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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

10:01

Investigation into Hauntings at the McInteer Villa

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/07/10

Kenny Biddle investigates the alleged haunting of the McInteer Villa and finds that its ghost stories—from shadow figures to eerie laughter—are best explained by historical inaccuracies, psychological suggestion, and ordinary causes rather than paranormal activity. Using archival research and forensic analysis of photographs and audio, he argues that the villa is a compelling example of how folklore, misinterpretation, and sensational storytelling can transform a historic house into a celebrated

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09:13

The Missing Catalyst

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/07/08

In the third of a multipart series, Massimo Polidoro recounts the behind-the-scenes struggle to create what would eventually become the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, showing how years of false starts, disagreements, and organizational uncertainty nearly derailed the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-missing-catalyst/ About the Author: Massimo Polidoro is an investigator

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09:28

The Homeopathic Industry Is on the Ropes

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/07/06

Robyn E. Blumner explains how the homeopathy industry is facing growing legal and regulatory challenges as the FDA tightens enforcement against unapproved products and courts increasingly reject industry efforts to preserve special treatment. She argues that despite aggressive lobbying and proposed legislation to shield homeopathy from oversight, science-based regulation and consumer protection are finally beginning to hold the industry accountable for deceptive and unsupported medical claims. Read

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05:53

News Bites: From the Tarot Card Reader's Defamation...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/07/03

Julia Lavarnway, William Matthew London, Stephen Hupp, and Benjamin Radford round up notable developments in skepticism and science, from a multimillion-dollar defamation verdict against a self-proclaimed psychic and Tinder's embrace of astrology to political claims about UFOs, Bigfoot pop culture, and the latest space exploration milestones. The collection highlights how pseudoscientific beliefs continue to influence public life even as evidence-based investigations—from courtroom rulings to NASA's

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18:31

What Did the So-Called 'Lying Monk' Really See?

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/07/01

Matthew J. Sharps and Jana L. Price-Sharps examine the legend of the so-called "Lying Monk," Fray Marcos de Niza, arguing that psychology—not deception—best explains the myths surrounding his expedition to Cibola. Using examples of source confusion, language ambiguity, misinterpretation, and faulty perception, they show how ordinary cognitive processes can transform modest observations into enduring legends of lost cities, strange beasts, and giants. Read this article and find accompanying

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17:03

Exploring Robben Island: How the Ghosts of the Past...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/29

Malorie Mackey recounts her experiences conducting penguin conservation research on South Africa's Robben Island, exploring how its haunting history, eerie landscape, and lack of environmental control can make even skeptical scientists feel as though they are encountering ghosts. Drawing on psychology research, she argues that stress, uncertainty, and our fear of the unknown help explain why supposedly haunted places can feel genuinely paranormal despite the absence of supernatural evidence. Read

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16:16

Boosting Facts and Busting Myths about Mythbusting

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/26

Stefan T. Siegel examines six common misconceptions about mythbusting, arguing that effectively countering misinformation requires more than simply correcting facts—it demands evidence-based strategies that address emotions, identities, and social influences. He advocates a balanced approach that combines mythbusting and fact-boosting, focuses on persuadable audiences, and uses tools such as prebunking, critical thinking, and media literacy to build long-term resilience against misinformation. Read

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14:51

The Fine Art of Baloney Detection—Sagan's Essay Three...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/24

Massimo Pigliucci revisits Carl Sagan's classic "Baloney Detection Kit" thirty years after its publication, arguing that its core principles remain valuable but require updating to address modern challenges such as social media, misinformation, cognitive biases, and the misuse of logical fallacies. He proposes a more nuanced approach to critical thinking that emphasizes statistical literacy, expertise, media awareness, and skepticism toward corporate influence while preserving Sagan's central

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02:44

Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/22

Stephen Hupp previews the next issue of Skeptical Inquirer, Volume 50, no. 4, titled "Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade". Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/optimizing-the-tools-of-our-trade/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is the executive director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the editor of Skeptical Inquirer. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

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09:30

A Skeptical Approach to Flying Saucers and Aliens

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/17

Terence Hines reviews Neil DeGrasse Tyson's new book, Take Me to Your Leader. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/a-skeptical-approach-to-flying-saucers-and-aliens/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and adjunct professor of neurology at New York Medical College. He is author of The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience (2025) and a CSI fellow. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

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09:53

Houdini and Niagara Falls: How Legends Attach...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/10

Robert Williams explores the enduring myth that Harry Houdini performed a daring escape at Niagara Falls and shows that, despite its plausibility, no historical evidence supports the story. The article examines how films, museums, publicity, and public expectations can combine to create legends that feel true even when they aren't. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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04:35

Freshpet Chews on Astrology

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/06/03

Benjamin Radford uses a humorous Freshpet commercial about zodiac signs and pet compatibility to explore the persistence of astrology in popular culture. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/freshpet-chews-on-astrology/ 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

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06:51

Right, Let's Talk about AG1

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/27

Nick Tiller examines the marketing and scientific claims behind AG1. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/right-lets-talk-about-ag1/ About the Author: Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and writer covering health, performance, and wellness misinformation. He's the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science (Taylor & Francis, 2020) and The Health and Wellness Lie (Bloomsbury/Hopkins Press, 2026). He's been a

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05:26

Surviving the Information Chaos Storm

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/25

David Weinberg reviews The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters (2025). By Timothy Caulfield. Allen Lane, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/surviving-the-information-chaos-storm/ About the Author: David Weinberg, MD, is a recently retired physician who has contributed to Science Based Medicine and The Skeptic magazine (UK). He was a speaker at the Sunday Papers session of the 2024 CSICon. Subscribe to Skeptical

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10:11

A Jane Goodall among the Spiritualists

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/22

Terence Hines reviews The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science (2025). By Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling. PublicAffairs. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/a-jane-goodall-among-the-spiritualists/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and adjunct professor of neurology at New York Medical College. He is author of The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience (2025)

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06:54

Do We Have Physics in Common with Aliens?

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/20

Daniel Whiteson argues that while humans hope for communication and shared understanding with extraterrestrial intelligence, we have no solid evidence that aliens would use the same mathematics or physics to describe the universe. By examining the mixed history of scientific development on Earth and philosophical challenges to the universality of math and physics, he concludes that alien science may be fundamentally different from ours—making contact both more uncertain and potentially more

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12:54

From Savanna to Smartphones: Reflections on the Past...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/18

Melanie Trecek-King reflects on how the explosion of digital information in just the "last fifteen seconds" of human history has overwhelmed brains evolved for a much simpler world, making us highly vulnerable to misinformation. She argues that surviving the modern information landscape requires recognizing our cognitive biases and actively developing critical thinking and media literacy skills to counter them. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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13:20

Are Cancer Rates Skyrocketing—or Are We Better at...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/15

Andrea Love explains that apparent rises in cancer rates are often due to better detection, expanded screening, and longer life expectancy—not a true surge in disease. She argues that misleading media coverage fuels unnecessary fear, while in reality many cancer death rates are declining thanks to advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/are-cancer-rates-skyrocketing-or-are-we-better-at-detection/

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06:01

Erich von Däniken: A Legacy of Pseudoscience

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/13

Kenneth L. Feder reviews the legacy of Erich von Däniken, arguing that his popular "ancient astronaut" claims—such as aliens influencing human development, creating ancient art, or interbreeding with humans—are unfounded and rooted in misunderstandings of archaeology and human creativity. While acknowledging his cultural impact and popularity, Feder criticizes his ideas as pseudoscientific, often dismissive of non-European achievements, and lacking any credible evidence. Read this article and find

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03:36

A Photograph Exposes EMDR's True Origins

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/05/11

Gerald Rosen and Loren Pankratz argue that Francine Shapiro's widely promoted origin story for EMDR—discovering its effects during a walk—is false, presenting photographic and historical evidence that her ideas were influenced earlier by neurolinguistic programming. By undermining this foundational narrative, they contend that the credibility and claimed effectiveness of EMDR deserve greater scientific scrutiny. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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216 results

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