The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

Lot’s of listener feedback in this episode which is delightful! Pontus explains whether there was a scandal concerning the Sami peoples at the Gothenburg Book Fair and we prepare for this weekend’s QED! Speaking of which, this is what we also talk about in TWISH this week. Then, as always, the news:THE NETHERLANDS: Meester Kackadorisprijs awarded to the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO)FRANCE: Minister of Education and Research seems to be at odds with scienceSPAIN: Health Minister denounces homeopathyGERMANY / AUSTRIA: Das Goldene Brett Nominations now open (until 11 November)The Award for being Really Right goes to John Wiley & Sons for their decision to terminate the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, infamous for its terrible track record on retracted articles.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-449.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:10:55 TWISH0:16:18 News0:36:03 Really Right0:40:01 Who's Quacking?0:46:55 Quote0:49:08 Outro0:50:23 Outtakes

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo. Then it’s time for the news:SWEDEN: Secret Service confirms State of Iran behind disinformation text messages re Quran burningsINTERNATIONAL: Social media moguls are a concern to most experts regarding misinformationBELGIUM: And the Pope is still a misogynistPORTUGAL: Public trust drives vaccine uptake regardless of ageTo round up we hand a Really Wrong Award to well-known homeopath Michael Frass, who keeps implying that homeopathy can treat cancer – but his arguments are based on falsified research…Enjoy!All show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-447.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:09:45 TWISH0:16:00 News0:45:10 Really Wrong0:50:34 Quote0:51:52 Outro0:53:07 Outtakes

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders. We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone. We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:00:53 Interview0:27:25 Farewell0:31:11 Outro0:32:25 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-446.html

We start with some follow up from last week – Edward Bach is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if plants can really appreciate music. In TWISH we celebrate(?) the birthday of Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’) and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news:INTERNATIONAL: Ig Nobel prize winners 2024FRANCE: Brigitte Macron wins lawsuit against fortune-teller and journalist claimins she’s trans-genderFRANCE: Map Shows All French Churches ‘Set on Fire, Vandalized or Attacked in Recent Years’?GERMANY: Dubious homeopathy research funded by manufacturerThe Really Wrong Award this week goes to an old ‘friend’, pope Frankie himself.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-445.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:28 TWISH0:16:43 News0:36:00 Really Wrong0:42:53 Quote0:45:11 Outro0:46:26 Outtakes

With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some numerology. Annika will be more off than on for a while and the promised record heat in Sweden actually delivered. In TWISH we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer Stanisław Lem who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news:SWEDEN: Music makes cucumbers happyUK: Hereditary seats to be removed from LordsINTERNATIONAL: No link between mobile phones and brain tumoursUK / INTERNATIONAL: Bach Flower Remedies for perceived stress of nursesWe hand out a Really Wrong Award to the Carl and Veronica Carstens Foundation for funding dubious research, and that should be the end – but wait! Brian Eggo crashes the party! He tells all about the upcoming Skepticamp at QED. Don’t miss out!Enjoy!Segments:0:00:28 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:06:43 TWISH0:13:07 News0:34:09 Really Wrong0:39:47 Quote0:40:53 Interview0:46:23 Outro0:47:38 Outtakes

In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news:INTERNATIONAL: Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social mediaFRANCE: Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon MuskAUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS: Climate communication works!ITALY: Shroud of Turin reloadedThe Award for being Really Wrong this week goes to Fleur Agema, Dutch Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister, who refuses to donate vaccines against mpox. We also follow up last week’s interview a Word of the Week in both Lithuanian and Russian.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-443.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:05:23 TWISH0:16:33 News0:39:05 Really Wrong0:43:28 Word of the Week0:48:33 Quote0:50:01 Outro0:51:16 Outtakes

Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details.Then we have a great chat with Algimantas Kvecys who is the chair of Lietuvos skeptikų draugija, the Society of Lithuanian Skeptics.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-442.htmlSegments:0:00:31 Intro0:00:55 Greetings0:10:16 Interview0:44:33 Farewell0:47:04 Outro

QED is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to sign up as a volunteer! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time.This week saw a “full true blue supermoon” – check out which part of this is nonsense and which parts that are real astronomy. In TWISH we go all the way back to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and why it may not have happened when everyone says it happened. Then, it’s time for the news:GERMANY / US: Link between right-wing politics and vaccine hesitancyUK: Druidic Stonehenge altar stone came from ScotlandINTERNATIONAL: Pointless vitamin infusions are on the rise while there is a worldwide shortage av IV fluidsUK: Humour is allowed to be factual or wrong, but shouldn’t hurt peopleIf you’re thinking about donating to the QED fund, or have already done so, you get to share this week’s Really Right Award. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped getting some people to join, who otherwise would not have had the possibility to do so.Enjoy!Link: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-441.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:08:22 TWISH0:19:04 News0:35:39 Really Right0:37:16 Quote0:39:35 Outro0:40:50 Outtakes