Skeptoid

<p>The true science behind our most popular urban legends. Historical mysteries, paranormal claims, popular science myths, aliens and UFO reports, conspiracy theories, and worthless alternative medicine schemes... Skeptoid has you covered. From the sublime to the startling, no topic is sacred. Weekly since 2006.</p>

Skeptoid #1012: The Rake That Comes for You in the Night

Is the Rake mere creepypasta, or do more recent events prove it to be a real creature? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10-28
16:56

Skeptoid #1011: The Not-Deer and Weird Appalachian Lore

When ordinary deer turn grotesque, Appalachia’s forests whisper of the Not-Deer — unnatural predators lurking somewhere between folklore and nightmare. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10-21
18:13

Skeptoid #1010: Pop Quiz: 19 Years of Skeptoid

A pop quiz of trivia from the previous 19 years of Skeptoid shows! Can you beat the masters? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10-14
30:32

Skeptoid #1009: Facts and Fiction of Polynesian Navigation, Part 2

The actual wayfinding methods used by the ancient Polynesians to navigate between islands and settle the entire Pacific Ocean. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10-07
21:05

Skeptoid Adventures Sets Sail! Malaga, Spain to Nice, France 2026

Skeptoid Adventures will set sail on the world's largest sailing vessel, the SV Royal Clipper, from Malaga, Spain, to Nice, France this April. We'll have a mini-conference aboard and we'll stop at amazing ports of call -- all while on the coolest full-rigged sailing ship you've ever seen. Take a look at skeptoid.com/adventures. Please note: This ship often sells out by the end of October, so reserve your cabin soon. All deposits are fully refundable. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

10-01
02:31

Skeptoid #1008: Facts and Fiction of Polynesian Navigation, Part 1

Nearly as much mythology as science surrounds the wayfinding techniques used by early Polynesians to navigate the South Pacific. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

09-30
18:33

Skeptoid #1007: The Pilots Who Landed at Area 51

True stories of the pilots who have tried to land at Area 51 — and what happened to them. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

09-23
22:08

Skeptoid #1006: Deconstructing Structured Water

We all enjoy a nice crisp glass of water when we're feeling dehydrated — which makes sense, because our bodies need it most of all, so enjoying it is an evolved behavior. However, some people — notably wellness influencers — have determined that good old H2O is actually not a good thing at all (who knew?); and that what you really need is their own concoction that's actually an entirely different molecule: structured water. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

09-16
21:25

Skeptoid #1005: Debugging Done Diligently

Another round of corrections of errors from past episodes, keeping your Skeptoid archive tidy and accurate. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

09-09
17:34

Skeptoid #1004: Dating the White Sands Footprints

Ancient footprints in New Mexico are forcing scientists to rewrite the story of when humans first set foot in the Americas, and the debate is shaking paleoanthropology to its core. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

09-02
19:22

Skeptoid #1003: History's Weirdest Science Findings

Fourteen of the most unexpected and counterintuitive science findings. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

08-26
20:12

Skeptoid #1002: A Feast of Feedback

Once again we go through some of your feedback to past episodes — all the good stuff that enhances and improves the presentation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

08-19
18:14

Skeptoid #1001: The Phantom Clown Panic

Clowns have a habit of terrifying many of us. So why shouldn't we be surprised to see mass clown panics? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

08-12
15:10

Skeptoid #1000: Candle on the Water

Today marks the 1000th Skeptoid episode. And it's time to raise the question: What are you going to do for it? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

08-05
19:07

Skeptoid #999: Day of the Medieval Dead

Medieval tales of walking corpses reflect common misunderstandings of death and the era's blurred line between myth and reality. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-29
20:06

Skeptoid #998: The Manifestation Trap: OCD and the Law of Attraction

What began as 19th-century mind-cure mysticism has morphed into a billion-dollar culture that may be hurting more minds than it helps. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-22
19:40

Skeptoid #997: Sounds of the Aurora

Using real science to investigate the question of whether some people can "hear" the aurora. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-15
19:08

Skeptoid #996: Murder in Hex Hollow

The 1928 murder of a folk healer ignited a media frenzy and moral panic, revealing how superstition and magical thinking can fuel real-world tragedy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-08
18:49

Preview — Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth on The Internet We Didn’t Get

We’re sharing a preview of a new audiobook, Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth, which celebrates the wit and wisdom of the legendary science fiction author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Douglas Adams was someone who thought deeply about the biggest problems in the world, from the internet, to artificial intelligence, to space exploration, politics, and conservation—he was a sharp critic and a profoundly disruptive thinker of the way we do things. Written and narrated by Arvind Ethan David, Adams’ former protégé, this one-of-a-kind audiobook includes rare archival material from the Adams Estate, interviews with Adams’ personal friends like Griff Rhys Jones and David Baddiel, and reenactments of his work to form an immersive journey through the mind of one of the most visionary writers of our time. Get Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth now at Audible, Spotify, pushkin.fm/audiobooks, or wherever audiobooks are sold. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-02
49:23

Skeptoid #995: The Eugenic History of the Body Type Diet

Is there good science backing up the idea that you should eat based upon which of three body types you have? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

07-01
16:58

Merely Okay

This would be a great recommendation for teachers if not for that final plug about the premium content. Was that really necessary to include?

10-20 Reply

Ron Freiberg

The causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are not well known and documented. Where did that statement come from?

04-01 Reply

Spencer Noneya

Til feudal china was capitalist. This show is general great, but i stg the american libertarian brain rot is hard to hear. Maoist China (Svoiet Russia for that matter) were never communist, anymore than North Korea is a democratic republic. Besides that, having a commodity market isn't capitalism, pre-maoist china was feudalist. Maoist China was State Capitalist (fascism using communist terms for spin) and remains so to this day.

11-09 Reply

Spencer Noneya

The next decade of Republican fascism makes this seem really optimistic in hindsight lol

10-26 Reply

World Cup Willie

I can't believe you're asserting that the "Toxic Lady" was definitely mass hysteria. There were many experienced nurses who were affected.

08-16 Reply

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