The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
00:05:48 Bend Spoon Award Nomination

Vivacious Living Centre of Perth, WA bills itself as "a Multi-modality Health & Wellness Centre", offering such services as Crystal Healing, Reiki, Acupressure, Reflexology and Talking to the Dead!

All of these services are worthy of a Bent Spoon nomination, however it is the claims to diagnose and treat bodily conditions via a device known as the Metatron NLS (Non-linear System), a device from Russia, that is the focus of this nomination.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/about/activities/bent-spoon/nominations
00:16:16 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas

A bit of a Stretch

We travel to Kate's studio to find out her opinions on the topic of stretching! Do you stretch before or after exercising? What does Kate have to say on the topic?

Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram
https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass
00:26:14 Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Trivia

Once again, skeptics turned up to test their general knowledge and skeptical trivia. Hosts Richard Saunders and Lara Benham supplied the brain teasers while the President of Australian Skeptics Jessica Singer paid tribute to Ian Bryce who has retired from the committee after 45 years of service.

https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics
0:37:46 The TROVE Archives

A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Chakras.

1984.03.06 - Tharunka
1977.03.28 - Woroni
1991.07.06 - Tharunka
1989.04.16 - The Observer Reporter


http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
00:05:54 Looking into a Broken Mirror

Is bad luck in fact bad? A year ago Lara Benham decided to put 'luck' or bad luck to a test when she purposely broke a mirror for skeptical investigator Kenny Biddle. What was the result? Did Lara have a year worth of bad luck?
00:13:16 The Loons from Canada

Kate and Allie team up for a spectacularly spooky and romantic Skepticamp at MacEwan University in Edmonton, perfectly timed for Friday the 13th and the eve of Valentine's Day. Kate captures the spirit of the event through conversations with attendees and one of the evening speakers. Allie highlights four of the seven afternoon presentations, giving listeners a front-row seat to the next generation of critical thinkers.

Kate and Allie are joined by students Pawn, Tarika, Brook, Jasjot, Caleb and Tamika.
0:31:10 Australian Skeptics Newsletter

What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week?
Read by Adrienne Hill.

http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:45:26 The TROVE Archives

A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Theta Healing.

1973.07.20 - The Victoria Advocate - Texas


http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub - Trivia Night - 5th March

https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics

0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
00:07:40 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill

Adrienne speaks with Nick Tiller, a research associate at the Lundquist Institute at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, who focuses on pseudoscience in the health and wellness industry and is the author of the book "The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science". We discuss many topics, including the past Olympics, chiropractic care, and IV drip therapy.

https://www.nbtiller.com
0:24:40 Scalar For Health?

Lara Benham takes a look at a video (not a spoof or a send-up) that claims to explain how flashing images on TV screens can somehow create healing something or other... or ... something.....

Energy Enhancement System - Technological Behind the Scenes Look
"Ken takes you behind the scenes to explain the science behind how the Energy Enhancement System creates Bioactive Scalar Wave Fields which helps to charge up the life force energy of the body."

https://youtu.be/h195w0TAaI4
0:41:02 The TROVE Archives

A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Psychic Expos.

2000.02.04 - Riverine Herald, Echuca
1997.06.06 - The Australian Jewish News
1998.11.06 - The Australian Jewish News
2000.02.09 - Riverine Herald, Echuca

http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
Also Sydney Skeptics in the pub trivia night. 5th March
https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics

0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders
 
Mindful Living Expo Report
00:09:32 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas

Show me the receipts!

Kate asks why woo woo and alternative medicine can make big claims that lack the evidence demanded from other modalities.

Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram
https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass
0:16:10 Scalar Claims on the Scale

With the help of Lara Benham, we take another look at so-called "Scalar Energy" and the term Scalar itself. It turns out it's somewhat more complex than we thought!
0:27:34 Australian Skeptics Newsletter

What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week?
Read by Adrienne Hill.

http://www.skeptics.com.au
0:41:46 The TROVE Archives

A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Foot Detox Baths.

2007.12.18 - The Ledger - Fl


http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
Also Surf Coast Skepticamp 2026 - 21st Feb.
https://surfcoastskepticamp.org

0:00:00 Introduction
Richard Saunders

Includes a brief report of "Psychic Saturday" at Old Government House, Parramatta with Lara Benham.
0:13:06 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham

In May - June 2026 American and so-called 'medium' Allison Dubois is once again visiting Australia, this time with her "Cold Case" tour, claiming that she will be "working some cold cases that are close to your hearts". Tim and Richard Saunders look at some famous Australian cold cases and how 'psychics' have failed to help year after year.

Dubois is just one among a very long list of international 'mediums' (those who claim to talk to or at least get messages from the dead) who have toured, or are touring Australia. These include names such as Doris Stokes, John Edward, Sally Morgan, Tony Stockwell, David Thompson, Doris Collins, James Van Praagh, Lisa Williams, Nikki Kitt and Margaret Birkin. They pack theatres and are all but guaranteed uncritical free publicity via TV programs, newspapers, magazines and radio.

This segment was also videoed and can be seen as part of this week's Skeptic Zone on YouTube.

https://www.skeptics.com.au/allison-dubois/
0:49:28 The TROVE Archives

A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Scalar Energy and Healing.

Scalar energy is a largely disputed, pseudoscientific concept that lacks support from mainstream physics. While proponents, often referencing a misunderstood interpretation of Nikola Tesla's work, claim it to be a "zero-point" or "healing" energy, skeptics maintain that it is a marketing term used to sell wellness products, such as pendants, that have no demonstrated, measurable benefits.

2005.09.01 - Boca Daily News Fl.


https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/pendants