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The Skeptic Zone

Richard Saunders
The Skeptic Zone
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939 episodes

  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #938 - 27.September.2026

    26/09/2026 | 1h 11 mins.
    Talking Dogs - Not-A-Con - Bent Spoon
        00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:05:34
    The Loons from Canada
    This week the Loons from Canada get hydrated while discussing alkaline water and commune with Spirit Dog Jewel via the help of interactive talking buttons.

    McGill University
    https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/technology-did-you-know-general-science/dogs-speak-breakthrough-or-illusion
        00:21:58
    Maynard's Spooky Action
    Not-A-Con Interviews
    Students - Terry Kelly - George Hrab
        00:35:36
    Australian Skeptics Newsletter
    What news has caught the eye of news editor Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

    http://www.skeptics.com.au
        00:45:14
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to The Bent Spoon #8.

         2005 - Hobart Mercury
        2006.11.29 - The Australian

    www.trove.nla.gov.au
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #937 - 20.September.2026

    19/09/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
    Pod Toast - Not-A-Con - Polarizer
     
        00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:05:06
    The Think Tank
    Join Annie McCubbin, Kate Thomas and Richard Saunders as they enjoy coffee and toast in a Sydney cafe. Topics covered are Bird Flu, the quackery of homeopathy and the Festival of MindBody Wallet.
        00:18:46
    Maynard's Spooky Action
    Not-A-Con Interviews
    Lara Benham - Dr Angie Mattke - Annika Harrison - Cheyanne - Tia - Paul
        00:32:42
    The Book of Tim
    Peter Brock and his Orgone Energy Fuel Polarizer
    A story about how belief in pseudoscience damaged the carrer of an Australian racing car driver.
    From The Skeptic - Volume 7, No 2 (Winter 1987) By Barry Williams

    Peter Brock and his Orgone Energy Fuel Polarizer
    https://youtu.be/aBdppylOFX4
        00:54:20
    Bent Spoon 2002 with Barry Williams
    From the archives, Barry Williams on Radio National (ABC) in 2002 talking about the Australian Skeptics Bent Spoon Award.
    Also...
    The Australian Skeptics Video Collection
    https://tinyurl.com/skepticslist
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #936 - 13.September.2026

    12/09/2026 | 1h
    Tarot - Newsletter - Bent Spoon
     
        00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:07:02
    You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
    This is part 2 of Adrienne and Susan Gerbic getting together to react to two TikTok "Tarot" videos they found, regarding the terrible tragedy surrounding Parker Wells, the eleven year old non-verbal autistic boy who went missing in Calgary, and was later found dead in a culvert. Put on your psychic hats to predict how accurate they were.
        00:24:32
    Australian Skeptics Newsletter
    What news has caught the eye of news editor Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

    http://www.skeptics.com.au
        00:33:14
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to The Bent Spoon Award.

    Part #6 2001 - 2002

        2002.04.03 - The Cairns Post
        2002.08.23 - The Daily Telegraph

    Barry Williams - Homeopathic Vaccine Banned
    https://youtu.be/NGDHrK7Wm_8

    www.trove.nla.gov.au
    Also...
    The Barry Williams Video Collection
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC3ycM1rFKvI

    Richard Saunders on ABC TV talks about some of the tricks of so-called psychics
    https://youtu.be/3lm31R-LzYY?t=580
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #935 - 6.September.2026

    05/09/2026 | 57 mins.
    Mafu - Dr Karl - Dr Brian
        00:06:12
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:06:12
    The Book of Tim
    Mafu: face-to-face with an ascended master
    For two weeks, beginning May 20, 1990, Australia was host to Ms Penny Torres Rubin, alleged channeller of 32,000 year old entity, Mafu.

    From The Skeptic - Volume 10, No 2 (Winter 1990) By Barry Williams

    Also Tim Mendham on TV, 1992 - Bent Spoon
    https://youtu.be/4xF_yunBBK8
        00:20:38
    Maynard's Spooky Action
    Not-A-Con Interviews
    Dr Brian Wecht, also known by his character name Ninja Brian, a musician, internet personality, podcaster, and theoretical physicist. He is best known as a member of comedy musical duo Ninja Sex Party and video game-based comedy music trio Starbomb.
    Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
    Not-A-Con attendee Oliver and his mum
     
        00:34:18
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to the Bent Spoon Award.

    Part #5 1997 - 2000

        1997.08.11 - The Age
        1997.08.11 - The Sydney Morning Herald
        1997.08.12 - The Age
        1999.08.16 - The Sydney Morning Herald
        1999.09.23 - The Sydney Morning Herald


    www.trove.nla.gov.au
  • The Skeptic Zone

    The Skeptic Zone #934 - 30.August.2026

    30/08/2026 | 59 mins.
    Philosophy - Psychic Detectives - Bent Spoon
       00:00:00
    Introduction
    Richard Saunders
        00:04:20
    You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill
    Psychic Detectives #1 of 2

    After a terrible tragedy struck Calgary when a missing boy was found deceased after an intensive two week search, Adrienne pondered if any psychics had tried to insert themselves into the investigation. Use your psychic powers to imagine how much time it took for her to find examples of these alleged intuitives offering their opinions to the public and the police. She called on expert Psychics Explained YouTube host and Skeptic Zone reporter Susan Gerbic to help her navigate this heartbreaking, psychic cinema.
        00:23:32
    Maynard's Spooky Action
    Not-A-Con Interviews

    This week Maynard talks to former think tank member and PhD student Jo Shafer. What is her philosophy when it comes to critical thinking and skepticism?
        00:32:24
    Australian Skeptics Newsletter
    What news has caught the eye of news editor Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

    http://www.skeptics.com.au
        00:41:40
    The TROVE Archives
    A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to The Bent Spoon Award.

        1982.04.06 - The Bulletin

    https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1400945990/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1639131089tId%3Dnla.obj-1400980278&partId=nla.obj-1400980013#page/n56/mode/1up
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About The Skeptic Zone
The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason. Join Richard Saunders and his team of reporters for your weekly dose of skeptical news and interviews, reports and comments. Past guests have included, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Tim Minchin, Eugenie Scott, Dr Phil Plait, Michael Marshall, Dr Steve Novella, Dr Pamela Gay, Jon Ronson, Dr Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Prof. Richard Wiseman, Dick Smith, Banachek, Prof. Chris French, George Hrab, Tim Ferguson, Dr Paul Willis and many, many more. Featuring Australian radio legend Maynard with his Spooky Action, Jo Alabaster from the 'Evidence Please' blog, Eran Segev's Grain of Salt, Dr Rachael Dunlop with 'Dr Rachie Reports' and Heidi Robertson aka 'The Raw Skeptic'.
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