The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

A little correction to start with, and then in TWISH we hear about the Jesuit and scientist Tommaso Ceva. Of course, we also have the news:SWEDEN: Private clinics on public contracts promoted nonsense cures, denied sick patients and cheatedHUNGARY: Government’s own fact checkers cause for concern in EuropeUK: Boycott against Arla for trying to reduce methane emissionsINTERNATIONAL: New comprehensive review of homeopathy is actually BSUK: Follow up on Church of England scandalROMANIA: Presidential elections called off after Russian meddlingThe EU has a regulation stating that farmers have to prioritize homeopathy before real veterinary medicine to keep their “organic” label, and for that the EU is Really Wrong.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:33 TWISH0:11:56 News0:39:36 Really Wrong0:45:56 Quote0:47:11 Outro0:48:26 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-458.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with the sad news that this is Annika’s last episode as a regular host. Over the last four years she has brought her unique perspective and insights (and puns!) to the show. But being part of a weekly podcast is tough commitment while at the same time balancing a fulltime job, raising a family and participating in other skeptical activities. We will miss her! And we hope to see her back again from time to time for guest appearances.In TWISH this week we celebrate the birth of Robert Koch, one of the ‘fathers of microbiology’ (together with Louis Pasteur). Then we have a look at the news:INTERNATIONAL: Adult skills in literacy and numeracy declining or stagnating in most OECD countriesINTERNATIONAL: Online influencers in urgent need of factchecking toolsINTERNATIONAL: How the far right is weaponising AI generated content in EuropeUK: Update: Sentence announced for ‘slapping therapist’ Hongchi XiaoUK: Resignation at the Royal SocietySWEDEN: Indian sect called ‘Oneness’ opens huge centerRUSSIA: FSB raids international scamming organisation Milton GroupThe Really Wrong Award for this week goes to ‘all politicians worldwide’ for their inability to address the climate crisis. Then we close out with a Word of the Week and a Quote.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-457.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:04:15 TWISH0:13:07 News0:56:34 Really Wrong1:00:36 Word of the Week1:06:09 Quote1:09:04 Outro1:10:19 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the usual pre-amble, we hear about the first prediction of a transit of Venus in TWISH. Calculated by Kepler himself you can only go go “Yay, science!”, and salute the guy. Then we get to the news:INTERNATIONAL: Company linked to cloned journals of major publishers denies cloning journals of major publishersAUSTRIA: The Golden Board in front of the head goes to… HealyUK: The UK ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ – reasons for concern?INTERNATIONAL: 20th translation of the Debunking Handbook now out!INTERNATIONAL: ‘Grey content’: how mainstream journalism accidentally fueled covid vaccine hesitancyWhy is it that all celebrities go bonkers and want to sell nonsense products? We don’t know, but David Beckham is no exception and for that he is Really Wrong.Enjoy!Show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-456.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:08:08 TWISH0:13:45 News0:43:47 Really Wrong0:49:08 Quote0:50:14 Outro0:51:29 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with some reflections on COP29 and then we send our big congratulations to Richard Saunders on receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Skeptics. Well deserved indeed! Another well deserved but shameful award goes to King Charles who received the New Zealand Skeptics’ Bent Spoon Award. In TWISH we look back at the founding of the Royal Society all the way back in 1660. Then, it’s time for the news:INTERNATIONAL: Measles cases at a massive surgeGERMANY: Court ruling states that informed consent is important when using SCAMNORWAY: Update: true con artists – the Princess and the Shaman have not paid the suppliers for their weddingAUSTRIA: Finalists of the Golden Board announcedSWITZERLAND: Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered JesusThis week’s Really Wrong Award goes to the Dutch minister of Education Eppo Bruins for his plans to slash education funding.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:11:56 TWISH0:17:01 News0:43:00 Really Wrong0:46:48 Quote0:48:32 Outro0:49:47 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-455.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As everyone else these days we are moving from X to Bluesky, any help in driving traffic our way is much appreciated. The Humanists UK has published a new exciting book called What I Believe, named after podcast by the same name. You should check it out! In TWISH we hear about how the (then) Prince of Wales got his favorite charity for SCAM (So-Called Alternative Medicine) struck from the UK Charity Commission. Then, we head for the news:INTERNATIONAL: 2024 will be the first year above 1.5°CINTERNATIONAL: Climate crisis to blame for dozens of ‘impossible’ heatwaves, studies revealINTERNATIONAL: Retraction Watch is hiring!SPAIN: Video does not show ‘HAARP ship’ floating near Spain before floodsINTERNATIONAL: WHO teams up with TikTok to combat misinformation on social mediaThe Really Wrong Award goes to the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam for making a chiropractor professor.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-454.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:11:56 TWISH0:16:37 News0:36:14 Really Wrong0:40:55 Quote0:42:32 Outro0:43:47 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s one election after another. The same day that the US voted orange, Germany decided on a snap election after the current coalition fell apart. Let’s hope people over here are better informed than the American voters. In TWISH we hear about ‘Doctor Universalis’ Albertus Magnus whose scientific mindset in the 13th century helped Europe begin its long and winding road out of the dark ages. Then we explore the news:ONLINE: ‘Akusoli’ is a typical example of woowoo products that are aggressively marketed onlineUK: Assisted dying bill’s ‘strict’ safeguards to include long jail terms for coercionSWEDEN: Warning regarding fake medicine onlineGERMANY: Who trusts science and who doesn’t?UK: The Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church abuse scandalThe Really Wrong Award is split between oil producer Shell and a Dutch court of appeals that overturned Shell’s requirement to reduce their emission goals.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-453.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:53 Greetings0:04:54 TWISH0:12:16 News0:36:35 Really Wrong0:40:13 Quote0:42:08 Outro0:43:23 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first “regular episode” for a while and of course we cannot help to mourn the stupid results of the US elections. But since this is a European show we cannot let that stop us, so after a TWISH story of how Charles Darwin, 130 years after his death, gained over 4000 votes in the elections in the US state of Georgia, it’s time for the news:BULGARIA / NORTH MACEDONIA: Baba Vanga (баба Ванга), the Bulgarian psychicINTERNATIONAL: Wanna help out the Skeptical Science team?UK: King Charles and Queen Camilla on secret Bengaluru trip for woo treatmentINTERNATIONAL: A little help to nurses in combatting vaccine misinformationNORWAY: Spouse of Norwegian princess, ‘shaman’ Durek Verrett, accused of sexual assaultUK: Religious hate crimes at record high levelsThe NHS in the UK has all but done away with homeopathy, but still funds a number of unproven nonsense treatments and for that the receive this week award for being Really Wrong. And then before we sign off, we go to Turkey for a Word of the Week.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-452.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:06:01 TWISH0:11:19 News0:37:06 Really Wrong0:39:58 Word of the Week0:43:26 Quote0:48:38 Outro0:49:53 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A longer episode this week, jampacked with interviews from QED! One of the marvelous things with conferences (don’t forget about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney!) is that you meet so many fantastic people. We tried to capture a little of that feeling by recording a bunch of interviews, so tune in to hear from Clio Bellenis, Diana Barbosa, João Monteiro, Igor Stroev, David Glass, and Hayley Stevens! As if that is not enough we also have a longer interview with the winner of this year’s Ockham Award, Dr Flint Dibble!Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:52 Greetings0:11:57 Interviews:0:12:00 Clio Bellenis0:18:19 Diana Barbosa and João Monteiro0:27:58 Igor Stroev and David Glass0:31:51 Hayley Stevens0:36:05 Dr Flint Dibble1:09:04 Farewell1:12:27 Outro1:13:42 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We celebrate our 450th episode (wow!) live at QED 2024 (wow!!!) with the help of Brian and Claire! We also get special greetings from Annika and Jay Novella, who unfortunately could not attend. A slightly different format due to the occasion, but of course we have the news, which this time has the (not so) cheerful theme of Russian disinformation:SWEDEN: An apparent news site focusing on the 2026 election is in fact an AI-generated propaganda tool that mixes real stories with fake news (Pontus)RUSSIA / EUROPE: Heritage Foundation and the Congress of Families (Claire)UK: MI5 chief warns of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting UK as report warns Western support for Ukraine at risk (Brian)INTERNATIONAL: Doppelganger, the Russian disinformation agency and its recently revealed documents (András)We end the show with a one-question quiz to find this weeks’ “Who’s Quacking?” candidate.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:00 Intro0:01:49 Greetings0:09:23 News0:40:25 Who's Quacking?0:43:07 Farewell0:43:37 Outro0:44:52 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-450.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lot’s of listener feedback in this episode which is delightful! Pontus explains whether there was a scandal concerning the Sami peoples at the Gothenburg Book Fair and we prepare for this weekend’s QED! Speaking of which, this is what we also talk about in TWISH this week. Then, as always, the news:THE NETHERLANDS: Meester Kackadorisprijs awarded to the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO)FRANCE: Minister of Education and Research seems to be at odds with scienceSPAIN: Health Minister denounces homeopathyGERMANY / AUSTRIA: Das Goldene Brett Nominations now open (until 11 November)The Award for being Really Right goes to John Wiley & Sons for their decision to terminate the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, infamous for its terrible track record on retracted articles.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-449.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:10:55 TWISH0:16:18 News0:36:03 Really Right0:40:01 Who's Quacking?0:46:55 Quote0:49:08 Outro0:50:23 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In both Annika's and Pontus' absence, this week András interviews the "Fairy Godmother" of the show, psychic investigator & debunket, "master puppeteer" and tireless leader of the Secret Cabal (and the About Time Project) that is the international Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia Susan Gerbic. We talk about Mark Edward's legacy, how to start a SkeptiCamp in your local area, and what ways there are to help out the skeptical movement.Enjoy!Segments: Intro; Greetings & Interview; Outro; Outtakes0:00:33 INTRO0:01:02 GREETINGS & INTERVIEWSusan Gerbicthe About Time Project: https://www.abouttimeproject.org/find Susan Gerbic on Facebook0:41:03 OUTRO0:42:18 OUT-TAKES Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo. Then it’s time for the news:SWEDEN: Secret Service confirms State of Iran behind disinformation text messages re Quran burningsINTERNATIONAL: Social media moguls are a concern to most experts regarding misinformationBELGIUM: And the Pope is still a misogynistPORTUGAL: Public trust drives vaccine uptake regardless of ageTo round up we hand a Really Wrong Award to well-known homeopath Michael Frass, who keeps implying that homeopathy can treat cancer – but his arguments are based on falsified research…Enjoy!All show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-447.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:09:45 TWISH0:16:00 News0:45:10 Really Wrong0:50:34 Quote0:51:52 Outro0:53:07 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders. We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone. We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November.Enjoy!Segments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:00:53 Interview0:27:25 Farewell0:31:11 Outro0:32:25 Outtakeshttps://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-446.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with some follow up from last week – Edward Bach is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if plants can really appreciate music. In TWISH we celebrate(?) the birthday of Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’) and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news:INTERNATIONAL: Ig Nobel prize winners 2024FRANCE: Brigitte Macron wins lawsuit against fortune-teller and journalist claimins she’s trans-genderFRANCE: Map Shows All French Churches ‘Set on Fire, Vandalized or Attacked in Recent Years’?GERMANY: Dubious homeopathy research funded by manufacturerThe Really Wrong Award this week goes to an old ‘friend’, pope Frankie himself.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-445.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:07:28 TWISH0:16:43 News0:36:00 Really Wrong0:42:53 Quote0:45:11 Outro0:46:26 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some numerology. Annika will be more off than on for a while and the promised record heat in Sweden actually delivered. In TWISH we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer Stanisław Lem who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news:SWEDEN: Music makes cucumbers happyUK: Hereditary seats to be removed from LordsINTERNATIONAL: No link between mobile phones and brain tumoursUK / INTERNATIONAL: Bach Flower Remedies for perceived stress of nursesWe hand out a Really Wrong Award to the Carl and Veronica Carstens Foundation for funding dubious research, and that should be the end – but wait! Brian Eggo crashes the party! He tells all about the upcoming Skepticamp at QED. Don’t miss out!Enjoy!Segments:0:00:28 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:06:43 TWISH0:13:07 News0:34:09 Really Wrong0:39:47 Quote0:40:53 Interview0:46:23 Outro0:47:38 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news:INTERNATIONAL: Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social mediaFRANCE: Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon MuskAUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS: Climate communication works!ITALY: Shroud of Turin reloadedThe Award for being Really Wrong this week goes to Fleur Agema, Dutch Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister, who refuses to donate vaccines against mpox. We also follow up last week’s interview a Word of the Week in both Lithuanian and Russian.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-443.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:05:23 TWISH0:16:33 News0:39:05 Really Wrong0:43:28 Word of the Week0:48:33 Quote0:50:01 Outro0:51:16 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details.Then we have a great chat with Algimantas Kvecys who is the chair of Lietuvos skeptikų draugija, the Society of Lithuanian Skeptics.Enjoy!https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-442.htmlSegments:0:00:31 Intro0:00:55 Greetings0:10:16 Interview0:44:33 Farewell0:47:04 Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QED is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to sign up as a volunteer! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time.This week saw a “full true blue supermoon” – check out which part of this is nonsense and which parts that are real astronomy. In TWISH we go all the way back to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and why it may not have happened when everyone says it happened. Then, it’s time for the news:GERMANY / US: Link between right-wing politics and vaccine hesitancyUK: Druidic Stonehenge altar stone came from ScotlandINTERNATIONAL: Pointless vitamin infusions are on the rise while there is a worldwide shortage av IV fluidsUK: Humour is allowed to be factual or wrong, but shouldn’t hurt peopleIf you’re thinking about donating to the QED fund, or have already done so, you get to share this week’s Really Right Award. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped getting some people to join, who otherwise would not have had the possibility to do so.Enjoy!Link: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-441.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:08:22 TWISH0:19:04 News0:35:39 Really Right0:37:16 Quote0:39:35 Outro0:40:50 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with a follow-up on the UK riots and the disinformation that triggered them. Regardless of this we look forward to going to QED where the Ockham Awards will be announced. The nominations are now open! See link in the show notes.In TWISH we hear about how it wasn’t that long ago that Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery – we sure are lucky that we we were not born back then. Then it is time for the news:RUSSIA: Russian textbook claims that Trump lost in 2020 due to election fraudINTERNATIONAL: Pseudoscientific answers to a medical and environmental mishap at the 2024 Summer Olympic GamesEUROPE: Heat Caused Over 47,000 Deaths in Europe in 2023 – but it could have been much worseINTERNATIONAL: Alleged transgender issue stirs up controversy at the OlympicsINTERNATIONAL: Chemtrails or not, aviation contrails contribute to the climate crisesEnjoy!Show notes: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-440.htmlSegments:0:00:27 Intro0:00:50 Greetings0:12:36 TWISH0:21:14 News0:57:03 Quote0:58:25 Outro0:59:40 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start out with the sad news that Mark Edward has passed away. Mark was a mentalist, an author, and an active skeptic. Mark, sometimes with with his partner (and good friend of the show) Susan Gerbic, investigated many paranormal claims and exposed psychic frauds. He will be long remembered and missed by the skeptics movement.After some listener feedback and catching up, we go to TWISH, where we hear about Louis Leakey and his important, but often controversial, contributions to our understanding of ancient hominids. Then we turn to the news:GERMANY: New book about long COVID and ME/CFS by Dr. Natalie GramsSWEDEN: More fertility nonsenseUK: The role of misinformation in the riots following the Southport stabbingsUK: Practitioner of ‘slapping therapy’ guilty of manslaughterINTERNATIONAL: Reducing the number of AI ‘hallucinations’The Baden-Württemberg Medical Association in Germany has taken the long-overdue, but very welcome decision to exclude homeopathy from any medical training going forward, and for that they receive this weeks award for being Really Right.Enjoy!Link: https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-439.htmlSegments:0:00:26 Intro0:00:51 Greetings0:09:41 TWISH0:19:37 News0:45:29 Really Right0:51:32 Quote0:52:46 Outro0:54:01 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.