Podcasts about skeptical inquiry

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.comHealth-misinformation researcher and science communicator Timothy Caulfield returns to discuss his new book THE CERTAINTY ILLUSION, why being too certain about anything makes us vulnerable to misinformation, how intellectual humility can help protect us, why science is sometimes “full of shit” and how to be a critical consumer of it, and more. Behind the paywall, we get into why it's so hard for public figures to show intellectual humility, whether being smart makes people less intellectually humble and more vulnerable to misinformation, the role of narcissism in misinformation belief, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and why so many researchers lie about their work. Plus, Christy asks Tim for advice on how to navigate an alternative-medicine recommendation for IVF, and whether refusing to do it is a hill she wants to die on.Paid subscribers can hear the full interview, and the first half is available to all listeners. To upgrade to paid, go to rethinkingwellness.substack.com.Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy for over 20 years (2002 - 2023). His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and public health policy has allowed him to publish almost 400 academic articles. He has won numerous academic, science communication, and writing awards, and is a Member of the Order Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He contributes frequently to the popular press and is the author of national bestsellers: The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness and Happiness (Penguin 2012) and Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash (Penguin 2015), and Relax, Dammit!: A User's Guide to the Age of Anxiety (Penguin Random House, 2020).  His most recent book is The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters (Penguin Random House, 2025; Bookshop affiliate link). Caulfield is also the co-founder of the science engagement initiative #ScienceUpFirst and has written, hosted and produced documentaries, including the award-winning TV show, A User's Guide to Cheating Death, which has been shown in over 60 countries, including streaming on Netflix in North America.If you like this conversation, subscribe to hear lots more like it! Support the podcast by becoming a paid subscriber, and unlock great perks like extended interviews, subscriber-only Q&As, full access to our archives, commenting privileges and subscriber threads where you can connect with other listeners, and more. Learn more and sign up at rethinkingwellness.substack.com.Christy's second book, The Wellness Trap, is available wherever books are sold! Order it here, or ask for it in your favorite local bookstore.If you're looking to make peace with food and break free from diet and wellness culture, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course.

In this episode, Meagan interviews Kenny Biddle, who recently took on the role of chief investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and is now living the dream as a professional investigator of paranormal claims! ** You can find Kenny on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IAmKennyBiddle/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@kennybiddle42) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@KennyBiddle). Kenny's Skeptical Inquirer articles can be found here: https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/kenny-biddle/ ** Want to listen without the ads? Check out our Patreon, where you can get ad-free episodes & more! https://www.patreon.com/spookyscipod ** Links to our social media & more: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/spookyscipod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spookyscience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookyscipod Threads: https://www.threads.net/@spookyscipod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spookysciencesisters Discord Server: https://discord.gg/vf7pC7GkbH Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/spookysciencesisterspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With so many conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation being shared both intentionally and unintentionally, how are Albertans supposed to navigate the minefield that our information ecosystem has become?In this episode we sit down with renowned expert in navigating that minefield, Timothy Caulfield to try and figure exactly that out!From his Univeristy of Alberta bio..."Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy for over 20 years (2002 - 2023). His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and public health policy has allowed him to publish almost 400 academic articles. He has won numerous academic, science communication, and writing awards, and is a Member of the Order Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry."You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/ thebreakdownab and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Blue Sky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

My special guest tonight is Satki who works with people to rid themselves of entities that pick can pick up in various ways including sexually. Visit her website. Parapsychology Main article: Parapsychology Participant of a Ganzfeld experiment which proponents say may show evidence of telepathy. Experimental investigation of the paranormal has been conducted by parapsychologists. J. B. Rhine popularized the now famous methodology of using card-guessing and dice-rolling experiments in a laboratory in the hopes of finding evidence of extrasensory perception.[20] However, it was revealed that Rhine's experiments contained methodological flaws and procedural errors. In 1957, the Parapsychological Association was formed as the preeminent society for parapsychologists. In 1969, they became affiliated with the  American Association for the Advancement of Science.[24] Criticisms of the field were focused in the creation (in 1976) of the  Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (now called the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry) and its periodical, the Skeptical Inquirer.[25] Eventually, more mainstream scientists became critical of parapsychology as an endeavor, and statements by the National Academies of Science and the National Science Foundation cast a pall on the claims of evidence for parapsychology. Today, many cite parapsychology as an example of a pseudoscience. Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research. By the 2000s, the status of paranormal research in the United States had greatly declined from its height in the 1970s, with the majority of work being privately funded and only a small amount of research being carried out in university laboratories. In 2007, Britain had a number of privately funded laboratories in university psychology departments.[30]Publication remained limited to a small number of niche journals.

The commercialisation of wellness and wellbeing has led us to the point where everyone has basically gone fucking nuts. With so much crap on the internet, how can ordinary folk spot the snake oil? How can we be more skeptical about the information we're presented with, and how can we be better scientists? In this episode, Dr Pete Olusoga and Dr Leah Washington talk to Dr Nick Tiller, exercise scientist at Harbor-UCLA, about Bad Science! Dr Tiller is the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science, a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer magazine, and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Follow Nick on Twitter: @NBTiller Check out Nick's website: nbtiller.com, where you can buy his genuinely excellent book. And no, we're not on commission!

An accessible and gratifying introduction to the world of paranormal beliefs and bizarre experiences.Ghostly encounters, alien abduction, reincarnation, talking to the dead, UFO sightings, inexplicable coincidences, out-of-body and near-death experiences. Are these legitimate phenomena? If not, then how should we go about understanding them? In this fascinating book, Chris French investigates paranormal claims to discover what lurks behind this “weird shit.” French provides authoritative evidence-based explanations for a wide range of superficially mysterious phenomena, and then goes further to draw out lessons with wider applications to many other aspects of modern society where critical thinking is urgently needed.Using academic, comprehensive, logical, and, at times, mathematical approaches, The Science of Weird Shit convincingly debunks ESP, communicating with the dead, and alien abduction claims, among other phenomena. All the while, however, French maintains that our belief in such phenomena is neither ridiculous nor trivial; if anything, such claims can tell us a great deal about the human mind if we pay them the attention they are due. Filled with light-bulb moments and a healthy dose of levity, The Science of Weird Shit is a clever, memorable, and gratifying read you won't soon forget.Chris French is Emeritus Professor and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Patron of Humanists UK. He is the coauthor of Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience.Buy the book from Wellington Square Bookshop - ​https://www.wellingtonsquarebooks.com/book/9780262048361

In this episode of Run with Fitpage, we have Dr Nick Tiller with us. Dr Nick discusses all about nasal and mouth breathing, and the pseudoscience around the topic, with our host Vikas Singh. Dr. Nick Tiller is a Research Associate at the Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and the acclaimed author of "The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science," recognized as one of Book Authority's "Best Sports Science Books of All Time." With a strong background in exercise physiology and respiratory medicine, Dr. Tiller has made significant contributions to sports science, particularly in the fields of exercise physiology and respiratory research.Dr. Tiller began his career working with elite athletes and coaches at the Olympic Center in the UK. He earned his PhD in Applied Physiology (Respiratory) from Brunel University London, followed by academic positions as an Assistant and Associate Professor in the North of England. In 2019, he relocated to Los Angeles to continue his groundbreaking research at the renowned Lundquist Institute. In addition to his research, Dr. Tiller is a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer and Ultra-Running Magazine, and an Associate Editor at the International Journal of Sports Nutrition. His dedication to science communication and critical thinking has earned him the title of Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.Review article mentioned in the podcast: Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in commercial respiratory interventions: an evidence-based guide for health and exercise professionalFollow Dr Nick Tiller's work on,Website: www.nbtiller.comInstagram: @nb.tillerTwitter: @NBTillerAbout Vikas Singh:Vikas Singh, an MBA from Chicago Booth, worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, APGlobale, and Reliance before coming up with the idea of democratizing fitness knowledge and helping beginners get on a fitness journey. Vikas is an avid long-distance runner, building fitpage to help people learn, train, and move better.For more information on Vikas, or to leave any feedback and requests, you can reach out to him via the channels below:Instagram: @vikas_singhhLinkedIn: Vikas SinghTwitter: @vikashsingh101Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Weekly Nuggets of Knowledge!

Everybody who has looked into parapsychology knows that it is a long-standing scientific discipline and that new fascinating findings are published in scientific journals regularly. Yet there are tenacious materialists out there who still believe that this whole field is woo-woo and pseudoscience. And they are influential. Craig Weiler is a journalist specializing in parapsychology and psi phenomena. He discovered the stubborn and angry skeptics when he was blogging about psi sixteen years ago. And he was taken aback by their arrogant stance. “They were stubborn and irrational. They weren't looking into science. They weren't even close. Which was weird, because they said they were defending science”, Craig says. He started studying the skeptics and their behavior and discovered that they always approach things in the same manner. He concluded that they basically represent one personality type. “Key elements are stubbornness, a lack of ambiguity, and great difficulty saying ‘I don't know'. They have this materialistic background, and everything has to be shoved into that”, Craig says. “It becomes obvious that we are dealing with people with an authoritarian personality type. Lack of ambiguity, hostile tone, arrogance. If you look at what authoritarian personality types are, these people tick an awful lot of those boxes.” How have you been able to assess this? “I ve been arguing with them on social media since 2008. Over time I have had hundreds of conversations with skeptics. I was getting kinda hooked into it. I've freed myself of that now, but it allowed me to eventually see them more clearly, not just lock horns with them. It was a bit of a personal journey.” It wouldn't be so much of a problem if these materialist skeptics weren't so active and didn't have so much influence in the public debate. They are organized in outfits like Center for Inquiry and its program Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and they run the Skeptical Inquirer magazine. They control the narrative on psi and other topics at the intersection of science and spirituality in various ways. One of the most salient ways is their iron grip over Wikipedia. An activist group advocating for materialist atheism called Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia has virtually gained full control of a couple of thousand articles about psi phenomena and persons studying them The group, run by former photographer Susan Gerbic, is intent on ridding Wikipedia of anything that in their worldview resembles pseudoscience. They kick out others from the platform. “They make sure there's nobody there to disagree with them.” Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales himself encouraged GSoW from the beginning to “protect science”. Wikipedia has become the go-to source of information for millions, if not billions of people. Craig Weiler and I agree that idea as such is wonderful. It is only sad that it in some areas has been turned into a propaganda tool. “I want to educate the public: you have to be very careful when you look at these topics on Wikipedia, because you're literally getting somebody's quasi religion.” So, what can be done? Craig is part of a group that aims to expose the physicalist “police” on Wikipedia. They are now documenting GSoW's biased editing, their omissions and their blocking of other editors. There are many other contentious topics that certain skeptics are “policing“ on Wikipedia, such as alternative medicine, the UAP phenomenon and alternative archaeology (lost civilizations), but Craig focuses on his area of expertise. Paranormal Daily News (featuring Craig's work) Craig on XCraig on Linkedin

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:26 SkeptiCal 2024 We talk to famed fighter of nonsense Dr Eugenie C. Scott about the upcoming SkeptiCal Conference. SkeptiCal is the scientific skepticism conference brought to you by Northern California Skeptics. The SkeptiCal Conference brings stimulating and entertaining speakers (including Australia's own Dr Karl Kruszelnicki) to a world-wide audience of science fans, critical thinkers, and, in the words of Carl Sagan, questioners of "extraordinary claims". Join them for two engaging days of speakers, interviews, and discussions. And - test your wits on a round of SkeptiCal trivia, and try your hand at SkeptiCal's popular Skepardy! game. http://www.skepticalcon.com 0:12:38 Skepticamp Interviews #2 Guest reporter Rob Palmer attended the inaugural Triangle SkeptiCamp that took place on 25th of May 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. In part #2 of a series of interviews from the event, Rob chats to Kenny Biddle, chief investigator at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and attendee Jane Selkie. https://triskep.org/home/triangle-skepticamp-2024 0:25:40 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:39:08 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to 'Alternative Medicine'. 1981.08.27 - The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Global Skeptics in the Pub - 19 July 2024 (7pm) http://www.skepticalcon.com/global-skeptics-in-the-pub

America Emboldened with Greg Boulden and Chris Michaels – Skeptical inquiry challenges cognitive dissonance in today's episode of America Emboldened. Join Kenny Biddle as we delve into debunking paranormal claims and explore how personal biases shape our realities. We discuss the necessity of skepticism in strengthening beliefs and understanding truths, amidst a world where facts are often contested. Tune in for a thought...

America Emboldened with Greg Boulden and Chris Michaels – Skeptical inquiry challenges cognitive dissonance in today's episode of America Emboldened. Join Kenny Biddle as we delve into debunking paranormal claims and explore how personal biases shape our realities. We discuss the necessity of skepticism in strengthening beliefs and understanding truths, amidst a world where facts are often contested. Tune in for a thought...

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Daniel Dennett has died (1924-2024), published by kave on April 19, 2024 on LessWrong. Daniel Dennett, professor emeritus of philosophy at Tufts University, well-known for his work in philosophy of mind and a wide range of other philosophical areas, has died. Professor Dennett wrote extensively about issues related to philosophy of mind and cognitive science, especially consciousness. He is also recognized as having made significant contributions to the concept of intentionality and debates on free will. Some of Professor Dennett's books include Content and Consciousness (1969), Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology (1981), The Intentional Stance (1987), Consciousness Explained (1992), Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995), Breaking the Spell (2006), and From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds (2017). He published a memoir last year entitled I've Been Thinking. There are also several books about him and his ideas. You can learn more about his work here. Professor Dennett held a position at Tufts University for nearly all his career. Prior to this, he held a position at the University of California, Irvine from 1965 to 1971. He also held visiting positions at Oxford, Harvard, Pittsburgh, and other institutions during his time at Tufts University. Professor Dennett was awarded his PhD from the University of Oxford in 1965 and his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Harvard University in 1963. Professor Dennett is the recipient of several awards and prizes including the Jean Nicod Prize, the Mind and Brain Prize, and the Erasmus Prize. He also held a Fulbright Fellowship, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences. An outspoken atheist, Professor Dennett was dubbed one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism". He was also a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, an honored Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism, and was named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Organization. Dennett has had a big influence on LessWrong. He coined the terms "belief in belief", "the intentional stance" and "intuition pump". Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Daniel Dennett has died (1924-2024), published by kave on April 19, 2024 on LessWrong. Daniel Dennett, professor emeritus of philosophy at Tufts University, well-known for his work in philosophy of mind and a wide range of other philosophical areas, has died. Professor Dennett wrote extensively about issues related to philosophy of mind and cognitive science, especially consciousness. He is also recognized as having made significant contributions to the concept of intentionality and debates on free will. Some of Professor Dennett's books include Content and Consciousness (1969), Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology (1981), The Intentional Stance (1987), Consciousness Explained (1992), Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995), Breaking the Spell (2006), and From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds (2017). He published a memoir last year entitled I've Been Thinking. There are also several books about him and his ideas. You can learn more about his work here. Professor Dennett held a position at Tufts University for nearly all his career. Prior to this, he held a position at the University of California, Irvine from 1965 to 1971. He also held visiting positions at Oxford, Harvard, Pittsburgh, and other institutions during his time at Tufts University. Professor Dennett was awarded his PhD from the University of Oxford in 1965 and his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Harvard University in 1963. Professor Dennett is the recipient of several awards and prizes including the Jean Nicod Prize, the Mind and Brain Prize, and the Erasmus Prize. He also held a Fulbright Fellowship, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences. An outspoken atheist, Professor Dennett was dubbed one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism". He was also a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, an honored Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism, and was named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Organization. Dennett has had a big influence on LessWrong. He coined the terms "belief in belief", "the intentional stance" and "intuition pump". Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org

Melanie Trecek-King - Critical Thinking is PowerDivorced: Religious FundamentalismMelanie Trecek-King is an Associate Professor of Biology at Massasoit Community College, where she equips students with empowering critical thinking, information literacy, and science literacy skills.Melanie loves to share her “teach skills, not facts” approach with other science educators and to help organizations meet their goals through better thinking. She is also the Education Director for the Mental Immunity Project and CIRCE (Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative), which aim to advance and apply the science of mental immunity to inoculate minds against misinformation. In addition to her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry, and a Master of Arts in Ecology, Ms. Trecek-King is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.Today, Melanie will be speaking with me about fine-tuning our critical thinking skills, including exploring how we form our beliefs.FIND MELANIE: https://thinkingispower.com/Support this podcast by becoming a Member of the CORT YouTube channel. When you Support this podcast by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video. Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcastFollow Janice and the Conference on Religious Trauma on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.toThreads: Wisecounsellor@threads.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligionTwitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellorTwitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORTFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligionTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.Support the show

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:36 Kenny Biddle Tiks on Tiktok It's hard to believe, but much of what you see on Tiktok may not be all it seems! Chief Investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Kenny Biddle, hunts for claims of the paranormal on Tiktok. Can he explain the unexplainable? https://www.tiktok.com/@kennybiddle42 0:20:56 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:32:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to yet more UFOs. 2014.01.27 - Woman's Day 2010.11.29 - New Idea http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Dick Smith's Helicopter Adventure - Parkinson 1982 https://youtu.be/TM_0q3m5i40 We Can Reason - Calgary Canada https://wecanreason.com

As we approach Easter and Passover, it's worth noting that our mainstream monotheistic creeds are based on a belief in what Professor Chris French, the head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths college at London University, would call “weird s**t”. So as French, the author of new MIT press book THE SCIENCE OF WEIRD S**T, explained to me, maybe we shouldn't be that surprised with all the weird s**t about pizza parlors and extraterrestrial invasions that seems to have invaded all but the most scientific minds. Nobody seems to believe anything anymore, French explains. But it's an anti skeptical science of the networked 21st century rather than the skeptical science of the 18th century Enlightenment. Happy Easter and Passover, everyone!Professor Chris French is the Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Patron of the British Humanist Association. He has published over 150 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims. His most recent book is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic explores Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey's history as a paranormal investigator as well as his familiarity with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry- the organization which the Satanic Skeptic writes for! Drawing on a long out-of-print essay featured in the Cloven Hoof as well as other archived Church of Satan material, this episode shows just how much Anton LaVey meant it when he said "Herein you will find truth-and fantasy. Each is necessary for the other to exist; but each must be recognized for what it is."

Support me by becoming wiser and more knowledgeable – check out E. O. Wilson's collection of books for sale on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4ab30lb If you purchase a book through this link, I will earn a 4.5% commission and be extremely delighted. But if you just want to read and aren't ready to add a new book to your collection yet, I'd recommend checking out the ⁠⁠⁠Internet Archive⁠⁠⁠, the largest free digital library in the world. If you're really feeling benevolent you can buy me a coffee or donate over at ⁠https://ko-fi.com/theunadulteratedintellect⁠⁠. I would seriously appreciate it! __________________________________________________ Edward Osborne Wilson (June 10, 1929 – December 26, 2021) was an American biologist, naturalist, ecologist, and entomologist known for developing the field of sociobiology. Born in Alabama, Wilson found an early interest with nature and frequented the outdoors. At age seven, he was partially blinded in a fishing accident; due to his reduced sight, Wilson resolved to study entomology. After matriculating at the University of Alabama, Wilson transferred to complete his dissertation at Harvard University, where he distinguished himself in multiple fields. In 1956, he co-authored a paper defining the theory of character displacement; in 1967, he developed the theory of island biogeography with Robert MacArthur. Wilson was the Pellegrino University Research Professor Emeritus in Entomology for the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, a lecturer at Duke University, and a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. The Royal Swedish Academy awarded Wilson the Crafoord Prize. He was a humanist laureate of the International Academy of Humanism. He was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (for On Human Nature in 1979, and The Ants in 1991) and a New York Times bestselling author for The Social Conquest of Earth, Letters to a Young Scientist, and The Meaning of Human Existence. Audio source ⁠here⁠⁠ Full Wikipedia entry ⁠here⁠ E.O. Wilson's books ⁠here --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theunadulteratedintellect/support

Coming up on this episode of Paranomaly Podcast ( Oct 2nd ), we will be talking with Kenny Biddle.Kenny is a renowned skeptic, investigator, and science enthusiast known for his relentless pursuit of uncovering the truth behind paranormal and supernatural claims.  With an analytical mind and a commitment to critical thinking, Kenny has dedicated himself to investigating a wide range of paranormal phenomena, including ghostly encounters, psychic abilities, UFO sightings, and more. He employs a scientific approach, carefully examining the evidence and employing rigorous methodologies to separate fact from fiction. Kenny's work extends beyond investigations. He is also a skilled writer and communicator, sharing his findings through various mediums. His writing has been featured in popular publications such as Skeptical Inquirer, and he has made numerous appearances on radio shows, podcasts, and television programs to discuss his research and skepticism. He produces the video series, Ghosts in the Machine, for the Center for Inquiry YouTube channel and hosts the weekly livestream show, The Skeptical Help Bar.  As an advocate for scientific literacy and skepticism, Kenny strives to educate the public about the importance of critical thinking and empirical evidence. He is a sought-after speaker, delivering engaging presentations that debunk myths and encourage rational thinking. In 2020, he was elected as a Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. In 2022, he accepted the position of Chief Investigator for CSI, becoming the world's only full-time skeptical paranormal investigator. Known for his affable demeanor and genuine curiosity, Kenny approaches his investigations with an open mind, always seeking to understand the perspectives of those who claim to have had paranormal experiences. However, he remains steadfast in his commitment to applying scientific principles and rigorous investigation techniques to evaluate the validity of these claims.

Coming up on this episode of Paranomaly Podcast ( Oct 2nd ), we will be talking with Kenny Biddle.Kenny is a renowned skeptic, investigator, and science enthusiast known for his relentless pursuit of uncovering the truth behind paranormal and supernatural claims.  With an analytical mind and a commitment to critical thinking, Kenny has dedicated himself to investigating a wide range of paranormal phenomena, including ghostly encounters, psychic abilities, UFO sightings, and more. He employs a scientific approach, carefully examining the evidence and employing rigorous methodologies to separate fact from fiction. Kenny's work extends beyond investigations. He is also a skilled writer and communicator, sharing his findings through various mediums. His writing has been featured in popular publications such as Skeptical Inquirer, and he has made numerous appearances on radio shows, podcasts, and television programs to discuss his research and skepticism. He produces the video series, Ghosts in the Machine, for the Center for Inquiry YouTube channel and hosts the weekly livestream show, The Skeptical Help Bar.  As an advocate for scientific literacy and skepticism, Kenny strives to educate the public about the importance of critical thinking and empirical evidence. He is a sought-after speaker, delivering engaging presentations that debunk myths and encourage rational thinking. In 2020, he was elected as a Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. In 2022, he accepted the position of Chief Investigator for CSI, becoming the world's only full-time skeptical paranormal investigator. Known for his affable demeanor and genuine curiosity, Kenny approaches his investigations with an open mind, always seeking to understand the perspectives of those who claim to have had paranormal experiences. However, he remains steadfast in his commitment to applying scientific principles and rigorous investigation techniques to evaluate the validity of these claims.

Kenny Biddle is an actual ghost hunter. He's also Chief Investigator at The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He's got some stories. VIDEO of this interview: https://youtu.be/-x8OcpN4dUIThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3270347/advertisement

+ Mick West UNCUT Interview ROUND 2 This interview is to show a different side of Mick West. We cover his background in Gaming which includes co-creating what is arguably the greatest game of all time - TONY HAWK PRO SKATER. We don't cover UFO's except for a few brief moments, this is strictly about getting to know Mick West. More About Mick West: Mick West (born 1967[1]) is an American science writer, skeptical investigator, and retired video game programmer. He is the creator of the websites Contrail Science and Metabunk, and he investigates and debunks pseudoscientific claims and conspiracy theories such as chemtrails and UFOs. His first book is Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect. West has appeared in various media including CBS, the BBC, CNN, NewsNation, New York Magazine, Radio New Zealand and Scientific American as an expert conspiracy analyst and science communicator. He has twice been a speaker at the conference of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and in 2020 was elected a fellow of the organization.

In February of 1996 the Kansas University Debate Team sponsored a debate on the existence of God. The lecture hall was packed with 850 students in attendance to hear Pastor Alan Shelby debate with Dr. Gordon Stein. Dr. Stein was one of America's foremost scholars of atheism. He served as the editor of the American Rationalist, a secular humanist journal, as well as Free Inquiry magazine. He was also the librarian of the Center for Inquiry, which houses the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Dr. Stein had written seven books on atheist history and philosophy, including a well known pamphlet titled “How to Argue with a Theist and Win.” At the time, Pastor Shelby, now dean of the Living Faith Bible Institute, was serving as the college and young adults pastor at Kansas City Baptist Temple. This week on the Postscript, we have the privilege of sharing with you a remastered recording of that 1996 debate. DEBATE FORMAT: 20-Minute Opening Statement affirmative 20-Minute Opening Statement negative 10-Minute Rebuttal affirmative 10-Minute Rebuttal negative 5-Minute Closing affirmative 5-Minute Closing negative Q&A Forum Visit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore

Massimo Pigliucci, author of The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us About Our Search for Good Leaders, joins the show to answer a three thousand year old question: Are we born with good character or can we develop it? Professor Pigliucci and Joe discuss how the ancient Greeks and Romans approached character development and how and their ancient teachings can help us live better lives today.   Prof. Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. He currently is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophies like Stoicism and New Skepticism.Prof. Pigliucci has been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science “for fundamental studies of genotype by environmental interactions and for public defense of evolutionary biology from pseudo-scientific attack.” In the area of public outreach, Prof. Pigliucci has published in national and international outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. He is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Inquirer. He writes on practical and general philosophy at Medium. At last count, Prof. Pigliucci has published 176 technical papers in science and philosophy. He is also the author or editor of 16 books, including the best selling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books). Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press), and The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders (Basic Books).

+ Mick West UNCUT Interview - VETTED: New Videos Almost Daily More About Mick West: Mick West (born 1967[1]) is an American science writer, skeptical investigator, and retired video game programmer. He is the creator of the websites Contrail Science and Metabunk, and he investigates and debunks pseudoscientific claims and conspiracy theories such as chemtrails and UFOs. His first book is Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect. West has appeared in various media including CBS, the BBC, CNN, NewsNation, New York Magazine, Radio New Zealand and Scientific American as an expert conspiracy analyst and science communicator. He has twice been a speaker at the conference of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and in 2020 was elected a fellow of the organization.

How good are Liz's protocols when getting a medium reading? Are they different than Kenny's? What are ways to detect cold-readings? Kenny shares some really entertaining "ghost hunts," and how to make sure you assess everything skeptically. Both Liz and Kenny like evidence, try to avoid belief, have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old, and challenge how one another think, all of which makes this an especially fun episode. Kenny Biddle is the Chief Investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, skeptical investigator and has a column in the Skeptical Inquirer. Despite his skeptical take (more so than Liz), he has taught a class alongside Loyd Auerbach at The Rhine Education Center "Skeptical Approach to Parapsychology." He used to "believe it all," unskeptically, but after some absurd experiences, he changed his mind and learned how to logically evaluate. While he has concluded differently than Liz and Loyd, and has not concluded an afterlife (or PSI) in general is highly probable, he shares how to protect against fraudulent psychic mediums, how to detect cold-readings, and shares some of the most ridiculous frauds out there, such as $300 ghost-detectors. He has some really fun stories from the field of "ghost-hunting," and he and Liz actually do not disagree on techniques and most of the conclusions. Follow Kenny Biddle: Facebook | Skeptical Inquirer⁠ | YouTube Full Notes for: Assess Afterlife Evidence and Medium Readings Critically and Avoid $300 Ghost Detectors with Kenny Biddle, Chief Investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Episode 48 In this episode: - Kenny had been a ghost-hunter, like the ones on TV - He realized he had not thought critically - He avoids dogmas and belief and likes to have ideas - What does he think or reincarnation? The work of Dr. Jim Tucker? - What cases did Kenny work on as a ghost-hunter - What are some of the most ridiculous cons and tricks he has seen - In most of the cases he has uncovered, are the people intentionally fraudulent or do they genuinely believe - How do people react when he uncovers what is going on - He was a Catholic and believed everything with our assessment - Does he think any of the Psi evidence is valid - How can one recognize a cold-reading or avoid a fraudulent medium reading - What was his "turning point" - Has he had anything that “shook his skepticism to the core”  - Can Kenny explain logically how Liz bent a spoon - What's the death clock? - How good a sitter is Liz in terms of recognizing cold-reading - How good are Liz's protocols when getting a medium reading? - How can anyone be a really good sitter - Has Kenny had a reading with any of the scientifically verified mediums ... and more Book | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wtfjusthappened/support

Stress often comes from situations beyond our control—such as preparing for a meeting, waiting for test results, or arguing with a loved one.  But we can control our response to these everyday tensions. One way to do it is through the wisdom and practice of Stoicism. Stoicism is an ancient pragmatic philosophy that teaches us to step back, gain perspective, and act with intention. My guest Massimo Pigliucci introduces us to the timeless Stoic teachings. Massimo Pigliucci is the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. He has published in outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Philosophy Now and The Philosopher's Magazine. He is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a contributing editor to Skeptical Inquirer. He publishes two blogs: 'Plato's Footnote,' on general philosophy and 'How to Be a Stoic,' on his personal exploration of Stoicism as practical philosophy.  During our discussion, Massimo gives an overview of Stoic philosophy and the three disciplines of Stoicism. He also describes how to apply the principles to everyday life challenges and use them to thrive under pressure.

Special guest Ben Radford, deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine, joins hosts Thomas and Julie to talk about how he became involved in the cryptozoological arena, and the importance of skepticism in regards to Bigfoot research and investigations.  They also talk about ongoing DNA testing and the problems associated with obtaining samples without proper protocol, and how investigators can raise the bar with their research criteria.  This and much more on this episode of “On the Shoulders of Giants- Talking Old Timers with Thomas Steenburg”.  Brought to you by Monster X Radio.  Thank you for your support! Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine and a Research Fellow with the non-profit educational organization the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has written thousands of articles on a wide variety of topics, including urban legends, mysterious phenomena, cryptozoology and critical thinking. He is author, co-author or contributor to over twenty books (including Lake Monster Mysteries, Tracking the Chupacabra, and Scientific Paranormal Investigation) and has won awards for his books, films, and podcasts. He is also co-founder of MonsterTalk and Squaring the Strange podcasts.  Radford has been quoted as an expert by hundreds of media outlets including CNN, ABC News, BBC, CBC, The New York Times, Forbes, The New York Times Magazine, Fortean Times, and Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on dozens of television shows including Good Morning America the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and the National Geographic Channel. Radford has Masters degrees in education and public health and a Bachelors degree in psychology, and is a member of the American Folklore Society. 

Dr Michael E. Mann (super notorious climate scientist; El Niño expert) is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth & Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media and a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (and more such academic titles). But he is best known for bringing the world the “hockey-stick graph” back in 1999, which showed a sharp “uptick” in global temperatures since the industrial age and signalled to the world “humans did it!”.This conversation, however, goes to a new chapter in the climate fight. We cover two doozies: the role of Russian interference in the Australian carbon pricing fight and the terrifying El Niño event set to hit as early as July. I also push Michael to be honest - does he have hope, or is it a professional front…Michael is touring Australia with Think Inc. in May/June 2023Pre-Order a copy of Michael's book The Climate War hereIf you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" pageSubscribe to my Substack newsletter for more such conversationGet your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious LifeLet's connect on Instagram! It's where I interact the most Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Links from the show:* The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us About Our Search for Good Leaders* Connect with MassimoAbout my guest:I have a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. I am currently the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. My research interests include the philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophies like Stoicism and New Skepticism. I have been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science “for fundamental studies of genotype by environmental interactions and for public defense of evolutionary biology from pseudo-scientific attack.” In the area of public outreach, I have published in national and international outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. I am a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Inquirer. I write on practical and general philosophy on Substack. At last count, I have published 178 technical papers in science and philosophy. I am also the author or editor of 16 books, including the best selling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books). Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press), and the most recent The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders (Basic Books). Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, an Evolutionary Biologist & Philosopher. Dr. Pigliucci earned a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee.He currently serves as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. He has published at least 178 technical papers focused on science and philosophy and has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. Dr. Pigliucci is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Editor. He is the author of 16 books, including best-seller How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, and other books such Philosophy of Pseudoscience and The Quest For Character. Visit massimopigliucci.org to learn more and to subscribe to his Substack newsletter Figs in Winter. 

This week on RfRx, Rob Palmer will be joining us to discuss psychic predictions. In 2021, The Skeptic Zone producer and CSI Fellow Richard Saunders completed his 12-year project dubbed the Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project (GAPPP) – an analysis of almost 4,000 published paranormal predictions made by over 200 people claiming paranormal powers in Australia. The scoring of the predictions was performed by an international team of volunteers of which Rob was a member. In this presentation, an expanded version of the talk to be given at CSICon 2022 in a few weeks, Rob will share details and the results of this unique investigation into the precision (or lack thereof) of the published predictions of prominent, public, paranormal practitioners. Rob Palmer has had a diverse career in engineering, having worked as a spacecraft designer, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. He began writing for Skeptical Inquirer in 2018, and to date has had 60 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer and other skeptic media (on three continents!). Rob writes about contemporary skeptical issues, and for his column he has interviewed individuals as diverse as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller), John de Lancie (Star Trek's Q!), Thomas Westbrook (Holy Koolaid), Drew McCoy (The Genetically Modified Skeptic), and Seth Andrews. Rob is also a public speaker and has given talks for various skeptic and humanist groups, (including RfR). He has been a speaker at Dragon Con, and twice (so far) at CSICon, the annual conference of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has also been interviewed about his work on various podcasts and YouTube shows, including The Skeptic Zone, Big Picture Science, Banachek's Brain, and The Thinking Atheist. 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

This is just a preview of our exclusive Patreon bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a supporter at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this first episode of our new Patreon exclusive tribute series, we are covering the highly knowledgeable, and often hilarious James Randi. James Randi was a Canadian-American stage magician, author, and scientific skeptic who extensively challenged paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. He was the co-founder of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation. Randi began his career as a magician under the stage name The Amazing Randi and later chose to devote most of his time to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively called "woo-woo" He wrote about paranormal phenomena, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, famously exposing fraudulent faith healer Peter Popoff. Before Randi's retirement, his foundation sponsored the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, which offered a prize of one million US dollars to eligible applicants who could demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event under test conditions agreed to by both parties. James was a kind and brilliant man, who sadly passed away in 2020 but his impact still looms large and we are excited to share some of our thoughts on him as well as some of his ideas in his own words in this episode. Find more info on Randi and his foundation at: https://web.randi.org/

Links from the show:* The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational* Connect with Stuart* Skeptical Inquirer * Placebo booklet by Seth GodinAbout my guest:Stuart Vyse, PhD,is a behavioral scientist, teacher, and writer. He taught at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, and Connecticut College. Vyse's book Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition won the 1999 William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is a contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, where he writes the "Behavior & Belief" column, and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

SPONSORED BY: easyDNS - domain name registrar provider and web host. Use special code: TRIGGERED for 50% off when you visit https://easydns.com/triggered/ Massimo Pigliucci is Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. He has a doctorate in genetics from the University of Ferrara, Italy, a PhD in biology from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in philosophy of science from the University of Tennessee. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Join our exclusive TRIGGERnometry community on Locals! https://triggernometry.locals.com/ OR Support TRIGGERnometry Here: https://www.subscribestar.com/triggernometry https://www.patreon.com/triggerpod Bitcoin: bc1qm6vvhduc6s3rvy8u76sllmrfpynfv94qw8p8d5 Music by: Xentric | info@xentricapc.com | https://www.xentricapc.com/ | Channel ID: UCo_8zzSxKeL3arKWVuP8wdQ Buy Merch Here: https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/shop/ Advertise on TRIGGERnometry: marketing@triggerpod.co.uk Join the Mailing List: https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/sign-up/ Find TRIGGERnometry on Social Media:  https://twitter.com/triggerpod​​​/ https://www.facebook.com/triggerpod/ https://www.instagram.com/triggerpod/ About TRIGGERnometry:  Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians. 00:00 Intro  04:46 What is Stoicism? 11:15 How to Become Wise 24:24 The Need for Philosophy to be Taught More 29:02 Why is There a Lack of Stoic Values in the World Today? 33:45 Does Human Tribal Instinct Outweigh Virtue? 40:41 The Difference Between Sympathy & Empathy 51:19 How to Learn From Past Civilisations' Mistakes 1:04:37 What's the One Thing We're Not Talking About?

On todays episode Will and Josh interview renowned author, philosopher, and scientist Massimo Piggliucci. Their conversation ranges from epistemology to his life living like a stoic! We then turn to a discussion about virtue, character, and why our modern politicians have a problem with both!Join in on this fascinating conversation! Also, make sure you buy his new book!The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders Guest Bio:Prof. Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. He currently is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophies like Stoicism and New Skepticism.Prof. Pigliucci has been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science “for fundamental studies of genotype by environmental interactions and for public defense of evolutionary biology from pseudo-scientific attack.” In the area of public outreach, Prof. Pigliucci has published in national and international outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. He is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Inquirer. He writes on practical and general philosophy at Medium. At last count, Prof. Pigliucci has published 178 technical papers in science and philosophy. He is also the author or editor of 16 books, including the best selling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books). Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press), and the most recent The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders (Basic Books).Support the showTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @F8thfulPolitics Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

Prof. Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. He currently is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophies like Stoicism and New Skepticism. Prof. Pigliucci has been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science “for fundamental studies of genotype by environmental interactions and for public defense of evolutionary biology from pseudo-scientific attack.” In the area of public outreach, Prof. Pigliucci has published in national and international outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. He is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Inquirer. He writes on practical and general philosophy at Medium. At last count, Prof. Pigliucci has published 178 technical papers in science and philosophy. He is also the author or editor of 16 books, including the best selling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books). Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press), and the most recent The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders (Basic Books). Sign up for 10% off of Shrink Rap Radio CE credits at the Zur Institute

This week at RfRx, Professor of Biology Dr. Nathan Lents will be joining us to discuss the history of the modern Intelligent Design movement. He will cover the major tenets and efforts of Intelligent Design and how they get the science wrong. He will review some recent attempts to promote the movement as a scientific one, and discuss how the claims have been debunked. Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D. is Professor of Biology and Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology program at John Jay College of the City University of New York. He is also a visiting professor of Forensic Science at the University of Lincoln in the UK, and an elected fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Dr. Lents's research explores the evolution of the human genome and the genetics of human uniqueness. He has published over 40 research articles and book chapters and his work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, The National Science Foundation, and the US Department of Education. Professor Lents is also a very busy science writer. He blogs for Psychology Today and maintains The Human Evolution Blog, and his musings on human origins have appeared in Science, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Observer, Skeptic Magazine, Skeptical Inquirer, and others. He is also the author of two popular science books: Not So Different: Finding Human Nature in Animals and Human Errors: A Panorama of our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes. 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

Robert Sheaffer is a writer with a life long interest in astronomy and the question of life on other planets. He is one of the leading skeptical investigators of UFOs, a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry cleverly known as CSI and his written the Psychic Vibration column in the Skeptical Inquirer for over 35 years. He is a founding director and past chairman of the Bay Area Skeptics. He has written books on a variety of paranormal topics and has appeared on many television and radio shows over the years. His book, Bad UFOs, is what is of interest to us here.

Robert Sheaffer is a writer with a life long interest in astronomy and the question of life on other planets. He is one of the leading skeptical investigators of UFOs, a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry cleverly known as CSI and his written the Psychic Vibration column in the Skeptical Inquirer for over 35 years. He is a founding director and past chairman of the Bay Area Skeptics. He has written books on a variety of paranormal topics and has appeared on many television and radio shows over the years. His book, Bad UFOs, is what is of interest to us here.For Your Listening Pleasure all the radio shows available on The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network with our compliments, visit - https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv.Our radio shows archives and programming include: A Different Perspective with Kevin Randle; Alien Cosmic Expo Lecture Series; Alien Worlds Radio Show; America's Soul Doctor with Ken Unger; Back in Control Radio Show with Dr. David Hanscom, MD; Connecting with Coincidence with Dr. Bernard Beitman, MD; Dick Tracy; Dimension X; Exploring Tomorrow Radio Show; Flash Gordon; Imagine More Success Radio Show with Syndee Hendricks and Thomas Hydes; Jet Jungle Radio Show; Journey Into Space; Know the Name with Sharon Lynn Wyeth; Lux Radio Theatre - Classic Old Time Radio; Mission Evolution with Gwilda Wiyaka; Paranormal StakeOut with Larry Lawson; Ray Bradbury - Tales Of The Bizarre; Sci Fi Radio Show; Seek Reality with Roberta Grimes; Space Patrol; Stairway to Heaven with Gwilda Wiyaka; The 'X' Zone Radio Show with Rob McConnell; Two Good To Be True with Justina Marsh and Peter Marsh; and many other!That's The ‘X' Zone Broadcast Network Shows and Archives - https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv*** AND NOW ***The ‘X' Zone TV Channel on SimulTV - www.simultv.comThe ‘X' Chronicles Newspaper - www.xchroniclesnewspaper.com

On episode 136, we welcome behavioral scientist Stuart Vyse to discuss the practical benefits of certain delusional beliefs; love-at-first-sight as a defense mechanism to foster romance; whether we can prevent the emotional crash that normally results from idealizing our partners; the mindset of defensive pessimism as a way to reduce the probably of future physical and emotional harm; the benefits of optimistic and idealistic thinking in setting goals and sustaining effort to achieve them; the benefits of perceiving others as having fixed personality traits despite the significant influence of environments on decision-making; the natural illusion of free-will and why people are often averse to considering determinism as a plausible alternative; the downside of hyper-rationality and why some level of delusional thinking is recommended; and the correlation of the belief in free-will with a need to punish others. Stuart Vyse is a behavioral scientist, teacher, and writer. He taught at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, and Connecticut College. Vyse's book Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition won the 1999 William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is a contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, where he writes the “Behavior & Belief” column, and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. His newest book, out now, is called The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational.  Psychologist Stuart Vyse's new book, The Uses of Delusion, is about aspects of human nature that are not altogether rational but, nonetheless, help us achieve our social and personal goals. In his book, and in this conversation, Vyse presents an accessible exploration of the psychological concepts behind useful delusions, fleshing out how delusional thinking may play a role in love and relationships, illness and loss, and personality and behavior. Throughout, Vyse strives to answer the question: why would some of our most illogical beliefs be as helpful as they are? Vyse also suggests that evolutionary pressures may have led to the ability to fool ourselves in order to survive. | Stuart Vyse | ► Website | https://stuartvyse.com/ ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/stuartvyse ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/stuartvyse ► The Uses of Delusion Book | https://amzn.to/3xZ9oda Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast  ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

Shermer and Vyse discuss: What is a delusion? • veridical perception • perceptual illusions and irrationalities • Kahneman vs. Gigerenzer: rationality, irrationality, and bounded rationality • Rational Choice Theory and Homo economicus • William Clifford v. William James: When is it ok to believe anything upon insufficient evidence? • pragmatic truths, 3 conditions: living hypothesis, forced question, momentous • death and delusion: Is it useful to believe death is not the end of consciousness and self? • paradoxical behavior and the search for underlying reasons for our actions • rational irrationalities • self delusions — that is, delusions about the self • optimism and overoptimism • depressive realism • bluffing self and others • lies vs. bullshit • self-control, will power, and time discounting • status quo bias • superstitions, rituals and incantations • faith and religion • delusion in love and marriage • brainwashing and influence (Stockholm Syndrome, etc.) • conformity, role playing, obedience to authority, and the banality of evil • the core of personality and the constructed self • free will and determinism. Psychologist Stuart Vyse's new book, The Uses of Delusion, is about aspects of human nature that are not altogether rational but, nonetheless, help us achieve our social and personal goals. In his book, and in this conversation, Vyse presents an accessible exploration of the psychological concepts behind useful delusions, fleshing out how delusional thinking may play a role in love and relationships, illness and loss, and personality and behavior. Throughout, Vyse strives to answer the question: why would some of our most illogical beliefs be as helpful as they are? Vyse also suggests that evolutionary pressures may have led to the ability to fool ourselves in order to survive. Stuart Vyse is a behavioral scientist, teacher, and writer. He taught at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, and Connecticut College. Vyse's book Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstitionwon the 1999 William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is a contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, where he writes the “Behavior & Belief” column, and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Joining me this week is author of "Tracking the Chupacabra", Benjamin Radford. Ben approaches his search for the elusive creature with a critical but careful eye. Among the monsters said to roam the world's jungles and desolate deserts, none is more feared than the chupacabra--the blood-sucking beast blamed for the mysterious deaths of thousands of animals since the 1990s. Combining five years of careful investigation (including information from eyewitness accounts, field research, and forensic analysis) with a close study of the creature's cultural and folkloric significance, Radford's book is the first to fully explore and try to solve the decades-old mystery of the chupacabra. Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.https://www.amazon.com/Tracking-Chupacabra-Vampire-Fiction-Folklore/dp/0826350151PLEASE LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUTUBE!Join us in chat: https://www.youtube.com/paranormalpopHumanitarian Aid for Ukraine:https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082992947/ukraine-support-helpAlien Coffee Bean discount code: MYSTERY20https://aliencoffeebean.comhttps://pinebushmuseum.com/gallery-lectures/LINK TREE: https://linktr.ee/CoffeeandUFOsPlease consider supporting the channel by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/paranormalpopThank you!#chupacabra #cryptid #paranormal

Tonight, my special guest is Dr. Simeon Hein, who's here to discuss his journey from not believing in alien life forms to his amazing revelations through the study of remote viewing. Get his book Black Swan Ghosts on Amazon.     Black Swan Ghosts investigates how our society treats witnesses to unexplained events, unidentified aerial objects, and mysterious beings. It's a topic I once dismissed as weird, fringe, and crazy—something I'd avoid.   However, after getting involved in Remote Viewing and getting to know participants in this previously classified government program, I began encountering more highly credible witnesses to these hard-to-explain phenomena. And after a while, the weight of the evidence overcame my doubts about the authenticity and veridicality of these subjects.   This investigates why our society is so reluctant to engage and address the critical issues such phenomena raise. Why are we afraid to take the subject seriously? What are the consequences to the witnesses? Exactly what kind of universe do we live in?   This includes witness stories from a former Air Force and commercial pilot, children of high-ranking Air Force officials, an aerospace engineer, a former NASA astrobiologist, a retired U.S. government remote viewer, and many others.  You'll hear and see what it's like to come face-to-face with the unknown. It's now time for their stories to be heard. And it's time we all started listening. Now includes video interviews on the BlackSwanGhosts.com website with many of the witnesses in the book.     Includes witness accounts of:  ▪ A hostile encounter between U.S. Air Force jets and a strange object over Lake Superior in the 1960s  ▪ B-52s during the Cold War get scanned by mysterious objects from space near the Soviet border  ▪ former government remote viewer recounts contact with an alien control panel and interview by intelligence agents  ▪ campers on Silbury Hill, UK, witness strange luminous objects hovering with a secondary sighting by supporting witness  ▪ NASA astrobiologist shows evidence of meteoric extraterrestrial fossils, suppressed Skylab UFO photos, and first-hand account of accidental near-launch of Soviet nuclear missiles caused by huge unidentified disc  ▪ A woman and friend have a car stall and experience missing time near Mt. St. Helens  ▪ Man and friend see a flying disc and its occupant land at night and then get mysterious phone calls  ▪ and much, much more!  Visit his website BlackSwanGhosts.com.     An unidentified flying object (UFO) is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while few remain unexplained.  Scientists and skeptic organizations such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry have provided prosaic explanations for a large number of claimed UFOs being caused by natural phenomena, human technology, delusions, or hoaxes. Small but vocal groups of ufologists favor unconventional or pseudoscientific hypotheses, often claiming that UFOs are evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Beliefs surrounding UFOs have inspired parts of new religions.  While unusual sightings have been reported in the sky throughout history, UFOs became culturally prominent after World War II, escalating during the Space Age. The 20th century saw studies and investigations into UFO reports conducted by governments (such as Project Blue Book in the United States and Project Condign in the United Kingdom) and by organizations and individuals.     Project Sign's final report, published in early 1949, stated that while some UFOs appeared to represent actual aircraft, there was not enough data to determine their origin.[50]

When the government announced it would release a report about strange aerial phenomena, public excitement and media coverage took off like a Saturn V rocket. But what's really in the report? Do we finally have the long-awaited evidence of alien visitation? We discuss the report's content and implications with both a former U.S. Air Force pilot and a skeptical investigator. And if it hasn't proven alien presence, what happens next with those who nonetheless think Earth is being visited? Guests: James McGaha - Retired USAF pilot, astronomer, and director of the Grasslands Observatory. Founder and chairman of the Tucson Skeptics and a Scientific Consultant to the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.  Mick West - Science writer, skeptical debunker, former video game programmer. Author of “Escaping the Rabbit Hole.”   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Famed conjurer, illusionist -- and even more famously exposer of supernatural fraud --  James Randi died last week at his Florida home at the age of 92. Co-founder of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry the Amazing Randi tirelessly exposed the deceit behind (as his New York Times obituary summarized): "spoon bending, mind reading, fortunetelling, ghost whispering, water dowsing, faith healing, U.F.O.-spotting and sundry varieties of bamboozlement, bunco, chicanery, flimflam, flummery, humbuggery, mountebankery, pettifoggery and out-and-out quacksalvery." He's lauded as a great “debunker,” but he didn't like that descriptor, preferring “investigator.” And if you didn't wish to be corrected, it was also wise not to call him a magician. Because “magic” isn't really magic, is it?  For The Genius Dialogues (Bob's Audible.com podcast series of interviews with MacArthur Genius Grant laureates) Bob visited the then 87-year-old Randi in Plantation, Florida. Here is that conversation.  On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

A 2019 YouGov survey says that 20 percent of American adults "definitely" believe in ghosts; another twenty-five percent believe they "probably exist." And, while no data yet proves it, there's a good chance that quarantining at home during the pandemic has led more people to wonder where those nighttime creaks and groans are coming from. Some skeptics say that seeing ghosts is part of the human experience and far too common an occurrence for everyone who thinks they see a ghost to be crazy. But there are a lot of reasons to explain why we sincerely believe we're seeing a ghost. Yet, it's hard to convince people otherwise - even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. In the end, psychologists can offer explanations but no one can definitively prove ghosts don't exist. GUESTS: “Danielle” is a lawyer in British Columbia. She chose not to have her full name used. Chris French is a professor of psychology and head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Department of Psychology, at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He’s a former editor of The Skeptic Magazine (@chriscfrench) Deborah Hyde is a cultural anthropologist, and a fellow of “The Committee of Skeptical Inquiry.” She recently retired as editor of The Skeptic Magazine. (@jourdemayne) Elizabeth Saint is an electrical engineer, paranormal researcher, and president of the streaming platform VidiSpace. She was a researcher on Discovery’s “Ghosts of Shepherdstown” (@ElizabethSaint) Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we're going to examine the memoir which gave birth to the myth of Satanic Ritual Abuse and became the template for future cases of SRA during the Satanic Panic, "Michelle Remembers." Published in 1980 by Dr. Lawrence Pazder and Michelle Smith, the book allegedly recounts how Michelle recovered repressed memories of childhood abuse at the hands of her mother and a group of Satanists while undergoing therapy with Dr. Pazder. But is that what really happened? We'll examine the claims made within "Michelle Remembers" and whether there's any actual evidence to support them. It is my intention to provide information that is both factual and educational. I conduct my research drawing on what I judge to be the most trustworthy, authoritative source material available, and will readily cite my sources. That being said, I recognize that it is entirely possible I will make mistakes from time to time. I encourage you all to do your own research and invite you to reach out with any questions or comments you may have.To learn more about The Devil in the Details visit: https://thedevilinthedetails.net/To learn more about skepticism or the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry visit: https://skepticalinquirer.org/To learn more about Satanism or the Church of Satan visit: https://www.churchofsatan.com/Music by Adrian von Ziegler: https://adrianvonziegler.bandcamp.com/

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are changing and Halloween is on its way. And with these annual rites comes another yearly tradition: the coming of the clowns. Last year at this time, to believe the reporting, the country was overrun with so-called “evil clowns,” terrorizing communities across the United States. At the time, Bob spoke with Benjamin Radford, author of Bad Clowns and a research fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry about our historic and cultural relationship with clown sightings. With clowns again making their resurgence, we're sharing that interview as this week's podcast extra.     On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

In this bite-sized OTM, Bob looks at two important news stories that we won't be able to fit into the full-sized OTM this weekend.  First: this weekend, voters in Colombia rejected a peace agreement with the rebel group FARC. It would have brought to end over 50 years of fighting, and polling suggested that Colombians would have approved the deal. The vote has been explained as the triumph of bitterness over common sense, but it could also be seen as a failure of media messaging. Bob talks to Alex Fattal, Assistant Professor in the Department of Film-Video and Media Studies at Penn State University, about the role that media has played in Colombia's armed conflict. Fattal is also author of the forthcoming book Guerrilla Marketing: Capitalism and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, from University of Chicago Press. Then: a rash of clown sightings has spread since the first report of creepy clowns in Greenville, South Carolina in late August. They've been seen from Oregon to New York, from Florida to Missouri. Or have they? Turns out these "phantom clown" sightings have been happening in waves for decades, and they tell us a lot about our own fears. Bob speaks with Benjamin Radford, author of Bad Clowns and a research fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, about our historic and cultural relationship with phantom clown sightings.  On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.