The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:26 2026 Bent Spoon Now's your chance to nominate an individual, company or product in Australia that, in your opinion, is worthy of the Bent Spoon Award. Do you have your eyes on a psychic? Or maybe a particularly wacky peddler of magical thinking. Or could it be an alternative medicine practitioner using advanced nonexistence science! Nominations are now open via the link below. https://www.skeptics.com.au/about/activities/bent-spoon 00:11:58 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas The Great Supplement Displacement Once again, Kate puts on her skeptical glasses and looks closely at an aspect of the wellness and supplement industry. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), a form of carnitine supplement, is widely suggested to reduce or eliminate brain fog by enhancing mental clarity, focus, and energy production in brain cells. But what's the real story? Sometimes a few grains of truth are scattered around an otherwise extraordinary claim. Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass Kate's New Podcast! "On The 'Mones" https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-mones/id1862699491?i=1000741949131 0:21:40 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:35:28 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Energy Medicine. 2003.04.28 - The Hour - Connecticut 2003.04.28 - Manila Standard http://www.trove.nla.gov.au https://vivaciouslivingcentre.com.au/therapists/metatron-bioresonance-scanning

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:06:46 TikTok Psychic Attack Only the Skeptic Zone podcast is brave enough to investigate the important but little spoken about public health imperative of...."Psychic Attack!" Is your psychic being attacked? Is your psychic attacking you? What can we do about this dangerous situation in our society? A look at what some people in today's day and age still believe that should've been discarded when we stopped burning people at the stake for being witches. 00:19:22 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hil Adrienne speaks with former ghost hunter Jon Michael about his skeptical activist successes since we met at the Raleigh Skepticamp in May, which range from speaking at paranormal conferences to Dragon Con. 0:33:30 For Cryin' Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod Kat is back with the PSYCH 441 class at MacEwan University to follow up on the experiment; did the volunteers have good luck? Ghostly experiences? Did they unleash a curse when they opened the box? All will be revealed. 0:45:22 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Tasseography (Tea Cup Reading). With Lara Benham. 2007.07.22 - The Star-News - Wilington North Carolina 1969.10.31 - The Windsor Star - Canada 2008.02.20 - The Sidney Herald - Canada http://www.trove.nla.gov.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:00 The "Why Smart Women Zone" Podcast - Part #1 LIVE from the Occidental Hotel in Sydney Australia, comes a combination of two of Australia's favourite critical thinking and skeptical podcasts. The combination of the "Why Smart Women" podcast and "The Skeptic Zone" podcast. Join hosts Annie McCubbin and Richard Saunders with special guests Kate Thomas, Sue Ieraci and the president of Australian Skeptics, Jessica Singer. 0:39:46 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au RFK Jr. War of Flouride https://youtu.be/LDXiP8KhXKA 00:50:16 The "Why Smart Women Zone" Podcast - Part #2 LIVE from the Occidental Hotel in Sydney Australia, comes a combination of two of Australia's favourite critical thinking and skeptical podcasts. The combination of the "Why Smart Women" podcast and "The Skeptic Zone" podcast. Join MC Lara Benham with hosts Annie McCubbin and Richard Saunders and special guests Kate Thomas, Sue Ieraci, and the president of Australian Skeptics, Jessica Singer. 01:09:08 Q&A - Interaction The unedited interaction with an audience member who, under the pretence of asking a question, takes the opportunity to put her strongly held views. Also The Skeptic Zone #896 - 7.December.2025 - Video https://youtu.be/4_uYURND9-8

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:14 3i Atlas Update As Comet 3i Atlas emerges from behind the sun, we take a look at the latest news from NASA that confirms the object is not in fact being piloted by space racing aliens. Will this stop the UFO crowd from posting nonsense on social media? Avi Loeb is a Fraud Part 2 - Prof. Dave https://youtu.be/lf9oBlkQQCo 0:16:40 The Loon from Canada The Pink Tax! Kate & Allie chat to Karen Bijkersma from Melbourne about her investigations into what has been called "The Pink Tax", a extra charge put on consumables aimed to extract more dollars out of women. The term comes about from the fact that some objects are identical for men and women apart from the colour, which is often pink. The colour pink should not mean more money at the register. https://karenbijkersma.com.au 0:40:42 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Naturopaths. Joining in this week's segment is Lara Benham. 1995.06.20 - Times - Victor Harbor, SA 1993.11.28 - Lewiston Morning Tribune http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub "Why Smart Women Zone" live podcast recording - 4 December https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:07:18 The Think Tank Our international team spent time with Dr Siouxsie Wiles from New Zealand. Dr Siouxsie has been the victim of outrageous harassment after her efforts to promote vaccines and good science during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Siouxsie is joined by Adrienne Hill, Kat McLeod, Kate Thomas and Lara Benham. Support Dr Siouxsie https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/8521-support-dr-siouxsie-after-she-supported-us Ms. Information - Documentary https://ondemand.arovideo.co.nz/film/ms-information 00:26:58 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas Questioning the Qualifications of Naturopaths In Australia anybody can call themselves a Naturopath. You don't need any formal training, you don't need to know which end of the stethoscope is which, you don't need to know anything about biology or physiology. Kate looks at why so many people in our society think Naturopaths are just like doctors and other real healthcare professionals. Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass 0:35:00 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:47:46 The TROVE Archives A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to the quackery of Reflexology. 2000.12.25 - Boca Raton News 1999.01.24 - The Item http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub "Why Smart Women Zone" live podcast recording - 4 December https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics