Misplaced Pages

Skeptoid: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 07:00, 25 September 2009 edit203.38.177.20 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 01:57, 13 February 2010 edit undoQrsdogg (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers6,586 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 9: Line 9:
Each roughly ten-minute Skeptoid episode focuses on a single pop culture phenomenon that is pseudoscientific in nature. Episodes usually fall into one of four categories: Each roughly ten-minute Skeptoid episode focuses on a single pop culture phenomenon that is pseudoscientific in nature. Episodes usually fall into one of four categories:


* Quack medical modalities; such as homeopathy, reflexology, detoxification, or chiropractic * Quack medical modalities: such as homeopathy, reflexology, detoxification, or chiropractic
* Popular cultural misconceptions; such as organic foods, SUVs, and global warming * Popular cultural misconceptions: such as organic foods, SUVs, and global warming
* Urban legends; such as crop circles, the Amityville Horror, the ], or the Philadelphia Experiment * Urban legends: such as crop circles, the Amityville Horror, the ], or the Philadelphia Experiment
* Religion and mythology; such as creation legends, alternative New Age religions, and concepts of sin * Religion and mythology: such as creation legends, alternative New Age religions, and concepts of sin


In May 2007, Skeptoid was announced as a qualifying media outlet for the James Randi Educational Foundation's "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge".<ref></ref> Applicants to the challenge must have a presence in popular broadcast media in order to qualify.<ref></ref> By passing a simple test of their paranormal ability and having it reported on the Skeptoid podcast, applicants can satisfy that primary requirement and then proceed to apply for the Challenge. In May 2007, Skeptoid was announced as a qualifying media outlet for the James Randi Educational Foundation's "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge".<ref></ref> Applicants to the challenge must have a presence in popular broadcast media in order to qualify.<ref></ref> By passing a simple test of their paranormal ability and having it reported on the Skeptoid podcast, applicants can satisfy that primary requirement and then proceed to apply for the Challenge.
Line 39: Line 39:
*{{cite web |url=http://www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=smashing_pseudoscience_with_skeptoid154 |title=New University » Smashing Pseudoscience with Skeptoid |format= |work= |accessdate=}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=smashing_pseudoscience_with_skeptoid154 |title=New University » Smashing Pseudoscience with Skeptoid |format= |work= |accessdate=}}
* by ] on ] * by ] on ]
*] examines his analysis of the ] * examines his analysis of the ]


] ]

Revision as of 01:57, 13 February 2010

File:300a.jpg
Skeptoid cover art, from skeptoid.com

Skeptoid is a weekly podcast created and hosted by American skeptic and author Brian Dunning. The show follows an audio essay format, and is dedicated to the critical examination of pseudoscience and the paranormal.

Along with similarly-themed Point of Inquiry, Skepticality: The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine, and The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, it is a Top-50 program on the iTunes (US) Science & Medicine podcast charts. Skeptoid has been featured on the Science Podcasts front page of iTunes since January 2008.

Skeptoid (ISBN 978-1434821669) is also the title of a 2008 book based on content from the Skeptoid podcast. The sequel "Skeptoid 2" (ISBN 978-1440422850) is now also available.

Each roughly ten-minute Skeptoid episode focuses on a single pop culture phenomenon that is pseudoscientific in nature. Episodes usually fall into one of four categories:

  • Quack medical modalities: such as homeopathy, reflexology, detoxification, or chiropractic
  • Popular cultural misconceptions: such as organic foods, SUVs, and global warming
  • Urban legends: such as crop circles, the Amityville Horror, the Phoenix Lights, or the Philadelphia Experiment
  • Religion and mythology: such as creation legends, alternative New Age religions, and concepts of sin

In May 2007, Skeptoid was announced as a qualifying media outlet for the James Randi Educational Foundation's "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge". Applicants to the challenge must have a presence in popular broadcast media in order to qualify. By passing a simple test of their paranormal ability and having it reported on the Skeptoid podcast, applicants can satisfy that primary requirement and then proceed to apply for the Challenge.

Skeptoid is also available as a free audiobook from Podiobooks.com.

Production

Skeptoid is recorded with professional studio microphones using Apple's GarageBand software. Sometimes short musical cues are mixed in, all of which is royalty free music also created in GarageBand.

Listenership

As of September 2008, skeptoid claims to have more than 60,000 listeners download the show each week. It is typically in the top 5 listings for science podcasts on the iTunes store.

References

  1. iTunes Science & Medicine Podcasts
  2. James Randi Educational Foundation
  3. James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge Application
  4. About Skeptoid
  5. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewGenre?id=1315

External links

Categories:
Skeptoid: Difference between revisions Add topic