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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

11:05

This Isn't About Bigfoot by Melanie Trecek-King

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/02/25

Melanie Trecek-King recounts her visit to a Bigfoot museum run by a committed believer and uses the experience to explore how pseudoscience and science denial operate. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/this-isnt-about-bigfoot/ About the Author: Melanie Trecek-King is an associate professor of biology at Massasoit Community College. Her website is www.ThinkingIsPower.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

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03:41

Cheers to Our Columnists! by Stephen Hupp

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/02/23

Skeptical Inquirer editor Stephen Hupp introduces new columns appearing for the first time in the latest issue of the magazine, The Chroniclers of Curiosity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/cheers-to-our-columnists/ 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. Subscribe to

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11:27

Extraordinary Claims: The Homeopathy Paper That Duped...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/02/18

Nick Tiller recounts how a widely publicized study claiming homeopathic care dramatically reduced illness in newborns—published in the European Journal of Pediatrics—was later retracted after skeptics exposed serious methodological flaws, bias, and ethical concerns. He argues that the paper's lack of blinding, weak controls, and implausible biological basis reflect systemic problems in peer review and the institutional support of pseudoscience, while the eventual retraction highlights both the

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05:06

RFK Jr. Puts Facilitated Communication Users on the...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/02/11

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed proponents and users of Spelling to Communicate—a discredited variant of facilitated communication—to the federal government's top autism advisory panel. Stuart Vyse argues that endorsing these scientifically debunked methods promotes pseudoscience, offers false hope to families, and undermines evidence-based support for people with autism. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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13:57

Dilbert Dilemma: The Tragic Innumeracy of Scott Adams...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/02/03

Benjamin Radford shows how innumeracy and poor media literacy can amplify controversy—and why skepticism is a vital safeguard against such traps. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dilbert-dilemma-the-tragic-innumeracy-of-scott-adams/ 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,

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15:38

Get the Most Out of CSICon (Part 2): Celebrate Our...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/28

Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026, in this the second of a two part preview of the conference. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-part-2-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical

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22:20

It's Time to Talk About Psychic Medium Dean by Susan...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/23

Susan Gerbic investigates UK performer "Psychic Medium Dean," presenting detailed evidence that he relies on hot reading—researching ticket buyers through direct social media and payment interactions—rather than any paranormal ability. She argues that his methods exploit grief for profit and calls for greater public skepticism and controlled testing to expose such practices. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/susan-gerbic/ About the Author:

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05:52

A Sympathetic Understanding of Paranormal Beliefs by...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/16

Chris French reviews The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience by Terence Hines. Rowman & Littlefield, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-sympathetic-understanding-of-paranormal-beliefs/ About the Author: Chris French is professor of psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His latest book is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Beliefs & Experience. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:

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18:14

Blind Victoria's Secret by Eugenie Scott

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/14

Eugenie Scott recounts an early Bay Area Skeptics sting in which she posed as a blind woman to expose faith healer W.V. Grant's manipulative tactics and exploitation of vulnerable people. Reflecting on the success and limits of pre-internet skepticism, she argues that coordinated action and information sharing remain essential as skeptics confront enduring pseudoscientific scams in the decades ahead. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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24:46

My Memories of The Amazing Randi: Part One by Banachek

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/12

In this first installment of a two part article, Banachek traces his path to collaborating with Randi on Project Alpha, illustrating how poor scientific controls and investigator bias allowed simple magic tricks to masquerade as psychic phenomena—and why Randi's skepticism mattered. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/my-memories-of-the-amazing-randi-part-one/ About the Author: Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was

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06:33

Revolutionizing Science: Jane Goodall and the...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/09

Bertha Vazquez reflects on Jane Goodall's revolutionary impact on science, highlighting how her patient, humane observation of chimpanzees shattered rigid behaviorist dogma and forced a rethinking of what separates humans from other animals. Framing Goodall alongside other once-dismissed scientific pioneers, the article argues that intellectual humility, openness to evidence, and outsider perspectives are essential drivers of scientific progress. Read this article and find accompanying references

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08:34

The Red Planet Rumble: Claimer vs. Claimer by Craig...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/07

This installment of The Time Warp revisits a late-1970s Skeptical Inquirer debate over the "Mars effect," exploring how skeptics critically tested—and ultimately undermined—astrological claims while briefly giving claimants a voice. Craig A. Foster uses this historical case to reflect on an enduring tension within skepticism: when, if ever, skeptics should invite credulous viewpoints, and how remaining skeptical of skepticism itself helps keep the movement intellectually honest. Read this article

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14:45

Get the Most Out of CSICon: Celebrate Our History …...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/05

Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical

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23:02

Ethical Issues in Ghost Investigation by Benjamin...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2026/01/02

Benjamin Radford examines the ethical risks of ghost hunting. Drawing on established ethical frameworks, he contends that ghost hunting lacks accountability, incentives for skepticism, and safeguards for vulnerable people—making ethical reflection not optional but essential. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/ethical-issues-in-ghost-investigation/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research

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30:25

Fifty Years of the Modern Skeptical Movement by James...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/31

James E. Alcock recounts the cultural explosion of paranormal belief in the 1960s and 1970s and explains why that climate made the founding of CSICOP an urgent and necessary response. Reflecting on fifty years of achievements, he argues that today's challenges—direct attacks on science, reason, and democratic institutions—make the skeptical movement more vital than ever. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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09:11

The Spark That Started CSICOP by Massimo Polidoro

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/30

Massimo Polidoro traces the cultural climate of the 1970s and the early encounters with figures like Uri Geller that convinced skeptics such as James Randi and Ray Hyman that organized scientific scrutiny was urgently needed. The article reveals how informal conversations and failed "psychic" research helped ignite what would become CSICOP and, ultimately, the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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04:36

A Flight of Fancy about Psychic Predictions and...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/26

Adrienne Hill reviews the best-selling novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Crown, 2024. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-flight-of-fancy-about-psychic-predictions-and-probabilities/ About the Author: Adrienne Hill, a former high school mathematics teacher, currently dedicates her time to various roles and interests. She serves as a board member for the nonprofit organization About Time, founded by Susan Gerbic. Additionally, she

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03:26

Fifty Years of Inquiry! by Stephen Hupp

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/24

Stephen Hupp reflects on the founding of CSICOP in 1976 and the emergence of The Skeptical Inquirer, tracing fifty years of organized skepticism rooted in open-minded inquiry rather than reflexive debunking. The article previews a commemorative issue highlighting key figures, landmark investigations, and the movement's lasting impact, culminating in plans to celebrate the anniversary at CSICon 2026 in Buffalo. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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25:33

The CDC's 'Autism and Vaccines' Webpage and the...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/17

William Matthew London explains how recent CDC changes falsely cast doubt on the overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, misrepresenting evidence and reviving long-debunked claims under political pressure. London argues that applying the "negative evidence principle" shows that decades of rigorous research failing to find any association is precisely why we are justified in saying vaccines do not cause autism. Read this article and find accompanying references at:

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06:28

MAHA Isn't Denying Science: It's Doing Something Much...

Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition ·

2025/12/10

MAHA's summit highlighted how the movement selectively embraces real science—such as evidence-based benefits of creatine—only when it aligns with its ideology and commercial interests. Tiller argues that this strategic, opportunistic use of science is more dangerous than denialism because it cloaks misinformation in a veneer of credibility. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/maha-isnt-denying-science-its-doing-something-much-worse/ About

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