Share
The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP
TheESP – Ep. #518 – Kindoki
Ep. 518
•
We start by wishing for fast trains and maglev transportation in Europe – much better for the environment than air travel. Because even if we have had a rather cold January here in Europe, Copernicus tells us that we are still warming the globe in a reckless pace. In TWISH we remember István Vágó on what would have been his 77th birthday. Vágó was the first president of the Hungarian Skeptics and also a TV personality specializing in quiz shows and a famous promoter of the virtue of facts. Then, we turn to the news:
- UK: Only 4 of 66 ‘statin side effects’ are actually from the drug itself
- HUNGARY: Meta fails to filter political ads, Tisza fails to use statistics correctly
- SWEDEN: Exorcism in Sweden
- UK: Young people fearful of false claims and AI misleading voters
- SWEDEN: Murder of Olof Palme: Attorney General has some explaining to do
Russia is now so short of labor and soldiers due to their invasion of Ukraine that they use any means to lure foreigners to sign up as cannon fodder. For that, and for ruining not just Ukraine but also Russia itself, Vladimir Putin (again) gets the Award for being Really Wrong.
Enjoy!
https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-518.html
Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:07:46 TWISH
0:18:34 News
0:52:11 Really Wrong
0:54:53 Quote
0:57:05 Outro
0:58:27 Outtakes
More episodes
View all episodes
525. TheESP – Ep. #525 – Reality Isn’t True Either
21:58||Ep. 525In Pontus’ absence, András carries the torch this week and tells about Italian electoral abstentions and in TWISH we here about Robert Bunsen, who knew how to burn things with scientific rigor. Then, it’s time for the news:UK: Polls shows public wants religion out of schoolsAUSTRIA / GERMANY: Florian Aigner’s new book out – ‘Die Wirklichkeit ist auch nicht wahr’INTERNATIONAL: Academic Freedom Index on decline worldwideINTERNATIONAL: Wikipedia bans AI-generated contentThe Really Right Award goes to the Ministry of the Interior in Hesse, Germany, for helping its citizens to fight conspiracy theories.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-525.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:03:25 TWISH0:07:15 News0:16:48 Really Right0:18:52 Quote0:20:25 Outro0:21:47 Outtakes
524. TheESP – Ep. #524 – We are Against Idiocy
50:40||Ep. 524Despite the bleak outlook we see in the news, science and critical thinking is still a thing. In the UK, Sense about Science is recruiting and in Toulouse, France, there is a great festival coming up in April. In TWISH we revisit the legacy of Erik Weisz, aka Harry Houdini, and then we have a look at the news:INTERNATIONAL: Funeral rights for non-believersNETHERLANDS: Senior journalist’s fall over falling for AI hallucinationsEUROPE / USA: Europe actively recruits researchers struggling under Trump / Ig Nobel prizes moving to SwitzerlandGERMANY: Old tricks back on the rise as gas prices soarReform UK and the UK Conservative party are fueling disinformation regarding the general public's view on net zero emissions, and for that they are Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-524.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:10:55 TWISH0:20:59 News0:43:58 Really Wrong0:47:18 Quote0:48:40 Outro0:50:02 Outtakes
523. TheESP – Ep. #523 – Germanic New Toothpaste?
58:51||Ep. 523General elections in Hungary are coming up and it’s going to be nasty. We get some listener feedback and we were on an video interview for Skeptical Inquirer. TWISH looks to Tesla’s famous “free energy” patent which was filed 126 years ago, and finds that in doesn’t promise free energy at all (chocker!). Then we look to the news:UK: Survivors of Ireland’s mother and baby homes face benefit cuts in UK after accepting compensationGERMANY: Campaign against fluoride in toothpaste seems to be a marketing strategy rather than citizen initiativeINTERNATIONAL: AIDS denialism on the riseGERMANY: Germanic New Medicine seems dangerously popularWho’s Quacking? this week looks to Norway and finds Anders Haakenstad, a clinical exercise physiologist and health expert who spreads unproven doubts about chemo therapy for cancer and vaccines.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-523.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:13:49 TWISH0:25:06 News0:50:10 Who's Quacking?0:55:11 Quote0:56:56 Outro0:58:19 Outtakes
522. TheESP – Ep. #522 – Talking Nuclear, with Zion Lights
53:19||Ep. 522This week we have an interview with author and nuclear advocate Zion Lights.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-522.htmlSegments:0:00:33 Intro0:00:56 Greetings0:07:05 Interview0:47:09 Farewell0:51:34 Outro0:52:57 Outtakes
521. TheESP – Ep. #521 – RFK jr. Does not Call the Shots
56:57||Ep. 521Even in a world on fire with yet another big war there are glimmers of light such as the upcoming Festival of Humanism in Bournemouth in June. In TWISH we hear about some of the most common myths about Michelangelo, and then we take a look at the news:EU: Vaccine update: EMA recommends approval of Moderna’s combined flu/covid vaccine and more good news regarding HPV vaccinationGERMANY: Fake vaccinations currently under investigationUK / WALES: Follow-up: Assisted dying in the UK and WalesINTERNATIONAL: Lessons from the latest Freedom of Thought ReportThe Really Wrong Award goes to unnecessary supplements for middle-aged men (they don’t do much for other people either…)Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-521.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:05:51 TWISH0:19:51 News0:45:46 Really Wrong0:50:03 Who's Quacking?0:53:44 Quote0:55:11 Outro0:56:34 Outtakes
520. TheESP – Ep. #520 – I Swear, it’s Adrienne Hill!
01:18:02||Ep. 520In a very special skeptical Canadian extravaganza, we are joined by the fabulous Adrienne Hill as guest host for the show. A very special treat! In TWISH we look into the fourth anniversary of Putins’ invasion of Ukraine, and how disinformation has been used as weapon in the war. Then, we dig into the news:UK: Racial Slurs shouted at the Bafta Awards by a guest who has Tourette SyndromeNORTHERN IRELEND: Getting closer to repeal blasphemy lawHUNGARY: Pediatrician in custody after faking vaccination certificatesITALY: Crotchgate at the Olympics. Can injecting Hyaluronic Acid into genitals help ski jumpers’ distance?NETHERLANDS / SWEDEN: Dutch seller of bogus medicine uses AI deep fakes and Swedish bank for legitimacyINTERNATIONAL: Safe spaces or innovation killers? Macron’s AI showdown in DelhiThe Really Wrong Award goes to circumcision for non-medical reasons on children who cannot consent, after a baby dies of sepsis for no good reason.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-520.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:53 Greetings0:12:20 TWISH0:22:56 News1:08:41 Really Wrong1:14:57 Quote1:16:05 Outro1:17:27 Outtakes
519. TheESP – Ep. #519 – Skeptical Heresy
51:25||Ep. 519Just like his uncle, even the Prince of Wales (William, that is!) cannot entirely stay out of the Epstein-files, as his charity gets tangled up in it. In TWISH we take a look at famed Giordano Bruno to see if he was truly a skeptic or more of a trouble make (admittedly, you can be both). Then we have the news:UK: More than 60 children infected in north London measles outbreakAUSTRIA: Group of scientists on how difficult it is to try to uphold scientific standardsINTERNATIONAL: Climate change confusion?INTERNATIONAL: Study finds deepfake to be alarmingly prevalentOn the same topic as two weeks ago, the Really Wrong Award goes to the UK education system for their very questionable religious education syllabus, while the Humanists UK get the Really Right Award for fighting back.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-519.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:09:46 TWISH0:19:07 News0:41:30 Really Wrong / Really Right0:45:54 Quote0:47:43 Outro0:49:06 Outtakes
517. TheESP – Ep. #517 – When in Doubt, Gather More Data!
01:01:51||Ep. 517This is an oddly positive episode with a lot of good news, who could foresee that? But do us a favor and help Skeptical Science with your translation skills (link in the show notes)! In TWISH we dig into the cannibalism that is Christianity with a look into the legend of St Agatha.Then, it’s time for the news:SWEDEN: Gaming addiction risk greatly exaggeratedEUROPE: Council of Europe calls for ban on conversion therapiesUK: Gen Z churchgoing is actually still decliningPOLAND: MMS use strongly discouraged by scientist based on latest researchSWEDEN: COVID-19 vaccination carries no association with childbirth rates in SwedenINTERNATIONAL: AI safety report indicates we’re not doing enoughJaved Love is a teacher in Northern Ireland who is exercising his right not to spread religious beliefs in the classroom. For that he is Really Right!Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-517.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:06:22 TWISH0:17:40 News0:54:17 Really Right0:57:32 Quote0:59:21 Outro1:00:44 Outtakes