Show Notes
Welcome to the new year! Obviously we start with some reflections on 2025 and we also give a shout-out to Haley Stevens and her article about Wikipedia in the Skeptic UK. In TWISH we learn that the practice of New Year’s resolutions is ancient although each resolution seldom lasts longer than a week or two. Then we look into the news for this week: INTERNATIONAL: Five lessons from fact checking in 2025 ITALY: Lega only party refusing to agree not to use deepfake to attack political opponents SWEDEN: Fact check: How Sweden uses imported trash to produce electricity and heat homes INTERNATIONAL: Review of Autism Therapies finds they don’t hold up UK: Robin Ince quits The Infinite Monkey Cage UK: Use of AI for emotional support alarmingly widespread The EU Chat Control 2.0 regulation is meant to prevent the spread of child abuse material but gets the Really Wrong Award for being ineffective and because it would have very serious effects on integrity. It’s a well meaning by bad idea. Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-512.html Segments: 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:51 Greetings 0:22:32 TWISH 0:27:56 News 0:59:16 Really Wrong 1:02:39 Quote 1:05:02 Outro 1:06:25 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The European Skeptics Podcast - The ESP
Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK, a former President and current Ambassador of Humanists International, and author of a number of books on humanism and secularism. In this episode we have him back on the show to talk about his upcoming book: How to be a Happy Human: Seven Humanist Foundations for a Better Life. Not a self-help book, it still guides you on how to find meaning in life and come to terms with the fact that this is the one chance we get – and that that is good thing. Enjoy!
The number curse is getting worse! The Dutch Meester Kakadoris Award has been awarded, Patreon is changing its rules (but please still subscribe!) and next week sees two big Skeptical events: Global Skeptics in the Pub and ESC Liverpool. Join one of them or both! In TWISH we hear about Henry Cavendish (no relation to bananas) and then we get to the news: ISRAEL / INTERNATIONAL: Conspiracy theories about Flydubai attack spread across social media RUSSIA / UKRAINE / GERMANY: Russian disinformation campaigns are getting more sophisticated SWEDEN: Reports of election fraud – are they real? The Really Wrong Award goes to Barbara O’Neill, the Australian quack who is currently touring Europe (and the world). Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-552.html Segments: 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:51 Greetings 0:12:04 TWISH 0:23:57 News 0:41:11 Really Wrong 0:45:19 Quote 0:47:28 Outro 0:48:51 Outtakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pontus report back from the bookfair and András has apparently also been struck by the numbers curse. In TWISH we look back at the first TAM London conference in 2009 and find that it can been seen as a milestone for European Skepticism. Then we take a look at the news: INTERNATIONAL: Rare pregnancy infections may triple the risk of autism NORTHERN IRELAND: What do 16-year-olds believe? UK: UK will set up a new agency to fight ‘information warfare’ Supplements for menopause are unreasonably expensive as well as ineffective and for that they deserve the Really Wrong Award.
We start by Pontus correcting himself on numbers he uttered, then we contemplate whether the recent Russian election results hold water. In TWISH we celebrate the real giant of science Michael Faraday commemorating his brilliant method to prove the ideomotor phenomenon. Then we turn to the news:
For over a decade we have mispronounced a certain publisher’s name (duh!) but it’s never too late to learn… The Swedish election results are more or less in, and hopefully it’s a sign of reason that the party spreading the most disinformation lost almost 15% of their seats in parliament. In TWISH we hear the mesmerizing story about Jean Sylvain Bailly who was a French astronomer, mathematician, freemason, and political leader of the early part of the French Revolution. Then we turn to the news: