The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Hosting Dr. Steven Novella
Rebecca Watson
Jay Novella
Robert Novella
Evan Bernstein
Updates Weekly
Debut May 4, 2005
Genre Science and skepticism
Website www.theskepticsguide.org

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80 minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation. The show features discussions of myths, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, the paranormal, and many general forms of woo-woo, from the point of view of scientific skepticism. The show also features discussions of recent scientific developments in layman's terms, and interviews authors, people in the area of science and other famous skeptics. The host of the show has been particularly active in debunking pseudoscience in medicine. His recent activities include opposing the claims of anti-vaccine activists, homeopathy practitioners and individuals denying the link between HIV and AIDS.[1][2][3]

Contents

Production

The show is prerecorded via a Skype conference call. Each caller records their own audio and then the locally recorded tracks are mixed together. Steven Novella does the editing of the show himself. British comedian and skeptic Iszi Lawrence provides voice-over introductions for the show and certain segments. Prior to April 13, 2011, each segment was introduced by the ex-wife of podcast member Jay Novella.[4]

Segments

Opening
The Skeptics' Guide opens with Steven Novella introducing each panelist in attendance, typically leading to the retrospective segment "This Day in Skepticism". The panelists then discuss that week's top news stories of concern to skeptics. This is generally followed with answering of listener email.
"Who's That Noisy?"
Bernstein plays a sound clip for listeners to guess what, or who it is.
Interview
Most weeks the panel will interview a guest skeptic or scientist.
"Science or Fiction"
Steven Novella presents the panelists with three recent stories of a scientific nature, one of which is fiction. The co-hosts then have to use their knowledge of science and skeptical senses to figure out which story is fiction. The fake story may either be a complete fabrication or based on a factual story with a critical detail changed to make it fictitious. "Science or Fiction" is occasionally themed, such that all stories discuss similar topics.
"Skeptical Quote"
The show closes with Jay Novella reading a quote from a famous person that is relevant to skepticism or science. Bob did the first skeptical quote although it wasn't really specific to any one of the rogues. ("Isaac Asimov. A scientist fiction writer of some note.") Jay announces the source in an exaggerated radio announcer voice. On May 10, 2008 host Steven Novella posted a survey] on the SGU message board asking listeners if they preferred Jay read the source of the quote before or after the reading of the quote.[5] The voting is open ended.

Only since 2010, has the "Who's That Noisy?" segment been before the interview; pre-2010, it was just before the "Skeptical Quote".

Most podcasts last a little over an hour but on September 23, 2011 SGU produced a 24 hour-long podcast with contributions by skeptics from around the world. It was referred to as SGU-24.

Occasional and defunct segments

"Guest Rogue"
Since the start of 2010, sometimes, instead of having an interview, the Skeptic's Guide will invite a "guest rogue" to be present throughout the show including the news and "Science or Fiction" segments, as if they were one of the cast.
"Skeptical Puzzle"
At the end of the show, Evan Bernstein used to present the listeners with a skeptical puzzle, usually about some person or topic within the field of pseudoscience. Occasionally the puzzle was presented in verse, and on Episode 96 it was presented as if by a fictional skeptical rapper Kom’n Cents.[6] Listeners would answer the puzzle via email or on the message board. Recognition (albeit no actual cash prize or gift) was given the following week to the first person to correctly answer the puzzle. The Skeptical puzzle has been discontinued since episode #130 to allow Evan to concentrate on other areas including SGU 5x5.
"Randi Speaks"
As of September 20, 2006, James Randi joined the podcast providing a commentary segment called "Randi Speaks". Randi, a professional magician and skeptic, expounds upon a topic on his mind for that week which may or may not have to do with skeptical matters. The segment disappeared for a period but returned for the August 8, 2007 episode with a different format. Instead of Randi delivering a prepared essay, an SGU host asks Randi a question which Randi then answers and expands upon.
"Name That Logical Fallacy"
Steven Novella regularly presents the panelists with a recent argument, usually of a pseudoscientific nature, that has either appeared in recent news or has been submitted by listeners for consideration. The panelists are challenged to point out the flaws in the presented argument, with specific references to any logical fallacies employed. The segment debuted during Episode 40 but it is not featured in every show.[7] Many of the fallacies named are taken from the show's "Top 20 Logical Fallacies" list.[8]
"Swindlers List"
Starting on May 21, 2011, Jay Novella talks about a particular scam he has discovered or been told about. The first scam featured in this section was Bidsell.com.[9]

Theme music

The show's theme music is "Theorem" by the San Francisco rock band, Kineto.[10] The theme was acquired from the Podsafe Music Network. Prior to the November 2, 2005 show, Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science" was the show's theme.

Guests

Most Skeptics' Guide episodes contain interviews. Often the interviews feature well-known scientists or skeptics, for instance Massimo Pigliucci or Joe Nickell. Rarely the guests are proponents of fringe or pseudoscientific views. Notable guests include:[11]

Recognition

The Skeptics' Guide won the 2009 Podcast Awards in the "Education" category,[16] and the 2010 Podcast Awards in the science category.[17]

SGU 5x5

A companion podcast, The Skeptics' Guide 5x5 (SGU 5x5 for short), billed as "five minutes with five skeptics",[18] offers single-topic episodes which often delve into specific types of logical fallacy.[19]

Perry DeAngelis

On August 19, 2007, co-host Perry DeAngelis died,[20] shortly before his 44th birthday. Perry had been suffering from a number of chronic illnesses (most significantly scleroderma). During the week before his passing, apparently heavily medicated, Perry phoned in his contribution to the Skeptical quote segment (which he was responsible for at the time) from his hospital room.

References

  1. ^ Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell IR, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "A debate: homeopathy—quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". J Altern Complement Med 14 (1): 9–15. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.0770. PMID 18199017. 
  2. ^ Gold PW, Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell I, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "Homeopathy—quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". Homeopathy 97 (1): 28–33. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2007.12.002. PMID 18194763. 
  3. ^ Smith TC, Novella SP (2007). "HIV Denial in the Internet Era". PLoS Med 4 (8): e256. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040256. PMC 1949841. PMID 17713982. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1949841. 
  4. ^ SGU episode #69. 2006-11-15. 01:41 minutes in.
  5. ^ http://skepchick.org/skepticsguide/index.php/topic,10521.0.html
  6. ^ "Episode 96". Official Skeptics' Guide Site. http://www.theskepticsguide.org/skepticsguide/podcastinfo.asp?pid=96. 
  7. ^ "Episode 40". Official Skeptics' Guide Site. http://www.theskepticsguide.org/skepticsguide/podcast-042606.html. 
  8. ^ Novella, Steven. "Top 20 Logical Fallacies". Official Skeptics' Guide Site. http://www.theskepticsguide.org/logicalfallacies.asp. 
  9. ^ The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 305 - 5/18/2011 Episode Show Notes
  10. ^ Kineto's Myspace page
  11. ^ "Interviewees". SGUfans.net. http://www.sgufans.net/interviewees/interviewees-index.html. 
  12. ^ Jimmy Carter: No Truth to UFO Rumors. . Marketwire]. November 5, 2007. http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=788703. Retrieved 2007-11-17. 
  13. ^ "Larry King needs a new format". The Herald Tribune. 2008-01-21. http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/BLOG32/996238330&start=1. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
  14. ^ Novella, Steven (11 August 2010), "Podcast 265 - August 11, 2010", The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcastinfo.aspx?mid=1&pid=265, retrieved December 3, 2011 
  15. ^ Novella, Steven (3 December 2011), "Podcast 333 - December 03, 2011", The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, http://theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcastinfo.aspx?mid=1&pid=333, retrieved 6 December 2011 
  16. ^ "2009 People's Choice Winners". Podcast Awards. http://www.podcastawards.com/. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
  17. ^ "2010 Winners and Nominees". Podcast Awards. http://www.podcastawards.com/. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
  18. ^ "The NESS". The New England Skeptical Society. http://www.theness.com/. Retrieved January 8, 2010. 
  19. ^ Strohmeyer, Robert (December 15, 2009). "The Web's Most Illogical Arguments". Computerworld (IDG News Service). http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=9309FF4D-1A64-67EA-E45DF52DAF5A3A35. Retrieved January 8, 2010. 
  20. ^ Novella, Steven. "Perry DeAngelis: 8/22/1963 8/19/2007". NeuroLogica Blog. http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=647. 

External links