Wet Blanket Skeptics Podcast

2018-08-27: The Illusion of Explanatory Depth, Optimism Bias, and Futurism

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about the illusion of explanatory depth, optimism bias, Alex Jones, Tinder, bitcoin, socialism, capitalism, economics, the war against the media, futurism, and teleportation.

References:

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/~rlawson/PDF_Files/L-M&C-2006.pdf

https://twistedsifter.com/2016/04/artist-asks-people-to-draw-bicycle-from-memory-and-renders-results/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-infowars/apple-youtube-and-others-drop-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-idUSKBN1KR0MZ

https://gizmodo.com/woman-tricks-dozens-of-men-on-tinder-into-showing-up-fo-1828467914

https://www.npr.org/2017/03/02/517915510/americas-complacent-class-how-self-segregation-is-leading-to-stagnation

2016-12-04: The Sunk Cost Fallacy

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about recording in-person, the sunk cost fallacy, Richard Spencer, the election results, the Pope, zipper merging, sacred cows, and lessons learned.

References:

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/251836-we-re-so-self-important-everybody-s-going-to-save-something-now-save
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/07/the-beauty-of-zipper-merging-or-why-you-should-drive-ruder/

Harrison's recommended podcasts:

http://pennsundayschool.com/

Skepticism: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/ and http://ohnopodcast.com/

Rationality: http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/

Economics: http://www.econtalk.org/

Politics: http://the-e-r-podcast.foreignpolicy.com/

2016-11-20: Ramble On

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 14:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison, Jake and Joe talk about the election results, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, diabetes, the Bermuda Triangle, space travel, and audio issues.

References:

http://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/07/tuesday-shouldnt-change-the-narrative/

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccdfzq2M1Ec

https://www.facebook.com/officialdanagould/posts/947789788661093

http://skepdic.com/bermuda.html

http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/12/trans-teen-suicide-spike-post-election

https://www.washingtonpost.com/2016-election-results/us-presidential-race/

2016-11-13: Sugar

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 14:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about voting, TCM, meteorology, sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, addiction, food documentaries, DNA, and the Bermuda triangle.

References:

http://phys.org/news/2016-10-scientists-great-barrier-reef.html#nRlv

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/14/great-barrier-reef-severe-stress-not-dead-yet

http://www.yalescientific.org/2010/09/mythbusters-does-sugar-really-make-children-hyper/

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/high-fructose-corn-syrup/

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-sweetener-wars-hfcs-strikes-back/

http://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/high-fructose-corn-syrup-addictive-myth/

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/does-the-movie-fed-up-make-sense/

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4088

http://azdailysun.com/news/national/human-dna-tied-mostly-to-single-exodus-from-africa-long/article_4dd9c676-bf0c-52c0-8a79-8249722ef66d.htm

2016-11-06: Skepticism 201

Sun, 06 Nov 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison, Jake, and Joe talk about the show's final episodes, Katie May, chiropractic, unfriending on social media, scientism, Skepchick, Rebecca Watson, elevatorgate, rape accusations, Exxon, the Great Barrier Reef, and devil's milk.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9TpRfDdyU0

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2016/10/20/mystery-solved-chiropractic-manipulation-of-the-neck-did-cause-katie-mays-death-from-stroke/

https://gimletmedia.com/episode/9-forensic-science

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

http://www.snopes.com/racial/language/le-a.asp

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/

http://skepchick.org/

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1004-tavris-what-is-rape-20151004-story.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGMi0UtvTIc

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-18/exxon-decides-to-fight-new-york-s-climate-change-probe

http://www.outsideonline.com/2112086/obituary-great-barrier-reef-25-million-bc-2016

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/devils-milk-could-be-the-killer-ingredient-in-war-on-superbugs-20161014-gs29l5.html

2016-10-09: Scientism

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison, Jake, and Joe talk about racism, heroin, vaccine-preventable diseases, chiropractic, scientism, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Kurt Vonnegut, climate change, and time crystals.

References:

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-are-immediate-short-term-effects-heroin-use

http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/heroin/organs.html

http://time.com/27308/4-diseases-making-a-comeback-thanks-to-anti-vaxxers/

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/586

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0393082067

http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/08/steven-pinker-embraces-scientism-bad.html

https://gradycarter.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/20120831-115749.jpg

http://www.popsci.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-just-proposed-government-that-doesnt-work

http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/9119/images/notripevpyr.jpg

http://www.openculture.com/2016/07/in-1988-kurt-vonnegut-gives-seven-pieces-advice-to-people-living-in-2088.html

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/400-ppm-carbon-dioxide-spiral-20748

http://azdailysun.com/news/national/greenland-ice-loss-trillion-pounds-bigger-than-thought/article_325429f7-fc69-589f-a7ab-f28c6aca2e56.html

http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/impossible-time-crystals-may-actually-be-real-say-physicists

http://nypost.com/2016/08/27/its-digital-heroin-how-screens-turn-kids-into-psychotic-junkies/

2016-10-02: Joe and the Litmus Test

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Jake is absent, so Harrison performs a skeptical litmus test on Joe, where they talk about vaccines, psychics, ghosts, conspiracy theories, and more. *Spoiler alert for Zoolander 2*

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfdZTZQvuCo

http://www.skepticink.com/tombc/

2016-09-25: Placebo

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about the illusion of explanatory depth, randomized controlled trials, placebos, placebo effects, alternative medicine, marijuana, and a Chinese satellite.

References:

http://herewearepodcast.com//episode/64/philip-fernbach

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/02/492394717/fda-bans-19-chemicals-used-in-antibacterial-soaps

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_in_the_Land_of_Chalk_Drawings

https://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/08/21/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0A_7JVce2g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-hYHqnyhvI

http://huffpost.com/us/entry/203990

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-it-worked-for-me-gambit/

http://bestbuds.com/fbi-hackers-smoke-weed/

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/chinas-tiangong-1-space-station-will-fall-to-earth--somewhere--in-2017-20160921-grlodq.html

2016-09-18: #election2016 Again

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about bidets, Rob Zombie, third-party candidates, Clinton cash, the Trump Foundation, Gary Johnson, Aleppo, Jill Stein, Ajamu Baraka, voting strategies, truth, and conspiracy theorists.

References:

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-bidet-toilet-seat-washlet/

http://chemistry.about.com/od/waterchemistry/f/Can-You-Drink-Distilled-Water.htm

http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/evidence/gold.html

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jul/07/fact-checking-donations-clinton-foundation/

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/12/1569223/-The-Trump-Foundation-is-a-real-scandal-and-it-should-be-a-campaign-ending-scandal

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/gary-johnson/

https://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/4yf1kk/cnn_recently_hosted_a_green_party_town_hall_i/

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/gist/2016/09/former_bush_adviser_kori_schake_explains_her_pledge_to_vote_for_hillary.html

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/295409-johnson-tops-among-veterans

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/the-sandy-hook-hoax.html

2016-09-11: Mental Illness

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about jet fuel, steel beams, lifestraws, pulchronomics, the autism spectrum, methane clathrate, the difference model, denial of mental illness, depression, Politifact, and protesting oil pipelines.

References:

http://www.givewell.org/international/health/water/process

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martha-ts-laham-/sitting-pretty-good-looking-people-make-more-money-but-its-not-all-roses_b_8203894.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2014/08/how-much-methane-came-out-of-that-hole-in-siberia/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane_clathrate

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/health/flossing-teeth-cavities.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-depressed-adults-in-the-u-s-remain-untreated/#

http://mentalpod.com/

https://www.netflix.com/title/80046193

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/state-to-receive-14-million-for-mental-health-facilities/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/6/the-latest-mental-health-treatment-instead-of-jail/

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/hillary-clinton/

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-pipeline-fight-and-americas-dark-past

2016-09-04: The Flu Vaccine

Sun, 04 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about Women's Equality Day, flu shots, mountain dew, gas bubbles, interstellar probes, and Joe Mercola.

References:

Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

http://sciencenewsjournal.com/flu-vaccinated-mothers-protect-newborn-children-according-new-study/

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/10-flu-myths

http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/do-flu-shots-cause-the-flu-12-influenza-vaccine-myths-busted/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3699516/Watch-shocking-moment-Earth-WOBBLES-Remarkable-footage-shows-weird-phenomenon-caused-leaking-methane.html

http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/news/10.1063/PT.5.2035

http://acsh.org/news/2016/08/17/joe-mercola-hits-a-new-low-saying-zika-is-caused-by-vitamin-a-deficiency/

http://www.givewell.org/

2016-08-28: Feminism

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about karma, feminism, the patriarchy, rape culture, men's rights, and abortions.

2016-08-14: Takin' It Easy

Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake are takin' it easy.

2016-08-07: Local Food

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about rainforests, the squatty potty, bidets, local food, rising sea levels, and guns on campus.

2016-07-31: Episode 20: Special Rambling Edition

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about rambling, Mark Fuhrman, conspiracy cascades, stuff we hate, toilets, hippies, karma, the pledge of allegiance, freeganism, hate speech, GMO labeling, and Jill Stein.

2016-07-24: Politics and Islamophobia

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about iTunes ratings, rambling, skepticism, Politics, Islamophobia, CSIcon, and violence.

2016-07-17: Polyamory

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about skepticism, rationalism, vegetarianism, polyamory, monogamy, Pokémon Go, Black Lives Matter, and All Lives Matter.

2016-07-10: Libertarianism

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about libertarianism, classic liberalism, anarcho-capitalism, taxation, theft, and Gary Johnson.

2016-07-03: Police Brutality and Vegetarianism

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about terrorism, police brutality, vegetarianism, veganism, hate speech, and emotional violence.

2016-06-26: Appeal to Nature Fallacy and Social Conservatism

Sun, 26 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about the appeal to nature fallacy, social conservatism, profiling, and the recent Arizona meteor sighting.

2016-06-19: Game Theory 101

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about sexuality, game theory, the prisoner's dilemma, Orlando, tragedies, Brock Turner, rape, and xHamster.

2016-06-12: Déjà Vu and Science Deniers

Sun, 12 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about planned obsolescence, self-driving cars, déjà vu, dreams, science deniers, global warming, Facebook, and Glenn Beck.

2016-06-05: Moral Purity and Planned Obsolescence

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about gender roles, moral purity, Hamilton, and planned obsolescence.

2016-05-29: Cryonics and Self-Driving Cars

Sun, 29 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about cryonics, self-driving cars, utilitarianism, and John Horgan's critique of skepticism.

2016-05-22: 10th Episode Spectacular-stravaganza: A Rational Review

Sun, 22 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake review the topics from our first nine episodes, looking for sacred cows by asking each other about beliefs, evidence, and what it would take to change our minds on each topic.

2016-05-15: Water Rights and Social Signaling

Sun, 15 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about being back at it again, effective altruism, Watchmen spoilers, utilitarianism, water rights, and social signaling.

2016-05-08: Atheism vs. Agnosticism and Ghosts

Sun, 08 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about gender roles, atheism, agnosticism, theism, knowledge vs. belief, and ghosts.

2016-05-01: Effective Altruism and Prostitution

Sun, 01 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about effective altruism, charity, prostitution, and pornography.

2016-04-24: Identity Politics and Marijuana Legalization

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about identity politics, QUILTBAG, essentialism, marijuana legalization, regulation, drugs, and astrology.

2016-04-17: Evolution, Top-Down Systems and Labeling GMOs

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about evolution, top-down systems, Matt Ridley, libertarianism, conspiracy theories, boobs, society, politicians, the patriarchy, GMOs, organic food, mandatory labeling, the Food Babe, censorship, and the right to know.

2016-04-10: #election2016: Hillary Clinton and the Afterlife

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about Hillary Clinton, lying, Machiavellian beliefs, monetary influence in politics, rape fantasy porn, lobbying groups, Bernie Sanders, the Iraq war, the afterlife, spirituality, drugs, God of the gaps, skepticism, rationalism, swirlies, Donald Trump, and racism.

2016-04-03: Skepticism 102 and #election2016: Bernie Sanders Supporters

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about confirmation bias, the typical skeptical stances on a variety of topics, Bernie Sanders, #fieldofbernies, groupthink, cognitive dissonance, free speech, and the Fountain Hills, Arizona protest.

2016-03-27: #election2016: Donald Trump and Protesters

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about Donald Trump, con men, immigrants, Mexicans, racism, Donald Trump protesters, Bernie Sanders, hate, love, free speech, and the regressive left.

2016-03-20: Skepticism 101 and Nuclear Power

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Harrison and Jake talk about skepticism, rationalists, science, freethought, atheism, magicians, Penn & Teller, nuclear power, conspiracy theorists, ghosts, Splenda, sucralose, and leukemia.