1 00:00:10,970 --> 00:00:01,939 this is James Randi and you're listening 2 00:00:13,850 --> 00:00:10,980 to the skeptic zone welcome to the 3 00:00:26,850 --> 00:00:13,860 skeptic zone the podcast from Australia 4 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:30,630 yes it's the skeptic Zone episode number 5 00:00:37,180 --> 00:00:35,810 144 for the 23rd of July 2011 Richard 6 00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:37,190 Saunders here with you from Sydney 7 00:00:42,070 --> 00:00:39,710 Australia I think it's Sydney Australia 8 00:00:44,190 --> 00:00:42,080 I sort of had a funny feeling I was just 9 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:44,200 in Las Vegas but no I guess this is 10 00:00:50,049 --> 00:00:47,510 Sydney Australia more about my tam 11 00:00:52,299 --> 00:00:50,059 adventure soon coming up on this week's 12 00:00:55,270 --> 00:00:52,309 show some great interviews from Tam the 13 00:00:56,979 --> 00:00:55,280 amazing meeting from the James Randi 14 00:00:59,590 --> 00:00:56,989 Educational Foundation there was a 15 00:01:02,560 --> 00:00:59,600 fantastic time which it could have been 16 00:01:05,470 --> 00:01:02,570 longer but there you go I interview dr. 17 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:05,480 Neil deGrasse Tyson the famous 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:07,790 astronomer and what a pleasure it was to 19 00:01:11,530 --> 00:01:09,650 meet Neil deGrasse Tyson that's coming 20 00:01:14,620 --> 00:01:11,540 up followed by a quick chat with our 21 00:01:17,110 --> 00:01:14,630 good friend and us correspondent for the 22 00:01:19,180 --> 00:01:17,120 skeptic zone travis roy from the Granite 23 00:01:20,980 --> 00:01:19,190 State skeptics now he's had an 24 00:01:25,570 --> 00:01:20,990 interesting experience lately handing 25 00:01:28,690 --> 00:01:25,580 out to sort of skeptical cards at a John 26 00:01:31,570 --> 00:01:28,700 Edwards psychic event I can't wait to 27 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:31,580 find out more then we've got dr. Reggie 28 00:01:37,210 --> 00:01:34,490 reports and she catches up with the arm 29 00:01:40,870 --> 00:01:37,220 and Chen you may remember from the 30 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:40,880 Survivor Series now yah man chan is of 31 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:44,770 course now a leading skeptic some 32 00:01:50,950 --> 00:01:47,680 secrets from behind the survivor show 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:50,960 coming up soon then to wrap up the show 34 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:54,410 it's Maynard back again link me nods got 35 00:01:59,080 --> 00:01:57,410 a fat fixation right now because he 36 00:02:00,850 --> 00:01:59,090 speaks to Leslie wicks from the 37 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:00,860 University of Newcastle about more 38 00:02:10,270 --> 00:02:06,890 research into fat yes fat she questions 39 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:10,280 some previous research and she reminds 40 00:02:15,699 --> 00:02:13,610 us all to be on the lookout and not to 41 00:02:19,059 --> 00:02:15,709 be fooled by magic bullets in other 42 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:19,069 words magic pills wondrous things 43 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:22,000 that'll fix your problems on the spot 44 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:26,450 but now let me let me cast my mind back 45 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:39,070 is that lovely sound you hear is the 46 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:42,530 sound of the south point casino and spa 47 00:02:49,809 --> 00:02:47,630 in Las Vegas giant giant downstairs area 48 00:02:54,870 --> 00:02:49,819 like three aircraft hangars full of slot 49 00:02:58,810 --> 00:02:54,880 machines and barns and racing videos are 50 00:03:04,090 --> 00:02:58,820 amazing site constant movement constant 51 00:03:06,130 --> 00:03:04,100 noise skeptics 24 hours a day well for 52 00:03:08,290 --> 00:03:06,140 me this whole time experience was like a 53 00:03:10,420 --> 00:03:08,300 dream after putting out the last episode 54 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:10,430 of the skeptics earn my brother kindly 55 00:03:15,729 --> 00:03:12,830 drove me to the airport I found myself 56 00:03:18,009 --> 00:03:15,739 on that Delta jet flying over the 57 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:18,019 pacific got some sleep got a little bit 58 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:21,410 of sleep landed in la got through 59 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:24,650 customs super quick thinking oh maybe I 60 00:03:29,290 --> 00:03:25,970 can catch an early flight to Las Vegas 61 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:29,300 no early flight was full okay SAT around 62 00:03:35,050 --> 00:03:31,970 the delta lounge for a few hours wow 63 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:35,060 that's like watching paint dry finally 64 00:03:39,550 --> 00:03:37,970 got on that plane to Las Vegas and that 65 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:39,560 ship seemed to be a long time because I 66 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:42,650 was so keen to get to town got off the 67 00:03:51,819 --> 00:03:46,670 plane at Las Vegas ran out join the very 68 00:03:54,370 --> 00:03:51,829 long taxi queue oh boy finally made it 69 00:03:56,830 --> 00:03:54,380 to the hotel checked in raced up to my 70 00:03:59,640 --> 00:03:56,840 room quick shower change of clothes 71 00:04:03,130 --> 00:03:59,650 scrub up and then straight down to the 72 00:04:06,670 --> 00:04:03,140 convention itself i think i was really 73 00:04:08,350 --> 00:04:06,680 firing on adrenaline within an hour of 74 00:04:10,420 --> 00:04:08,360 being there and catching up with as many 75 00:04:13,090 --> 00:04:10,430 people as I could on the spot I was Oh 76 00:04:14,949 --> 00:04:13,100 taken away to interview Neil deGrasse 77 00:04:17,050 --> 00:04:14,959 Tyson and that interviews coming up very 78 00:04:20,140 --> 00:04:17,060 soon after that it was back to the 79 00:04:23,050 --> 00:04:20,150 skeptic zone skip toid table to chat 80 00:04:26,409 --> 00:04:23,060 with Brian Dunning and travis roy and 81 00:04:28,930 --> 00:04:26,419 then I'm afraid things turned into a bit 82 00:04:31,270 --> 00:04:28,940 of a blur of meeting people and catching 83 00:04:33,250 --> 00:04:31,280 up with James Randi and lots of hugs all 84 00:04:34,990 --> 00:04:33,260 around next thing I know I'm at the 85 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:35,000 skeptics guide to the universe dinner 86 00:04:40,090 --> 00:04:38,090 are where they invited me to be the 87 00:04:42,820 --> 00:04:40,100 auctioneer that night had a great time 88 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:42,830 and I helped raise a lot of money for 89 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:44,210 the our dear friends at the skeptics 90 00:04:49,090 --> 00:04:45,970 guide to the universe 91 00:04:50,770 --> 00:04:49,100 makes vague memory I have is being done 92 00:04:53,940 --> 00:04:50,780 at the del mar bar a quick drink a quick 93 00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:53,950 chat to some friends and then to bed I 94 00:04:59,430 --> 00:04:56,870 did get a good night's sleep and then 95 00:05:03,520 --> 00:04:59,440 came Saturday woke up with the alarm 96 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:03,530 very groggy saturday i was on me getting 97 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:05,510 things done panel which was a lot of fun 98 00:05:10,570 --> 00:05:07,850 don't remember much of it I must admit i 99 00:05:14,980 --> 00:05:10,580 did a Power Balance demonstration with 100 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:14,990 our master of ceremonies George rub 101 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:18,770 which went over very well and then I 102 00:05:23,620 --> 00:05:22,310 entered the memory fog I'm not sure what 103 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:23,630 I did for the rest of the day I had 104 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:26,330 lunch with james randi I think chatted 105 00:05:30,010 --> 00:05:28,130 with as many people as I could had a 106 00:05:32,470 --> 00:05:30,020 lots of skeptics own fans come up to say 107 00:05:36,730 --> 00:05:32,480 hello which was fantastic photographs 108 00:05:39,820 --> 00:05:36,740 everywhere some more fun and my memory 109 00:05:43,180 --> 00:05:39,830 really fizzles into a blur of friends 110 00:05:48,070 --> 00:05:43,190 faces skeptics questions autographs 111 00:05:49,750 --> 00:05:48,080 photographs choreographs and i'm not 112 00:05:52,030 --> 00:05:49,760 sure what happened i think i ended up in 113 00:05:54,940 --> 00:05:52,040 the del mar bar that night for some 114 00:05:56,500 --> 00:05:54,950 drinks were friends but that night when 115 00:06:00,730 --> 00:05:56,510 i headed to bed there was no sleep for 116 00:06:03,580 --> 00:06:00,740 me because jet lag had caught up three 117 00:06:08,710 --> 00:06:03,590 am i found myself back downstairs trying 118 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:08,720 to surf the net send some emails so then 119 00:06:14,830 --> 00:06:12,890 we come to Sunday my last day and sunday 120 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:14,840 was the case of catching as many of the 121 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:16,730 speakers I could in the main convention 122 00:06:22,450 --> 00:06:19,010 area which wasn't many again chatting 123 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:22,460 with people and then my memories sort of 124 00:06:28,270 --> 00:06:26,330 fade into getting ready to leave and by 125 00:06:30,820 --> 00:06:28,280 the afternoon dr. Richie and myself 126 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:30,830 found ourselves on the shuttle bus being 127 00:06:37,570 --> 00:06:34,910 taken back to the airport caught the 128 00:06:39,550 --> 00:06:37,580 flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles few 129 00:06:44,260 --> 00:06:39,560 hours layover in Los Angeles than the 130 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:44,270 overnight flight back to Sydney and it 131 00:06:50,980 --> 00:06:47,950 was as if I dreamt the whole experience 132 00:06:53,439 --> 00:06:50,990 but you know what I didn't dream this 133 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:53,449 experience it was real 134 00:06:58,450 --> 00:06:56,090 amongst all the blur of excitement and 135 00:07:01,480 --> 00:06:58,460 running around I did manage to get some 136 00:07:03,249 --> 00:07:01,490 interviews so did dr. H E and all those 137 00:07:05,860 --> 00:07:03,259 people I didn't get to spend time with 138 00:07:07,989 --> 00:07:05,870 or only said hello quickly all those 139 00:07:10,929 --> 00:07:07,999 people I wanted to spend time with and 140 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:10,939 have a nice long conversation I just 141 00:07:38,529 --> 00:07:13,370 didn't have the time let's make the time 142 00:07:40,390 --> 00:07:38,539 next year I can't wait for Tam 10 dr. 143 00:07:42,939 --> 00:07:40,400 Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American 144 00:07:45,189 --> 00:07:42,949 astrophysicist science communicator and 145 00:07:47,860 --> 00:07:45,199 the Frederick P Rose director at the 146 00:07:49,989 --> 00:07:47,870 Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center 147 00:07:51,820 --> 00:07:49,999 for Earth and space and a research 148 00:07:54,519 --> 00:07:51,830 associate of the Department of 149 00:07:58,329 --> 00:07:54,529 astrophysics at the American Museum of 150 00:08:01,570 --> 00:07:58,339 Natural History Wow he's also a very 151 00:08:05,529 --> 00:08:01,580 popular television science communicator 152 00:08:06,999 --> 00:08:05,539 has seen on Nova on PBS I was lucky 153 00:08:17,089 --> 00:08:07,009 enough to catch up with dr. Neil 154 00:08:21,510 --> 00:08:19,230 and now I'm delighted to say we are 155 00:08:22,950 --> 00:08:21,520 speaking with dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson 156 00:08:25,020 --> 00:08:22,960 now what a pleasure it is to see you 157 00:08:27,540 --> 00:08:25,030 here in tam Las Vegas thanks for having 158 00:08:29,670 --> 00:08:27,550 me thanks we absolutely my dive into 159 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:29,680 Australia but I think it's on my 160 00:08:34,769 --> 00:08:32,050 schedule this coming fall really yeah 161 00:08:36,839 --> 00:08:34,779 really I'm Bob that i'll be speaking a 162 00:08:38,759 --> 00:08:36,849 big thing i think it's called big thing 163 00:08:41,610 --> 00:08:38,769 big think i think that's what it's all 164 00:08:43,519 --> 00:08:41,620 are you going to thank Martha think big 165 00:08:47,790 --> 00:08:43,529 adventure if you're thinking Thank big 166 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:47,800 I've you probably familiar we may have a 167 00:08:52,050 --> 00:08:50,529 mutual friend in dr phil plait yes the 168 00:08:54,769 --> 00:08:52,060 bad astronomer and he was in Australia 169 00:09:00,150 --> 00:08:54,779 or number of years ago the bad is drawn 170 00:09:03,690 --> 00:09:00,160 say it right I was my pleasure to show 171 00:09:05,430 --> 00:09:03,700 him the Magellanic Clouds and he had a 172 00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:05,440 quite an emotional experience to 173 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:08,550 actually see them for the first time it 174 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:10,750 shall we say in the flesh with the naked 175 00:09:13,980 --> 00:09:12,610 eye so that's something I guess you'd 176 00:09:15,389 --> 00:09:13,990 look forward to I've been in the 177 00:09:18,269 --> 00:09:15,399 southern hemisphere before but just not 178 00:09:21,139 --> 00:09:18,279 to Australia so I I've been in South 179 00:09:23,490 --> 00:09:21,149 Africa let's get you the same sky okay 180 00:09:25,170 --> 00:09:23,500 Southern Cross and all this oh yeah yeah 181 00:09:28,829 --> 00:09:25,180 yeah I think so the course is over rated 182 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:28,839 by the way it's only four stars it's a 183 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:32,620 rhombus people where's the star at the 184 00:09:36,030 --> 00:09:34,690 transept there is none well you see 185 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:36,040 going to be careful now because this is 186 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:41,050 a now national flag and is it the 187 00:09:44,189 --> 00:09:42,370 australian one or is it one of those 188 00:09:47,210 --> 00:09:44,199 flags down there cheats and puts an 189 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:47,220 extra star I think it's the instrument 190 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:49,810 you put an extra brighter one just to 191 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:51,850 help it out ya see that well that's the 192 00:09:56,610 --> 00:09:54,070 confession this neat that's editing that 193 00:09:59,189 --> 00:09:56,620 before rhombus stars of the Southern 194 00:10:00,810 --> 00:09:59,199 Cross we're not working for you oh well 195 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:00,820 I mean we you know something doesn't 196 00:10:04,590 --> 00:10:03,130 work in Australia we just make it make 197 00:10:06,689 --> 00:10:04,600 it work I didn't write back on that 198 00:10:08,610 --> 00:10:06,699 little extra bit of glitter I know what 199 00:10:10,050 --> 00:10:08,620 I'm very interested in of course oh by 200 00:10:11,699 --> 00:10:10,060 the way we're here in Vegas and the 201 00:10:14,639 --> 00:10:11,709 biggest billboards in town or the 202 00:10:17,460 --> 00:10:14,649 Thunder from Down Under I notice the the 203 00:10:19,530 --> 00:10:17,470 partially dressed men yea dance shaking 204 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:19,540 their stuff in front of women yeah 205 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:22,050 that I've been working out the sudden 206 00:10:30,060 --> 00:10:27,690 you have some ways I think right now 207 00:10:31,829 --> 00:10:30,070 you're very well known here in the 208 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:31,839 states of course for your television 209 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:35,050 outreach and I think you're on do things 210 00:10:40,230 --> 00:10:37,569 for Nova if I'm if I'm not yeah PBS nova 211 00:10:42,870 --> 00:10:40,240 PBS nova of course they're very well 212 00:10:45,569 --> 00:10:42,880 respected institution yes in American 213 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:45,579 life movie we don't have in science 214 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:48,250 education as well absolutely we don't 215 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:50,050 have quite the same thing in Australia 216 00:10:53,819 --> 00:10:51,970 we have a national broadcaster which is 217 00:10:58,170 --> 00:10:53,829 run by the government which does carry 218 00:11:01,290 --> 00:10:58,180 some of PBS programming but what 219 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:01,300 intrigues me is a man in your position 220 00:11:05,910 --> 00:11:03,610 being able to do that is that a 221 00:11:09,389 --> 00:11:05,920 particular joy in life at particular 222 00:11:11,759 --> 00:11:09,399 thrill I contrary to what it might look 223 00:11:13,889 --> 00:11:11,769 like or what people would want to 224 00:11:17,009 --> 00:11:13,899 believe when given the choice I'd rather 225 00:11:20,129 --> 00:11:17,019 just stay home and play with my kids so 226 00:11:22,350 --> 00:11:20,139 this anytime I'm seen in public in this 227 00:11:25,319 --> 00:11:22,360 way either on television and or giving 228 00:11:28,650 --> 00:11:25,329 talks it's not so much that I seek it 229 00:11:32,910 --> 00:11:28,660 out it's that I'm a servant of the 230 00:11:37,019 --> 00:11:32,920 public's appetite for the cosmos and I 231 00:11:40,170 --> 00:11:37,029 get called upon and so I I serve that 232 00:11:42,090 --> 00:11:40,180 need right I'm not actually seeking it 233 00:11:43,769 --> 00:11:42,100 out I'd rather stay home and write my 234 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:43,779 next book for example would be research 235 00:11:49,470 --> 00:11:47,050 really play with the kids and go out 236 00:11:52,699 --> 00:11:49,480 with the wife yeah to Broadway you know 237 00:11:59,759 --> 00:11:52,709 this sort of thing I'm the family guy so 238 00:12:01,500 --> 00:11:59,769 the primarily and so the the time that 239 00:12:04,290 --> 00:12:01,510 it takes away from my family when I'm 240 00:12:08,910 --> 00:12:04,300 traveling to give talks it's because 241 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:08,920 there's a pressing need for Society for 242 00:12:14,970 --> 00:12:12,850 the region for the group and so in like 243 00:12:18,569 --> 00:12:14,980 as I said in that sense I'm a servant 244 00:12:20,879 --> 00:12:18,579 yes yes and when I'm called upon it then 245 00:12:22,170 --> 00:12:20,889 I try to be the best i can write it 246 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:22,180 doesn't matter that I'd rather be home 247 00:12:26,069 --> 00:12:24,130 if I'm out there doing it I'm going to 248 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:26,079 try to be as good at that as I can 249 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:28,870 possibly be and that involves primarily 250 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:31,690 something that I think many people 251 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:36,490 don't invest time in is reflecting on 252 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:38,530 what's going on in the mind the person 253 00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:40,930 you're communicating with and I can see 254 00:12:46,620 --> 00:12:42,310 a part that's what distinguishes a 255 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:46,630 lecture from a lecturer from a 256 00:12:50,910 --> 00:12:49,210 communicator a lecturer you walk in with 257 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:50,920 your lesson plan and you just deliver it 258 00:12:54,570 --> 00:12:52,810 yeah and they either get it or they 259 00:12:57,330 --> 00:12:54,580 don't it could be a video right could be 260 00:12:59,910 --> 00:12:57,340 any anything yeah all right but there's 261 00:13:03,750 --> 00:12:59,920 no premise that that presentation is 262 00:13:06,810 --> 00:13:03,760 thinking about how you might be learning 263 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:06,820 that material now there are people who 264 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:08,170 are good learners out there and it 265 00:13:11,580 --> 00:13:09,370 doesn't matter who's presenting the 266 00:13:13,830 --> 00:13:11,590 material they'll get it these are the 267 00:13:16,790 --> 00:13:13,840 straight-a students they got straight 268 00:13:19,650 --> 00:13:16,800 A's because the teaching abilities 269 00:13:20,910 --> 00:13:19,660 didn't matter in their grade if it did 270 00:13:22,830 --> 00:13:20,920 they get higher grades for the better 271 00:13:25,050 --> 00:13:22,840 teachers and lower grades for the lesser 272 00:13:27,770 --> 00:13:25,060 teacher but they get straight A's no 273 00:13:31,770 --> 00:13:27,780 matter who's teaching them so that as a 274 00:13:33,990 --> 00:13:31,780 factor it illuminates the fact that some 275 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:34,000 people learn on their own and don't 276 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:36,310 really need much help that's true it but 277 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:38,410 it's the rest of everyone else where the 278 00:13:46,350 --> 00:13:41,710 quality of the teaching matters and in 279 00:13:48,420 --> 00:13:46,360 that realm and that regime I think long 280 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:48,430 and hard about who my audience is and 281 00:13:52,290 --> 00:13:50,410 how they think and what matters to them 282 00:13:55,290 --> 00:13:52,300 and how much TV do they watch and what 283 00:13:56,850 --> 00:13:55,300 movies might they have seen and are they 284 00:14:01,230 --> 00:13:56,860 wealthy are they impoverished are they 285 00:14:03,660 --> 00:14:01,240 oppressed are they entitled are they you 286 00:14:05,820 --> 00:14:03,670 know what is the slice of demographics 287 00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:05,830 that they represent and then I bring all 288 00:14:11,550 --> 00:14:08,950 that I know to bear on that specific 289 00:14:13,890 --> 00:14:11,560 slice and some of that is trial and 290 00:14:16,650 --> 00:14:13,900 error I might be explaining the universe 291 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:16,660 and I'll be monitoring the person 292 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:18,550 whether the person smiles or raises 293 00:14:23,670 --> 00:14:21,370 their eyebrows or looks interested and 294 00:14:26,940 --> 00:14:23,680 wants to hear more I'm making mental 295 00:14:28,710 --> 00:14:26,950 notes of the words I was using the 296 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:28,720 phrases I was putting together the 297 00:14:33,210 --> 00:14:31,330 sentences I was uttering to see the 298 00:14:35,910 --> 00:14:33,220 causes and effects of their facial 299 00:14:37,860 --> 00:14:35,920 reactions to what I said like mine rhyme 300 00:14:39,810 --> 00:14:37,870 no doubt oh sure oh yeah yeah yeah yeah 301 00:14:41,670 --> 00:14:39,820 I know you have a wry smile when you 302 00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:41,680 said when I'm explaining the universal 303 00:14:46,740 --> 00:14:44,769 do you know of course so that so that 304 00:14:49,259 --> 00:14:46,750 matters and I think it doesn't matter to 305 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:49,269 enough people out there who would want 306 00:14:55,590 --> 00:14:50,649 to count themselves among the ranks of 307 00:15:01,379 --> 00:14:55,600 educator now how does that then impact 308 00:15:03,389 --> 00:15:01,389 or shall I say sway or make you think 309 00:15:05,129 --> 00:15:03,399 hot about your television presentation 310 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:05,139 television was very hard for me because 311 00:15:10,769 --> 00:15:07,930 there is no audience that you can see I 312 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:10,779 had to transition from delivering 313 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:13,930 lectures to roomfuls of people where you 314 00:15:20,639 --> 00:15:18,490 can see the reaction to what you're 315 00:15:23,939 --> 00:15:20,649 saying monitor it and make mid-course 316 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:23,949 adjustments yes as necessary a TV camera 317 00:15:30,180 --> 00:15:27,130 offers no such feedback yeah and so I 318 00:15:32,759 --> 00:15:30,190 had to have enough experience thinking 319 00:15:37,410 --> 00:15:32,769 about how they would react and then 320 00:15:41,060 --> 00:15:37,420 deliver that content to TV camera yeah 321 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:41,070 so it I have to trust my sense of it 322 00:15:47,069 --> 00:15:44,410 before I take those steps and I'd rather 323 00:15:49,889 --> 00:15:47,079 have it staring at me in the face it's 324 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:49,899 more advil confidence that way I can 325 00:15:55,130 --> 00:15:52,510 really understand that right so the so 326 00:16:00,630 --> 00:15:55,140 TV it's a different medium I actually 327 00:16:02,689 --> 00:16:00,640 agreed to do a 12-part course in 328 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:02,699 astrophysics called my favorite universe 329 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:04,570 for what's called the Teaching Company 330 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:08,050 it it's an audio-video course you'd 331 00:16:11,670 --> 00:16:09,370 listen to it or watch it you know while 332 00:16:13,199 --> 00:16:11,680 you're you know cooking dinner or 333 00:16:15,689 --> 00:16:13,209 something it's a way to continue your 334 00:16:17,809 --> 00:16:15,699 educational trajectory and it's not and 335 00:16:21,930 --> 00:16:17,819 I gave a very short course only 12 336 00:16:26,490 --> 00:16:21,940 classes they record professors giving 337 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:26,500 you know 60 you know yeah 8090 classes 338 00:16:31,460 --> 00:16:29,410 and it's a way as an adult to continue 339 00:16:36,139 --> 00:16:31,470 to educate yourself in all branches of 340 00:16:39,829 --> 00:16:36,149 academic study I agree to do that as a 341 00:16:43,350 --> 00:16:39,839 stepping stone between lecturing to 342 00:16:44,750 --> 00:16:43,360 lecture halls and delivering like talks 343 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:44,760 to a camera 344 00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:46,530 thing right because in that they 345 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:48,270 actually was that a cute little system 346 00:16:51,350 --> 00:16:49,890 where when you're delivering your talks 347 00:16:53,870 --> 00:16:51,360 they don't film you in a real classroom 348 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:53,880 they film you in a studio but they're 349 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:55,890 three or four chairs in that studio and 350 00:17:00,140 --> 00:16:58,050 as employees of the company you can sign 351 00:17:02,390 --> 00:17:00,150 up and be in the audience of the 352 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:02,400 subjects that you like the most and so 353 00:17:05,930 --> 00:17:03,930 there's a middle there's a little bit of 354 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:05,940 an audience there to help me transition 355 00:17:10,130 --> 00:17:08,010 okay and I think I make great strides in 356 00:17:12,470 --> 00:17:10,140 that that helped me look at a camera 357 00:17:14,449 --> 00:17:12,480 lens and be comfortable doing so that's 358 00:17:16,010 --> 00:17:14,459 that's very interesting here and of 359 00:17:19,250 --> 00:17:16,020 course there's always the danger that 360 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:19,260 you'll get gushing feedback when you do 361 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:22,290 TV and sometimes you have to wonder your 362 00:17:25,550 --> 00:17:23,910 self or people are just happy or excited 363 00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:25,560 because they're meeting something on 364 00:17:31,820 --> 00:17:28,260 television or they they really felt and 365 00:17:36,830 --> 00:17:31,830 learn and gain from yeah I have mild 366 00:17:39,710 --> 00:17:36,840 statistics on that it's easy to it's 367 00:17:41,810 --> 00:17:39,720 more polite to comment that you like 368 00:17:45,590 --> 00:17:41,820 something yeah I meant that it sucks yes 369 00:17:47,450 --> 00:17:45,600 so the data are biased towards you 370 00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:47,460 thinking that you did a good job yeah 371 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:49,710 yeah in anything you do it's biased and 372 00:17:59,530 --> 00:17:52,290 it's a politeness bias you want to call 373 00:18:02,720 --> 00:17:59,540 it that and in so I try to always have a 374 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:02,730 self-assessment that's more severe than 375 00:18:09,650 --> 00:18:04,650 what anyone else would levy on to me 376 00:18:11,420 --> 00:18:09,660 yeah and in that way if I feel I did 377 00:18:14,030 --> 00:18:11,430 something good every it's really good 378 00:18:16,070 --> 00:18:14,040 all right whereas just because someone 379 00:18:18,890 --> 00:18:16,080 else tells me it's good that's not for 380 00:18:21,020 --> 00:18:18,900 me to measure that it's good yeah I if 381 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:21,030 I'm more strict than everybody else then 382 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:22,530 all I have to do satisfy myself and I'll 383 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:25,290 know I'm doing well do you find that 384 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:28,530 you've been getting good feedback 385 00:18:32,630 --> 00:18:31,050 generally from from the audience not 386 00:18:35,630 --> 00:18:32,640 from the executives not from the 387 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:35,640 internet and the era of Twitter because 388 00:18:40,970 --> 00:18:38,310 I've have a Twitter stream in the last 389 00:18:43,610 --> 00:18:40,980 year and a half two years when I finally 390 00:18:47,330 --> 00:18:43,620 figured out how and why I should use 391 00:18:49,190 --> 00:18:47,340 Twitter yes I tweet little cosmic 392 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:49,200 tidbits and I see people's reactions to 393 00:18:53,149 --> 00:18:50,970 them I don't tweet what I'm having for 394 00:18:57,899 --> 00:18:53,159 breakfast yes in the park now 395 00:19:00,239 --> 00:18:57,909 Lucy Harry Potter who's game no I'm an 396 00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:00,249 educator I'm a scientist I've got stuff 397 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:02,950 to say about the universe and so that's 398 00:19:06,299 --> 00:19:04,570 what I started doing and I watch 399 00:19:08,279 --> 00:19:06,309 people's reactions depending on the 400 00:19:11,940 --> 00:19:08,289 nature of the information and how it was 401 00:19:14,460 --> 00:19:11,950 presented so they have q's into what 402 00:19:15,749 --> 00:19:14,470 excites people and what does not well 403 00:19:20,220 --> 00:19:15,759 what excites them in one way versus 404 00:19:22,409 --> 00:19:20,230 another in the era of the Twitter my 405 00:19:23,970 --> 00:19:22,419 Twitter stream I feel that when I'm in 406 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:23,980 front of an audience I am deeply 407 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:27,190 connected to their to their emotions to 408 00:19:34,889 --> 00:19:30,730 to their feelings to their to their 409 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:34,899 sense of awareness knowledge and 410 00:19:40,739 --> 00:19:36,730 appreciation the material there they're 411 00:19:43,590 --> 00:19:40,749 being that I'm sharing with them so it 412 00:19:46,379 --> 00:19:43,600 was simply extended my access into the 413 00:19:48,210 --> 00:19:46,389 mind of the listener that's interesting 414 00:19:50,310 --> 00:19:48,220 yes interest and again is that feedback 415 00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:50,320 to feed us very very twitter is 416 00:19:55,619 --> 00:19:52,869 instantaneous oh it is yeah even when I 417 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:55,629 put it where I had for lunch I know what 418 00:19:59,190 --> 00:19:57,730 I wish to have for lunch well I think 419 00:20:01,649 --> 00:19:59,200 we're getting the hard it was a very 420 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:01,659 tight afternoon here yeah it is it's 421 00:20:07,049 --> 00:20:05,080 you're a man as much in demand I dr. 422 00:20:08,639 --> 00:20:07,059 Neil deGrasse Tyson water other pleasure 423 00:20:10,889 --> 00:20:08,649 was too well thank you a quick chat with 424 00:20:12,690 --> 00:20:10,899 you thank you and and like i said i'll 425 00:20:14,609 --> 00:20:12,700 be in australia by for my first time 426 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:14,619 this fall and we look forward look 427 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:16,330 forward to seeing you guys believe that 428 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:18,970 the Thunder from Down Under folks here 429 00:20:37,370 --> 00:20:33,500 this is an EVP I recorded last night how 430 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:37,380 you doing I'm a ghost what's up you guys 431 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:39,210 can't possibly ignore that type of it 432 00:20:44,990 --> 00:20:43,530 who are you we're doing my EVPs of the 433 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:45,000 result of pareidolia I'm cross 434 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:47,010 modulation combined with the listeners 435 00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:49,170 hopes and expectations what does this 436 00:20:57,020 --> 00:20:53,220 have to do with science I you could just 437 00:21:01,030 --> 00:20:57,030 got skeptically phone well go see you 438 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:04,270 skeptically poems jaja wear sunscreen 439 00:21:17,020 --> 00:21:14,690 day it's in the next it's Saturday here 440 00:21:20,230 --> 00:21:17,030 at tam las vegas and i'm at least and 441 00:21:22,540 --> 00:21:20,240 this table of skip tied with brian 442 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:22,550 dunning i'm brian dunning from skeptic 443 00:21:27,940 --> 00:21:25,970 calm you see I don't lie and I'm with 444 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:27,950 travis roy hi Travis hey how's it going 445 00:21:32,190 --> 00:21:29,990 Richard I'm doing pretty good now I 446 00:21:34,750 --> 00:21:32,200 wanted to catch up with you because you 447 00:21:36,250 --> 00:21:34,760 had some interesting success lately when 448 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:36,260 the sort of a protest you were involved 449 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:38,090 with can you tell listeners about that 450 00:21:43,210 --> 00:21:40,730 yeah of course um we were alerted by one 451 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:43,220 of our co-founders that John Edward was 452 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:44,450 going to be doing a performance in 453 00:21:50,380 --> 00:21:46,850 Manchester New Hampshire and we worked 454 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:50,390 with the venue the Palace Theater to do 455 00:21:56,050 --> 00:21:53,300 a protest and what we did was as people 456 00:21:59,110 --> 00:21:56,060 went in to go see the show we gave them 457 00:22:02,410 --> 00:21:59,120 a psychic bingo card and it had a list 458 00:22:04,630 --> 00:22:02,420 of common cold reading terms and they 459 00:22:05,890 --> 00:22:04,640 were what we did was we told them that 460 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:05,900 it was to help them remember what was 461 00:22:11,980 --> 00:22:08,090 said during the show right it was an 462 00:22:14,950 --> 00:22:11,990 800-seat theater and we handed out over 463 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:14,960 500 bingo cards so we didn't actually 464 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:17,330 find out if anybody if John Edward 465 00:22:23,110 --> 00:22:20,090 noticed or if anybody yelled bingo or if 466 00:22:25,180 --> 00:22:23,120 anything happened but we we assume that 467 00:22:28,290 --> 00:22:25,190 he had to have noticed because it was 468 00:22:30,610 --> 00:22:28,300 just too large of a percentage of people 469 00:22:34,210 --> 00:22:30,620 then we went and got dinner and then 470 00:22:35,980 --> 00:22:34,220 after we had these rational guide to 471 00:22:38,260 --> 00:22:35,990 psychic pamphlets that we were handing 472 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:38,270 out and it went really well we actually 473 00:22:43,350 --> 00:22:40,210 had people that came out after the show 474 00:22:47,049 --> 00:22:43,360 looking for us and talked to us about 475 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:47,059 what what happened in the show and 476 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:48,970 about cold reading and things like that 477 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:51,710 Dale my wife and the vice president of 478 00:22:54,940 --> 00:22:53,570 Granite State skeptics she got into a 479 00:22:58,029 --> 00:22:54,950 little bit of an altercation with one 480 00:23:00,940 --> 00:22:58,039 person where they told her that she was 481 00:23:04,239 --> 00:23:00,950 stupid and to go protest animal cruelty 482 00:23:06,190 --> 00:23:04,249 what's the harm in this but other than 483 00:23:08,529 --> 00:23:06,200 that it was it was a really big success 484 00:23:10,690 --> 00:23:08,539 and you've got some media attention I 485 00:23:13,090 --> 00:23:10,700 understand yes another one of our 486 00:23:15,340 --> 00:23:13,100 members is a writer for the national 487 00:23:18,039 --> 00:23:15,350 Telegraph which is a smaller newspaper 488 00:23:20,139 --> 00:23:18,049 and he had one of the reporters come and 489 00:23:21,850 --> 00:23:20,149 interview us and we actually made the 490 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:21,860 bottom half of the front page of the 491 00:23:27,220 --> 00:23:24,110 newspaper when test yes it went really 492 00:23:29,350 --> 00:23:27,230 really well yeah so I know that was also 493 00:23:30,580 --> 00:23:29,360 mentioned online there's a link where 494 00:23:33,369 --> 00:23:30,590 can people go to find out more about 495 00:23:36,460 --> 00:23:33,379 this activity if they go to Granite 496 00:23:38,619 --> 00:23:36,470 State skeptics org we have a story about 497 00:23:40,659 --> 00:23:38,629 everything we did and further details 498 00:23:44,109 --> 00:23:40,669 and I link to the national Telegraph 499 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:44,119 stories congratulations Travis skeptical 500 00:23:55,460 --> 00:23:46,490 activism that's the luck that's what we 501 00:24:00,120 --> 00:23:58,320 hey guys this is jay from the skeptics 502 00:24:02,910 --> 00:24:00,130 guide to the universe er well held on 503 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:02,920 whoa everybody knows I'm the only reason 504 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:04,690 to listen to the Freak Show right I mean 505 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:05,890 it was up to me the show would start 506 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:12,610 with this yeah boy well Rebecca would 507 00:24:16,230 --> 00:24:14,530 hate that probably but I mean I'd rock 508 00:24:17,250 --> 00:24:16,240 that listen to our show and you can 509 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:17,260 learn about cool stuff like a 510 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:18,970 technological singularity which is 511 00:24:22,230 --> 00:24:20,710 someday when technology progresses so 512 00:24:23,580 --> 00:24:22,240 fast that it would make the Industrial 513 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:23,590 Revolution look like a kid science 514 00:24:39,660 --> 00:24:26,650 project anyway come check us out at WWDC 515 00:24:42,750 --> 00:24:39,670 epic sky org get your son now it's time 516 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:42,760 for dr. Rachel reports with dr. Rachel 517 00:24:50,310 --> 00:24:47,650 Dunlop i'm here at tam nine in las vegas 518 00:24:52,710 --> 00:24:50,320 and with me now is young men change some 519 00:24:55,110 --> 00:24:52,720 of you may know him from Survivor but 520 00:24:57,540 --> 00:24:55,120 he's not just a TV star he's got a lot 521 00:24:59,790 --> 00:24:57,550 of other stuff going on hi Yemen hi nice 522 00:25:02,370 --> 00:24:59,800 to meet you finally nice to meet you too 523 00:25:04,650 --> 00:25:02,380 listening to you on the skeptic zone for 524 00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:04,660 so many years and finally I get to meet 525 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:06,310 you in person and talk to you well 526 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:08,260 that's been watching you on TV for years 527 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:09,850 so it's really cool to meet you as well 528 00:25:14,340 --> 00:25:11,650 so you were one of my favorite 529 00:25:16,860 --> 00:25:14,350 characters in Survivor characters pit 530 00:25:18,180 --> 00:25:16,870 people but before we get into that let's 531 00:25:20,340 --> 00:25:18,190 just talk a little bit about your 532 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:20,350 background because you're actually you 533 00:25:25,260 --> 00:25:23,110 have a life outside of being survivor do 534 00:25:28,410 --> 00:25:25,270 you work in ite can you tell us a little 535 00:25:30,660 --> 00:25:28,420 bit about what yes my actual formal 536 00:25:34,230 --> 00:25:30,670 training was in physics i got my degree 537 00:25:37,830 --> 00:25:34,240 in physics at MIT and a graduate degree 538 00:25:40,410 --> 00:25:37,840 in scientific instrumentation but in the 539 00:25:42,180 --> 00:25:40,420 time of the in the 80s and so on and the 540 00:25:45,180 --> 00:25:42,190 rise of the network i saw the switch to 541 00:25:47,490 --> 00:25:45,190 computers and network and now i am the 542 00:25:48,870 --> 00:25:47,500 chief technology officer for the college 543 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:48,880 of chemistry at the university of 544 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:51,310 california berkeley so i'm basically the 545 00:25:54,740 --> 00:25:53,290 head geek for the cause of chemistry the 546 00:25:57,870 --> 00:25:54,750 head gate 547 00:26:00,270 --> 00:25:57,880 so you actually you were kind of 548 00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:00,280 portrayed as the geek in survival with 549 00:26:04,290 --> 00:26:02,590 you because you were in two series one 550 00:26:07,830 --> 00:26:04,300 was micronesia that was the first one 551 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:07,840 and then fans vs. no I was in let's see 552 00:26:12,090 --> 00:26:10,090 the first season I was in Fiji alpha by 553 00:26:14,030 --> 00:26:12,100 the fuji and then the and then i was 554 00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:14,040 called back a year later offense vs. 555 00:26:20,850 --> 00:26:17,200 favors which was on filmed on micronesia 556 00:26:22,530 --> 00:26:20,860 pull out I love flowers so tell us a 557 00:26:24,900 --> 00:26:22,540 little bit about the process how do you 558 00:26:26,730 --> 00:26:24,910 actually apply to get into survivor well 559 00:26:29,550 --> 00:26:26,740 I was one of the fortunate people who 560 00:26:32,010 --> 00:26:29,560 got recruited many of the cast members 561 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:32,020 that we could it because for a show like 562 00:26:36,870 --> 00:26:34,090 survivor to be interesting they need a 563 00:26:38,820 --> 00:26:36,880 combination of characters a lot of 564 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:38,830 people who apply to this shows are like 565 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:40,690 20 something like mail from the Midwest 566 00:26:46,230 --> 00:26:43,570 of the US and so they needed diversity 567 00:26:48,630 --> 00:26:46,240 in older people they need agents and so 568 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:48,640 on so being an older asian they got two 569 00:26:56,460 --> 00:26:51,970 for one then when they got me so I was 570 00:26:59,550 --> 00:26:56,470 approached by a producer who asked me if 571 00:27:01,620 --> 00:26:59,560 I interested if I know anything about 572 00:27:04,710 --> 00:27:01,630 survivor and I say yeah but I don't 573 00:27:06,030 --> 00:27:04,720 watch TV very much but I I didn't watch 574 00:27:08,490 --> 00:27:06,040 the first season because it was still 575 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:08,500 either born you and I grew up in Borneo 576 00:27:13,590 --> 00:27:10,840 so she got very interested and call me 577 00:27:16,310 --> 00:27:13,600 back a few times and I got on so I'm 578 00:27:18,420 --> 00:27:16,320 very fortunate so what's the process of 579 00:27:19,350 --> 00:27:18,430 before they actually let you know that 580 00:27:21,150 --> 00:27:19,360 you're on do you have to go through 581 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:21,160 interviews and tests and what do you 582 00:27:26,130 --> 00:27:23,050 have to do here is a very extensive 583 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:26,140 interview process so the last face of 584 00:27:29,790 --> 00:27:27,730 the interview when they're down to 50 585 00:27:32,010 --> 00:27:29,800 people just for reference they have like 586 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:32,020 twenty to thirty thousand applicants you 587 00:27:36,690 --> 00:27:34,690 know every after every season and so 588 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:36,700 when they down to the 50 applicants we 589 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:40,530 were sort of sequestered in a hotel in 590 00:27:45,990 --> 00:27:43,810 santa monica california and you know 591 00:27:49,940 --> 00:27:46,000 locked in the rooms and we're called out 592 00:27:52,050 --> 00:27:49,950 for interviews and physical examination 593 00:27:53,430 --> 00:27:52,060 product and product I didn't know 594 00:27:56,010 --> 00:27:53,440 there's so many tests you can do it 595 00:27:57,690 --> 00:27:56,020 urine and blood haha they don't want you 596 00:27:59,930 --> 00:27:57,700 to die on this show right and then they 597 00:28:02,299 --> 00:27:59,940 get psychological profile testing 598 00:28:05,570 --> 00:28:02,309 so on and then to get get interview by 599 00:28:08,299 --> 00:28:05,580 Matt Burnett except executive producer 600 00:28:10,580 --> 00:28:08,309 and Jeff Probst in the handsome so you 601 00:28:13,820 --> 00:28:10,590 were one of the oldest people on the 602 00:28:16,369 --> 00:28:13,830 show at that time weren't you and so 603 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:16,379 what is the process once you what do 604 00:28:22,310 --> 00:28:17,610 they do they just dumped you on a beach 605 00:28:23,749 --> 00:28:22,320 so well once you have been selected but 606 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:23,759 they never tell you you're really 607 00:28:28,490 --> 00:28:26,090 selected they tell you your potential 608 00:28:31,610 --> 00:28:28,500 contestant and then a couple weeks 609 00:28:33,649 --> 00:28:31,620 before they send you off you're supposed 610 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:33,659 to send them clothes that they will you 611 00:28:36,710 --> 00:28:35,250 know keep the ones they want you to wear 612 00:28:39,470 --> 00:28:36,720 and then they send the respect to you 613 00:28:41,419 --> 00:28:39,480 and then you airline tickets show up and 614 00:28:44,149 --> 00:28:41,429 you're supposed to unify with them to 615 00:28:45,830 --> 00:28:44,159 every Islanders and there's a staging so 616 00:28:47,899 --> 00:28:45,840 there's like three days of staging where 617 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:47,909 you know that you get acclimated to the 618 00:28:53,899 --> 00:28:51,210 time zone and they you know we do all 619 00:28:55,909 --> 00:28:53,909 the publicity shots at that time but we 620 00:28:58,580 --> 00:28:55,919 were not allowed to talk to other 621 00:29:00,080 --> 00:28:58,590 contestants we could not even look at 622 00:29:01,369 --> 00:29:00,090 them for more than 30 seconds we are 623 00:29:03,139 --> 00:29:01,379 being yelled at and starting to be 624 00:29:04,610 --> 00:29:03,149 thrown out the show because really so 625 00:29:06,860 --> 00:29:04,620 when you saw us meeting each other 626 00:29:08,299 --> 00:29:06,870 introducing each other on the island 627 00:29:10,460 --> 00:29:08,309 that's the first time we talked to each 628 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:10,470 other oh really even after even after 629 00:29:15,409 --> 00:29:12,690 we've spent a week with them right now 630 00:29:17,899 --> 00:29:15,419 wait so what was the he went to plow 631 00:29:19,399 --> 00:29:17,909 well what was the the situation like 632 00:29:21,769 --> 00:29:19,409 what was the beach like what do they 633 00:29:23,299 --> 00:29:21,779 give you when it's the in both the 634 00:29:24,980 --> 00:29:23,309 Fijian and philosophies and yet the 635 00:29:27,259 --> 00:29:24,990 beach is still very nice the water is 636 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:27,269 very warm and that's why they have to do 637 00:29:33,860 --> 00:29:29,250 it in tropical island right now I still 638 00:29:35,509 --> 00:29:33,870 died for eating yeah but we were given 639 00:29:37,430 --> 00:29:35,519 two depending on how they start to sees 640 00:29:40,039 --> 00:29:37,440 himself examine the Fiji seas and we 641 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:40,049 would just divided into two tribes one 642 00:29:44,749 --> 00:29:41,850 with everything one with nothing where 643 00:29:46,909 --> 00:29:44,759 we're just given a part in the machete a 644 00:29:50,060 --> 00:29:46,919 big knife and we're supposed to do it 645 00:29:51,919 --> 00:29:50,070 but on those Islands it's easy to 646 00:29:55,039 --> 00:29:51,929 survive really I mean their coconuts 647 00:29:57,710 --> 00:29:55,049 everywhere and there's you know protein 648 00:29:59,210 --> 00:29:57,720 this sea snails right so they know you 649 00:30:01,970 --> 00:29:59,220 won't die 650 00:30:03,770 --> 00:30:01,980 but you you grew up in Borneo you 651 00:30:05,299 --> 00:30:03,780 mentioned so that sort of tropical 652 00:30:07,340 --> 00:30:05,309 weather you're kind of used to that 653 00:30:08,930 --> 00:30:07,350 right so i did have been vantage going 654 00:30:10,970 --> 00:30:08,940 out in Borneo I got used to the weather 655 00:30:13,220 --> 00:30:10,980 I understand how to open up coconut 656 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:13,230 without spilling all those water and so 657 00:30:16,970 --> 00:30:15,090 on yes because you were telling me last 658 00:30:18,230 --> 00:30:16,980 night that there was a particular part 659 00:30:20,570 --> 00:30:18,240 where there was a box that the 660 00:30:23,270 --> 00:30:20,580 contestants are trying to open and he 661 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:23,280 said they tell us that so so the 662 00:30:29,060 --> 00:30:26,250 beginning of the Fiji season was that an 663 00:30:32,539 --> 00:30:29,070 airplane flew over and drop a box on the 664 00:30:34,490 --> 00:30:32,549 beach and in the box was the map to 665 00:30:36,770 --> 00:30:34,500 where the whale is and some tools to 666 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:36,780 build a shelter and so on and all the 667 00:30:40,370 --> 00:30:38,850 big burly guys go out and try and open 668 00:30:42,110 --> 00:30:40,380 up the box what you got dropped from the 669 00:30:45,110 --> 00:30:42,120 plane of course is really well you know 670 00:30:46,700 --> 00:30:45,120 nailed together they spend what 45 671 00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:46,710 minutes trying to open on the show you 672 00:30:50,570 --> 00:30:48,510 saw them just trying a few minutes but 673 00:30:52,340 --> 00:30:50,580 in real life was like 45 minutes they 674 00:30:54,289 --> 00:30:52,350 were jumping on it like big gorillas and 675 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:54,299 so on they never succeed and open and so 676 00:30:59,299 --> 00:30:56,370 I didn't want to say anything because 677 00:31:01,549 --> 00:30:59,309 being the older guy and I owe this guy 678 00:31:03,140 --> 00:31:01,559 in that season I know the young guys 679 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:03,150 don't want an old guy telling them what 680 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:04,710 to do so I just stood back and watched 681 00:31:09,529 --> 00:31:06,570 them until they gave up and said what 682 00:31:12,020 --> 00:31:09,539 can I try so I step up there and I sort 683 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:12,030 of bang the box on the two opposite 684 00:31:16,340 --> 00:31:13,830 diagonally opposite corners on a big 685 00:31:18,590 --> 00:31:16,350 rock and the thing opened up so suddenly 686 00:31:20,570 --> 00:31:18,600 I'm the genius I go well you know isn't 687 00:31:23,450 --> 00:31:20,580 it obvious that all the expensive 688 00:31:25,130 --> 00:31:23,460 luggages luggage you can buy have their 689 00:31:29,029 --> 00:31:25,140 corners reinforced because that's the 690 00:31:31,010 --> 00:31:29,039 weak point yes so that kind of gave you 691 00:31:32,930 --> 00:31:31,020 I guess an advantage but also a 692 00:31:35,690 --> 00:31:32,940 disadvantage because then people figured 693 00:31:37,820 --> 00:31:35,700 out that you are actually smart right so 694 00:31:39,590 --> 00:31:37,830 in terms of you surviving that could 695 00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:39,600 have been a threat if that that's a trap 696 00:31:45,020 --> 00:31:43,350 but because most of the people on the in 697 00:31:47,029 --> 00:31:45,030 that season were really you know sort of 698 00:31:50,180 --> 00:31:47,039 city folks who probably haven't been to 699 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:50,190 ever camping even and I thought that the 700 00:31:57,260 --> 00:31:54,570 way I would stay long is to be useful so 701 00:31:59,390 --> 00:31:57,270 I spent a lot of time in a boiling water 702 00:32:02,000 --> 00:31:59,400 for them cooking and you know just being 703 00:32:04,190 --> 00:32:02,010 useful and stay low when we're in the 704 00:32:06,260 --> 00:32:04,200 tribal situation where if we lose a 705 00:32:06,970 --> 00:32:06,270 challenge as a tribe you do not want to 706 00:32:09,430 --> 00:32:06,980 be [\h__\h] 707 00:32:12,490 --> 00:32:09,440 the person who is the cost for losing 708 00:32:15,010 --> 00:32:12,500 the challenge so and making myself being 709 00:32:17,020 --> 00:32:15,020 the provider and and and just doing 710 00:32:18,909 --> 00:32:17,030 things for them then they felt that oh 711 00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:18,919 you know we should keep it around 712 00:32:23,350 --> 00:32:21,049 because he's not a threat because you 713 00:32:25,210 --> 00:32:23,360 were the nerd that everybody loved I 714 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:25,220 mean and I guess that's why they asked 715 00:32:30,610 --> 00:32:27,010 you to come back for favorites because 716 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:30,620 the nerd cheer squad out there watching 717 00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:33,290 you were going go yo man cuz like to say 718 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:34,910 there were these big burly guys are like 719 00:32:39,460 --> 00:32:37,130 but you were the smart guy because he 720 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:39,470 you apply draw I guess you applied some 721 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:41,450 critical thinking skills to tasks to me 722 00:32:45,940 --> 00:32:44,450 yeah because I know that muscle muscle 723 00:32:48,370 --> 00:32:45,950 there's no way I could compete with 724 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:48,380 these you know big guys and as far as 725 00:32:51,730 --> 00:32:49,970 when it comes to handsome youth and 726 00:32:55,630 --> 00:32:51,740 beauty there a lot of your beautiful 727 00:32:58,030 --> 00:32:55,640 looking women there and so I I guess the 728 00:33:00,340 --> 00:32:58,040 way I had to deal with it was was to say 729 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:00,350 look I need to think through all these 730 00:33:03,430 --> 00:33:02,090 challenges that they look like the boot 731 00:33:05,919 --> 00:33:03,440 force but there's really not i mean 732 00:33:08,230 --> 00:33:05,929 anybody have a chance to win that if you 733 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:08,240 just think about how to do this properly 734 00:33:12,340 --> 00:33:10,850 and apply you know signs and so on i 735 00:33:14,049 --> 00:33:12,350 could get by and i end up you know 736 00:33:15,970 --> 00:33:14,059 winning quite a lot of challenges when 737 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:15,980 it comes to the individual challenges 738 00:33:21,220 --> 00:33:18,290 yeah but you didn't win there in the end 739 00:33:23,770 --> 00:33:21,230 digium ya know but but in the end it's 740 00:33:25,390 --> 00:33:23,780 really a social game and i didn't 741 00:33:27,909 --> 00:33:25,400 realize that that's where I made my 742 00:33:30,039 --> 00:33:27,919 mistake I went in game thinking some 743 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:30,049 kind of game theory strategic games and 744 00:33:35,890 --> 00:33:34,010 thought strategics you know Li 745 00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:35,900 insistence on was not it really is a 746 00:33:40,210 --> 00:33:38,360 social game because in the six weeks we 747 00:33:42,010 --> 00:33:40,220 were together on the island I didn't get 748 00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:42,020 to know the people right if I have 749 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:45,049 talked to them dig into the background 750 00:33:49,390 --> 00:33:47,210 the life and so on I would have known 751 00:33:51,610 --> 00:33:49,400 that this person I have you know so deal 752 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:51,620 with I shouldn't trust him it turned out 753 00:33:56,860 --> 00:33:53,890 he had a very harsh life growing up 754 00:33:58,360 --> 00:33:56,870 dumpster diving for lunch for with his 755 00:34:00,730 --> 00:33:58,370 brothers and so if I've known that I 756 00:34:02,110 --> 00:34:00,740 would not have put a trust on to 757 00:34:03,850 --> 00:34:02,120 somebody like that but I didn't know 758 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:03,860 because I was not a good social player 759 00:34:08,710 --> 00:34:06,410 and so a survivor in the end it's a 760 00:34:11,770 --> 00:34:08,720 social game hmm but you did get to the 761 00:34:16,390 --> 00:34:11,780 final three in the phage a series 762 00:34:18,220 --> 00:34:16,400 what happens and dreamed to make a deal 763 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:18,230 with me where I gave him the truck 764 00:34:22,780 --> 00:34:20,570 earlier on that when we get to the final 765 00:34:24,399 --> 00:34:22,790 if he wins the immunity he would give it 766 00:34:26,860 --> 00:34:24,409 to me while he went back on his words 767 00:34:29,380 --> 00:34:26,870 and don't give me back the try not know 768 00:34:31,210 --> 00:34:29,390 he did it in good faith and you know 769 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:31,220 they voted me out but that's all right 770 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:34,330 but there was a big gas guzzler anyway 771 00:34:40,419 --> 00:34:39,050 so when you got back um you you now have 772 00:34:42,149 --> 00:34:40,429 a connection with brian dunning which I 773 00:34:44,919 --> 00:34:42,159 guess is kind of why you're here yes 774 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:44,929 three escaped ologist how did you get 775 00:34:50,590 --> 00:34:46,970 involved well I have been listening to 776 00:34:52,899 --> 00:34:50,600 the sceptile podcast for a while so when 777 00:34:54,340 --> 00:34:52,909 I came back to the filming it's over six 778 00:34:56,530 --> 00:34:54,350 weeks period so I've been away for six 779 00:34:58,600 --> 00:34:56,540 weeks and when I came back the first 780 00:35:01,840 --> 00:34:58,610 thing I do is catch up on all the you 781 00:35:05,170 --> 00:35:01,850 know SGU and sceptile podcast and so on 782 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:05,180 so and in one of the podcast Brian 783 00:35:10,930 --> 00:35:07,370 Dunning was talking about trying to do a 784 00:35:13,090 --> 00:35:10,940 movie and he was recruiting for you know 785 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:13,100 physicists engineers and so on to help 786 00:35:18,190 --> 00:35:15,890 him out and so I wrote him I said you 787 00:35:20,530 --> 00:35:18,200 know I did not say that I'm a survivor I 788 00:35:22,420 --> 00:35:20,540 just said you know I heard from the 789 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:22,430 skeptic podcast that you're looking so I 790 00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:24,410 gave him my qualification at the degree 791 00:35:28,390 --> 00:35:26,000 in physics at MIT I work as an 792 00:35:30,250 --> 00:35:28,400 instrumentation engineer and so on and 793 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:30,260 so it turned out that Brian Dunning it's 794 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:33,650 a huge survivor fan oh really and he he 795 00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:36,170 wasn't sure is really for me right so he 796 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:37,910 actually called me and say is this 797 00:35:44,410 --> 00:35:41,450 really humid it is and he's I'm a huge 798 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:44,420 fan is also so he gave me a topic but i 799 00:35:48,010 --> 00:35:46,370 still have to have you do an audition so 800 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:48,020 he asked me to do an audition and say 801 00:35:52,990 --> 00:35:51,650 send me a three-minute tape of you i'll 802 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:53,000 give you a subject in the subject he 803 00:35:57,940 --> 00:35:55,010 gave me was ok tell me everything about 804 00:36:00,250 --> 00:35:57,950 you know the evils of your radiation 805 00:36:01,750 --> 00:36:00,260 from your cell phone so i did a three 806 00:36:02,790 --> 00:36:01,760 minute thing about you know cell phones 807 00:36:05,940 --> 00:36:02,800 non-ionizing 808 00:36:07,020 --> 00:36:05,950 really not a big deal and in twist and I 809 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:07,030 said yeah but you know there is 810 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:08,890 something you need to worry about your 811 00:36:12,720 --> 00:36:10,330 cell phones that make sure you have the 812 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:12,730 proper calling plan otherwise you have a 813 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:15,370 huge pain in your wallet at the monster 814 00:36:21,060 --> 00:36:18,010 anyway so I you know I was asked to join 815 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:21,070 the cast apologist and so what is 816 00:36:24,630 --> 00:36:22,570 happening with khattala gist is not 817 00:36:27,450 --> 00:36:24,640 being picked up isn't yes it's very 818 00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:27,460 difficult to to get a show on I mean the 819 00:36:33,540 --> 00:36:29,380 hundreds of thousands of shows people 820 00:36:35,580 --> 00:36:33,550 are pitching and so at this time they 821 00:36:37,950 --> 00:36:35,590 have given up pitching the show to 822 00:36:41,610 --> 00:36:37,960 commercial TV so they're looking at 823 00:36:43,980 --> 00:36:41,620 trying to pitch it to public 824 00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:43,990 broadcasting PBS so their time to write 825 00:36:49,470 --> 00:36:46,240 grand so shows on PBS have to have you 826 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:49,480 know sponsors usually private 827 00:36:52,710 --> 00:36:51,370 foundations educational foundations and 828 00:36:55,590 --> 00:36:52,720 so on shows like Nova and so on are 829 00:36:57,570 --> 00:36:55,600 sponsored by Carnegie Mellon accounting 830 00:36:59,790 --> 00:36:57,580 a foundation and so on so they're trying 831 00:37:02,910 --> 00:36:59,800 to write proposals to do that and 832 00:37:06,660 --> 00:37:02,920 because of that i have taken myself out 833 00:37:08,250 --> 00:37:06,670 of the show and i would be helping 834 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:08,260 behind the scene and maybe make 835 00:37:14,580 --> 00:37:11,710 occasional appearance because the TV 836 00:37:17,310 --> 00:37:14,590 audience the viewership for the PBS 837 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:17,320 public television network in the u.s. is 838 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:19,450 very different than the viewership for 839 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:21,910 the commercial TV so my presence that do 840 00:37:29,010 --> 00:37:23,890 not add anything to in fact they detract 841 00:37:31,740 --> 00:37:29,020 from it because in the public's TV world 842 00:37:34,350 --> 00:37:31,750 right that the viewership more towards 843 00:37:37,860 --> 00:37:34,360 to you know sort of educated and a 844 00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:37,870 little bit higher on education scale for 845 00:37:41,670 --> 00:37:39,730 not too much of a star right thank you 846 00:37:46,170 --> 00:37:41,680 so much then it is sort of the reality 847 00:37:49,590 --> 00:37:46,180 TV the d-list celebrity did not add 848 00:37:52,350 --> 00:37:49,600 anything else Olivia it detracts from it 849 00:37:53,820 --> 00:37:52,360 so so you know I said no then take me 850 00:37:56,100 --> 00:37:53,830 out of it so that you get a better 851 00:37:57,990 --> 00:37:56,110 chance of selling this to PBS Lucy what 852 00:37:59,100 --> 00:37:58,000 happened I mean are we still working you 853 00:38:01,290 --> 00:37:59,110 know help them behind you seeing they 854 00:38:04,230 --> 00:38:01,300 need any advice to do instrumentation 855 00:38:05,730 --> 00:38:04,240 and so on oh that's fantastic well yeah 856 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:05,740 man where GM a website or something 857 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:06,970 where our listeners can find out more 858 00:38:11,070 --> 00:38:09,370 about what you did no I I'm on Wikipedia 859 00:38:12,690 --> 00:38:11,080 but I gave up trying to trying to 860 00:38:14,010 --> 00:38:12,700 correct it because every time I correct 861 00:38:15,630 --> 00:38:14,020 something is wrong somebody else we 862 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:15,640 corrected me so obviously there are 863 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:17,530 people out there who knows me better 864 00:38:23,670 --> 00:38:20,770 than me but I I used to write for the 865 00:38:25,140 --> 00:38:23,680 skeptics blog and I have stopped for a 866 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:25,150 while because my mom was sick for a 867 00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:27,610 while and now that I'm she passed away 868 00:38:32,700 --> 00:38:29,950 last year earlier this year so I would 869 00:38:36,210 --> 00:38:32,710 be back up writing the blog says skeptic 870 00:38:38,010 --> 00:38:36,220 blog I did you know about a year of 871 00:38:40,530 --> 00:38:38,020 blogging there and I will continue to 872 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:40,540 I'll pick it up again so I guess people 873 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:42,490 can just Google you as well right lots 874 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:44,410 of a lot of young you had their hundred 875 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:47,890 backs and young men's then they all it's 876 00:38:52,230 --> 00:38:50,650 a very strange feeling is it really do 877 00:38:53,460 --> 00:38:52,240 you hope abdi have you found at time 878 00:38:55,380 --> 00:38:53,470 this weekend a lots of people being 879 00:38:57,390 --> 00:38:55,390 going yeah man yeah I was surprised how 880 00:39:00,990 --> 00:38:57,400 many I didn't expect that many people 881 00:39:03,870 --> 00:39:01,000 intend to to recognize me okay but I you 882 00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:03,880 know and the Australian contingencies or 883 00:39:07,350 --> 00:39:05,710 and then I just was just talking to a 884 00:39:09,270 --> 00:39:07,360 bunch of people from South Africa to 885 00:39:13,140 --> 00:39:09,280 know survival is very popular in South 886 00:39:14,730 --> 00:39:13,150 Africa oh yes well you know I guess this 887 00:39:16,710 --> 00:39:14,740 is the place to come because this is 888 00:39:18,180 --> 00:39:16,720 where the geeks gather and the geeks 889 00:39:20,580 --> 00:39:18,190 were right behind you on Survivor so 890 00:39:22,890 --> 00:39:20,590 thank you thanks for entertaining us for 891 00:39:24,660 --> 00:39:22,900 12 weeks and for you know not eating 892 00:39:26,220 --> 00:39:24,670 food and getting skinny and getting wet 893 00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:26,230 and having a horrible time on a 894 00:39:30,289 --> 00:39:28,510 beautiful island but we hope to see on 895 00:39:31,789 --> 00:39:30,299 TV again soon yeoman thank you 896 00:39:33,979 --> 00:39:31,799 and I hope to see you in other events 897 00:39:37,939 --> 00:39:33,989 and I hope you have ten Australia again 898 00:39:39,739 --> 00:39:37,949 oh yes we hope to have it in 2012 so I 899 00:39:42,620 --> 00:39:39,749 make sure come out i'll give you talk 900 00:39:45,079 --> 00:39:42,630 about the reality of reality TV that 901 00:39:47,749 --> 00:39:45,089 sounds awesome her to see the way you 902 00:39:50,660 --> 00:39:47,759 get some non non skeptics coming to you 903 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:50,670 10 yes get them into the movement yeah 904 00:39:54,499 --> 00:39:52,729 let's get some other people in ourselves 905 00:39:56,449 --> 00:39:54,509 skepticism is getting bigger and bigger 906 00:39:59,209 --> 00:39:56,459 so you know well the more the merrier 907 00:40:01,910 --> 00:39:59,219 all right finally it yet a few years to 908 00:40:03,559 --> 00:40:01,920 get a foothold but I think we're moving 909 00:40:06,229 --> 00:40:03,569 in the right direction which I think 910 00:40:08,150 --> 00:40:06,239 they're very I'm very grateful for that 911 00:40:09,799 --> 00:40:08,160 well thanks for joining us today on the 912 00:40:22,410 --> 00:40:09,809 skeptics I me all right well thank you 913 00:40:27,610 --> 00:40:25,330 did you know Jeff wag participated in an 914 00:40:29,260 --> 00:40:27,620 alien psychic challenge did you know 915 00:40:31,780 --> 00:40:29,270 that George Rob is an interstellar 916 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:31,790 singing sensation for these and other 917 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:33,530 stories you won't hear on the skeptic 918 00:40:39,700 --> 00:40:35,690 zone go to the bolingbrook babbler 919 00:40:41,650 --> 00:40:39,710 that's ww bolingbrook babbler calm if 920 00:40:44,410 --> 00:40:41,660 you have any doubts just remember this 921 00:40:46,330 --> 00:40:44,420 the SGU couldn't debunk any of our 922 00:40:48,790 --> 00:40:46,340 stories even when we offer them five 923 00:40:53,460 --> 00:40:48,800 dollars so read the bolingbrook babbler 924 00:41:06,480 --> 00:40:53,470 for the unbelievable truth that's ww bol 925 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:06,490 ing BR oh ok bab bler calm his my not 926 00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:11,930 spooky action at the distance 927 00:41:17,010 --> 00:41:15,110 I'm speaking to dr. Leslie McDonald 928 00:41:20,230 --> 00:41:17,020 wickes at the school of health sciences 929 00:41:22,450 --> 00:41:20,240 at the University of Newcastle she is a 930 00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:22,460 nutritional biochemist is is that right 931 00:41:26,740 --> 00:41:24,530 Leslie my main area of expertise is in 932 00:41:28,930 --> 00:41:26,750 Dietetics I'm predominantly a dietician 933 00:41:31,270 --> 00:41:28,940 but I do have a PhD and nutritional 934 00:41:33,820 --> 00:41:31,280 biochemistry why were you attracted to 935 00:41:36,850 --> 00:41:33,830 this area what made you want to have a 936 00:41:38,950 --> 00:41:36,860 PhD in nutritional biochemistry I happen 937 00:41:41,860 --> 00:41:38,960 to be attracted to the area of fatty 938 00:41:43,930 --> 00:41:41,870 acids and antioxidants which fits nicely 939 00:41:46,180 --> 00:41:43,940 under a nutritional biochemistry label 940 00:41:48,550 --> 00:41:46,190 fish oil yes or no is it as easy as that 941 00:41:50,710 --> 00:41:48,560 with antioxidants nothing disease are 942 00:41:52,570 --> 00:41:50,720 fish I always but all that time doing 943 00:41:56,190 --> 00:41:52,580 all those exams Leslie and you can't say 944 00:41:58,210 --> 00:41:56,200 yes or no oh I would say that 945 00:42:00,810 --> 00:41:58,220 supplementing with fish oil for certain 946 00:42:03,220 --> 00:42:00,820 really clear ideas like around 947 00:42:04,930 --> 00:42:03,230 cholesterol metabolism and things like 948 00:42:06,970 --> 00:42:04,940 that it's got some really good evidence 949 00:42:08,860 --> 00:42:06,980 and fish oil is a really good supplement 950 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:08,870 for those for those things but as a 951 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:10,970 dietitian my first port of call is 952 00:42:15,850 --> 00:42:13,850 always eating first you want to have a 953 00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:15,860 healthy eating pattern including fish in 954 00:42:21,190 --> 00:42:17,510 there rather than spending the money on 955 00:42:23,590 --> 00:42:21,200 supplements and Leslie the area of diet 956 00:42:27,430 --> 00:42:23,600 I'd say would be one of those areas that 957 00:42:28,930 --> 00:42:27,440 would be full of whew as much as as I 958 00:42:30,550 --> 00:42:28,940 don't know it's almost like that's the 959 00:42:31,810 --> 00:42:30,560 area where but there's a lot of scams 960 00:42:32,980 --> 00:42:31,820 going on where people like I mean 961 00:42:34,810 --> 00:42:32,990 there's a current a drowning at the 962 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:34,820 moment this guy says you can lose six 963 00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:37,160 kilograms in the first week or I'll give 964 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:38,570 you your money back kind of thing so you 965 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:40,010 must be fighting that kind of stuff all 966 00:42:44,230 --> 00:42:42,290 the time you know we all eat so we all 967 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:44,240 feel to a certain degree that we have 968 00:42:49,990 --> 00:42:47,330 expertise in eating and diets one of 969 00:42:52,060 --> 00:42:50,000 those words that has a whole range of 970 00:42:53,380 --> 00:42:52,070 connotations to different people and a 971 00:42:55,630 --> 00:42:53,390 lot of people feel like they have 972 00:42:57,910 --> 00:42:55,640 expertise in those areas and they do 973 00:42:59,440 --> 00:42:57,920 that you know it's such a popular area 974 00:43:01,750 --> 00:42:59,450 and overweight and obesity is such a 975 00:43:04,090 --> 00:43:01,760 huge problem that we're facing that you 976 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:04,100 can come across that sort of ads like 977 00:43:08,230 --> 00:43:06,170 you just saw we of course would would 978 00:43:10,240 --> 00:43:08,240 not be happy to be trying to get someone 979 00:43:12,310 --> 00:43:10,250 to lose six kilos in one week and I 980 00:43:14,500 --> 00:43:12,320 would even go further than that to say 981 00:43:15,940 --> 00:43:14,510 you probably maybe don't even need to go 982 00:43:17,380 --> 00:43:15,950 to a professional because the answer is 983 00:43:19,510 --> 00:43:17,390 usually right in front of you you 984 00:43:21,970 --> 00:43:19,520 basically exercise a little bit or you 985 00:43:24,070 --> 00:43:21,980 basically don't eat in more food than 986 00:43:25,809 --> 00:43:24,080 your body needs isn't that what we 987 00:43:28,209 --> 00:43:25,819 should all know that by now 988 00:43:30,339 --> 00:43:28,219 yeah and it sounds so easy doesn't it 989 00:43:32,349 --> 00:43:30,349 don't don't eat too much eat small 990 00:43:34,930 --> 00:43:32,359 portions and of the right types of foods 991 00:43:37,449 --> 00:43:34,940 and exercise a little bit but we live 992 00:43:39,069 --> 00:43:37,459 very complex lives and sometimes people 993 00:43:41,229 --> 00:43:39,079 just need a little bit of help in the 994 00:43:43,809 --> 00:43:41,239 the actual process the strategies about 995 00:43:47,079 --> 00:43:43,819 how you do that very simple idea of 996 00:43:50,499 --> 00:43:47,089 eating healthy and exercising reasonably 997 00:43:53,049 --> 00:43:50,509 dr. Leslie McDonald wicks I've done an 998 00:43:55,059 --> 00:43:53,059 interview with dr. nicholas de patrizia 999 00:43:56,729 --> 00:43:55,069 of course who as discovered it looks 1000 00:43:58,479 --> 00:43:56,739 like there's a strong link between 1001 00:44:00,519 --> 00:43:58,489 endocannabinoid receptors in your 1002 00:44:02,380 --> 00:44:00,529 stomach and if they were able to be 1003 00:44:03,999 --> 00:44:02,390 blocked by an antagonist that means you 1004 00:44:06,969 --> 00:44:04,009 would not have as much craving or as 1005 00:44:09,219 --> 00:44:06,979 interest in fat food what what impact 1006 00:44:11,380 --> 00:44:09,229 would this have on obesity may not as 1007 00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:11,390 you know I'm sure and as people who are 1008 00:44:16,269 --> 00:44:13,729 listening leaner will know obesity is a 1009 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:16,279 really really complex area and the 1010 00:44:22,269 --> 00:44:19,130 reasons why we do overeat or the reasons 1011 00:44:24,789 --> 00:44:22,279 why we do choose wrong foods are really 1012 00:44:27,849 --> 00:44:24,799 complex and their varied so when you 1013 00:44:30,910 --> 00:44:27,859 look at the sorts of research the doctor 1014 00:44:33,009 --> 00:44:30,920 deeper patricio is undertaking you can 1015 00:44:34,870 --> 00:44:33,019 see that he's going to provide us with a 1016 00:44:37,779 --> 00:44:34,880 little bit of an insight into some of 1017 00:44:39,729 --> 00:44:37,789 the biochemical or metabolic processes 1018 00:44:41,890 --> 00:44:39,739 that might be underpinning some of the 1019 00:44:44,109 --> 00:44:41,900 choices that we're making but to think 1020 00:44:46,870 --> 00:44:44,119 that something like this is the only 1021 00:44:49,299 --> 00:44:46,880 answer to obesity i think is being a 1022 00:44:52,689 --> 00:44:49,309 little bit naive there will be a place 1023 00:44:54,969 --> 00:44:52,699 in the care and treatment of people with 1024 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:54,979 obesity for drugs that might come out of 1025 00:44:58,900 --> 00:44:56,170 something like this sort of research 1026 00:45:00,969 --> 00:44:58,910 just as there's a place for a surgical 1027 00:45:03,069 --> 00:45:00,979 solution and just as there's a place 1028 00:45:05,589 --> 00:45:03,079 that the sorts of counseling and 1029 00:45:08,620 --> 00:45:05,599 solutions that dietitians undertake 1030 00:45:10,689 --> 00:45:08,630 around getting people back into to 1031 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:10,699 normalized eating patterns yes I think 1032 00:45:13,809 --> 00:45:12,410 Nicholas Sayre has one element in there 1033 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:13,819 and I think even he would admit that it 1034 00:45:17,769 --> 00:45:15,410 would be any sort of cure for that but 1035 00:45:19,479 --> 00:45:17,779 it would be an interesting and people 1036 00:45:21,910 --> 00:45:19,489 are always looking for the magic bullet 1037 00:45:24,430 --> 00:45:21,920 you find that with with the diet they 1038 00:45:26,049 --> 00:45:24,440 want one diet or they want one product 1039 00:45:27,789 --> 00:45:26,059 or something that can do it for them you 1040 00:45:29,949 --> 00:45:27,799 know they were looking for the you know 1041 00:45:30,999 --> 00:45:29,959 we're looking for the viagra of obesity 1042 00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:31,009 that's what we're looking for the cure 1043 00:45:35,949 --> 00:45:33,650 it the evidence tells us that it's just 1044 00:45:38,140 --> 00:45:35,959 not going to be that simple even if you 1045 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:38,150 can find a pattern of eating that does 1046 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:39,410 lead people to lose one 1047 00:45:43,900 --> 00:45:41,690 they do initially lose weight but there 1048 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:43,910 is always this rebound effect or there 1049 00:45:48,819 --> 00:45:45,770 seems to be in the evidence is rebound 1050 00:45:51,579 --> 00:45:48,829 effect so a single magic bullets it's a 1051 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:51,589 bit of a naive idea I think the other 1052 00:45:56,260 --> 00:45:53,210 thing I just like to point out with Dr 1053 00:45:58,960 --> 00:45:56,270 Dee patios research is at the moment 1054 00:46:00,670 --> 00:45:58,970 it's exciting what he's found it looks 1055 00:46:03,039 --> 00:46:00,680 very novel and and we haven't heard 1056 00:46:05,710 --> 00:46:03,049 about these endocannabinoids having 1057 00:46:08,710 --> 00:46:05,720 these sorts of effects on appetite from 1058 00:46:12,130 --> 00:46:08,720 a localized region in the stomach but 1059 00:46:14,890 --> 00:46:12,140 it's in rats he's doing this research in 1060 00:46:18,460 --> 00:46:14,900 rats he's doing it in a really stylized 1061 00:46:20,740 --> 00:46:18,470 manner and it has not yet at any point 1062 00:46:24,150 --> 00:46:20,750 being able to be translated either into 1063 00:46:26,859 --> 00:46:24,160 a drug or into some form of a clinical 1064 00:46:28,569 --> 00:46:26,869 treatment program so even if they 1065 00:46:30,370 --> 00:46:28,579 fast-tracked it we've still got five to 1066 00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:30,380 seven years where we have to eat salad 1067 00:46:35,559 --> 00:46:33,770 yeah and you know that's a really good 1068 00:46:38,170 --> 00:46:35,569 thing to sell it's really yummy with the 1069 00:46:40,510 --> 00:46:38,180 endocannabinoid research basically why 1070 00:46:43,180 --> 00:46:40,520 aren't all dope smokers incredibly fat 1071 00:46:45,220 --> 00:46:43,190 due to the munchies and you know I think 1072 00:46:48,010 --> 00:46:45,230 that's it's an interesting idea because 1073 00:46:51,190 --> 00:46:48,020 I suppose you you need to try and look 1074 00:46:52,150 --> 00:46:51,200 at that idea in two ways is it different 1075 00:46:53,859 --> 00:46:52,160 and I don't know that we have any 1076 00:46:55,960 --> 00:46:53,869 evidence that dope smokers are any 1077 00:46:58,299 --> 00:46:55,970 fatter than their other wise the rest of 1078 00:46:59,769 --> 00:46:58,309 population I suspect they form they kept 1079 00:47:01,960 --> 00:46:59,779 count but they go across the entire 1080 00:47:03,970 --> 00:47:01,970 weight range that's possible but they do 1081 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:03,980 watch some great television they must 1082 00:47:08,019 --> 00:47:06,170 watch some great television if there is 1083 00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:08,029 such a thing but I wonder if there's a 1084 00:47:13,029 --> 00:47:10,010 different effect between people who may 1085 00:47:14,799 --> 00:47:13,039 smoke occasionally and get munchies 1086 00:47:16,690 --> 00:47:14,809 effect if you like and maybe people who 1087 00:47:18,370 --> 00:47:16,700 are more chronic users they may not go 1088 00:47:19,539 --> 00:47:18,380 through the same effect what I'm 1089 00:47:21,789 --> 00:47:19,549 thinking about is the comfort-food 1090 00:47:23,710 --> 00:47:21,799 effect now as a dietitian this must be 1091 00:47:25,299 --> 00:47:23,720 something that is really people don't 1092 00:47:27,519 --> 00:47:25,309 need to eat sometimes but they do 1093 00:47:28,839 --> 00:47:27,529 because you know they're bored or 1094 00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:28,849 they're watching TV and that's what they 1095 00:47:32,380 --> 00:47:30,650 always do and then watch TV or they're 1096 00:47:34,150 --> 00:47:32,390 alone there's many reasons why we eat 1097 00:47:36,220 --> 00:47:34,160 food as you mentioned earlier is there a 1098 00:47:38,380 --> 00:47:36,230 way to transform instead of having 1099 00:47:39,789 --> 00:47:38,390 making comfort food be that fat stuff 1100 00:47:41,829 --> 00:47:39,799 which fires off all these great things 1101 00:47:43,480 --> 00:47:41,839 is there any way we can get celery to be 1102 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:43,490 our comfort food and enjoy it more 1103 00:47:48,250 --> 00:47:45,890 somehow we fall back on our ideas of 1104 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:48,260 comfort food and they become our habit 1105 00:47:52,720 --> 00:47:50,210 foods and they become our go-to seeds 1106 00:47:53,230 --> 00:47:52,730 and some of the strategies that that 1107 00:47:55,450 --> 00:47:53,240 people 1108 00:47:57,280 --> 00:47:55,460 need come to dietitians in order to help 1109 00:47:59,080 --> 00:47:57,290 them develop and and really it's a 1110 00:48:01,210 --> 00:47:59,090 partnership between the dietitian and 1111 00:48:03,130 --> 00:48:01,220 the patient to find the solution that 1112 00:48:05,080 --> 00:48:03,140 works best for them let's get political 1113 00:48:06,340 --> 00:48:05,090 now doctor dr. Leslie it let's let's 1114 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:06,350 start alienating some members the 1115 00:48:10,240 --> 00:48:08,210 audience's here when you're in the 1116 00:48:11,380 --> 00:48:10,250 supermarket and your your way to get 1117 00:48:12,730 --> 00:48:11,390 your groceries done you're all your 1118 00:48:14,890 --> 00:48:12,740 seller in your basket there obviously is 1119 00:48:17,290 --> 00:48:14,900 that's what you read and you see 1120 00:48:18,670 --> 00:48:17,300 magazines with people that are obviously 1121 00:48:20,109 --> 00:48:18,680 they've been photoshopped that's not the 1122 00:48:21,580 --> 00:48:20,119 way they look how does it make you feel 1123 00:48:23,260 --> 00:48:21,590 do you think I've got a lot more work 1124 00:48:25,060 --> 00:48:23,270 coming my way or does it just worried 1125 00:48:27,520 --> 00:48:25,070 you about our society and young women 1126 00:48:30,070 --> 00:48:27,530 particularly and men who are vulnerable 1127 00:48:32,050 --> 00:48:30,080 zyzz well it's very true that men are 1128 00:48:33,760 --> 00:48:32,060 becoming increasingly vulnerable to 1129 00:48:35,470 --> 00:48:33,770 these sorts of messages and I think 1130 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:35,480 there's a whole lot of evidence out 1131 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:37,850 there in the literature around how we 1132 00:48:42,250 --> 00:48:40,010 help people in general and especially 1133 00:48:44,710 --> 00:48:42,260 people who are very hooked into popular 1134 00:48:46,630 --> 00:48:44,720 culture can be really influenced by 1135 00:48:49,660 --> 00:48:46,640 these sorts of images and I think they 1136 00:48:52,690 --> 00:48:49,670 are concerning I myself when I look at 1137 00:48:54,940 --> 00:48:52,700 them don't necessarily believe them 1138 00:48:56,470 --> 00:48:54,950 because like you say you know that these 1139 00:48:58,660 --> 00:48:56,480 people have been photoshopped and 1140 00:49:00,550 --> 00:48:58,670 they've lost any blemish or any curve 1141 00:49:02,530 --> 00:49:00,560 that's out of place and so I don't find 1142 00:49:04,570 --> 00:49:02,540 them as convincing go on about this 1143 00:49:05,980 --> 00:49:04,580 being reinforced to people also i'm just 1144 00:49:08,320 --> 00:49:05,990 wondering if more and more people are 1145 00:49:10,060 --> 00:49:08,330 aware that it's a fantasy and they 1146 00:49:11,710 --> 00:49:10,070 actually know that i just wonder if more 1147 00:49:13,300 --> 00:49:11,720 and more people in young women and men 1148 00:49:14,770 --> 00:49:13,310 you know they know that that's a fantasy 1149 00:49:17,050 --> 00:49:14,780 in the first place and isn't that 1150 00:49:20,349 --> 00:49:17,060 something that we like to undertake 1151 00:49:22,090 --> 00:49:20,359 fantasy and and if it was kept to just a 1152 00:49:24,520 --> 00:49:22,100 fantasy if it was kept is something that 1153 00:49:26,349 --> 00:49:24,530 we looked at as idealized and and we 1154 00:49:28,650 --> 00:49:26,359 could immerse ourselves in it for a 1155 00:49:31,240 --> 00:49:28,660 little bit and didn't have too much of a 1156 00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:31,250 negative impact perhaps it would be a 1157 00:49:34,780 --> 00:49:33,080 different thing but unfortunately i 1158 00:49:38,080 --> 00:49:34,790 don't think that is what those images do 1159 00:49:39,940 --> 00:49:38,090 just personally myself feel that some of 1160 00:49:41,170 --> 00:49:39,950 those images are quite damaging who do 1161 00:49:43,690 --> 00:49:41,180 you think would be an image of someone 1162 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:43,700 who would be a good example for people i 1163 00:49:47,530 --> 00:49:45,770 mean sports people are often held up but 1164 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:47,540 then again they're pretty obsessive with 1165 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:49,010 training and i'm not sure everyone would 1166 00:49:51,370 --> 00:49:49,970 want to be that obsessive about 1167 00:49:53,380 --> 00:49:51,380 something either is there someone who 1168 00:49:55,120 --> 00:49:53,390 you think is a is a good role model I 1169 00:49:56,980 --> 00:49:55,130 think that you have to find your role 1170 00:49:59,500 --> 00:49:56,990 models within your own life I know 1171 00:50:01,150 --> 00:49:59,510 that's a great piece of wisdom but again 1172 00:50:02,710 --> 00:50:01,160 that's exactly like you know you should 1173 00:50:04,180 --> 00:50:02,720 need too much an exercise that means 1174 00:50:06,730 --> 00:50:04,190 we've actually got to do something dr. 1175 00:50:10,090 --> 00:50:06,740 Leslie yes I know sometimes 1176 00:50:13,270 --> 00:50:10,100 the feeling of how difficult that is can 1177 00:50:15,190 --> 00:50:13,280 be really quite paralyzing but it's a 1178 00:50:17,380 --> 00:50:15,200 step-by-step process and it's hopefully 1179 00:50:19,900 --> 00:50:17,390 something that dietitians or 1180 00:50:22,300 --> 00:50:19,910 practitioners in this area can help 1181 00:50:25,150 --> 00:50:22,310 people overcome that that sense of it's 1182 00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:25,160 just too hard pharmacology developments 1183 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:27,290 are just one weapon in the arsenal of 1184 00:50:31,420 --> 00:50:29,690 obesity against obesity do I do feel 1185 00:50:33,340 --> 00:50:31,430 that there is a range of treatments that 1186 00:50:34,420 --> 00:50:33,350 we're going to have to offer people so 1187 00:50:36,730 --> 00:50:34,430 that they can make a choice that 1188 00:50:39,340 --> 00:50:36,740 personally fits with their life but I 1189 00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:39,350 would be wary of a magic bullet approach 1190 00:50:45,580 --> 00:50:42,650 because for such a complex disease we 1191 00:50:47,560 --> 00:50:45,590 limit ourselves if we try and take a 1192 00:50:48,850 --> 00:50:47,570 simplistic view of it if there was any 1193 00:50:50,470 --> 00:50:48,860 information on the internet there that 1194 00:50:52,810 --> 00:50:50,480 you would suggest we could go to to get 1195 00:50:53,859 --> 00:50:52,820 true information about some dietary 1196 00:50:55,990 --> 00:50:53,869 issues there what would you recommend 1197 00:50:58,090 --> 00:50:56,000 well the internet provides us with a lot 1198 00:51:00,040 --> 00:50:58,100 of good information but you need to view 1199 00:51:01,180 --> 00:51:00,050 that information with a critical eye and 1200 00:51:03,460 --> 00:51:01,190 think about whether or not it's 1201 00:51:04,780 --> 00:51:03,470 realistic there are some very good sites 1202 00:51:07,900 --> 00:51:04,790 out there but there's also a lot of 1203 00:51:30,980 --> 00:51:07,910 information that could be spurious at 1204 00:51:34,860 --> 00:51:33,210 wow thank you for listening to the 1205 00:51:36,930 --> 00:51:34,870 skeptic zone what an interesting episode 1206 00:51:39,360 --> 00:51:36,940 this week I think I'm still a bit 1207 00:51:41,220 --> 00:51:39,370 jet-lagged you know and my voice 1208 00:51:44,460 --> 00:51:41,230 certainly doesn't cope well on those 1209 00:51:46,730 --> 00:51:44,470 long flights across the Pacific and in 1210 00:51:48,990 --> 00:51:46,740 that casino environment nevermind 1211 00:51:52,050 --> 00:51:49,000 nevermind next week on the skeptics earn 1212 00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:52,060 more interviews from tam 9 tam 9 from 1213 00:51:58,080 --> 00:51:55,290 outer space it was called and i'll just 1214 00:52:01,770 --> 00:51:58,090 all right well rest now i have a bit of 1215 00:52:03,420 --> 00:52:01,780 a recovery I'm i trace downstairs what 1216 00:52:07,170 --> 00:52:03,430 will it be this week folks what will be 1217 00:52:11,010 --> 00:52:07,180 the drink be what will the drink be but 1218 00:52:13,380 --> 00:52:11,020 you can't guess honey Mead I'm gonna 1219 00:52:15,660 --> 00:52:13,390 race down have some honey Mead I don't 1220 00:52:18,090 --> 00:52:15,670 think I've I even got any honey made no 1221 00:52:21,210 --> 00:52:18,100 go out and buy some let you enjoy the 1222 00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:21,220 rest of your week handle then this is 1223 00:52:25,950 --> 00:52:23,770 Richard Saunders signing off from I 1224 00:52:28,410 --> 00:52:25,960 think it is and that's my air ticket 1225 00:52:35,220 --> 00:52:28,420 brought me someone else a Sydney 1226 00:52:39,900 --> 00:52:35,230 Australia you've been listening to the 1227 00:52:43,740 --> 00:52:39,910 skeptic zone visit our website at www