Squaring the Strange

After some chit-chat about teleporting FEMA officials and Bigfoot folks with heels dug in, we have a fascinating talk with Jacob Shaw. One of the very few people studying and teaching the intersection of caricature art and neuroscience, Jacob geeks out with Celestia and Ben about what he calls the most psychological art form. There are many points of interest that overlap with skepticism, from pareidolia to the reliability of our perception to a well-known middle school ritual in front of a darkened bathroom mirror. We also ruminate on the power of caricature as propaganda, how it has been weaponized in modern history, and how we can separate the art from its complicated past.

First, Celestia gets her aura read at a trade show, and then we talk about National Science Appreciation Day, Banksy being unmasked, and the continued fallout from Marq Evans' movie "Capturing Bigfoot." For our main segment, we dive into micronations. This wide array of self-declared states showcase many strange topics we love to examine: hoaxes, ostension, performance art, crime, cosplay, cults, tourism, and a touch of mental illness. From purported do-gooders like Greenpeace and even, believe it or not, Uri Geller, to criminals hoping to evade taxes or regulation, there are so many motivations for people to purchase, build, or claim some island and design themselves a flag. Got no land? No problem! You can occupy the open sea, a raft, a platform, a glacier, outer space or cyberspace! Or a transient realm like the space between sleeping and wakefulness. Why not! We look at a few examples from the different categories of micronations, and then Celestia and Ben recount being in a micronation themselves last year (which neither realized existed until now).

First, we have a few current events items that hit our skeptical radar -- and a Bigfoot bombshell drops at SXSW film festival! (For more on that, see Ben's just-released piece in Skeptical Inquirer online, "Documentary's Devastating Bigfoot Debunking." Then Leo Igwe joins us during his visit to the U.S., and he shares progress and challenges facing his organization, Advocacy 4 Alleged Witches. Leo is a stalwart skeptic and champion of rational thought, and his heroic work in Africa puts him in danger on many fronts. He lays out aspects of cultural and economic life in parts of Africa that make it difficult for victims to fight accusations of witchcraft. And he talks about how partnering with other organizations and simply continuing to fight for the right cause -- even without a clear path to success -- drives him day in, day out.

First, we chat about Havana Syndrome and a rumored "discombobulator," Trump releasing the UFO files, a new poll on belief in aliens and cryptids, and RFK doing a 180 on glyphosate. Then we meet up with Kenny Biddle, chief investigator for the Center for Skeptical Inquiry, to talk about haunted houses. Not just the stories and the (lack of) evidence, but rather what happens after the hooplah dies down. We look at the Conjuring House, Amityville, the Sallie House, and the "House of 200 Demons," finding out what went on after interest faded with these properties. We go into some laws on the books about alleged haunted houses that allowed buyers to back out of deals, what happens when new property owners are hit with unwanted tourists, and even how a community of paranormal enthusiasts is trying to save a beloved historical haunt. Kenny has been to most of these locations personally, so he fills us in on the atmosphere as well as the drama!

First, we hit on news items: Epstein file firehose, the Guthrie kidnapping, Scouting America not aligning with administration values, a different kind of drone panic, and RFK again not making sense. Then, a grab bag! Celestia examines the ugly produce racket and whether it's all it claims to be. Ben brings us an update on 120 dead elk in New Mexico and some audio from his interview with Kerry Mower, the fish and wildlife expert who solved the case. Then we complain about Facebook glurge of a particular type.

First, we discuss media coverage of Minneapolis, and also fake news among schools of tropical fish. Then Kyle Polich of "Data Skeptic" joins us to talk about a topic we've had simmering for a bit. What is going on with the data?? First, what is data, and can it ever really be neutral -- and even if it is, will the public ever trust it? Data on some topics, like public health studies on American gun violence, have been suppressed for years, while the past twelve months or so have seen a huge decrease in state-funded data collection. Between climate science, the EPA, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the CDC, there are several high-profile examples we look at. How will this play out? Kyle brings nuance to how data is collected an analyzed, and also reassures us that statisticians and data analysts are hearty folk, highly employable in the private sector . . . already, we see many contributing their time and talents to alternatives to the CDC and becoming "data preservationists." And there are things you, too, can do to help us get through this data drought.

First, Ben and Celestia discuss some significant passings -- Erich von Däniken and Scott Adams, each skeptical cautionary tales in their own ways. They also touch on snuff films being in the news, the Trump DoJ admitting the Cartel de los Soles is not a thing, Dan Bongino (and others) giving up on their conspiracy theories once handed authority, the seeming ambiguity in how different groups are processing the shooting of Renee Good, and the spread of "Otohime" in Japan. Then we do a deep dive into the Taos hum. A mysterious and untraceable low-register noise experienced by 2% of the residents in Taos, New Mexico, this "hum" goes back to the early 1990s. Ben breaks down what the hum has to do with priming, conspiracy belief, confirmation bias, pareidolia, Havana syndrome, Marco Polo, mass sociogenic illness, and even djinn!

Yes, listeners! It's a "very special episode" of Squaring the Strange! Ben and Celestia continue some old arguments, go over things we've changed our minds about, pick our own "words of the year," give props to our favorite guests and episodes, and much, much more. How are you feeling about the state of skepticism, science, or the world in general as 2025 leaps over the flames and bolts out the exit with a stolen parachute? Grab one of those hot cocoa bombs your family member gifted you and pull up a chair, we'll talk about it all.

This week we plumb current events to discuss microbe art, VAERS data and alleged covid vaccine deaths, the "sanpaku eyes" of a killer, AI kidnapping scams, and Tara Reid. Then our guest, Grant Ritchey (@SkepticalDDS) breaks down fluoride for us. How does it work, when did we start using it for dental care, and what makes it one of the most significant public health efforts of the modern era? What's the best way to dispell someone's fears about fluoride? He illuminates the holes in those studies RFK Jr. and others have pointed to as linking fluoride to lowering IQ in children, and we hit on some interesting parallels between fluoride, vaccines, and Chinese traditional medicine. And, a longstanding mystery: does anyone actually floss?

First, Ben and Celestia ruminate on past Key Bridge conspiracy theories, RFK Jr.'s latest efforts to destroy public health, rage bait and the "Cártel de los Soles." Then for our main segment Daniel Reed, founder of the West Virginia Skeptics Society, joins us to discuss the Vegetable Man, a cryptid/alien one-hit-wonder. This blood-sucking, fiber-rich fiction is part of Gray Barker's menagerie -- Barker was a colorful character who loved a good story and had a few skeletons in his own closet, one of which led to the creation of the modern "men in black" mythos. Daniel has done his homework and culled heaps of information from the reams of original correspondence in Barker's archives.

First, Ben and Celestia go over the latest CDC website shenanigans, an unfortunate update on a Human Barbie, some voodoo accusations in the world of soccer, the true cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, and a djinn committing crimes in Pakistan. Then Brian Dunning joins us for a discussion on billionaires and why we all seem to hate them. Should we? Would the world be better off without them? Brian brings some economic research on the "two types of billionaires," and we also examine some tropes and memes -- folklore, that is -- about how billionaires hoard resources. Do they? Can they? Is money imaginary? It's a complicated topic, and we're not approaching it as economists, but we agree on a few things that might surprise you.

Celestia is fresh from the Very Vegas SkeptiCamp, and a week earlier Jon Michael presented at the West Virginia SkeptiCamp, so he visits to compare notes and then chat about will o' the wisps, RFK's "walkback" on Tylenol, J.D. Vance speculating on UFOs being supernatural, and the resurgence of the Welfare Queen boogeyman. For our main segment, Ben and Celestia take a tour of legends involving brands, corporations and products. Anyone in marketing will appreciate the merging of folklore, commercial design and crisis communication all these stories bring to light. From Tootsie Pop contests to the allegedly Satanic imagery in the Proctor & Gamble logo, there's a lot to dig into. Did a Coke "magic can" kill someone? Did Pepsi have to give some teenager a military jet? Are secret symbols stamped into Oreo cookies, turning these delicious dunkers into a devilish communion wafer? And what was the real origin story behind Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer?

First, Celestia and a voice from the past discuss a hat trick of rat stories (maybe a rat trick?). Then Ben chats with author, ghost story enthusiast and former ghost hunter Cody Polston about the historic Territorial House in Corrales, New Mexico. Cody led an investigation there, and Ben worked there as a teenage busboy, so their points of view collide as they talk about what they've heard about the venue and what they'd experienced in person. From moving chairs to lit cigarettes, people have reported strange phenomena, attributing the experiences to restless spirits, perhaps those who died on the enormous "hanging tree" out front. Built in the 1800s and converted to the Territorial House restaurant in 1903 and then later the Tea House, the building (destroyed in 2012 by a fire) was indeed the scene of a handful of murders over the years. The discussion branches off into a few things common to many ghost stories, the nature of folklore and the psychology of ghost hunting itself.

We've got a bushel of SWAYSOs first! Chocolate is disappearing, an ongoing "psychic study" tries to recruit Ben, Las Vegas tries to recruit a random ghost hunter, Trump tries to find Amelia Earhart files, and Netflix releases "The Truth about Jussie Smollett?" Then at 43:12, we bring on Brian Brushwood, who Celestia cornered while he was visiting Las Vegas for Scoopfest. We talk about his many shows -- Scam School, Scam Nation, World's Greatest Con, Modern Rogue, Great Night, and NatGeo's "Hacking the System -- as well as his current work in deceptive role play, or "wolf-masking." Brian talks about anxiety being mankind's greatest superpower and the terrifying fact that AI makes even small-dollar scam targets worthwhile.

Much of our intro segment is spent with Celestia gnashing her teeth about the recent Trump-RFK-Oz press conference that unveiled a purported link between acetaminophen and autism. It was . . . not good. Then Ben and Celestia are joined by Skeptoid's Brian Dunning to discuss his lifelong love of Death Valley and his part in the solution to a longtime mystery there: the sailing stones of Racetrack Playa. These heavy rocks have, for decades, mystified visitors (and apparently park rangers too) by leaving long, winding trails behind them when no one was looking. The remote location would seem to rule out hoaxing, so it had to be some natural phenomenon -- and no, it was not magnetic fields or vortexes. Note: Celestia mistakenly calls Nevada's Three Kids manganese mine a mercury mine, but because it bothered the heck out of her she looked it up right before typing these notes!

Bigfoot prints . . . do they track? So many questions! First, we discuss skeptic offerings at Dragon Con, then muse about Florida wanting to get rid of vaccine mandates for public school and RFK Jr. rolling back access to the COVID-19 shots just as we enter respiratory virus season. Seasoned Bigfoot enthusiast Matt Crowley ("Bigfooter of the Year," 2005) joins us to discuss all aspects of the main, namesake evidence for Bigfoot. Those huge honkin' tracks of his (or hers). We go into the competitive subculture of Bigfootery and nuances like dermal ridges and toe flexion. How do believers reckon with the lack of consistency across different footprints, when it comes to number of toes and such? Is it proper to call Bigfoot prints, and casts, a type of folk art? Matt recommends many good books on the topic, and we learn our way around the many names, experts, and hoaxers in the scene since the 1950s.

First, Ben and Celestia discuss the needle-spiking panic fallout, missing kids in Virginia, screw worms, radioactive shrimp and seeing double in Las Vegas. Then our main segment is secret signs and signals! Real or legendary, these signs and markers are throughout human history to tell "those in the know" what to expect (food, sex, danger). From secret codes sewn into quilts to help the Underground Railroad effort to rock cairns and inukshuks, there are many tales of people making an effort to show others a safe path. We also look at the ancient bro code known as Masonic symbols, which manly men have been putting on their erections for generations. And of course we must touch on the world of swinger symbols, where anything from pineapples to a toe ring might be sending signals -- or just giving people a laugh.

First, Ben and Celestia react to the CDC shooting, then Ben looks at some skeptical-leaning responses of ghost hunters to Dan Rivera's death and the Annabelle narrative. Rounding out current events, Celestia has another RFK-adjacent story, this one about two women hospitalized after peptide injections at a Las Vegas wellness festival. For our main segment, food historian and Vegas gal-about-town Sarah Lohman joins us to share some interesting food mythos... everything from beer, MSG, spices and spoiled meat to the connection between corn flakes, enemas, masturbation and vegetarian dishes. Along the way we discover Sarah's downright distaste for Johnny Appleseed and rate our favorite Vegas buffets while learning about the history of cheap shrimp cocktail. Then, for dessert -- pink slime!

This week, we talk about the Blackhawk helicopter crash report, the damage an unfortunate rumor about a college student caused, and the frightening prospect of necessary, useful data being stifled or simply going away. Then, for our main segment, Ben and Kenny go over the infamous Columbus poltergeist case, an incident from 1984 involving, you guessed it, a young woman with some issues who was suddenly haunted by a mysterious force. Tina Resch was consistently underestimated by "experts" who looked into the case after some photos of a flying phone rocketed Tina's adopted family into the national spotlight. The Amazing Randi was not allowed on the property, but we have information from plenty of other sources, including Resch herself, that she was faking the incidents. Still, this self-debunked case has much to teach us about how the sensationalism around a supposed supernatural event can take over lives.

Ben and Celestia are fresh off the boat after heading to the Bermuda Triangle on Skeptoid Adventures! We talk a little on current events, as is our habit, then get to some short-form interviews with some of our skeptical shipmates. We chat with Richard Saunders, Dr. Angela Mattke, Ross Blocher, Susan Gerbic, and Jeff Wagg about their experiences over the years and what challenges (and solutions) are bubbling up in the skeptical vortex these days.

First, Ben and Celestia discuss pediatricians standing up to the CDC, a cloud-surfing Jesus in the Philippines, and needle-spiking mayhem in France. Then we have longtime friend of the podcast Susan Gerbic join us to talk about so many topics she's close to: empathy and how skeptics can approach education with respect; the big-name psychics that she's been a perpetual thorn to; the cycle some women get pulled into to act as no-name psychics with small followings; the UFO community's hate crush on her; Guerilla Skeptics of Wikipedia; skepticamps across America; and how to raise up the next generation of skeptical activists.

The inimitable Richard Saunders joins us to look at a recent documentary focusing on a group of working psychics in New York City. First we discuss the Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project and Richard's more recent work on restoring a video of James Randi in Australia, now available for viewers. The documentary, "Look Into My Eyes," directed by Lana Wilson, follows a group of psychics who also dabble in theater, and draws many parallels between those two worlds. We cover the messages and ambiguity present in the film -- it's definitely not a documentary that aims to test the reliability of psychic predictions, rather it explores how people connect and communicate. The psychics themselves are shown as humble, sincere people who have found purpose in their craft and believe they are helping others. The camera lingers on patrons who are clearly using the psychics as a kind of therapeutical setting, and there's a lot to unpack in terms of ethics and authenticity. We all have thoughts!

First we cover a few things on our radar: Ben is reminded of an old mail-based scam, Celestia gets excited over a few astronomical news items, and we both lament the MAHA report and its seemingly made-up citations. Then Robert Bartholomew joins us to discuss the new book he wrote with Paul Weatherhead, "Social Panics and Phantom Attackers: A Study of Imaginary Assailants." Have you heard of the Mad Gasser, Spring-Heeled Jack, the Monkey Man, Whipping Tom, or any of the pet eaters, needle spikers, drones or zeppelins menacing innocent people? In the right time and place, these attackers seemed not only plausible but terrifying. Bob goes over patterns in these attacker phenomenons, as well as the social function they serve -- often a cautionary tale grounded in current moral context, with a dash of xenophobia and fear of technology thrown in. These attackers, while complete fiction, nevertheless had victims: not just those who believed a scratch or bruise was surely from the evildoer, but those who were mistakenly arrested or beaten by vigilante mobs. The societal cost can also be measured in thousands of extra police hours as well as heightened anxiety and stress.

First we chat about a weird little chupacabra play Ben saw, then discuss the conspiracies that have metastasized from Joe Biden's prostate cancer and the resurgence of our old nemesis the Food Babe. For our main topic, we have esteemed historian of magic Owen Davies, who wrote the book (two, actually) on grimoires. In pop culture we see them in horror movies, comic books and even old children's movies like "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," but real (or "real") grimoires have been an ever-present relic for thousands of years. Grimoires are a mix of magic, marketing, fraud -- and sometimes blood -- and they have evolved along with the changes in ancient information technology, i.e., parchment and the printing press. From the Grand Grimoire of the early 18th century to Lovecraft to the pulp grimoires of the 1960s, magical words and demonic conjurations have gotten around one way or another.

No, Pascual did not get abducted by a UFO ... but neither did three kids in 1969, we're pretty sure. We have Pascual back to explain how his podcasting sabbatical has turned into a retirement, alas. Then we discuss how fluoride is connected to addiction and crime rates, some alternatives to the CDC for accurate public health information, and the viability of reopening Alcatraz as a prison. Our main topic is a ufo abduction incident that occurred on Labor Day weekend 1969 in Massachusetts ... or perhaps (as Ben suggests) the real "incident" occurred in 2018? Three kids were allegedly taken into alien crafts and examined, then returned, in plain sight of hundreds of people -- at least that's the story if you don't look a little deeper. And you know we will.

We start off with a first-ever viewer mail taste test! Then our standard report on the state of public health and government functionality (spoiler, it ain't great). Our main topic is acronyms and some specific word-based folklore. Is the term "OK" really the greatest word ever created? And how was it created? Then, whether it's linking a rock band to Satan or lambasting a large bureaucratic organization, false "bacronyms" are mini stories all unto themselves. Finally, there's maritime and military terms like SOS, FUBAR and SNAFU, as well as the possibly acronym-related origins of Uncle Sam.

After some current events about dire wolves, dire outbreaks of measles, and dire science denial in the White House, we discuss some true (and some not-so-true) tales of people surviving dire circumstances. People have come back alive from the frigid ice of Antarctica, a shipwreck on the bottom of the sea, and the deep jungles of South America. Others have claimed to have survived well-known disasters but been found out as frauds. And still another category intrigues us . . . survivors that never were. In fairy tales from 500 years ago and in earthquakes today, sometimes we humans have a deep psychological need to find hope in the face of disaster and believe that a small child has somehow miraculously survived.

First we hit on a few current events, including a new monolith outside of Las Vegas and a "shadow" CDC website fake. Sharon Hill joins us again, this time to discuss her new "Pop Cryptid Spectator" and all the delightful cryptidabelia that inspires it. She's noticed a rise in paranormal thinking when it comes to cryptids, as opposed to the old-school zoological framing. How has the internet fed into cryptid spread as well as evolution? She also notes that any cryptozoological gatekeepers are now long gone, so it's a wild heyday of "anything goes" as cryptids turn into blobby, cute versions of their old selves and even Skibidi Toilet has a chance at being labelled a cryptid. We touch on snack foods, movies, games, town mascots, and festivals like Pennsylvania's "Squonkapalooza."

Ben has been on a cruise, and brings back an interesting story on how quickly rumors and conspiracy theories can form in that environment. We pay tribute to Joe Nickell, a truly versatile skeptic and investigator, and go over the Stand Up for Science marches that took place last week. Then we turn to current events wrought by the Trump administration: the kerfuffle over "transgender mice" is more complicated than you think; RFK's faint praise of the MMR vaccine; and the CDC's planned study on vaccines and autism.

First, Ben and Celestia discuss an angler fish and a kayak-curious humpback whale in the news, as well as the measles outbreak, some cryptid legislation in California, and an update on the drone panic. Our main segment guest is Gail De Vos, who discusses the world of furries. Far older than most realize (around for 50 years now!), furries have been built into a political boogeyman and garnered a reputation of sexual degeneracy that is hard to shake. With similarities to both masquerade balls and biker gangs, furries are simply a community -- one that often raises money for charitable causes. Oh, and there are two legitimate reasons why a school might purchase bulk quantities of kitty litter, and neither involve furry-friendly litter boxes!

First Ben and Celestia discuss the unending slew of bad news for skeptics, and our hopes that science and public health can survive this onslaught. And, do we all have a spoonful of plastic in our brains? Then we tackle love fortune telling, love languages, and aphrodisiacs. From apple peels to blood type, people just love prognosticating about love. And what is the allure of an aphrodisiac? The notion of a forbidden (or just expensive) food or spice that puts people in the mood is so common that just about everything, at some time or in some place, has been said to have this power.

We start with some observations (ok, rants) about the press conference on the recent aircraft collision in D.C., the hearings to confirm RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the silencing of vital science and health institutions. Then we talk to eminent psychologist Stuart Vyse about his career and a handful of pop psychology topics. He weighs in on the Telepathy Tapes podcast and facilitated communication, the notorious Milgram experiment, and why baseball is rife with luck rituals. What is luck? It's an ever-present paranormal concept that most people don't associate with the paranormal at all. Because we humans are terrible at judging randomness, we ascribe all sorts of things to luck -- whether it's a person being "lucky" their whole lives, or a lucky seat at a poker table, or a flowing luck field that comes and goes... in other words, the way normal variation works.

First Ben and Celestia discuss the LA fires (and a few of the many, many conspiracy theories already cropping up), and remember Jimmy Carter's clear-headed skepticism and humanitarianism. Then, since it's January and we're all trying to work on self-improvement, we talk about BMI -- which happens to be in the news this week for what turns out to be not really news. The Body Mass Index began almost two hundred years ago as a pet project by a Belgian statistician, but has evolved into one of the most accessible health metrics around. The average American can assess their BMI at home, for free, with the only inconvenience being having to use the metric system. Many of the criticisms of BMI as a tool are what Ben categorizes as straw man attacks, and he explains how doctors and public health officials use the metric. Along the way, we see many parallels with how people fail to think skeptically (or understand how metrics work) and end up losing faith in medical science on a greater scale.

For the first show of 2025, Ben and Celestia go over some of their favorite shows, the highlights and lowlights of the past year, and some stories we never got a chance to tell. Ben discusses the men who recently lost their lives on a Bigfoot hunt, and Celestia goes down a rabbit hole about children supposedly getting sex change operations and how different outlets report on that issue. But first, we kick off with a tour of new year rituals--most of which have to do with food (and we don't mean eating healthy).

We recap some news items, including Kreskin passing away, a witchcraft-motivated massacre in Haiti, and of course the Drone panic (?) over the Eastern U.S. Then Ben and Celestia dive into tales and urban legends with a Christmas theme. From playful punisher characters who will gleefully slit open German children's bellies to more modern urban legends about Nativity plays gone wrong or a deadly Dad prank. How did the storied Christmas truce of 1914 really play out? And what mysterious things do cows start doing on Christmas night? Would you bet your life to find out? Oh yeah, and Christmas spiders too!

Ben recounts his adventures in Australia at Skepticon, and then Celestia brings up bird flu-infected raw milk, a closing Bigfoot museum, and ghosts that pay rent. Our main guest is esteemed cybersecurity expert, deceptionologist, folklorist, magician, and author Perry Carpenter. He discusses topics from his new book FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation and AI-Generated Deceptions. We talk deepfakes versus cheapfakes and how AI is similar to cold reading. We learn the three H's programmers aim for (helpful, honest, harmless) and how they don't always hit the mark. And Perry describes "the Liar's Dividend" and "Emergence," and how they relate to our near future if not already our present.

This week Pascual is back, talking to Celestia about the Onion's purchase of Info Wars, shady testosterone offers, and a list of things we maybe should be worried about as Trump rounds out cabinet picks. Then Ben welcomes Gail de Vos, author of the just-released Watkins Book of Urban Legends, to talk about wildfire conspiracy theories in Canada. The politically charged stories that spring up in her home of Alberta, Canada resemble conspiracies that have followed wildfires everywhere -- Texas, California, Hawaii, and even ancient Rome! Why does fire often make people think something more sinister than nature is afoot? And how are these conspiracies tied to other conspiracy theories, like the "15-minute city" idea? Gail goes over the importance of education before such ideas set in, as once conspiratorial beliefs take hold they can be almost impossible to reason people out of.

This is sort of a rush episode, in the wake of this week's election results. While we don't like mixing our skepticism with partisan politics, Trump has been such a unique outlier in the realm of science denial, conspiracy theories, folklore, panics and rumor-mongering that it warrants an episode. Early indications that Robert Kennedy Jr. might be in charge of public health could mean an unthinkable turn against vaccinations and other clearly proven, routine measures. Ben and Celestia give their immediate thoughts and reactions, and Ben reminds us that Trump is more a hollow man than a boogeyman -- while he has no moral center and is deftly unpredictable, he simply does not have the power to truly end life as we know it. We then lay out a few tips on the grassroots-level skeptical activism we will need in the coming months and years. Starting with, I can't believe I'm typing this, educating people on the fact that the fluoride in our water is not a dangerous toxin.

Happy Halloween! If we sound like we're on a submarine, apologies--we recorded part of this on a submarine. I mean a small hotel room. After a recap of Skeptoid's Death Valley adventure and CSI Con 2024, Ben and Celestia discuss "pink slime journalism" and phony Catholic newspapers. Then sociologist Joel Best discusses the Halloween sadism urban legend and how the idea that children are being poisoned with candy has stuck around through the ages. Folklorist and film buff Mikel Koven takes us on a tour of zombie films, from "White Zombie" to "Get Out," and all points in between. Zombies have roots in fears about slavery and colonialism, but they evolved to be representative of a mindless enemy army, a personal security force, and even protectors of a night club in blaxsploitation film "Sugar Hill." Koven goes through the taxonomy of zombies and monsters, and we discuss where mummies, djinn, and golems fit in with zombies--as creatures that protect, guard, or serve in some way.

Fair warning: this episode contains too much Elon Musk, as Ben and Celestia discuss the Optimus mechanical Turk -- er, autonomous robot -- as well as the awesome chop-stick catch performed by SpaceX this past week. Ben also ruminates on eye-witness testimony and a wacky, weedy case being decided by the Supreme Court right now. Then Brian Dunning of Skeptoid fame joins us to talk electric vehicle myths and reality. Have you heard that EVs are bad for the environment, or that they will crash the grid? There are facts to discuss as well as rumors, disinformation, anecdotes and opinions, and we take care to clearly label which is which.

First a few current events involving a Taylor Swift guitar (or not), the Nazca Lines, a giant naked Trump art piece, and banning solar geoengineering. Then we talk water. Is blood thicker than water -- and what does that even mean? Does water have memory (as homeopaths insist) or feelings (as Masaru Emoto stated)? From alkali water to Black Water to Smart Water, what are all these expensive designer bottled waters available, and are any worth it? Let's, well, dive in!

We cannot let this week go by without talking about the xenophobic rumors that splashed across the national political stage this week about Haitians in Ohio allegedly eating cats and dogs. Folklorists definitely paid attention to this, and Ben also has vaccine rumor concerns from the Middle East. Then, on a lighter note, Kenny joins us and shares some of his recent adventures at a Bigfoot convention, his trip with Ben to the Spiritualist hamlet of Lily Dale, and recent CFI testing of a Canadian dowser. We also get geared up for CSI Con in Las Vegas, Oct. 24-27.

First, Celestia recounts the Skeptic Track at Dragon Con, and Ben discusses a rabbit hole he went down after receiving a press release on some alleged new Champ footage. Then we welcome back folklorist Mark Norman, who discusses black dog folklore (also the title of one of his books), specifically the Barguest or Shuck. Spectral canines can be hellhounds, guardians or neutral entities, and have a surprisingly long history -- as long as humans have been in the company of dogs, one might suppose. Norman discusses the difference between a typical ghost and a "folk ghost," and goes into the very first recorded "haunted house" in ancient Greece and how it led to ghosts being envisioned with chains. From the Hound of the Baskervilles and Sirius Black/Padfoot in the Harry Potter series to a metaphorical black dog representing depression, we look into what's connected to this folklore and what isn't.

First we discuss RFK Jr.'s role in a decade-old cryptid mystery. Then Ben and Celestia recount the gory origin story of Pegasus, along with some other differences between Greek myth and My Little Pony. Ben goes into the economies of the very real trade in unicorn horns, which were a longtime pharmacist's staple (despite being nonexistent). We look at mentions of unicorns from the Bible to Shakespeare, as well as "real" ones including modified goats, arctic narwhals and the mighty rhinoceros. Moving onto centaurs, Celestia can't decide how to pronounce the name of the most famous centaur, Chiron, and then we learn about where you can see an actual centaur skeleton. Maybe!

Ben and Celestia have a lot of current events to discuss, from Olympic rumors about Satan and pregnant gymnasts to the real gender identity of an Algerian boxer and Hello Kitty. Then we dive into the "sensed presence" effect. This strange phenomenon can explain many things -- ghost encounters, mountain-top revelations, and hallucinations people experience during isolation in prisons, at sea or while lost in the wilderness. As social creatures, we simply aren't built for prolonged loneliness. Not only does it impact our physical health, it utterly unravels our sense of self.

Need I even write a summary here? Maybe for listeners who have been in a coma for the past two weeks? Trump was shot at, and conspiracy theories surfaced faster than he could put on his shoes. What are Project 2025 and Agenda 47? What is Trump's appeal, really, and why is it so misunderstood by his opponents? And, with late-breaking news on Biden dropping out of the race, what have we seen on the memescape about Kamala Harris? There are media literacy lessons to review, and many opportunities to apply skepticism in this election cycle.

First we discuss how the term "Gish gallop" has entered the common vernacular thanks to the recent Presidential debate. Then Ben ponders why conspiracy buffs don't care about the admitted, real Boeing conspiracy, or why psychics can't offer up explanations for the Rust killing. Celestia gets excited about folklore in pop culture: namely, "The Crooked Man" in a new Hellboy movie. For our main segment, we are rejoined by skeptical author and illustrator Daniel Loxton, to talk about MONSTER HUNTS!—that is, serious expeditions to find cryptids or other mysterious creatures. From Nazis looking for Yeti to missionaries searching out dinosaurs in Africa, there are anthropological considerations when engaging with locals in a foreign land. And what makes a monster hunt successful? Lock Ness is a success in that practically every drop of water in it has been examined, to no avail. We touch on Ben's trips to remote parts of Nicaragua to look for the chupacabra, as well as other expeditions in the 20th century, to find a death worm in Mongolia, the Mokele-mbembe in Africa, and a mermaid-like Ri in New Guinea. We also touch on overpriced Bigfoot "hunt" experiences as well as "educational hoaxes" like snipe hunting.

First, Ben and Celestia discuss the epidemiology of extreme heat, mysterious mololiths redux, the latest Real Water lawsuit, and the origins of a 50-year-old rumor about Mama Cass. Then Pascual joins us to interview Kurly Tlapoyawa -- stunt man, filmmaker, archaeologist, and cohost of "Tales from Azlantis." He tells us about cutting through jungles in Belize to do "ground-truthing" with LiDAR, the strange origin of the "Hunab Ku" image, tour guides, Olmec heads, and "The Four Disagreements." Kurly and Pascual also trade stories and see who they know in common from their Hollywood days, from Troma movies all the way to opinions on Apocalypto and Marvel's Namor.