims are late, unsupported, and driven by his status as a competitor rather than by concern for charitable law. They argued Musk's donations were not legally restricted gifts, that he once sought control of OpenAI himself, and that he did not object to earlier restructuring documents. OpenAI also emphasized that the nonprofit remains in control and now holds a stake worth roughly $200 billion, which its lawyers described as enormous value created for the charity, not stolen from it. Microsoft's lawyer argued the company did not know of any specific conditions on Musk's donations and was not involved in the core events Musk complains about. In rebuttal, Musk's lawyer said OpenAI and Microsoft were distracting the jury from documents and texts showing that Musk funded OpenAI based on a specific nonprofit safety mission. The jury is scheduled to begin deliberations Monday.‘Who's Telling The Truth?' Musk-OpenAI Fight Goes To Jury - Law360 UKMusk accused of ‘selective amnesia,' Altman of lying as OpenAI trial nears end | ReutersThe Senate Banking Committee advanced the Clarity Act, a major crypto regulation bill that would set clearer rules for digital assets and define which regulators oversee different parts of the industry. The Republican-led committee approved the bill with support from all Republicans and two Democrats, Senators Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks, giving the measure a better chance of reaching the full Senate. Even so, both Democrats warned they may not support the final version unless negotiations change. The bill is important to the crypto industry because it would help determine when tokens are treated as securities, commodities, or something else, which companies say is necessary for growth and legal certainty. Several Democrats objected that the proposal does not go far enough on anti-money laundering protections and should do more to stop public officials from profiting from crypto ventures. Banks are also fighting part of the bill because they fear crypto companies could use stablecoin rewards to compete with traditional deposits. The dispute led to tense committee negotiations, including a late compromise that Chairman Tim Scott allowed while rejecting some other Democratic amendments. Crypto groups have pushed hard for the legislation after spending heavily to support pro-crypto candidates in 2024. The White House is also backing crypto reform, and the House already passed its version of the Clarity Act last year. Supporters see the committee vote as a milestone after years of work, while critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, warn the bill favors the crypto industry at the expense of consumers, investors, national security, and the financial system. The bill now moves to the full Senate, where lobbying from crypto companies, banks, and consumer-protection advocates is likely to intensify.US Senate committee advances crypto bill in milestone for digital assets | ReutersA federal appeals court in Washington heard arguments over the Trump administration's attempt to revive executive orders targeting four major law firms: Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey. The firms had previously won in lower court, where judges found the orders unconstitutional. The executive orders punished the firms over issues including their legal work, hiring practices, diversity policies, and political connections. They also sought to restrict the firms' lawyers from federal buildings, cancel government contracts held by their clients, and remove security clearances from firm employees. The Justice Department argued that the firms' business relationships and hiring decisions are not protected by the First Amendment, and that courts should not second-guess presidential decisions involving national security. Judges on the D.C. Circuit appeared skeptical of the administration's broad view of presidential authority, especially the claim that security clearance decisions are unreviewable even when allegedly made for improper reasons. Paul Clement, arguing for the firms, said the orders threatened the First Amendment and the ability of lawyers to represent unpopular clients without government retaliation. He warned that accepting the administration's theory could allow presidents to punish lawyers or firms based on political affiliation. Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, seemed more receptive to the administration's argument that courts have limited power to review security clearance decisions. The case is part of a broader fight over presidential power and whether the government can use executive authority to punish lawyers and firms viewed as political opponents. The appeals court also heard a related case involving lawyer Mark Zaid's security clearance. Any ruling from the D.C. Circuit could eventually be appealed to the Supreme Court.US appeals court questions Trump's push to punish major law firms | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Beyond the Darkness
S21 Ep58: Paranormality: Normalising The Paranormal with Medium/Author, Kieran Stanislaw Mace

Beyond the Darkness

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 90:50


Darkness Radio presents: Paranormality: Normalising The Paranormal with Medium/Author, Kieran Stanislaw Mace! As above, so below. Soon, the unseen will put on a show.We measure the world with finite concepts such as up and down, left and right, dark and light, north and south, and so on. In this reality of many realities, our world is a quantum leap beyond our perceptions, so vast that it is understandable that we should feel safer mapping our perceptual plot of land in the universe. It is when we spend our lives nurturing the existence of that perceived plot of land that we lose sight of the vast valleys beyond, as we are convinced that plot is all there is. What if the parameters were all false?In the book "Paranormality," Stan takes you on a journey of out-of-body experiences, reality-shifting visions, meetings with powerful entities, memorable hauntings, and more. You may be reading this because you have questions of your own about life. This journey is proof that the most unusual events can happen to people just like you. By sharing these true stories, I hope to normalise the skill of inquisition, as we all benefit from learning from each other's experiences, leading us to a greater understanding of life itself and an appreciation of each other's individual pool of knowledge.Removing the misnomer of ‘paranormal' opens minds to be more receptive to learning from each other and the world around us, as we often use that word as a barrier to halt learning beyond the defined parameters. Now is the time for you to break those barriers, don't you think?On today's show, we sit down with Stan and talk about everything from the childhood accident that triggered the penultimate out-of-body experience, to his burgeoning mediumistic abilities, to how he overcomes denial of those abilities that combine with a crisis of faith and a Skeptical eye on the paranormal.  We also discuss whether one can go into the paranormal field and remain a skeptic or cynic for their entire life once they continue to see repeated paranormal evidence! Get your copy of "Paranormality..." here:  https://linktr.ee/para.normalityListen to Stan's podcast, "Paranormal Perspectives," here:  https://www.youtube.com/@para.podcastAnd, see Stan's paranormal art here:  https://kmgraphic.design/artFather Shawn Whitington (co-star of Discovery's The Legion of Exorcists) has spent all of his adult life battling evil, even using the money earned through TV and book sales to travel to people in spiritual need and defeat the forces of evil!  Now Father Shawn, and specifically, his wife, are in dire need of your help!  Shawn's wife has been diagnosed with cancer and has two crucial surgeries coming up, one in June and one in July.  Fr. Shawn has suspended his business to care for his ailing wife and has put up a GoFundMe account to help in any way that you see fit.  You can contribute any size donation here: https://gofund.me/fce8f2497And, by all means, if you can't spare a donation at this time, please either pray for, send energy to, or keep Fr. Shawn and his wife in your thoughts for successful procedures and a speedy recovery!  Thank you, Darkness Radio Family!Want a new spot to hang out, have that perfect dinner, and see some great entertainment? Look no further than Jellybean and Julia's in Coon Rapids, MN.! https://jellybeanandjulias.com/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennisThere are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website! Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/#paranormal  #supernatural  #metaphysical  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #kieranstanislawmace #paranormalitynormailsingtheparanormal #paranormality #neardeathexperience #psychometry #precognition #ghosts  #spirits  #spectres #hauntings #hauntedhouses #hauntedhospitals #shadowpeople #skeptics #cynics #theology #demons #spiritguides #spiritcommunication #spiritguides #Psychics #mediums #aliens #aliencommunication #UFO #UAP  

Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Mr. Yogurt Is Skeptical - 3

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 19:24


We have some early CFB rankings for every D1 school and Nebraska isn't last! We also talk about some comments that Nebraska AD Troy Dannen has made about CFB roster spending.

Darkness Radio
S21 Ep58: Paranormality: Normalising The Paranormal with Medium/Author, Kieran Stanislaw Mace

Darkness Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 90:50


Darkness Radio presents: Paranormality: Normalising The Paranormal with Medium/Author, Kieran Stanislaw Mace! As above, so below. Soon, the unseen will put on a show.We measure the world with finite concepts such as up and down, left and right, dark and light, north and south, and so on. In this reality of many realities, our world is a quantum leap beyond our perceptions, so vast that it is understandable that we should feel safer mapping our perceptual plot of land in the universe. It is when we spend our lives nurturing the existence of that perceived plot of land that we lose sight of the vast valleys beyond, as we are convinced that plot is all there is. What if the parameters were all false?In the book "Paranormality," Stan takes you on a journey of out-of-body experiences, reality-shifting visions, meetings with powerful entities, memorable hauntings, and more. You may be reading this because you have questions of your own about life. This journey is proof that the most unusual events can happen to people just like you. By sharing these true stories, I hope to normalise the skill of inquisition, as we all benefit from learning from each other's experiences, leading us to a greater understanding of life itself and an appreciation of each other's individual pool of knowledge.Removing the misnomer of ‘paranormal' opens minds to be more receptive to learning from each other and the world around us, as we often use that word as a barrier to halt learning beyond the defined parameters. Now is the time for you to break those barriers, don't you think?On today's show, we sit down with Stan and talk about everything from the childhood accident that triggered the penultimate out-of-body experience, to his burgeoning mediumistic abilities, to how he overcomes denial of those abilities that combine with a crisis of faith and a Skeptical eye on the paranormal.  We also discuss whether one can go into the paranormal field and remain a skeptic or cynic for their entire life once they continue to see repeated paranormal evidence! Get your copy of "Paranormality..." here:  https://linktr.ee/para.normalityListen to Stan's podcast, "Paranormal Perspectives," here:  https://www.youtube.com/@para.podcastAnd, see Stan's paranormal art here:  https://kmgraphic.design/artFather Shawn Whitington (co-star of Discovery's The Legion of Exorcists) has spent all of his adult life battling evil, even using the money earned through TV and book sales to travel to people in spiritual need and defeat the forces of evil!  Now Father Shawn, and specifically, his wife, are in dire need of your help!  Shawn's wife has been diagnosed with cancer and has two crucial surgeries coming up, one in June and one in July.  Fr. Shawn has suspended his business to care for his ailing wife and has put up a GoFundMe account to help in any way that you see fit.  You can contribute any size donation here: https://gofund.me/fce8f2497And, by all means, if you can't spare a donation at this time, please either pray for, send energy to, or keep Fr. Shawn and his wife in your thoughts for successful procedures and a speedy recovery!  Thank you, Darkness Radio Family!Want a new spot to hang out, have that perfect dinner, and see some great entertainment? Look no further than Jellybean and Julia's in Coon Rapids, MN.! https://jellybeanandjulias.com/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennisThere are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website! Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/#paranormal  #supernatural  #metaphysical  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #kieranstanislawmace #paranormalitynormailsingtheparanormal #paranormality #neardeathexperience #psychometry #precognition #ghosts  #spirits  #spectres #hauntings #hauntedhouses #hauntedhospitals #shadowpeople #skeptics #cynics #theology #demons #spiritguides #spiritcommunication #spiritguides #Psychics #mediums #aliens #aliencommunication #UFO #UAP  

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1325: Matriarchy | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2026 59:56


Have women ever ruled the world — or did we just make it all up? Jessica Wynn separates feminist folklore from real anthropology here on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1325On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The world's most famous "matriarchies" — the Minangkabau, Khasi, Bribri, and Mosuo — share a curious pattern: women hold the property, the lineage, and the daily labor, while men retain the prestigious roles like religious authority, political leadership, and ceremonial titles.The prehistoric "golden age of matriarchy" so beloved by 19th-century theorists and 1970s feminist spirituality has no solid archaeological evidence behind it — but the historical record itself is biased, since colonial chroniclers often erased or ignored female authority structures they didn't recognize.A landmark study of Mosuo communities found women in matrilineal villages had less than half the chronic inflammation rates and notably lower hypertension than women in patrilineal ones — and crucially, men in those same matrilineal villages showed no meaningful health penalty.Patriarchy isn't just costly for women; it quietly taxes men too, pushing them into rigid dominance roles that produce emotional isolation, shorter lifespans, and higher suicide rates — meaning the same structure that disadvantages women also corrodes the men it supposedly elevates.The most useful reframe isn't matriarchy versus patriarchy but dominance versus care — societies organized around reciprocity, redistribution, and consensus produce measurably better well-being across genders, and that's a model anyone can build toward without needing a mythical past to justify it.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: The Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15Mint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhsMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSQuiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

West Cabarrus Church Sermons
Neighborhoods to Nations: Skeptical Prayer

West Cabarrus Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2026 41:54


The European Skeptics Podcast
TheESP – Ep. #530 – Don't Use Pitchforks!

The European Skeptics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 47:30


ESC Liverpool 2026 tickets are now available! Get yours now! Chris French wrote a eulogy for Nick Pope, UFO profile who passed away, and in TWISH we hear about Gustave Le Bon who identified the mass psychology of crowds over 150 years ago. Then we head for the news:UK: Humanists UK celebrates 130th anniversaryINTERNATIONAL: Haunted houses explained?INTERNATIONAL: Skeptical Science experiment results and lessons learnedNETHERLANDS / SWEDEN: To meat or not to meat?SWITZERLAND: The endless loop of homeopathy finally broken?Jehovah's Witnesses' ‘clarification' regarding blood transfusions is still harmful and stupid, and for that they get this week's award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-530.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:07:29 TWISH0:15:30 News0:37:54 Really Wrong0:44:35 Quote0:45:39 Outro0:47:02 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kevin Sheehan Show
HR2: NFL fans & media are skeptical about the Commanders next season, but why?

The Kevin Sheehan Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 41:31


5.7.26 Hour 2, Kevin Sheehan asks callers for their thoughts on why they believe fans outside of the Commanders market are skeptical that they could have a turnaround season. Kevin Sheehan asks more callers for their thoughts on why they think the Commanders are being counted out to have a big year in 2026 by NFL fans outside of the market.

AI Applied: Covering AI News, Interviews and Tools - ChatGPT, Midjourney, Runway, Poe, Anthropic

Jaeden and Conor explore the skepticism Gen Z holds towards AI and the mindset shifts necessary for organizations. They discuss strategies for fostering AI adoption at work and how leadership can empower employees to utilize AI tools effectively.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pv82zltzD2YGet the top 80+ AI Models for $8.99 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiConor's AI Course: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/coursesJaeden's AI Business Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleChapters00:00 Gen Z's Skepticism Towards AI03:02 The Role of Education in AI Adoption06:16 Overcoming Organizational Resistance to AI09:49 Empowering Employees with AI Tools See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Next Gen Personal Finance
Creating Skeptical Financial Consumers with Sheila Bair

Next Gen Personal Finance

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 53:41


In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair joins Tim Ranzetta to celebrate the launch of her new book for teens, How Not to Lose a Million Dollars. Bair explains why she wrote the book, aiming to give young people practical, plain-language guidance on navigating the financial system, and shares her own story of racking up thousands in credit card interest as a young lawyer. The conversation covers the power of compound interest and opportunity cost, why broad-based index funds are the best starting point for new investors, and the growing threats of "finfluencers", gambling apps, and prediction markets. Bair and Ranzetta also dig into bigger-picture policy issues like housing affordability, non-bank financial risks, and the need for trusted, vetted financial education resources in schools. Teachers will especially appreciate the discussion of how to make these topics land with students, along with Bair's offer of free book donations to Title I schools and virtual classroom visits.

Collective Church
Skeptical | Is Hell Real?

Collective Church

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 34:13


Skeptical | Is Hell Real? by Collective Church

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1320: The Moon | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2026 66:27


Blaming our problems on the Moon is lunacy! Jessica Wynn illuminates the dark side of what we understand about our celestial neighbor on Skeptical Sunday.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1320On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The Moon is history's greatest scapegoat — blamed for madness, bad moods, crime, and chaos for millennia. But it's not the Moon driving the weirdness. It's priming and confirmation bias working in tandem: one loads the mental gun, the other pulls the trigger.Tides are real and genuinely impressive — the Moon pulls Earth's oceans into two massive bulges simultaneously, creating predictable highs and lows that surfers, sailors, and scientists all rely on. But "humans are 60% water" does not extend the logic. Tidal forces operate at planetary scale, not cellular.Lunar myths have proven remarkably adaptive. We replaced "the Moon causes lunacy" with "the Moon charges my crystals" — different language, same fundamental misfire. Pseudoscience doesn't disappear; it just rebrands to match the cultural moment.Large-scale studies across emergency rooms, psychiatric wards, police records, maternity wards, and veterinary clinics consistently find no lunar effect on behavior. When researchers control for variables properly, the Moon's behavioral influence vanishes entirely.The Moon's actual résumé is staggering enough without the mythology. It formed from a cataclysmic planetary collision, stabilized Earth's axial tilt, and made complex life possible — and understanding what it genuinely does is far more empowering than crediting it for your bad week.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreGood Chop: $50 off + free shipping on first order: goodchop.com/podcast, code 50JORDANBooking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comWayfair: Start renovating: wayfair.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Insurance Pro Blog Podcast
Should You Buy a RILA? A Skeptical Analysis of Buffer Annuities, Their Niche Use Cases, and When to Walk Away

Insurance Pro Blog Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2026 32:13


A note before we begin: RILAs are registered securities, and we don't sell them. We sell fixed annuities — SPIAs, MYGAs, and fixed indexed annuities. This conversation is educational, not a recommendation for or against any specific product. RILAs — registered index-linked annuities — are the fastest-growing annuity category by new premium, with sales reaching $79.5 billion in 2025. That's more than ten times what the category produced a decade ago, and 2024 was the first year RILAs outsold traditional variable annuities. Rapid sales growth doesn't automatically mean a product belongs in your retirement plan. If you've ever seen a RILA illustration and felt like something didn't quite add up, this conversation walks through what these products actually do, where the tradeoffs hide, and why the income story that drives most annuity decisions rarely makes a RILA the right answer. You'll learn how the buffer concept works, why higher caps aren't free, and how absorbing the first 10 to 15 percent of a market loss changes the math on recovery. You'll also see why RILA sales appear to be tracking almost dollar-for-dollar with the decline in variable annuity sales, and what that pattern suggests about who these products are really being built for. The conversation covers the few situations where a RILA genuinely makes sense — a 1035 exchange out of a high-fee legacy variable annuity, non-qualified accumulation after maxing qualified accounts, a long runway of fifteen-plus years to retirement, or an equity-anchored client who refuses to derisk. It also covers where they consistently fall short, particularly on the income side, where a purpose-built fixed indexed annuity with an income rider almost always wins on the math that matters. You'll hear why a 10 percent payout rate on a RILA isn't the same as a 6 percent payout rate on an FIA income rider, and why adding an income rider to a RILA tends to neutralize the very feature that justified accepting buffer risk in the first place. ___________________________________ If you're working through how guaranteed income, principal-protected growth, or a fixed annuity might fit into your retirement plan, schedule a call or send us a written message and we'll walk through SPIAs, MYGAs, and fixed indexed annuities to help you figure out what's actually appropriate for what you're trying to accomplish. To read the article that accompanies this podcast, please click here: Should You Buy a RILA?

The European Skeptics Podcast
TheESP – Ep. #529 – Get Your Tickets!

The European Skeptics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2026 44:44


Next week on 6th May the tickets are released for ESC Liverpool. They may sell out fast, so be quick! In other news we note the demise of Desmond Morris and if you liked are interview with Kat Ford, a preprint of her Glastonbury article is now available online! In TWISH we learn about the Scottish polymath John Arbuthnot, and then, it's time for the news:UK: GP struck off register for garlic oil cancer cure claimsROMANIA: Romania leads EU measles cases as vaccination rates collapseAUSTRIA: Doctor using fake therapies and bogus diagnostics now in courtUK: Food intolerance tests have become a multimillion-pound industryBELGIUM: SKEPP handed out their yearly awardsIllegal peptide sales promise you the world, but are unproven, costly, and possibly dangerous. For that, they are Really WrongEnjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-529.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:08:10 TWISH0:15:04 News0:37:21 Really Wrong0:41:16 Quote0:42:55 Outro0:44:17 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thrivetime Show | Business School without the BS
"The Energy Is Amazing! I Was a Little Skeptical At First, But It Has Been Fantastic! Absolutely I Would Recommend the Conference." - Learn About Upcoming Business Conference At ThrivetimeShow.com

Thrivetime Show | Business School without the BS

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 18:58


Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

McNeil & Parkins Show
Ricky O'Donnell is skeptical of NBA's proposed anti-tanking legislation

McNeil & Parkins Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 15:39


Matt Spiegel and Gabe Ramirez were joined by Ricky O'Donnell of SB Nation to discuss the NBA's newly proposed anti-tanking legislation.

The Full Desk Experience
FDE+ | Why No One Wants to Talk to You: Rethinking Staffing Sales in a Skeptical Market with Brad Bialy, Haley Marketing

The Full Desk Experience

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 58:37


Why has earning a conversation become the hardest part of staffing sales? In this featured session from the FDE+ Q1 Virtual Conference, Kortney Harmon sits down with Brad Bialy to unpack why today's buyers are more skeptical, distracted, and informed—and what that means for relationship-driven revenue.Brad challenges outdated sales playbooks and introduces a system-first approach to winning attention. He breaks down the reality of the 72-touchpoint journey, along with the role of trust, consistency, and buyer psychology. The result is a clear path for how top firms are aligning sales and marketing to earn—not chase—conversations and build meaningful engagement in today's skeptical market.Key Takeaways • Build systems, not just sales goals • Use marketing to support and scale outreach • Reduce risk to overcome buyer skepticism • Create clarity to stand out in a crowded market________________Follow Brad Bialy on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | BradSubscribe to the secrets of success hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

The Cordial Catholic
345: The Miracles That Made a Skeptic Doctor Catholic (w/ Dr. Robert Collins)

The Cordial Catholic

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 85:35


In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Robert Collins to talk about his incredible journey from non-believing skeptic to an absolutely on-fire Catholic! From death bed conversions, miraculous answers to pray, incredible spiritual insights, and an absolutely Holy Spirit soaked life is the topic of discussion this week on the show as Dr. Robert Collins, a renown oncologist and avowed skeptical scientist, shares his miraculous journey to faith. After an incredible, miraculous experience of God, Dr. Collins has dedicated his life to listening closely to what God is doing and of being the hands and feet of Jesus in his work in medicine -- and the stories he has to share of healings, experiences of God, and answered prayers will blow your mind!For more from Dr. Robert Collins check out his book from Ignatius Press, You Visited Me: Grace and Healing in the Modern Medical CenterSend your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show!For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

Rainer on Leadership
The Burge Report: Gen Z and the Church: Lonely, Cautious, Skeptical, But… Open

Rainer on Leadership

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2026 27:31


Institutional trust has collapsed nationwide across all age groups, but Gen Z is entering adulthood at historically low levels of trust toward institutions and toward other people. Yet there is a surprising glimmer of hope when it comes to religious institutions. Compared to Millennials, Gen Z shows slightly more openness to trusting the church, suggesting the story is not over. On this edition of The Burge Report, we discuss what pastors and churches can do to build bridges with Gen Z. The post The Burge Report: Gen Z and the Church: Lonely, Cautious, Skeptical, But… Open appeared first on Church Answers.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1317: Homelessness | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2026 70:06


America's homeless crisis is real — but the narrative around it is murkier. Nick Pell untangles fact from agenda here on Skeptical Sunday.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1317On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Homelessness isn't one thing — it's divided into three distinct categories: situational (a rough patch), episodic (a recurring pattern), and chronic (a long-term condition tied to disability). Conflating the guy in his car for a month with someone who's lived on the street for a decade distorts the entire conversation.The "one paycheck away from homelessness" narrative is largely a myth. The two primary risk factors for chronic homelessness are untreated mental illness and addiction — not an empty savings account. Felony records and sex offender registration also account for up to 40% of cases.The homelessness industry has a financial incentive to exaggerate the problem. Terms like "hidden homeless" and "doubling up" — which describe people crashing with friends or splitting rent — get laundered into crisis statistics, inflating numbers and, conveniently, funding requests."Housing First" — the philosophy of putting people in homes no matter what — is more complicated than its advocates admit. A Denver study found Housing First clients had 1.5 times the mortality rate of programs that required sobriety. In one Ottawa study, it produced a higher death rate than street homelessness itself.Effective homelessness solutions aren't a single magic bullet — they're a layered response. More shelter capacity, smarter enforcement paired with immediate referrals, accessible mental health treatment, and expanded sobriety-linked housing all move the needle. Cities like Las Vegas and San Diego have shown that enforcement and compassion aren't mutually exclusive — they can work together.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreChime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhsMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSFundera by NerdWallet: Find the funding you deserve: nerdwallet.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The You-est You™ Podcast
What ETs and Channeled Beings Actually Want You to Know | Daniel Scranton

The You-est You™ Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2026 80:47


Hey there! Welcome to the sacred space where your You-est You is waiting… Channeling. ETs. Higher consciousness. These are the kinds of topics that can go one of two ways — either they open something in you, or they make you want to close the tab. This one? It opened something in me. ✨ Daniel Scranton is one of the most grounded, clear, and genuinely gifted channels I've ever spoken with. We talked about what channeling actually is (not the Hollywood version), the role ET consciousness may be playing in our collective awakening right now, and why so many of us are suddenly feeling more intuitive, more sensitive, more tuned in, even if we can't explain it. Here's what I'm reminded of: You are not making it up. You are not too sensitive. And the guidance you've been brushing off? It's real.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1314: Bees | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2026 71:28


In the grand scheme, bees bring way more to the table than honey — so why are they vanishing? Jessica Wynn combs through the data on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1314On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Honeybees aren't even native to North America — they're European imports from the 1600s, essentially livestock with wings. Meanwhile, the 20,000+ species of wild and solitary bees that actually belong here are losing habitat and quietly heading toward extinction, largely unnoticed.The waggle dance isn't just a cute party trick — it's a Nobel Prize-winning symbolic language bees use to communicate precise GPS coordinates through choreography. And in 2023, scientists discovered it's culturally transmitted, not instinctual, meaning some colonies are literally better dancers because they had better teachers.Every winter, 54 billion bees are trucked into California's Central Valley to pollinate almonds — woken from dormancy, fed stimulants, crammed into monoculture diets, and exposed to pesticides that scramble their navigation. The system that feeds us is simultaneously dismantling the workforce it depends on.Colony Collapse Disorder — where entire forager populations vanish without a trace, no bodies, no explanation — is the bee equivalent of a Mary Celeste mystery. The leading theory is a perfect storm: parasitic varroa mites, neurotoxic pesticides that cause bees to forget how to get home, malnutrition, and the chronic stress of life as migratory livestock.The good news: you don't need a hive or a hero complex to help. Planting native flowers, skipping pesticides, and buying local honey from non-migratory beekeepers are small moves with real impact — because wild bee populations respond directly to local habitat, and every garden is a potential waystation for the solitary bees quietly doing the work no one's paying attention to.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreRevolve Man: 15% off: revolve.com/jordan, code JordanSimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanWhatnot: Start selling today: whatnot.com/sellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1311: Online Gambling | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2026 69:32


Sports betting exploded overnight and the house always wins. Nick Pell calls the bluff on online gambling here on Skeptical Sunday.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1311On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Online gambling has exploded from a $5 billion industry confined mostly to Nevada into a $120 billion enterprise spanning 38 states — and 94% of bets are now placed via mobile devices. The 2018 Supreme Court decision overturning PASPA collided with the smartphone era to create a perfect storm of frictionless, always-on access to sports betting.The business model of gambling apps is built on exploiting problem gamblers, not casual bettors. While the industry points out that most people bet harmlessly, platforms use AI to identify emotional vulnerability, send personalized push notifications at peak gambling hours, and offer "free" bets designed not to reward you — but to keep the app open.Microbetting — wagering on events as granular as the next pitch or first down — turns sports betting into a slot machine. With a house advantage of 15–25% (compared to 5% in traditional sports betting), these rapid-fire bets prevent your brain's prefrontal cortex from resetting, induce a dissociative state, and drain your bankroll at a rate that can burn through a night's losses in minutes.Gambling addiction is uniquely dangerous because it's almost invisible until catastrophic. Unlike substance abuse — which often shows physical signs — problem gambling can be hidden from family and friends right up until financial ruin hits. Gambling disorder carries the highest suicide attempt rate of any addiction, with roughly one in five sufferers attempting suicide.If you do gamble, think like a pro: set a fixed bankroll and bet in small "units" (1–2% of your total), use built-in deposit limits and cool-off features to create friction, avoid microbets entirely, never bet while drinking, and track every win and loss — because your brain is hardwired to remember the highs and gloss over the lows.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comSimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanThe Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15ZipRecruiter: Learn more at ziprecruiter.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1307: Water Filters | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2026 57:18


Is your water filter giving you something even more contaminated than what's flowing from the tap? Jessica Wynn pours us some facts on Skeptical Sunday.Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1307On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Most US tap water meets or exceeds federal safety standards, but those regulations were written decades ago — meaning your water may be "safe" by outdated benchmarks that don't account for emerging threats like PFAS forever chemicals, agricultural runoff, and lead from aging infrastructure.A neglected water filter can become a breeding ground for bacteria, making your water dirtier than what comes straight from the tap — if you're not replacing your Brita, Pur, or other cartridge on schedule, you're essentially cultivating a miniature ecosystem in your fridge.The bottled water industry is largely repackaged tap water sold at a massive markup — brands like Dasani and Aquafina source from municipal supplies, and the FDA regulates bottled water less strictly than the EPA regulates what flows from your faucet.Scammers and pseudoscience have infiltrated the water filter market — from dishonest salespeople using chemical reagents to fake contamination in your home, to "alkaline" and "structured water" claims that have zero scientific backing, fear is the industry's most profitable product.You can take control of your water quality with a few simple, empowering steps — request your free Consumer Confidence Report from your local utility, test your water independently, match any filter you buy to the specific contaminants found, and look for NSF or WQA certification to ensure it actually does what it claims.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram and Threads, and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Momentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comQuiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoMental Illness Happy Hour: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!Castbox: Find, organize, and subscribe to the world's best podcasts: castbox.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1304: Remote Viewing | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 49:51


The US spent millions trying to create psychic spies, but this remote viewing pseudoscience never came into focus. Nick Pell explains on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1304On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The U.S. government spent millions over two decades on Project Stargate — a real program aimed at training psychic spies to "see" enemy secrets through meditation — and the CIA ultimately concluded that no remote viewing report ever provided actionable intelligence.Early ESP research by J.B. Rhine at Duke produced seemingly positive results, but none of his studies were ever reliably replicated — including a Princeton trial of over 25,000 attempts with 132 subjects that found zero evidence of extrasensory perception.Project Stargate wasn't a fringe side project — it was a sprawling effort across multiple military and intelligence programs that ran from the Cold War era all the way until 1995, partly spurred by reports that the Soviets were spending $125 million annually on similar research.After Stargate shut down, many of its former participants went commercial — selling remote viewing courses ranging from $79 to nearly $3,000 — proving that even debunked pseudoscience can become a profitable cottage industry.The biggest takeaway here is a genuinely useful life skill: knowing even the most basic scientific principles — like demanding replication and questioning methodology — can help you cut through junk science and spot quackery before it costs you time, money, or good judgment.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Factor: 50% off first box: factormeals.com/jordan50off, code JORDAN50OFFSaily: 15% off: saily.com/jordanharbinger, code JORDANHARBINGERSuperpower: $20 off membership: superpower.com, code JORDAN (and tell 'em we sent you)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1301: Electric Vehicles | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2026 55:20


Are electric vehicles a green revolution or just greenwashing on wheels? Nick Pell pops the hood and breaks it all down here on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1301On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Electric vehicles carry zero tailpipe emissions, but the electricity powering them often comes from coal and natural gas plants — meaning your EV's true environmental footprint depends heavily on where you live and how your local grid generates power.The cobalt fueling EV batteries comes overwhelmingly from the Democratic Republic of Congo — one of the poorest, most unstable nations on Earth — where child labor, armed militia control of mines, and toxic contamination of local communities remain deeply troubling realities.EVs start with a larger carbon deficit than gas-powered cars due to battery manufacturing, but they erase that debt within 15,000 to 50,000 miles — and every mile driven after that threshold is cleaner than the equivalent gas-powered mile would be.The average EV costs about $53,000 compared to $36,000 for a gas-powered car, with batteries alone accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the price — and federal tax credits that once softened the blow have been eliminated.EV technology is rapidly evolving — with lighter, faster-charging batteries on the horizon and recycling infrastructure growing — so doing your homework on total cost of ownership, local grid sources, and available incentives can help you make a smarter, more informed decision.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Quiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comFlyKitt: 15% off: flykitt.com, code JORDANSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.