1 00:00:22,220 --> 00:00:09,100 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:25,019 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:30,130 podcast 231 for the 23rd of March 2013 4 00:00:34,650 --> 00:00:32,710 I'm a simulated human voice standing 5 00:00:37,229 --> 00:00:34,660 inflation alright simulated human it's 6 00:00:39,390 --> 00:00:37,239 okay I'm feeling a lot better I can I 7 00:00:41,729 --> 00:00:39,400 can do the show this week are you sure 8 00:00:44,189 --> 00:00:41,739 yes I think I can manage that thank you 9 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:44,199 thank you very much i'm almost better 10 00:00:50,069 --> 00:00:47,350 you know i'm nearly over the cold i see 11 00:00:52,590 --> 00:00:50,079 well i think you need to see a simulated 12 00:00:55,500 --> 00:00:52,600 doctor I know a homeopath that might 13 00:00:57,110 --> 00:00:55,510 help yes I know homeopaths the simulated 14 00:01:01,229 --> 00:00:57,120 doctors but it's alright I think I'll 15 00:01:03,090 --> 00:01:01,239 struggle on all right then oh thanks to 16 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:03,100 all those own listeners who sent me fan 17 00:01:08,130 --> 00:01:05,590 mail from last week I'll just go away 18 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:08,140 now yeah thanks thanks a lot yes it's 19 00:01:12,899 --> 00:01:09,970 the skeptic zone Richard Saunders here 20 00:01:14,550 --> 00:01:12,909 back with you again almost better almost 21 00:01:16,050 --> 00:01:14,560 been a bit of a rough week with the old 22 00:01:18,570 --> 00:01:16,060 coughs and the colds and all that sort 23 00:01:22,020 --> 00:01:18,580 of thing but never mind coming up on 24 00:01:23,940 --> 00:01:22,030 this week's show I interviewed dr. Steve 25 00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:23,950 novella from the skeptics guide to the 26 00:01:28,170 --> 00:01:25,390 universe Steve's going to tell us about 27 00:01:30,749 --> 00:01:28,180 reaching the great milestone of 400 28 00:01:33,030 --> 00:01:30,759 episodes and other background bits and 29 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:33,040 pieces with the skeptics guide to the 30 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:35,770 universe after that it's a week in 31 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:37,450 science with our good friend dr. Paul 32 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:39,310 Willis from the Royal Institution in 33 00:01:47,130 --> 00:01:44,310 Adelaide are I a u.s. org dot a you and 34 00:01:50,789 --> 00:01:47,140 then we have Brian Dunning with his 35 00:01:53,459 --> 00:01:50,799 latest episode of in fact the video 36 00:01:57,300 --> 00:01:53,469 series well the audio is quite good too 37 00:02:01,319 --> 00:01:57,310 and Brian looks at genetically modified 38 00:02:05,010 --> 00:02:01,329 food GM food frankenstein food it's been 39 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:05,020 called coming up with Brian Dunning and 40 00:02:10,529 --> 00:02:06,670 then to wrap up the show we have a guest 41 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:10,539 editorial from Benjamin Radford Benjamin 42 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:13,870 Radford and his comments and thoughts on 43 00:02:20,910 --> 00:02:17,890 astral projection leaving the body 44 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:20,920 floating around and coming back and well 45 00:02:26,039 --> 00:02:24,340 that's the claim anyway now thank you to 46 00:02:27,390 --> 00:02:26,049 all the listeners who wrote to me in the 47 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:27,400 course of the week saying how much they 48 00:02:33,790 --> 00:02:30,070 enjoyed the last episode the on the spot 49 00:02:35,530 --> 00:02:33,800 the field reporting from the water 50 00:02:38,350 --> 00:02:35,540 lining tests with skeptics and water 51 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:38,360 diviners I must admit I really enjoyed 52 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:39,770 making the episode and certainly I 53 00:02:45,660 --> 00:02:43,250 enjoyed being there on the spot doing 54 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:45,670 the interviews and a big shout out to 55 00:02:51,790 --> 00:02:49,130 ron Proctor who is the production 56 00:02:54,850 --> 00:02:51,800 coordinator at the odd planetarium Weber 57 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:54,860 State University in Utah and runners 58 00:02:59,110 --> 00:02:56,510 kindly invited me to tour his 59 00:03:02,830 --> 00:02:59,120 planetarium if I ever get to Utah run if 60 00:03:05,470 --> 00:03:02,840 I ever do i will now those people in 61 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:05,480 sydney still have time to grab your 62 00:03:11,020 --> 00:03:08,450 tickets to see Shawn Faircloth on the 63 00:03:15,070 --> 00:03:11,030 twenty-fourth of March at the Sydney 64 00:03:16,510 --> 00:03:15,080 Opera House now the best way to grab 65 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:16,520 your tickets and find out more 66 00:03:20,620 --> 00:03:18,770 information is simply Google Shawn fair 67 00:03:23,860 --> 00:03:20,630 cloths in the Opera House or go to 68 00:03:25,660 --> 00:03:23,870 Sydney Opera House calm and right on the 69 00:03:30,220 --> 00:03:25,670 front page at the moment our details 70 00:03:33,070 --> 00:03:30,230 about that upcoming talk now full listen 71 00:03:35,710 --> 00:03:33,080 is in Norway in Oslo I'm delighted to 72 00:03:39,340 --> 00:03:35,720 say that I've been asked to appear at 73 00:03:42,610 --> 00:03:39,350 skeptics in the pub on the 6th of April 74 00:03:45,130 --> 00:03:42,620 the sixth of April Norway Oslo skeptics 75 00:03:48,010 --> 00:03:45,140 in the pub more details about that 76 00:03:49,750 --> 00:03:48,020 coming up in the next few weeks although 77 00:03:52,690 --> 00:03:49,760 if you are living in Oslo I'm sure you 78 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:52,700 know how to get to the the various 79 00:03:57,370 --> 00:03:54,910 information about skeptics in the pub 80 00:03:59,740 --> 00:03:57,380 I'm also delighted to say that i'll be 81 00:04:02,830 --> 00:03:59,750 speaking in dublin a few days a few 82 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:02,840 nights later on haven't quite nailed the 83 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:05,930 date down just yet but keep your eyes 84 00:04:11,140 --> 00:04:08,690 open run to the internet if you're in 85 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:11,150 Dublin ask your local skeptics I'm sure 86 00:04:17,890 --> 00:04:13,610 they'll be able to fill you in and after 87 00:04:19,630 --> 00:04:17,900 that i'll be at QED in Manchester let's 88 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:19,640 see when do I get to sleep I'm not sure 89 00:04:25,090 --> 00:04:22,850 because after that after QED of course 90 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:25,100 i'm off to the wonderful science 91 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:27,710 festival in Alma look in the Czech 92 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:29,810 Republic and that's going from the 93 00:04:36,340 --> 00:04:32,110 sixteenth to the twenty first of April a 94 00:04:39,610 --> 00:04:36,350 fo dot C Z is the website that i 95 00:04:42,540 --> 00:04:39,620 encourage you to visit oh there's even a 96 00:04:44,980 --> 00:04:42,550 picture of me science will meet myth 97 00:04:46,900 --> 00:04:44,990 richardsaunders will participate it says 98 00:04:47,679 --> 00:04:46,910 well I hope so I'm going to be 99 00:04:50,469 --> 00:04:47,689 introducing 100 00:04:52,239 --> 00:04:50,479 some of our Richard Dawkins videos the 101 00:04:54,459 --> 00:04:52,249 enemies of reasons I'm very much looking 102 00:04:56,379 --> 00:04:54,469 forward to that what an honor also very 103 00:05:00,069 --> 00:04:56,389 honored to be introducing here be 104 00:05:01,869 --> 00:05:00,079 dragons by Brian Dunning i'll also be 105 00:05:05,139 --> 00:05:01,879 judging some of the international films 106 00:05:07,809 --> 00:05:05,149 giving origami lessons and doing a water 107 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:07,819 divining test as much as I can possibly 108 00:05:14,199 --> 00:05:11,209 pack in and very very happy to be a 109 00:05:17,319 --> 00:05:14,209 guest at this wonderful festival afo the 110 00:05:23,739 --> 00:05:17,329 48 International Festival of science 111 00:05:26,350 --> 00:05:23,749 documentary films please visit WWE for 112 00:05:28,479 --> 00:05:26,360 more information and if you're in the 113 00:05:30,579 --> 00:05:28,489 Czech Republic know if you're in Germany 114 00:05:33,029 --> 00:05:30,589 now let's just face it if you're 115 00:05:35,019 --> 00:05:33,039 anywhere in Europe try to come along 116 00:05:36,609 --> 00:05:35,029 well I don't think I've done so much 117 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:36,619 talking in the last week and my voice is 118 00:05:41,379 --> 00:05:39,649 already beginning to um yeah it's just 119 00:05:44,079 --> 00:05:41,389 on the edge I better be careful i have 120 00:05:46,329 --> 00:05:44,089 to be nice and nice and wealth on my big 121 00:05:48,729 --> 00:05:46,339 trips coming up so I'm going to sit back 122 00:05:50,919 --> 00:05:48,739 Wow exhale run to the fridge no one run 123 00:05:54,069 --> 00:05:50,929 to the fridge i'll run to um I'll renter 124 00:05:56,709 --> 00:05:54,079 the the kettle mmm chicken soup that's 125 00:05:59,979 --> 00:05:56,719 the way not homeopathic just normal 126 00:06:18,190 --> 00:05:59,989 chicken soup sip some of that while we 127 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:21,710 and joining me now on the line from the 128 00:06:26,570 --> 00:06:24,510 beautiful east coast of the United 129 00:06:28,940 --> 00:06:26,580 States up in New England dr. Steve 130 00:06:31,430 --> 00:06:28,950 novella hello Steve hey Richard how you 131 00:06:33,170 --> 00:06:31,440 doing not too bad Steve but you know 132 00:06:34,790 --> 00:06:33,180 sometimes I wish you were my next-door 133 00:06:37,130 --> 00:06:34,800 neighbor so I can knock on your door and 134 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:37,140 say Steve I've got a slight cough and a 135 00:06:41,390 --> 00:06:39,600 cold and what can you recommend for me 136 00:06:43,850 --> 00:06:41,400 but but I'm on the mend I'm not doing so 137 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:43,860 bad well you can always scape me if you 138 00:06:48,410 --> 00:06:46,530 have any medical questions I wish I'd 139 00:06:50,270 --> 00:06:48,420 known that a week ago and all right 140 00:06:52,610 --> 00:06:50,280 we'll talk offline we'll talk of life 141 00:06:54,350 --> 00:06:52,620 Steve look let me congratulate you on 142 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:54,360 behalf of all the skeptics on listeners 143 00:06:59,060 --> 00:06:57,810 who I know many of whom are great fans 144 00:07:02,780 --> 00:06:59,070 of the skeptics guide to the universe 145 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:02,790 for 400 episodes now that's thank you 146 00:07:09,590 --> 00:07:05,010 that's quite an achievement in anybody's 147 00:07:11,810 --> 00:07:09,600 book yeah it's we're pretty happy that 148 00:07:14,060 --> 00:07:11,820 we survived for this long you know would 149 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:14,070 have been unbelievable eight years ago 150 00:07:18,740 --> 00:07:16,250 to think that we would have cranked out 151 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:18,750 400 episodes just seems completely 152 00:07:24,380 --> 00:07:21,450 daunting but I guess it's just a matter 153 00:07:27,050 --> 00:07:24,390 of our perseverance and consistency you 154 00:07:29,060 --> 00:07:27,060 know I think you've hit the two key 155 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:29,070 aspects of doing a podcast and certainly 156 00:07:34,310 --> 00:07:32,490 crosses my mind and we're in the same 157 00:07:36,130 --> 00:07:34,320 situation I guess we both produce the 158 00:07:38,690 --> 00:07:36,140 show and we both know that every week 159 00:07:40,610 --> 00:07:38,700 there needs to be a show come out and I 160 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:40,620 guess it really does teach you some 161 00:07:46,490 --> 00:07:43,710 discipline yeah it's you know absolutely 162 00:07:48,890 --> 00:07:46,500 it's it's a job unto itself and you have 163 00:07:50,690 --> 00:07:48,900 to you have to as you say be disciplined 164 00:07:52,310 --> 00:07:50,700 you have to pitch but gotta be part of 165 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:52,320 your schedule you can't just do it when 166 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:54,090 you have time somewhere it's got to be 167 00:07:59,900 --> 00:07:57,530 absolutely built into your schedule and 168 00:08:03,080 --> 00:07:59,910 our shows are very different of course 169 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:03,090 we're miners varies from interviews to 170 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:05,250 field reports to do items and things 171 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:07,710 yours is really based on the fact that 172 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:09,290 the five of you can get together 173 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:12,450 wherever possible sometimes one or two 174 00:08:17,420 --> 00:08:14,370 of you have to duck out for whatever 175 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:17,430 reason and discuss skeptical and 176 00:08:21,350 --> 00:08:19,410 scientific issues of the day which also 177 00:08:23,330 --> 00:08:21,360 means that your team have to be somewhat 178 00:08:25,010 --> 00:08:23,340 disciplined to 179 00:08:27,950 --> 00:08:25,020 yeah I mean sometimes takes a little 180 00:08:29,330 --> 00:08:27,960 cracking of the whip to keep keep 181 00:08:31,159 --> 00:08:29,340 pushing it forward there's always that 182 00:08:32,719 --> 00:08:31,169 there always has to be for any project 183 00:08:35,180 --> 00:08:32,729 I've come to believe there's got to be 184 00:08:38,659 --> 00:08:35,190 one person that's totally uncompromising 185 00:08:40,579 --> 00:08:38,669 and makes it happen no matter what but I 186 00:08:42,350 --> 00:08:40,589 have a good crew they work really hard 187 00:08:45,410 --> 00:08:42,360 they're there every week they there they 188 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:45,420 prep their items they always come with a 189 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:48,930 good attitude and the the we enjoy being 190 00:08:52,970 --> 00:08:50,610 together on the show you know it's a lot 191 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:52,980 of fun the best stuff of course is the 192 00:08:56,990 --> 00:08:54,810 stuff that happens offline this the 193 00:08:59,570 --> 00:08:57,000 things that when we're chatting or we go 194 00:09:01,370 --> 00:08:59,580 off script to the to a little bit too 195 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:01,380 much and it's stuff that really can't 196 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:03,900 make it into the show itself but it's 197 00:09:08,630 --> 00:09:06,930 those tend to be the funniest moments 198 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:08,640 but that's what you know that's what 199 00:09:13,370 --> 00:09:10,410 keeps our spirits up and keeps it keeps 200 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:13,380 us going oh I think that's that's a 201 00:09:17,630 --> 00:09:14,970 great attitude to have it and I know 202 00:09:19,579 --> 00:09:17,640 because I've been of course very lucky 203 00:09:21,380 --> 00:09:19,589 and honored to be a guest wrote from 204 00:09:23,060 --> 00:09:21,390 time to time I know that when we're 205 00:09:25,070 --> 00:09:23,070 recording some episodes there's a lot of 206 00:09:26,810 --> 00:09:25,080 laughter and chatting and things that 207 00:09:29,210 --> 00:09:26,820 you can't use the go on behind the 208 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:29,220 scenes yeah you've seen how the sausage 209 00:09:33,980 --> 00:09:31,650 is made it rain I have and I've also 210 00:09:36,350 --> 00:09:33,990 been privy to a skeptic's guide to the 211 00:09:39,769 --> 00:09:36,360 universe meeting at I think this is the 212 00:09:42,019 --> 00:09:39,779 last time where we were in a room trying 213 00:09:43,070 --> 00:09:42,029 to nut out the the live show and and 214 00:09:45,079 --> 00:09:43,080 that could be quite an interesting 215 00:09:47,030 --> 00:09:45,089 experience I think listeners of your 216 00:09:49,370 --> 00:09:47,040 show would probably pay tickets to be in 217 00:09:52,790 --> 00:09:49,380 that room yeah we're just brainstorming 218 00:09:54,250 --> 00:09:52,800 what to talk about yeah yeah yeah it's 219 00:09:56,510 --> 00:09:54,260 interesting you know it's a process 220 00:10:00,110 --> 00:09:56,520 obviously we've done it quite a few 221 00:10:01,990 --> 00:10:00,120 times so we've got it down pretty well 222 00:10:05,090 --> 00:10:02,000 again everybody sort of knows their role 223 00:10:06,769 --> 00:10:05,100 on the show but it's all it's pretty 224 00:10:10,250 --> 00:10:06,779 even I mean anybody could do anything 225 00:10:12,470 --> 00:10:10,260 really is the interesting thing the you 226 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:12,480 know Jay and Bob and Rebecca and Evan 227 00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:14,970 have the things that they're that their 228 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:17,310 specialties that they're specialists in 229 00:10:22,310 --> 00:10:19,260 in terms of the kind of content they 230 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:22,320 like to produce but really anybody any 231 00:10:26,210 --> 00:10:24,000 of them could talk about anything and I 232 00:10:27,980 --> 00:10:26,220 particularly enjoy the topics that I 233 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:27,990 assigned to everybody where it's okay 234 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:29,370 everyone's got to read up on this guy 235 00:10:34,490 --> 00:10:31,410 wanted I want this to be a five-way 236 00:10:36,809 --> 00:10:34,500 discussion now not one person necessary 237 00:10:39,329 --> 00:10:36,819 to necessarily taking the lead 238 00:10:41,929 --> 00:10:39,339 right and I certainly remember that when 239 00:10:44,039 --> 00:10:41,939 I was involved that you gave me little 240 00:10:45,989 --> 00:10:44,049 tasks and things that you wanted me to 241 00:10:47,729 --> 00:10:45,999 cover on the live show and I'll just 242 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:47,739 just reaching back into my memory now I 243 00:10:54,389 --> 00:10:49,689 think it was partly to do with the the 244 00:10:56,099 --> 00:10:54,399 the fake bomb detector kits yeah yeah at 245 00:10:58,710 --> 00:10:56,109 the time which is a terrible story and 246 00:11:00,689 --> 00:10:58,720 also the moon's the number of moons in 247 00:11:03,299 --> 00:11:00,699 the solar system for some reason i 248 00:11:05,669 --> 00:11:03,309 remember well we blew toe had two and 249 00:11:08,669 --> 00:11:05,679 new moons and we've sort of chatting 250 00:11:10,169 --> 00:11:08,679 about moons in general yeah right so it 251 00:11:12,029 --> 00:11:10,179 really is a mixed bag any and everything 252 00:11:13,079 --> 00:11:12,039 and anything can come up on the skeptics 253 00:11:15,539 --> 00:11:13,089 guide to the universe and I suppose 254 00:11:17,519 --> 00:11:15,549 that's part of the appeal part of the 255 00:11:19,019 --> 00:11:17,529 success of the show us from week to week 256 00:11:20,849 --> 00:11:19,029 listeners are never quite sure what 257 00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:20,859 they're going to get but in the way of 258 00:11:25,259 --> 00:11:22,929 topics yeah there's really only one 259 00:11:28,619 --> 00:11:25,269 criterion and that is I have to find it 260 00:11:30,389 --> 00:11:28,629 interesting that's if I if I think I 261 00:11:31,769 --> 00:11:30,399 would enjoy hearing about it or talking 262 00:11:34,319 --> 00:11:31,779 about it and I think it would be fun 263 00:11:37,169 --> 00:11:34,329 then that that's the absolute minimum 264 00:11:39,749 --> 00:11:37,179 you know criterion then on top of that 265 00:11:41,779 --> 00:11:39,759 you know there is there are parameters 266 00:11:44,969 --> 00:11:41,789 in terms of what topics we will cover 267 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:44,979 you know we try to stay away from things 268 00:11:48,689 --> 00:11:46,689 that are like purely political for 269 00:11:50,249 --> 00:11:48,699 example there has to be I guess the 270 00:11:53,579 --> 00:11:50,259 other the other criterion to be there's 271 00:11:57,359 --> 00:11:53,589 got to just be some angle that is 272 00:11:59,099 --> 00:11:57,369 science or critical thinking and that's 273 00:12:01,289 --> 00:11:59,109 it and sometimes like Bob or somebody 274 00:12:02,969 --> 00:12:01,299 will pitch a story to me I'm like okay 275 00:12:05,969 --> 00:12:02,979 so what's the scientific angle there 276 00:12:07,319 --> 00:12:05,979 what yr elicitors interested in that you 277 00:12:09,239 --> 00:12:07,329 know what are we going to talk about 278 00:12:11,639 --> 00:12:09,249 what you know how are we going to delve 279 00:12:13,439 --> 00:12:11,649 deep into that and if they can't answer 280 00:12:15,539 --> 00:12:13,449 that question or I can't think of what 281 00:12:16,739 --> 00:12:15,549 the answer is then we don't talk about 282 00:12:19,739 --> 00:12:16,749 it you know even though it might be 283 00:12:22,649 --> 00:12:19,749 something that may be interesting for 284 00:12:25,309 --> 00:12:22,659 other reasons I think that you and I 285 00:12:27,419 --> 00:12:25,319 have the same mind here I also have my 286 00:12:28,979 --> 00:12:27,429 friends and reporters will come to me 287 00:12:30,239 --> 00:12:28,989 when sometimes I'll say well why don't 288 00:12:32,699 --> 00:12:30,249 we do this that or the other and I say 289 00:12:35,609 --> 00:12:32,709 that's great where's the angle you know 290 00:12:37,349 --> 00:12:35,619 where is the skeptical low or the you 291 00:12:40,169 --> 00:12:37,359 know interesting scientific angle we can 292 00:12:41,460 --> 00:12:40,179 exploit here because otherwise I guess 293 00:12:45,239 --> 00:12:41,470 we could have a show about just about 294 00:12:49,049 --> 00:12:45,249 any topic under the Sun yeah no yeah 295 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:49,059 absolutely you know we do even we branch 296 00:12:52,170 --> 00:12:50,529 out we experiment 297 00:12:54,809 --> 00:12:52,180 some of our experiments fail that's okay 298 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:54,819 thank you know you have a and we have 299 00:12:57,929 --> 00:12:56,410 enough of a long enough for Matt we've 300 00:13:01,259 --> 00:12:57,939 done enough shows that we can afford to 301 00:13:02,939 --> 00:13:01,269 experiment and not be afraid if if a bit 302 00:13:05,150 --> 00:13:02,949 doesn't go well but you know like we 303 00:13:08,369 --> 00:13:05,160 reviewed a movie you know we did 304 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:08,379 Prometheus Ryan that was different but 305 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:09,910 that our listeners loved it they're 306 00:13:12,780 --> 00:13:11,410 asking us to do more movies and we're 307 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:12,790 going to do it because it worked out 308 00:13:15,629 --> 00:13:14,110 what it worked out really well we had a 309 00:13:17,819 --> 00:13:15,639 lot of fun and I think when we have fun 310 00:13:20,309 --> 00:13:17,829 or listeners have fun now why would 311 00:13:22,410 --> 00:13:20,319 chatting about the the team let me give 312 00:13:23,939 --> 00:13:22,420 a special shout-out well say hello to 313 00:13:25,379 --> 00:13:23,949 all the team of the skeptic guide to the 314 00:13:28,019 --> 00:13:25,389 University of your all my dear friends 315 00:13:31,259 --> 00:13:28,029 but I just want to have a quick shout 316 00:13:35,129 --> 00:13:31,269 out to Jay of course being a first-time 317 00:13:37,439 --> 00:13:35,139 recent father that's right there he has 318 00:13:41,939 --> 00:13:37,449 a son Dylan with his wife Courtney just 319 00:13:44,369 --> 00:13:41,949 a five weeks old now six weeks old cute 320 00:13:46,049 --> 00:13:44,379 as a button of course you know beef you 321 00:13:48,540 --> 00:13:46,059 listen to the show you've heard his 322 00:13:50,970 --> 00:13:48,550 squeaky voice yes I couldn't reserves 323 00:13:53,129 --> 00:13:50,980 resist playing it a proud new debt and 324 00:13:55,049 --> 00:13:53,139 yeah Jay is loving it he's having a 325 00:13:57,869 --> 00:13:55,059 great time he's totally sleep deprived 326 00:14:00,329 --> 00:13:57,879 and which is interesting because he's 327 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:00,339 you know Jays mental faculties 328 00:14:09,150 --> 00:14:06,970 definitely show the wear but he's uh you 329 00:14:11,249 --> 00:14:09,160 know when he shows up for the show he's 330 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:11,259 still Jay but I could tell that he's 331 00:14:16,860 --> 00:14:14,050 like just completely completely 332 00:14:22,530 --> 00:14:16,870 sleep-deprived you know well no shock 333 00:14:23,939 --> 00:14:22,540 though yeah but but he and Courtney are 334 00:14:26,189 --> 00:14:23,949 really having a good time with their new 335 00:14:27,269 --> 00:14:26,199 with their new son and it's fun for me 336 00:14:29,639 --> 00:14:27,279 because I've been through it all a 337 00:14:31,829 --> 00:14:29,649 couple of times so I get to you know 338 00:14:34,829 --> 00:14:31,839 watch him go through it and you know 339 00:14:37,049 --> 00:14:34,839 give him some of the benefit of my 340 00:14:40,139 --> 00:14:37,059 experience just giving them a heads up 341 00:14:42,030 --> 00:14:40,149 as to what to expect but it's it's fun 342 00:14:43,619 --> 00:14:42,040 also just watching him sort of discover 343 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:43,629 all the emotions and everything for 344 00:14:47,519 --> 00:14:45,850 himself you know oh yeah I'm sure I'm 345 00:14:49,499 --> 00:14:47,529 sure it is well then you can sort of 346 00:14:51,119 --> 00:14:49,509 look at it that it's it's the next 347 00:14:53,009 --> 00:14:51,129 generation of the skeptics guide to the 348 00:14:57,150 --> 00:14:53,019 universe podcast is already sort of 349 00:14:59,249 --> 00:14:57,160 there waiting you know then okay the 350 00:15:00,929 --> 00:14:59,259 replacements are on their way in in due 351 00:15:03,449 --> 00:15:00,939 time now Steve you've got a very 352 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:03,459 interesting thing coming up in april i 353 00:15:07,410 --> 00:15:04,810 believe which is the huge 354 00:15:08,820 --> 00:15:07,420 eating in New York Nexus yeah the 355 00:15:10,769 --> 00:15:08,830 Northeast Conference on science and 356 00:15:13,050 --> 00:15:10,779 skepticism Nexus as we call it april 357 00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:13,060 fifth to seventh we really do have a 358 00:15:18,510 --> 00:15:15,430 great lineup this year Leonard Malone 359 00:15:22,530 --> 00:15:18,520 now is our keynote speaker he wrote the 360 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:22,540 drunkards walk he wrote a book the the 361 00:15:28,530 --> 00:15:26,370 follow-up book with Stephen Hawking a 362 00:15:32,370 --> 00:15:28,540 brief hit a briefer history a time I 363 00:15:35,250 --> 00:15:32,380 think was called and Jon Ronson Simon 364 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:35,260 Singh Marietta Christina who's editor of 365 00:15:40,019 --> 00:15:38,290 Scientific American Michael Shermer we 366 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:40,029 have a great lineup and friday night 367 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:41,410 were doing something new again we're 368 00:15:47,490 --> 00:15:43,930 experimenting but we're doing a show 369 00:15:50,630 --> 00:15:47,500 called stimulus response it's a 370 00:15:53,220 --> 00:15:50,640 brainchild of brian Wecht and George Rob 371 00:15:57,210 --> 00:15:53,230 so they're going to George and his 372 00:15:59,340 --> 00:15:57,220 cousin are going to create art on stage 373 00:16:01,680 --> 00:15:59,350 in real time you know he'll sort of 374 00:16:04,290 --> 00:16:01,690 watch watch the creative process George 375 00:16:05,430 --> 00:16:04,300 is going to write a song and his cousin 376 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:05,440 is a painter is going to paint a 377 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:08,820 painting and 45 minutes on stage and 378 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:10,930 then we're going to talk about the 379 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:14,530 neuroscience of creativity and then they 380 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:16,330 have some comedians lined up who are 381 00:16:21,890 --> 00:16:18,490 going to do some improv and they're 382 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:21,900 going to incorporate one of the speakers 383 00:16:29,310 --> 00:16:25,510 who last I heard was going to be Jon 384 00:16:31,470 --> 00:16:29,320 Ronson which is should be great as jon 385 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:31,480 is he's a sport you know he's really 386 00:16:35,940 --> 00:16:33,370 game for this kind of thing and I think 387 00:16:38,010 --> 00:16:35,950 the guy's hilarious I love his he has 388 00:16:41,310 --> 00:16:38,020 this dry self-deprecating humor that I 389 00:16:43,079 --> 00:16:41,320 that I think is fantastic what a lineup 390 00:16:44,820 --> 00:16:43,089 and what an interesting session that 391 00:16:47,220 --> 00:16:44,830 sounds like now do you know if the 392 00:16:48,390 --> 00:16:47,230 tickets are still available oh yeah yeah 393 00:16:52,170 --> 00:16:48,400 absolutely tickets are still available 394 00:16:54,690 --> 00:16:52,180 for everything and of course the SU does 395 00:16:56,310 --> 00:16:54,700 a live show on stage where Ashley 396 00:17:00,360 --> 00:16:56,320 speaking podcasts also doing the live 397 00:17:04,069 --> 00:17:00,370 show and we're the we do a private 398 00:17:06,540 --> 00:17:04,079 recording Saturday night there there 399 00:17:08,069 --> 00:17:06,550 we're still working out the details but 400 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:08,079 a couple of tickets opened up for that 401 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:12,730 we're figuring out how to how to sell 402 00:17:16,980 --> 00:17:15,010 those off because because so many people 403 00:17:18,630 --> 00:17:16,990 will you know we're requesting tickets 404 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:18,640 we sold that that sold out almost 405 00:17:24,750 --> 00:17:22,930 immediately and you know the private SG 406 00:17:27,569 --> 00:17:24,760 recording on Saturday night but now we 407 00:17:29,970 --> 00:17:27,579 have a few spaces open up so there'll be 408 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:29,980 some opportunities maybe 10 to nab one 409 00:17:34,650 --> 00:17:33,010 of those that sounds fantastic how can 410 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:34,660 people find out more what's the address 411 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:38,110 they should go so just go to any CSS org 412 00:17:44,490 --> 00:17:41,110 all the information is there now you and 413 00:17:46,650 --> 00:17:44,500 I both Steve we really like the public 414 00:17:48,740 --> 00:17:46,660 events the big events like Tam and so on 415 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:48,750 and it's a great opportunity to meet 416 00:17:54,750 --> 00:17:52,330 fans of the show you must have over the 417 00:17:57,780 --> 00:17:54,760 years met some great skeptics guide to 418 00:17:59,640 --> 00:17:57,790 the universe fans yeah we really love 419 00:18:01,170 --> 00:17:59,650 going to the live event not only because 420 00:18:03,210 --> 00:18:01,180 we get to see all of our skeptical 421 00:18:05,790 --> 00:18:03,220 friends that otherwise we only get to 422 00:18:07,860 --> 00:18:05,800 you know talk with over Skype or emails 423 00:18:09,930 --> 00:18:07,870 oh it's you know the few opportunities 424 00:18:12,390 --> 00:18:09,940 we have to hang out with with our 425 00:18:14,490 --> 00:18:12,400 colleagues once or twice a year but we 426 00:18:17,910 --> 00:18:14,500 loved meeting with our listeners you 427 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:17,920 know we always have tables and try to 428 00:18:22,340 --> 00:18:19,570 spend as much time as we can there 429 00:18:25,020 --> 00:18:22,350 although we're busy at events you know 430 00:18:27,630 --> 00:18:25,030 right either running them we run the 431 00:18:28,830 --> 00:18:27,640 events and do recording interviews and 432 00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:28,840 prepping for our shows and everything 433 00:18:33,570 --> 00:18:31,150 but as much time as we can get away just 434 00:18:35,820 --> 00:18:33,580 you sitting behind the table talking 435 00:18:37,980 --> 00:18:35,830 with our listeners we usually hold some 436 00:18:39,810 --> 00:18:37,990 events like dinners or whatever where we 437 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:39,820 spend a lot of time with people who 438 00:18:42,780 --> 00:18:41,710 listen to the show and that's always 439 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:42,790 great i mean i'd love to hear their 440 00:18:46,830 --> 00:18:44,730 stories love to get their feedback 441 00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:46,840 it'sit's that's one of the things that 442 00:18:51,090 --> 00:18:48,670 really recharges our batteries and and 443 00:18:52,410 --> 00:18:51,100 you know makes it be a Briggs at home so 444 00:18:54,570 --> 00:18:52,420 otherwise you know you're sitting in 445 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:54,580 your in your house producing this 446 00:18:58,830 --> 00:18:56,170 content you send it off into the ether 447 00:19:01,350 --> 00:18:58,840 and it you could still feel pretty 448 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:01,360 isolated you know the online 449 00:19:04,710 --> 00:19:03,370 interactions great but it's not the same 450 00:19:06,060 --> 00:19:04,720 thing as having somebody come up to you 451 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:06,070 and say oh I really appreciate all the 452 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:07,210 work you're doing and the show that you 453 00:19:12,690 --> 00:19:10,330 put on so it really is very nice yeah I 454 00:19:16,410 --> 00:19:12,700 have to agree it's it's very nice and 455 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:16,420 date and I I guess again we have a very 456 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:18,850 similar situation we're very very kind 457 00:19:22,380 --> 00:19:21,130 people come up and say how much they 458 00:19:24,390 --> 00:19:22,390 enjoy the show and it's part of their 459 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:24,400 life you know every week they they'll 460 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:26,050 download the show and off they'll go to 461 00:19:29,910 --> 00:19:27,910 work and I'll go jogging I mean there 462 00:19:31,260 --> 00:19:29,920 are people listening to us now doing all 463 00:19:32,970 --> 00:19:31,270 sorts of things 464 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:32,980 as part of their their weekly routine 465 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:36,010 and that's that's very nice to know yeah 466 00:19:43,460 --> 00:19:40,210 it really is now let me talk with you 467 00:19:46,410 --> 00:19:43,470 just for a short while about a recent 468 00:19:48,390 --> 00:19:46,420 interesting adventure you had well 469 00:19:51,510 --> 00:19:48,400 recent I guess it was a little while ago 470 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:51,520 were you appeared on the dr. Oz Show now 471 00:19:58,440 --> 00:19:55,510 I must tell you that dr. oz is played 472 00:20:00,660 --> 00:19:58,450 here in Australia five at least five 473 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:00,670 days a week and it's quite popular now 474 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:02,410 you you would have appeared here on 475 00:20:07,860 --> 00:20:05,080 Australian TV I'm not exactly sure when 476 00:20:09,570 --> 00:20:07,870 that would have been broadcast but what 477 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:09,580 can you tell our listeners about your 478 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:13,330 experience being on the dr. Oz Show yeah 479 00:20:20,220 --> 00:20:16,450 so I was contacted by a producer of the 480 00:20:22,860 --> 00:20:20,230 show and at first I file they do they 481 00:20:25,020 --> 00:20:22,870 know who I am I mean did they are they 482 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:25,030 sure they were they just fishing for 483 00:20:30,210 --> 00:20:27,730 some random you know neurologist no but 484 00:20:32,070 --> 00:20:30,220 they wanted they had read some of the 485 00:20:33,540 --> 00:20:32,080 articles that we wrote about dr. oz on 486 00:20:37,710 --> 00:20:33,550 my blog it on science-based medicine 487 00:20:39,810 --> 00:20:37,720 where we're pretty critical of him you 488 00:20:41,850 --> 00:20:39,820 know he dispenses a lot of information 489 00:20:43,860 --> 00:20:41,860 and a lot of what he talks about on his 490 00:20:48,180 --> 00:20:43,870 show is fine it's pretty straightforward 491 00:20:50,820 --> 00:20:48,190 medical knowledge but he also will delve 492 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:50,830 into pseudoscience and I think he's been 493 00:20:54,750 --> 00:20:52,690 doing that increasingly promoting all 494 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:54,760 kinds of nonsense like homeopathy and 495 00:21:00,030 --> 00:20:57,730 acupuncture and now the latest fad diet 496 00:21:03,030 --> 00:21:00,040 pill it seems the latest supplement or 497 00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:03,040 anything so we've criticized him when he 498 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:06,700 strays into the pseudoscience but they 499 00:21:10,170 --> 00:21:08,890 wanted to bring me on the show to talk 500 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:10,180 about it to talk about that our 501 00:21:16,700 --> 00:21:13,090 criticisms of all you know his promotion 502 00:21:19,170 --> 00:21:16,710 of alternative medicine so I actually 503 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:19,180 emailed my science-based medicine 504 00:21:23,130 --> 00:21:21,370 colleagues you know David Gorski and 505 00:21:26,430 --> 00:21:23,140 kimball and mark and Harry and those 506 00:21:28,350 --> 00:21:26,440 guys and in some way what do you guys 507 00:21:30,690 --> 00:21:28,360 think about this I mean this is it's a 508 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:30,700 great opportunity but it's also a huge 509 00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:33,310 potential for failure here because he's 510 00:21:37,650 --> 00:21:35,080 going to completely control the content 511 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:37,660 and you know how much power you have in 512 00:21:40,290 --> 00:21:38,890 the editing room you know you can make 513 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:40,300 anybody sound like anything you want 514 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:43,090 sure there's a there's a certain amount 515 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:44,730 of trust you give 516 00:21:49,070 --> 00:21:46,890 when when you allow yourself to be 517 00:21:50,510 --> 00:21:49,080 interviewed by somebody else and they're 518 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:50,520 going to completely control the content 519 00:21:56,570 --> 00:21:53,910 and you know we weren't sure that that 520 00:21:58,100 --> 00:21:56,580 we should do that but in the end I 521 00:22:01,340 --> 00:21:58,110 decided that it was too big an 522 00:22:04,340 --> 00:22:01,350 opportunity to pass up and that it was 523 00:22:07,190 --> 00:22:04,350 worth the chance plus I know I've been 524 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:07,200 in these situations before so I sort of 525 00:22:12,860 --> 00:22:09,390 trusted myself to to handle it you know 526 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:12,870 to not say something stupid or get you 527 00:22:19,310 --> 00:22:15,330 know lured into lying something that I 528 00:22:21,980 --> 00:22:19,320 shouldn't you have to do you disciplined 529 00:22:24,130 --> 00:22:21,990 enough to speak in sound bites that I'm 530 00:22:26,659 --> 00:22:24,140 happy that they will stand on their own 531 00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:26,669 they can always of course alter the 532 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:29,910 context of what you're saying but so 533 00:22:38,450 --> 00:22:36,450 anyway so I went on the show dr. oz did 534 00:22:41,060 --> 00:22:38,460 not say two words to me except when I 535 00:22:42,620 --> 00:22:41,070 was on stage with him there was no he 536 00:22:44,510 --> 00:22:42,630 didn't visit me in the greenroom never 537 00:22:45,799 --> 00:22:44,520 said hi to me it was just saw it my 538 00:22:48,890 --> 00:22:45,809 interaction with him was a hundred 539 00:22:53,390 --> 00:22:48,900 percent on stage Oh which was which I 540 00:22:55,460 --> 00:22:53,400 thought was a little cold but the it 541 00:22:59,890 --> 00:22:55,470 actually went fairly well he did give me 542 00:23:03,830 --> 00:22:59,900 an opportunity to say my piece obviously 543 00:23:06,470 --> 00:23:03,840 not as much as i would have liked and I 544 00:23:07,940 --> 00:23:06,480 thought the the audience responded well 545 00:23:11,210 --> 00:23:07,950 to the points that I made you know 546 00:23:12,710 --> 00:23:11,220 obviously I I couldn't be too I couldn't 547 00:23:14,450 --> 00:23:12,720 be int agonistic I had to come off as 548 00:23:17,180 --> 00:23:14,460 the nice guy you know that was I think 549 00:23:19,130 --> 00:23:17,190 the whole point of him my guess is he 550 00:23:21,140 --> 00:23:19,140 wanted somebody on the show so that he 551 00:23:23,180 --> 00:23:21,150 could talk at them to make the points he 552 00:23:24,620 --> 00:23:23,190 wanted to make and if he could get us to 553 00:23:27,919 --> 00:23:24,630 be like sort of the bad guy that would 554 00:23:29,750 --> 00:23:27,929 be a bonus but i think i managed to come 555 00:23:32,180 --> 00:23:29,760 off as a likable person I knew that it's 556 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:32,190 really my only goal was to just be us 557 00:23:39,770 --> 00:23:34,890 just to be likable and I you know God 558 00:23:42,890 --> 00:23:39,780 got a few points in and but oz reserved 559 00:23:45,650 --> 00:23:42,900 sort of the closing statement for 560 00:23:47,690 --> 00:23:45,660 himself you know made his little brief 561 00:23:50,169 --> 00:23:47,700 rant you know stating his position and 562 00:23:52,990 --> 00:23:50,179 gave me no opportunity to respond and 563 00:23:57,260 --> 00:23:53,000 the one thing he said to me off camera 564 00:23:57,750 --> 00:23:57,270 what was I guess he realized that it's 565 00:23:59,160 --> 00:23:57,760 pretty 566 00:24:01,080 --> 00:23:59,170 rude to you know have a guest on your 567 00:24:02,550 --> 00:24:01,090 show and then to talk at them for a 568 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:02,560 minute and then cut them off and end the 569 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:05,050 segment so we did say oh sorry I had to 570 00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:06,310 do that we were running late you know I 571 00:24:11,460 --> 00:24:08,230 sort of this sort of ride lame lame 572 00:24:15,510 --> 00:24:11,470 apology for doing that but other than 573 00:24:16,770 --> 00:24:15,520 that you know it that was that was the 574 00:24:18,780 --> 00:24:16,780 only thing he said to me that wasn't on 575 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:18,790 camera and then we do we had to wait and 576 00:24:21,660 --> 00:24:19,930 see how they were going to edit it and 577 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:21,670 the editing actually was not bad you 578 00:24:27,930 --> 00:24:24,490 know it they kept most of the segment 579 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:27,940 they didn't they didn't chop it up so in 580 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:29,890 the end I was glad that I went that I 581 00:24:34,860 --> 00:24:32,370 went on the show I think it probably 582 00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:34,870 helped us more than anything else did 583 00:24:40,050 --> 00:24:36,910 you get much feedback ol fallout from 584 00:24:42,810 --> 00:24:40,060 that yeah lots of feedback you know um 585 00:24:44,910 --> 00:24:42,820 so a lot of people saw me on the show 586 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:44,920 even people who are not regular 587 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:46,690 consumers of science-based medicine or 588 00:24:52,620 --> 00:24:50,710 the SGU so I think it was overall it was 589 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:52,630 a skeptical win it was it was good for 590 00:24:56,820 --> 00:24:54,310 the science-based medicine brand you 591 00:24:58,620 --> 00:24:56,830 know to get it out there I had a lot of 592 00:25:01,470 --> 00:24:58,630 my own patients said hey I saw you on 593 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:01,480 the dr. Oz Show and so these are just 594 00:25:06,120 --> 00:25:03,130 regular people they're not skeptics or 595 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:06,130 in the community and that the the 596 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:08,260 feedback was mostly that the people 597 00:25:16,380 --> 00:25:11,110 thought that the by appearance was good 598 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:16,390 and that a lot of people noted that they 599 00:25:20,910 --> 00:25:18,010 thought odds was a little rude to me at 600 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:20,920 the end which to me means that it 601 00:25:24,540 --> 00:25:22,570 probably backfired on him a little bit 602 00:25:26,370 --> 00:25:24,550 and another thing that was interesting I 603 00:25:30,690 --> 00:25:26,380 a lot of people said to me that they 604 00:25:32,910 --> 00:25:30,700 really liked dr. oz but he does go off 605 00:25:34,110 --> 00:25:32,920 the deep end on the alternative medicine 606 00:25:35,370 --> 00:25:34,120 thing and then they just ignore him when 607 00:25:37,170 --> 00:25:35,380 he starts talking about stuff like that 608 00:25:40,050 --> 00:25:37,180 which I thought was interesting so 609 00:25:42,060 --> 00:25:40,060 people some of his fans will separate 610 00:25:43,980 --> 00:25:42,070 that out like they take the real 611 00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:43,990 information and they just ignore the 612 00:25:49,170 --> 00:25:47,130 nonsense which was heartening to hear 613 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:49,180 that there that there is still 614 00:25:53,340 --> 00:25:51,490 distinguishing the kind of information 615 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:53,350 is giving not that he's not doing damage 616 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:55,330 by promoting nonsense but at least some 617 00:25:58,710 --> 00:25:56,530 people out there can tell the difference 618 00:26:02,160 --> 00:25:58,720 oh well we look forward to the day when 619 00:26:03,570 --> 00:26:02,170 it's the dr steve TV show yeah that 620 00:26:05,490 --> 00:26:03,580 would be nice oh you'll be the first one 621 00:26:07,710 --> 00:26:05,500 in our richard i would appreciate that 622 00:26:09,789 --> 00:26:07,720 then you can have dr. oz on your TV show 623 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:09,799 and took her here for five minutes 624 00:26:14,710 --> 00:26:12,470 hey I invited him on the st you never 625 00:26:16,509 --> 00:26:14,720 never never got back to me well there 626 00:26:19,180 --> 00:26:16,519 you go I guess he is a very very busy 627 00:26:21,369 --> 00:26:19,190 man indeed I guess so now Steve I think 628 00:26:22,930 --> 00:26:21,379 the next opportunity we will have to see 629 00:26:27,669 --> 00:26:22,940 each other in person and have a drink 630 00:26:30,070 --> 00:26:27,679 will be probably tam 2013 tam in july i 631 00:26:31,779 --> 00:26:30,080 think it is in Las Vegas this year yeah 632 00:26:33,669 --> 00:26:31,789 I looking forward to it yeah I can't 633 00:26:35,109 --> 00:26:33,679 wait to see you again that's always here 634 00:26:37,269 --> 00:26:35,119 again the highlight of these conferences 635 00:26:38,470 --> 00:26:37,279 is getting to see our friends but yeah 636 00:26:41,229 --> 00:26:38,480 we're really looking forward to Tam Tam 637 00:26:43,389 --> 00:26:41,239 is a one of the you know that I think 638 00:26:45,789 --> 00:26:43,399 it's still the biggest annual skeptical 639 00:26:47,979 --> 00:26:45,799 conference that we have by the J ref 640 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:47,989 James Randi of course is always there 641 00:26:54,970 --> 00:26:52,129 hosting and you know the SGU is always a 642 00:26:58,149 --> 00:26:54,980 big part of it we put on a good to live 643 00:27:00,070 --> 00:26:58,159 shows actually end a dinner and I do a 644 00:27:01,629 --> 00:27:00,080 science-based medicine workshop and a 645 00:27:03,970 --> 00:27:01,639 panel it's always really busy but we 646 00:27:06,190 --> 00:27:03,980 love it it's a full full weekend it 647 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:06,200 certainly is it's it's a of course on 648 00:27:10,749 --> 00:27:08,210 its a one of the highlights of my my 649 00:27:12,789 --> 00:27:10,759 calendar every years is not only seeing 650 00:27:14,049 --> 00:27:12,799 old friends like my friends at the 651 00:27:16,389 --> 00:27:14,059 skeptics guide to the universe but 652 00:27:19,330 --> 00:27:16,399 meeting so many people and having a chat 653 00:27:20,919 --> 00:27:19,340 to Randy being in las vegas there's 654 00:27:25,239 --> 00:27:20,929 always a lot of fun so i think we can 655 00:27:27,009 --> 00:27:25,249 always always look forward to a tam yeah 656 00:27:28,930 --> 00:27:27,019 it's great networking to me we meet new 657 00:27:30,310 --> 00:27:28,940 people that you know we should know but 658 00:27:32,259 --> 00:27:30,320 we just for whatever reason never came 659 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:32,269 across them until we run into them at 660 00:27:35,769 --> 00:27:33,769 these conferences and we get great 661 00:27:37,930 --> 00:27:35,779 interviews for the show it's really we 662 00:27:41,950 --> 00:27:37,940 got it so much content it's awesome oh 663 00:27:44,229 --> 00:27:41,960 yeah I hear you me too it's a golden 664 00:27:47,049 --> 00:27:44,239 opportunity for me to to especially with 665 00:27:48,820 --> 00:27:47,059 my people like my reporter may not to 666 00:27:52,570 --> 00:27:48,830 grab lots of interviews which helps me 667 00:27:55,509 --> 00:27:52,580 and helps you produce more your podcasts 668 00:27:57,159 --> 00:27:55,519 and sometimes it's it's gold to have a 669 00:27:59,109 --> 00:27:57,169 nice 30-minute interview or something 670 00:28:01,149 --> 00:27:59,119 like that yeah and the live interviews 671 00:28:02,590 --> 00:28:01,159 are just there's a different energy you 672 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:02,600 know when the persons in the room with 673 00:28:07,539 --> 00:28:04,730 you as opposed to just a voice over the 674 00:28:10,090 --> 00:28:07,549 phone so I enjoy the live interviews a 675 00:28:11,859 --> 00:28:10,100 lot the visual feedback is what's 676 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:11,869 missing when we're recording over the 677 00:28:16,029 --> 00:28:13,850 internet you know yeah you're i'm 678 00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:16,039 looking at a funny cartoon character of 679 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:17,539 you right now on my screen but it'll 680 00:28:23,410 --> 00:28:20,090 just have to do a wreck ray my skype 681 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:23,420 payment here yeah well Steve up 682 00:28:28,810 --> 00:28:27,170 400 episodes again it's it's just a mind 683 00:28:31,060 --> 00:28:28,820 stepping achievement and when you say 684 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:31,070 it's what over eight years it sounds 685 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:33,530 even more incredible people are growing 686 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:34,730 up with the skeptics guide to the 687 00:28:40,090 --> 00:28:36,290 universe which is an interesting thought 688 00:28:42,250 --> 00:28:40,100 and all I can say is I hope you keep 689 00:28:44,710 --> 00:28:42,260 doing it for as long as you can possibly 690 00:28:47,140 --> 00:28:44,720 keep doing it and to be together with 691 00:28:50,290 --> 00:28:47,150 the same team and of course we remember 692 00:28:52,270 --> 00:28:50,300 a Perry at this time who sadly is always 693 00:28:54,820 --> 00:28:52,280 always a remember Perry who isn't part 694 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:54,830 of the team now of course and i'm very 695 00:28:58,180 --> 00:28:56,450 sad i never got the opportunity to meet 696 00:28:59,860 --> 00:28:58,190 him but still with it basically the same 697 00:29:02,890 --> 00:28:59,870 team after all these years it's it's 698 00:29:05,530 --> 00:29:02,900 quite an achievement yeah i have to say 699 00:29:06,940 --> 00:29:05,540 and this is you know not to be sappy or 700 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:06,950 anything but it really is because of our 701 00:29:10,990 --> 00:29:09,410 listeners i mean early on we had 702 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:11,000 conversations all the week you know we 703 00:29:15,490 --> 00:29:13,850 increased pretty steadily but you know 704 00:29:16,990 --> 00:29:15,500 we we talked to each other like what are 705 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:17,000 we going to do how long are we going to 706 00:29:22,090 --> 00:29:20,450 do this if we don't get a reasonable 707 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:22,100 listener base if it doesn't take off 708 00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:24,110 luckily we never had to face that 709 00:29:28,870 --> 00:29:26,110 question because you know our listeners 710 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:28,880 increased steadily over the years but 711 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:30,650 it's our listeners that keep us going 712 00:29:34,030 --> 00:29:32,330 it's it's the feedback that we get the 713 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:34,040 interaction that we have with them if it 714 00:29:38,890 --> 00:29:36,770 weren't for that you know there's no way 715 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:38,900 that we would have the energy to keep 716 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:41,570 doing this week after week Thank You 717 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:44,450 listeners I you're absolutely right 718 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:47,090 Steve and I I get the same sort of 719 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:49,010 feeling when I get very very kind emails 720 00:29:53,350 --> 00:29:50,810 coming back to the skeptics and well 721 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:53,360 Steve I think I should let you now study 722 00:29:57,250 --> 00:29:55,850 and prep for your next skeptics guide to 723 00:29:59,500 --> 00:29:57,260 the universe your listeners wouldn't 724 00:30:01,270 --> 00:29:59,510 forgive you if the show was late but I'd 725 00:30:02,950 --> 00:30:01,280 like to thank you very much for taking 726 00:30:05,350 --> 00:30:02,960 time out to chat to the listeners of the 727 00:30:17,470 --> 00:30:05,360 skeptic zone it's my pleasure and thank 728 00:30:23,119 --> 00:30:20,869 hello simulated human voice here again 729 00:30:26,119 --> 00:30:23,129 during the week I saw the first episode 730 00:30:28,730 --> 00:30:26,129 of a new ABC TV series called the check 731 00:30:32,259 --> 00:30:28,740 out I must say it was very skeptical 732 00:30:35,180 --> 00:30:32,269 indeed and I know Saunders enjoyed it 733 00:30:39,980 --> 00:30:35,190 you can see it for yourself at the ABC 734 00:30:42,289 --> 00:30:39,990 website wewt be CIA you or for those 735 00:30:49,369 --> 00:30:42,299 outside Australia search for it on 736 00:30:51,350 --> 00:30:49,379 YouTube virtual skeptics is a weekly web 737 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:51,360 show in which we discuss the latest news 738 00:30:55,460 --> 00:30:53,970 in skepticism whether it's a new case of 739 00:30:57,649 --> 00:30:55,470 spontaneous human combustion a 740 00:30:59,869 --> 00:30:57,659 conspiracy theory the latest update on 741 00:31:01,549 --> 00:30:59,879 the upcoming robot apocalypse tech news 742 00:31:04,009 --> 00:31:01,559 for skeptics are the latest wacky 743 00:31:06,409 --> 00:31:04,019 religious claim we cover it all we 744 00:31:09,049 --> 00:31:06,419 record the show live as a Google+ on-air 745 00:31:10,879 --> 00:31:09,059 hang out so join us in our host Brian 746 00:31:13,009 --> 00:31:10,889 Gregory for an hour of mostly 747 00:31:15,919 --> 00:31:13,019 intelligent talk every wednesday at 748 00:31:18,919 --> 00:31:15,929 eight pm eastern US time watch us at 749 00:31:21,590 --> 00:31:18,929 virtual skeptics calm and participate in 750 00:31:24,499 --> 00:31:21,600 the show on our hashtag virtual skeptics 751 00:31:29,169 --> 00:31:24,509 the virtual skeptics it's like meet the 752 00:31:34,970 --> 00:31:32,090 welcome to a week in science from our 753 00:31:38,090 --> 00:31:34,980 iOS this week life at the bottom of the 754 00:31:45,409 --> 00:31:38,100 oceans instant gold and evolution in 755 00:31:47,060 --> 00:31:45,419 action first up the deepest place on the 756 00:31:50,570 --> 00:31:47,070 earth has been found to house an 757 00:31:53,510 --> 00:31:50,580 unexpectedly large population of living 758 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:53,520 creatures researchers measured oxygen 759 00:31:58,760 --> 00:31:56,010 consumption as an indicator of microbial 760 00:32:02,450 --> 00:31:58,770 life in the Mariana Trench at an 761 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:02,460 astounding depth of 11,000 meters they 762 00:32:06,799 --> 00:32:04,710 found a surprisingly active community 763 00:32:08,990 --> 00:32:06,809 and suggested that they're fed by 764 00:32:12,980 --> 00:32:09,000 relatively high levels of incoming 765 00:32:15,919 --> 00:32:12,990 sediment in news for modern-day 766 00:32:19,100 --> 00:32:15,929 prospectors earthquakes may be causing 767 00:32:21,530 --> 00:32:19,110 the deposit of gold that's gold I tells 768 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:21,540 you it's long been thought that gold in 769 00:32:26,870 --> 00:32:23,970 quartz deposits form over long periods 770 00:32:29,810 --> 00:32:26,880 of time as the dissolved gold slowly 771 00:32:32,330 --> 00:32:29,820 solidifies out of mineral rich solutions 772 00:32:34,370 --> 00:32:32,340 but a new theory proposed this week 773 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:34,380 suggests that earthquakes cracking rocks 774 00:32:40,100 --> 00:32:37,290 deep underground formed spaces of lower 775 00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:40,110 pressure than the surrounding rock this 776 00:32:45,289 --> 00:32:42,510 sudden change in pressure solidifies the 777 00:32:47,409 --> 00:32:45,299 dissolved gold and other minerals out of 778 00:32:50,270 --> 00:32:47,419 the surrounding solution almost 779 00:32:53,750 --> 00:32:50,280 instantaneously and now for size 780 00:32:56,210 --> 00:32:53,760 headlines in 30 seconds giant squid may 781 00:32:58,450 --> 00:32:56,220 in fact all be a single species and not 782 00:33:00,950 --> 00:32:58,460 multiple species as previously thought 783 00:33:03,710 --> 00:33:00,960 roadkill's of cliff swallows may be 784 00:33:06,039 --> 00:33:03,720 forcing evolution with fewer birds being 785 00:33:09,110 --> 00:33:06,049 hit and the birds having shorter wings 786 00:33:10,909 --> 00:33:09,120 further analysis by CERN has confirmed 787 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:10,919 that the elementary particle discovered 788 00:33:16,490 --> 00:33:13,650 in July last year was indeed a Higgs 789 00:33:18,470 --> 00:33:16,500 boson and Japanese researchers found 790 00:33:20,630 --> 00:33:18,480 that the timing of a roosters crow each 791 00:33:23,299 --> 00:33:20,640 morning depends on their internal 792 00:33:26,419 --> 00:33:23,309 biological clock and not the presence of 793 00:33:29,990 --> 00:33:26,429 the Sun finally this week a new 794 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:30,000 development in 3d displays this new 795 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:32,130 approach uses diffractive optics to 796 00:33:37,190 --> 00:33:34,530 produce three-dimensional images which 797 00:33:39,710 --> 00:33:37,200 can be viewed from multiple angles even 798 00:33:41,539 --> 00:33:39,720 when the device is tilted it consists of 799 00:33:44,330 --> 00:33:41,549 a set of LEDs and a 800 00:33:47,269 --> 00:33:44,340 filter that manipulates light to produce 801 00:33:50,269 --> 00:33:47,279 different views and colors this is not 802 00:33:52,669 --> 00:33:50,279 an expensive holographic technique but a 803 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:52,679 faster and cheaper option this 804 00:33:57,889 --> 00:33:55,110 glasses-free technology could 805 00:34:02,359 --> 00:33:57,899 revolutionize data visualization medical 806 00:34:04,789 --> 00:34:02,369 training and entertainment don't forget 807 00:34:08,270 --> 00:34:04,799 about science behind the headlines drugs 808 00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:08,280 in sport this Tuesday March 26th our 809 00:34:12,559 --> 00:34:10,710 expert panel will be examining this hot 810 00:34:14,780 --> 00:34:12,569 topic and you can be part of the 811 00:34:16,940 --> 00:34:14,790 audience at the sides exchanged or by 812 00:34:19,490 --> 00:34:16,950 following the live stream on our website 813 00:34:22,039 --> 00:34:19,500 the show starts at six-thirty p.m. 814 00:34:24,980 --> 00:34:22,049 central australian time 7 p.m. in the 815 00:34:26,750 --> 00:34:24,990 east and five in the west that's been 816 00:34:28,730 --> 00:34:26,760 the highlights of another big week in 817 00:34:31,639 --> 00:34:28,740 science for more information and other 818 00:34:37,069 --> 00:34:31,649 science news check out the rirs website 819 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:37,079 RI aus org a you where you can also sign 820 00:34:41,629 --> 00:34:39,210 up for notifications of future episodes 821 00:34:44,839 --> 00:34:41,639 you can follow a week in science on 822 00:34:47,270 --> 00:34:44,849 twitter using the hashtag week in sy I'm 823 00:35:00,190 --> 00:34:47,280 Paul Willis and on behalf of the Arias 824 00:35:05,500 --> 00:35:04,060 I am audit my existing Aviva tips that I 825 00:35:07,870 --> 00:35:05,510 some logic lifted off the skeptic zone 826 00:35:10,210 --> 00:35:07,880 I'm skeptical Marin Nadia the VINs not a 827 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:10,220 blog gear or petrov a podcast of reading 828 00:35:14,349 --> 00:35:11,930 escape system is leaked on this door 829 00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:14,359 panel central i'll skip cystal demo or 830 00:35:18,010 --> 00:35:15,710 higher publicize the dips corner 831 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:18,020 Chiclets and calendar / activity or link 832 00:35:20,740 --> 00:35:19,490 it in the state association escapes this 833 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:20,750 blog in ops at iridium layer or the 834 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:22,339 discrete areas hefty performance so 835 00:35:32,829 --> 00:35:24,410 stick in them Oh Delta do Lhasa skips is 836 00:35:35,079 --> 00:35:32,839 totes hello why the big fuss about GMO 837 00:35:37,630 --> 00:35:35,089 crops are they indeed as terrible as 838 00:35:44,020 --> 00:35:37,640 some people say I'm Brian Dunning and 839 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:44,030 you're watching in fact welcome to the 840 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:45,410 show that gives you the real facts 841 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:48,890 behind popular myths our GMO crops good 842 00:35:53,319 --> 00:35:51,050 or bad well the question actually 843 00:35:56,349 --> 00:35:53,329 doesn't make sense because direct 844 00:35:59,410 --> 00:35:56,359 genetic modification is a technology not 845 00:36:02,079 --> 00:35:59,420 a product it's one basic technology for 846 00:36:04,599 --> 00:36:02,089 creating new plant varieties another 847 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:04,609 basic technology is hybridization or 848 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:07,250 crossbreeding think of the difference 849 00:36:11,349 --> 00:36:09,170 between a typewriter and a computer 850 00:36:13,569 --> 00:36:11,359 there are two different technologies 851 00:36:16,030 --> 00:36:13,579 that can be used to write a book but it 852 00:36:19,089 --> 00:36:16,040 makes no sense to ask our books written 853 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:19,099 on computers good or bad we all 854 00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:20,690 understand that it's the end product 855 00:36:24,430 --> 00:36:22,730 itself that's important not the 856 00:36:27,370 --> 00:36:24,440 technology with which it was created 857 00:36:29,829 --> 00:36:27,380 using a computer instead of a typewriter 858 00:36:32,079 --> 00:36:29,839 may make the work easier but it does not 859 00:36:34,990 --> 00:36:32,089 inherently result in a book that's 860 00:36:38,170 --> 00:36:35,000 either better or worse by the same token 861 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:38,180 it makes no sense to ask if GMO crops 862 00:36:43,329 --> 00:36:40,730 are good or bad we have to look instead 863 00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:43,339 at the end product using genetic 864 00:36:49,059 --> 00:36:46,339 modification lets us for example copy 865 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:49,069 and paste specific genes just as a 866 00:36:52,510 --> 00:36:50,690 computer lets you copy and paste 867 00:36:54,970 --> 00:36:52,520 paragraphs from one document to the 868 00:36:57,339 --> 00:36:54,980 other you can copy and paste a gene that 869 00:36:59,740 --> 00:36:57,349 makes the plant better or a gene that 870 00:37:02,260 --> 00:36:59,750 makes it worse you can copy and paste 871 00:37:03,730 --> 00:37:02,270 text to make an exciting book or a 872 00:37:06,550 --> 00:37:03,740 boring book 873 00:37:08,590 --> 00:37:06,560 one of the most common GMO crops is BT 874 00:37:11,109 --> 00:37:08,600 corn which stands for back sillas 875 00:37:13,270 --> 00:37:11,119 thuringiensis its purpose is to make the 876 00:37:16,090 --> 00:37:13,280 core naturally resistant to caterpillars 877 00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:16,100 without requiring a pesticide and to 878 00:37:20,830 --> 00:37:18,710 make BT corn we clipped one gene from a 879 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:20,840 naturally occurring soil bacterium and 880 00:37:25,690 --> 00:37:23,930 pasted it into traditional chord that 881 00:37:28,420 --> 00:37:25,700 gene makes the corn produce a protein 882 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:28,430 that causes caterpillars to stop eating 883 00:37:33,310 --> 00:37:30,530 simple we get a cord that's 884 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:33,320 nutritionally unchanged and no pesticide 885 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:35,210 has to be sprayed so the corns cleaner 886 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:38,090 too so the next time someone tells you 887 00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:40,730 that GMO crops are either good or bad 888 00:37:45,490 --> 00:37:43,310 ask them which variety they're talking 889 00:37:47,980 --> 00:37:45,500 about just as you'd ask what book they 890 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:47,990 liked ask them which gene conferred the 891 00:37:51,550 --> 00:37:50,090 trait they're concerned about just as 892 00:37:54,070 --> 00:37:51,560 you might ask about a character in the 893 00:37:55,859 --> 00:37:54,080 book chances are you'll reveal that they 894 00:37:58,420 --> 00:37:55,869 have no idea what they're talking about 895 00:38:00,790 --> 00:37:58,430 being written on a computer doesn't make 896 00:38:03,580 --> 00:38:00,800 a book good or bad and being developed 897 00:38:07,060 --> 00:38:03,590 with direct genetic manipulation doesn't 898 00:38:09,210 --> 00:38:07,070 make a plant good or bad before you jump 899 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:09,220 onto any pop culture bandwagon 900 00:38:15,130 --> 00:38:11,810 understand the basic science and then 901 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:15,140 make an informed jump I'm Brian Dunning 902 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:19,130 and this has been in fact in fact is 903 00:38:23,710 --> 00:38:21,170 made possible by financial support from 904 00:38:33,489 --> 00:38:23,720 viewers like you please visit in fact 905 00:38:40,549 --> 00:38:36,469 ning xia shot induction skeptic zone 906 00:38:45,469 --> 00:38:40,559 bascially su amiga one's escaped I talk 907 00:38:48,019 --> 00:38:45,479 on da CA n sceptile psychically podcast 908 00:38:51,109 --> 00:38:48,029 GMO a momentito with hardened sinner 909 00:38:54,079 --> 00:38:51,119 hearty pocket and Helios in the atlantic 910 00:38:57,859 --> 00:38:54,089 ocean in Mahwah New Jersey shenzhen 911 00:39:02,059 --> 00:38:57,869 chatty Lana cncl include ow itunes the 912 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:02,069 Chihuahua Jan SATA sceptile fujisawa one 913 00:39:12,790 --> 00:39:10,420 thus kept I'd science podcast by brian 914 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:12,800 dunning is now available for Chinese 915 00:39:18,250 --> 00:39:15,290 audience please tell your Chinese 916 00:39:21,190 --> 00:39:18,260 friends to visit skip toy duck hunters 917 00:39:25,270 --> 00:39:21,200 en a fine skipped hoid on the Chinese 918 00:39:39,090 --> 00:39:25,280 itunes door i'm lisa from sceptile calm 919 00:39:43,630 --> 00:39:42,070 this is Ben Radford I'm deputy editor of 920 00:39:45,700 --> 00:39:43,640 skeptical inquirer science magazine 921 00:39:47,710 --> 00:39:45,710 author of six books including tracking 922 00:39:59,950 --> 00:39:47,720 chupacabras and you can find out more 923 00:40:02,620 --> 00:39:59,960 about me at Benjamin Radford calm astral 924 00:40:04,210 --> 00:40:02,630 projection the idea that humans can 925 00:40:06,460 --> 00:40:04,220 leave their bodies during dream states 926 00:40:09,010 --> 00:40:06,470 is an ancient one countless people from 927 00:40:10,570 --> 00:40:09,020 New Agers to shaman to to the 928 00:40:12,430 --> 00:40:10,580 nineteenth-century occult philosopher 929 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:12,440 Madame Blavatsky believe that it's 930 00:40:16,510 --> 00:40:14,450 possible to commune with cosmic 931 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:16,520 intelligences through visions and vivid 932 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:18,290 dreams experience during astral 933 00:40:23,170 --> 00:40:20,090 projection also known as out-of-body 934 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:23,180 experiences study suggests that between 935 00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:25,130 eight and twenty percent of people claim 936 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:26,570 to have had something like an 937 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:28,130 out-of-body experience at some point in 938 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:29,690 their lives a sensation of the 939 00:40:34,450 --> 00:40:31,970 consciousness spirit or astral body 940 00:40:36,310 --> 00:40:34,460 leaving the physical body while most 941 00:40:38,620 --> 00:40:36,320 experiences occur during sleep paralysis 942 00:40:39,970 --> 00:40:38,630 or under hypnosis some people claim to 943 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:39,980 do it while they're merely relaxing 944 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:42,530 according to one popular theory the 945 00:40:46,690 --> 00:40:44,330 astral body remains connected through a 946 00:40:49,450 --> 00:40:46,700 metaphorical silver cord which is sort 947 00:40:50,710 --> 00:40:49,460 of like an umbilical cord the tether is 948 00:40:53,020 --> 00:40:50,720 the roaming consciousness to the 949 00:40:55,720 --> 00:40:53,030 physical body though practiced for 950 00:40:57,310 --> 00:40:55,730 millennia these days astral travel can 951 00:40:59,080 --> 00:40:57,320 be big business a man named mark 952 00:41:03,070 --> 00:40:59,090 pritchard who goes by the more evocative 953 00:41:05,740 --> 00:41:03,080 moniker vm bill Zebub offers an online 954 00:41:08,140 --> 00:41:05,750 course and an end book on how to astral 955 00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:08,150 travel in eight weeks as he explains 956 00:41:12,609 --> 00:41:10,850 quote the astral is one of two planes in 957 00:41:14,590 --> 00:41:12,619 the fifth dimension it is where dreams 958 00:41:16,930 --> 00:41:14,600 occur where mystical teachings are given 959 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:16,940 in where the deceased go you can meet 960 00:41:20,740 --> 00:41:19,130 spiritual beings in the astral discover 961 00:41:23,170 --> 00:41:20,750 a secret knowledge learn about yourself 962 00:41:25,450 --> 00:41:23,180 see where your spiritual obstacles and 963 00:41:28,210 --> 00:41:25,460 energy defects are learn hidden wisdoms 964 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:28,220 about death the process of awakening get 965 00:41:31,990 --> 00:41:30,050 premonitions from the future receive 966 00:41:33,940 --> 00:41:32,000 guidance discover your purpose in life 967 00:41:36,550 --> 00:41:33,950 discover what really happens after death 968 00:41:38,770 --> 00:41:36,560 and much more it is something that 969 00:41:40,720 --> 00:41:38,780 really happens to you you actually find 970 00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:40,730 yourself in another dimension existing 971 00:41:44,470 --> 00:41:42,890 outside the physical world you'll be 972 00:41:46,390 --> 00:41:44,480 able to fly go through 973 00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:46,400 Austin objects meet people and travel to 974 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:48,170 distant places it is a profound 975 00:41:54,220 --> 00:41:51,170 experience end quote sounds pretty 976 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:54,230 exciting it's that really covers covers 977 00:41:58,060 --> 00:41:55,490 just about everything you might want to 978 00:42:00,760 --> 00:41:58,070 learn how would think about yourself and 979 00:42:02,290 --> 00:42:00,770 the world around you so you know it may 980 00:42:04,030 --> 00:42:02,300 be a profound experience but the 981 00:42:06,099 --> 00:42:04,040 fundamental problem is there's really no 982 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:06,109 way to scientifically measure whether or 983 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:08,090 not a person's spirit whatever that is 984 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:11,090 leaves or enters the body the simplest 985 00:42:14,980 --> 00:42:12,890 and best explanation for out-of-body 986 00:42:17,470 --> 00:42:14,990 experiences is that the person is merely 987 00:42:19,030 --> 00:42:17,480 fantasizing and dreaming because there's 988 00:42:20,950 --> 00:42:19,040 no scientific evidence that the soul 989 00:42:22,510 --> 00:42:20,960 exists or for that matter that 990 00:42:24,849 --> 00:42:22,520 consciousness can exist inside of the 991 00:42:26,950 --> 00:42:24,859 brain the premise behind astral travel 992 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:26,960 is rejected by scientists one of the 993 00:42:30,430 --> 00:42:28,490 most important scientific principles 994 00:42:32,230 --> 00:42:30,440 Occam's razor is that if you have a 995 00:42:34,030 --> 00:42:32,240 phenomena to be explained in several 996 00:42:36,099 --> 00:42:34,040 different theories that are proposed as 997 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:36,109 solutions the simplest one or the one 998 00:42:40,210 --> 00:42:37,970 with the fewest assumptions is likely to 999 00:42:41,890 --> 00:42:40,220 be the correct answer one common 1000 00:42:43,570 --> 00:42:41,900 illustration of this is a statement when 1001 00:42:46,180 --> 00:42:43,580 someone says when you hear hoofbeats 1002 00:42:47,650 --> 00:42:46,190 think horses not unicorns or in this 1003 00:42:49,240 --> 00:42:47,660 case when you have a dream like 1004 00:42:51,810 --> 00:42:49,250 experience while sleeping and resting 1005 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:51,820 think dreaming not astral projection 1006 00:42:55,870 --> 00:42:54,170 practitioners of astral travel insist 1007 00:42:57,490 --> 00:42:55,880 that it must be real because it seems so 1008 00:42:59,290 --> 00:42:57,500 vivid and because some of the 1009 00:43:01,450 --> 00:42:59,300 experiences are similar even for people 1010 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:01,460 from different cultures but it's not 1011 00:43:04,810 --> 00:43:03,410 surprising that many people who try a so 1012 00:43:07,450 --> 00:43:04,820 travel may have similar experiences 1013 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:07,460 after all that's what the term guided 1014 00:43:11,770 --> 00:43:09,770 imagery is it's when an authority such 1015 00:43:13,720 --> 00:43:11,780 as a psychologist or astral travel 1016 00:43:14,620 --> 00:43:13,730 teacher for example tells me what they 1017 00:43:17,020 --> 00:43:14,630 should experience when they're having 1018 00:43:19,990 --> 00:43:17,030 astral travel the power of suggestion 1019 00:43:21,849 --> 00:43:20,000 can be very powerful and in a person who 1020 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:21,859 is told that they will encounter an 1021 00:43:26,349 --> 00:43:23,810 alien or godlike entity who imparts 1022 00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:26,359 cosmic wisdom is likely to imagine 1023 00:43:30,790 --> 00:43:28,910 exactly that the problem is there's no 1024 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:30,800 evidence that those people who leave 1025 00:43:34,810 --> 00:43:32,330 their bodies are actually going anywhere 1026 00:43:36,790 --> 00:43:34,820 and certainly not anywhere on earth one 1027 00:43:38,859 --> 00:43:36,800 strong piece of evidence that the the 1028 00:43:40,599 --> 00:43:38,869 travel takes place inside the mind is 1029 00:43:42,490 --> 00:43:40,609 that those who returned from out of body 1030 00:43:45,190 --> 00:43:42,500 experiences can't give verifiable 1031 00:43:46,870 --> 00:43:45,200 details or information about the places 1032 00:43:49,870 --> 00:43:46,880 they've been or what they've seen if 1033 00:43:52,030 --> 00:43:49,880 real astral travel would be incredibly 1034 00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:52,040 useful there would be no need to send 1035 00:43:57,190 --> 00:43:53,930 humans into dangerous situations such as 1036 00:43:58,930 --> 00:43:57,200 the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear 1037 00:44:00,880 --> 00:43:58,940 disaster in Japan to find out what the 1038 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:00,890 situation is or if for example a 1039 00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:03,410 meltdown is imminent instead engineers 1040 00:44:07,690 --> 00:44:05,570 should be able to simply visit the site 1041 00:44:09,430 --> 00:44:07,700 astrally to survey the damage and report 1042 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:09,440 back without the dangers of radiation 1043 00:44:13,960 --> 00:44:11,930 contamination for that matter if 1044 00:44:15,700 --> 00:44:13,970 consciousnesses can fly go through walls 1045 00:44:17,530 --> 00:44:15,710 and circle the globe it should have been 1046 00:44:19,510 --> 00:44:17,540 a simple matter for astral projection 1047 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:19,520 teams to locate Osama bin Laden during 1048 00:44:23,230 --> 00:44:21,410 his decade of hiding out in Pakistan and 1049 00:44:25,140 --> 00:44:23,240 save innocent lives not to mention 1050 00:44:27,609 --> 00:44:25,150 collecting in 25 million dollar award 1051 00:44:29,920 --> 00:44:27,619 the distant Carnac consciousnesses a 1052 00:44:31,780 --> 00:44:29,930 bilingual astral projecting spies could 1053 00:44:33,220 --> 00:44:31,790 easily visit top secret facilities 1054 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:33,230 around the world and return with 1055 00:44:36,940 --> 00:44:34,970 important information about everything 1056 00:44:40,060 --> 00:44:36,950 from corporate trade secrets to military 1057 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:40,070 nuclear codes if astral bodies truly can 1058 00:44:44,079 --> 00:44:41,810 visit other planets there seems to be 1059 00:44:46,060 --> 00:44:44,089 little need for the 2.5 billion dollars 1060 00:44:47,859 --> 00:44:46,070 spent on the Mars rovers since 1061 00:44:50,260 --> 00:44:47,869 scientists could simply travel there 1062 00:44:51,849 --> 00:44:50,270 astrally drink dreams and provide 1063 00:44:54,780 --> 00:44:51,859 detailed information about the geography 1064 00:44:56,620 --> 00:44:54,790 soil composition and ecology of Mars 1065 00:44:58,540 --> 00:44:56,630 according to researcher sue Blackmore 1066 00:45:00,339 --> 00:44:58,550 author of beyond the body an 1067 00:45:02,920 --> 00:45:00,349 investigation into out-of-body 1068 00:45:04,900 --> 00:45:02,930 experiences people who experience astral 1069 00:45:06,700 --> 00:45:04,910 travel quote have been found to score 1070 00:45:09,099 --> 00:45:06,710 higher on measures of hypnotizability 1071 00:45:11,170 --> 00:45:09,109 and in several surveys on measures of 1072 00:45:12,609 --> 00:45:11,180 absorption which is a measure of a 1073 00:45:14,349 --> 00:45:12,619 person's ability to pay complete 1074 00:45:15,970 --> 00:45:14,359 attention to something and become 1075 00:45:18,309 --> 00:45:15,980 immersed in it even if it's not real 1076 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:18,319 like a play film or imagined event in 1077 00:45:23,230 --> 00:45:21,050 quote out-of-body experiences are a more 1078 00:45:25,510 --> 00:45:23,240 imaginative suggestible and fantasy 1079 00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:25,520 prone than average though they have low 1080 00:45:29,410 --> 00:45:27,530 levels of drug alcohol use and no 1081 00:45:32,050 --> 00:45:29,420 obvious signs of psychopathology or 1082 00:45:33,790 --> 00:45:32,060 mental illness it's also possible that 1083 00:45:35,740 --> 00:45:33,800 some of the out-of-body experiences of a 1084 00:45:38,349 --> 00:45:35,750 result of dreaming during what's called 1085 00:45:40,900 --> 00:45:38,359 micro sleep falling asleep for anywhere 1086 00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:40,910 from a faction of a second to maybe half 1087 00:45:45,250 --> 00:45:43,130 a minute and not realizing it this is 1088 00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:45,260 common when people are tired relaxing or 1089 00:45:49,210 --> 00:45:46,490 doing tedious activities such as 1090 00:45:50,859 --> 00:45:49,220 long-haul trucking in some cases the 1091 00:45:52,540 --> 00:45:50,869 person may believe they've been out of 1092 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:52,550 their bodies for minutes or even hours 1093 00:45:57,010 --> 00:45:54,410 when in fact they simply experienced 1094 00:45:58,630 --> 00:45:57,020 micro sleeps if a believer in astral 1095 00:46:00,520 --> 00:45:58,640 projection has a sudden unexplainable 1096 00:46:01,990 --> 00:46:00,530 and vivid dream and doesn't know they 1097 00:46:05,430 --> 00:46:02,000 were asleep this could easily be 1098 00:46:08,020 --> 00:46:05,440 interpreted as an out-of-body experience 1099 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:08,030 though astral projection practitioners 1100 00:46:11,050 --> 00:46:09,530 are convinced their experiences are real 1101 00:46:12,670 --> 00:46:11,060 and not merely dreams or fan 1102 00:46:15,520 --> 00:46:12,680 cease their evidence is all anecdotal 1103 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:15,530 just as a person takes peyote or LSD may 1104 00:46:19,270 --> 00:46:17,210 be truly convinced that they interacted 1105 00:46:21,190 --> 00:46:19,280 with God dead people or angels while in 1106 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:21,200 an altered state it's not a coincidence 1107 00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:23,210 that drug users refer to a psychedelic 1108 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:27,170 experience as a trip astral projection 1109 00:46:30,850 --> 00:46:28,970 is an entertaining and harmless pastime 1110 00:46:33,370 --> 00:46:30,860 that can seem profound and in some cases 1111 00:46:34,870 --> 00:46:33,380 even life-changing but there's no 1112 00:46:36,430 --> 00:46:34,880 evidence that out-of-body experiences 1113 00:46:50,010 --> 00:46:36,440 happen outside the body instead of 1114 00:46:54,430 --> 00:46:52,840 the hand side is a podcast of the 1115 00:46:57,580 --> 00:46:54,440 monthly lectures run back camera 1116 00:46:59,440 --> 00:46:57,590 skeptics incorporating each month camera 1117 00:47:01,240 --> 00:46:59,450 skeptics provides experts in their field 1118 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:01,250 ruined you from science and philosophy 1119 00:47:06,180 --> 00:47:04,610 to politics and national security with 1120 00:47:10,630 --> 00:47:06,190 an opportunity to present their views 1121 00:47:14,620 --> 00:47:10,640 you can find us at WWE embryo skeptics 1122 00:47:32,230 --> 00:47:14,630 org dot a you the hand surg cameras kept 1123 00:47:37,970 --> 00:47:34,730 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1124 00:47:40,010 --> 00:47:37,980 zone I'm feeling much better hopefully I 1125 00:47:44,990 --> 00:47:40,020 won't need the services of simulated 1126 00:47:48,559 --> 00:47:45,000 human voice again hopefully actually 1127 00:47:51,230 --> 00:47:48,569 she's not that bad Cesar she follows 1128 00:47:55,450 --> 00:47:51,240 instructions I'll give her that coming 1129 00:48:00,319 --> 00:47:55,460 up on next week's show I don't know hmm 1130 00:48:03,170 --> 00:48:00,329 maybe solar flare we can only hope soon 1131 00:48:05,420 --> 00:48:03,180 anyway I promise soon but I can tell you 1132 00:48:06,819 --> 00:48:05,430 one thing over the next few months 1133 00:48:08,870 --> 00:48:06,829 you're going to be hearing many 1134 00:48:11,539 --> 00:48:08,880 interesting interviews from my trips 1135 00:48:15,380 --> 00:48:11,549 around Europe let's see Germany Norway 1136 00:48:18,020 --> 00:48:15,390 Ireland the UK and Czech Republic i 1137 00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:18,030 think i think i can get some very 1138 00:48:22,490 --> 00:48:19,770 interesting interviews and insights for 1139 00:48:25,010 --> 00:48:22,500 you over the next few weeks which we can 1140 00:48:27,380 --> 00:48:25,020 all enjoy over the next few months if my 1141 00:48:29,950 --> 00:48:27,390 voice lasts that long if it doesn't well 1142 00:48:33,410 --> 00:48:29,960 then i might just get simulated human 1143 00:48:35,059 --> 00:48:33,420 for all right folks thanks for listening 1144 00:48:36,769 --> 00:48:35,069 to the skeptic zone once again and a big 1145 00:48:39,589 --> 00:48:36,779 THANK YOU a very big thank you to those 1146 00:48:42,890 --> 00:48:39,599 people who chip in only a dollar a week 1147 00:48:44,390 --> 00:48:42,900 to help put the show out to help buy any 1148 00:48:47,390 --> 00:48:44,400 equipment like the microphone I'm using 1149 00:48:50,809 --> 00:48:47,400 at the moment it really does make a big 1150 00:48:55,609 --> 00:48:50,819 difference so until next week this is 1151 00:49:01,760 --> 00:48:55,619 Richard Saunders woof signing off from 1152 00:49:03,980 --> 00:49:01,770 Sydney Australia you've been listening 1153 00:49:08,810 --> 00:49:03,990 to the skeptic zone 1154 00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:08,820 visit our website at www skeptics on TV