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PODCAST

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

The European Skeptics Podcast is an independent project run buy individuals from across Europe, to provide a forum for European skeptical activism. Hosts: András Pintér and Pontus Böckman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

science

All Episodes

52:43

TheESP – Ep. #514 – A Tradition of Informed Fallibility

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2026/01/16

2025was thethird hottest year on record, but that hardly even makes the news. InTWISHwe hear about the science communicatorJacob Bronowski, and then it’s time for the news:VATICAN / RUSSIA / USA: The Vatican offered Maduro safe way to RussiaSWITZERLAND: Erich von Däniken dead at 90AI: Followup from last week: Google removes some AI overviewsEU: Authorities do not even open international alerts about medical misconductSWEDEN: Linda Karlström, Confounderer of the year 2020, loses court appealSWEDEN:

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1:11:43

TheESP – Ep. #510 – Wat Are They Sinking?

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/12/19

In this week’sTWISHwe take a look at the most skeptical saint,Doubting Thomas– not that we feel that he got everything right. In the news today we take a look at the following:INTERNATIONAL / SWEDEN: Rising nicotine addiction in teensHUNGARY: GP about to leave practice due to harassment from antivaxxersSWEDEN: Breast cancer patients turn away from conventional treatment despite 93% survival ratesINTERNATIONAL: Liam Neeson narrates anti-vaccination pseudo-documentaryA bunch of contrarians that call

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59:23

TheESP – Ep. #508 – How Many Lobsters Can You Eat?

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/12/05

We discussscience communicationby theECDCrevaccinationsand have somelistener feedback about Dr Who, before with dive intoTWISHwhich this week is about a pioneer of modern chemistry,Martin Heinrich Klaproth. Then of course, there’s the news:INTERNATIONAL: E-trade via dropshipping – the scam has many levelsUK: ChatGPT’s dangerous mental health guidance raises skeptical red flagsSWEDEN: So-called ‘virginity checks’ now finally illegalTÜRKIYE: Case study shows risks with chiropracticThe Green alliance

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1:07:07

TheESP – Ep. #507 – Freebirthing 101: 'Dead is Dead'

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/11/28

We start by noting thatCOP30was pretty disappointing although we are not too surprised. On another, more positive side,Michael Frass‘ terrible study claiming that homeopathy can help in cancer treatmentfinally has been retracted!Also, get yourflu vaccines, everyone.InTWISHwe hear howAntónio Egas Monizinvented lobotomy and was awarded one of the mostcontroversial Nobel prizesfor it, but also why it cannot be retracted. Then, we go to the news:SWEDEN: People die of breast cancer after choosing

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1:05:09

TheESP – Ep. #504 – Democracy and Science are...

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/11/07

We’re back home afterQEDand boy was it great! Last one, we know, but next year will seethe European Skeptics Congress in Liverpooland it will largely be following the template of QED.Save the dates, 16-18 October 2026!We note the lessons learned fromhurricane Melissaand inTWISHwe hear about two milestones of European history,the ECDCandthe European Convention om Human Rights. Then, we catch up on the news:UK: The Ockham awards for 2025AUSTRIA: The Golden Board for 2025SWEDEN: Populistic repatriation

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50:55

TheESP – Ep. #503 – Live at QED 2025

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/10/31

Note!You can find the video of this live recordinghereon our Youtube channel! (special thanks to the fantastic SitPO team for the video!)We werelive from QED!Best time ever! Joining us for the recording were the fabulousClaire Klingenberg,Deborah HydeandBrian Eggo, as well as huge crowd of happy QED attendees. We had aTWISHaboutphrenologyand also a line of positive(!) news:INTERNATIONAL: UN demands asylum protection for the non religiousSWEDEN: The Great Pill-ScandalUK: ULEZ is improving people’s

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45:35

TheESP – Ep. #502 – Psychics in the Pub

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/10/24

Warming up forQED, we dive directly in toTWISHand talk about – QED(!) and how this weekend will be an historic event as the last one of them all. We’re going to make the most of it!But before we pack our bags, we have some news to talk about:UK: The Conversation seems to endorse spiritual psychic meetingsAUSTRIA: Finalists of the Golden Board in Front of the Head announcedCZECHIA: Another European country goes populistEUROPE: Plug-in hybrids seems to be much worse polluters than previously

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2:16:34

TheESP – Ep. #500 – Half a Thousand!

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/10/10

It’s official boys and girls, we made it toEpisode 500!We celebrated this with a live recording and joining usfrom all over the worldwere a whole bunch of the best skeptics you can imagine:Michael Marshall, Chris French, Claire Klingenberg, Susan Gerbic, Deborah Hyde, Adrienne HillandRichard Saunders. Good friends all!Annika HarrisonandBrian Eggounfortunately couldn’t make it, but went out of their way to record their greetings in advance.What a wonderful time!Enjoy!PS. The edited recording is

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54:09

TheESP – Ep. #498 – Don’t Be Like Bobby

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/09/26

Swedish glaciers are disappearingand inTWISHwe hear about the triumph for science whendiscovering Neptune. After that, it’s the news:INTERNATIONAL: This year’s Ig Nobel prizesFRANCE: Macrons finally push back on rumors regarding first lady’s genderUK / INTERNATIONAL: Does solving puzzles prevent dementia?EU: Meta and Google to block political ads under new regulationsRFK jr.(orlittle Bobby) claims that he has a‘cure for autism’and that’s such a face plant that he get’s a newReally Wrong Award, just

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45:59

TheESP – Ep. #496 – Nail in the Coffin

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/09/12

In the Netherlands,trust in science is increasingwhich is unexpected good news. We have some thoughts on theelection results in Norway, plus you can now hear uson YouTube! InTWISHwe hear about aclose encounter in Franceand then it’s time for the news:INTERNATIONAL: Microdosing on weight loss drugs neither proven safe nor effectiveGERMANY: Mysterious deaths among AfD candidates prior to election?ITALY: Bad news for the Shroud of TurinUKRAINE: Europe’s largest paper mill identified?RFK jr.may be

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54:29

TheESP – Ep. #495 – Remember That Your Memory Fails

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/09/05

After somelistener feedbackregardinggreen energyand Pontus reporting back from Lithuania, we go toTWISHwhere we hear aboutWilhelm Ostwald, one of the fathers of physical chemistry. Then, we get to the news:UK: MHRA is cracking down on unlicensed anti-wrinkle products after spate of botulismIRELAND: Equal Memory Fallibility in ‘He Said, She Said’ CasesGERMANY: INH urges new government to ban homeopathyUK: Farage argues for withdrawal from Human Rights ConventionPrime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain

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59:11

TheESP – Ep. #494 – An Everlasting Digital Dance

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/08/29

We’re already looking forward to QED and nominations forthe Ockham Awardsare still open – if you know someone who deserves it nominate them! After somelistener feedbackwe go toTWISHand hear about theSwing Riots. Then, it’s time for the news:EUROPE: Spread of mosquitoes in EuropeUK / EUROPE: Country on a bumpy road of climate U-turns…SWEDEN / INTERNATIONAL: Crying nurse goes viral and get tons of support – she doesn’t existINTERNATIONAL: Duolingo calls JK Rowling mean, then backs down and

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48:51

TheESP – Ep. #485 – Barbara Bananas

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/06/27

Isthe virus metaphorforspreading misinformationreally as good as we have been led to think? Some psychologists disagree. We again ask everyone to show support their support forthe Naked Scientists podcastand then in TWISH we hear about George Orwell whose dark visions of society seems ever relevant. Then, we go to the news:ENGLAND / WALES: Assisted dying set to become law in England and Wales after MPs pass billISRAEL / IRAN: Disinformation to look out forINTERNATIONAL: Climate misinformation

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54:22

TheESP – Ep. #484 – Mystery Moon

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/06/20

URGENT!The great podcastthe Naked Scientistsis in great danger of being cancelled byCambridge Universityand we urge everyone toprotest this!Information about how to do that is here:https://www.thenakedscientists.com/sos. In other newsPontus will be in Lithuania 29-30 Augustto participate inthe Būtent festival. If you happen to be there too, let us know! InTWISHwe hear about amysterious moon observationfrom 1178, and then it’s time for the news:SWEDEN / FINLAND / NORWAY: ‘Life’ files for

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1:00:57

TheESP – Ep. #482 – On the Highway of Misinformation

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/06/06

We have somelistener feedbackabout the name of‘Grok’and a tip to sign a very importantpetition regarding NASA. InTWISHwe hear how a timely letter kickedDarwininto action and made him finally publish ‘that book’. We then dig into the news:UK: ‘Notable increase’ in scammers tricking people into sending money abroadINTERNATIONAL: Retraction Watch’s ‘Sleuths in Residence’INTERNATIONAL: More than half of top 100 mental health TikToks contain misinformationEU: Gene editing should be allowed in the EU for

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1:06:23

TheESP – Ep. #481 – with Deborah Hyde!

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/05/30

Deborah Hydejoins us this week, it’s been far too long. We recommend her Youtube series ‘The Green Children of Woolpit‘! TheRomanian presidential electionis still contentious, and we congratulateIan Duntto his position as editor forthe New Humanist. InTWISHwe learn about the first observational evidences forEinstein’s Theory of General Relativityand then it’s time for the news:INTERNATIONAL: Is it OK to use AI in scientific papers?UK: Are prosecutions for blasphemy coming back to England and

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1:04:11

TheESP – Ep. #479 – Hard Core Science

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/05/16

So,the conclave elected ‘Papa Bob’a.k.a.Leo XIV– who is he, and will that bring back the‘Pontus Pokes the Pope’segment? Time will tell! In other news, If you catch this episode in time, please consider signing theEuropean petition to ban conversion therapy, last day is May 17th.Inge Lehmannis one offorgotten heroes of science, hear more about her inTWISH. Then we go for the news:INTERNATIONAL: Aspartame – risk vs. hazardAUSTRIA: Michael Frass’ controversial study just lost all validity – and yet,

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54:44

TheESP – Ep. #478 – Not a Political Podcast

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/05/09

QED ticketsare available everyone, so we start our count-down to October in Manchester!The papal conclaveis currently on-going and we bring you the latest news. InTWISHwe hear aboutJohn Strachey, the almost forgotten pioneer in the field of basicgeology. Then of course, we have the news:INTERNATIONAL / EUROPE: Measles updateEU: Press freedom under threat by foreign disinformationSWEDEN: Swedish climate study stopped due to Trump policiesNETHERLANDS: A PhD position to research paper millsROMANIA:

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58:53

TheESP – Ep. #477 – AI gets high on shrooms

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/05/02

We start out with a few things from the world of skepticism – in Belgium,SKEPP turns 35next week with special appearance byChris French(don’t miss it!), and we link to an article about skeptichistory in Hungary. Speaking of Hungary, inTWISHwe talk about theprominent Hungarian skepticand science communicatorAurél Ponori Thewrewk, who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news:VATICAN: The conclave begins on 7 MayGERMANY: Prominent antivaxxer admits that covid vaccines had few side-effects,

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58:02

TheESP – Ep. #476 – The Last Poke

The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP ·

2025/04/25

It’s time forthe last Poking of Francisbut before we get into that and the other news, we go toTWISHto hear about this week’s birthday boy,Guglielmo Marconi, thepioneer of radio transmissionsand hiswireless telegraph system.The news list contains the following:INTERNATIONAL: Medical cannabis shows potential to fight cancer, largest-ever study finds – or does it…?HUNGARY: Antivaxx nutjob gets Flat Earth AwardVATICAN: So Frankie died… one last chance to poke the pope (at least this one)EUROPE: RFK Jr

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