Wet Blanket Skeptics Podcast

Aug 27 2018 34 ep. 66 mins 265
Wet Blanket Skeptics Podcast artwork

Can two skeptics solve the world’s issues? Scientific skepticism is the practice of seeking whether extraordinary claims are supported by extraordinary evidence. It may be helpful not to think of skepticism as the opposite of optimism, but as the opposite of unquestioning certainty. In this weekly podcast, Harrison and Jake use a combination of science, skepticism, free thought and rationality to challenge all popular and unpopular beliefs. As a general warning, if you hold views near and dear to your heart, they may be challenged in this podcast. We often attempt to challenge our own beliefs in order to let nothing go unquestioned. As a result, we will frequently get off-topic and there will be swearing, name-calling and jokes in very poor taste. Welcome to the Wet Blanket Skeptics podcast, where there are no sacred cows allowed.

  Society & Culture  Comedy
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2018-08-27: The Illusion of Explanatory Depth, Optimism Bias, and Futurism

Aug 27 2018 58 mins  
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

2016-12-04: The Sunk Cost Fallacy

Dec 04 2016 87 mins  
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-o

2016-11-20: Ramble On

Nov 20 2016 49 mins  
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/offi

2016-11-13: Sugar

Nov 13 2016 68 mins  
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/20

2016-11-06: Skepticism 201

Nov 06 2016 79 mins  
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-chir

2016-10-09: Scientism

Oct 09 2016 71 mins  
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 htt

2016-10-02: Joe and the Litmus Test

Oct 02 2016 61 mins  
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

Sep 25 2016 80 mins  
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

2016-09-18: #election2016 Again

Sep 18 2016 86 mins  
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-

2016-09-11: Mental Illness

Sep 11 2016 71 mins  
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