Episode #053

The Skeptic Podcast

Feb 27

Overview Shownote Highlights Transcript Chapters Pins

Shownote

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On th...

Highlights

This episode of The Skeptic podcast critically examines four contemporary topics where pseudoscience, misinformation, and ideological distortion intersect with everyday concerns—from backyard bird feeding to grief exploitation, conspiracy logic, and food-related fearmongering.

03:47

Contaminated bird feeders led to a significant decline in Green Finches in 2005

15:40

The last reading about a suicide was heart-wrenching but vague

32:09

Conspiracy theories like QAnon and the Great Replacement are reboots of anti-Semitic narratives

40:37

WEF recommends insects mainly as animal feed and for sustainability—not as a forced human diet

Chapters

Birdfeeders are very popular, but are they what's best for our feathered friends?

00:00

An unconvincing 'psychic' night in Hamilton with medium Elaine Claire

09:37

Beware the 'They': once we believe in hidden, evil cabals, we can be convinced of anything

19:58

I will eat the bugs: the latest insect-eating meme from conspiracy theorists doesn't scare me

34:08

Transcript

Michael Marshall: From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, you're listening to The Skeptic Podcast. Since 1987, The Skeptic has been publishing expert, skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory, and claims of the paranormal. Here, we bring you ...