Category: The Well-Known Skeptic
A column by aerospace engineer and Guerrilla Skeptic, Rob Palmer. It features articles on contemporary skeptical issues, and interviews with skeptical movement notables including conference speakers, scientists, skeptical activists, and popular skeptical podcasters.
Selling the Paranormal: A Peek inside The Spirit University
The mission statement of The Spirit University (TSU) reads as follows: [It is a] “premier learning center, serving people in Sarasota, FL and the world as it provides healing, inspiration, and adventure. Its classes, events, and one on one opportunities are for beginners and experts of all ages for personal and spiritual transformation, guidance on …
Anticipating CSICon 2022: A Video Interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson
This is the first in a series of interviews I am conducting with the speakers appearing at CSICon 2022, the conference that will take place in Las Vegas in October. First up is none other than Neil deGrasse Tyson!
Havana Syndrome: A Book Review
Why am I reviewing a book published two years ago? Because it was largely ignored by reviewers in 2020. Now, with claims in the news such as “no one is safe even at the White House,” it is more important than ever to educate yourself on this subject, and this book is a great way to do that.
Havana Syndrome: PhACT or Fiction?
Mass psychogenic illness expert and Havana Syndrome critic Robert Bartholomew recently participated in a live-streamed interview, hosted by PhACT and Skeptical Inquirer’s Rob Palmer. Here is the inside story.
Pondering the Published Predictions of Prominent Psychics
The results of the twelve-year effort to collect and score decades of published Australian psychic predictions is finally complete. Can you predict the results?
Encounter at PhACT with John de Lancie
John de Lancie, Star Trek’s Q, recently participated in a one-of-a-kind live-streamed interview, hosted by PhACT and Skeptical Inquirer’s Rob Palmer. Here is the inside story.
Oh No, It’s Ross Blocher! Part II
If you liked part one of my interview with Ross Blocher, you will love this conclusion where you will read about Ross’s experiences with firewalking, obstinate Flat-Earthers, dangerous hallucinogens, and drinking his own pee—all done in the service of his podcast’s loyal fans.
Oh No, It’s Ross Blocher! Part 1
In this article, Ross Blocher, cohost of the Oh No, Ross and Carrie! podcast, reveals some of the most fun, most informative, and most awkward moments he has experienced in service to the podcast’s loyal fans.
Meet CSI’s Newest Fellow: Kenny Biddle
Fellow Skeptical Inquirer columnist Kenny Biddle has just become a fellow of CFI. In this article, I catch up with the former ghost hunter and discuss this momentous milestone in his life, as well as all the good work he continues to do in the name of rationality and skepticism.
Nathan H. Lents on Our Not So Intelligent Design
Nathan H. Lents was a featured speaker at CSICon 2019, and his presentation on the not so intelligent design of the human body was one of my personal highlights. Following his recovery from a bad bout of COVID-19, I caught up with Lents to discuss these subjects and more.
Exploring Possible Worlds with Ann Druyan
The third season of Cosmos is finally out! So I took the opportunity to speak with its executive producer, writer, and director, Ann Druyan, about the show, its companion book, and the state of the world as we shelter in place, practice social distancing, and hope for a brighter future.
This article is available for free to all.A Psychic Fraud Investigator Weighs in on The Goop Lab
In this article, I reconnect with psychic fraud investigator Bob Nygaard to discuss his recent involvement with the skeptical movement and get his thoughts on the Netflix series The Goop Lab, which promotes “psychic mediums.”
Ecuadorian Equatorial Pseudoscience
On the way to the Galapagos islands, at a stop at the equator, I encountered more woo and fake news than any skeptic should have to bear. Here is my report.
Challenging Creationism at the Ark Encounter: An Interview with Bailey Harris
Author and CSICon speaker Bailey Harris has just released a video tour of Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter. In this article, I speak with the brave young lady about her adventure in that hostile faux ship as well as about her much more welcoming experience at CSICon.
CSICon 2019: Meet the First-Timers
Have you ever wondered why people attend CSICon, and what they thought of it? In this article, five first-time attendees give us some insight into those very questions.
Good Thinking with Michael Marshall
The Center for Inquiry is engaged in the battle against homeopathy in the United States. In the United Kingdom, that battle is being led by the Good Thinking Society. In this interview, I discuss details of the U.K. conflict with the GTS project director, Michael Marshall.
Science Friction: An Interview with the Production Team
If you’re coming to CSICon this year and can at all help it, don’t leave early. If you do, you’ll miss the private-screening of Skeptoid Media’s eagerly awaited documentary, Science Friction. In my interview with the film’s producer and director, we discuss this important project.
The Dragons of CSICon
The associations between dragons and skepticism that I can think of are few: there is the must-read book by Carl Sagan, The Dragons of Eden, as well as Sagan’s brilliant essay, The Dragon in My Garage (actually a chapter from The Demon-Haunted World). And more recently there was the first Skeptoid film, Here Be Dragons: …
Q&A with John de Lancie
Actor John de Lancie, Star Trek’s Q, will be speaking at CSICon 2019. If you are scratching your head wondering why, read on and you will wonder no more!
So, You Want to Speak at CSICon?
The call for papers has gone out for the CSICon 2019 Sunday Papers session. Here’s what it takes to secure a spot at that coveted podium.
Creencia en videntes: ¿Cuál es el peligro y a quién hay que culpar?
Unos pocos meses atrás, inesperadamente, recibí un e-mail de una mujer a quien llamaré Ann. Ella fue víctima de una “vidente”, y el texto del asunto decía: “Fraude psíquico u$s 42.000+”. El texto del email, y la copia adjunta del papeleo administrativo que Ana había presentado en la Corte Superior de Connecticut, era alarmante. En …
Belief in Psychics: What’s the Harm and Who’s to Blame?
Your friendly neighborhood psychic is offering free readings to new clients! What’s the harm in checking her out?
Mark Edward’s Psychic Blues
Mentalist Mark Edward discusses the release of his updated book, now in audio format: Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium and gives his thoughts on the public menace posed by psychic medium con artists and their promoters.
A Conversation with Skeptics’ Guide Rogue Jay Novella (Part 3)
In the final part of this interview, Jay discusses the growth of the SGU podcast, gender considerations at the NECSS conference, his parenting philosophy regarding science, and his close relative who is … wait for it … a flat earther.
Were the ‘Sonic Attacks’ on American Diplomats Just Sci-Fi?
Mass psychogenic illness expert Robert Bartholomew shares his latest thoughts on the (supposed) “sonic weapon” attacks on the U.S. embassy staff in Cuba and China.
Squaring the Skeptic with Celestia Ward (Part 2)
In part 2 of this interview, we discuss the History Channel’s Amelia Earhart debacle, mommy-woo, the Blue Whale Game, the influence of science fiction on skeptics, and chiropractic pseudoscience even a ten-year-old skeptic could see right through.
Squaring the Skeptic with Celestia Ward (Part 1)
Meet the multi-talented cohost of the Squaring the Strange podcast.
CSICon 2018: Meet the First-Timers
Have you ever wondered why people attend CSICon, and what they thought of it? In this article, five first-time attendees give us some insight into those very questions.
A Conversation with Skeptics’ Guide Rogue Jay Novella (Part 2)
In part 2 of this interview, we discuss the legacy of Perry DeAngelis, some Skeptics’ Guide segments including Jay’s all time favorite “Who’s That Noisy?”, and the Novella brothers’ science fiction review show Alpha Quadrant 6.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: A Book Review
For the two weeks I was listening to it during my daily commute, I couldn’t wait to get back in the car every weekday to pick up where I left off.
A Conversation with Skeptics’ Guide Rogue Jay Novella (Part 1)
Jay discussed the podcast and first SGU book.
Introducing Psychic-Busting Private Eye Bob Nygaard (Part 2)
Here is part 2 of my conversation with Nygaard.
Introducing Psychic-Busting Private Eye Bob Nygaard (Part 1)
Nygaard is a one-of-a-kind detective who specializes in bringing “psychic” con artists to justice.
A Report from the Inaugural NYC SpeedyCamp
On June 10, yours truly—someone who had never done a presentation anywhere as a skeptic with a capital “S”—was the very first speaker at the very first New York City Skeptics’ SpeedyCamp. So, of course I have absolutely no choice but to report on this event right here and now in my new column.
Guerrilla Skeptics: A Pathway to Skeptical Activism
I was lucky that I eventually stumbled upon a copy of Skeptical Inquirer in my school’s library, and it was that event that put me on the path to rationality.