1 00:00:22,740 --> 00:00:09,100 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:28,599 --> 00:00:25,480 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:31,450 --> 00:00:28,609 episode number 418 for the 23rd of 4 00:00:34,889 --> 00:00:31,460 October 2016 Richard Saunders here with 5 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:34,899 you from Sydney Australia transitioning 6 00:00:41,530 --> 00:00:38,930 seasons it's it's hot and cold today the 7 00:00:43,090 --> 00:00:41,540 sun has got a sting in it but there was 8 00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:43,100 a bit of a cold breeze it's a bit weird 9 00:00:47,530 --> 00:00:45,260 you never really sure how to dress for 10 00:00:50,979 --> 00:00:47,540 weather like this never mind dress as 11 00:00:53,710 --> 00:00:50,989 you please to enjoy the skeptic zone and 12 00:00:55,719 --> 00:00:53,720 this week a big episode packed chaga 13 00:00:57,189 --> 00:00:55,729 block and lots of little notes along the 14 00:00:59,530 --> 00:00:57,199 way we're going to kick off with the 15 00:01:02,439 --> 00:00:59,540 first of many interviews iran say give 16 00:01:05,079 --> 00:01:02,449 the president of australian skeptics did 17 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:05,089 at the recent QED question explore 18 00:01:10,810 --> 00:01:08,210 discover in manchester very jealous of 19 00:01:15,219 --> 00:01:10,820 iran i wish i could have gone maybe I 20 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:15,229 will one day again anyway runs going to 21 00:01:20,350 --> 00:01:17,810 kick off his series of interviews and 22 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:20,360 reports from QED with with a gang from a 23 00:01:24,039 --> 00:01:22,610 relatively new podcast you no doubt I've 24 00:01:25,510 --> 00:01:24,049 heard of them or you listen to them 25 00:01:30,669 --> 00:01:25,520 because we play promos here on the 26 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:30,679 skeptic zone the ESP the ESP the 27 00:01:36,279 --> 00:01:33,350 European skeptics podcast an interview 28 00:01:38,169 --> 00:01:36,289 coming up at the top of the show and 29 00:01:40,559 --> 00:01:38,179 what a great podcast that is if you 30 00:01:43,260 --> 00:01:40,569 don't subscribe maybe you should 31 00:01:46,749 --> 00:01:43,270 following that it's a report about a a 32 00:01:48,639 --> 00:01:46,759 man who saw the follow of his ways once 33 00:01:52,719 --> 00:01:48,649 he started using so-called natural 34 00:01:55,959 --> 00:01:52,729 treatments to treat his cancer and when 35 00:01:58,870 --> 00:01:55,969 that didn't work he sort of snapped back 36 00:02:01,629 --> 00:01:58,880 into reality we might say a warning a 37 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:01,639 cautionary tale coming up in the middle 38 00:02:06,669 --> 00:02:04,729 of the show then a story from the raw 39 00:02:08,350 --> 00:02:06,679 skeptic Heidi Robertson from the north 40 00:02:10,470 --> 00:02:08,360 coast of New South Wales from the 41 00:02:15,430 --> 00:02:10,480 Northern Rivers vaccination supporters 42 00:02:17,110 --> 00:02:15,440 all about deadly Australian animals are 43 00:02:19,660 --> 00:02:17,120 you thinking about coming to Australia 44 00:02:23,140 --> 00:02:19,670 are you scared of the spiders and the 45 00:02:26,380 --> 00:02:23,150 snakes and the tix and the Sharks and 46 00:02:28,630 --> 00:02:26,390 the wombats it won't wombats aren't so 47 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:28,640 dangerous I suppose and the other things 48 00:02:33,369 --> 00:02:30,170 that creep and crawl and can bite you 49 00:02:34,809 --> 00:02:33,379 Heidi has news for you news for you 50 00:02:37,390 --> 00:02:34,819 what's the real story about 51 00:02:39,670 --> 00:02:37,400 surely as deadly animals manda round off 52 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:39,680 the show i chat to Brad McClure from the 53 00:02:45,489 --> 00:02:42,650 New Zealand skeptics he's going to tell 54 00:02:47,410 --> 00:02:45,499 us all about the upcoming new zealand 55 00:02:49,179 --> 00:02:47,420 skeptics convention in beautiful 56 00:02:51,879 --> 00:02:49,189 Queenstown now that's at the beginning 57 00:02:53,379 --> 00:02:51,889 of december more information during the 58 00:02:54,759 --> 00:02:53,389 interview about how you can get your 59 00:02:57,129 --> 00:02:54,769 tickets if you're listening from New 60 00:02:59,259 --> 00:02:57,139 Zealand or if you're listening anywhere 61 00:03:00,550 --> 00:02:59,269 in the world and you would fancy a trip 62 00:03:02,530 --> 00:03:00,560 to New Zealand why not go at the 63 00:03:05,349 --> 00:03:02,540 beginning of december and take in the 64 00:03:07,750 --> 00:03:05,359 New Zealand skeptics convention your 65 00:03:10,119 --> 00:03:07,760 conference i'll be there on hand to give 66 00:03:12,789 --> 00:03:10,129 a talk bend a few spoons bend a few 67 00:03:15,129 --> 00:03:12,799 years and have a lot of fun i'm really 68 00:03:18,069 --> 00:03:15,139 looking forward to that convention now a 69 00:03:20,199 --> 00:03:18,079 few notes a few little notes about other 70 00:03:23,589 --> 00:03:20,209 things before we get stuck into the show 71 00:03:25,420 --> 00:03:23,599 next weekend in sydney nothing to do 72 00:03:27,179 --> 00:03:25,430 with the scepticism next weekend in 73 00:03:29,349 --> 00:03:27,189 sydney i'll be speaking at and 74 00:03:32,110 --> 00:03:29,359 demonstrating at and our egami 75 00:03:34,750 --> 00:03:32,120 convention why not I'll be teaching 76 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:34,760 people how to fold origami Pegasus and 77 00:03:38,140 --> 00:03:36,290 making lots of things for lots of people 78 00:03:41,409 --> 00:03:38,150 if you want to come along check it out 79 00:03:45,339 --> 00:03:41,419 there'll be a link in the show notes for 80 00:03:47,110 --> 00:03:45,349 this week folding australia 2016 origami 81 00:03:50,170 --> 00:03:47,120 convention i'm really looking forward to 82 00:03:51,969 --> 00:03:50,180 that as many people know that it's more 83 00:03:53,379 --> 00:03:51,979 than a hobby for me to do origami i've 84 00:03:54,819 --> 00:03:53,389 written many books on it and I make 85 00:03:56,679 --> 00:03:54,829 jewelry and earrings and all sorts of 86 00:03:58,649 --> 00:03:56,689 things and of course I invented the 87 00:04:00,640 --> 00:03:58,659 little origami Pegasus for James Randi 88 00:04:02,890 --> 00:04:00,650 looking forward to that immense thing 89 00:04:06,659 --> 00:04:02,900 maybe I'll see you there I'm also 90 00:04:11,050 --> 00:04:06,669 looking forward to incredibly amazingly 91 00:04:13,749 --> 00:04:11,060 almost indescribably Mars the live 92 00:04:15,909 --> 00:04:13,759 experience now this has brought to you 93 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:15,919 by the good people at National 94 00:04:22,029 --> 00:04:19,090 Geographic now this promises to be an 95 00:04:24,550 --> 00:04:22,039 amazing evening and because it's so 96 00:04:26,439 --> 00:04:24,560 amazing I'm happy to let skeptics own 97 00:04:29,140 --> 00:04:26,449 lessons in Australia know about this 98 00:04:31,779 --> 00:04:29,150 because live on stage amongst many other 99 00:04:34,930 --> 00:04:31,789 people will be none other than Buzz 100 00:04:38,709 --> 00:04:34,940 Aldrin Wow a chance to see Buzz Aldrin 101 00:04:41,350 --> 00:04:38,719 in the flesh one of the great one of the 102 00:04:44,409 --> 00:04:41,360 great figures in science in the 20th 103 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:44,419 century of course the second man to set 104 00:04:48,490 --> 00:04:47,090 foot on the moon wow what an exciting 105 00:04:50,170 --> 00:04:48,500 evening this promises to 106 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:50,180 are we going to get demise well I'm sure 107 00:04:55,750 --> 00:04:52,970 we will one day one day maybe we can 108 00:04:58,450 --> 00:04:55,760 find out more and I'll place a link to 109 00:05:00,670 --> 00:04:58,460 more information on where you can snap 110 00:05:02,590 --> 00:05:00,680 up your tickets in this week's show 111 00:05:04,690 --> 00:05:02,600 notes wow that's going to be a great 112 00:05:06,490 --> 00:05:04,700 evening and thank you very much to 113 00:05:08,950 --> 00:05:06,500 National Geographic for bringing this to 114 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:08,960 my attention so I could bring it to your 115 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:13,010 attention Mars the live experience and 116 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:14,690 finally it's only right and fitting that 117 00:05:21,580 --> 00:05:18,530 we acknowledge the passing of a legend 118 00:05:23,409 --> 00:05:21,590 in the skeptical sphere Bob Carol Robert 119 00:05:28,930 --> 00:05:23,419 Carroll who created the skeptics 120 00:05:32,170 --> 00:05:28,940 dictionary a site i use frequently a an 121 00:05:35,730 --> 00:05:32,180 app i use frequently and a promotion i 122 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:35,740 play frequently so in honor of Bob Carol 123 00:05:46,060 --> 00:05:42,110 here it is again both versions hey Kenny 124 00:05:49,810 --> 00:05:46,070 oh hi Tom my safest part yeah yes great 125 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:49,820 weather oh look a unicorn unicorn there 126 00:05:55,750 --> 00:05:52,610 are no such things as unicorns silly yes 127 00:05:58,180 --> 00:05:55,760 there is no there isn't hey guys what 128 00:06:01,120 --> 00:05:58,190 are you arguing about Tom Hanks unicorns 129 00:06:04,270 --> 00:06:01,130 are real hey so are let's look this up 130 00:06:06,250 --> 00:06:04,280 in the skeptics dictionary the what how 131 00:06:07,930 --> 00:06:06,260 can we do this in this park there is no 132 00:06:09,670 --> 00:06:07,940 computer here you guys probably don't 133 00:06:12,730 --> 00:06:09,680 know about the skeptics dictionary app 134 00:06:16,659 --> 00:06:12,740 available now for iPhone iPad and iPod 135 00:06:18,190 --> 00:06:16,669 touch in the app store Wow cool the app 136 00:06:20,409 --> 00:06:18,200 lets you access all of the great 137 00:06:22,990 --> 00:06:20,419 skeptics dictionary articles when you're 138 00:06:25,690 --> 00:06:23,000 on the go here let me look up unicorns 139 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:25,700 sound cool Kenny prepare to be proven 140 00:06:32,380 --> 00:06:28,250 wrong it says here the Unicorn is a 141 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:32,390 creature from fables aha actually I see 142 00:06:36,250 --> 00:06:33,650 now that someone just dumped their ice 143 00:06:41,050 --> 00:06:36,260 cream cone on that horse's head thanks 144 00:06:45,490 --> 00:06:41,060 skeptics dictionary iphone app hey Heidi 145 00:06:48,490 --> 00:06:45,500 oh hi Jay hi Heidi oh hi Maynard hi 146 00:06:52,390 --> 00:06:48,500 Maynard oh hi Joe nice day in this park 147 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:52,400 yeah yes great weather oh look a unicorn 148 00:06:58,690 --> 00:06:55,610 a unicorn there are no such things as 149 00:07:01,210 --> 00:06:58,700 unicorn silly yes there are no there 150 00:07:02,020 --> 00:07:01,220 isn't Hey ladies what are you arguing 151 00:07:05,020 --> 00:07:02,030 about 152 00:07:07,570 --> 00:07:05,030 Joe thinks unicorns are real they so are 153 00:07:10,660 --> 00:07:07,580 let's look this up in the skeptics 154 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:10,670 dictionary the word how can we do that 155 00:07:15,490 --> 00:07:13,490 in this park there are no computers here 156 00:07:18,310 --> 00:07:15,500 you ladies probably don't know about the 157 00:07:21,340 --> 00:07:18,320 skeptics dictionary app available now 158 00:07:23,710 --> 00:07:21,350 for iPhone iPad and iPod touch in the 159 00:07:25,750 --> 00:07:23,720 app store yeah we do we've been 160 00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:25,760 listening to the skeptic zone for years 161 00:07:31,990 --> 00:07:29,660 you know yes okay the app lets you 162 00:07:35,710 --> 00:07:32,000 access all the great skeptics dictionary 163 00:07:38,530 --> 00:07:35,720 articles when you're on the go yeah let 164 00:07:41,770 --> 00:07:38,540 me look up unicorns oh cool Heidi 165 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:41,780 prepare to be proven wrong it says here 166 00:07:47,290 --> 00:07:43,970 the Unicorn is a creature from fables 167 00:07:48,820 --> 00:07:47,300 aha actually I see now that someone just 168 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:48,830 dumped their ice cream cone on that 169 00:07:53,860 --> 00:07:51,530 horse's head thanks get attention their 170 00:07:57,340 --> 00:07:53,870 iphone that's just some guy in his 171 00:07:59,350 --> 00:07:57,350 undies a great loss to the skeptical 172 00:08:02,410 --> 00:07:59,360 community that of Bob Carol but his work 173 00:08:04,270 --> 00:08:02,420 lives on at the skeptics dictionary if 174 00:08:06,930 --> 00:08:04,280 you haven't seen that site if you don't 175 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:06,940 use the app now might be a good um 176 00:08:12,010 --> 00:08:10,130 prompt to you to do so well that's all 177 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:12,020 for me at the moment more information 178 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:14,510 about upcoming events at the end of the 179 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:16,070 show but now it's time for me to run 180 00:08:20,290 --> 00:08:18,410 downstairs being careful not to trip 181 00:08:23,740 --> 00:08:20,300 over the cats who normally wait outside 182 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:23,750 the studio door and sometimes they stick 183 00:08:30,060 --> 00:08:25,310 their paws underneath trying to grab 184 00:08:35,910 --> 00:08:30,070 things run downstairs open a jar of 185 00:08:40,090 --> 00:08:35,920 peanuts just peanuts roasted peanuts I 186 00:08:42,070 --> 00:08:40,100 think I could eat a ton of them my 187 00:08:45,190 --> 00:08:42,080 goodness me people who know me know 188 00:09:06,300 --> 00:08:45,200 that's my weakness well I munch those I 189 00:09:23,050 --> 00:09:09,090 let's all take this with a grain of salt 190 00:09:25,689 --> 00:09:23,060 he's around ticket ok ok so I'm here 191 00:09:28,749 --> 00:09:25,699 with the Elena pontus and I this from 192 00:09:35,079 --> 00:09:28,759 the ESP which sends for a run Sega's 193 00:09:37,809 --> 00:09:35,089 plan um no that's good yeah it stands 194 00:09:40,410 --> 00:09:37,819 for European skeptics podcast right how 195 00:09:45,309 --> 00:09:40,420 long have you been doing this podcast 196 00:09:48,069 --> 00:09:45,319 yeah we started almost a year ago and we 197 00:09:52,420 --> 00:09:48,079 remember 18th November 18-foot for those 198 00:09:54,699 --> 00:09:52,430 whose camping so so we met that where we 199 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:54,709 met before but then when we met at the 200 00:09:59,139 --> 00:09:57,170 European skeptics Congress in London 201 00:10:01,389 --> 00:09:59,149 last year we so we need to do something 202 00:10:03,699 --> 00:10:01,399 because they the sentiment was all 203 00:10:06,309 --> 00:10:03,709 around we need to do something to boost 204 00:10:07,870 --> 00:10:06,319 activism in Europe right so what can we 205 00:10:11,050 --> 00:10:07,880 do and there was a lot of ideas going 206 00:10:14,530 --> 00:10:11,060 around but I Manoj came up we need to do 207 00:10:15,699 --> 00:10:14,540 a podcast yes that's correct um yeah 208 00:10:18,579 --> 00:10:15,709 I've been meaning to start a podcast 209 00:10:21,100 --> 00:10:18,589 myself because I'm I mean huge podcast 210 00:10:23,079 --> 00:10:21,110 listener I'm there that's like crazy 211 00:10:26,439 --> 00:10:23,089 we'd be a lot of podcast I'm subscribed 212 00:10:30,819 --> 00:10:26,449 to including of course the skeptic zone 213 00:10:33,009 --> 00:10:30,829 which is one of my favorite and yeah but 214 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:33,019 but that was that was there was one 215 00:10:40,059 --> 00:10:36,250 thing that really stuck out that was 216 00:10:44,829 --> 00:10:40,069 that was the fact that everything was 217 00:10:46,420 --> 00:10:44,839 covered except for the what's going on 218 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:46,430 in non-english speaking countries 219 00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:49,850 regarding skepticism and I it's not a 220 00:10:55,269 --> 00:10:51,920 hundred percent true actually because it 221 00:10:57,490 --> 00:10:55,279 was the skeptic zone on which there have 222 00:11:00,759 --> 00:10:57,500 been featured a few are there had been 223 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:00,769 featured a few other countries as well 224 00:11:06,290 --> 00:11:04,370 including Sweden and Hungary so both 225 00:11:09,389 --> 00:11:06,300 both of us had been 226 00:11:11,790 --> 00:11:09,399 guests on the skeptic zone before I came 227 00:11:13,889 --> 00:11:11,800 up with an idea okay so just to point 228 00:11:18,060 --> 00:11:13,899 out because this is a podcast which is 229 00:11:19,769 --> 00:11:18,070 not a very visual medium that when you 230 00:11:22,379 --> 00:11:19,779 said both of us you're actually speaking 231 00:11:24,300 --> 00:11:22,389 about you and yourself in Pontus so yeah 232 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:24,310 yeah yeahs things I mentioned three to 233 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:25,930 me as well maybe I'll just break for a 234 00:11:31,710 --> 00:11:29,290 second day so you live in London I don't 235 00:11:33,540 --> 00:11:31,720 you yeah and pontus you're coming from 236 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:33,550 Sweden if it will where is mama in 237 00:11:38,370 --> 00:11:36,100 Sweden my office with an undersea oh I'm 238 00:11:41,730 --> 00:11:38,380 originally from Hungary but I live in 239 00:11:44,249 --> 00:11:41,740 Brighton in the UK okay so you kind of 240 00:11:46,650 --> 00:11:44,259 represent a in your actual original yeah 241 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:46,660 yeah so what we're hungry and speaking a 242 00:11:52,319 --> 00:11:50,170 lot of in a Latvian she's a Latvian 243 00:11:53,939 --> 00:11:52,329 Russian actually well it's a problem 244 00:11:56,309 --> 00:11:53,949 really that important for the purpose of 245 00:11:59,670 --> 00:11:56,319 the podcast but yes okay so so you 246 00:12:01,050 --> 00:11:59,680 represent a fairly wide range of views 247 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:01,060 in terms of from our cultural 248 00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:01,930 perspective from a background 249 00:12:05,460 --> 00:12:03,399 perspective that's that's very 250 00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:05,470 interesting so in a the podcast itself 251 00:12:11,129 --> 00:12:08,529 how does that actually have any any 252 00:12:13,370 --> 00:12:11,139 effect on the way you present things um 253 00:12:15,809 --> 00:12:13,380 I think so i think it like our 254 00:12:17,730 --> 00:12:15,819 backgrounds and our culture where we 255 00:12:20,069 --> 00:12:17,740 came from we all have like different 256 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:20,079 ways of talking about certain things and 257 00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:21,910 kind of thinking about certain things 258 00:12:26,579 --> 00:12:23,920 and stuff like that i don't know i think 259 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:26,589 i can see the divide bit certainly 260 00:12:32,340 --> 00:12:30,130 between Sweden and Latvia the i don't 261 00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:32,350 know i think Sweden's i don't wanna it's 262 00:12:38,939 --> 00:12:35,160 more educated country and whatever at me 263 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:38,949 there is definitely different cultural 264 00:12:43,410 --> 00:12:40,569 differences and we learn from each other 265 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:43,420 every time we do a podcast or every time 266 00:12:47,850 --> 00:12:45,610 we talk about you know episode news and 267 00:12:49,980 --> 00:12:47,860 whatever so yeah I think it's hard to 268 00:12:51,389 --> 00:12:49,990 put it put a words on me but I 269 00:12:52,470 --> 00:12:51,399 definitely we do have different 270 00:12:55,379 --> 00:12:52,480 perspectives because we're different 271 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:55,389 backgrounds and dip partially for 272 00:12:59,490 --> 00:12:57,730 different cultures and we have different 273 00:13:01,970 --> 00:12:59,500 ways of pronouncing English words some 274 00:13:07,250 --> 00:13:05,090 I loved the fact that and only recently 275 00:13:10,150 --> 00:13:07,260 found out about that that Slavic 276 00:13:14,750 --> 00:13:10,160 languages are not very good at using 277 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:14,760 articles so yeah Lana and I started to 278 00:13:21,170 --> 00:13:17,130 notice after a while that Yelena doesn't 279 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:21,180 use a definite article very often and he 280 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:23,310 turns out turns out that it's coming 281 00:13:28,220 --> 00:13:25,770 from it's coming from Russian and it's 282 00:13:30,170 --> 00:13:28,230 and i love these differences in the 283 00:13:32,870 --> 00:13:30,180 languages that we are coming from the 284 00:13:35,330 --> 00:13:32,880 language environments that we are coming 285 00:13:37,610 --> 00:13:35,340 from it's it's it's hilarious but i also 286 00:13:40,010 --> 00:13:37,620 think so very often when we discuss a 287 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:40,020 piece of art piece of news that maybe is 288 00:13:44,410 --> 00:13:41,850 a little bit sensitive for example i 289 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:44,420 know that pontus is trying to be very 290 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:46,650 politically correct and sort of like 291 00:13:53,270 --> 00:13:50,850 this i hear it lightly and i think i am 292 00:13:58,130 --> 00:13:53,280 very much you know I just say what I 293 00:14:00,110 --> 00:13:58,140 think yeah like and I don't I'm not 294 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:00,120 saying it's the right way but it's just 295 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:02,730 the way we are and I do need to learn to 296 00:14:07,610 --> 00:14:04,890 be more sensitive towards you know other 297 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:07,620 people's appeals whatever so yeah that's 298 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:09,210 one of the things that I picked up what 299 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:11,250 I don't know 12 cpu blog on it yes and 300 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:13,890 to some extent but also i think is the 301 00:14:18,050 --> 00:14:16,230 despite of different backgrounds we get 302 00:14:19,490 --> 00:14:18,060 along very well or oppositely don't you 303 00:14:21,170 --> 00:14:19,500 that's right this wasn't worried 304 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:21,180 incidental we didn't really know that 305 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:22,410 when we started but I think we've 306 00:14:26,690 --> 00:14:24,810 developed a friendship that hopeful 307 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:26,700 comes across on vodka but let me say 308 00:14:33,620 --> 00:14:29,970 this that the very reason why I 309 00:14:37,510 --> 00:14:33,630 approached you guys with this idea was 310 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:37,520 that you were the people I got along 311 00:14:43,550 --> 00:14:40,650 really well with I get along pretty well 312 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:43,560 with other people as well and but but 313 00:14:48,290 --> 00:14:45,450 but I had a feeling that don't they were 314 00:14:50,870 --> 00:14:48,300 no vicodin podcast well that's your very 315 00:14:53,420 --> 00:14:50,880 own it would click pretty well so no I 316 00:14:56,210 --> 00:14:53,430 yeah I didn't mean mean me to come 317 00:14:58,580 --> 00:14:56,220 across as like that but yeah you're 318 00:15:00,770 --> 00:14:58,590 Europe is obviously lodge and there's 319 00:15:02,510 --> 00:15:00,780 you know them and you represent maybe 320 00:15:05,450 --> 00:15:02,520 three or four different cultures but 321 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:05,460 between shoot but there's this obviously 322 00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:08,130 multiple cultures do how do you attempt 323 00:15:11,570 --> 00:15:10,110 to represent those additional cultures 324 00:15:12,530 --> 00:15:11,580 or those additional points of view in 325 00:15:16,620 --> 00:15:12,540 the park 326 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:16,630 so as Andrus probably he keeps score 327 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:19,810 we've interviewed countless amount of 328 00:15:23,970 --> 00:15:21,010 skeptics from different european 329 00:15:26,550 --> 00:15:23,980 countries and every one of them brings a 330 00:15:30,990 --> 00:15:26,560 different perspective to the show and we 331 00:15:32,940 --> 00:15:31,000 learn different things from them I think 332 00:15:35,580 --> 00:15:32,950 that's one way I mean I'm just do an 333 00:15:40,170 --> 00:15:35,590 exam yeah if you want to hear numbers 334 00:15:43,650 --> 00:15:40,180 we've so far we've had interviewed more 335 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:43,660 than 30 people from 20 countries and 336 00:15:48,830 --> 00:15:45,970 we're pretty proud of that it obviously 337 00:15:51,540 --> 00:15:48,840 requires a lot of organization as well 338 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:51,550 but the other thing is that we are 339 00:15:57,150 --> 00:15:54,490 trying to give a perspective when it 340 00:16:00,120 --> 00:15:57,160 comes to events like skeptics in the pub 341 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:00,130 event and other skeptical gatherings we 342 00:16:07,620 --> 00:16:03,310 try every week we we talk about what's 343 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:07,630 coming up next week and and that's it's 344 00:16:11,820 --> 00:16:09,730 probably not very interesting to 345 00:16:13,980 --> 00:16:11,830 everyone but it gives you an idea of how 346 00:16:16,110 --> 00:16:13,990 many different events are going on 347 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:16,120 across the continent that we would 348 00:16:21,990 --> 00:16:19,450 normally not know about and that that 349 00:16:24,990 --> 00:16:22,000 was part of the reasons why we wanted to 350 00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:25,000 do this that it because it we've got the 351 00:16:32,910 --> 00:16:29,230 feedback already that it kind of helps 352 00:16:36,420 --> 00:16:32,920 people move forward because because they 353 00:16:38,730 --> 00:16:36,430 see the examples they they are being 354 00:16:40,290 --> 00:16:38,740 encouraged to do that bye-bye just 355 00:16:42,350 --> 00:16:40,300 hearing about how many different things 356 00:16:45,030 --> 00:16:42,360 are going on around them there's also 357 00:16:47,670 --> 00:16:45,040 obviously political divides across 358 00:16:49,110 --> 00:16:47,680 Europe I mean everything that's happened 359 00:16:51,390 --> 00:16:49,120 with the brexit now there's the 360 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:51,400 countries that are within is European 361 00:16:55,230 --> 00:16:52,690 but they're not not part of the European 362 00:16:58,200 --> 00:16:55,240 Union or there is different degrees of 363 00:17:00,270 --> 00:16:58,210 being within or outside the European 364 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:00,280 Union do you feel that that affects the 365 00:17:05,490 --> 00:17:02,260 skeptical activity as well and how do 366 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:05,500 you deal with that well I think well not 367 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:07,690 activities as such but it changes the 368 00:17:12,870 --> 00:17:10,570 way different countries need to focus on 369 00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:12,880 different things we've come across that 370 00:17:16,950 --> 00:17:14,920 the Eastern European countries have a 371 00:17:19,410 --> 00:17:16,960 different perspective than the Western 372 00:17:21,570 --> 00:17:19,420 European countries still you know it is 373 00:17:24,530 --> 00:17:21,580 years and years since the wall came down 374 00:17:27,890 --> 00:17:24,540 but there's still a difference like 375 00:17:30,860 --> 00:17:27,900 you know looking at things like spoon 376 00:17:33,140 --> 00:17:30,870 bending and such it's still very current 377 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:33,150 in some some countries but nothing 378 00:17:38,210 --> 00:17:35,250 others another thing I would like to say 379 00:17:39,860 --> 00:17:38,220 is that one thing that helped you said 380 00:17:42,860 --> 00:17:39,870 we represent three different countries 381 00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:42,870 but things like this we are at QED now 382 00:17:48,110 --> 00:17:45,240 in Manchester when we recall this and 383 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:48,120 these kinds of events helps quite a lot 384 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:50,130 or because we we meet people from all 385 00:17:54,620 --> 00:17:51,570 over the world we meet people from 386 00:17:58,310 --> 00:17:54,630 Portugal from Spain from a German II 387 00:18:01,010 --> 00:17:58,320 from Switzerland from Sweden where 388 00:18:02,570 --> 00:18:01,020 everywhere and that makes that game 389 00:18:04,730 --> 00:18:02,580 gives us a head start because we have 390 00:18:06,890 --> 00:18:04,740 people to contact and we have people to 391 00:18:08,150 --> 00:18:06,900 that we can call if we want to 392 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:08,160 investigate things in different 393 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:09,510 countries do you have any particular 394 00:18:13,820 --> 00:18:11,370 plans for the future for the near field 395 00:18:18,650 --> 00:18:13,830 near term long term under siege full of 396 00:18:22,900 --> 00:18:18,660 pans yeah I sometimes when I start a 397 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:22,910 sentence with I've been thinking then oh 398 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:27,570 yes yeah no actually I don't have that 399 00:18:33,350 --> 00:18:30,210 many ideas we would like to improve the 400 00:18:37,370 --> 00:18:33,360 website we would like to make the show a 401 00:18:39,770 --> 00:18:37,380 bit more time efficient the things like 402 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:39,780 that we would like to obviously improve 403 00:18:45,290 --> 00:18:42,690 our equipment and stuff the YouTube oh 404 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:45,300 yeah we are we are about to start a 405 00:18:51,170 --> 00:18:49,050 YouTube channel which we we have a few 406 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:51,180 ideas about what to were to put on there 407 00:18:55,370 --> 00:18:53,010 and the other thing is that we would 408 00:18:57,770 --> 00:18:55,380 like to reach out to many many more 409 00:18:59,780 --> 00:18:57,780 countries because there are still 410 00:19:03,980 --> 00:18:59,790 countries a European countries that we 411 00:19:06,860 --> 00:19:03,990 haven't reached out to yet and there are 412 00:19:09,290 --> 00:19:06,870 there are others we plan to share ideas 413 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:09,300 from these countries with others as well 414 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:11,490 and the other thing that's very very 415 00:19:18,410 --> 00:19:14,010 important that we would like to help the 416 00:19:21,050 --> 00:19:18,420 movement to join their efforts so we the 417 00:19:24,110 --> 00:19:21,060 joint efforts the joint resources we 418 00:19:27,380 --> 00:19:24,120 could even start to build up for example 419 00:19:29,810 --> 00:19:27,390 a lobbying body a lobbying force on a 420 00:19:32,150 --> 00:19:29,820 European level which would be absolutely 421 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:32,160 needed when it comes to regulations 422 00:19:37,020 --> 00:19:34,690 regarding homeopathy for example 423 00:19:39,120 --> 00:19:37,030 that is absolutely a must that we start 424 00:19:41,130 --> 00:19:39,130 doing that and there are organizations 425 00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:41,140 starting to reach out to the European 426 00:19:46,830 --> 00:19:43,960 level but we should we should back that 427 00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:46,840 up with with the the support of all the 428 00:19:51,570 --> 00:19:49,120 different organizations across from 429 00:19:54,030 --> 00:19:51,580 across the continent and that is a huge 430 00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:54,040 task but now where we are teaming up 431 00:19:57,630 --> 00:19:56,320 with the European Council of skeptical 432 00:19:59,940 --> 00:19:57,640 organizations which is the umbrella 433 00:20:03,540 --> 00:19:59,950 organization bringing together all these 434 00:20:07,650 --> 00:20:03,550 and it it kind of in the revival state 435 00:20:10,050 --> 00:20:07,660 right now and it is to some extent I 436 00:20:14,070 --> 00:20:10,060 know that for a fact that to some extent 437 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:14,080 it is thanks to the existence of the 438 00:20:18,570 --> 00:20:16,210 show there's I believe there's a 439 00:20:20,550 --> 00:20:18,580 conference next year in Poland it just 440 00:20:22,410 --> 00:20:20,560 came on the website just came alive a 441 00:20:26,490 --> 00:20:22,420 couple of a couple of days ago probably 442 00:20:30,060 --> 00:20:26,500 a week ago and it's Euroskeptic scone 443 00:20:32,460 --> 00:20:30,070 org I think and but you can European 444 00:20:35,670 --> 00:20:32,470 skeptics Congress you can find find it 445 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:35,680 if you search for that on google or on 446 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:37,690 facebook you and they have facebook page 447 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:39,850 as well so if someone wants to follow 448 00:20:46,410 --> 00:20:42,970 that there are several ways to do it and 449 00:20:49,740 --> 00:20:46,420 it's going to be a joint event jointly 450 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:49,750 organised by the check skeptics and the 451 00:20:55,830 --> 00:20:52,450 polish skeptics which is a great joint 452 00:20:57,900 --> 00:20:55,840 effort and they have huge plans by the 453 00:21:00,390 --> 00:20:57,910 way are one of the organizers Claire 454 00:21:02,850 --> 00:21:00,400 klingenberg whom we had on the show for 455 00:21:05,370 --> 00:21:02,860 an interview as well earlier much much 456 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:05,380 earlier back further back she's she's 457 00:21:10,590 --> 00:21:07,450 here and the conference at QED as well 458 00:21:13,020 --> 00:21:10,600 so yeah she could tell you a lot lot 459 00:21:15,150 --> 00:21:13,030 more about that ok very good maybe I'll 460 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:15,160 try to catch her and ask her because Tom 461 00:21:22,740 --> 00:21:18,310 from the Polish skeptics invited me and 462 00:21:25,020 --> 00:21:22,750 I'll see I hope to make it run by I have 463 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:25,030 polish ancestry so you'll be interesting 464 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:28,090 to yeah I'm sure fun yeah you have quite 465 00:21:33,630 --> 00:21:31,210 a mixed ancestry don't you 466 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:33,640 I'll tell you about it off here we all 467 00:21:39,299 --> 00:21:37,090 did so if people want to find out more 468 00:21:41,310 --> 00:21:39,309 about what you do where do they go of 469 00:21:44,370 --> 00:21:41,320 course they can email us our email 470 00:21:46,110 --> 00:21:44,380 address is info @ VES pido tu they can 471 00:21:50,190 --> 00:21:46,120 also follow us on twitter our twitter 472 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:50,200 handle is at esa underscore you and of 473 00:21:55,230 --> 00:21:52,090 course it can also go on to our website 474 00:21:57,690 --> 00:21:55,240 which is the ESP dot EU or like us on 475 00:21:59,970 --> 00:21:57,700 Facebook and don't forget about the 476 00:22:03,840 --> 00:21:59,980 iTunes if you listen to our podcast 477 00:22:06,060 --> 00:22:03,850 please like us on iTunes and give us 478 00:22:08,070 --> 00:22:06,070 maybe five star in a review and it helps 479 00:22:13,049 --> 00:22:08,080 a lot thank you very much and don't 480 00:22:15,870 --> 00:22:13,059 forget to subscribe let's come here yeah 481 00:22:26,070 --> 00:22:15,880 yeah yeah thank you very much guys make 482 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:26,080 some money Clary the skeptic magazine 483 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:28,570 the journal from Australian skeptics 484 00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:31,570 subscribe online to the world's second 485 00:22:39,380 --> 00:22:36,130 oldest skeptical magazine visit w WC oh 486 00:22:43,470 --> 00:22:39,390 my you and click the publications league 487 00:22:47,490 --> 00:22:43,480 you can also find their over 30 years on 488 00:23:06,680 --> 00:22:47,500 back issues free to download the skeptic 489 00:23:12,330 --> 00:23:09,480 written by Jane Hansen published to the 490 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:12,340 Daily Telegraph Daily Telegraph calm 491 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:15,310 today you natural cancer treatment 492 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:17,890 patient turned down chemotherapy but 493 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:21,190 nearly killed himself Greg Mel wish 494 00:23:25,890 --> 00:23:23,530 turned to natural therapies to cure his 495 00:23:28,260 --> 00:23:25,900 cancer and it nearly killed him that's 496 00:23:31,110 --> 00:23:28,270 the message he now wants to share in the 497 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:31,120 hope it will save lives the Byron Shire 498 00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:33,370 resident lives in an area renowned for 499 00:23:39,390 --> 00:23:36,550 its alternative lifestyle and abundance 500 00:23:42,660 --> 00:23:39,400 of natural therapy choices but mr. 501 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:42,670 Mellish said the downside was a quote 502 00:23:47,190 --> 00:23:44,890 suspicion of big farmer end quote and 503 00:23:49,490 --> 00:23:47,200 the medical profession in general the 504 00:23:52,380 --> 00:23:49,500 popular DJ was diagnosed with 505 00:23:55,230 --> 00:23:52,390 metastasized cancer of the colon which 506 00:23:57,270 --> 00:23:55,240 had moved to his liver last November his 507 00:24:00,440 --> 00:23:57,280 doctor offered chemotherapy which he 508 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:00,450 turned down quote when I was diagnosed I 509 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:03,610 commenced a full treatment of natural 510 00:24:08,250 --> 00:24:05,770 therapies consisting of many things and 511 00:24:10,830 --> 00:24:08,260 methods that I regularly here mentioned 512 00:24:13,350 --> 00:24:10,840 I decided to give myself three months on 513 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:13,360 alternative therapies I was hoping for a 514 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:15,910 natural miracle but for me it was a 515 00:24:21,450 --> 00:24:19,210 false hope I nearly killed myself I saw 516 00:24:23,940 --> 00:24:21,460 a local guy and my natural therapies 517 00:24:27,090 --> 00:24:23,950 consisted of a whole bunch of herbs and 518 00:24:30,420 --> 00:24:27,100 mushrooms and enzymes and detoxing stuff 519 00:24:32,490 --> 00:24:30,430 and I got really ill it was about five 520 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:32,500 hundred dollars worth of stuff then I 521 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:35,650 had vitamin C infusions at a clinic in 522 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:39,570 robina and heat tint treatment 523 00:24:46,050 --> 00:24:42,250 hypothermic treatment at five hundred 524 00:24:49,710 --> 00:24:46,060 dollars an hour but I was just money 525 00:24:52,010 --> 00:24:49,720 against the wall when quote on another 526 00:24:54,630 --> 00:24:52,020 recommendation he turned to a quote 527 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:54,640 master pranic healing and quote or 528 00:25:00,150 --> 00:24:57,730 energy healer who claimed to have killed 529 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:00,160 him quote I went to this master przemek 530 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:02,170 healer in Brisbane and he took an aura 531 00:25:05,390 --> 00:25:02,790 photo 532 00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:05,400 ruff and said look how bad your liver is 533 00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:08,910 and I said I know and then he said I'm 534 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:11,310 going to do all this work on you and 535 00:25:16,610 --> 00:25:13,890 then took another or a photo and said 536 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:16,620 look how greatly reduced it is he was 537 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:18,450 saying look it's nearly gone it's a 538 00:25:22,970 --> 00:25:20,730 miracle you're cured he really thought 539 00:25:26,330 --> 00:25:22,980 he was doing something but he was 540 00:25:28,790 --> 00:25:26,340 deluded but I didn't feel any better and 541 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:28,800 a week later I was in hospital and a new 542 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:31,490 CT scan showed my liver was riddled and 543 00:25:37,850 --> 00:25:35,130 he is a healer telling me he cured me it 544 00:25:41,030 --> 00:25:37,860 was a joke at this point mr. Mellish 545 00:25:44,180 --> 00:25:41,040 started chemotherapy quote i started a 546 00:25:46,430 --> 00:25:44,190 12-week course and i was pretty happy it 547 00:25:49,060 --> 00:25:46,440 has done a lot more than the natural 548 00:25:52,460 --> 00:25:49,070 stuff the chemo is difficult and not 549 00:25:55,340 --> 00:25:52,470 easy but it is worth it unquote he said 550 00:25:58,790 --> 00:25:55,350 adding the delay had cost him dearly 551 00:26:01,100 --> 00:25:58,800 quote I would be in an even better state 552 00:26:03,620 --> 00:26:01,110 if I had commenced chemotherapy when I 553 00:26:06,170 --> 00:26:03,630 was first diagnosed I would have an even 554 00:26:08,990 --> 00:26:06,180 greater life expectancy and better 555 00:26:11,330 --> 00:26:09,000 health than I have right now I made a 556 00:26:14,690 --> 00:26:11,340 choice and it was the wrong bloody 557 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:14,700 choice it is a nice thought that natural 558 00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:17,730 therapies can heal but this is a serious 559 00:26:22,910 --> 00:26:20,310 disease and meeting lettuce leaves and 560 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:22,920 alkaline food and if you just eat baking 561 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:25,410 powder you'll be cured well that is just 562 00:26:31,910 --> 00:26:28,710 ridiculous and quote the 62-year old 563 00:26:35,030 --> 00:26:31,920 said Sydney oncologist professor Fran 564 00:26:37,210 --> 00:26:35,040 Boyle said she had seen dozens of sad 565 00:26:39,260 --> 00:26:37,220 cases of people who had rejected 566 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:39,270 chemotherapy and conventional Western 567 00:26:45,860 --> 00:26:42,690 medicine in a favor of alternatives only 568 00:26:48,650 --> 00:26:45,870 to return when it is too late quote 569 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:48,660 they'll say they are worried about the 570 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:51,090 side effects and they'll take their 571 00:26:56,530 --> 00:26:54,090 chances and the ones that come back are 572 00:26:59,810 --> 00:26:56,540 in desperate circumstances and the 573 00:27:02,540 --> 00:26:59,820 temptation to say I told you so is very 574 00:27:05,060 --> 00:27:02,550 strong I'd like to say this could have 575 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:05,070 been avoided unquote professor Boyle 576 00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:08,250 said quote I had a patient whose husband 577 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:10,680 was a conspiracy theorist saying we had 578 00:27:16,250 --> 00:27:13,590 an interest in not curing cancer so we 579 00:27:16,730 --> 00:27:16,260 could sell chemotherapy and he took his 580 00:27:19,970 --> 00:27:16,740 wife 581 00:27:21,380 --> 00:27:19,980 to Mexico and she died a year ago just 582 00:27:23,570 --> 00:27:21,390 this week I had a young woman who 583 00:27:26,150 --> 00:27:23,580 elected not to have treatment for what 584 00:27:28,220 --> 00:27:26,160 was a very treatable cancer and it was 585 00:27:30,590 --> 00:27:28,230 very distressing to know she missed out 586 00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:30,600 on treatment they could have cured her 587 00:27:36,290 --> 00:27:33,660 and now she's a death's door she was 588 00:27:37,940 --> 00:27:36,300 having intravenous vitamin C and a 589 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:37,950 number of herbs by alternative 590 00:27:42,799 --> 00:27:40,170 practitioners that gave her the belief 591 00:27:44,930 --> 00:27:42,809 that her cancer could be controlled in 592 00:27:48,380 --> 00:27:44,940 quote part of the problem she said is 593 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:48,390 that doctors are quote just being honest 594 00:27:52,790 --> 00:27:50,850 in quote when they detail side effects 595 00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:52,800 of chemotherapy and some people prefer 596 00:27:57,650 --> 00:27:55,470 to take a natural route and avoid side 597 00:28:01,010 --> 00:27:57,660 effects however she said they simply 598 00:28:03,980 --> 00:28:01,020 don't work quote a treatment without 599 00:28:06,590 --> 00:28:03,990 side effects is generally not going to 600 00:28:08,090 --> 00:28:06,600 work unquote she said and that report 601 00:28:09,860 --> 00:28:08,100 comes to us from the journalist Jane 602 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:09,870 Hansen who does many fine reports 603 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:13,050 involving quackery and the goings-on in 604 00:28:18,230 --> 00:28:15,330 the anti-vaccination movement published 605 00:28:21,230 --> 00:28:18,240 at The Sunday Telegraph available at 606 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:21,240 Daily Telegraph comdata you with a link 607 00:28:41,620 --> 00:28:40,130 you've argued against the same woo so 608 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:41,630 many times you can do it in your sleep 609 00:28:46,250 --> 00:28:44,130 quit trying to stop the nonsense one 610 00:28:49,039 --> 00:28:46,260 person at a time join guerrilla 611 00:28:50,810 --> 00:28:49,049 skepticism on Wikipedia help us make 612 00:28:53,210 --> 00:28:50,820 sure the best skeptical information is 613 00:28:56,450 --> 00:28:53,220 always at everyone's fingertips we need 614 00:28:58,789 --> 00:28:56,460 writers editors translators we need you 615 00:29:01,909 --> 00:28:58,799 and take as much or as little time as 616 00:29:04,039 --> 00:29:01,919 you can give us help us make Wikipedia 617 00:29:05,450 --> 00:29:04,049 as accurate as it can be and you'll 618 00:29:08,900 --> 00:29:05,460 literally be helping people while you 619 00:29:11,060 --> 00:29:08,910 sleep to join us or find out more send a 620 00:29:14,770 --> 00:29:11,070 facebook friend request to Susan Durbin 621 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:14,780 that's ger be IC guerrilla skepticism 622 00:29:37,769 --> 00:29:28,770 the time is now it's the raw skeptic 623 00:29:45,100 --> 00:29:42,220 hello everyone Australia appears to be 624 00:29:47,620 --> 00:29:45,110 renowned globally for housing a whole 625 00:29:50,470 --> 00:29:47,630 host of dangerous marine and land 626 00:29:53,710 --> 00:29:50,480 critters which can bite you to death or 627 00:29:56,500 --> 00:29:53,720 inject you with neurotoxins so potent 628 00:30:00,549 --> 00:29:56,510 that one bite is enough to kill 20 629 00:30:03,669 --> 00:30:00,559 adults if you live in Australia and have 630 00:30:06,340 --> 00:30:03,679 overseas friends or relatives you are 631 00:30:08,350 --> 00:30:06,350 likely to have heard from them how can 632 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:08,360 you live there I'd be terrified every 633 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:10,090 day from getting bitten by a snake 634 00:30:19,029 --> 00:30:16,610 crocodile spider shark dropbear let's 635 00:30:21,460 --> 00:30:19,039 face it as Ozzy's are not averse to 636 00:30:24,850 --> 00:30:21,470 somewhat embellishing the risks of 637 00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:24,860 visiting our awesome country it's pretty 638 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:26,510 cool for the rest of the world to think 639 00:30:31,269 --> 00:30:29,450 how brave and tough we are being able to 640 00:30:34,779 --> 00:30:31,279 survive our whole lives in such a 641 00:30:36,909 --> 00:30:34,789 perilous environment our reputation for 642 00:30:39,070 --> 00:30:36,919 being a hazardous place to live wasn't 643 00:30:43,750 --> 00:30:39,080 helped when the seemingly indestructible 644 00:30:45,490 --> 00:30:43,760 Steve Irwin aka the Crocodile Hunter was 645 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:45,500 killed as a result of being speared 646 00:30:49,930 --> 00:30:47,330 through the chest by the barb of a 647 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:49,940 stingray a freak occurrence that 648 00:30:54,610 --> 00:30:52,130 happened whilst he was filming them 649 00:30:58,350 --> 00:30:54,620 underwater back in 2006 for a 650 00:31:01,570 --> 00:30:58,360 documentary called ocean's deadliest and 651 00:31:04,149 --> 00:31:01,580 it's true yes we do have great white 652 00:31:06,549 --> 00:31:04,159 sharks saltwater crocs box jellyfish 653 00:31:09,279 --> 00:31:06,559 Eastern brown snakes funnel web spiders 654 00:31:12,250 --> 00:31:09,289 the blue ringed octopus cone snails and 655 00:31:15,490 --> 00:31:12,260 quite a few seemingly terrifying 656 00:31:17,590 --> 00:31:15,500 critters we've even had a humorous song 657 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:17,600 written about our array of dangerous 658 00:31:24,580 --> 00:31:20,690 creatures by the scared weird little 659 00:31:27,399 --> 00:31:24,590 guys the actual risk as opposed to the 660 00:31:29,970 --> 00:31:27,409 perceived risk that these animals pose 661 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:29,980 to us is a different matter 662 00:31:35,019 --> 00:31:32,210 statistically as far as deaths from the 663 00:31:37,269 --> 00:31:35,029 animal kingdom goes a visitor or 664 00:31:39,310 --> 00:31:37,279 resident here is more likely to be 665 00:31:42,970 --> 00:31:39,320 killed as a result of a fall from a 666 00:31:45,379 --> 00:31:42,980 horse their car hitting a cow or an 667 00:31:49,609 --> 00:31:45,389 attack from a dog than they are of a 668 00:31:51,859 --> 00:31:49,619 take spider shark or Crockett ACK let's 669 00:31:55,129 --> 00:31:51,869 talk about perhaps the most common thing 670 00:31:57,319 --> 00:31:55,139 people are frightened of at least this 671 00:32:01,729 --> 00:31:57,329 is the case from what I've heard from 672 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:01,739 people and that is snakes associate 673 00:32:07,459 --> 00:32:05,190 professor Bryan fry a herpetologist and 674 00:32:10,369 --> 00:32:07,469 venom expert at the University of 675 00:32:12,829 --> 00:32:10,379 Queensland notes in an article for 676 00:32:15,769 --> 00:32:12,839 Australian Geographic that snake bites 677 00:32:18,259 --> 00:32:15,779 are quote actually quite rare in 678 00:32:20,419 --> 00:32:18,269 Australia and since the development of 679 00:32:24,409 --> 00:32:20,429 anti-venom fatalities have been low 680 00:32:26,389 --> 00:32:24,419 between four to six deaths a year this 681 00:32:29,869 --> 00:32:26,399 is in contrast to India for example 682 00:32:35,659 --> 00:32:29,879 where bites may reach 1 million a year 683 00:32:38,749 --> 00:32:35,669 with over 50,000 deaths end quote he 684 00:32:42,169 --> 00:32:38,759 goes on to say quote snake bites are 685 00:32:44,199 --> 00:32:42,179 very very rare in Australia and often 686 00:32:46,909 --> 00:32:44,209 the fault of the person being bitten 687 00:32:51,729 --> 00:32:46,919 most bites occur when people are trying 688 00:32:53,959 --> 00:32:51,739 to kill a snake or show off end quote 689 00:32:56,539 --> 00:32:53,969 it's also important to remember that 690 00:32:59,329 --> 00:32:56,549 snakes would prefer to not interact with 691 00:33:02,749 --> 00:32:59,339 humans they just want to be left to 692 00:33:05,299 --> 00:33:02,759 their snaky activities their venom is 693 00:33:07,609 --> 00:33:05,309 extremely energy intensive for them to 694 00:33:10,430 --> 00:33:07,619 produce and the last thing they want to 695 00:33:12,589 --> 00:33:10,440 do is waste it on us when its purpose is 696 00:33:15,859 --> 00:33:12,599 to kill their prey before they can 697 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:15,869 devour it because of this the vast 698 00:33:21,649 --> 00:33:18,570 majority of snake bites are what are 699 00:33:26,180 --> 00:33:21,659 known as dry bites where little to no 700 00:33:28,009 --> 00:33:26,190 venom will be injected at all I've also 701 00:33:30,619 --> 00:33:28,019 had people ask me if it's true that you 702 00:33:33,859 --> 00:33:30,629 should wash the snake bite site cut to 703 00:33:36,319 --> 00:33:33,869 the bite site spit on the bite site suck 704 00:33:39,529 --> 00:33:36,329 on the bite size even urinate on the 705 00:33:42,529 --> 00:33:39,539 bite site I'm blaming John Wayne movies 706 00:33:45,109 --> 00:33:42,539 for these ideas we do not wash the bite 707 00:33:47,419 --> 00:33:45,119 site because identification of venomous 708 00:33:50,749 --> 00:33:47,429 snakes can be made from venom present on 709 00:33:54,829 --> 00:33:50,759 clothing or the skin using a venom 710 00:33:57,049 --> 00:33:54,839 detection kit likewise cutting and or 711 00:33:58,710 --> 00:33:57,059 sucking the bite site just delays the 712 00:34:03,149 --> 00:33:58,720 correct treatment 713 00:34:05,279 --> 00:34:03,159 and risks infection go ahead and urinate 714 00:34:08,730 --> 00:34:05,289 on the victim of a nasty bluebottle 715 00:34:11,070 --> 00:34:08,740 sting if they let you the warmth of the 716 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:11,080 urine may relieve the pain for as long 717 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:12,970 as you are able to maintain a steady 718 00:34:18,270 --> 00:34:16,330 stream you may need to line up a few 719 00:34:20,490 --> 00:34:18,280 willing people behind you with full 720 00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:20,500 bladders in order to have sufficient 721 00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:22,270 quantities of urine to maintain 722 00:34:27,930 --> 00:34:25,510 effective pain relief personally I'd 723 00:34:30,540 --> 00:34:27,940 rather suffer the pain of the sting then 724 00:34:33,780 --> 00:34:30,550 be urinated on but that's just me that's 725 00:34:36,450 --> 00:34:33,790 not my thing there is not any magical 726 00:34:38,720 --> 00:34:36,460 quality to the urine no matter what the 727 00:34:41,730 --> 00:34:38,730 urine therapy people tell you that 728 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:41,740 denatures the venom it is purely the 729 00:34:48,180 --> 00:34:45,330 warmth that provides the pain relief 730 00:34:50,730 --> 00:34:48,190 another common misconception is that if 731 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:50,740 you cannot see paired puncture marks 732 00:34:56,669 --> 00:34:53,530 after a snakebite then you cannot have 733 00:34:59,339 --> 00:34:56,679 been bitten it is not uncommon for bites 734 00:35:02,849 --> 00:34:59,349 to be painless and without visible marks 735 00:35:07,950 --> 00:35:02,859 or just a scratch out of interest I 736 00:35:12,329 --> 00:35:07,960 googled homeopathy and snakebite there 737 00:35:16,140 --> 00:35:12,339 were nearly 64,000 hits one of the top 738 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:16,150 hits on the first page said quote can 739 00:35:22,020 --> 00:35:19,330 homeopathy relief snake bites absolutely 740 00:35:24,870 --> 00:35:22,030 any kind of poisonous bites whether it 741 00:35:26,730 --> 00:35:24,880 is an insect bite or a snakebite can 742 00:35:29,089 --> 00:35:26,740 quite easily be relieved with a 743 00:35:31,220 --> 00:35:29,099 homeopathic remedy that fits the case 744 00:35:34,020 --> 00:35:31,230 snake bites can be potentially 745 00:35:36,599 --> 00:35:34,030 life-threatening and ideally a remedy 746 00:35:42,990 --> 00:35:36,609 has to be given as quickly as possible 747 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:43,000 end quote / to bee stings although less 748 00:35:48,599 --> 00:35:45,010 than three percent of Australians are 749 00:35:50,730 --> 00:35:48,609 allergic to bee or wasp venom allergies 750 00:35:53,190 --> 00:35:50,740 to their venom are still responsible for 751 00:35:56,940 --> 00:35:53,200 more annual average deaths than sharks 752 00:35:58,609 --> 00:35:56,950 spiders or snakes separately a severe 753 00:36:01,640 --> 00:35:58,619 allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis 754 00:36:03,810 --> 00:36:01,650 can occur within seconds to minutes 755 00:36:06,420 --> 00:36:03,820 resulting in the airway is becoming 756 00:36:09,839 --> 00:36:06,430 constricted and a dangerous drop in 757 00:36:12,980 --> 00:36:09,849 blood pressure of course homeopaths 758 00:36:17,940 --> 00:36:12,990 claim to be able to treat anaphylaxis to 759 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:17,950 just pop an APIs malefica I don't know 760 00:36:23,250 --> 00:36:20,650 how that's pronounced 30c sugarpill 761 00:36:27,540 --> 00:36:23,260 under the tongue and watch that airway 762 00:36:29,730 --> 00:36:27,550 closure go away within seconds another 763 00:36:31,380 --> 00:36:29,740 homeopathy website i came across had a 764 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:31,390 comment section where a mother was 765 00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:33,850 describing her young daughter who had an 766 00:36:39,150 --> 00:36:36,510 extremely nasty reaction to a bee sting 767 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:39,160 there was no mention by the owner of the 768 00:36:44,910 --> 00:36:41,410 page to ensure that child be seen by a 769 00:36:47,850 --> 00:36:44,920 GP or immunologist she merely advised 770 00:36:50,430 --> 00:36:47,860 the mother to use an even more dilute 771 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:50,440 teacher the next time the child had an 772 00:36:56,970 --> 00:36:54,130 anaphylactic episode it took me all of 773 00:36:59,150 --> 00:36:56,980 two minutes to find dozens of natural 774 00:37:01,440 --> 00:36:59,160 therapy sites from all over the world 775 00:37:05,010 --> 00:37:01,450 claiming success with treating 776 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:05,020 life-threatening bites and stings for 777 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:08,050 the actual evidence-based treatment for 778 00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:09,730 bites and stings here's a bit of 779 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:12,250 shameless self-promotion you can go to 780 00:37:21,420 --> 00:37:16,650 my websites blog section at ww 781 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:21,430 accredited first aid com au where I have 782 00:37:27,910 --> 00:37:23,770 put an edited version of this report 783 00:37:30,790 --> 00:37:27,920 along with the appropriate treatment 784 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:30,800 so if you are overseas and have been put 785 00:37:34,630 --> 00:37:32,570 off by a trip to Australia because of 786 00:37:37,540 --> 00:37:34,640 our reputation for things that eat and 787 00:37:40,740 --> 00:37:37,550 bite humans get rid of that fear and 788 00:37:44,170 --> 00:37:40,750 come visit our beautiful diverse 789 00:37:47,110 --> 00:37:44,180 wonderful country thanks for listening 790 00:38:02,950 --> 00:37:47,120 until next time this has been Heidi 791 00:38:04,830 --> 00:38:02,960 levinson logical la changing the world 792 00:38:08,290 --> 00:38:04,840 through skepticism and critical thinking 793 00:38:15,100 --> 00:38:08,300 save the date January the 13th to the 794 00:38:18,100 --> 00:38:15,110 15th 2017 at the hyatt LAX airport early 795 00:38:22,510 --> 00:38:18,110 bird specials end on the first in 796 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:22,520 November so be quick to register in 797 00:38:28,690 --> 00:38:24,650 support of the scientific skeptic 798 00:38:30,370 --> 00:38:28,700 movement logic owl la creates a place 799 00:38:32,950 --> 00:38:30,380 for critical thinkers to meet face to 800 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:32,960 face and to experience presentations 801 00:38:37,060 --> 00:38:35,450 from nationally recognized speakers who 802 00:38:39,850 --> 00:38:37,070 will share their knowledge and insights 803 00:38:43,230 --> 00:38:39,860 with us come join us as we build a 804 00:38:46,030 --> 00:38:43,240 nationwide community at Los Angeles only 805 00:38:48,220 --> 00:38:46,040 conference for skeptics besides having 806 00:38:50,370 --> 00:38:48,230 some of the best speakers in the nation 807 00:38:54,430 --> 00:38:50,380 coming to speak on various topics 808 00:38:57,070 --> 00:38:54,440 logical la will present an exciting mix 809 00:39:00,250 --> 00:38:57,080 of events during the weekend Friday 810 00:39:02,850 --> 00:39:00,260 night anti-superstition party saturday 811 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:02,860 night comedy show sunday assembly 812 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:06,050 meeting sunday afternoon geological 813 00:39:10,900 --> 00:39:08,930 field trip sunday afternoon movie with 814 00:39:13,180 --> 00:39:10,910 director and executive producer and 815 00:39:15,460 --> 00:39:13,190 finally during the weekend a sunday 816 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:15,470 night secular concert we hope you can 817 00:39:18,940 --> 00:39:17,570 attend this unique and enlightening 818 00:39:22,270 --> 00:39:18,950 conference 819 00:39:26,380 --> 00:39:22,280 with speakers like Eugenie Scott Joe 820 00:39:28,750 --> 00:39:26,390 Nickell Harriet hall Elizabeth Loftus DJ 821 00:39:30,790 --> 00:39:28,760 Grothe Brian Dunning Seth Andrews and 822 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:30,800 many more this promises to be an 823 00:39:35,859 --> 00:39:34,130 enlightening weekend for more 824 00:39:40,150 --> 00:39:35,869 information and to grab your tickets 825 00:39:47,530 --> 00:39:40,160 visit logical calm that's L oh gee I see 826 00:39:50,530 --> 00:39:47,540 a ll a logical la calm logical LA and 827 00:40:15,980 --> 00:39:50,540 behind hotel at Los Angeles Airport from 828 00:40:21,590 --> 00:40:18,440 and joining me now all the way from 829 00:40:23,630 --> 00:40:21,600 sunny invercargill in New Zealand which 830 00:40:25,490 --> 00:40:23,640 is have a look at your Maps folks it's 831 00:40:27,620 --> 00:40:25,500 right down the bottom bottom part of New 832 00:40:29,390 --> 00:40:27,630 Zealand from the New Zealand skeptics 833 00:40:31,820 --> 00:40:29,400 committee it's Brad McClure hello Brad 834 00:40:33,650 --> 00:40:31,830 hi Richard hello good to see you because 835 00:40:35,750 --> 00:40:33,660 of course we are through the wonders of 836 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:35,760 modern technology seeing each other at 837 00:40:40,670 --> 00:40:37,770 the moment now I thought I'd better give 838 00:40:43,090 --> 00:40:40,680 the new zealand skeptics a call get in 839 00:40:47,390 --> 00:40:43,100 touch because you people have kindly 840 00:40:48,950 --> 00:40:47,400 kindly flying me out there in about 40 841 00:40:52,100 --> 00:40:48,960 days time now to the New Zealand 842 00:40:53,750 --> 00:40:52,110 skeptics convention that's very exciting 843 00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:53,760 what could you tell listeners about that 844 00:40:58,700 --> 00:40:56,730 well it's an it's an lovely Queenstown 845 00:41:00,140 --> 00:40:58,710 this year well actually it's in frankton 846 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:00,150 technically but that's part of 847 00:41:05,720 --> 00:41:02,250 Queenstown right underneath the airport 848 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:05,730 and we're having it in the st. Johns 849 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:09,210 Ambulance rooms just in case just in 850 00:41:12,710 --> 00:41:10,770 case then that's going to be we've got a 851 00:41:14,650 --> 00:41:12,720 great lineup of speakers and queens the 852 00:41:17,210 --> 00:41:14,660 answer fun place to be even a few um 853 00:41:18,890 --> 00:41:17,220 even if you don't go to the conference 854 00:41:21,410 --> 00:41:18,900 or if you decide that you don't like the 855 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:21,420 conference and just pay us the money and 856 00:41:25,940 --> 00:41:24,570 then go have a bungee jump bungee 857 00:41:29,390 --> 00:41:25,950 jumping well I was just about to say 858 00:41:31,130 --> 00:41:29,400 Queenstown is a a very popular tourist 859 00:41:32,510 --> 00:41:31,140 destination you get tourists there from 860 00:41:34,730 --> 00:41:32,520 all over the world and it's not just 861 00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:34,740 bungee jumping isn't not no no that's 862 00:41:40,220 --> 00:41:37,130 what all sorts of thrill-seeking 863 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:40,230 activities go on there including jet 864 00:41:44,349 --> 00:41:41,850 boat riding and all sorts of stuff like 865 00:41:46,490 --> 00:41:44,359 that yes green stone is a very popular 866 00:41:48,109 --> 00:41:46,500 destination known worldwide of course 867 00:41:51,830 --> 00:41:48,119 and not only for bungee jumping I think 868 00:41:54,380 --> 00:41:51,840 it's a very popular winter sports area 869 00:41:56,420 --> 00:41:54,390 at the right time of year yeah that's 870 00:41:59,840 --> 00:41:56,430 right it's um it's kind of a stone's 871 00:42:02,599 --> 00:41:59,850 throw from several ski fields including 872 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:02,609 coronet peak and cardrona the 873 00:42:07,580 --> 00:42:05,130 remarkables and there's a mess a big 874 00:42:12,260 --> 00:42:07,590 lake fear with an old with a really old 875 00:42:15,050 --> 00:42:12,270 steamer that putz around it and guys 876 00:42:16,700 --> 00:42:15,060 that will take you on a jet boat tour if 877 00:42:18,859 --> 00:42:16,710 you want to all that sort of stuff I 878 00:42:20,870 --> 00:42:18,869 hopefully and I certainly look forward 879 00:42:24,230 --> 00:42:20,880 to being very busy at your conference 880 00:42:26,420 --> 00:42:24,240 giving some talks and maybe taking part 881 00:42:28,730 --> 00:42:26,430 in whatever else I can do but of course 882 00:42:31,820 --> 00:42:28,740 I I will be in very good 883 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:31,830 company this time around visiting the 884 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:33,330 conference let me kick off straight away 885 00:42:37,310 --> 00:42:35,090 with mentioning to our listeners that 886 00:42:39,620 --> 00:42:37,320 one of the other guests is none other 887 00:42:41,870 --> 00:42:39,630 than Susan Grbac an old friend of mine 888 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:41,880 from guerrilla skepticism fabulous i'm 889 00:42:46,540 --> 00:42:43,650 really excited and that we've got Susan 890 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:46,550 coming she's of course the founder of 891 00:42:52,700 --> 00:42:49,530 gso w Gorillaz guerrilla skepticism on 892 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:52,710 wikipedia it's something that I you know 893 00:42:57,170 --> 00:42:55,890 I spotted the vet a few years ago who 894 00:43:00,370 --> 00:42:57,180 are doing that she's been doing it for a 895 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:00,380 few years now isn't she oh yeah and 896 00:43:06,100 --> 00:43:03,810 fabulous thing I mean Wikipedia is such 897 00:43:08,990 --> 00:43:06,110 an important resource I mean nowadays 898 00:43:11,510 --> 00:43:09,000 anytime you google something whether it 899 00:43:14,690 --> 00:43:11,520 be a pseudoscience or even a good 900 00:43:17,420 --> 00:43:14,700 science or if you google Deepak Chopra 901 00:43:19,490 --> 00:43:17,430 dr. oz it often goes straight to 902 00:43:21,650 --> 00:43:19,500 Wikipedia Susan go-bag wada what a 903 00:43:23,660 --> 00:43:21,660 champion she is and I know she'll give a 904 00:43:27,050 --> 00:43:23,670 a great talk there at the convention 905 00:43:30,950 --> 00:43:27,060 yeah I'm planning on working her very 906 00:43:33,290 --> 00:43:30,960 hard hmm and she's some i'm hoping to 907 00:43:35,090 --> 00:43:33,300 get her to do a workshop and get us all 908 00:43:36,650 --> 00:43:35,100 editing it's something that i would love 909 00:43:39,050 --> 00:43:36,660 to get into myself but I just haven't 910 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:39,060 had the had the time to get involved 911 00:43:42,650 --> 00:43:40,410 with it had the pleasure of attending 912 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:42,660 one of her lessons in Australia all 913 00:43:47,060 --> 00:43:45,090 about a year or so ago and it was so 914 00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:47,070 interesting so good but there are a host 915 00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:49,530 of other guests you have coming over you 916 00:43:54,859 --> 00:43:52,170 probably know more about Larissa Marin 917 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:54,869 then than I do ah the jelly bean lady 918 00:43:58,880 --> 00:43:56,130 that's right she doesn't have our 919 00:44:01,609 --> 00:43:58,890 favorite skeptics here in Australia all 920 00:44:05,060 --> 00:44:01,619 right yes right so I'm looking forward 921 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:05,070 to Loretta so Mac brian mike bryan is 922 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:07,530 and don't know where to start with marc 923 00:44:16,130 --> 00:44:09,810 marc has literally got more letters 924 00:44:18,530 --> 00:44:16,140 after his name than he has in it he he's 925 00:44:20,750 --> 00:44:18,540 a local vet yeah just certainly no 926 00:44:23,950 --> 00:44:20,760 shortage of quackery when it comes to 927 00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:23,960 vetri practice there there is there is 928 00:44:30,770 --> 00:44:27,090 maybe he'll talk about um you know 929 00:44:33,140 --> 00:44:30,780 homeopathy in in veterinary practice and 930 00:44:35,390 --> 00:44:33,150 or maybe he'll them he did mention 931 00:44:38,690 --> 00:44:35,400 something about how the public can be 932 00:44:40,670 --> 00:44:38,700 fooled yeah so we've got tongue we've 933 00:44:42,140 --> 00:44:40,680 got Catherine Lowe who has some a 934 00:44:44,630 --> 00:44:42,150 science teacher she 935 00:44:47,990 --> 00:44:44,640 to a victor of altruism which is another 936 00:44:49,519 --> 00:44:48,000 very important topic that um we'd all 937 00:44:52,339 --> 00:44:49,529 like to know more about that we don't 938 00:44:53,599 --> 00:44:52,349 take the time to to learn so she's there 939 00:44:56,420 --> 00:44:53,609 to tell us about that which will be 940 00:44:59,240 --> 00:44:56,430 great and scott kennedy he's a 941 00:45:02,569 --> 00:44:59,250 Queenstown based artist writer 942 00:45:04,490 --> 00:45:02,579 photographer filmmaker and musician also 943 00:45:08,839 --> 00:45:04,500 got of course you know about mark Hanna 944 00:45:11,240 --> 00:45:08,849 mark Hanna the consumer advocate yes 945 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:11,250 yeah a very important part of skepticism 946 00:45:14,539 --> 00:45:13,170 of course is consumer activism we're 947 00:45:16,670 --> 00:45:14,549 very familiar with that here in 948 00:45:18,470 --> 00:45:16,680 Australia I think it's it's it's 949 00:45:20,390 --> 00:45:18,480 something that a lot of people don't pay 950 00:45:22,220 --> 00:45:20,400 enough attention to I think but a lot of 951 00:45:24,710 --> 00:45:22,230 people are getting ripped off by bad 952 00:45:26,470 --> 00:45:24,720 science and dodgy products as we know so 953 00:45:30,019 --> 00:45:26,480 I think it's pretty important to be a 954 00:45:33,049 --> 00:45:30,029 skeptical consumer advocate yeah when we 955 00:45:36,019 --> 00:45:33,059 and we do seem to have a good contingent 956 00:45:38,930 --> 00:45:36,029 of the skeptical activism type skeptics 957 00:45:43,549 --> 00:45:38,940 in our room in our midst here which is 958 00:45:46,010 --> 00:45:43,559 great and I heard mark talkin 2014 and I 959 00:45:48,230 --> 00:45:46,020 loved what he had to say and he gave a 960 00:45:50,870 --> 00:45:48,240 kind of a workshop I guess about how to 961 00:45:52,970 --> 00:45:50,880 make a esa complaints Advertising 962 00:45:55,010 --> 00:45:52,980 Standards Authority very important 963 00:45:57,019 --> 00:45:55,020 absolutely everyone everyone should have 964 00:45:58,849 --> 00:45:57,029 a crash course at least in how to do 965 00:46:00,620 --> 00:45:58,859 that to get the your complaints due to 966 00:46:03,349 --> 00:46:00,630 the right sort of people folks as we're 967 00:46:05,390 --> 00:46:03,359 talking of course Brad and I both 968 00:46:07,339 --> 00:46:05,400 glancing towards our monitors to check 969 00:46:11,720 --> 00:46:07,349 out the website and you can do that too 970 00:46:14,329 --> 00:46:11,730 at conference dot skeptics dot n Z and Z 971 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:14,339 of course is the call sign for New 972 00:46:18,559 --> 00:46:16,770 Zealand all the speakers are listed up 973 00:46:20,750 --> 00:46:18,569 there and i must say that there's a very 974 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:20,760 flattering photograph of me taken from 975 00:46:25,940 --> 00:46:22,770 about or maybe six or seven or eight 976 00:46:28,910 --> 00:46:25,950 years ago i saw us i almost look the 977 00:46:31,549 --> 00:46:28,920 same except for the slight graying of 978 00:46:33,049 --> 00:46:31,559 the hair I think tell me Richard did you 979 00:46:34,309 --> 00:46:33,059 take your glasses off for that photo 980 00:46:36,220 --> 00:46:34,319 because you were worried that people 981 00:46:38,599 --> 00:46:36,230 might think you were really really smart 982 00:46:40,430 --> 00:46:38,609 well to be honest when met photograph 983 00:46:41,750 --> 00:46:40,440 was taken I wasn't wearing glasses I 984 00:46:43,579 --> 00:46:41,760 only had them on occasionally for 985 00:46:46,010 --> 00:46:43,589 reading but in the last couple of years 986 00:46:48,829 --> 00:46:46,020 I've had to take up wearing glasses 987 00:46:52,160 --> 00:46:48,839 permanently so that's why ya know let's 988 00:46:53,779 --> 00:46:52,170 see i see there's just a couple of other 989 00:46:56,059 --> 00:46:53,789 speakers don't like to mention sure 990 00:46:59,420 --> 00:46:56,069 andrew take be Andrew 991 00:47:01,819 --> 00:46:59,430 is he's a scientist he is so he's 992 00:47:04,489 --> 00:47:01,829 working on the caribou recovery now I 993 00:47:07,160 --> 00:47:04,499 have to say you know much about New 994 00:47:09,380 --> 00:47:07,170 Zealand beds a little and this bird is 995 00:47:11,959 --> 00:47:09,390 particularly cheeky and famous out there 996 00:47:14,930 --> 00:47:11,969 it's one of the parrots you have a few 997 00:47:17,269 --> 00:47:14,940 of you native parents but I just like to 998 00:47:19,489 --> 00:47:17,279 say that New Zealand beards Richard are 999 00:47:22,329 --> 00:47:19,499 very much like they're people that tend 1000 00:47:25,849 --> 00:47:22,339 to be quiet they're not very flighty and 1001 00:47:29,449 --> 00:47:25,859 and they and their green much like the 1002 00:47:32,660 --> 00:47:29,459 people that and we're as Australian bids 1003 00:47:36,349 --> 00:47:32,670 of course very colorful and lay out loud 1004 00:47:38,930 --> 00:47:36,359 yes yeah and cause a lot of trouble in 1005 00:47:40,309 --> 00:47:38,940 packs or flocks I know that's right I 1006 00:47:42,469 --> 00:47:40,319 they breed well as well its of course 1007 00:47:45,019 --> 00:47:42,479 how birds don't breed do well this 1008 00:47:48,259 --> 00:47:45,029 there's the difference so andrew is a 1009 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:48,269 bit of a hero he works with doc I 1010 00:47:54,650 --> 00:47:51,930 believe and he's a he's a scientist in 1011 00:47:58,459 --> 00:47:54,660 fact he before he is got into biology 1012 00:48:00,799 --> 00:47:58,469 you already had a PhD in astronomy and 1013 00:48:05,420 --> 00:48:00,809 ahead a postdoctoral fellowship with 1014 00:48:08,900 --> 00:48:05,430 nessa so I'm various you've man yeah I'm 1015 00:48:10,579 --> 00:48:08,910 a amazingly enough so he is going to be 1016 00:48:13,999 --> 00:48:10,589 really interested interesting and very 1017 00:48:16,939 --> 00:48:14,009 excited and Lynn lastly Tonia like Tonia 1018 00:48:21,559 --> 00:48:16,949 Lynam is she's a science teacher from a 1019 00:48:24,499 --> 00:48:21,569 bedraggled here she um she's a member of 1020 00:48:26,749 --> 00:48:24,509 my facebook group Friends of science and 1021 00:48:29,479 --> 00:48:26,759 reason and the south she won the Prime 1022 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:29,489 Minister science teacher Prize last year 1023 00:48:33,709 --> 00:48:32,130 now the thing about the the conference 1024 00:48:35,569 --> 00:48:33,719 is the saturday evening dinner is going 1025 00:48:39,319 --> 00:48:35,579 to be a lot of fun oh yeah jewett lands 1026 00:48:41,749 --> 00:48:39,329 but he's a prominent skeptic and he's he 1027 00:48:44,209 --> 00:48:41,759 has a an outfit and Wanaka call puzzling 1028 00:48:46,849 --> 00:48:44,219 world he's got a maze and and a whole 1029 00:48:48,709 --> 00:48:46,859 lot of really clever illusionary stuff 1030 00:48:50,150 --> 00:48:48,719 like rooms that you walk into and you 1031 00:48:51,739 --> 00:48:50,160 feel like you're walking downhill but 1032 00:48:54,380 --> 00:48:51,749 you're actually walking uphill and stuff 1033 00:48:55,849 --> 00:48:54,390 like that oh yes clever stuff but we're 1034 00:48:58,430 --> 00:48:55,859 having the saturday evening dinner at 1035 00:49:00,140 --> 00:48:58,440 puzzling world oh wow so that that's 1036 00:49:02,420 --> 00:49:00,150 going to be great fun there's some 1037 00:49:04,189 --> 00:49:02,430 fantastic illusions there and really 1038 00:49:06,199 --> 00:49:04,199 interesting things to look at no there's 1039 00:49:08,029 --> 00:49:06,209 somebody look forward doing absolutely 1040 00:49:09,469 --> 00:49:08,039 well I'll have to bring in fact I've 1041 00:49:09,710 --> 00:49:09,479 alluded to this already i'll have to 1042 00:49:11,390 --> 00:49:09,720 bring 1043 00:49:13,510 --> 00:49:11,400 some divining rods I think during the 1044 00:49:15,589 --> 00:49:13,520 course of the convention we can test out 1045 00:49:17,930 --> 00:49:15,599 people who come along we can test out 1046 00:49:19,730 --> 00:49:17,940 their possible divining skills that 1047 00:49:21,890 --> 00:49:19,740 might be a lot of fun yes that will be 1048 00:49:24,710 --> 00:49:21,900 great fun and or I've got mark is going 1049 00:49:27,950 --> 00:49:24,720 to bring a pile of spoons for you to 1050 00:49:30,170 --> 00:49:27,960 teach us so I've been that that's it now 1051 00:49:32,900 --> 00:49:30,180 a message to all people listening in New 1052 00:49:35,570 --> 00:49:32,910 Zealand here's the the hint folks the 1053 00:49:38,540 --> 00:49:35,580 website again conference not skeptics 1054 00:49:40,730 --> 00:49:38,550 not NZ the convention conference is in 1055 00:49:43,339 --> 00:49:40,740 queenstown from the second to the fourth 1056 00:49:44,690 --> 00:49:43,349 of december and you can get your tickets 1057 00:49:46,640 --> 00:49:44,700 and make your bookings from that website 1058 00:49:48,710 --> 00:49:46,650 check out all the speakers and more 1059 00:49:50,930 --> 00:49:48,720 information about the convention itself 1060 00:49:52,099 --> 00:49:50,940 including a map how to get there and all 1061 00:49:53,960 --> 00:49:52,109 sorts of our information there's a 1062 00:49:57,380 --> 00:49:53,970 countdown clock which is ticking down 1063 00:49:59,690 --> 00:49:57,390 not long to go now what can i say i'm 1064 00:50:03,710 --> 00:49:59,700 very excited i haven't been to the south 1065 00:50:07,010 --> 00:50:03,720 island for are easily 10 years in fact i 1066 00:50:09,140 --> 00:50:07,020 was very um very pleased about 10 years 1067 00:50:11,960 --> 00:50:09,150 ago i was a guest before the new 1068 00:50:14,240 --> 00:50:11,970 zealand's skeptics conference but it's 1069 00:50:16,460 --> 00:50:14,250 been a long time between drinks i must 1070 00:50:18,710 --> 00:50:16,470 say best not leave it to the last minute 1071 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:18,720 folks if you're in use either have a 1072 00:50:23,900 --> 00:50:21,450 look at that website today don't delay 1073 00:50:24,980 --> 00:50:23,910 and if you're a skeptic zone listener 1074 00:50:26,390 --> 00:50:24,990 and you come to the conference please 1075 00:50:28,310 --> 00:50:26,400 come up and say hello and we'll have a 1076 00:50:29,660 --> 00:50:28,320 chat I'd love to meet you well Brad I 1077 00:50:31,490 --> 00:50:29,670 look forward to meeting you in person 1078 00:50:33,650 --> 00:50:31,500 and all the new zealand skeptics I'll 1079 00:50:35,630 --> 00:50:33,660 bring some spoons or have spoons thrust 1080 00:50:37,460 --> 00:50:35,640 upon me I'll bring a bag of tricks and I 1081 00:50:41,210 --> 00:50:37,470 think we'll have a will have a really 1082 00:50:42,579 --> 00:50:41,220 good time it's going to be great but for 1083 00:50:45,020 --> 00:50:42,589 now Brad McClure all the way from 1084 00:50:58,520 --> 00:50:45,030 Invercargill thank you very much thank 1085 00:51:11,640 --> 00:51:05,160 are you skeptical about dance music yes 1086 00:51:15,359 --> 00:51:11,650 in 1997 if you had said that in 2016 the 1087 00:51:18,750 --> 00:51:15,369 vengaboys would sell out six of their 1088 00:51:21,690 --> 00:51:18,760 ten shows across Australia before they 1089 00:51:23,010 --> 00:51:21,700 even got here you've said that people 1090 00:51:24,809 --> 00:51:23,020 would have thought you were mad and back 1091 00:51:28,200 --> 00:51:24,819 is recording a Richard Dawkins saying 1092 00:51:31,380 --> 00:51:28,210 that exact thing that is venga boys will 1093 00:51:34,620 --> 00:51:31,390 amount to nothing celebrity voice in 1094 00:51:37,319 --> 00:51:34,630 personnel yes I'll be the emcee that's 1095 00:51:39,240 --> 00:51:37,329 me may nod the MC for your finger boys 1096 00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:39,250 tour across Australia with Sonique 1097 00:51:44,790 --> 00:51:42,490 crystal waters whigfield is just going 1098 00:51:47,790 --> 00:51:44,800 to be a huge late 90s blowout that's 1099 00:51:49,380 --> 00:51:47,800 right the late 90s has gone retro people 1100 00:51:52,319 --> 00:51:49,390 doesn't that make you feel of mr. 1101 00:51:55,109 --> 00:51:52,329 Dawkins I don't like you celebrity voice 1102 00:51:59,010 --> 00:51:55,119 in person so if you live in brisbane 1103 00:52:01,530 --> 00:51:59,020 hobart sydney adelaide or perth you can 1104 00:52:03,630 --> 00:52:01,540 see the vengaboys maybe you're just a 1105 00:52:05,910 --> 00:52:03,640 bit too skeptical for that kind of 1106 00:52:07,890 --> 00:52:05,920 behavior I said I didn't like you 1107 00:52:09,690 --> 00:52:07,900 celebrity voice impersonated oh shut up 1108 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:09,700 and just ten mothers tweak to get 1109 00:52:26,040 --> 00:52:12,010 everybody angry again that was that was 1110 00:52:31,589 --> 00:52:28,540 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1111 00:52:34,270 --> 00:52:31,599 zone this week now a little bit more 1112 00:52:37,540 --> 00:52:34,280 information coming our way we noticed 1113 00:52:38,890 --> 00:52:37,550 that sharon hill who is on this skeptic 1114 00:52:40,990 --> 00:52:38,900 zone only a couple of weeks ago from 1115 00:52:43,690 --> 00:52:41,000 doubtful news will be visiting australia 1116 00:52:46,210 --> 00:52:43,700 in may next year she's taking part in 1117 00:52:48,490 --> 00:52:46,220 the paragon yeah the paranormal 1118 00:52:51,609 --> 00:52:48,500 convention which I spoke at earlier this 1119 00:52:54,099 --> 00:52:51,619 year I can't wait to see Sharon she's 1120 00:52:56,560 --> 00:52:54,109 going to be in Sydney we laugh I see if 1121 00:52:58,230 --> 00:52:56,570 we can snag her for a a meeting or a 1122 00:53:00,760 --> 00:52:58,240 talk or something at dinner I don't know 1123 00:53:02,890 --> 00:53:00,770 sharon hill coming to australia so 1124 00:53:05,260 --> 00:53:02,900 that's something to look out for around 1125 00:53:08,530 --> 00:53:05,270 about may next year now last week on the 1126 00:53:11,530 --> 00:53:08,540 show I mentioned the aqua pole device if 1127 00:53:14,079 --> 00:53:11,540 you're curious I've been doing a lot of 1128 00:53:18,490 --> 00:53:14,089 research into this it's a device that 1129 00:53:23,609 --> 00:53:18,500 you hang from the ceiling and the claim 1130 00:53:26,770 --> 00:53:23,619 is it will fix rising damp the the 1131 00:53:29,710 --> 00:53:26,780 problem or the worry or the skeptical 1132 00:53:33,910 --> 00:53:29,720 angle is it's got no moving parts and 1133 00:53:36,550 --> 00:53:33,920 doesn't require any power to work a few 1134 00:53:42,490 --> 00:53:36,560 red flags there we're also looking at 1135 00:53:44,500 --> 00:53:42,500 something called Metatron n el s there's 1136 00:53:47,740 --> 00:53:44,510 something else for you to google and 1137 00:53:52,570 --> 00:53:47,750 marvel at Metatron sounds like something 1138 00:53:54,609 --> 00:53:52,580 from the transformers n LS now let all 1139 00:53:57,400 --> 00:53:54,619 you budding skeptical investigators 1140 00:53:58,960 --> 00:53:57,410 check that one out in fact I think I'll 1141 00:54:00,640 --> 00:53:58,970 be looking at this device very soon 1142 00:54:05,109 --> 00:54:00,650 there's another mind-body wallet coming 1143 00:54:06,940 --> 00:54:05,119 up and i'll probably go along and have a 1144 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:06,950 look as ever thank you to those 1145 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:09,530 wonderful people who chip in to the 1146 00:54:13,210 --> 00:54:11,450 skeptic zone some people chip in a 1147 00:54:15,520 --> 00:54:13,220 dollar a week some people chip in a 1148 00:54:17,859 --> 00:54:15,530 dollar a month which is fine i'm very 1149 00:54:20,620 --> 00:54:17,869 grateful some people a little bit more 1150 00:54:22,630 --> 00:54:20,630 five dollars or ten dollars every every 1151 00:54:25,450 --> 00:54:22,640 penny goes to help produce the skeptic 1152 00:54:28,660 --> 00:54:25,460 zone in fact just the other day i was 1153 00:54:31,960 --> 00:54:28,670 very happy in i was able to help out our 1154 00:54:33,730 --> 00:54:31,970 reporter may not to buy some equipment 1155 00:54:35,770 --> 00:54:33,740 which will be used for the skeptic zone 1156 00:54:37,090 --> 00:54:35,780 which is fantastic and it's thanks to 1157 00:54:39,220 --> 00:54:37,100 people like you 1158 00:54:41,230 --> 00:54:39,230 and as you heard in the skeptics own 1159 00:54:44,380 --> 00:54:41,240 Maynard's going to be fronting the 1160 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:44,390 vengaboys to our that's exciting link in 1161 00:54:47,920 --> 00:54:45,890 the show notes folks link in the show 1162 00:54:52,300 --> 00:54:47,930 notes again well what's that got to do 1163 00:54:56,140 --> 00:54:52,310 with skepticism not too much I guess but 1164 00:54:58,570 --> 00:54:56,150 it's good to be able to support someone 1165 00:55:01,000 --> 00:54:58,580 like Maynard who puts in an awful lot of 1166 00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:01,010 effort to support the skeptic zone and 1167 00:55:07,750 --> 00:55:03,770 to bring you interesting reports Maynard 1168 00:55:09,730 --> 00:55:07,760 Comte you check out his podcasts and 1169 00:55:12,490 --> 00:55:09,740 website oh and if you go and see the 1170 00:55:15,160 --> 00:55:12,500 vengaboys please give me now a bigger a 1171 00:55:17,920 --> 00:55:15,170 big warm applause and a big shot get off 1172 00:55:19,360 --> 00:55:17,930 no no something's up something nice but 1173 00:55:21,970 --> 00:55:19,370 for this week I think that's all I have 1174 00:55:23,950 --> 00:55:21,980 to say where are those cats and are not 1175 00:55:25,900 --> 00:55:23,960 here at the moment hiding around the 1176 00:55:27,640 --> 00:55:25,910 corner for this week this is Richard 1177 00:55:33,850 --> 00:55:27,650 Saunders signing off from Sydney 1178 00:55:36,370 --> 00:55:33,860 Australia you've been listening to the 1179 00:55:40,210 --> 00:55:36,380 skeptics own podcast visit our website 1180 00:55:43,480 --> 00:55:40,220 at wwc a petting zoo TV for contacts and 1181 00:55:46,660 --> 00:55:43,490 archive of all episodes since 2008 and 1182 00:55:48,700 --> 00:55:46,670 our online store please support the 1183 00:55:52,060 --> 00:55:48,710 skeptic zone by following us on twitter 1184 00:55:55,570 --> 00:55:52,070 at skeptic zone liking us on facebook 1185 00:55:57,070 --> 00:55:55,580 and leaving a review on iTunes you can 1186 00:56:00,460 --> 00:55:57,080 also show your support by subscribing 1187 00:56:03,310 --> 00:56:00,470 via paypal or as little as ninety-nine 1188 00:56:05,350 --> 00:56:03,320 cents a week the skeptic zone is an 1189 00:56:07,450 --> 00:56:05,360 independent production the views and 1190 00:56:09,640 --> 00:56:07,460 opinions expressed on the skeptic zone 1191 00:56:12,520 --> 00:56:09,650 and not necessarily those of Australian 1192 00:56:19,820 --> 00:56:12,530 skeptics or any other skeptical 1193 00:56:26,040 --> 00:56:23,340 by the barb of a stingray a freak