The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

Warming up for QED, we dive directly in to TWISH and 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 thoughtNot all influencers are bad, so this week’s Really Right Award goes to the Instagram account Kvinnokliniken that keeps fighting for good and science-based information regarding women’s health issues.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-502.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:04:03 TWISH0:14:38 News0:36:53 Really Right0:41:37 Quote0:43:42 Outro0:45:05 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To begin with with remember Jane Goodall and we mark that the Dutch Master Kackadoris Award has been awarded to the VU University of Amsterdam – serves them right! In TWISH we hear about the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (in some places much later!) and then, we dig into the news:INTERNATIONAL: Shingles vaccination associated with lower risk of dementiaVATICAN: Pope Leo stands up for science and humanityGERMANY / DENMARK / SWEDEN / EU: Drones, drones, dronesUK: Nigel F Farage spreads nonsense as hardcore as his American counterpartUK: Cut your energy bills by a third with a gadget?INTERNATIONAL: Here’s the Snopes app!The Really Wrong Award goes to Meta and the EU for their inability to handle political ads.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-501.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:53 Greetings0:11:23 TWISH0:20:12 News0:48:39 Really Wrong0:53:26 Quote0:54:31 Outro0:55:53 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s official boys and girls, we made it to Episode 500!We celebrated this with a live recording and joining us from all over the world were a whole bunch of the best skeptics you can imagine: Michael Marshall, Chris French, Claire Klingenberg, Susan Gerbic, Deborah Hyde, Adrienne Hill and Richard Saunders. Good friends all! Annika Harrison and Brian Eggo unfortunately 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 available on our YouTube channel!Show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-500.htmlSegments:0:00:29 INTRO0:03:02 GUESTS0:03:02: Michael Marshall0:16:55: Chris French0:33:02: Claire Klingenberg0:48:26: Susan Gerbic1:02:29: Deborah Hyde1:19:11: Adrienne Hill1:34:37: Richard Saunders1:58:10: Annika Harrison2:04:02: Brian Eggo2:15:12 OUTRO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next week we’ll livestream our 500th episode (but stick around for this one first!), and also we remind all non-UK QED participants to get their ETAs before they go to Manchester later this month. In TWISH we learn about Alice Stewart and her work for awareness of the risks with radiation. Then we go to the news:INTERNATIONAL: No longer any question: alcohol is bad for your bodyEU: EU transition to electromobility is better than many make it out to beMOLDOVA / RUSSIA: Moldova election results subject to Russian disinformationGERMANY: New podcast of GWUP launchedDENMARK: Drones over Denmark – what are they?Dick Erixon of the Sweden Democrats wants to investigate George Soros only because that’s what daddy Trump wants, and for that he is Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-499.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:06:41 TWISH0:16:16 News0:45:26 Really Wrong0:50:45 Quote0:52:20 Outro0:53:43 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swedish glaciers are disappearing and in TWISH we hear about the triumph for science when discovering 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. (or little Bobby) claims that he has a ‘cure for autism’ and that’s such a face plant that he get’s a new Really Wrong Award, just two weeks after his previous.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-498.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:05:56 TWISH0:14:42 News0:46:07 Really Wrong0:50:15 Quote0:51:19 Outro0:52:41 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Make sure to check out András' Skeptics in the Pub Online talk next week on 25 September! In TWISH we meet Ötzi the Ice Man, and a mystery death from 5300 years ago and a invaluable source of archeological science. Then we look to the news:ALBANIA: Albania appoints AI-created ‘minister’ITALY: Arson attack in Sardinia linked to climate misinformationSWEDEN: Princess Madeleine launches her brand of Weleda based cosmeticsAUSTRIA: Nominations now open for the Golden Board 2025SWITZERLAND: Switzerland didn’t ban mammogramsViktor Orbán has done it again, and gets his sixth(!) Really Wrong Award, this time for doubling down on crime information.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-497.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:07:29 TWISH0:21:06 News0:51:22 Really Wrong0:56:33 Quote0:57:55 Outro0:59:18 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Netherlands, trust in science is increasing which is unexpected good news. We have some thoughts on the election results in Norway, plus you can now hear us on YouTube! In TWISH we hear about a close encounter in France and 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 American but the dangerous nonsense that “His Wrongness” is spreading reach us world wide. This time he has decided that paracetamol (aka Tylenol) is causing autism and for that he is Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-496.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:09:15 TWISH0:19:05 News0:38:42 Really Wrong0:42:58 Quote0:44:01 Outro0:45:24 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After some listener feedback regarding green energy and Pontus reporting back from Lithuania, we go to TWISH where we hear about Wilhelm 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 is planning to tackle climate change straight on, and for that he is Really Right.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-495.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:49 Greetings0:12:47 TWISH0:22:42 News0:46:48 Really Right0:50:09 Quote0:52:17 Outro0:53:39 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re already looking forward to QED and nominations for the Ockham Awards are still open – if you know someone who deserves it nominate them! After some listener feedback we go to TWISH and hear about the Swing 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 apologisesThe UK government has still not acknowledged their part in the tragedy of forced abortions from British ‘Mother and Baby homes’, and for that the get this week’s Award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-494.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:09:23 TWISH0:19:07 News0:50:48 Really Wrong0:55:03 Quote0:56:42 Outro0:58:04 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In TWISH this week we look into the achievements of James Watt who made a whole lot of things, despite not inventing the steam engine. Then of course, there’s the news:ITALY: Government reverses appointment of vaccine hesitant members to National Immunisation Technical Advisory GroupITALY: The Natural Trap: How Conspiracy Beliefs Shape Our Health ChoicesSWEDEN: Renewed warning – Insulin instead of Ozempic in online ordersSWEDEN: Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson under fire for using AI in roleEUROPE: Hot summer: Deaths, fires and evacuationsThe Center for Trial and Error gets this week’s Really Right Award for encouraging the publishing of negative studies.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-493.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:04:39 TWISH0:13:26 News0:41:18 Really Right0:45:11 Quote0:47:12 Outro0:48:35 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever realized that there are three types of conspiracy theorists and a clear link between them and terrorism? Catch the new book by Steen Svanholm and Claus Larsen and hear them talk about their findings in this week’s interview!Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-492.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:49 Greetings0:02:56 Interview0:52:40 Farewell0:54:02 Outro0:55:25 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve got some listener feedback about the popularity of lie detectors in Ukraine, and in TWISH we hear about the man behind the number, Amedeo Avogadro. Of course, we then get into this week’s news:NORWAY: Russian disinformation regarding made up ecological catastropheRUSSIA / EU: Putin’s disinformation efforts are changing for the worseGLOBAL: COVID Vaccines saved 2.5 Million lives in the first 4 years of the pandemicUK: Has the government learned the lessons from the Southport riots?UK: Funding to promote anti-LGBT conversion practices surgesINTERNATIONAL: Happy 15th anniversary, Retraction Watch!The Really Wrong award goes to the Swedish fundamentalist evangelical Genesis organisation and the Really Right award to Prof. Dan Larhammar for his excellent take down of creationist nonsense.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-491.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:08:06 TWISH0:24:29 News0:53:34 Really Wrong / Really Right0:59:19 Quote1:01:16 Outro1:02:39 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congratulations to friend of the show Deborah Hyde who has been appointed patron of Humanists UK! In TWISH we hear about to unsolved mystery of the disappearance of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and after that, we dig into the news:IRELAND: Excavation of mass grave of infants in Irish “mother and baby home”INTERNATIONAL: YouTube and Meta seem to finally crack down on political disinformationUKRAINE: Zelensky’s new law mandates regular lie detector testsSCOTLAND: Trump caught on tape cheating in golf?DENMARK / INTERNATIONAL: No link between aluminum in vaccines and chronic diseaseUK / INTERNATIONAL: Nominations for the Ockham Awards are now open!Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and general spreader of disinformation, is demonstrably lying about the crime situation in the UK, and for that he gets this week’s award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-490.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:14:50 TWISH0:29:34 News1:01:11 Really Wrong1:07:30 Quote1:09:17 Outro1:10:39 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the episode nobody could expect! Least of all András, who in Pontus’ continued absence gets put on the spot by the hot Scot known as Eggman. Can you match the skills of the Magyar Man? Tune in and find out.Enjoy!Segments: 0:00:27 Intro0:00:57 Greetings0:03:18 Quiz0:05:32 round 10:20:58 round 20:40:40 round 30:54:02 Farewell0:56:11 Outro0:57:34 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Pontus is off on som some mysterious quest or whatnot, Brian Eggo (Eggman) sneaks back into the driver's seat of the show. In TWISH we hear about the myths surrounding the death of the last tsar of Russia and his family back in 1918. Then we take a look at the news:UK: Child dies at Alder Hey after contracting measlesINTERNATIONAL: Humanists pass global declaration on AI and human valuesINTERNATIONAL: Grok & TrollSWEDEN: New UFO-movie outWales Online is this week’s receiver av the Really Wrong Award after publishing an article about cancer “cures” with no regard for science.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-488.htmlSegments:0:00:25 Intro0:00:56 Greetings0:06:16 TWISH0:18:56 News0:51:52 Really Wrong1:04:26 Quote1:07:43 Outro1:09:05 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The heat wave in Europe is back, and in TWISH we learn about the Russell-Einstein Manifesto which was published 70 years ago this week, and we wonder why we haven’t come any further than we have. Then, it’s time for the news:SWEDEN: Scammers using fake AI videos of politicians and scientistsDENMARK / INTERNATIONAL: Are ADHD diagnoses misleading millions?INTERNATIONAL: Several problems with viral paper on black plastic kitchen utensilsNORWAY / EUROPE: How misinformation affects efficiency of energy transitionINTERNATIONAL: Does AI make people stupid? It’s complicatedHUNGARY: University disciplines three psychologists for claiming love is more important for children than the gender of their parentsIs it wise to filter your blood to get rid of microplastics? The Clarify Clinic in London does not wait for the science to find out, but instead turn it into an expensive product. Naturally, they receive this weeks award for being Really Wrong.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-487.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:05:00 TWISH0:12:28 News0:45:09 Really Wrong0:50:10 Quote0:51:11 Outro0:52:33 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viktor Orbán got his behind handed to him when trying to ban Budapest Pride and that makes us very happy! In TWISH we learn about Attila Pataky who can not only sing but has also repeatedly been abducted by aliens – maybe they just like his music? Then, it’s time for the news:EUROPE: Current heat wave in Europe set to ‘kill 4500 people in the next three days’SLOVAKIA: Government official and antivaxxer Peter Kotlár’s paper condemned by Slovakian Academy of SciencesDENMARK: Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own featuresUK: Weight-loss jabs potentially harmful?FRANCE: ‘A supermarket for sexual predators’: abuse scandal at French Catholic boarding schoolUS / EUROPE: Are people being denied entry to US for contents critical towards Trump administration?For Who’s Quacking? this week we have UK spreader of deadly nonsens, Kate Shemirani.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-486.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:15 TWISH0:14:56 News0:46:27 Who's Quacking?0:51:39 Quote0:53:18 Outro0:54:41 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the virus metaphor for spreading misinformation really as good as we have been led to think? Some psychologists disagree. We again ask everyone to show support their support for the Naked Scientists podcast and 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 turning crisis into catastrophe, report saysSWITZERLAND: Government tries to hide expert report on the carbon footprint of electric vehiclesAUSTRALIA / EUROPE / USA: Australian SCAM promoter Barbara O’Neill is planning a European tourStatins is the subject for both the Really Wrong and Really Right Awards this week. One goes to Aseem Malhotra and the other to Full Fact. Can you guess who gets which?Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-485.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:09:52 TWISH0:17:12 News0:41:10 Really Wrong / Really Right0:45:01 Quote0:46:14 Outro0:47:36 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

URGENT! The great podcast the Naked Scientists is in great danger of being cancelled by Cambridge University and we urge everyone to protest this! Information about how to do that is here: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/sos. In other news Pontus will be in Lithuania 29-30 August to participate in the Būtent festival. If you happen to be there too, let us know! In TWISH we hear about a mysterious moon observation from 1178, and then it’s time for the news:SWEDEN / FINLAND / NORWAY: ‘Life’ files for bankruptcyINTERNATIONAL: New toolkit makes post-publication peer-review available for everyoneUSA / SWEDEN: RFK jr. appoints Swedish vaccine advisorUK: Levels of cheating using AI in academic programs on the riseInstead of a Really Wrong Award this week we have a Who’s Quacking? segment about Swedish ‘psychic’, Benny Rosenqvist.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-484.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:53 Greetings0:12:16 TWISH0:21:23 News0:43:29 Who's Quacking?0:50:35 Quote0:52:19 Outro0:53:42 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Eggman sits in for András, we look forward to SkeptiCamp at QED and Mike Hall’s Skeptics in the Pub Online talk and are happy to note that not only do we follow the ECDC, but they follow us back. In TWISH we hear about one of the forgotten(?) super villains of the Theosophy movement, Alice Bailey, and then we take a look at this week’s news:SWEDEN: Crystals sold to help fertilityISRAEL: Uri Geller says he used his psychic powers to break the navigation tools on Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla ship, the Madleen, and warned that he would stop her if she comes to harm Israel.INTERNATIONAL: Teenage girls’ TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research showsINTERNATIONAL: Are CO2 measurements reliable?UK: Is positive thinking a factor for heart patients?INTERNATIONAL: ‘After seeing the chiropractor, I was seeing things and blacking out’A Swedish politician flat-out denies anthropogenic climate change and is handed this week’s Really Wrong Award.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-483.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:58 Greetings0:07:42 TWISH0:13:19 News0:45:16 Really Wrong0:47:42 Quote0:52:07 Outro0:53:30 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.