The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Presentation
Hosted by	Dr. Steven Novella Jay Novella Robert Novella Evan Bernstein Cara Santa Maria
Genre	Science and skepticism
Updates	Weekly
Publication
Debut	May 4, 2005
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. The show features discussions of recent scientific developments in layman's terms, and interviews authors, people in the area of science and other famous skeptics. The show also includes discussions of myths, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, the paranormal, and many general forms of superstition, from the point of view of scientific skepticism. Steven Novella, the host of the show, has been particularly active in debunking pseudoscience in medicine. His activities include opposing the claims of anti-vaccine activists, homeopathy practitioners and individuals denying the link between HIV and AIDS.^[1][2][3]

Hosts

• Steven Novella, the principal host of the show, is an American clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine.^[4] He is the president of the New England Skeptical Society (NESS),^[5] and he is the author of the blogs NeuroLogica and executive editor and regular contributor to Science-Based Medicine.^[6][7]
• Jay Novella
• Robert "Bob" Novella
• Evan Bernstein
• Cara Santa Maria -From July 18, 2015

Former hosts

• Perry DeAngelis -On August 19, 2007, co-host DeAngelis died, shortly before his 44th birthday after suffering from a number of chronic illnesses (most significantly scleroderma).^[8] During the two weeks before his passing, DeAngelis phoned in his contribution to the Skeptical quote segment for which he was responsible at the time from his hospital room.
• Rebecca Watson -From March 29, 2006 to December 27, 2014. On December 27, 2014, co-host Watson announced that she has recorded her final show prior to leaving the organization.^[9]

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 and post-production 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 now ex-wife of podcast member Jay Novella.^[10]

The SGU crew during TAM9 in Las Vegas 2011

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.

"Forgotten Superheroes of Science"

Bob Novella describes a notable scientific figure from the past who is not well-known, ending with an encouragement to mention the figure to your friends when discussing their obscure area of expertise.

"Who's That Noisy?"

A sound clip is played for listeners to guess what, or who it is. This segment was originally hosted by Bernstein, but is currently hosted by Jay Novella.

"A Quickie with Bob"

Any of the rogues (apart from Bob) can ask for 'a quickie with Bob' who will then address an issue of current scientific news. Tends to happen before the interview section in around one minute, to a set length piece of background music.

Interview

Most weeks the panel 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.^[11] 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 around 80 minutes 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.^[12] 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, though he has since occasionally offered a logic puzzle in lieu of "Who's That Noisy?".

This Day in History

Until 2015, the first segment after introductions was a description of a historical event of scientific or skeptical importance whose anniversary falls on the date of recording or the date the podcast is released.

"Randi Speaks"

As of September 20, 2006, James Randi joined the podcast providing a pre-recorded 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.^[13] Many of the fallacies named are taken from the show's "Top 20 Logical Fallacies" list.^[14]

"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.^[15]

"The Dumbest Thing I Heard All Week"

Steve Novella occasionally recounts a subpar article he read during the past week and explains what is wrong with it.

Theme music

The show's theme music is "Theorem" by the San Francisco rock band, Kineto.^[16] 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:^[17]

Recognition

The Skeptics' Guide won the 2009 Podcast Awards in the "Education" category, and the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 Podcast Awards in the "Science" category.^[21]

It also was a 2014 “Dose of Rationality” Top 10 Podcast,^[22] and a 2010 Physics.org Best Podcast nominee.^[23]

Sponsors and membership

On July 30, 2013, Dr. Steven Novella announced that the SGU would begin offering membership and airing sponsors. Dr. Novella went on to say that the money raised would go into funding skeptical activities, including but not limited to, development of skeptical educational content and web-series such as "Occ The Skeptical Caveman." The addition of sponsors is not permanent, according to Dr. Novella, they shall be removed "if 4% of listeners support the SGU through membership at an average of the $8 per month level."^[24] Though membership has begun, the SGU continues to publish a free weekly sponsored podcast. Membership entitles one to an ad-free version of The SGU, extra content, and discounts to NECSS (The Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism). Membership range from $4/month to $200/month.^[25]

SGU 5x5

A companion podcast, The Skeptics' Guide 5x5 (SGU 5x5 for short), billed as "five minutes with five skeptics",^[26] offers single-topic episodes which often delve into specific types of logical fallacy.^[27] SGU 5x5 does not appear regularly. There were no episodes between 000000002011-01-26-0000January 26, 2011 and 000000002012-02-08-0000February 8, 2012, and there have been no new episodes since 000000002012-05-09-0000May 9, 2012.^[28]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.

• The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe official website
• New England Skeptical Society Homepage
• SGU Transcripts