1 00:00:11,910 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:27,090 --> 00:00:11,920 from Australia for science and reason 3 00:00:33,550 --> 00:00:29,740 hello and welcome to the skeptic Zone 4 00:00:37,299 --> 00:00:33,560 podcast episode number 569 for the 8th 5 00:00:40,150 --> 00:00:37,309 of September 2019 Richardson is here 6 00:00:44,410 --> 00:00:40,160 with you from pier 39 in San Francisco 7 00:00:48,130 --> 00:00:44,420 home of the sea lions which are lazing 8 00:00:51,189 --> 00:00:48,140 and basking around for the hundreds and 9 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:51,199 hundreds of tourists on this cool day to 10 00:00:56,490 --> 00:00:53,690 come and see this has been a major 11 00:00:59,710 --> 00:00:56,500 tourist attraction for San Francisco 12 00:01:02,500 --> 00:00:59,720 decades I think it is after the sea 13 00:01:05,229 --> 00:01:02,510 lions decided to take over part of the 14 00:01:09,580 --> 00:01:05,239 floating docks down here it's quite a 15 00:01:14,610 --> 00:01:09,590 sight to see them all lazing about and a 16 00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:14,620 smell coming up on this week's show and 17 00:01:21,850 --> 00:01:19,270 the reason why this is episode number 18 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:21,860 569 soon coming up on this week's show 19 00:01:26,999 --> 00:01:23,990 we're gonna kick off with an interview 20 00:01:30,010 --> 00:01:27,009 with Jonathan Gerry from Quebec Canada 21 00:01:32,350 --> 00:01:30,020 now he has recently put out a wonderful 22 00:01:36,429 --> 00:01:32,360 very interesting video all about 23 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:36,439 Eirik and lingo oh yes that evergreen 24 00:01:44,020 --> 00:01:39,310 that pillar of quackery ear candling 25 00:01:46,539 --> 00:01:44,030 it's an impressive video I found it very 26 00:01:49,230 --> 00:01:46,549 educational and as you'll find out it's 27 00:01:53,020 --> 00:01:49,240 actually helps me to change a 28 00:01:54,279 --> 00:01:53,030 long-standing habit of mine find out 29 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:54,289 more when I interview 30 00:01:59,169 --> 00:01:56,770 Jonathan Gerry at the top of the show 31 00:02:02,649 --> 00:01:59,179 following that we have a very unusual 32 00:02:04,649 --> 00:02:02,659 situation of a travel advisory a travel 33 00:02:10,510 --> 00:02:04,659 alert for residents of New South Wales 34 00:02:12,340 --> 00:02:10,520 heading to New Zealand of all places why 35 00:02:14,890 --> 00:02:12,350 would there be a travel alert from the 36 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:14,900 New South Wales Health Department for a 37 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:18,690 country like New Zealand find out soon 38 00:02:22,860 --> 00:02:21,250 and around off the show may not heads 39 00:02:26,010 --> 00:02:22,870 for Sydney skeptics in the pub to us 40 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:26,020 pubs us pub go is the big question was 41 00:02:31,620 --> 00:02:29,170 there a moment or the point of time and 42 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:31,630 an incident in the event that turns you 43 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:36,490 into a skeptic now the reason this is 44 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:41,410 episode number 569 and not 568 is that 45 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:44,410 episode 568 is the live skeptic CERN 46 00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:45,910 recorded at DragonCon 47 00:02:51,780 --> 00:02:48,700 and you can see that by visiting skeptic 48 00:02:54,990 --> 00:02:51,790 zone TV now that was put together by the 49 00:02:57,180 --> 00:02:55,000 very hard-working crew of calico Cove 50 00:02:59,430 --> 00:02:57,190 who were doing the audio video for 51 00:03:03,570 --> 00:02:59,440 Dragon Con MOT this site and his team 52 00:03:05,340 --> 00:03:03,580 and you can see and they're putting them 53 00:03:08,970 --> 00:03:05,350 up bit by bit you can see lots of videos 54 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:08,980 from the event at video dots kept track 55 00:03:13,260 --> 00:03:11,620 org and I will certainly be linking that 56 00:03:15,990 --> 00:03:13,270 in the show notes 57 00:03:18,870 --> 00:03:16,000 and it was like I stepped into a TV 58 00:03:22,410 --> 00:03:18,880 studio folks I've never seen such an 59 00:03:25,140 --> 00:03:22,420 elaborate production equipment for a 60 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:25,150 convention before there was a control 61 00:03:32,070 --> 00:03:27,490 room halfway down the thus kept track 62 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:32,080 room multiple cameras lighting prompters 63 00:03:39,930 --> 00:03:35,830 all sorts of things going on and it is 64 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:39,940 certainly something to see anyway you 65 00:03:46,250 --> 00:03:43,810 can check out the live skeptic zone see 66 00:03:50,010 --> 00:03:46,260 the production that went into that at 67 00:03:52,100 --> 00:03:50,020 skeptic zone TV and now it's time for me 68 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:52,110 to walk away from these see lines I 69 00:03:58,140 --> 00:03:55,090 think they're doing ok I'm gonna find 70 00:04:00,630 --> 00:03:58,150 some nice clam chowder and root beard 71 00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:00,640 while I'm doing that I hope you enjoy 72 00:04:21,090 --> 00:04:03,520 the skipping zone 73 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:21,100 [Music] 74 00:04:25,930 --> 00:04:24,110 joining me now all the way from Montreal 75 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:25,940 in Canada are now that's a place I'd 76 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:28,370 love to visit it's somebody whose video 77 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:30,410 I just saw the other day for the first 78 00:04:34,390 --> 00:04:31,730 time I was very impressed 79 00:04:37,330 --> 00:04:34,400 it's Jonathan Gerry hello Jonathan hi 80 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:37,340 Richard how are you I'm very well and 81 00:04:43,180 --> 00:04:39,550 I'm very happy to talk with you because 82 00:04:45,970 --> 00:04:43,190 some years ago the Australian skeptics 83 00:04:48,730 --> 00:04:45,980 put out an open letter to the pharmacies 84 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:48,740 of Australia imploring them not to sell 85 00:04:53,230 --> 00:04:51,650 ear candles and I'll link to that on the 86 00:04:55,540 --> 00:04:53,240 show notes folks he can read that for 87 00:04:58,120 --> 00:04:55,550 yourself and I can still go into 88 00:05:00,280 --> 00:04:58,130 pharmacies these days in around Sydney 89 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:00,290 anyway and find ear candles which was a 90 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:03,170 pity and then a few days ago I think 91 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:05,330 Michael Marshall posted your video all 92 00:05:11,380 --> 00:05:09,170 about ear candles which was really good 93 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:11,390 for many points of view and we'll get to 94 00:05:14,890 --> 00:05:13,130 the details in a moment but what 95 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:14,900 inspired you to make that particular 96 00:05:20,530 --> 00:05:19,190 video yeah I used to do a show so I work 97 00:05:23,020 --> 00:05:20,540 for the McGill office for science and 98 00:05:24,730 --> 00:05:23,030 society we're very lucky we have an 99 00:05:26,230 --> 00:05:24,740 office here at McGill that is dedicated 100 00:05:27,610 --> 00:05:26,240 to separating sense from nonsense I'm a 101 00:05:30,310 --> 00:05:27,620 science communicator working for them 102 00:05:32,290 --> 00:05:30,320 I'm essentially a full-time skeptic with 103 00:05:35,170 --> 00:05:32,300 a job which is which is really quite the 104 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:35,180 privilege and and I had a show that ran 105 00:05:38,860 --> 00:05:37,430 for two years which was very much in the 106 00:05:41,380 --> 00:05:38,870 vein of what John Oliver and John 107 00:05:43,180 --> 00:05:41,390 Stewart have been doing and it wasn't 108 00:05:45,250 --> 00:05:43,190 particularly snarky but there was I mean 109 00:05:47,740 --> 00:05:45,260 that kind of late-night talk-show sort 110 00:05:49,930 --> 00:05:47,750 of deep dive format does bring out a bit 111 00:05:53,380 --> 00:05:49,940 of a bit of snark and a bit of sarcasm 112 00:05:57,220 --> 00:05:53,390 and cynicism and over the past year I've 113 00:05:59,380 --> 00:05:57,230 really start thinking about tone when it 114 00:06:00,960 --> 00:05:59,390 comes to skepticism about how we go 115 00:06:03,490 --> 00:06:00,970 about trying to persuade other people 116 00:06:06,460 --> 00:06:03,500 because I think that we do have a bit of 117 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:06,470 a PR problem which is that you know we 118 00:06:10,270 --> 00:06:08,240 are often perceived as arrogant and 119 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:10,280 know-it-alls and you know facts don't 120 00:06:12,070 --> 00:06:11,510 care about your feeling is that type of 121 00:06:13,750 --> 00:06:12,080 stuff 122 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:13,760 and unfortunately feelings don't care 123 00:06:18,730 --> 00:06:15,650 about facts and I've been really 124 00:06:20,379 --> 00:06:18,740 inspired by other types of videos or TV 125 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:20,389 shows that I've seen 126 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:21,710 that have found a different way of 127 00:06:26,379 --> 00:06:23,810 talking about this The Skeptical message 128 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:26,389 we have we have a fantastic science 129 00:06:30,580 --> 00:06:27,770 communicator on the French side here in 130 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:30,590 Montreal called Evie Bell now you can 131 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:33,050 see some of his stuff in English at the 132 00:06:37,629 --> 00:06:35,930 Pharma fist comm and he has a TV show 133 00:06:40,629 --> 00:06:37,639 that is the best TV show on skepticism 134 00:06:43,059 --> 00:06:40,639 that I've seen and it's really about you 135 00:06:45,070 --> 00:06:43,069 know taking the viewer on a journey to 136 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:45,080 the conclusion as opposed to just being 137 00:06:48,670 --> 00:06:47,210 very paternalistic and saying hey this 138 00:06:51,429 --> 00:06:48,680 thing doesn't work I've looked at there 139 00:06:53,559 --> 00:06:51,439 are the studies trust me on this so I 140 00:06:55,629 --> 00:06:53,569 wanted to do a video that was more in 141 00:06:57,670 --> 00:06:55,639 that vein of you know let me show you 142 00:06:59,409 --> 00:06:57,680 why your candles don't worry let me 143 00:07:01,839 --> 00:06:59,419 we'll start together not knowing what 144 00:07:03,850 --> 00:07:01,849 the answer is and after you know 15 145 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:03,860 minutes we'll we'll have a concrete 146 00:07:06,459 --> 00:07:05,330 evidence that this thing not only 147 00:07:08,679 --> 00:07:06,469 doesn't work but it's actually quite 148 00:07:10,420 --> 00:07:08,689 dangerous so I took one of these ear 149 00:07:12,820 --> 00:07:10,430 candles to the chemistry lab at McGill 150 00:07:14,290 --> 00:07:12,830 and we hooked it up to a pressure sensor 151 00:07:15,580 --> 00:07:14,300 because they claimed of course is that 152 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:15,590 if when you stick this in your ear you 153 00:07:20,529 --> 00:07:18,050 light it on fire it creates a vacuum and 154 00:07:23,439 --> 00:07:20,539 this will this will grab that your wax 155 00:07:24,579 --> 00:07:23,449 inside your ear and just pull it out but 156 00:07:26,409 --> 00:07:24,589 of course you need to create a very 157 00:07:28,540 --> 00:07:26,419 powerful vacuum to do that and there's 158 00:07:30,820 --> 00:07:28,550 no detectable vacuum when you do this 159 00:07:33,490 --> 00:07:30,830 this was also tested in a paper from 160 00:07:36,399 --> 00:07:33,500 1996 and that will just play a quick 161 00:07:38,350 --> 00:07:36,409 clip from the video now so I just bought 162 00:07:40,329 --> 00:07:38,360 my ear candles here they are we're told 163 00:07:42,939 --> 00:07:40,339 ear candling can help treat sinus 164 00:07:45,010 --> 00:07:42,949 infections relieve headaches improve 165 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:45,020 visions we definitely don't practice it 166 00:07:49,260 --> 00:07:47,270 by ourselves and we often deal with the 167 00:07:50,909 --> 00:07:49,270 complications of your candling 168 00:07:53,129 --> 00:07:50,919 and things that have happened when it 169 00:07:55,499 --> 00:07:53,139 didn't go well $40 so there's a hound 170 00:07:57,180 --> 00:07:55,509 seller charging $40 and recommending two 171 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:57,190 to three sessions with their homemade 172 00:08:00,480 --> 00:07:57,970 candles 173 00:08:03,270 --> 00:08:00,490 how effective Health Canada can truly be 174 00:08:06,510 --> 00:08:03,280 at regulating this and protecting the 175 00:08:07,170 --> 00:08:06,520 public well I'm holding in my hands 176 00:08:10,469 --> 00:08:07,180 right now 177 00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:10,479 is essentially illegal in Canada and in 178 00:08:15,749 --> 00:08:13,840 the United States now I didn't commit an 179 00:08:18,089 --> 00:08:15,759 illegal act by purchasing these ear 180 00:08:18,510 --> 00:08:18,099 candles but the person who sold them to 181 00:08:22,950 --> 00:08:18,520 me 182 00:08:28,290 --> 00:08:22,960 they kind of did so how did I get my 183 00:08:29,850 --> 00:08:28,300 hands on these so so that was the idea 184 00:08:30,839 --> 00:08:29,860 behind the videos as slowly to take 185 00:08:33,089 --> 00:08:30,849 people through this thing and then also 186 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:33,099 to make them understand why these your 187 00:08:36,570 --> 00:08:34,810 candles are actually illegal in Canada 188 00:08:40,230 --> 00:08:36,580 in the United States so you cannot 189 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:40,240 legally sell or import them inside the 190 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:42,610 country for medical reasons but of 191 00:08:45,780 --> 00:08:43,630 course the twist is that some people 192 00:08:48,150 --> 00:08:45,790 manage to sell them anyway because 193 00:08:49,470 --> 00:08:48,160 they're not making medical claims and 194 00:08:51,510 --> 00:08:49,480 that's and that's where Health Canada 195 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:51,520 says well it's touchy we're not quite 196 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:53,470 sure how to deal with this and also 197 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:55,810 Health Canada like any big government 198 00:08:59,160 --> 00:08:57,370 organization they don't necessarily have 199 00:09:01,650 --> 00:08:59,170 the resources to go after all of the 200 00:09:04,050 --> 00:09:01,660 quacks and charlatans that are selling 201 00:09:06,510 --> 00:09:04,060 all of these kinds of products so it is 202 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:06,520 up to us the skeptics and to the public 203 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:08,770 to denounce these things when they pop 204 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:10,690 up it's absolutely true and you make an 205 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:13,690 interesting point because as one of our 206 00:09:17,610 --> 00:09:15,370 reporters heidi Robinson will tell you 207 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:17,620 when she was dealing with raw milk the 208 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:19,450 situation back in Australia with raw 209 00:09:24,870 --> 00:09:22,480 milk people were selling it as bath milk 210 00:09:26,310 --> 00:09:24,880 you can bathe in raw milk but really you 211 00:09:28,470 --> 00:09:26,320 know though selling it to people who 212 00:09:30,930 --> 00:09:28,480 wanted to drink the stuff but I loved 213 00:09:33,030 --> 00:09:30,940 the video because you're right you take 214 00:09:35,370 --> 00:09:33,040 people through the stages you have a 215 00:09:37,079 --> 00:09:35,380 look at it you turn up at the lab you do 216 00:09:39,540 --> 00:09:37,089 the testing and we could all see for 217 00:09:42,199 --> 00:09:39,550 ourselves but there's no detectable 218 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:42,209 vacuum caused which is the number-one 219 00:09:46,650 --> 00:09:44,770 selling point of ear candles you know it 220 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:46,660 creates a vacuum which draws up the wax 221 00:09:52,230 --> 00:09:48,850 and then you speak to another scientist 222 00:09:55,290 --> 00:09:52,240 who who has changed my life because I 223 00:09:58,740 --> 00:09:55,300 will now no longer use ear buds in my 224 00:10:00,900 --> 00:09:58,750 ear I see well well the ear buds are 225 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:00,910 fine the the point that the ear nose and 226 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:03,010 throat specialist was was saying 227 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:04,450 was making was that you know you 228 00:10:09,690 --> 00:10:06,490 shouldn't put anything inside your ear 229 00:10:12,090 --> 00:10:09,700 canal including q-tips and and I was 230 00:10:13,530 --> 00:10:12,100 kind of surprised to hear this but it's 231 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:13,540 true like on the back of the packaging 232 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:15,730 of q-tips it says do not put this in 233 00:10:21,270 --> 00:10:18,670 your ear canal because you know you can 234 00:10:24,030 --> 00:10:21,280 actually push earwax further down and 235 00:10:26,070 --> 00:10:24,040 make the problem worse and I love the 236 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:26,080 way that she explained the reason for 237 00:10:29,730 --> 00:10:27,730 earwax and it just made so much sense 238 00:10:33,570 --> 00:10:29,740 that I'm it's changed my life 239 00:10:36,090 --> 00:10:33,580 oh all right change my life but of 240 00:10:37,770 --> 00:10:36,100 course now folks I will link to the 241 00:10:39,270 --> 00:10:37,780 video in this week's show notes so you 242 00:10:40,770 --> 00:10:39,280 can see it for yourself and I encourage 243 00:10:42,870 --> 00:10:40,780 you to do so it's very well done I 244 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:42,880 compliment you on your production values 245 00:10:47,490 --> 00:10:45,250 - thank you yeah I'm a bit of a 246 00:10:49,170 --> 00:10:47,500 production value nerd I guess I also 247 00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:49,180 have I mean this video is part of the 248 00:10:51,660 --> 00:10:50,560 podcast that I do have been doing this 249 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:51,670 for four and a half years with a 250 00:10:56,340 --> 00:10:53,830 cardiologist dr. Christopher la Bose and 251 00:10:58,860 --> 00:10:56,350 when we started I also wanted very good 252 00:11:00,510 --> 00:10:58,870 sound quality on the on the show so you 253 00:11:03,270 --> 00:11:00,520 know we have some very good microphones 254 00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:03,280 we also do a vox pop segment on the show 255 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:05,590 so we go out with a comedian we talk to 256 00:11:08,460 --> 00:11:07,210 people on the street we ask them what 257 00:11:09,270 --> 00:11:08,470 they think about you know whatever it is 258 00:11:11,130 --> 00:11:09,280 that we're talking about if it's 259 00:11:13,860 --> 00:11:11,140 treatment for baldness or vaping or diet 260 00:11:15,930 --> 00:11:13,870 pills or autism and we also have we work 261 00:11:18,660 --> 00:11:15,940 with musicians so they come up with a 262 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:18,670 jingle to help our listeners remember 263 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:21,130 the take home message for for the 264 00:11:25,740 --> 00:11:24,010 episode so yeah production values is 265 00:11:28,170 --> 00:11:25,750 important to me because you know we ask 266 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:28,180 skeptics we often complain that the 267 00:11:31,290 --> 00:11:29,710 other side you know the pseudo 268 00:11:33,450 --> 00:11:31,300 scientists and the alternative healers 269 00:11:34,860 --> 00:11:33,460 they have very good production values 270 00:11:36,660 --> 00:11:34,870 they have these you know yeah these do 271 00:11:40,590 --> 00:11:36,670 you see these docu-series now on line 272 00:11:41,970 --> 00:11:40,600 these nine hour long documentaries on 5g 273 00:11:43,890 --> 00:11:41,980 and all that all those kinds of things 274 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:43,900 and they're very well produced because 275 00:11:48,690 --> 00:11:46,570 again you know you can buy prosumer gear 276 00:11:50,250 --> 00:11:48,700 and and and get these very good 277 00:11:52,470 --> 00:11:50,260 production values do some color grading 278 00:11:54,060 --> 00:11:52,480 all that kind of stuff but skeptics you 279 00:11:56,610 --> 00:11:54,070 know I think that we've been lagging 280 00:11:57,990 --> 00:11:56,620 behind in that department our stuff 281 00:12:00,510 --> 00:11:58,000 tends to be a little bit more on the 282 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:00,520 creaky side so I've been trying to sort 283 00:12:03,180 --> 00:12:02,710 of up the game as far as far as I'm 284 00:12:04,830 --> 00:12:03,190 concerned 285 00:12:07,260 --> 00:12:04,840 ya know it looks good it looks good now 286 00:12:08,670 --> 00:12:07,270 how does that tie in with body of 287 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:08,680 evidence is that the same thing we're 288 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:11,050 talking about yes so the body of 289 00:12:16,050 --> 00:12:13,810 evidence is a podcast that was it was 290 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:16,060 pitched to me by but by this this local 291 00:12:19,530 --> 00:12:16,690 medical doctor 292 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:19,540 that I met about five years ago we were 293 00:12:23,550 --> 00:12:21,850 both doing science communication on the 294 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:23,560 side I had a different podcast at the 295 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:24,970 time I interviewed him for it 296 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:26,590 and he said hey I've always you know 297 00:12:31,890 --> 00:12:29,650 been meaning to do a podcast on medical 298 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:31,900 topics on health topics something you 299 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:34,090 know kind of funny and but also very 300 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:35,650 evidence-based cuz again there's a lot 301 00:12:40,980 --> 00:12:38,650 of noise and and nonsense on the on the 302 00:12:44,010 --> 00:12:40,990 health front and so we ended up creating 303 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:44,020 this this monthly podcast that started 304 00:12:48,090 --> 00:12:45,490 again if about about four and a half 305 00:12:50,130 --> 00:12:48,100 years ago on all of these these 306 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:50,140 different topics you know vitamins and 307 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:52,930 and and vaping and dieting and all those 308 00:12:58,350 --> 00:12:56,410 sorts of topics and to try and you know 309 00:13:00,360 --> 00:12:58,360 show people the best available at what 310 00:13:02,490 --> 00:13:00,370 is the body of evidence on a particular 311 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:02,500 topic actually a show to teach them 312 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:05,110 basic notions on epidemiology and on 313 00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:07,210 scientific methodology like why do we 314 00:13:11,190 --> 00:13:09,760 trust this particular study but not that 315 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:11,200 study what was the problem with that 316 00:13:15,870 --> 00:13:13,810 study and then the second half of the 317 00:13:17,010 --> 00:13:15,880 show is more topical so we deal with you 318 00:13:18,990 --> 00:13:17,020 know what's been in the news in the past 319 00:13:21,230 --> 00:13:19,000 month often you know what did the media 320 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:21,240 get wrong about a new study on health 321 00:13:25,170 --> 00:13:23,740 why did they think we're gonna get a 322 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:25,180 cure for Parkinson's disease in five to 323 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:26,530 ten years but that's not what the study 324 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:28,570 actually shows and we tried to do it 325 00:13:32,670 --> 00:13:30,850 with a lot of humor we have an opening 326 00:13:34,770 --> 00:13:32,680 skit at the beginning that is that's 327 00:13:37,590 --> 00:13:34,780 quite quite comedic and as I mentioned 328 00:13:39,180 --> 00:13:37,600 we work with with comedians and and 329 00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:39,190 musicians and I think that's something 330 00:13:44,610 --> 00:13:41,920 that again skeptics could do more of I 331 00:13:46,770 --> 00:13:44,620 mean it's been very very valuable to us 332 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:46,780 to have people who are also skeptically 333 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:48,370 minded but who don't have a background 334 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:50,410 in science or medicine they want to 335 00:13:54,690 --> 00:13:52,210 contribute to the skeptical movement but 336 00:13:56,490 --> 00:13:54,700 they can't you know look at the evidence 337 00:13:58,710 --> 00:13:56,500 and and come up with with some kind of 338 00:14:00,870 --> 00:13:58,720 conclusion but they can sing they can 339 00:14:05,220 --> 00:14:00,880 play the guitar that can design websites 340 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:05,230 they can be funny all of those traits 341 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:06,610 and these these capabilities they can 342 00:14:11,670 --> 00:14:09,370 really help make our product even more 343 00:14:14,190 --> 00:14:11,680 fun and entertaining and palatable now 344 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:14,200 just before we came on here to have a 345 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:15,730 little chat you were telling me about 346 00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:18,310 some recent news I think it's recent 347 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:21,070 news about homeopathy in pharmacies in 348 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:24,010 Canada what's the story there yes I'm 349 00:14:27,660 --> 00:14:26,290 very happy about this so as your 350 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:27,670 listeners may know the the Center for 351 00:14:30,150 --> 00:14:29,710 inquiry in the United States is suing 352 00:14:32,369 --> 00:14:30,160 Walmart 353 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:32,379 because they're selling homeopathy and 354 00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:33,970 they're making it look like this is a 355 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:35,769 genuine treatment and what they 356 00:14:38,819 --> 00:14:37,120 basically want is have some sort of 357 00:14:40,110 --> 00:14:38,829 signage in the store saying you know 358 00:14:42,629 --> 00:14:40,120 there's no good evidence that this thing 359 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:42,639 works I've heard from some skeptics 360 00:14:45,780 --> 00:14:44,050 saying while this could never never 361 00:14:47,819 --> 00:14:45,790 possibly happen because you know they 362 00:14:49,710 --> 00:14:47,829 would lose so much business but it has 363 00:14:52,139 --> 00:14:49,720 happened here in Quebec it is feasible 364 00:14:55,769 --> 00:14:52,149 and we didn't even need to sue anybody 365 00:14:58,019 --> 00:14:55,779 and we kind of got a lucky basically we 366 00:15:00,569 --> 00:14:58,029 now have signs and pharmacies in front 367 00:15:02,309 --> 00:15:00,579 of homeopathic products that are still 368 00:15:03,660 --> 00:15:02,319 being sold there unfortunately but but 369 00:15:05,309 --> 00:15:03,670 we do have signs that say that there's 370 00:15:07,050 --> 00:15:05,319 no good scientific evidence behind them 371 00:15:09,780 --> 00:15:07,060 please talk to your pharmacist if you 372 00:15:12,300 --> 00:15:09,790 have any questions and we got there 373 00:15:13,410 --> 00:15:12,310 because again what this whole thing 374 00:15:15,269 --> 00:15:13,420 taught me is that you know you really 375 00:15:18,660 --> 00:15:15,279 need to look at the system that is 376 00:15:21,030 --> 00:15:18,670 enabling these things to to happen to 377 00:15:23,519 --> 00:15:21,040 exist and because there might be a weak 378 00:15:25,949 --> 00:15:23,529 point in the system a cog that you can 379 00:15:28,889 --> 00:15:25,959 work on and this is what inadvertently 380 00:15:30,689 --> 00:15:28,899 happen in this case so I wanted to get 381 00:15:31,980 --> 00:15:30,699 more news coverage on homeopathy but 382 00:15:34,590 --> 00:15:31,990 it's very difficult because there's 383 00:15:36,509 --> 00:15:34,600 nothing new about it so how do you get 384 00:15:38,460 --> 00:15:36,519 the attention of the media well you you 385 00:15:40,889 --> 00:15:38,470 create news you have to generate new 386 00:15:42,660 --> 00:15:40,899 data and so I called up a hundred and 387 00:15:44,730 --> 00:15:42,670 fifty pharmacies all over the island of 388 00:15:46,949 --> 00:15:44,740 Montreal to ask them if they had a 389 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:46,959 specific product a homeopathic product 390 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:49,870 against the flu and two-thirds of them 391 00:15:53,699 --> 00:15:52,420 carried the product and so that's a new 392 00:15:56,670 --> 00:15:53,709 data point that we didn't have before 393 00:15:58,620 --> 00:15:56,680 that generated a lot of publicity this 394 00:16:00,509 --> 00:15:58,630 wasn't in the middle of flu season and 395 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:00,519 one journalist wanted to know if 396 00:16:05,150 --> 00:16:02,290 pharmacists would actually endorse the 397 00:16:07,470 --> 00:16:05,160 product and so he did some really good 398 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:07,480 back-to-basics gumshoe journalistic work 399 00:16:13,139 --> 00:16:09,970 he went to 20 pharmacies in Montreal he 400 00:16:15,389 --> 00:16:13,149 spoke to the staff there and a third of 401 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:15,399 them said no don't buy this a third said 402 00:16:19,259 --> 00:16:17,410 well I'm not sure you might as well try 403 00:16:21,660 --> 00:16:19,269 and a third said yeah this stuff will 404 00:16:23,610 --> 00:16:21,670 definitely work and that was front page 405 00:16:27,499 --> 00:16:23,620 news for one of the biggest French 406 00:16:30,389 --> 00:16:27,509 language newspapers in Quebec and he 407 00:16:32,009 --> 00:16:30,399 asked for comments from the order of 408 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:32,019 pharmacists of Quebec and the order said 409 00:16:34,980 --> 00:16:33,490 well we're very surprised by this we're 410 00:16:37,049 --> 00:16:34,990 gonna remind our pharmacists you know 411 00:16:38,429 --> 00:16:37,059 that if they do recommend these products 412 00:16:39,900 --> 00:16:38,439 that they're gonna find themselves in a 413 00:16:42,540 --> 00:16:39,910 bad place with regards to professional 414 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:42,550 ethics and he also got a comments from 415 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:43,930 the ABC peak you know the 416 00:16:49,380 --> 00:16:46,180 ABC PQ is a local association of 417 00:16:50,850 --> 00:16:49,390 pharmacy chains in Quebec and that 418 00:16:51,930 --> 00:16:50,860 particular association said while you 419 00:16:55,079 --> 00:16:51,940 know what we're gonna do we're gonna 420 00:16:56,850 --> 00:16:55,089 print out 6000 signs they will be 421 00:16:58,740 --> 00:16:56,860 optional you know we can't force anybody 422 00:17:00,300 --> 00:16:58,750 to put them up in their store but we're 423 00:17:02,940 --> 00:17:00,310 gonna mail them to every pharmacy in 424 00:17:04,410 --> 00:17:02,950 Quebec and they can put them up next to 425 00:17:06,449 --> 00:17:04,420 the homeopathic products that they're 426 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:06,459 selling and we're also going to complain 427 00:17:10,350 --> 00:17:08,530 to Health Canada because ultimately 428 00:17:13,620 --> 00:17:10,360 Health Canada is approving these 429 00:17:16,620 --> 00:17:13,630 products and so a few months go by 430 00:17:18,329 --> 00:17:16,630 nothing happened and then a friend of 431 00:17:19,890 --> 00:17:18,339 mine texted me one day and he said 432 00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:19,900 here's what I found at my local 433 00:17:23,819 --> 00:17:22,150 drugstore what is this and the picture 434 00:17:26,220 --> 00:17:23,829 sure enough was of a sighing there in 435 00:17:28,140 --> 00:17:26,230 front of the homeopathic products and so 436 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:28,150 we got confirmation the ABC PQ had 437 00:17:31,860 --> 00:17:30,010 printed those signs they were up there's 438 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:31,870 now been a second printing they're 439 00:17:36,810 --> 00:17:33,610 bigger they're green they're very hard 440 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:36,820 to miss they're optional but you know if 441 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:38,770 because the thing about homeopathy is 442 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:39,970 that a lot of people who buy don't 443 00:17:44,790 --> 00:17:42,970 realize what it is yes yes and so they 444 00:17:46,049 --> 00:17:44,800 think that it's just natural stuff and 445 00:17:48,030 --> 00:17:46,059 that it must work because it's being 446 00:17:50,070 --> 00:17:48,040 sold in a pharmacy well now there's a 447 00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:50,080 sign that is hard to ignore that says 448 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:51,910 actually there's no good evidence that 449 00:17:54,930 --> 00:17:53,170 this thing is going to work please talk 450 00:17:58,380 --> 00:17:54,940 to your pharmacist and it creates a bit 451 00:18:00,780 --> 00:17:58,390 of a a bit of a weird situation where 452 00:18:02,070 --> 00:18:00,790 you go well why are you selling this if 453 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:02,080 you're telling me that it doesn't work 454 00:18:05,850 --> 00:18:03,970 and that's good because it highlights 455 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:05,860 the hypocrisy in the system it 456 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:07,450 highlights the fact that pharmacies are 457 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:09,850 after all businesses and they're gonna 458 00:18:13,410 --> 00:18:11,290 they want to make money I mean they're 459 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:13,420 selling us chips and chocolate and soda 460 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:15,010 and we know that these things are not 461 00:18:19,740 --> 00:18:18,250 not great for health but at least it 462 00:18:21,630 --> 00:18:19,750 highlights this hypocrisy and hopefully 463 00:18:22,919 --> 00:18:21,640 some people will be better informed next 464 00:18:25,260 --> 00:18:22,929 time they go in and shop for these 465 00:18:26,820 --> 00:18:25,270 things I think if I were you I you may 466 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:26,830 have done this already you'd get one of 467 00:18:34,860 --> 00:18:31,690 these signs and have it framed yeah put 468 00:18:36,990 --> 00:18:34,870 this up on my wall absolutely 469 00:18:39,540 --> 00:18:37,000 now folks yes I encourage you to have a 470 00:18:41,340 --> 00:18:39,550 look at all the work that Jonathan's 471 00:18:43,020 --> 00:18:41,350 been doing this and really interesting 472 00:18:45,110 --> 00:18:43,030 vlogs up there on the YouTube channel 473 00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:45,120 things about regression to the mean 474 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:47,920 anecdotes drugs and the media lots of 475 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:50,710 things to look at and again start off 476 00:18:55,770 --> 00:18:52,570 start off with the bank start off with 477 00:18:56,530 --> 00:18:55,780 the fascinating video about ear candling 478 00:18:58,330 --> 00:18:56,540 and of course 479 00:18:59,860 --> 00:18:58,340 direct link to that in the show notes 480 00:19:03,780 --> 00:18:59,870 well Jonathan what a pleasure it has 481 00:19:07,150 --> 00:19:03,790 been to meet you via the strange 482 00:19:07,750 --> 00:19:07,160 interwebs and interview you and what's 483 00:19:12,159 --> 00:19:07,760 next 484 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:12,169 on the horizon well I continue to do 485 00:19:17,980 --> 00:19:15,110 work for the McGill OSS so that's at 486 00:19:19,419 --> 00:19:17,990 McGill dot C slash OSS the podcast the 487 00:19:21,130 --> 00:19:19,429 body of evidence is still going on if 488 00:19:24,850 --> 00:19:21,140 people want to find it on their local 489 00:19:26,770 --> 00:19:24,860 you know podcasting app I give talks 490 00:19:29,740 --> 00:19:26,780 locally in Montreal I'm in the media 491 00:19:33,090 --> 00:19:29,750 quite a bit and also in October I will 492 00:19:36,159 --> 00:19:33,100 be speaking at saikhan so that's a big 493 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:36,169 skeptical conference in Las Vegas that 494 00:19:42,039 --> 00:19:38,690 happens every year I was there two years 495 00:19:44,620 --> 00:19:42,049 ago as the meek attendee I interviewed a 496 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:44,630 few people there for the the McGill OSS 497 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:46,160 YouTube channel and now I've been 498 00:19:50,890 --> 00:19:48,110 invited as a speaker so I'll be talking 499 00:19:52,030 --> 00:19:50,900 on stage a little bit about what I just 500 00:19:54,310 --> 00:19:52,040 talked about today about the homeopathy 501 00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:54,320 thing about all the the really cool 502 00:20:00,100 --> 00:19:56,240 stuff has been happening for scepticism 503 00:20:03,460 --> 00:20:00,110 in Canada and also about how to join up 504 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:03,470 how to help sort of defend science for 505 00:20:07,810 --> 00:20:05,080 the public because I think we need more 506 00:20:10,930 --> 00:20:07,820 more skeptics to go from being passive 507 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:10,940 consumers to being activists and there 508 00:20:14,230 --> 00:20:12,140 are a lot of different ways of going 509 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:14,240 about about this yes you're absolutely 510 00:20:19,690 --> 00:20:16,850 right and it's good to see that someone 511 00:20:21,340 --> 00:20:19,700 like you putting to good use lots of 512 00:20:23,260 --> 00:20:21,350 different skills lots of different skill 513 00:20:24,970 --> 00:20:23,270 sets well Jonathan again I'll link to 514 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:24,980 everything in the show notes but for now 515 00:20:40,420 --> 00:20:29,330 thank you very much thank you Richard 516 00:20:48,650 --> 00:20:45,440 saikhan 2019 people are finally starting 517 00:20:49,850 --> 00:20:48,660 to wake up anti-vaxxers denounced as a 518 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:49,860 danger to the public 519 00:20:55,670 --> 00:20:52,650 climate change deniers exposed as 520 00:20:58,220 --> 00:20:55,680 ideological zealots celebrity psychics 521 00:21:01,040 --> 00:20:58,230 have been caught red-handed using 522 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:01,050 trickery homeopathy debunked this fake 523 00:21:07,490 --> 00:21:04,490 medicine flat-earthers seriously 524 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:07,500 skeptics must seize this moment now is 525 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:09,210 the time for the brightest minds and 526 00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:11,130 science and reason to come together to 527 00:21:15,470 --> 00:21:12,990 turn the tide against pseudoscience 528 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:15,480 conspiracy theories and alternative 529 00:21:21,650 --> 00:21:19,290 facts and naturally we should do it in 530 00:21:24,620 --> 00:21:21,660 Vegas it's more fun that way 531 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:24,630 now is the time for psych on 2019 532 00:21:30,950 --> 00:21:27,510 October the 16th to the 20th at the 533 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:30,960 Flamingo resort in Las Vegas the 534 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:33,050 incredible lineup of speakers includes 535 00:21:38,420 --> 00:21:35,730 actor John de Lancie of Star Trek and 536 00:21:41,270 --> 00:21:38,430 Breaking Bad Julia Sweeney of SNL and 537 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:41,280 letting go of God string theory pioneer 538 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:43,890 Brian Greene evolutionary biologist 539 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:46,350 Richard Dawkins ex naturopath Brittany 540 00:21:50,900 --> 00:21:48,330 Hermes and many more including 541 00:21:55,610 --> 00:21:50,910 entertainment by illusionist Banacek and 542 00:22:01,340 --> 00:21:55,620 comedian Liane Lord for more information 543 00:22:16,290 --> 00:22:12,890 [Music] 544 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:16,300 now sometimes it's hard to believe some 545 00:22:23,220 --> 00:22:19,330 of the news information the skeptic zone 546 00:22:25,710 --> 00:22:23,230 brings you here's a press release from 547 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:25,720 New South Wales health data the 5th of 548 00:22:38,550 --> 00:22:31,390 September 2019 measles alert for 549 00:22:40,740 --> 00:22:38,560 travelers to New Zealand New South Wales 550 00:22:43,140 --> 00:22:40,750 health is urging New South Wales 551 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:43,150 residents to be fully vaccinated against 552 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:45,610 measles before traveling to New Zealand 553 00:22:54,210 --> 00:22:50,410 where almost 1000 cases have been 554 00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:54,220 reported this year so far in 2019 for 555 00:22:59,060 --> 00:22:56,710 measles cases have been introduced to 556 00:23:02,340 --> 00:22:59,070 New South Wales from New Zealand 557 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:02,350 travelers and that number could rapidly 558 00:23:08,970 --> 00:23:06,070 increase due to a recent surge of cases 559 00:23:11,820 --> 00:23:08,980 in New Zealand since early August this 560 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:11,830 highly contagious disease presents a 561 00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:13,810 risk not only to travellers and their 562 00:23:19,380 --> 00:23:16,510 families but also to the wider New South 563 00:23:21,870 --> 00:23:19,390 Wales community if people return from 564 00:23:25,230 --> 00:23:21,880 their travels infectious with measles 565 00:23:27,450 --> 00:23:25,240 dr. Shepherd said dr. Shepherd said 566 00:23:29,460 --> 00:23:27,460 anyone traveling to New Zealand should 567 00:23:33,060 --> 00:23:29,470 ensure they are fully vaccinated against 568 00:23:35,310 --> 00:23:33,070 measles before departure infants aged 6 569 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:35,320 months or older should also receive a 570 00:23:40,410 --> 00:23:37,810 dose of measles vaccine before leaving 571 00:23:42,210 --> 00:23:40,420 Australia in the past two weeks people 572 00:23:45,450 --> 00:23:42,220 travelling between New Zealand and New 573 00:23:47,990 --> 00:23:45,460 South Wales may have exposed others to 574 00:23:51,150 --> 00:23:48,000 the infection in the following locations 575 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:51,160 Friday the 23rd of August a New Zealand 576 00:23:56,970 --> 00:23:54,130 flight in z71 1 from Auckland to Sydney 577 00:24:00,030 --> 00:23:56,980 International Airport t1 arriving around 578 00:24:03,270 --> 00:24:00,040 9:00 10:00 p.m. Saturday 25th of August 579 00:24:05,460 --> 00:24:03,280 a New Zealand flight in z10 8 from 580 00:24:09,390 --> 00:24:05,470 Sydney International Airport t1 to 581 00:24:11,370 --> 00:24:09,400 Auckland departing at 7:50 p.m. Friday 582 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:11,380 the 30th of August to Wednesday the 3rd 583 00:24:17,370 --> 00:24:14,110 of September various locations in the 584 00:24:19,740 --> 00:24:17,380 iron Bay area measles introduced by 585 00:24:22,710 --> 00:24:19,750 travelers has resulted in secondary 586 00:24:26,010 --> 00:24:22,720 cases in recent days in Penrith and 587 00:24:28,830 --> 00:24:26,020 hazel brook Wallsend Glen's Dale Katara 588 00:24:31,140 --> 00:24:28,840 and other locations in the Hunter New 589 00:24:34,230 --> 00:24:31,150 South Wales health director communicable 590 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:34,240 diseases dr. Vickie Shepherd said people 591 00:24:39,390 --> 00:24:36,610 who have been in the same known 592 00:24:42,510 --> 00:24:39,400 locations as those with measles should 593 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:42,520 be alert to symptoms it can take up to 594 00:24:46,830 --> 00:24:44,770 18 days for symptoms to appear following 595 00:24:48,990 --> 00:24:46,840 exposure to a person with measles 596 00:24:51,299 --> 00:24:49,000 anyone who develops symptoms should 597 00:24:53,669 --> 00:24:51,309 arrange to see their GP and call ahead 598 00:24:56,190 --> 00:24:53,679 to ensure they don't wait alongside 599 00:24:59,240 --> 00:24:56,200 other patients dr. Shepherd said 600 00:25:02,700 --> 00:24:59,250 symptoms to watch out for include fever 601 00:25:05,789 --> 00:25:02,710 sore eyes and a cough followed three or 602 00:25:08,430 --> 00:25:05,799 four days later by a red blotchy rash 603 00:25:10,770 --> 00:25:08,440 that spreads from the head to the rest 604 00:25:12,690 --> 00:25:10,780 of the body local public health units 605 00:25:15,030 --> 00:25:12,700 are following up with people who may 606 00:25:17,549 --> 00:25:15,040 have been in contact with the for 607 00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:17,559 measles cases and are issuing media 608 00:25:22,289 --> 00:25:19,929 releases about specific venues where 609 00:25:24,990 --> 00:25:22,299 community members may have been exposed 610 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:25,000 full details of the exposure sites and 611 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:26,530 times have been published on the New 612 00:25:34,370 --> 00:25:29,490 South Wales Health website health dot 613 00:25:37,409 --> 00:25:34,380 NSW dot gov to measles is a vaccine 614 00:25:39,330 --> 00:25:37,419 preventable disease that is spread 615 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:39,340 through the air when someone who is 616 00:25:44,130 --> 00:25:41,650 infectious with the disease coughs or 617 00:25:46,890 --> 00:25:44,140 sneezes measles is one of the most 618 00:25:49,350 --> 00:25:46,900 contagious diseases for humans but two 619 00:25:52,260 --> 00:25:49,360 doses of measles mumps rubella vaccine 620 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:52,270 provide lifelong protection against 621 00:25:58,110 --> 00:25:54,730 measles in 99 out of a hundred 622 00:26:00,030 --> 00:25:58,120 vaccinated people dr. Shephard said New 623 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:00,040 South Wales health makes the measles 624 00:26:07,049 --> 00:26:03,250 vaccine available free for infants from 625 00:26:10,710 --> 00:26:07,059 six months of age and anyone born during 626 00:26:13,350 --> 00:26:10,720 or after 1966 who doesn't have to 627 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:13,360 documented doses of measles vaccine if 628 00:26:17,610 --> 00:26:15,010 you're unsure whether you've been 629 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:17,620 vaccinated against measles in the past 630 00:26:23,190 --> 00:26:20,530 it's safe to have a dose the New South 631 00:26:26,909 --> 00:26:23,200 Wales government is investing 130 632 00:26:27,510 --> 00:26:26,919 million dollars in the 2019 2020 633 00:26:30,270 --> 00:26:27,520 immunes 634 00:26:33,570 --> 00:26:30,280 program budget including Commonwealth 635 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:33,580 and state vaccines for more information 636 00:26:46,650 --> 00:26:43,690 visit Health NSW government for 637 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:46,660 travelers to New Zealand issue on the 638 00:26:52,830 --> 00:26:50,050 5th of September 2019 and I'll link to 639 00:27:00,270 --> 00:26:52,840 that in the show notes so you can read 640 00:27:02,580 --> 00:27:00,280 that release for yourself and it's 641 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:02,590 largely thanks to the untiring efforts 642 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:06,970 of that anti vaccination crowd that have 643 00:27:11,490 --> 00:27:08,890 convinced thousands of parents around 644 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:11,500 the world not to vaccinate their 645 00:27:19,530 --> 00:27:15,910 children and this I think is largely due 646 00:27:22,710 --> 00:27:19,540 to conspiracy theories and as my friend 647 00:27:39,780 --> 00:27:22,720 Tim Farley might say well what's the 648 00:27:45,330 --> 00:27:39,790 harm the Surf Coast summer/spring 649 00:27:51,370 --> 00:27:48,370 these surf coast summer spring skeptic 650 00:27:53,980 --> 00:27:51,380 amp SCS SC is Australia's 651 00:27:58,630 --> 00:27:53,990 longest-running skeptic amp this year we 652 00:28:01,300 --> 00:27:58,640 are celebrating our seventh year if you 653 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:01,310 want to share something on a skeptically 654 00:28:05,020 --> 00:28:02,930 related topic in which you are 655 00:28:07,450 --> 00:28:05,030 interested highlight some practices that 656 00:28:08,830 --> 00:28:07,460 you see is dubious and need to be 657 00:28:11,590 --> 00:28:08,840 brought to the attention of the 658 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:11,600 skeptical community please offer to 659 00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:14,090 share your thoughts this is a sharing 660 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:16,370 event where many contributors can 661 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:18,890 combine to make a great day the event is 662 00:28:23,470 --> 00:28:21,650 free however please provide your own 663 00:28:24,790 --> 00:28:23,480 lunch but don't worry there are plenty 664 00:28:27,910 --> 00:28:24,800 of options 665 00:28:30,730 --> 00:28:27,920 locally tea coffee and biscuits will be 666 00:28:34,450 --> 00:28:30,740 provided all day that's Saturday the 667 00:28:36,210 --> 00:28:34,460 14th of September 2019 10:30 a.m. to 668 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:36,220 4:00 p.m. 669 00:28:43,060 --> 00:28:39,410 the location is Aries in that community 670 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:43,070 hall 6 Great Ocean Road aireys inlet 671 00:28:48,730 --> 00:28:46,130 Victoria office to present should be 672 00:28:54,270 --> 00:28:48,740 made to the skeptic groups of Victoria 673 00:28:58,510 --> 00:28:54,280 email address at SG o f v IC at 674 00:29:02,700 --> 00:28:58,520 gmail.com and to register just follow 675 00:29:08,530 --> 00:29:05,890 the Surf Coast summer spring skeptic 676 00:29:21,390 --> 00:29:08,540 camp Australia's longest-running skeptic 677 00:29:25,590 --> 00:29:21,400 Hammond here's Maynard spooky action at 678 00:29:29,890 --> 00:29:28,420 hi yes it's Sydney people are wandering 679 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:29,900 around the street they're running around 680 00:29:32,950 --> 00:29:31,250 they're thinking about taking legal 681 00:29:33,820 --> 00:29:32,960 action if the lights don't change fast 682 00:29:34,990 --> 00:29:33,830 enough because they've got to get home 683 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:35,000 because everyone's rushing and bashing 684 00:29:39,490 --> 00:29:36,650 to pay too much rent here in Sydney as 685 00:29:40,870 --> 00:29:39,500 it is Sydney's skeptics in the pub I've 686 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:40,880 been tasked with the question of asking 687 00:29:46,150 --> 00:29:44,170 everybody what does the moment that you 688 00:29:48,250 --> 00:29:46,160 two turned your Skippy what was the 689 00:29:50,500 --> 00:29:48,260 moment was an event and the incident a 690 00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:50,510 happening that made you go that's it I'm 691 00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:52,310 so down with critical thinking now 692 00:29:57,940 --> 00:29:55,280 famously Lawrence Luna in his show talks 693 00:29:59,290 --> 00:29:57,950 about his experiences with Santa and 694 00:30:02,110 --> 00:29:59,300 trying to find out a bit more about 695 00:30:05,380 --> 00:30:02,120 Santa that was his moment other people 696 00:30:06,820 --> 00:30:05,390 will say that there are moments the look 697 00:30:08,590 --> 00:30:06,830 it's not so much critical it's mainly 698 00:30:10,090 --> 00:30:08,600 for thinking I just haven't quite gotten 699 00:30:13,990 --> 00:30:10,100 to the thinking thing yet but I'm sure 700 00:30:15,670 --> 00:30:14,000 one day I will get there I'm here with a 701 00:30:17,260 --> 00:30:15,680 few people that a dirty stop-out is here 702 00:30:18,910 --> 00:30:17,270 they're here for the very first time 703 00:30:20,170 --> 00:30:18,920 here at skeptics in the pub I know it's 704 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:20,180 only early in the evening but what's 705 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:23,450 your name sir James and Joseph okay now 706 00:30:27,220 --> 00:30:25,730 what what got you along here what I'll 707 00:30:29,140 --> 00:30:27,230 come along and do the sceptics thing 708 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:29,150 tonight why what why it's not your first 709 00:30:35,290 --> 00:30:31,610 time I just want to see what this is 710 00:30:37,630 --> 00:30:35,300 about and try to learn say what's new 711 00:30:39,850 --> 00:30:37,640 and what I'm missing everyone sort of 712 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:39,860 has their pet topic and scepticism I 713 00:30:43,630 --> 00:30:41,510 find where some for some people it's 714 00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:43,640 homeopathy for some people it can be 715 00:30:46,540 --> 00:30:45,440 anything close it really bugs them is 716 00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:46,550 there anything that bugs you that you 717 00:30:53,830 --> 00:30:49,150 went all come on people think critically 718 00:30:56,530 --> 00:30:53,840 not really I think all decision or or 719 00:30:59,320 --> 00:30:56,540 ideas have these floor and merits and 720 00:31:02,950 --> 00:30:59,330 I'm interested to know what are the 721 00:31:05,020 --> 00:31:02,960 merits and what are the flaws I use 722 00:31:06,550 --> 00:31:05,030 even-handed as said oh you're your guy 723 00:31:07,780 --> 00:31:06,560 in the office it yells out astrology 724 00:31:10,510 --> 00:31:07,790 astrology is bullcrap 725 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:10,520 I'd be the opposite of the speech for me 726 00:31:14,830 --> 00:31:13,250 I think a lot of it I work in health for 727 00:31:16,630 --> 00:31:14,840 me at the moment a lot of it would be 728 00:31:18,540 --> 00:31:16,640 the immunizations at the moment New 729 00:31:21,850 --> 00:31:18,550 Zealand's got a big measles outbreak 730 00:31:23,380 --> 00:31:21,860 we've got Muppets who are refusing to 731 00:31:26,070 --> 00:31:23,390 vaccinate the kids so then they end up 732 00:31:29,130 --> 00:31:26,080 with deformities or did 733 00:31:32,580 --> 00:31:29,140 because people are ultimately inflicting 734 00:31:34,170 --> 00:31:32,590 this the biased ideas on their children 735 00:31:36,570 --> 00:31:34,180 yeah the the kids don't really get an 736 00:31:40,590 --> 00:31:36,580 informed choice on and their parents 737 00:31:42,450 --> 00:31:40,600 we don't have an informed idea on but 738 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:42,460 you know it got me fired up saying 739 00:31:46,710 --> 00:31:44,410 saying have you ever gone one-to-one 740 00:31:50,010 --> 00:31:46,720 arguing the point with an auntie vex 741 00:31:50,910 --> 00:31:50,020 person usually I wouldn't tend to go one 742 00:31:53,340 --> 00:31:50,920 to one 743 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:53,350 I wouldn't tend to argue with people I 744 00:31:57,900 --> 00:31:55,090 think if that if they open to a good 745 00:32:00,900 --> 00:31:57,910 open dialog and a good conversation we 746 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:00,910 can actually hey if I'm wrong then yeah 747 00:32:05,130 --> 00:32:02,770 that's absolutely fine if that wrong 748 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:05,140 this let's have some fun but the only 749 00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:07,110 way to really progress and sort of 750 00:32:12,330 --> 00:32:09,910 develop your ideas is to have a good 751 00:32:14,970 --> 00:32:12,340 dialogue good discussion and find out 752 00:32:17,250 --> 00:32:14,980 where each other is coming from but some 753 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:17,260 people yeah I find a lot of people have 754 00:32:22,350 --> 00:32:19,210 talked to about aunty Bais stuff they 755 00:32:25,170 --> 00:32:22,360 tend to be really strong a certain way 756 00:32:27,030 --> 00:32:25,180 and don't tend to want to discuss it so 757 00:32:28,260 --> 00:32:27,040 yeah you are these people that'll say up 758 00:32:29,780 --> 00:32:28,270 lady arguing with someone on the 759 00:32:32,820 --> 00:32:29,790 internet when you could be going to bed 760 00:32:38,370 --> 00:32:32,830 Naoko to bed yeah but you are the guy 761 00:32:41,490 --> 00:32:38,380 who would I used to but too many 762 00:32:43,710 --> 00:32:41,500 sleepless nights so I've pulled back a 763 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:43,720 lot on it and I just like PT rooms open 764 00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:46,570 to their own opinion and ideas and but 765 00:32:51,300 --> 00:32:48,310 it seems like here's a good place for a 766 00:32:53,310 --> 00:32:51,310 good dialogue and that's sort of what 767 00:32:55,230 --> 00:32:53,320 drew me and usually I've been to a 768 00:32:57,810 --> 00:32:55,240 couple of these in theory I want an 769 00:33:01,410 --> 00:32:57,820 island actually we're a similar sort of 770 00:33:03,540 --> 00:33:01,420 set up with good pub pub talks and that 771 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:03,550 and it had the Irish got a different 772 00:33:06,930 --> 00:33:05,650 bent to their skepticality is an issue 773 00:33:08,730 --> 00:33:06,940 that they'd like to cover there in 774 00:33:11,670 --> 00:33:08,740 Ireland that we might be maybe not 775 00:33:15,150 --> 00:33:11,680 covering as much here I mean politics 776 00:33:16,710 --> 00:33:15,160 for them seems to be a big one although 777 00:33:19,470 --> 00:33:16,720 that varies between the North and the 778 00:33:20,370 --> 00:33:19,480 rest of Ireland the EU wants to get a 779 00:33:21,690 --> 00:33:20,380 border back they're going to put 780 00:33:23,220 --> 00:33:21,700 pressure on the Irish government to put 781 00:33:24,900 --> 00:33:23,230 a border back and maybe that maybe the 782 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:24,910 Irish government just not not be 783 00:33:28,710 --> 00:33:27,130 answering the phone that day 784 00:33:30,900 --> 00:33:28,720 I think there'll be a bit of sick leave 785 00:33:32,549 --> 00:33:30,910 you squirt next month yes 786 00:33:34,529 --> 00:33:32,559 oh that smell I think that's your food 787 00:33:37,590 --> 00:33:34,539 flashing there yep get some nutrients 788 00:33:39,330 --> 00:33:37,600 India look now the question we are 789 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:39,340 asking people tonight the one Richard 790 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:41,650 wheeled out all the way from America or 791 00:33:46,919 --> 00:33:44,770 Atlanta or or Greece or the the cote de 792 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:46,929 rhône of every is this week has asked me 793 00:33:50,669 --> 00:33:48,850 to do this for him and ask people is 794 00:33:52,529 --> 00:33:50,679 there a sceptical moment or a turning 795 00:33:54,029 --> 00:33:52,539 point where you went that's it I want 796 00:33:55,860 --> 00:33:54,039 more critical thinking in my life right 797 00:33:57,270 --> 00:33:55,870 now what event caused it did you have 798 00:33:58,890 --> 00:33:57,280 London it's the thing where you buy the 799 00:34:01,470 --> 00:33:58,900 would have it or you just wouldn't what 800 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:01,480 about you I personally don't think that 801 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:04,090 I ever had one specific moment where I 802 00:34:10,020 --> 00:34:06,850 suddenly became a skeptic because I feel 803 00:34:13,609 --> 00:34:10,030 like I was always a little bit skeptical 804 00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:13,619 of various things and just over time I 805 00:34:18,180 --> 00:34:15,730 kind of changed my mind 806 00:34:19,980 --> 00:34:18,190 about stuff you mentioned earlier that 807 00:34:22,409 --> 00:34:19,990 you're your mum is into certain things 808 00:34:24,090 --> 00:34:22,419 that don't have as much skeptical track 809 00:34:25,530 --> 00:34:24,100 as they should which I thought would 810 00:34:27,899 --> 00:34:25,540 make for great interesting Christmas 811 00:34:30,540 --> 00:34:27,909 dinner conversations with your mum yeah 812 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:30,550 look I mean generally speaking my family 813 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:33,210 is more supportive of some things that I 814 00:34:38,190 --> 00:34:35,050 don't have great evidence like 815 00:34:41,940 --> 00:34:38,200 homeopathy and crystal healing and 816 00:34:44,010 --> 00:34:41,950 various other methodologies that aren't 817 00:34:45,930 --> 00:34:44,020 very evidence-based crystal healing 818 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:45,940 that's one I haven't heard at a skeptics 819 00:34:51,119 --> 00:34:49,050 meeting mentioned for quite some time so 820 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:51,129 traditionally what would you do would 821 00:34:53,879 --> 00:34:52,810 you would the crystal just be near you 822 00:34:55,230 --> 00:34:53,889 or you don't have to have physical 823 00:34:57,570 --> 00:34:55,240 contact with it how does it actually 824 00:35:00,330 --> 00:34:57,580 work from what you've seen anyway well I 825 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:00,340 think because I I went to South various 826 00:35:05,340 --> 00:35:02,170 alternative practitioners as a child I 827 00:35:06,990 --> 00:35:05,350 don't think any of them like there many 828 00:35:08,430 --> 00:35:07,000 of them were primarily homeopaths that 829 00:35:10,020 --> 00:35:08,440 would like dabble in various other 830 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:10,030 things I don't know if this is you know 831 00:35:14,460 --> 00:35:12,250 proper personal healing and invited 832 00:35:16,370 --> 00:35:14,470 summers but I had one person who would 833 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:16,380 who gave me a little test tube of 834 00:35:20,580 --> 00:35:18,850 containing crit like a crystal and a few 835 00:35:22,260 --> 00:35:20,590 pieces of fur and like some other 836 00:35:25,410 --> 00:35:22,270 sprinkle anything yeah 837 00:35:27,110 --> 00:35:25,420 and I had to carry sure wasn't this is 838 00:35:30,030 --> 00:35:27,120 getting towards witchcraft at this point 839 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:30,040 well I mean isn't homeopathy witchcraft 840 00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:32,770 anyway controversial opinions here on 841 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:34,720 Thursday night so so you think that this 842 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:37,810 is what what term do you think I think I 843 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:41,530 overtime I think I always had a little 844 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:44,170 bit of a kernel of disbelief within me 845 00:35:48,930 --> 00:35:45,910 and over time I just became more 846 00:35:50,130 --> 00:35:48,940 confident in expressing that which is 847 00:35:51,810 --> 00:35:50,140 why I don't think I can necessarily 848 00:35:54,570 --> 00:35:51,820 pinpoint it at one time where I was 849 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:54,580 suddenly a skeptic or not something I'm 850 00:35:58,650 --> 00:35:56,530 pretty skeptical of and I copied a lot 851 00:36:00,480 --> 00:35:58,660 from my DJ friends is I'm pretty much 852 00:36:02,580 --> 00:36:00,490 convinced that vinyl does not sound 853 00:36:04,830 --> 00:36:02,590 better than a digital signal I'm sorry 854 00:36:06,420 --> 00:36:04,840 I'd the vinyl it just sounds muffled and 855 00:36:07,020 --> 00:36:06,430 if you like your sound muffled that's 856 00:36:09,660 --> 00:36:07,030 fine 857 00:36:11,550 --> 00:36:09,670 I reckon you're probably probably not 858 00:36:13,770 --> 00:36:11,560 wrong there I wonder if there's been any 859 00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:13,780 randomized control trials well there has 860 00:36:18,030 --> 00:36:15,910 been but it's a bit there bit 861 00:36:19,470 --> 00:36:18,040 inconclusive sometimes skipped or it's 862 00:36:22,020 --> 00:36:19,480 done a good episode on it Brian Dunning 863 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:22,030 did one and it can be a bit inclusive as 864 00:36:24,630 --> 00:36:23,650 people bring their own biases so you 865 00:36:26,850 --> 00:36:24,640 better make sure it's completely 866 00:36:29,010 --> 00:36:26,860 double-blind like a medical thing and 867 00:36:30,690 --> 00:36:29,020 and I think it comes out about even in 868 00:36:33,660 --> 00:36:30,700 chance I think that some people do like 869 00:36:35,700 --> 00:36:33,670 a warm sound so a muffled warm sound 870 00:36:38,550 --> 00:36:35,710 there's nothing wrong with that yeah 871 00:36:41,490 --> 00:36:38,560 look I think it's a bit like eggs right 872 00:36:44,130 --> 00:36:41,500 and I saw people discussing this 873 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:44,140 recently on Twitter there's no evidence 874 00:36:48,270 --> 00:36:46,450 that organic eggs have it any 875 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:48,280 differently flavored to non-organic AIDS 876 00:36:53,550 --> 00:36:50,650 all eggs taste the same basically unless 877 00:36:55,350 --> 00:36:53,560 they're horribly poison but there's a 878 00:36:57,090 --> 00:36:55,360 there's something in the story of an egg 879 00:36:59,100 --> 00:36:57,100 that you've grown it whether your 880 00:37:01,320 --> 00:36:59,110 chickens have laid you've picked out of 881 00:37:01,740 --> 00:37:01,330 a hutch that you've cracked open and 882 00:37:03,570 --> 00:37:01,750 cooked 883 00:37:05,340 --> 00:37:03,580 can I use one of my favorite words now I 884 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:05,350 never get to say this word but in this 885 00:37:10,350 --> 00:37:07,450 conversation its relative cloaca 886 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:10,360 well Wacka Wacka Wacka there you go 887 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:17,290 that's all I can say continue on I'm not 888 00:37:20,130 --> 00:37:18,850 regularly ever get to use the word I 889 00:37:21,690 --> 00:37:20,140 can't even write it on the side and hold 890 00:37:23,130 --> 00:37:21,700 it up without getting in trouble and 891 00:37:26,310 --> 00:37:23,140 with a joke hang on we've got a cloaca 892 00:37:28,860 --> 00:37:26,320 story here yes where the chickens saw 893 00:37:31,260 --> 00:37:28,870 their genitalia when they go to a 894 00:37:32,910 --> 00:37:31,270 nightclub I don't know where do chickens 895 00:37:33,580 --> 00:37:32,920 store their genitalia when they go to a 896 00:37:40,060 --> 00:37:33,590 nightclub 897 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:40,070 the cloaca room oh we're only jealous 898 00:37:43,060 --> 00:37:40,970 cus we haven't got one 899 00:37:47,110 --> 00:37:43,070 that's absolutely it's an all-purpose 900 00:37:48,970 --> 00:37:47,120 orifice yeah that's true yeah well if 901 00:37:51,970 --> 00:37:48,980 evolution got three for the price of one 902 00:37:53,140 --> 00:37:51,980 there really didn't they absolutely have 903 00:37:54,910 --> 00:37:53,150 a good night tonight I hope you enjoy 904 00:37:58,920 --> 00:37:54,920 that I'll talk it's an environmental 905 00:38:01,540 --> 00:37:58,930 based talk it's coming up here thank you 906 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:01,550 we're having a deep critical thinking 907 00:38:05,170 --> 00:38:03,050 conversation about the work of the Human 908 00:38:06,610 --> 00:38:05,180 League I think everything through Human 909 00:38:08,460 --> 00:38:06,620 League did is pretty good and I even 910 00:38:12,630 --> 00:38:08,470 like them now and Phil Oakey what a guy 911 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:12,640 and we've got Tim here with Jimmy yeah 912 00:38:17,860 --> 00:38:15,310 I'm president of the anti human league 913 00:38:19,780 --> 00:38:17,870 well that's right goose you are of the 914 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:19,790 opinion which a lot of people are that 915 00:38:23,770 --> 00:38:21,890 everything the Human League did before 916 00:38:26,860 --> 00:38:23,780 the deer album was their good work 917 00:38:28,270 --> 00:38:26,870 absolutely I agree I think the every 918 00:38:30,550 --> 00:38:28,280 critic who is worth a pinch of food 919 00:38:31,900 --> 00:38:30,560 agrees with that actually guess what so 920 00:38:36,250 --> 00:38:31,910 you're completely discounting together 921 00:38:37,930 --> 00:38:36,260 in electric dreams even the film you're 922 00:38:43,210 --> 00:38:37,940 discounting the Lebanon that's a great 923 00:38:46,330 --> 00:38:43,220 track perhaps was he's wired up nipples 924 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:46,340 and things and he attorney I don't know 925 00:38:50,380 --> 00:38:48,650 look I enjoyed he's lopsided hairdo of 926 00:38:52,300 --> 00:38:50,390 course he's bald now but the lopsided 927 00:38:53,740 --> 00:38:52,310 hairdo was good that's why he's bald now 928 00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:53,750 age they never never have a lot never 929 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:55,610 hated them but uh riches want me to ask 930 00:38:59,500 --> 00:38:57,170 people tonight about that if there was 931 00:39:00,940 --> 00:38:59,510 an event or a thing that turned you into 932 00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:00,950 the critical thinker and you and oh yeah 933 00:39:04,450 --> 00:39:01,910 that's what it's all about 934 00:39:07,270 --> 00:39:04,460 well it's a long story and let me tell 935 00:39:09,340 --> 00:39:07,280 you okay one of those people yeah it was 936 00:39:11,290 --> 00:39:09,350 it was probably a series of events but 937 00:39:12,940 --> 00:39:11,300 really what first started me once 938 00:39:14,970 --> 00:39:12,950 apparently starts a lot of skeptics was 939 00:39:18,460 --> 00:39:14,980 Erich von däniken I have favorite 940 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:18,470 ancient astronaut theorists when I was a 941 00:39:24,250 --> 00:39:22,010 young whippersnapper he some excerpts of 942 00:39:27,730 --> 00:39:24,260 Chariots of the Gods Christian rock was 943 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:27,740 published in a Sunday newspaper over two 944 00:39:30,820 --> 00:39:29,210 weeks so the first one everyone thought 945 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:30,830 wow that's interesting let's see how it 946 00:39:34,390 --> 00:39:33,050 really quite exciting and then people 947 00:39:36,700 --> 00:39:34,400 writing and their letters were published 948 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:36,710 in the next issue of the newspaper and I 949 00:39:40,870 --> 00:39:39,170 said fantastic his archaeology is great 950 00:39:41,430 --> 00:39:40,880 but I'm an astronomer and he's astronomy 951 00:39:43,350 --> 00:39:41,440 [\h__\h] 952 00:39:44,940 --> 00:39:43,360 and other people would write in saying 953 00:39:46,470 --> 00:39:44,950 II's the astronomy it's really good but 954 00:39:48,690 --> 00:39:46,480 I'm an archaeologist these archaeology 955 00:39:50,460 --> 00:39:48,700 is rubbish which prove two things 956 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:50,470 actually that never trust the scientist 957 00:39:55,500 --> 00:39:52,930 outside of their field and never trust 958 00:39:57,720 --> 00:39:55,510 Erich von Daniken now return to the 959 00:39:59,580 --> 00:39:57,730 stars I've actually seen you giving away 960 00:40:01,560 --> 00:39:59,590 erich von daniken books at this very 961 00:40:03,030 --> 00:40:01,570 skeptics in the pub I have actually yes 962 00:40:06,930 --> 00:40:03,040 in the past and they have they go like 963 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:06,940 cold case so how did you end up with so 964 00:40:10,980 --> 00:40:09,010 many did someone bequeath a collection 965 00:40:13,650 --> 00:40:10,990 at some stage someone bequeathed a huge 966 00:40:16,590 --> 00:40:13,660 collection about eight boxes turned up 967 00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:16,600 on my doorstep from a gentleman in Nara 968 00:40:20,610 --> 00:40:18,730 who had probably finally had enough of 969 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:20,620 them actually collecting dust I've still 970 00:40:24,990 --> 00:40:22,330 got some of them but I gave quite a few 971 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:25,000 away I should actually sadly point out 972 00:40:28,770 --> 00:40:26,530 that the president of the sceptics at 973 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:28,780 the time grab all of the von Daniken 974 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:32,170 boss because Hey - Hey - was early an 975 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:35,650 early D convert of Erich von Daniken so 976 00:40:40,050 --> 00:40:38,410 I must say if you can possibly find the 977 00:40:41,700 --> 00:40:40,060 movie that was the follow-up to charity 978 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:41,710 to the gods it's hosted by William 979 00:40:46,620 --> 00:40:45,010 Shatner right now I really of course it 980 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:46,630 wasn't there anymore he starts a Star 981 00:40:50,460 --> 00:40:49,210 Trek theme yeah it's a yes he's standing 982 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:50,470 next to a model of the enterprise at the 983 00:40:53,910 --> 00:40:52,450 beginning and he's great he and and I 984 00:40:57,780 --> 00:40:53,920 think he said lady you know he was just 985 00:40:59,880 --> 00:40:57,790 doing it for the money Shatner doing 986 00:41:02,130 --> 00:40:59,890 something for the shetland for money no 987 00:41:04,170 --> 00:41:02,140 that was his song his big song he had 988 00:41:07,260 --> 00:41:04,180 that he had there was the husband album 989 00:41:09,570 --> 00:41:07,270 that he did with Ben Folds the 990 00:41:11,070 --> 00:41:09,580 transformed man 612 60s near the 991 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:11,080 transformed man have a listen to that 992 00:41:14,790 --> 00:41:14,650 people it is a great album yeah sure it 993 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:14,800 is 994 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:17,530 a lot of people did basically you've got 995 00:41:21,270 --> 00:41:19,510 Erich von däniken to think for being a 996 00:41:22,650 --> 00:41:21,280 skeptic I'd really do actually yeah but 997 00:41:25,170 --> 00:41:22,660 then there was other things that cropped 998 00:41:27,090 --> 00:41:25,180 up along the way like while dishing the 999 00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:27,100 dissing dishing get dishing von Daniken 1000 00:41:30,990 --> 00:41:29,530 I still believed in things like Bermuda 1001 00:41:33,390 --> 00:41:31,000 Triangle and stuff until you actually 1002 00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:33,400 read some books that point out but 1003 00:41:36,270 --> 00:41:34,690 unfortunately that's not true that's not 1004 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:36,280 true that's not true so it's a gradual 1005 00:41:40,830 --> 00:41:38,290 process I don't think anyone has a flash 1006 00:41:42,570 --> 00:41:40,840 of light on the road to Damascus sort of 1007 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:42,580 moment and I think there's a gradual 1008 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:43,330 thing 1009 00:41:47,550 --> 00:41:45,130 and what we got tonight is our Speaker 1010 00:41:49,290 --> 00:41:47,560 Tim we have a everything's talk about 1011 00:41:51,690 --> 00:41:49,300 science spending a bit cautious in the 1012 00:41:54,390 --> 00:41:51,700 way it comes forward based on the issues 1013 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:54,400 of coal seam gas and the person who's 1014 00:41:59,010 --> 00:41:56,890 giving the talk is a environmentalist 1015 00:42:00,930 --> 00:41:59,020 and they are a science communicator and 1016 00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:00,940 they're also a citizen scientists and so 1017 00:42:05,820 --> 00:42:03,250 a bit of a campaigner about various coal 1018 00:42:07,590 --> 00:42:05,830 seam gas sites in New South Wales you 1019 00:42:09,540 --> 00:42:07,600 you don't get too many citizen high 1020 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:09,550 court judges these days I've found you 1021 00:42:12,180 --> 00:42:11,050 they did not not many not even on the 1022 00:42:13,770 --> 00:42:12,190 internet now you don't get as many 1023 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:13,780 amateur scientists to making huge 1024 00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:15,370 discoveries of planets and things yeah 1025 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:18,310 yeah time to change yeah and tonight is 1026 00:42:23,100 --> 00:42:20,410 that night yes that's the one we found 1027 00:42:24,750 --> 00:42:23,110 them oh girl have been asking people 1028 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:24,760 what was this sceptical moment that 1029 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:26,410 turned them into maybe a skeptical or 1030 00:42:29,250 --> 00:42:28,090 could it go thinker but you're you've 1031 00:42:31,410 --> 00:42:29,260 got an answers a lot of people would 1032 00:42:33,950 --> 00:42:31,420 happen that you didn't have one yeah I 1033 00:42:36,980 --> 00:42:33,960 don't think I particularly had one I 1034 00:42:38,550 --> 00:42:36,990 guess like I've always thought about 1035 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:38,560 questioning stuff 1036 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:40,330 I remember thinking about like when I 1037 00:42:45,900 --> 00:42:41,890 was very young like like it was going 1038 00:42:49,410 --> 00:42:45,910 why mum why as I grew up in like a 1039 00:42:51,180 --> 00:42:49,420 default Christian household sort of very 1040 00:42:53,100 --> 00:42:51,190 like not very practising or whatever but 1041 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:53,110 just sort of like there is a God it 1042 00:42:56,820 --> 00:42:55,330 exists whatever and I remember thinking 1043 00:42:59,550 --> 00:42:56,830 to myself like in the playground like 1044 00:43:00,480 --> 00:42:59,560 giving challenges to God just in my head 1045 00:43:02,370 --> 00:43:00,490 you know because you should be able to 1046 00:43:05,340 --> 00:43:02,380 hear it if you exist then bla bla bla 1047 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:05,350 I'm like trying to assess the results 1048 00:43:12,540 --> 00:43:09,210 but like you were doing an on 1049 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:12,550 double-blinded small-scale experiment 1050 00:43:18,150 --> 00:43:16,330 yeah just sort of in my head will there 1051 00:43:21,690 --> 00:43:18,160 be pizza for dinner tonight stuff like 1052 00:43:23,940 --> 00:43:21,700 that I guess so yeah that's what I was 1053 00:43:26,430 --> 00:43:23,950 pretty young and then I guess as I grew 1054 00:43:28,860 --> 00:43:26,440 up of come across all sorts of different 1055 00:43:30,450 --> 00:43:28,870 people have different views about things 1056 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:30,460 that I thought I knew more about and 1057 00:43:34,980 --> 00:43:32,890 that's made me learn to question things 1058 00:43:37,050 --> 00:43:34,990 are much better right so it's it's not 1059 00:43:40,020 --> 00:43:37,060 so much a moment for some people it's a 1060 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:40,030 journey like life itself very much so 1061 00:43:45,510 --> 00:43:43,810 yeah I'm here at a serial complainer I 1062 00:43:47,730 --> 00:43:45,520 know he's had a lot to say about me over 1063 00:43:49,050 --> 00:43:47,740 the years how I can I'm fine I'm still a 1064 00:43:50,340 --> 00:43:49,060 grumpy old man thank you 1065 00:43:51,930 --> 00:43:50,350 both look I think you should wear that 1066 00:43:53,430 --> 00:43:51,940 with pride thank you very much so how 1067 00:43:55,620 --> 00:43:53,440 many copies of carats of the Gods have 1068 00:43:57,390 --> 00:43:55,630 you got at home I have read it and I 1069 00:43:59,160 --> 00:43:57,400 read the sequel and I was absolutely 1070 00:44:01,980 --> 00:43:59,170 disgusted then this is back when I was a 1071 00:44:04,140 --> 00:44:01,990 teenager so I was a skeptic back then 1072 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:04,150 even you a cranky young teenager back I 1073 00:44:08,190 --> 00:44:05,710 was a cranky young teenager and I've 1074 00:44:10,980 --> 00:44:08,200 developed it into PhD material now 1075 00:44:13,080 --> 00:44:10,990 Richard sent me out asking people was 1076 00:44:14,730 --> 00:44:13,090 there a moment where you were there an 1077 00:44:16,050 --> 00:44:14,740 event that triggered your skepticism in 1078 00:44:17,670 --> 00:44:16,060 a man hey I'm going to go down this path 1079 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:17,680 did that happen to you or has it been a 1080 00:44:22,380 --> 00:44:19,690 bit like an evolution with you well 1081 00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:22,390 actually I think as I said I've always 1082 00:44:27,570 --> 00:44:25,810 been rather skeptical and following 1083 00:44:29,310 --> 00:44:27,580 Erich von Daniken and that's oh and I 1084 00:44:31,500 --> 00:44:29,320 became an air traffic controller now I 1085 00:44:33,540 --> 00:44:31,510 worked in the aviation industry and it's 1086 00:44:36,060 --> 00:44:33,550 a very unforgiving and dangerous 1087 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:36,070 environment so there is no room in there 1088 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:38,170 for fruitloop reading everything is 1089 00:44:43,530 --> 00:44:40,930 based on hard science everything you do 1090 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:43,540 has to be justified to a court when I 1091 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:45,010 finished with air traffic control I 1092 00:44:50,070 --> 00:44:47,770 found it a difficult transition to go 1093 00:44:51,660 --> 00:44:50,080 into the mainstream world where any sort 1094 00:44:54,420 --> 00:44:51,670 of fruit loop area gets that gets a 1095 00:44:57,810 --> 00:44:54,430 hearing but I never did anything about 1096 00:45:01,290 --> 00:44:57,820 it until I saw how the anti-vaccination 1097 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:01,300 movement harassed grieving families and 1098 00:45:04,980 --> 00:45:02,890 I thought someone's got to do something 1099 00:45:07,080 --> 00:45:04,990 about this so I did now did this take 1100 00:45:08,820 --> 00:45:07,090 the form of direct phone calls to them 1101 00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:08,830 or just talking about grieving families 1102 00:45:12,930 --> 00:45:09,910 in the press 1103 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:12,940 no I it was it was a strange thing that 1104 00:45:19,850 --> 00:45:17,410 the the New South Wales legislation had 1105 00:45:22,410 --> 00:45:19,860 been changed very recently to allow a 1106 00:45:24,690 --> 00:45:22,420 complaint to the healthcare Complaints 1107 00:45:27,510 --> 00:45:24,700 Commission about unregistered 1108 00:45:29,970 --> 00:45:27,520 practitioners so I thought I will test 1109 00:45:32,070 --> 00:45:29,980 the legislation and put in a complaint 1110 00:45:34,530 --> 00:45:32,080 about the Australian vaccination Network 1111 00:45:39,030 --> 00:45:34,540 and see what happens and lo and behold 1112 00:45:40,980 --> 00:45:39,040 the H Triple C - you know god bless them 1113 00:45:43,890 --> 00:45:40,990 they took up the complaint eventually it 1114 00:45:46,680 --> 00:45:43,900 led to a public warning issued against 1115 00:45:48,660 --> 00:45:46,690 the ABN which we then used to discredit 1116 00:45:50,700 --> 00:45:48,670 them in the media which meant that the 1117 00:45:52,950 --> 00:45:50,710 media no longer went to them thought it 1118 00:45:55,380 --> 00:45:52,960 circles so called informed comment and 1119 00:45:57,660 --> 00:45:55,390 it led to further legislation changes 1120 00:45:58,980 --> 00:45:57,670 and political politicians getting onside 1121 00:46:01,980 --> 00:45:58,990 it led to 1122 00:46:04,230 --> 00:46:01,990 no Jeff no play no Jeff no pay things so 1123 00:46:07,170 --> 00:46:04,240 it all began back when the 1124 00:46:09,300 --> 00:46:07,180 anti-vaccination Froot Loops harassed a 1125 00:46:10,859 --> 00:46:09,310 grieving family if they had not done 1126 00:46:13,650 --> 00:46:10,869 that maybe none of this would have 1127 00:46:15,380 --> 00:46:13,660 happened and that's and that's what 1128 00:46:17,730 --> 00:46:15,390 that's what stepped up your skepticism 1129 00:46:20,730 --> 00:46:17,740 absolutely and also being a grumpy old 1130 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:20,740 man who's retired and so what you do I 1131 00:46:23,010 --> 00:46:21,850 just sort of grumpy around the house 1132 00:46:25,109 --> 00:46:23,020 these days you're grumpy with your 1133 00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:25,119 neighbors with the lawn ah with the lawn 1134 00:46:29,490 --> 00:46:27,970 with the neighboring kids I mean it just 1135 00:46:33,060 --> 00:46:29,500 about anything you can think of I'll be 1136 00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:33,070 grumpy about yeah and as you noticed 1137 00:46:36,960 --> 00:46:35,260 I've moved on to car practice I mean now 1138 00:46:38,490 --> 00:46:36,970 there's a good target for anyone it's 1139 00:46:40,230 --> 00:46:38,500 not even grumpy I mean there's a bunch 1140 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:40,240 of Froot Loops of ever I've heard of any 1141 00:46:46,470 --> 00:46:43,330 and they're getting into psychiatry yeah 1142 00:46:49,950 --> 00:46:46,480 we found a chiropractor who claims he 1143 00:46:51,840 --> 00:46:49,960 can treat psychiatric illnesses now too 1144 00:46:54,170 --> 00:46:51,850 the average psychiatrist this is just 1145 00:46:56,250 --> 00:46:54,180 absolutely horrifying because 1146 00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:56,260 psychiatric illnesses can lead to 1147 00:47:00,390 --> 00:46:56,970 suicide 1148 00:47:02,310 --> 00:47:00,400 Vince this is really serious stuff so 1149 00:47:03,930 --> 00:47:02,320 I'm determined to do something about it 1150 00:47:05,910 --> 00:47:03,940 I mean there's enough controversy about 1151 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:05,920 actual psychiatry without having it 1152 00:47:09,300 --> 00:47:07,810 somebody else who isn't even using that 1153 00:47:28,150 --> 00:47:09,310 that's what we don't want to add to the 1154 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:30,830 Boris Diaw m'appelle Elizabeth faith 1155 00:47:36,440 --> 00:47:33,450 years socotra stupid cast method a shot 1156 00:47:38,420 --> 00:47:36,450 de Foix pamaj Papa's video Villanova 1157 00:47:41,180 --> 00:47:38,430 novelty explorer 11 available a 1158 00:47:43,880 --> 00:47:41,190 metacognition pop Kwang Johnson screen 1159 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:43,890 opens Oh Rizzo disease emissions on 1160 00:47:49,190 --> 00:47:46,410 sweetie Tremblay Moderne order demon 1161 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:49,200 hunter holliman ugly whiskers - arabic 1162 00:47:55,190 --> 00:47:52,170 Jessica sub-option go universe Java new 1163 00:47:59,240 --> 00:47:55,200 septic groovy new solution new tube do 1164 00:48:00,410 --> 00:47:59,250 method a shot and they will see ash 1165 00:48:04,880 --> 00:48:00,420 oopsie 1166 00:48:07,250 --> 00:48:04,890 a bientot method a shot hello everyone 1167 00:48:09,560 --> 00:48:07,260 I'm Elizabeth fakey the creator of the 1168 00:48:12,620 --> 00:48:09,570 french-speaking method the shock podcast 1169 00:48:15,050 --> 00:48:12,630 twice a month I host a new guest to 1170 00:48:18,530 --> 00:48:15,060 explore the field of meta cognition why 1171 00:48:20,630 --> 00:48:18,540 we think the way we think some shows are 1172 00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:20,640 subtitled in English and actually the 1173 00:48:25,370 --> 00:48:22,610 latest one is all in English an 1174 00:48:28,630 --> 00:48:25,380 exclusive conversation with Jessica Cobb 1175 00:48:31,700 --> 00:48:28,640 an ex New Age guru who turned skeptic 1176 00:48:38,450 --> 00:48:31,710 join us on the method of Jacque YouTube 1177 00:48:43,570 --> 00:48:38,460 channel M ETA de choc a Bianco Matata 1178 00:48:43,580 --> 00:48:53,640 [Music] 1179 00:48:58,050 --> 00:48:56,020 thank you for listening to the skeptics 1180 00:49:02,200 --> 00:48:58,060 are now I'm down here on Market Street 1181 00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:02,210 near Embarcadero BART station and just 1182 00:49:10,420 --> 00:49:06,890 to see a wonderful old California San 1183 00:49:12,670 --> 00:49:10,430 Francisco streetcar cable car rattled by 1184 00:49:13,740 --> 00:49:12,680 Van Ness Avenue California it says in 1185 00:49:16,540 --> 00:49:13,750 Market Streets 1186 00:49:19,030 --> 00:49:16,550 it's something you see out of the TV out 1187 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:19,040 of the movies it's a wonderful wonderful 1188 00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:20,690 where it's a tourist attraction I 1189 00:49:26,380 --> 00:49:23,210 suppose San Francisco Municipal Railway 1190 00:49:29,830 --> 00:49:26,390 it says and there's a modest lineup here 1191 00:49:31,500 --> 00:49:29,840 people ready to get on coming up on next 1192 00:49:33,970 --> 00:49:31,510 week's show I hope to bring you some 1193 00:49:36,280 --> 00:49:33,980 interviews from wonderful people I met 1194 00:49:39,339 --> 00:49:36,290 at DragonCon including the young author 1195 00:49:42,970 --> 00:49:39,349 Bailey Harris at 13 she has written 1196 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:42,980 three books on science for children also 1197 00:49:48,880 --> 00:49:45,770 it was my great pleasure to see dr. 1198 00:49:50,470 --> 00:49:48,890 Pamela gay and I think I'm gonna line up 1199 00:49:52,960 --> 00:49:50,480 an interview with her to find out what's 1200 00:49:57,780 --> 00:49:52,970 going on there's a skateboarder skate by 1201 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:00,970 but for this week with the passing 1202 00:50:04,360 --> 00:50:02,570 parade that is San Francisco 1203 00:50:13,540 --> 00:50:04,370 this is Richard Saunders signing off 1204 00:50:16,540 --> 00:50:13,550 from San Francisco you've been listening 1205 00:50:23,230 --> 00:50:16,550 to the skeptic zone podcast please visit 1206 00:50:25,930 --> 00:50:23,240 our website at wwlp.com tax and to 1207 00:50:29,650 --> 00:50:25,940 access the bat catalog of episodes going 1208 00:50:32,460 --> 00:50:29,660 back to 2008 you can follow the skeptic 1209 00:50:35,200 --> 00:50:32,470 zone podcast on twitter at skeptic zone 1210 00:50:38,680 --> 00:50:35,210 visit our facebook page or leave a 1211 00:50:41,620 --> 00:50:38,690 review on itunes you can also support 1212 00:50:44,050 --> 00:50:41,630 the skeptic zone via patreon or PayPal 1213 00:50:46,720 --> 00:50:44,060 the skeptic zone podcast is an 1214 00:50:48,550 --> 00:50:46,730 independent production the views and 1215 00:50:50,770 --> 00:50:48,560 opinions expressed on the skeptic zone 1216 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:50,780 are not necessarily those of Australian 1217 00:50:54,200 --> 00:50:53,330 skeptics or any other skeptical