The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP

ESC Liverpool speakers announced, Wasp-watch big reveal and listener feedback about Triodos Bank. The bulk of the episode is a trip down memory lane with a rebroadcast of our interview with James the Amazing Randi from ten years ago. It’s really worth a listen!
The Really Wrong Award goes to Richard Tice of Reform UK for saying people should “enjoy the heat” of the recent climate crisis.
Enjoy!
https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-545.html
Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:54 Greetings
0:14:30 Interview
1:14:35 Really Wrong
1:17:12 Quote
1:18:15 Outro
1:19:37 Outtakes
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This week we have a special solar eclipse report (video available!) and two tips of UK free tourist tours relevant for skeptics. In TWISH we hear about Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology.
Then, it’s time for the news:

EUROPE: Warmest summer ever in Western Europe, warmest global sea temperatures on record – and the economy suffers too
HUNGARY: Fake AI ads exploit Semmelweis University to sell miracle weight loss patches
INTERNATIONAL: Scam targets film fans with fake streaming sites
ROMANIA: TikTok hoax leads to violent ambulance attack in Romania

The Really Wrong Award goes to Google for its stupid idea of letting users create fake AI maps on Google Earth.

https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-544.html

Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:50 Greetings
0:16:48 TWISH
0:28:40 News
0:52:46 Really Wrong
0:56:11 Quote
0:58:40 Outro
1:00:03 Outtakes
Enjoy!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super packed episode this week, with four of Annika’s Skepticon interviews and Brian Eggo sitting in for András. We talk about the upcoming SkeptiCamp in Liverpool, the on-going Edinburgh Fringe and its skeptical series of events, and next week’s solar eclipse in Europe. After interviews with Cara Santa Maria, Eran Segev, Lara Benham, Steve and Bob Novella, we get into TWISH where we hear about the unlikely adventures (and ultimately tragic end) of Lord Gordon Gordon, a man who almost made the US invade Canada. Then, we turn to the news:

SWEDEN: Pontus Pokes the Politicians: Seven years later – chickenpox vaccination to finally be included in Swedish vaccination program – next year
EU / CHINA: AliExpress fined record €550m by EU for allowing sale of illegal goods
ITALY: Con artist jailed for charging tourists to visit ‘world’s oldest and largest amphitheater’ – which he built himself, 20 years ago
This week’s Really Wrong Award goes to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway who cannot seem to stop using her royal title for esoteric nonsense.
Enjoy!
https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-543.html
Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:56 Greetings
0:09:05 Interviews
0:09:09 Cara Santa Maria
0:19:57 Eran Segev
0:28:21 Lara Benham
0:32:52 Steve and Bob Novella
0:40:29 TWISH
0:47:42 News
1:06:19 Really Wrong
1:13:42 Quote
1:16:25 Outro
1:17:47 Outtakes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we mention World Hepatitis Day (28 July) and new study that (again) finds no relationship between mobile cellphones and cancer. We also have two short interviews by Annika(!) from Skepticon Australia, with Richard Saunders and George Hrab! In TWISH we hear about John Tyndall, Irish physicist and great science communicator.
Then we take a look at the news:
SWEDEN: Quackery round-up: Frequency therapy
AUSTRIA: Kneipp Therapy: Popular tradition, still very little evidence
FRANCE / SPAIN: Wildfires in France and Spain
INTERNATIONAL: Snopes’ AI detection toolkit
The Really Wrong Award goes to the new phenomenon of ‘Agentic AI’.
Enjoy!

https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-542.html

Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
0:12:04 Interviews
0:21:19 TWISH
0:29:38 News
0:50:42 Really Wrong
0:56:27 Quote
0:58:53 Outro
1:00:16 Outtakes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with some listener feedback from Poland and a short follow-up regarding last week’s report on pet whisperers. In TWISH we hear about Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, a German astronomer, physicist and mathematician whose way of thinking still influences both scientific rigor and skepticism today.
Then, we take a look at the news:

INTERNATIONAL: New weather-related threat: Forecast prediction scams
HUNGARY: Chief Medical Officer issues statement to warn against use of ivermectin and the like as cancer cure
SCANDINAVIA: Forget the Vikings? Postdoctoral fellow critical of image portrayed by museums of the Viking era
The Really Wrong Award goes to BB Gårda, a so-called “Birth Center” in Sweden and the idea that such centers would be a positive development.

Enjoy!
https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-541.html
Segments:
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:50 Greetings
0:07:16 TWISH
0:16:09 News
0:33:03 Really Wrong
0:42:03 Quote
0:43:33 Outro
0:44:56 Outtakes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.