The Mad Scientist Podcast

How do individuals decide whether to accept human causes of climate change, vaccinate their children against childhood diseases, or practice social distancing during a pandemic? Democracies depend on educated citizens who can make informed decisions for the benefit of their health and well-being, as well as their communities, nations, and planet. Understanding key psychological explanations for science denial and doubt can help provide a means for improving scientific literacy and understanding—critically important at a time when denial has become deadly. In Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It, the authors identify the problem and why it matters and offer tools for addressing it. In this episode we interview the authors about the book, their work, and what we can do about it! Get a copy of the book, and the new paperback here: https://academic.oup.com/book/39889 or https://www.amazon.com/Science-Denial-Happens-What-About/dp/0190944684 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to season 7! We are so lucky to be joined by Melanie Trecek-King, one of the best up and coming skeptics in the business. She leads Thinking is Power, a wonderful website with strategies, course guides, and other resources for educators looking to include critical thinking and science communication in their students education. You can find out more about the website here: https://thinkingispower.com/ Since its launch in January of 2021, Thinking Is Power has rapidly become a go-to resource in the area of science communication and critical thinking education. TIP’s content has been featured in a range of publications (such as Skeptical Inquirer and Skeptical Science), translated into different languages (such as Italy’s CICAP, France’s Citizen4Science), and used by dozens of educational institutions globally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we join Chris and Marie as they expose the illuminati lizards who run one of the least enjoyable forms of public transportation: airplanes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, we dig deep into the reasons behind flourishing conspiracy theories so that we can better understand the wackiness surrounding this airport. Are conspiracy theories growing faster than in previous years? What conspiracies do the public believe in? How do we differentiate between a conspiracy theory, and state sponsored propaganda? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen we don't have much time, but the airport is secretly a base for the Illuminati Lizard people and they are trying to turn us into Sheeple, man. Join us this episode as we delve into the most interesting part of history there is: long term public infrastructure development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should the world of science have any bearing on the world of morality? Does a scientific fact imply a moral obligation? Should the way something "is" tell us how we "ought" to act? Or are morals, goodness and badness, justice and injustice, are these concepts that exist outside of the confines of experience? We discuss this interesting challenge on this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This series we focus on the urban legends and real horror of growing up! Episode one focuses on amusement parks, and in particular the most dangerous amusement park in the world: Action Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we dig into the philosophy behind advertising. Frankly, we should all just move to the woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we dive into the complicated world of advertising. Is advertising a good thing for society? What does advertising mean for us as individuals? Can you be authentic, and is authenticity what is lacking from advertising? What is the deal with those stupid Change commercials? Find out, this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we are joined by Brian Dunning of Skeptoid, a skeptical multimedia empire! https://skeptoid.com/ We discuss the UFO rogues gallery, getting involved in Skepticism, and the outlook for the future of skeptical discussion. https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/what-do-i-do-next/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, get all bedazzled in gems with us as we delve into the history and theory behind crystal magic. What the heck is a crystal? How are they similar to minerals? Should you buy them from your aunt who smells like the inside of a Hot Topic? Find out, on this weeks episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the ethics of belief? Do you have a right to the truth? Does the public have an obligation to provide you with the truth, and to stop the spread of misinformation? When does a belief become dangerous? Or are these simply the issues we must abide to live in a society that truly has freedom of thought and speech? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talkin UAP UAP UAP. Is this finally Disclosure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we are joined by Dan Kozuh, creator and host of The Extra Mundane with Max Ward. This podcast has interviews with your favorite legendary creatures like Bigfoot, alien investigators, and all kinds of other paranormal guests. Check it out here: https://theextramundane.podbean.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shocking conclusion to our time travel series is here! CAN WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME? Find out on this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we finally do away with the idea of the luminiferous aether, and get to the biggest name in all of Science, Albert Einstein. What does Relativity mean, in the context of the aether, electromagnetism, and the studies of lights motion? What does it mean for time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we discuss the history of the speed of light! It involves a lot of mirrors. So if you've got a mirror phobia just a heads up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we are joined by science journalist Sally Best to talk conspiracy culture! Find her podcast here: https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/23022021-the-conspiracy-crushers-podcast-episode-2-vaccine-conspiracy-theories/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't you want to know how we keep starting fires? On this episode join Chris and Marie as they take you through a whirlwind tour of electromagnetism, balls falling on trains, and the weirdness of inertial frames of reference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us this episode as we talk Astrobiology, Exoplanets, and the hunt for alien life with Professor Abel Méndez. Professor Abel Méndez is a planetary astrobiologist and Director of the Planetary Habitability Laboratory at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. His research focuses on the habitability of Earth, the Solar System, and extrasolar planets. Prof. Méndez is a NASA MIRS Fellow with physics and astrophysics research experience at Fermilab, NASA Goddard, NASA Ames, and the Arecibo Observatory. He can be found on Twitter answering science questions at @profabelmendez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices