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Skepticality
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Bringing truth to podcasting, and all who choose to listen. Derek and Swoopy are your hosts, filling your pod and your brain with skeptical insight and conversation, sometimes heated, on a plethora of topics that are ripe for critical examination.
We're tired of pertinent social and science news being buried by clap trap. Our podcast is here to bring you relevant, under reported current events, as well as in-depth discussions from a scientific, critical, skeptical, and humorous point of view.
In our travels we will tackle the beasts of pseudoscience; the paranormal, supernatural, ufo / alien encounters, mis-understood history, and overwrought legends - urban or otherwise.
People will believe anything. Why is that?
Here at Skepticality, we're calling out the crap, debunking the bunks and taking a serious look at the plethora of flim flam that is clogging our history books and drowning the mainstream media in a tidal wave of hornswoggle.
Anything but orthodox, occasionally silly but always topical, Derek Colanduno is your podcasting guide to the truth. Cohort and cohost Swoopy is the resident misanthrope, questioning Derek to the limits of his patience, and sometimes his sanity.
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Science and Technology > Science Science and Technology > Interviews
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| Date Added |
22-Jul-2005 |
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1059 |
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3.50 |
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Skepticality - Science and Revolutionary Ideas Episodes - | Skepticality #115 - The Green Fairy - Guest: Cheryl Lins, owner Delaware Phoenix Distillery | Absinthe. The very name of this anise-flavored spirit has become synonymous with the forbidden. Associated with marijuana and other illicit drugs, it is said to cause hallucinatory and psychoactive secondary effects, delusions, criminal tendencies, convulsions, tuberculosis and death.
At the start of the 20th century, these beliefs were reported by the media, widely promoted by the French wine industry, and spread via propaganda posters. This led to a ban on absinthe in Europe and the United States (lasting nearly 100 years).
This week on Skepticality, Swoopy talks with Cheryl Lins, owner of Delaware Phoenix Distilleries in Walton, New York, about how this once-accepted and popular drink came to be outlawed and misunderstood â and how it was eventually resurrected at the hands of skeptics and scientists. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #115 - The Green Fairy - Guest: Cheryl Lins, owner Delaware Phoenix Distillery | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #109 - Columbine - Interview: Dave Cullen | On April 20, 1999, two boys left an indelible stamp on American society when they carried out their plan to kill as many of their high school classmates as they could. The very word "Columbine" has come to represent a specific brand of unthinkable horror: when children make a calculated decision to murder their teachers and peers.
In the chaos and aftermath of that April day, legends and misinformation quickly proliferated. A great deal of what was reported about Columbine was simply not true.
Author Dave Cullen has spent the last ten years of his journalistic career studying the lives of the residents of Littleton Colorado as they were before, during, and after this shattering event. Cullen's seminal book on the subject, Columbine, delves deep into the psyches of the killers, the victims, and their families â to set the record straight not only about what really happened on that fateful day, but why. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #109 - Columbine - Interview: Dave Cullen | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #097 - Atlanta Skepticamp Recap | This week's SkepticalityÂhits the highlights and plays excerptsÂfrom Atlanta
Skepticamp. Topics from the two day "un-conference" included:Âraising children to be critical thinkers; homeopathy; the question of whatÂorganic food labels really mean; and (in discussion with theÂhosts of the American Freethought podcast) the role of new media in promoting the growth of the skeptical community.
Also, Derek & Swoopy check the Skeptic events calendar to keep listeners updated on upcoming Skepticamps and other events for skeptics around the world. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #097 - Atlanta Skepticamp Recap | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #094 - International Year of Astronomy! - Interview: Dr. Pamela Gay | The United Nations has declared 2009 the "International Year of Astronomy."ÂCoinciding with bothÂGalileo Galilei'sÂcelestialÂdiscoveries inÂ1609Âand the publication of Johannes Kepler'sÂAstronomiaÂNovaÂ(which described the fundamental laws of planetaryÂmotion), the International Year of Astronomy celebrates 400 years ofÂdiscovery and exploration of our elegant universe. It is an unprecedentedÂopportunity to showcase some amazing science â and to inspire cosmic wonder.
On this episode of Skepticality, Derek & Swoopy talk with astronomer,Âeducator, and podcaster Dr. Pamela Gay about the many exciting global eventsÂpeople can enjoy during the International Year ofÂAstronomy. She also shares her thoughts about the changing face of NASA, and about some thrillingÂrecent astronomical discoveries. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #094 - International Year of Astronomy! - Interview: Dr. Pamela Gay | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #092 - Numb3rs - Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci creators of Num3rs | Rarely is mathematics a major plot component on AmericanÂtelevision.ÂThe exception, of course, is the current hit prime time CBSÂtelevision drama Numb3rs.Â
"We all use math every day: to predict weather, to tell time, to handleÂmoney.ÂMath is more than formulas and equations: itâs logic. Itâs rationality. Itâs using your mind to solve the biggest mysteries we know."
So begins every episode â astonishingly â ofÂone of the consistently highest rated programs in its time slot.ÂNow in its fifth season,ÂNumb3rsÂhas helped pave the way for a whole new generation of science-basedÂprogramming on American television.
This week Swoopy talks with Cheryl Heuton and NicolasÂFalacci (the creators and Executive Producers of Numb3rs) about the challengesÂof creating a fictional TV drama chock full of real science andÂmathematics. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #092 - Numb3rs - Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci creators of Num3rs | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #089 - Secular Values Voter! - Lori Lipman Brown at Skeptrack 2008 | This Tuesday, November 4th, Americans head to the polls. But despite the outcome, the question remains: under the new administration, can nontheists, science advocates, and criticalÂthinkers expect better representation in government?
In recognition of Election Day 2008, Skepticality is pleased to present a talk by Lori LipmanÂBrown of the Secular Coalition for America (the only Washington, DC lobbyistsÂworking on behalf of skeptics, rationalists and nontheists), entitledÂPastafarian, Zoroastrian, Atheist â Can't We All Just Get Along? | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #089 - Secular Values Voter! - Lori Lipman Brown at Skeptrack 2008 | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #085 - Why Magic is Important - Panel Discussion with James Randi and D.J. Grothe | The hosts of Skepticality are recovering from their spectacularlyÂsuccessful "Skeptrack" events at Dragon*Con 2008: four days of livelyÂdiscussion featuring guests from some of the most prominent skepticalÂorganizations around the world. Included were James Randi and Dr. Phil PlaitÂfrom the JREF, Dr. Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society, BenjaminÂRadford and D.J. Grothe from the Center for Inquiry, and Richard Saunders andÂcrew from the Australian Skepticsâto name only a few.
For those who participated in this groundbreaking weekend, we look forwardÂto hearing your stories. For those who could not attend,ÂSkepticalityÂbrings you the first of several recordings from last week's panelÂdiscussions, beginning with James Randi and D.J. Grothe discussing "Why MagicÂis Important to Skepticism." This in-depth discussion of the entwined histories of magic andÂskepticism reveals how creating illusions can illuminate the truth. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #085 - Why Magic is Important - Panel Discussion with James Randi and D.J. Grothe | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #084 - What's The Harm? - Interview: Tim Farley | Misinformation is everywhere, but nowhere more prolific than on the internet. A Google search for "homeopathy" or "UFO" returns a landslide list ofÂmystery-mongering websites. Yes, there are a few skeptical web resources too âÂbut a non-skeptic can be easily misled online.
On this episode,ÂDerek & Swoopy talk with Tim Farley, aÂskeptic applying his 20-plus years ofÂsoftware development experience to the creation of advanced tools and techniques for fighting the battle against misinformation on the World WideÂWeb.Â
Tim's popular websites include the Skeptical Software Tools blogÂ"Skeptools" (which uses Web 2.0 techniques to aid the spread of criticalÂthinking information online), and WhatsTheHarm.net, which has collected theÂstories of over 225,000 people who have been injured or killed as a resultÂof supernatural andÂpseudoscientificÂpractices from alternative medicine to hypnosis to faith healing. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #084 - What's The Harm? - Interview: Tim Farley | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #079 - The Doctor is In! - Interview: Dr. Harriet Hall, the SkepDoc | This week on Skepticality, Swoopy talks with Skeptic magazine's resident expert critic of alternative medicine, "SkepDoc"ÂDr. Harriet Hall. Dr. Hall talks about about her recent memoir Women Aren'tÂSupposed to Fly, which details her life as a family practice specialist,Âflight surgeon, pilot, and career Air Force officer. (She retiredÂin 1989 as a full Colonel.)
Dr. Hall also discusses her recent regular contributions to Skeptic magazine and "The Science-Based Medicine" blog, which is quickly becoming anÂinvaluable source for in-depth, quality articles investigatingÂquestionable medical practices (not only in alternative medicine but withinÂconventional medicine as well), illuminating the mysteries of medical scienceâandÂeven insight into how doctors think. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #079 - The Doctor is In! - Interview: Dr. Harriet Hall, the SkepDoc | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #078 - What the Fossils Say, and Why it Matters - Interview: Dr. Donald R. Prothero | Just this week, the discovery of the 300-million year old Gerobatrachus hottoni ("Hotton's elder frog") confirmed the previously contentious inference that modern frogs and salamanders evolved from one group of ancient primitive amphibians. The dispute arose because of a lack of transitional forms; but, like so many "missing links," this newly discovered fossil sealed the gap.
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The fossil record is one of the strongest lines of evidence for evolution, yet it continues to come under attack by present-day creationists and advocates of Intelligent Design. This week on Skepticality, Swoopy talks with eminentÂpaleontologistÂand professor of geology Donald R. Prothero about his bestselling Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters. This comprehensive book exploresÂnot only the rich mosaic of fossil discoveries and transitional forms, but also the very nature of scienceâand the "monkey business of creationism." | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #078 - What the Fossils Say, and Why it Matters - Interview: Dr. Donald R. Prothero | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #077 - Don't Be Such a Scientist! - Interview: Dr. Randy Olson | Over the past several episodes, Skepticality has interviewed some of theÂnotable scientists featured in the new pro-Intelligent Design documentaryÂExpelled: No Intelligence Allowed. This week, the last word on theÂcontroversy goes to Dr. Randy Olson, theÂbiologist-turned-filmmaker whose 2006 documentary Flock of Dodos: TheÂEvolution â Intelligent Design CircusÂexamined the communication breakdownÂbetween the science community and the rest of the world on the subject of evolution. Â
Dr. Olson strives to improve the reputation ofÂscience in the court of public opinion, where the Religious Right and Intelligent Design movements continue to wedge their way in by "teachingÂthe controversy."ÂÂOn his "Shifting Baselines" blog, Dr. Olson was one ofÂthe first scientists to express concern that the well-fundedÂExpelledÂwas likely to succeed in selling its message to a tremendous number of people. The "dodos" of theÂblogosphere responded with incredulity.ÂÂ
At the request of many skepticalityÂlisteners, we're pleased to feature this week's interview with Dr. Olson about his controversial opinions â andÂabout his new film,ÂSizzle: A Global Warming Comedy. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #077 - Don't Be Such a Scientist! - Interview: Dr. Randy Olson | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #075 - Words and Music - Interviews: Slau, author Scott Sigler | This week on SkepticalityÂwe talk to two good friends, both skeptics and podcasters making an impact in their areas of expertise.
Slavko Halatyn (known to his many fans as simply "Slau") has enjoyed a richÂcareer as both a music producer and award-winning recording artist. ÂDerek talks with Slau aboutÂhis work with other artists (like skeptical favoriteÂGeorge Hrab), being an early adopter of podsafe music â and the linksÂbetween his career, his world view, and his becoming legally blind at the age ofÂ21.
Author Scott Sigler sent a shot across the bow of mainstream publishingÂwhen, after first giving away his novel Ancestor for free as a PDF, the printedÂretail version then broke the Amazon.com top 10. As a result, Scott earnedÂhimself a seat at the table and a deal with Crown books. We talk to ScottÂabout his new novel Infected âÂreleased on April 1st and alreadyÂa bestseller. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #075 - Words and Music - Interviews: Slau, author Scott Sigler | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #073 - Your Water on Drugs - Interview: Dr. Shane Snyder, PhD | Last week, a widely circulated Associated Press story reported thatÂ"a vast array of pharmaceuticals â including antibiotics, anti-convulsants,Âmood stabilizers and sex hormones â have been found in he drinking waterÂsupplies of at least 41 million Americans."
Derek and Swoopy look beyond the headline hype in their interviewÂwith Dr. Shane Snyder, who published his first study on "Screening ofÂDrinking Water for Possible Endocrine Disrupting Compounds" over ten yearsÂago.Â
As a doctor of Environmental Toxicology and Zoology, Dr. Snyder hasÂdevoted most of his career to studying the evidence of chemical,Âenvironmental and pharmaceutical compounds in the water supplyâand whatÂharm, if any, it poses to the organisms that utilize it. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #073 - Your Water on Drugs - Interview: Dr. Shane Snyder, PhD | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #072 - Mystery Hunters - Interview: David Acer (Doubting Dave) | Can a kids' science and critical thinking television program beÂboth entertaining and informative? The award-winning Mystery Hunters,Âbeginning its fourth season, is proving that it can. On this week'sÂSkepticality, Swoopy talks with David Acerâknown to fans of Mystery HuntersÂas "Doubting Dave," the skeptical scientist who helps the junior members ofÂhis team (Araya Mengesha and Christina Broccolini) investigate paranormal mysteries.
David is a close up magician, comedian, and actor and writer for children's educational programs includingÂPopular Mechanics for Kids and Prank Patrol. David shares his thoughts about how to make debunking myths entertaining, and explains why it'sÂdifficult to get quality kids' science programs on TV in today's climate. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #072 - Mystery Hunters - Interview: David Acer (Doubting Dave) | Play in Popup.
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| skepticality #067 - Humanistic Judaism and Lily The Pink - Interview: Michael Adelson | This week Skepticality features Michael Adelson, a staff conductor for the New York Philharmonic, and conductor of the Auros Group for New Music in Boston.
Mr. Adelson had the good fortune to study with the late Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Rabbi Wine founded Humanistic Judaism, a secular movement which provides atheistic and ignostic Jews around the world with a means for organization, mobilization, and a sense of community.
Speaking to Swoopy as a skeptic, Mr. Adelson shares insights from his lecture series, the âForum for New Thinkingâ? (inspired by Rabbi Wine). He also takes a critical look at music history, dispelling some false beliefs about artists â creative humans who are often painted with the brush of divine inspiration.
Building on the musical theme, Swoopy talks to Canadian blue grass trio The Dirty Dishes about their new rendition of âLily The Pinkâ?, an ode to the late 1800âs âqueenâ? of patent medicine Lydia Pinkham. | Get at Short URL | Download skepticality #067 - Humanistic Judaism and Lily The Pink - Interview: Michael Adelson | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #065 - A Secret of the Universe - Interview: Author Stephen L. Gibson | ManyÂSkeptic readers are all too aware ofÂTheÂSecret, a slick repackaging of the principles of New Thought and UnityÂChristianity.Â
This week,ÂSkepticality tackles an altogether different secret. Derek and Swoopy talk with authorÂand podcaster Stephen L. Gibson about his own new book, A Secret of theÂUniverse. A far cry from most books that offer up a secret message, AÂSecret of the Universe is a work of dramatic allegory about how we come toÂform knowledge about the Big Questions: God, sexual ethics, morals,Âpolitical ideologyâand how those beliefs affect our actions, our lives, andÂthe world around us.
Then Derek gets an update from Jeff Wagg, General Manager of the James RandiÂEducational Foundation, about a recently administered Million DollarÂChallenge in which Jeff himself became a test subject. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #065 - A Secret of the Universe - Interview: Author Stephen L. Gibson | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #064 - Flock of Dodos - Interview: Dr. Randy Olson, evolutionary biologist turned film maker. | Recent episodes of Skepticality have touched on issues of outreach and activism in the skepticalÂcommunity, and how skeptics like Jeff Wagg, Alison Smith and Daniel LoxtonÂare using their particular talents to helpÂnurture science and critical thinking.
This week, Derek and Swoopy are pleased to continue thisÂtrend with their interview of evolutionary ecologist-turned-filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson.Â
Dr. Olson's film, Flock of Dodos: The Evolution -ÂIntelligent Design Circus, is not your typical evolution versus IDÂdocumentary.ÂRather than simply pitting one camp against the other, thisÂwhimsical film explores how the two sides of the debate market their ideasÂto the publicâand, more specifically, how the scientific community has failedÂto capture their audience as effectively as the Intelligent Design camp hasÂdone in recent years. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #064 - Flock of Dodos - Interview: Dr. Randy Olson, evolutionary biologist turned film maker. | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #061 - Skeptics invade a Sci-Fi Con - Interview: Jeff Wagg of the JREF and George Hrab | It seems for any particular social or interest group, there is a conventionâincluding skepticism. The danger is that niche meetings may speak best to those who have already heard the message.Â
For over a decade, Dragon*Con has been integrating factual science and space programming withÂscience fiction material from popularÂliterature, film, television and gaming, such asÂStar WarsÂand StarTrek. ThisÂyear, Derek and Swoopy workedÂalongside the directors ofÂDragon*Con's Space and Science programs Âto bring a contingent of notableÂskeptics to the world's largest culture convention.
On this episode, Jeff Wagg, general manager of the James Randi EducationalÂFoundation and musician, author and skeptic George Hrab share their Dragon*Con experiences, and discuss how skeptics can promote theirÂviews at conventions to help the skeptical movement find aÂbroader audience. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #061 - Skeptics invade a Sci-Fi Con - Interview: Jeff Wagg of the JREF and George Hrab | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #059 - Engineers, Astronomers, Lobbyists Updates: Kelly Comstock, Dr. Pamela Gay, Lori Lipman Brown | This week, SkepticalityÂtackles matters of politicsÂon Earth, and discoveries out in the universe. First up, environmental engineerÂKelly Comstock returns to answer listener questions from our bottled waterÂepisode and address concerns about potential dangers lurking in municipal water systems (likeÂchlorine and fluoride).
Then, Derek and Swoopy check in with their favorite lobbyist, Lori LipmanÂBrown from the Secular Coalition for America, regarding ongoingÂinvestigations into abuses of non-theists serving in our military, how theÂquestion of separation of church and state is being highlighted in recentÂpolitical debates, and what to look for when the legislature reconvenes inÂthe Fall.
Lastly, astrophysicist Dr. Pamela Gay shares her insights aboutÂrecent media attention paid to NASA troubles, the paper by two GermanÂphysicists who claim to have broken the speed of light, and the potentialÂdiscovery of inorganic cosmic dust with lifelike properties. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #059 - Engineers, Astronomers, Lobbyists Updates: Kelly Comstock, Dr. Pamela Gay, Lori Lipman Brown | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #058 - Back to the Tap, the truth about Bottled Water. Interview: Kelly Comstock, Environmental Engineer | Put down that designer bottle of H20! Did you know that If you choose to get your recommended eight glasses a day from bottled water, you could spend $1,400 US dollars annually? That same amount of tap water would cost about 49 cents.Â
Wealthy nations like the United States have some of the cleanest, cheapest and best tasting tap water in the world. The US is also the world's largest consumer of bottled water: 8.3 billion gallons in 2006 (about 26 gallons per person)!ÂWill our rising demand for bottled water harm our nation's aging water distribution and filtration infrastructure? And why are groups like Presbyterians for Restoring Creation boycotting bottled water?
On this week's Skepticality, Derek and Swoopy speak to Kelly Comstock, an environmental engineer and hydrologist who specializes in potable drinking water filtration technology, to answer these questionsâand get to the bottom of the bottled water debate. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #058 - Back to the Tap, the truth about Bottled Water. Interview: Kelly Comstock, Environmental Engineer | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #056 - The Search for iPhones and Aliens Interviews: Rob Walch of Today in iPhone, Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay | What's with all the media hype over the latest must-have electronic device,Âthe iPhone? This week on Skepticality, Derek and Swoopy talk toÂRob Walch, host of theÂTodayÂin iPhoneÂpodcast, about the cult of Apple's newest release and ask whether if itÂlives up to the hype.
While it seems most humans on Earth are busy looking for iPhones, theÂNational Academy of Sciences has published a report that states we need toÂstart looking for alien life with novel biochemistries.ÂFraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay, hosts of the Astronomy Cast, help Derek andÂSwoopy interpret the new report "The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems", andÂwhat it means for the search for life in the universe. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #056 - The Search for iPhones and Aliens Interviews: Rob Walch of Today in iPhone, Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay | Play in Popup.
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| Skepticality #055 - Santa Fe Courthouse Ghost Interview: Benjamin Radford solves the case of the "ghost" caught on video. | On the last episode of Skepticality, the "Skeptical Inquirer's"Âown Benjamin Radford discussed new Nessie sightings and other lake monsters from his comprehensive bookÂon the subject. This week, Ben is back to tackle a brand new paranormalÂmystery from his own back yard.
Almost over night, a video of a glowing, orb-like apparition at the courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico has soared into the media spotlight, with widespread news coverage andÂnearly 100,000 views on YouTube. Was itÂthe spirit of an infamous murderer, the ghost of a construction workerÂwho met his demise, or a disturbed Indian burial ground? Derek and SwoopyÂdiscuss paranormal investigation in the age of viral video with authorÂBenjamin Radford, who examined the video tape and went to the site toÂinvestigate the mysterious Santa Fe Courthouse Ghost. | Get at Short URL | Download Skepticality #055 - Santa Fe Courthouse Ghost Interview: Benjamin Radford solves the case of the "ghost" caught on video. | Play in Popup.
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