Episode 237 - Watery Weirdness
Squaring the Strange
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!
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Episode 236 - Pet Rumors and Catching Up with Kenny Biddle
Squaring the Strange
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.
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Episode 235 - Black Dog Folklore with Mark Norman
Squaring the Strange
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...
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Episode 234 - Hoofed Beasts: Pegasus, Unicorns, and Centaurs!
Squaring the Strange
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...
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Episode 233 - Sensed Presence Effect: Imaginary Friends When You Need Them Most
Squaring the Strange
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.
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Episode 232 - Brace yourselves. We talk politics.
Squaring the Strange
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.
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Episode 231 - Monster Hunts, then and now, with Daniel Loxton
Squaring the Strange
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...
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Episode 230 - Pseudoarchaeology and Misinformation in Chicano Studies, with Kurly Tlapoyawa
Squaring the Strange
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...
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Episode 229 - Skepticamp, Spiders, and the West Palm Beach Killer Clown Case
Squaring the Strange
We start with a recap of SkeptiCamp New Mexico, then move on to a laundry list of creepy, crawly creatures: Alex Jones, flying Joro spiders, bug zappers, opposite snakes and Sasquatch Sunset. Our main topic is an update to one of the cases in Ben's "Bad Clowns" book. The West Palm Beach Killer Clown case involves a love triangle, a clown costume, and a pile of circumstantial evidence. It sat with no arrests for nearly 30 years, until Sheila Keen-Warren was arrested in 2017. Among the developments as prosecutors and defense lawyers prepared for trial was a so-called "clown sighting file," with...
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Episode 228 - The Science of Weird Sh!t, with Chris French
Squaring the Strange
Celestia and Ben have a lengthy A-segment, between discussing the almost-here SkeptiCamp, Ben's recent folklore convention, and what mischief TV psychic Allison DuBois has been up to. We have thoughts on the recently deceased Morgan Spurlock's legacy, and then talk about two interesting developments from the Catholic Church this week. Professor Chris French joins us to discuss his new book, "The Science of Weird Sh!t: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal." Chris has a vast background in, well, weird sh!t, and shares his thoughts on how it has gained legitimacy in the academic world -- as well...
info_outlineAfter some discussion on a few current events that resulted in quick debunkings, Ben, Pascual, and Celestia take a close look at what could be real-time formation of a social panic. Antifa has all the hallmarks of a propped-up paper tiger used by some as a political tool, and by others as a social boogeyman. We look at the coverage, the rumors, the Trump tweets, the implications, and the real statistics. How has the reputation of this nebulous non-organization caused harm? Plus we look into the price of bricks versus hippie crystals and the best state to register a converted schoolbus.