Loading...

PODCAST

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition

Center for Inquiry

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition brings the insightful articles from Skeptical Inquirer magazine directly to your ears. Covering topics in science, skepticism, and critical thinking, each episode features narrated versions of our most thought-provoking content. Perfect for those on the go, SI Audio Edition allows you to stay informed and inspired wherever you are. Support our work and subscribe to the print magazine at skepticalinquirer.org Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is produced at the

society & culture

All Episodes

22:15

Curing with Charm: Folkloric Faith Healing and the...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Daniel A. Reed examines the persistence of faith healing traditions, especially in Appalachian communities, and how these practices continue due to cultural beliefs and the psychological effects they invoke. Reed discusses examples of wart-removal rituals and other folkloric cures, highlighting how belief in these practices often stems from a misunderstanding of natural healing processes rather than supernatural effects. About the Author: Daniel A. Reed holds a master’s degree in counseling and has

en

27:55

From Gods to Gurus: The Evolution of Olympic...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Nick Tiller explores how Olympic athletes have shifted from ancient religious rituals to modern pseudoscientific practices in their pursuit of peak performance. The article delves into the psychological role of superstition and pseudoscience in high-stakes sports, highlighting practices like cupping, cryotherapy, and "lucky" charms that give athletes a perceived mental edge, even when scientific support is lacking. About the Author: Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and author of The Skeptic’s

en

07:23

The Eight-Cell Person, Religion, and the Legality of...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Robyn E. Blumner discusses the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that recognized cryogenically preserved embryos as legal persons under state law, sparking debates on the intersection of religion, law, and science in matters of reproductive rights. It critiques the influence of religious beliefs on legal definitions of personhood and warns of broader implications for scientific literacy, highlighting the ongoing conflicts between religious ideology and scientific understanding in American jurisprudence

en

13:49

Skeptical Heroes Unite: CSICon 2023 by Stephen Hupp

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Stephen Hupp recaps CSICon 2023. About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/02/skeptical-heroes-unite-csicon-2023/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of

en

11:53

Avoiding Conflict Avoidance by Mick West

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Mick West discusses strategies for skeptics engaging in contentious discussions, particularly with communities that hold fringe beliefs, such as UFO enthusiasts. About the Author: Mick West is a writer, investigator, and debunker who enjoys looking into the evidence behind conspiracy theories and strange phenomena and then explaining what is actually going on. He runs the Metabunk forum, tweets @mickwest, and is the author of the book “Escaping the Rabbit Hole”. Read this article and find

en

18:19

Smoke and Mirrors: The 60 Minutes ‘Breakthrough’ on...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

This article critiques how reporting on Havana Syndrome has leaned towards sensationalism, suggesting a narrative of foreign-directed attacks while disregarding crucial scientific studies and alternative viewpoints. By selectively presenting evidence, the media has amplified a theory that contradicts findings from recent NIH studies and intelligence reports, which attribute the symptoms to stress-related disorders and mass psychogenic illness rather than to an external energy weapon. About the

en

10:39

Pseudoscience: Do We Know What We Are Talking About?...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Massimo Pigliucci examines the complexities of distinguishing science from pseudoscience. While there is agreement on clear examples like astrology and homeopathy, the demarcation problem persists for borderline areas, suggesting that debates about pseudoscience remain inherently tied to context and available data. About the Author: Massimo Pigliucci is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His books include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (Chicago

en

03:30

Summer Shenanigans: Olympics, Sharks, Blockbusters,...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/07/01

Skeptical Inquirer editor Stephen Hupp previews Volume 48.4 - The Olypmic Games: From Gods to Gurus. About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/06/summer-shenanigans-olympics-sharks-blockbusters-breaks-and-trips/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

en

12:08

Looking for the Bright Side of the AI Apocalypse by...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/31

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Guy P. Harrison is an award-winning journalist and the author of eight books that promote science and reason. His books include Think: Why You Should Question Everything, an introduction to critical thinking appropriate for all ages. His most recent book is At Least Know This: Essential Science to Enhance Your Life. Follow Harrison on twitter at @harrisonauthor. Read this article and

en

05:44

Disney’s Wish: A Century of Wishing on Stars by Carli...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/31

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Carli Yingling is a U.S. Army veteran and psychology student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/04/disneys-wish-a-century-of-wishing-on-stars/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

en

15:09

Witchcraft-Based Violence and Persecution in Malawi...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/31

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Wonderful Mkhutche is the founding executive director of Humanists Malawi. The organization fights against witchcraft-based violence by promoting humanist values and critical thinking. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/04/witchcraft-based-violence-and-persecution-in-malawi/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

en

06:50

Advocacy for Alleged Witches in Africa: 2023 Update...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/30

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Leo Igwe is the founder of the Nigerian Humanist Movement and currently a research fellow at Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies, University of Bayreuth, Germany. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/04/advocacy-for-alleged-witches-in-africa-2023-update/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

en

09:12

Astrology: Beast of No Burden by Craig A. Foster

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/30

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Craig A. Foster is a CSI fellow and the director of research and evaluation at Northshore School District in Bothell, Washington. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/04/astrology-beast-of-no-burden/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

en

26:56

Analyzing Conspiracies through Folklore,...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/30

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Read this article and find

en

12:15

Practical AI for Skeptics by Mick West

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/30

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Mick West is a writer, investigator, and debunker who enjoys looking into the evidence behind conspiracy theories and strange phenomena and then explaining what is actually going on. He runs the Metabunk forum, tweets @mickwest, and is the author of the book “Escaping the Rabbit Hole”. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

en

03:38

Paranormal Investigation, Artificial Intelligence,...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/29

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/04/paranormal-investigation-artificial-intelligence-and-the-future/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

en

09:07

Some People Just Want to Believe by Rob Palmer

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/05/20

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Rob Palmer has had a diverse career in engineering, having worked as a spacecraft designer, an aerospace project engineer, a computer programmer, and a software systems engineer. Rob became a skeptical activist when he joined the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia team in 2016, and began writing for skepticalinquirer.org in 2018. Rob can be contacted at TheWellKnownSkeptic@gmail.com

en

08:37

Why You Will Never Know What ‘Healthy Eating’ Is by...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/03/01

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Fred P. Abramson, PhD, retired as emeritus professor of pharmacology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., after thirty-one years on the faculty. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/02/why-you-will-never-know-what-healthy-eating-is/ Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

en

12:07

The MH370 Teleport Hoax by Mick West

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/03/01

Shortly after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 vanished in 2014, speculative theories emerged, including a claim that it was abducted by UFOs. This theory gained traction in 2023 when Redditors revisited two faked videos purporting to show orbs teleporting the plane. Despite overwhelming evidence, including matches to stock images and effects, some believers, fueled by influencers and conspiracy theorists, dismissed debunking efforts as cover-ups, demonstrating how unchecked disinformation can

en

17:30

Stories That Should Be Handled with Care: The...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2024/03/01

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of Skeptical Inquirer and the Center for Inquiry. About the Author: Kendrick Frazier was editor of the Skeptical Inquirer and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is editor of several anthologies, including Science Under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

en

216 results

Similar Podcasts

وجوه من الـظل

Medi1 Podcast

Avec philosophie

France Culture

Q with Tom Power

CBC

Nights

RNZ

Reportaż Radia Lublin

Radio Lublin