Podcasts about skeptics

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 92 The monster that's been let out of its cage Astronomers have for the first time discovered a monstrous supermassive black hole wandering unseen near the edge of a galaxy. Counting down to next week's solar eclipse Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Greenland Russia and the arctic are about to experience a total solar eclipse as the Moon's shadow sweeps across the surface of the Earth. The Swift Space Telescope rescue mission suffers a major setback NASA's Link mission to save the Swift Space Telescope has suffered a few problems with a sudden loss of attitude control putting the spacecraft into an uncontrollable spin. The Science Report Former Biden administration chief health advisor Anthony Fauci pleads the fifth on everything. Antimicrobial resistance in children on the rise globally. The footprints of an ancient civilisation discovered in the Amazon. Discovery of fossils of a giant mosasaur eating an ichthyosaur that ate a pterosaur. Skeptics guide to the 2026 Bent Spoon Awards. This Week's Guests NASA WB-57 pilot Tom Parent NASA WB-57 Sensor Equipment Operator Cary Klemm Nation Wide Eclipse Ballooning Project Principal Investigator Dr Angela Des Jardins from Montana State University. Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio Texas Juno Launch Director Omar Baez NASA Juno Mission Manager John Calvert NASA   Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics And Senior science writer and Sky and Telescope magazine contributor Jonathan Nally  

Michael Horton, Bob Hiller, Justin Holcomb, and Walter Strickland respond to clips from Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast and historian Tom Holland—two different skeptics interested in the Christian faith from different angles—and ask what a faithful and charitable response to each of them might look like. PARTNER WITH US Upon becoming a partner you will receive two incredible books: Ordinary and Core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton. We believe these resources will serve as an aid in helping  you understand the core tenants of the Christian faith and find joy in your every walk with Christ. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola Media serves today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. For over thirty-five years, Sola has walked alongside Christians in their faith, pointing away from novelty and ourselves, and toward Christ and his gospel as proclaimed in the Scriptures, articulated in the ancient Christian Creeds, and summarized in the confessions of the Protestant Reformation. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/

Sponsor Link:This episode of SpaceTime is brought to you with the support of NordVPN. Now more than ever, you need a reliable VPN service to protect you online. Governments, bad actors and who knows are all trying to access your details online. Get protected by the best - NordVPN. Check out our special deal by visiting nordvpn.com/stuartgary and help support the show at the same time. Win/win!SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 91 The near-Earth asteroid that's actually a comet Astronomers have confirmed that the near Earth Asteroid 1998 SH2 is actually a comet further blurring the lines between the two types of celestial bodies. Psyche's gravity assist Mars Flyby NASA's Psyche spacecraft has undertaken a successful gravity assist flyby of the red planet Mars to help slingshot the probe to its ultimate target – the strange metallic asteroid 16-Psyche. China expanding its space station As NASA looks at winding down and de-orbiting the International Space Station in 2030, Beijing has announced new plans to double the size of its Tiangong Space Station. The Science Report New clues about how the body's nervous system senses warm and cool temperatures. Alarming pesticide levels found in the food of endangered Western Australian Carnaby's cockatoos. Scientists have discovered evidence of an ancient species of snake that lived underground. Study warns working from home may not have a significant impact on your carbon footprint. Skeptics guide to multiple Ohio Bigfoot sighting.     Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian SkepticsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support.

There are questions everyone needs to answer: How did I get here? Why is there so much evil in the world? What does a just and fair society look like? For many, including some of the world's greatest intellectuals, this quest has led them from atheism to Jesus. On Equipped with Chris Brooks, Chris and author Nathan Guy will discuss the core beliefs of Christianity and explore the reasons these former atheists now believe the Gospel.   Featured resource:Article: "Some of Christianity's Biggest Skeptics are Becoming Vocal Converts"Website: Celebrating 100 Years of Moody Radio July thank you gift:Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children by Kathy Koch Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

NZ Skeptics is celebrating 40 years of bring together doctors, scientists, teachers - and even magicians - to put scrutiny on spurious claims of psychic abilities, alternative health practices and other areas where science and not-quite science meet. In their words: 'extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof'. Chair Bronwyn Rideout joins us to talk about taking things with a pinch of salt.

With the UK enduring its third official heatwave of the year, Marsh looks at the arguments denying there is anything to worry about. After all, everyone remembers the long, hot summer of 1976.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 89 A lucky 13th test flight for the world's biggest rocket The world's largest and most powerful rocket has successfully launched on its latest test flight bringing it a step closer to NASA's Artemis program's aim of returning humans to the lunar surface, and eventually on to Mars and beyond. Scientists identify the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs A new study has determined that the asteroid which slammed into the Earth 66 million years ago wiping out over 75 percent of all life on the planet including all the non-avian dinosaurs was most likely a rare CO type carbonaceous chondrite. SpaceX rocket about to crash into the Moon The spent upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is about to slam into the visible side of the Moon, providing scientists with a new method of pinpointing exactly where objects strike the Moon, data that could help prepare for future lunar seismic experiments. The Science Report Warnings that a third of all heart related deaths due to ultra processed foods. New data suggests fewer people in Australia are now smoking. Scientists have identified high levels of vehicle tyre dust on local Brisbane balconies. Iran continuing its nuclear weapons program in a complex deep below Pickaxe Mountain. Skeptics guide to fake news click bait. Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Trevor talks to Thomas Westrbrook, aka Holy Koolaid about how to influence change, being able to ask questions, growing up a missionary kid, and so much more. Support Belief It Or Not Created by Trevor Poelman Produced and Edited by Jamie Carlisle Produced by Michael Mongiardi Art by Joel Jackson Music by Devon Hyland Special Thanks to The Sonar Network Visit https://www.beliefitornot.com/ Email enquiries to Trevor.Poelman@BeliefItOrNot.com Follow Belief It Or Not: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beliefitornot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beliefitornotpodcast/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/beliefitornot.bsky.social TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@beliefitornot Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beliefitornot Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 88 The hellish planets orbiting a nearby star Astronomers have painted the most detailed portrait yet of the planetary system orbiting Barnard's Star – the Sun's closest stellar neighbour after Alpha Centauri, just under six light-years away. Australia's role in India's manned space program India's manned space program is moving ahead with the commissioning of a new space tracking station on Australia's Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The latest mission to the International Space Station The Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station three hours and two orbits after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. The Science Report A new study has found a link between health risks and electromagnetic fields. Wild koala given a chlamydia vaccine implant to help them survive the ever spreading disease. A quadriplegic now able to feed himself using his own hand, thanks to microchip brain implants. Study shows the last five decades of pop music has slowly shifted towards being more self-focused. Skeptics guide to the Pentagon's latest UFO file release.     Our Guests This Week: Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Scientist Katy Stack Morgan NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover project Scientist Ken Farley NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Manager Matt Wallace NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Chief Engineer Adam Steltzner NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Mobility Team Member Farah Alibay NASA JPL     And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

00:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders     00:06:00 2026 Bent Spoon Award Australian Skeptics president Jessica Singer together with Richard Saunders announce the winner of the 2026 Bent Spooner award. This year's winner is Dolly Adamson of Kyneton Paranormal, Victoria, who claims to talk to the ghosts of murdered children, and their killers, via a radio. https://www.skeptics.com.au/bent-spoon-award-for-2026     00:15:10 Why Smart Women on the Mones Zone Join Annie McCubbin from the Why Smart Women podcast, Kate Thomas from On The Mones podcast, Richard Saunders from the Skeptics Zone podcast and special guest Dr Angela Mattke as they ponder the world of quackery over coffee and toast. Applied kinesiology https://youtu.be/hlhvgG8lRhk?si=cbDVunPJgbf5Fp-R     00:51:50 Maynard's Spooky Action Not-A-Con + Skepticon Interviews The Board Meeting - Maynard reports from a room full of Skeptics, all having a great time playing a variety of tabletop board games. Among the celebrities dotted around the room, Maynard finds George Hrab and Bob Novella. Also Richard Saunders in TV Week https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/the-one-search-for-australias-most-gifted-psychic/

Most people think persuasion starts with your message. It actually starts with your audience. AJ sits down with entrepreneur and marketing expert Russ Ruffino to explore why empathy—not charisma or credentials—is the foundation of influence. From storytelling and copywriting to public speaking, coaching, and personal branding, Russ explains why the best communicators begin with the problems people are already thinking about instead of talking about themselves. They also discuss overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there, building confidence on camera, charging based on outcomes instead of time, and why creating meaningful impact is the fastest path to influence, trust, and long-term success. Episode Resources: ⁠https://elitehumandynamics.com/theos Chapters00:00 – Why empathy is the foundation of persuasion08:00 – Stop talking about yourself first16:00 – Overcoming fear and taking the entrepreneurial leap23:00 – How to become more confident on camera31:00 – The outcome mindset that changes careers39:00 – Building a personal brand without fearing criticism47:00 – Why people pay for outcomes, not your time54:00 – Finding the audience you can serve best Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (07/24/26), Hank is joined in the second segment by Sean McDowell to discuss his article, “What Skeptics Want Christians to Know” in the Christian Research Journal.Hank also answers the following questions:Why did God not give the Holy Spirit in Old Testament times? Michelle Jean (0:51)Can we know the New Testament was written prior to 70 A.D.? How does this fit into eschatology? Michael - Kansas City, MO (4:43)

Etched, founded by three Harvard dropouts, has created new chips and memory components that speed up inference on any AI model -- no GPUs required, it says. Also, Imagi announced a $4.5 million seed round, with investors including Brighteye Ventures, Day One Capital, and artist Wil.i.am. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, a few numbers. This year Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta will spend more than $700 billion building AI infrastructure. There are 1,500 data centers in development across the country. AI-linked stocks make up at least 40% of the S&P 500. These are the kinds of numbers that make some economists jumpy. If this whole AI thing doesn't pan out, they warn, we're headed for the mother of all crashes. But Azeem Azhar is not one of those economists. He and his team recently spent months turning the AI economy inside out, and they just released a report called The State of the AI Economy. It contains surprising answers to what has become an increasingly pressing question: is this the biggest bubble ever blown, or are we building the durable machinery of a radically more abundant world? In this conversation, Azeem joins Rufus to unpack why AI adoption is growing faster than the internet or mobile, what Wall Street and Silicon Valley may still be getting wrong, and why the most important skill in an AI-powered future may have nothing to do with AI. Along the way, they explore energy, jobs, investing, AI safety, and what exponential change means for the next generation.

Alice outlines the political reaction to The Odyssey and the implications for free speech. Meanwhile, Marsh is asked to review a book which proves God and creation with maths.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

In this deeply illuminating episode, Loch sits down with Theravāda Buddhist monks Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho to explore the profound practice of Effortless Mindfulness.Together, they bridge the gap between conventional and non-dual wisdom traditions, mapping direct realization to traditional experiences like samādhi, the Unborn, and the Deathless. Loch introduces us to "local awake awareness” which is what navigates our consciousness and the power of micro-meditations, or "glimpses," even guiding listeners through direct experiential practices. The conversation delves into the nuances of shifting our identity out of the thinking mind, navigating common pitfalls like spiritual bypassing, and unsticking ourselves from the position of the detached mindful witness, which Loch calls "getting stuck in the witness protection program." Whether you are looking to integrate awake loving flow consciousness into everyday life or apply mindfulness to deep trauma this dialogue offers a rich, practical roadmap to awake awareness.Mindful GlimpsesYou can now explore all of Loch Kelly's practices and teachings on the Mindful Glimpses mobile app, found at https://lochkelly.org/mindful-glimpses. This innovative meditation and wellness app offers daily micro-meditations, step-by-step programs, and simple-yet-advanced tools for awakening.About Loch KellyLoch is the creator of the Mindful Glimpses app, and an award-winning author, psychotherapist, and nondual meditation teacher. He is also known for his unique practical methods that support awakening as the next natural stage of human development. Backed by modern neuroscience and psychology, Loch introduces Effortless Mindfulness, which combines an ancient form of nondual meditation and IFS psychology that allows immediate access to our embodied awake nature which arises as our calm, clear, and compassionate healing capacity. Connect with Loch:Mobile App: https://lochkelly.org/mindful-glimpsesWebsite: https://lochkelly.org/Podcast: https://lochkelly.org/podcastDonate: https://lochkelly.org/donate

Step into the shadowy fringes of the unknown with My Dark Path as we unravel one of the most terrifying monster encounters of 1952—the night the Flatwoods Monster descended on West Virginia.Host MF Thomas transports you to the misty hills of Flatwoods, Braxton County, where a group of boys playing football spot a fiery object streaking across the twilight sky and crashing on a remote hillside. Joined by their mother Kathleen May and young National Guardsman Gene Lemon with his dog, they climb toward a pulsing red flare—only to confront a towering 12-foot entity with an ace-of-spades shaped hood, glowing greenish-orange eyes like searchlights, a metallic body that hovers just above the ground, and a sickening metallic stench like burning electronics. The dog flees in terror, witnesses suffer immediate nausea and raw throats, while skid marks, oily residues, strange metal fragments, and mysterious federal agents posing as reporters swarm the town—complete with vanished evidence and media frenzy that still defy explanation decades later.Was the Flatwoods Monster a genuine extraterrestrial visitor, a mechanical probe from another world, a secret government missile test and cover-up, or simply mass hysteria triggered by a meteor?This episode blends eerie narration with historical context, skeptical scrutiny, and believer's evidence. Perfect for fans of unsolved enigmas, cryptids, and the paranormal.

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 86 The asteroid collision that changed life on Earth forever Astronomers have linked a massive collision in the main asteroid belt to a huge meteor bombardment in the inner solar system that may have changed life on Earth. Alien chemistry discovered in meteorite that hit New Jersey home Scientists have discovered high concentrations of salt in briny fluids that could potentially create molecules crucial to life in a meteorite that slammed into a New Jersey home in 2024. The Albanese Government's cuts funding for astronomy research The Australian Academy of Science has condemned the Albanese Labor Government's decision to withdraw from its association with the European Southern Observatory calling it short-sighted and warning the move will inflict lasting damage to a research and development system already facing deep structural underinvestment. The Science Report Studies show people with serious heart attacks have higher levels of micro-plastics in their blood. Warnings ChatGPT is making psychotic symptoms worse by echoing or encouraging unusual ideas. Claims koalas that once lived in Western Australia were a different species from those in the East. A new study warns your puppy may be an addict to their toys. Skeptics guide to Senator Malcolm Roberts chemtrails conspiracy theory.Our Guests This Week: Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Scientist Katy Stack Morgan NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover project Scientist Ken Farley NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Manager Matt Wallace NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Chief Engineer Adam Steltzner NASA JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Mobility Team Member Farah Alibay NASA JPL     And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 85 Detecting nuclear weapons in space New modelling says small cube-sat sized spacecraft not much bigger than a fridge could be used to detect the presence of nuclear weapons on satellites in space. NASA's rescue mission to save the Swift space telescope reaches orbit NASA's Swift re-boost rescue mission is finally on its way to intercept the gamma ray space telescope and try to save it from its fiery fate. Stopping astronauts from wanting to kill each other on long space trips It can be tough enough getting on with family members at home or the people you have to work with – but imagine what it will be like if you're stuck with a small group of people on a multi-year mission to Mars. The Science Report A new study indicates that people who speak more than one language seem to have younger brains. Warnings that two thirds of Australian adults and a quarter of kids are now overweight or obese. Half of all fatal electric scooter accidents in Sweden are caused by drunk riders. Great news for chocolate lovers with 4 new species discovered. Skeptics guide to the case of the missing peacock.   Our Guests This Week: Professor Chris Kirkland from Curtin University NASA planetary geologist Cynthia Phillips Professor Dorothy Carter from Michigan State University   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Alice looks at the evidence for the so-called loneliness epidemic, and whether it disproportionately impacts men. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to avoid World Cup spoilers in France and Mike tries to avoid My Chemical Romance in Liverpool.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Nick and Jonathan talk about how the addition of LeBron James would impact the Cavs roster. Also, they explain why they're not happy about the Guardians 2027 schedule.

Arlina Allen is a Certified Life & Sobriety Coach (IAPRC), bestselling author, and podcast host specializing in addiction recovery, particularly helping high-achieving professionals quit drinking and build fulfilling lives.Arlina Allen shares her powerful journey from childhood trauma and addiction to over 30 years of sobriety. In this honest conversation, she discusses sexual abuse, her parents' divorce, self-loathing, binge drinking, rock bottom, and how she finally got clean at age 25.She explains why moderation failed, the importance of self-compassion, community support, and healing underlying pain. Arlina also talks about her experience with 12-step recovery and offers practical advice for those exploring sobriety.Host of The One Day at a Time Recovery Podcast, and author of The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics.Available on Amazon. Perfect for anyone questioning their drinking or supporting a loved one in recovery.https://amzn.to/46L2Hhl Coaching: SoberLifeSchool.comPodcast: odaatchat.com - One Day at a Time Podcast

Step into the shadowy fringes of the unknown with My Dark Path as we unravel one of the most bizarre UFO abduction tales from the 1970s. Host MF Thomas transports you to the remote Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming, where oilfield worker Carl Higdon's routine elk hunt spirals into an interstellar nightmare. A silent gunshot, a gliding humanoid named Ausso One, a cube-shaped craft, and a journey to a distant, light-tormented planet—complete with mysterious healings, vanished evidence, and government whispers. Was it an extraterrestrial encounter, a hallucination, or a covert MKUltra experiment? Explore the chilling details, hypnotic regressions, and lingering mysteries that defy explanation.This episode blends eerie narration with historical context, skeptical scrutiny, and believer's evidence. Perfect for fans of unsolved enigmas, alien lore, and the paranormal.

We're joined by Michael Marshall to review the xenophobic fantasy nonsense of Citizen Vigilante."Skeptics with a K" podcast: https://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/podcasts/skeptics-with-a-k"The Know Rogan Experience" podcast: https://www.knowrogan.com/The Skeptic UK: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/See us live in Washington DC: godawfulmovieslive.comIf you'd like to make a per episode donation and get monthly bonus episodes, please check us out on Patreon: http://patreon.com/godawfulCheck out our other shows, The Scathing Atheist, The Skepticrat, Citation Needed, and D&D Minus.Our theme music is written and performed by Ryan Slotnick of Evil Giraffes on Mars. If you'd like to hear more, check out their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars/

-- On the Show: -- Federal agents shoot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Maine and subsequently place him in handcuffs while he lies on the ground -- Darline Graham Nordone is chosen by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's vacant Senate seat -- Online skeptics reject a "proof of life" hospital photograph of Mitch McConnell holding a newspaper alongside his wife, Elaine Chao -- Senator Ron Johnson suggests that the recently released hospital photograph of Mitch McConnell might be an older picture -- Donald Trump announces an upcoming national address that sparks intense online speculation about his potential departure from office -- Donald Trump falsely claims during an interview that he struck Iran with nuclear weapons to prevent them from acquiring a weapon -- Donald Trump responds to congressional impeachment warnings while making highly derogatory remarks about Kamala Harris -- David investigates widespread viewer complaints regarding online platforms automatically unsubscribing people from the YouTube channel -- On the Bonus Show: A judge nullifies Trump's IRS settlement, Todd Blanche's confirmation is not a sure thing, AI political text messages are getting more effective, and much more...

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 83 Earth's oldest known asteroid impact crater dated in Western Australia Scientists have determined the most precise age yet for the oldest known impact crater on Earth finding it to be some 3.024 billion years old.   A Chinese spacecraft has just reached Earth's second moon China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has arrived at a temporary second moon orbiting Earth -- although technically the object is a small near Earth asteroid which is orbiting in sync with the Earth around the Sun. Sea floor spreading seen in action for the first time Scientists studying a seafloor site southwest of Australia have for the first time actually captured how molten rock emerges at boundaries between the Earth's tectonic plates. The Science Report A new vaccine with the potential to protect people from developing HIV AIDS. Warnings that losing even a small amount of sleep each night could be linked to weight gain. South Australia's algal bloom found to be the most toxic species of its kind ever studied. China launches a nuclear capable missile across the Pacific in a clear threat to island nations. Skeptics guide to the Westall High School UFO sighting. Our Guests This Week: Professor Chris Kirkland from Curtin University NASA planetary geologist Cynthia Phillips Professor Dorothy Carter from Michigan State University   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Charles Murray is a Harvard and MIT-trained policy analyst and the author of Taking Religion Seriously. He joins me to explore why many educated people never seriously consider God—not because they've disproven the supernatural, but because they've quietly learned to dismiss it. Charles describes his journey from “happy agnostic” to “Christian,” wrestling with questions like “Why is there something rather than nothing?” and “Why does consciousness seem to reach beyond the brain?” This isn't the story of an aggressive atheist changing his mind. It's about the subtle assumptions that shape what we think is reasonable and what we hesitate to question. This interview first aired on Sean's YouTube channel. You can watch the video here.Charles Murray is a policy analyst educated at Harvard and M.I.T. He first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication Losing Ground, which changed the national conversation about the War on Poverty and its aftermath. In 1994, the best-selling The Bell Curve, coauthored with Richard Herrnstein, argued that the increasing role of intelligence over the twentieth century was transforming America's social structure. In 2012, Coming Apart documented the growing divide between a new lower class and a new upper class that foreshadowed the political polarization of the 2016 election. His other books include In Pursuit (1988), Human Accomplishment (2003), Human Diversity (2020), and Facing Reality (2021). He is currently the Hayek Emeritus Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 82 China's Mars sample return mission set for 2028 China says its planning to launch a Mars sample return mission in two years bringing back at least 500 grams of Martian regolith by 2031. Is science wrong about the universe The universe should look the same in all directions on the large cosmic scale, but new data based on dark energy observations are suggesting otherwise. An ASSASSN reveals its secrets Astronomers have converted observation of a nova explosion on a distant star into sound waves to better understand the dynamics of the spectacular blast. The Science Report Vitamins A and D linked to better lung function and a slowdown of biological aging. The first ever human bladder-kidney transplant reaches promising six-month milestone. Discovery that some native grasses not only survive and thrive after local wildfires. Scientific confirmation that Female faces are consistently rated as more attractive than males. Skeptics guide to the most popular UFO hotspots.   Our Guests This Week: Professor Tim Johnson from Curtin University   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Mike looks at the products from Telos Audio Design which claim to improve the performance of audio equipment. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to book a restaurant while having trouble with his electrics.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

How do you know God exists? What reasons do atheists have to doubt God’s existence? Can you arrive at certainty? These questions are among the most significant that you can ask. If God exists, there are huge implications for your daily life. If not, then you can more or less choose your own adventure, making up meaning as you go. My guest today is Andrew Drinkard, the editor and project lead on an interesting book called Debating God’s Existence: Believers and Skeptics in Friendly Conversation, published by Eerdmans. In the interview that follows I ask him about his backstory as well as the story behind the debate this book was based on. We discuss Dan Barker’s argument against God based on the problem of evil as well as Adam Johnson’s argument for God based on objective morality. Then we engage a bit with Drinkard’s own content in the book regarding divine hiddenness. But before getting to the interview, let me say a couple of words about our guest today. Andrew Drinkard is the director of Inspiring Christianity ministries at inspiringchristianity.com. He holds an MA in theological studies and apologetics from Liberty University and is currently completing an MA in philosophy of religion at Palm Beach Atlantic University. His work has been published in the Journal of Classical Theology.   Listen on Spotify   Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Get Will Barlow’s book, Explore What We Believe Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price. Get the transcript of this episode Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 80 Did ancient asteroid impacts prevent Earth's continents from forming A new study suggests the barrage of asteroid impacts that slammed into the ancient Earth during the Hadean Eon between 4.6 and four billion years ago may have prevented the formation of the planet's first continents. Could the ice giants Uranus and Neptune really be magma worlds A new study suggests that the solar systems two ice giants Uranus and Neptune might actually be magma worlds. World's biggest atom smasher powers down The world's most powerful atom smasher has been shut down for a four year major refit. The Science Report Sedentary behaviour linked to a 9% higher risk of death by cancer. Confirmation that mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective. Artificial night time lighting has made planet Earth 16 percent brighter between 2014 and 2022. Study shows sending an electric current through black coffee can measure its strength and roast. Skeptics guide to AI and misinformation. Our Guests This Week: Professor Tim Johnson from Curtin University   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

In this interview, Dinx the Puppet joins the podcast. Dinx the Puppet's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DinxthePuppet SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AApologetics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adherentapol... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adherentapo... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adherentapologetics

For a few terrifying hours in the summer of 1955, two Kentucky families emptied their guns into small, glowing creatures that swarmed their farmhouse and simply would not die — and to this day, no one agrees on whether they fought off aliens, owls, or something the mind conjured out of the dark.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/kellyhopkinsvilleREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p86wb4mFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: It's considered one of the most bizarre and convincing extraterrestrial events ever reported… we'll look at the alien encounter in 1955's Hopkinsville, Kentucky that was experienced by two terrified families. (The Hopkinsville Encounter) *** In the deep jungles of the Congo, natives tell of a giant creature that, once described, sounds exactly like a long-necked dinosaur. But how could this be? And is it pure legend? Perhaps not, as one noted biologist from the area saw it with his own eyes and reported it. We'll look at the supposed real sighting of Mokele-Mbembe, the living dinosaur of the Congo! (Dinosaur Observed In The Congo) *** Running a club during prohibition was extremely lucrative… and extremely dangerous, as one Theodore Lakoff would've learned… had he been awake when he was murdered. (The Mysterious Death of Theodore Lakoff) *** Benjamin Franklin was known not just as one of the father's of the United States of America, but also as an inventor, a womanizer, and a man with a bit of an ornery streak in him – as is evidenced by a series of letters he wrote to the New England Courant, where he pretended to be a woman. (Who Was Mrs. Silence Dogood?) *** The internet is a vital part of modern life. Without web access, all kinds of businesses and jobs would be unable to function. So, as you can imagine, there are plenty of people who would love to see the internet crumble. And many have tried. (Taking Down The World Wide Web) *** In 1983 sightings poured in from people on the California coast who claim they saw a sea monster. (The California Sea Monster)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:10.244 = Show Open00:03:40.994 = The Hopkinsville Encounter00:13:15.837 = Dinosaur Observed in the Congo ***00:27:07.561 = Taking Down The World Wide Web ***00:36:42.752 = The Mysterious Death of Theodor Lakoff00:43:15.319 = Who Was Mrs. Silence Dogood?00:49:11.286 = The California Sea Monster00:55:29.517 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Hopkinsville Encounter” by Hannah Collins for Ranker.com's Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yp8pnfx7“Dinosaur Observed in the Congo” by Richard Greenwell for the ISC Newsletter: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc3r3mpp“The Mysterious Death of Theodore Lakoff” by Kathi Kresol for HauntedRockford.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ku5x3cat“Who Was Mrs. Silence Dogood?” by Bipin Dimri for HistoricMysteries.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p868eac“Taking Down the World Wide Web” by Benjamin Thomas for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/c85j5cau“The California Sea Monster” by Malcom Smith for Malcom's Cryptids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc2wts7h(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December, 2021Weird Darkness pulls together a farmhouse siege by little gray creatures in Kentucky, a biologist's claimed sighting of a living dinosaur in the Congo, decades of attempts to knock the internet offline, an unsolved Prohibition murder in Illinois, a teenage Benjamin Franklin's literary hoax, and a hundred-foot sea serpent sighted off the California coast.It opens on August 21, 1955, when Billy Ray Taylor stepped out to the well at Glennie Lankford's farmhouse in Kelly, outside Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and watched a bright object drop behind the trees. Two families spent the night barricaded indoors, firing a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22 rifle at short gray creatures with spindly legs and glowing eyes that peered through windows and swiped at Taylor from the roof, yet the buckshot rang off them like sheet metal before they floated away unharmed. Skeptics later blamed an aggressive great horned owl or a green glow of bioluminescent foxfire, while the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book dismissed the case as a hoax and filed it under C.P., for crackpot.From there the episode reaches the Likouala swamps of the People's Republic of the Congo, where in 1983 biologist Marcellin Agnagna became the first trained scientist to claim he had seen Mokele-Mbembe, the long-necked animal described as a surviving dinosaur for over two centuries. At remote Lake Télé on May 1, 1983, he watched a creature with a long neck, small head, and broad back rising some fifteen feet above the water, judged it a Mesozoic sauropod, and waded out to film it — only to find he had left the lens cap on, and his last roll of film later developed black.Next comes a survey of attempts to knock the internet offline since Tim Berners-Lee launched the World Wide Web. A man named Liu in Weifang, China tore apart four China Telecom junction boxes in 2016 to bury footage of himself joining a public "granny dance," while the Mirai botnet's 2016 assault on the firm Dyn took down Twitter, Netflix, and CNN, and Cornell student Robert Tappan Morris had loosed the first such attack by accident in 1988. It ends on Seth Aaron Pendley, a Texas man arrested in 2021 for plotting to blow up a Virginia data center with C-4 in hopes of crippling most of the web.The show then drops back to January 1931, when roadhouse owner Theodore Lakoff was shot once through the top of the head as he slept in his own Rockford, Illinois resort, a Prohibition den of liquor, gambling, and women he ran under the alias Tony Evanoff. His wallet lay emptied while far more cash sat untouched, and suspicion fell on twenty-year-old Viola Hunsficker, said to be extorting him, until ballistics cleared the pistol found in her apartment. Investigators then turned up five other women who each believed she was his only sweetheart, and the killing was never solved.Then it reaches back to 1722 Boston, where a witty widow named Silence Dogood published letters in the New England Courant skewering religious hypocrisy, Harvard, and fashion, charming readers so thoroughly that several men wrote in offering to marry her. She was the invention of sixteen-year-old Benjamin Franklin, an apprentice in his brother James's print shop who slipped the letters under the door at night for six months before revealing himself, then carried his taste for hoaxes to Philadelphia and a fabricated 1730 account of a Mount Holly witch trial.The episode closes off the California coast, where on October 31, 1983 a highway crew above Stinson Beach watched a dark, slender animal roughly a hundred feet long swim toward shore, trailed by about a hundred birds and two dozen sea lions. Crew member Matt Ratto described three humps rising straight from the water before a head lifted to look around, and days later, near Costa Mesa, a surfer named Young Hutchinson reported a long black eel-like animal with no dorsal fins surfacing ten feet from his board — though a Caltech spokesman offered that the witnesses might have seen a whale or a line of porpoises.

Mike asks whatever happened to the story that men think about the Roman Empire every day? Meanwhile, Marsh is interrogated by Noah Lugeons about the World Cup and Alice gets a fiver in the post.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 76 A possible supernova remnant discovered in the galactic centre Astronomers may have discovered a supernova remnant near the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. A new quantum view of Big Bang A new study could change what science knows about the Big Bang and the earliest moments of cosmic history. Work begins on new Western Australian ground station for lunar missions Construction has begun on Kongsberg's new 20-metre parabolic dish antenna ground station at Mullewa in outback Western Australia. The Science Report Brain computer interface patient continues to communicate after two years. Powerful heatwave in Antarctica continues to push temperatures up. Study warns people eating ultra processed foods have higher risk of heart disease and death. Japan sends a transformer robot to the Moon. Skeptics guide to skeptical psychology.     Our Guests This Week: Dr Hadrien Devillepoix from Curtin University NASA Swift scientists Brad Cenko and Regina Caputo Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee Katalyst LINK lead Kieran Wilson   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Marsh talks about the social media ban and suggests that we may be targeting the wrong problem. Meanwhile, Marsh and Alice visit Wales to teach critical thinking. You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

This week, we welcome Marsh and Dr. Alice back to discuss a miracle in Manchester. But not THEIR Manchester. And also not a miracle.Check out more from Marsh on Skeptics with a K and the Know Rogan ExperienceCheck out more from Dr. Alice on Skeptics with a KIf you'd like to make a per episode donation and get monthly bonus episodes, please check us out on Patreon: http://patreon.com/godawfulCheck out our other shows, The Scathing Atheist, The Skepticrat, Citation Needed, and D&D Minus.Our theme music is written and performed by Ryan Slotnick of Evil Giraffes on Mars. If you'd like to hear more, check out their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars/Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 74 Why Venus spins backwards A new study suggests that the strange retrograde spin of the planet Venus is the result of a massive impact event. Could Dark Matter explain what's happening at the centre of our galaxy A new study has failed to rule out Dark Matter as the source of the so called Galactic Center Excess at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. Trying to solve a meteor cold case Last month astronomers detected a small near Earth meteoroid on a collision course with our planet. The Science Report The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu detected on the Australian mainland for the first time. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared an El Niño. The risk of suicide among males can persist for years following a relationship break up. Research continues on nuclear diamond batteries that could last thousands of years. A new species of shark discovered in the tropical Pacific, north of Australia. Skeptics guide to five lessons on misinformation from the ancients. Our Guests This Week: Dr Hadrien Devillepoix from Curtin University NASA Swift scientists Brad Cenko and Regina Caputo Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee Katalyst LINK lead Kieran Wilson   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

One popular objection to AI concerns is to declare that LLMs can never be AGI. You need a "new paradigm". Therefore, AGI is so far in the future that it's not worth worrying about. A common counterargument is to claim that no, LLMs can become AGI. But even without that counterargument, I think the "therefore" fails on its own terms. The key question is: how much of a new paradigm do we need? The landmark discoveries on the road to modern LLMs are something like: 1950s: Neural networks 1967: Multi-layer perceptron 2010: Modern deep learning 2017: Transformer, LLM 2022: RLHF, chatbots 2024: Chain of thought / test-time compute We can think of this as an "evolutionary tree", where a given LLM (let's say Claude Opus 4.7) shares a recent "common ancestor" with all other chatbots, and only a very distant "common ancestor" with everything else descended from the multi-layer perceptron. If AGI needs a "new paradigm", what common ancestor can we expect AGI and LLMs to share? AGI will very likely use neural networks, because the human brain is a neural network and qualifies as an AGI. It will probably use deep learning, because although deep learning isn't exactly analogous to the brain, it seems like a pretty reasonable way to emulate the brain's learning algorithms onto computer hardware. Skeptics like Yann LeCun and Gary Marcus usually pinpoint LLMs/transformers as the step where we went wrong. LeCun thinks that the first AGIs may be within the deep learning paradigm (but not LLMs); Marcus thinks that they'll combine insights from deep learning with something else. How soon should we expect a new paradigm as revolutionary as LLMs/transformers? Since we got LLMs/transformers nine years ago, Lindy's Law suggests nine more years. How soon should we expect a new paradigm as revolutionary as deep learning? By the same logic, sixteen years from now. Lindy's Law has a heavy tail, which means we can't simply halve these to find our 25th percentile estimate. Our 25th percentile estimate for the next advance as exciting as LLMs should be three years from now; for deep learning, it's five years. So even if you think AGI will require a further paradigm shift as big as the invention of the LLM or as deep learning itself, you should have 25% chance it will be developed in the next 3 - 5 years. Which is about as long as the LLM-only crowd think things will take! This isn't an excuse for relegating the risk of AGI to some vague indefinite future. It could still be the late 2020s or early 2030s! (Might we expect that low-hanging-fruit effects make the next paradigm harder to find than the last one? In practice, fields get more researchers as time goes on, and that effect usually causes time-between-advances to be approximately constant. And in fact, the number of AI researchers has grown at an unprecedented pace for a scientific field, and growth will enter an even faster regime once AIs themselves can contribute. Overall these make me think things will go even faster than Lindy's Law predicts - but I think Lindy's Law is a useful upper bound.) (Would there still be a long time between the invention of the new paradigm and the point where it could be used to maximum effect? It took five years between the invention of the transformer and ChatGPT, the first commercially-successful transformer-based project. But most of that time was spent scaling up, and we've already scaled up. If we invent a new paradigm in 2030, then any frontier lab willing to bet on it can quickly provide it with levels of compute sufficient to train human-brain-sized models.) This is my attempt to talk to the new-paradigm-wanters in their own language, but I think there's also a subtler point that undermines this worldview. In the past, new paradigms have proven useful in allowing scaling to continue after an old paradigm passed the regime where it could efficiently convert scale to results. LLMs still seem to be able to convert scale to results; while this continues, new paradigms won't be necessary, and frontier labs won't risk pursuing them. If scaling ever hits a wall, there will be a few months of confusion as frontier labs look over various new-paradigm-proposals that they already have lying around, and throw them at the wall to see what breaks through. Then scaling will continue from wherever it left off. The best way to forecast future AI progress is to extrapolate from current LLM scaling. This should work if LLMs scale all the way to AGI. But it may also work even if they don't. First, because we might get the new paradigm so soon that it won't be a significant source of delay. And second, because the most likely place for a new paradigm to start is wherever LLMs stop working, going at the same rate. https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/new-paradigms-wont-save-you

Sponsor Link:This episode of SpaceTime is brought to you by Incogni, your first stop in reclaiming your online privacy.To check out our special offer for SpaceTime listeners, visit www.incogni.com/stuartgarySpaceTime Series 29 Episode 73 The earliest known flickering quasar Astronomers have discovered the earliest known flickering quasar dating back to a time when the universe was just 850 million years old. ExoMars to target vast clay beds in search for life on Mars The European Space Agency has selected a vast clay bed called Oxia Planum as the best place on the red planet to search for signs of life. Understanding neutron star mergers Scientists have used deep learning neural networks to better understand the violent events associated with the merger of neutron stars. The Science Report New GLP-3 drugs significantly improve blood sugar levels and lead to substantial weight loss. Ocean waves generated in the Southern Ocean tracked all the way to the shores of Alaska. Are dogs left or right handed? Skeptics guide to fish oil supplements.   Our Guests This Week: Kovi Rose from the University of Sydney   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Mike investigates the social media language of 'algospeak' and asks if it really does anything at all? Meanwhile, Marsh can't figure out why there are suddenly no ads on the Internet.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to episodes early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Before we jump in, I have a couple of programming notes for you. The first is that since this month is the 10th anniversary of the show, I'll be publishing a back to basics series for those who are either allergic to the 12 steps, who are sober curious or otherwise needing support for early recovery. The second is to let you know that there are lots of free resources on the podcast website at odaatchat.com. There's a guide called 30 tips for your first 30 days, how to have sober fun, and how to make sobriety stick. These are all free and available for instant download.   Okay friend, if you are skeptical of the steps, I actually wrote a whole book about "The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics" available on Amazon, but if you find yourself curious about the program, we are getting into the nitty gritty work of the 12 steps today! This is another installment of the stepwork series that I have been doing with Sonia Kahlon, co-founder of Sisters in Sobriety.   I just love Sonia. She's so courageous in her willingness to work the program in semi public. We will be doing some of this work in private because I want her to feel safe in doing the work, but you'll get a peek into the process so you can make an informed decision to try the steps or not.   In this episode, we walk through Sonia's actual Step 4 inventory together - her resentments toward her parents, her brother, and her ex-husband - and dig into what finding your part really means when you weren't the one who caused the damage.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why Step 4 is not about taking blame - it's about finding your power - How unresolved resentments show up as triggers, even years later - The difference between self-pity and an appropriate emotional response to pain - How the people we're most resentful toward reveal our deepest limiting beliefs - Why self-abandonment is often the real pattern hiding underneath our biggest resentments and - How to find the gifts that grew out of your most painful experiences So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think!   SHOW NOTES:   Guest Website: https://sistersinsobriety.substack.com/

Belief in the paranormal is on the increase, according to an opinion poll. Skeptics will try to scientifically explain the unexplainable, but the majority of people are now gravitating to the supernatural and creating their own "reality." On this alluring episode, Clyde Lewis has a conversation with Chris Putman about The REAL IS UNREAL. The original broadcast was on May 8, 2014.

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, we're still waiting for the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran to be released. Iran has a copy. So does Qatar, Pakistan and Turkey. But we don't. And neither does Israel. But even if the deal was made public, no deal will change the behavior of this enemy. The Iranian regime has never and will never change its ideology. To them, we are the enemy and we must be destroyed. Those who insist a deal can be made and that it is preferable, then they have to prove it.  Meanwhile, there's more leaks from Axios revealing that CIA Director John Ratcliffe raised serious doubts that Iran is unwilling to make the nuclear concessions sought in the deal. Skeptics including Secretary Marco Rubio and Secretary Pete Hegseth share these concerns, while VP Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner advocated for it. Are the neo-cons? No. We need a healthy discussion about this MOU. Later, with fewer workers relative to beneficiaries, Social Security faces insolvency: benefits could be slashed by about 22% in seven or eight years, or payroll taxes massively increased. Politicians and bureaucrats have turned Social Security into a hemorrhaging fiscal vulnerability amid national debt, low birth rates, and insufficient personal savings, risking a crash that harms both recipients and payers unless addressed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Edmund Fitton-Brown explains that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed in Geneva, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The deal includes a 60-day ceasefire but leaves critical issues like the nuclear file for later. Skeptics warn of secret annexes and deceptive Iranian propaganda. (15)1903 TEHRAN

SCHEDULE JBS, 6-15-20262006 MOLDOVABill Roggio discusses a rumored memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Roggio expresses skepticism, noting that while the Strait of Hormuz may reopen, the deal fails to address Iran's nuclear program or its support for regional proxies like Hezbollah. (1)Bill Roggio highlights that the ceasefire is a return to the status quo from February. He argues that the military was restrained from finishing the job and doubts the Iranian people's willingness to overthrow the regime. Meanwhile, Hezbollah remains active in southern Lebanon. (2)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report that in Peru, Keiko Fujimori leads the presidential race, signaling a "blue wave" against narco-socialism. This shift reinforces regional efforts like the Shield of the Americas. Meanwhile, Bolivia faces a "slow-motion coup" by narco-terrorists, which Brazilian President Lula da Silva has largely ignored. (3)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa describe how U.S. forces killed drug lord "El Niño Guerrero" with a drone strike inside Venezuela, signaling a transition and military cooperation against the Tren de Aragua cartel. This action pressures regional leaders and criminal gangs, potentially leading to pro-democratic elections and increased American investment. (4)Bill Roggio warns that Sunni jihadists remain a background threat while the West focuses on Iran. Groups like al-Qaedaand ISIS are gaining ground in Africa and Afghanistan, aiming to establish emirates. Pakistan also faces instability as the Taliban provides safe havens for militants. (5)Ahmad Sharawi discusses President Trump's suggestion of using the Syrian army to conduct strikes against Hezbollahin eastern Lebanon. This "creative solution" aims to disarm the proxy without using the IDF. However, experts warn this could cause a "rally around the flag" effect and increase sectarian tensions. (6)Piero Tozzi and Gordon Chang discuss KMT official Jen Wen, who visited the U.S. to bolster her credentials but faced criticism for meeting individuals linked to the Communist Party. The visit highlighted debates over drone supply chains, as the U.S. encourages "non-red" technology to counter Chinese influence. (7)Fraser Howie and Gordon Chang describe the Iran deal as a "repackaging of failure" and a humiliation for America. Markets are experiencing a relief rally due to AI and stabilizing oil prices, but fail to price in geopolitical damage. Allies now view the U.S. as an unreliable partner. (8)John Hardie reports that Russia launched a massive barrage of 70 missiles and 600 drones against Kyiv, damaging a historic monastery. Simultaneously, Ukraine is conducting a "logistics lockdown" campaign to isolate Crimea by striking fuel convoys and bridges. Despite Russian gains near Kostiantynivka, Ukraine's manpower reforms are improving battlefield stability. (9)John Hardie notes that Jared Kushner and U.S. envoys have frequently visited Moscow to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Putin uses phone calls to flatter Trump and promote the idea that Russia is dominating the battlefield. The administration pressures Ukraine to concede Donbas, despite the military defense holding. (10)David Daoud explains that reports of an upcoming memo of understanding between the U.S. and Iran are contradicted by Israel's refusal to leave Lebanon. Iran aims to save Hezbollah, its most critical asset, while the U.S. seeks a modus vivendi with the regime at almost any cost. (11)David Daoud describes a ceasefire deal requiring Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River as "magical thinking" since the fighters are locals. While the IDF faces manpower limitations, Washington continues to pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept a withdrawal regardless of Israeli security concerns. (12)Bridget Toomey notes that despite the U.S.-Iran memo of understanding, the Houthis remain a threat, recently firing a drone at Eilat. The group maintains autonomy and does not feel bound by ceasefires. They continue to ban Israelimaritime navigation in the Red Sea, aiming for economic and psychological damage. (13)Samuel Ben-Ur explains that the IDF controls 64% of Gaza, but Hamas remains in control of the remaining civilian population through torture and executions. The group refuses to disarm, as their existence is predicated on destroying Israel. Despite the elimination of top leaders, the organization's decentralized structure allows survival. (14)Edmund Fitton-Brown explains that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed in Geneva, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The deal includes a 60-day ceasefire but leaves critical issues like the nuclear file for later. Skeptics warn of secret annexes and deceptive Iranian propaganda. (15)Edmund Fitton-Brown notes that Russia and China view a ceasefire as beneficial for weakening U.S. influence and entrenching Iranian power. Experts argue the Islamic Republic will never negotiate away its revolutionary pillars, including its militias and nuclear shield. The deal provides a rest period for Iran to rearm for future assaults. (16)Three name corrections: John Hardy → John Hardie (9, 10) Bridget Tumi → Bridget Toomey (13) Samuel Bener → Samuel Ben-Ur (14)

The Knicks delivered another stunning comeback, and Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber dig into why this one felt different from the rally against Cleveland. After falling behind big against the Spurs, New York found its pace, urgency, and late game nerve in a win that has even longtime skeptics wondering if something has truly changed. Evan and Tiki break down the emotional swing of the comeback, Jalen Brunson's heavy second half workload, Josh Hart's nearly infamous missed chance at the rim, and Karl Anthony Towns' subtle but crucial tip on the final inbound play. They also react to callers who are starting to believe this Knicks team may finally be shedding the old loser label.

Marsh investigates the use of aromatherapy in NHS Maternity care. Meanwhile, Alice and Marsh go to the theatre.You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at escliverpool.org. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

LEARN HOW TO JOURNALSPEAK This week's episode is a little different than usual. I'm sharing my conversation with Jordan Harbinger from The Jordan Harbinger Show, where Jordan invited me into a thoughtful, curious, and respectful conversation about chronic pain, mind-body medicine, and the work I have spent my life teaching. What I loved most about this interview is that Jordan approached it the way so many people do when they first encounter this paradigm: interested, intelligent, and not willing to simply accept an idea without understanding it. That kind of skepticism is not a problem for me. In many ways, it is the perfect doorway into the work. In this conversation, we talk about what it really means when the brain and nervous system are involved in chronic symptoms, and why that never means the pain is fake, imagined, or “all in your head.” We explore how the body can become an expression of what the human being has not been able to process, and how chronic fight-or-flight can keep people stuck in very real pain, fatigue, anxiety, and other symptoms long after the original danger has passed. I also explain why belief matters, why doing the emotional work matters, and why patience and kindness for yourself are not soft add-ons, but central pieces of recovery. Jordan asks the questions many skeptical listeners might be thinking: How can pain be real if nothing is structurally wrong? How do emotions create physical symptoms? What does someone actually do with this information once they begin to understand it? These are the questions that make this conversation so valuable, whether you are brand new to this work, trying to explain it to someone you love, or deep into your own healing and wanting a clearer, more grounded way to understand what is happening in your body. I'm grateful to Jordan for bringing this conversation to his audience and for giving me the chance to represent so many people who have been misunderstood, dismissed, or left without answers. My hope is that this episode helps more people see that chronic pain and chronic symptoms are not life sentences. There is a way forward, and it begins with understanding the body not as broken, but as brilliantly protective. Enjoy! XOOX n. You can find Jordan Harbinger and The Jordan Harbinger Show at jordanharbinger.com, as well as wherever you listen to podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEW SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! So excited about this one :)) Want your questions answered directly by me?

Skeptics dismiss the idea of mind control and electronic harassment as Cold War fantasies that make for a good story. And yet the proof of elaborate attempts at mental control is now being declassified and revealed. On this alarming episode of Ground Zero, Clyde Lewis is RINGING THE COGNITIVE LIBERTY BELL. The original broadcast was on January 10, 2014.