Squaring the Strange

Squaring the Strange brings evidence-based analysis and commentary to a wide variety of topics, ranging from the paranormal to the political. Investigating ghosts. Debunking conspiracies. Dodging chupacabras. If a claim seems strange, Ben, Celestia and Pascual will try to square it with the facts.

Episode 94 - Psychic Hot Takes on the Holly Bobo Case 06/13/2019

Episode 94 - Psychic Hot Takes on the Holly Bobo Case We begin with Ben's breakdown of the just-released documents that show FBI involvement with Bigfoot. Then Celestia examines an "uncanny" drawing of a child that didn't exist yet. Our main topic is a deep dive into Ben's real-time analysis of psychic predictions about the Holly Bobo murder. An assortment of predictions followed predictable social scripts and serve as a good example of the vast stream-of-consciousness non-information generated whenever a widely publicized crime is unsolved. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/10139749

Episode 94 - Psychic Hot Takes on the Holly Bobo Case 06/13/2019

Episode 93 - Grab Bag! 05/31/2019

Episode 93 - Grab Bag! We have several short topics this week, starting with a few news items. Pascual looks at 5G network coverage and how it will (and won't) impact us. Ben looks at a "scientific" review of ghost EVP and what could have improved the study. Then Celestia talks about cat folklore and cat-related woo that's been peddled by well-meaning shelters to help get cats adopted. To round up our satchel of skepticism, Ben investigates an evaporative miracle reputed to have occurred in Fatima back in 1917. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9990581

Episode 92 - The Skinny on Djinn 05/17/2019

Episode 92 - The Skinny on Djinn This episode is an on-the-road recording, with the welcome addition of an old friend. We discuss a favorite topic of Ben's, what we Westerners know as genies and many Muslim believers call djinn. Are the original djinn really lamp-dwelling, wish-granting, floating torsos with wicked senses of humor? Maybe a little. From demonic parallels to Aladdin to modern off-color jokes, we sample the folklore from roots to stem and hear Ben's personal experiences with those who have real fears of djinn. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9818411

Episode 91 - eHarmony Dissonance 05/03/2019

Episode 91 - eHarmony Dissonance First we look at a smattering of oddities: Ben's recent jaunt to Puerto Rico, a new Conjuring movie, beards vs. dogs, and chocolate cows. Then we dig into the so-called science behind matchmaking giant eHarmony. Ben went through some trouble to learn what he could about the science-backed effectiveness touted by the company. The case is a good example of how to discern whether a business is seriously scientific or just sciencey enough for the marketing team and a few journalists. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9633803

Episode 90 - Doppelgangers, They're Just Like Us! 04/19/2019

Episode 90 - Doppelgangers, They're Just Like Us! First Ben and Celestia talk about a disturbing modern case of false abduction rumors. Then we discuss doppelgangers, a topic with multiple angles. What are the odds of randomly finding someone who looks remarkably like you, and what sort of factors increase those odds? Then we look at the darker side of doppelgangers, the harbingers of doom or even a malevolent entity bent on stealing your identity. From Percy Shelley to Jordan Peele, storytellers seem fascinated with these dastardly doubles. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9455507

Episode 89 - Some Sketchy Psychological Tests 04/05/2019

Episode 89 - Some Sketchy Psychological Tests First Ben and Celestia look at a couple concoctions that have their skeptical senses buzzing this week. Then we pick three personality tests from psychology's past and present, doing a deep dive into their origins, what drove their popularity, and consumer's reluctance to give them up even after serious flaws emerged. Looking at phrenology, the Rorschach test, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator shows how consumerism can leapfrog skepticism when it comes to a topic we all love--ourselves! /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9277943

Episode 88 - Bad Cryptozoological Arguments and What They Can Teach Us 03/21/2019

Episode 88 - Bad Cryptozoological Arguments and What They Can Teach Us We take a long walk through a dozen or so arguments put forth by cryptid advocates, and see which ones (if any) make reasonable points. If you want a primer on how squatchers and lake-monster-hunters think, this is it. But beyond that, these ideas can be a jumping point into many other realms where skepticism should be applied, as we look at how eye-witness reliability, false dichotomies, cherry-picking, and other logic traps come into play. Special guests Sharon Hill and Erik Kristopher Myers. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/9095873

Episode 87 - Momo & Part 2 of Enter the Warren-verse! 03/08/2019

Episode 87 - Momo & Part 2 of Enter the Warren-verse! We look at the Momo challenge's resurgence and fall; then we dive back into the sketchy world of Ed & Lorraine Warren, the opportunistic storytellers whose demon-haunting template gave rise to major tropes in the horror genre. Erik Kristopher Myers joins us again for their biggest cases: The Demon Murder Case, Amityville, and the basis of the Conjuring movies. We see what some who have worked with the Warrens say, and we examine the fallout real people face because of sensationalized tales . /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8922887

Episode 86 - Psychic Sting and the Ballad of Ed & Lorraine Warren, part 1 02/28/2019

Episode 86 - Psychic Sting and the Ballad of Ed & Lorraine Warren, part 1 First we chat with Susan Gerbic about the recent buzz surrounding her expose in the New York Times Magazine, describing the undercover stings she and Mark Edwards have pulled on several prominent psychics, cleverly showing their use of social media in hot reading. Then we are joined by Erik Kristopher Myers to discuss those original gangsters of ghosthunting, Ed and Lorraine Warren. In part 1 of 2, we talk about several of their prominent cases, some background info, and their modus operandi. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8818457

Episode 85 - Snake Squeezins and Other Oily Elixirs 02/15/2019

Episode 85 - Snake Squeezins and Other Oily Elixirs This week Ben brings two outrage-provoking stories that turned out to not be what was originally assumed. Then we slide through some oily miraculous substances, some folkloric and some that are available from your local PTA mom: the original old-timey snake oil, early modern Europe's witch ointment, and then, more recently, essential oils, Lorenzo's oil, and CBD oil. What's the lure behind supposed panaceas in the form of concentrated oil? Has the medical community found any of them useful? /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8654408

Episode 84 - Hyman's Proper Criticism 02/01/2019

Episode 84 - Hyman's Proper Criticism This week Ben and Celestia start by looking at a Newsweek headline that's been circulating, implying that one-third of Americans doubt the Holocaust. We devote our main segment to an essay that has become both style guide and etiquette manual to skeptics. Ray Hyman, one of the founders of CSICOP, outlined eight principles to follow when engaging in "proper criticism" of paranormal claims. "Hyman's Proper Criticism" applies to any topic, and these lessons will make you a better human. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8480483

Episode 83 - Ogopogo-a-go-go 01/21/2019

Episode 83 - Ogopogo-a-go-go First, Ben brings us an interesting dustup from the BFRO involving some paranormal researcher snubbing. Then we do a deep, murky, cold-water dive into Ogopogo. This mysterious Canadian lake monster has a few incarnations, including a bloodthirsty one that demands sacrifices! We hear about Ben's hunt for the creature at Lake Okanagan, courtesy of National Geographic. Spoiler alert: he didn't find any monsters, but we learn about all the evidence and how to decipher it. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8328797

Episode 82 - Grab Bag 2018 01/04/2019

Episode 82 - Grab Bag 2018 Ben, Celestia, and Pascual take a romp through a bunch of 2018's more memorable skeptical moments. From a new iteration of the Mechanical Turk to deadly rumors in India to a resurgence of Geocentrism, there's plenty to go around. We go over some of the more notable passings, and Ben lists some of his favorite episodes from the past year. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8129540

Episode 81 - But Won't Someone Think of the Children? 12/21/2018

Episode 81 - But Won't Someone Think of the Children? This episode deals with various aspects of kids and woo . . . First, a look at that jolly old "identified flying object" often seen on Christmas eve, Santa himself. What skeptical benefits might be lurking in the whole Santa charade? Then we examine some harm done by serious, life-threatening woo that well-meaning parents inflict upon their children as part of a family belief system, as well as the lesser forms of uncritical thinking that can seep into a child's mental environment. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/8002280

Episode 80 - Harold Camping's Apocalypse Countdown 12/07/2018

Episode 80 - Harold Camping's Apocalypse Countdown Pascual is back, and we discuss a free-roaming placenta found in the Canadian woods last week. Then filmmaker Erik Kristopher Myers joins us to talk about one of his favorite doom-sayers, Harold Camping. What convinced so many that End Times would be in 2011? Erik discusses Camping's cult-leader charisma and business model, both of which contributed to his reach. Ben brings up older apocalyptic prophesies, and we examine what happens to believers and prophets after these predictions fail. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7832189

Episode 80 - Harold Camping's Apocalypse Countdown 12/07/2018

Episode 79 - Challenges of the Million Dollar Challenge 11/22/2018

Episode 79 - Challenges of the Million Dollar Challenge First, Ben and Celestia discuss fan base fakery with a surprise guest. Then we are joined by Skeptic Zone's Richard Saunders to chat about Randi's Million Dollar Challenge. A longstanding offer to psychics and other claimants to supernatural powers, the JREF prize set the bar as the ultimate dare for purveyors of the paranormal. Now there are dozens of offers around the world that remain unclaimed. We cover the history of the prize as well as the goals and dangers of testing those who apply. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7657256

Episode 78 - Bigfoot on Film 11/09/2018

Episode 78 - Bigfoot on Film Award-winning filmmaker Erik Kristopher Myers joins us to discuss Bigfoot on film. Starting with a quick analysis of the famous and influential Patterson-Gimlin footage, we tour the offerings in all genres since then, looking at pop culture as well as the efforts of a litigious present-day Canadian documentarian. From the pendulous, hairy breasts seen in the grainy 1967 footage to the pendulous, hairy breasts drawn by R. Crumb, Bigfoot has given rise to some twisted depictions over the years. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7498103

Episode 77 - Halloween History, Hell Houses, and Scares! 10/26/2018

Episode 77 - Halloween History, Hell Houses, and Scares! Celestia reports back from CSI con, and Ben recounts a news story about a graveyard dowser. Then we look at Halloween: what are the real roots of this holiday, and what exactly is satanic about it? Ben traces the development of "trick or treating" and we find out it's religious extortion that used to involve turnip torture. Celestia probes the phenomenon of "Hell Houses" put on by conservative evangelicals an alternative to a haunted house. And Ben debunks a few Halloween societal panics. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7324382

Episode 77 - Halloween History, Hell Houses, and Scares! 10/26/2018

Episode 76 - Human Barbie and Other Plastic Tales 10/12/2018

Episode 76 - Human Barbie and Other Plastic Tales First, Ben examines some disturbing consequences to child abduction rumors on a popular app in India and Mexico. Then we look at modern plastic surgery oddities and, specifically, the media myth of the Human Barbie, also known as Russian model Valeria Lukyanova. What outrageous things were said about her, and how much of the narrative can be taken as fact? We also compare her to her counterparts, namely the three men who promote themselves as "human Ken dolls." /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7160534

Episode 75 - Escaping the Rabbit Hole with Mick West 09/28/2018

Episode 75 - Escaping the Rabbit Hole with Mick West This week Ben and Celestia recount some woo encounters "in the field" that they chose not to battle. Then we sit down with Mick West, author of the book Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect. Mick outlines his history in debunking, from chemtrails to Metabunk, and we go over different approaches to help loved ones. We discuss the harm that conspiracy thinking can inflict, and also the creeping culture of conspiracies and its effect on politics. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7102089

Episode 75 - Escaping the Rabbit Hole with Mick West 09/28/2018

Episode 74 - The Pokemon Panic 09/14/2018

Episode 74 - The Pokemon Panic This week a dog-buys-cookies image took Celestia on a tour of pet videos and, finally, answered whether monkeys can understand currency. Then Ben revisits his investigation on the Pokemon Panic, a wave of illness that struck Tokyo children in the 1990s--the incident was referenced again this summer as journalists warned of strobe effects in Incredibles 2. What are the numbers, and how does photosensitive epilepsy work? What exactly sickened thousands of Japanese children that week? /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/7045345

Episode 73 - Skeptical Burnout 08/31/2018

Episode 73 - Skeptical Burnout This week we start with an announcement and then a look at a Bridezilla tale and a psychic mountain lion encounter. Then Ben, Celestia, and Pascual discuss skeptical burnout, a phenomenon that hits almost every skeptic at some point. What makes us susceptible to this kind of exhaustion, and how can we best fight against it? We all share some stories and outlooks. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/6990852

Episode 72 - Ghost Trains 08/24/2018

Episode 72 - Ghost Trains We begin with Spike Lee's latest movie and the misguided notion of holding movies "based on" real events to a standard of accuracy. Then all aboard for the ghost train express! Ben and Celestia discuss the lure of the locomotive (and train wrecks) in the American imagination, flickering far-away lights, and the danger of ghost-trainspotting on trestles. Ben looks into rumors of "virtual undergrounds" in Russia. We go over Abraham Lincoln's phantom train, and Ben falsifies a ghost train video. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/6963220

Episode 71 - The Brown Recluse and Arachnopanic 08/17/2018

Episode 71 - The Brown Recluse and Arachnopanic We start with a look at some so-called logos unveiled as a fundraiser and compare them to NASA's logo to see how a real Space Force manages branding. Then Pascual, our resident spider-apologist, schools us on the brown recluse, possibly the most feared spider in America. We'll look into the many things regularly mistaken for recluse bites, as well as why people seem more willing to assume (and advertise) they've been bitten. And we'll also dip into some spidery folklore and urban legends! /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/6937100

Episode 70 - Guests in Spaaaaaaace . . . 08/10/2018

Episode 70 - Guests in Spaaaaaaace . . . This week is a potpourri of spacey strangeness, with a look back (and forward) at the Air Force UFO study know as Project Blue Book, soon to be a History Channel series. Joining Ben and Celestia is F. Andrew Taylor, journalist and cartoonist, who drew attendees' UFO sightings at the San Diego Comic Con. Then, at the Star Trek con in Las Vegas, Celestia chats with physicist Dr. Erin Macdonald (formerly of LIGO) and emergency physician Dr. Angela Mattke, both Trekkies and science communicators. /episode/index/show/squaringthestrange/id/6908621

Episode 70 - Guests in Spaaaaaaace . . . 08/10/2018

Squaring the Strange

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