Token Skeptic Podcast

Why do we believe weird things? What does feminine intuition really mean? How do you become an effective activist for science and reason? Are you ready for a monthly show that poses these questions and more? Tune into the Token Skeptic for a slightly more skeptical look at stories in the news, urban legends, good science, pseudoscience, and what makes popular culture pop. Hosted and produced by philosophy teacher and radio broadcaster Kylie Sturgess.

Token Skeptic 235 - On Zealot: A Book About Cults 03/25/2019

Token Skeptic 234 - On Animals, Language, Koko and Wish Fulfilment 06/28/2018

Token Skeptic 233 - On Complementary Medicine Laws In Australia and Choice Campaign 05/26/2018

Token Skeptic 232 - On Mr Shaha’s Recipes for Wonder 05/01/2018

Token Skeptic 231 - On The Woman Who Fooled The World 02/28/2018

Token Skeptic 230 - How To Be Reasonable 02/01/2018

Token Skeptic 229 - Internet Tests, Manus Island And Podcast Trends 11/30/2017

Token Skeptic 229 - Internet Tests, Manus Island And Podcast Trends Free WIFI - two words that many people love to hear. But how many people read the terms and conditions before they connect to it? Accessing wireless points that you don’t know where it originates from can be risky and harmful to your confidential information. … and Dr Krishnun Sansurooah joined me to tell us how it went. *********** About a month ago, the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre closed down. More than a thousand displaced refugees are now left in a vulnerable state after being moved to an alternative location. As the tensions surround the island's Regional Processing Centre grow, many of Australia's senior doctors, psychiatrists and surgeons have written an open letter to the Federal Government, offering to treat the remaining asylum seekers and refugees for free. To tell us more about what's happening is the *********** - investigating trends in radio, which is a broad landscape these days! Recently he's Tweeted about radio intimacy, links to resilience of radio despite the trends, and getting lost in Brisbane on the way to the studio. I subscribe to his PodNews emails and it's always interesting to see what's happening - I talked to him about what caught his ear recently. *********** A quick note about supporting the podcasts! Check out – and consider Thanks to RTRFM for their support. Theme songs “Cosgrove” by Pogo, from and “Leap Second” by Milton Mermikides, of Additional ambient music from Jukedeck – create your own at . Tremendous thanks to my Patreon supporters - they are: Stephen, Steven, Andrew, Troy, Jacqueline, Daniel, Gerry, Dr*T, Josh, Linley, Gold and Iggy. Make sure you check out the bonus content on Patreon and as always, you can join them by heading to (and check out the too!). Please leave positive comments and reviews on iTunes and consider supporting the show via visiting – and I’d love to get your feedback via tokenskeptic@gmail.com. /episode/index/show/tokenskeptic/id/5995592

Token Skeptic 228 - Australia Enters The Space Race (?) - Interview With Paul Willis 09/30/2017

Token Skeptic 227 - On Wellmania: Misadventures in the Search for Wellness by Brigid Delaney 07/30/2017

Token Skeptic 226 - On My Dad Wrote a Porno - Interview With Jamie Morton 06/16/2017

Token Skeptic 225 - March For Science - Perth WA 04/22/2017

Token Skeptic Special Episode – The Perth Writers Festival Interviews 02/24/2017

Token Skeptic Special Episode – The Perth Writers Festival Interviews comes to town and it was a great chance to interview a range of talented authors taking part in the festivities. My interviews are with: Ben Rawlence - his book City of Thorns is about Northern Kenya - the home of the world’s largest refugee camp, with half a million people. Opening Night speaker at the Perth International Arts Festival. Candice Fox - her first novel, Hades, won the Ned Kelly Award for best debut in 2014 from the Australian Crime Writers Association; she has since gone onto numerous books on crime and punishment. Hannah Kent - is the best-selling author of Burial Rites and the newly released The Good People - stories of culture, crime and history. Garth Nix - is an award-winning sci-fi fantasy author with several series of fantasy and fiction; I asked him about his new book "Frogkisser" ahead of his appearances at the festival. Amy Stewart - an author of nonfiction books on the perils and pleasures of the natural world, including New York Times bestsellers with The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Bugs and Wicked Plants. However, her range has extended to the tales of a trio of turn-of-the-century sisters turned detectives, with the latest being Lady Cop Makes Trouble - the second book in an ongoing series. Chinelo Okparanta - this Nigerian-American author writes stories of women and children, family life, migration, war and love; she first started with short stories, with the collection Happiness, Like Water and then her most recent novel Under the Udula Trees. Inua Ellams - London-based playwright and poet Inua Ellams' work explores the themes of identity, displacement and destiny – areas of life he’s intimately familiar with. Dan Box - the National Crime Reporter for The Australian and creator of crime podcast Bowraville. Marwa Al-Sabouni - Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni is battling to heal her home city of Homs, having remained there as bombs destroyed much of what she knew and loved. Her ideas to mend the city are now laid out in a visionary memoir, The Battle For Home. She is presenting the closing night address. Clementine Ford - Australian feminist columnist and author of the best selling book Fight Like A Girl. Lindy West - is a Seattle-based writer, editor and performer who’s work has appeared in a number of well-known publications - and the author of Shrill: Notes From A Loud Woman. Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa - a Perth performance poet, she’s a workshop facilitator, actor, artist and humanitarian. Her questions about notions of Australian national identity, got her to the finals of the national Australia poetry slam. Nathan Hill - short story author and author of The Nix; a tale of estrangement and displacement in both families and national politics. Adrian Todd Zuniga - creator of Literary Death Match - touted as Def Poetry Jam meets American Idol, this competition sees four authors perform a short excerpt of their most electric work before a panel of judges. Omar Musa - a Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet from Queanbeyan, Australia. He is the winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam and has released three hip-hop albums, two poetry books, and received a standing ovation at TEDx. ************ A quick note about supporting the podcasts! Check out – and consider Thanks to RTRFM for their support, especially producer Peter Barr. Theme songs “Cosgrove” by Pogo, from and “Leap Second” by Milton Mermikides, of Additional ambient music from Jukedeck – create your own at . – they include: Steven, Andrew, Dr T, Paul, Gerry, Josh, Kathy, Linley, Gold, Iggy, Lukas, Finch and Andrew. Thanks to everyone who contributes and please consider joining to help continue these shows at Please leave positive comments and reviews on iTunes and consider supporting the show via visiting – and I’d love to get your feedback via tokenskeptic@gmail.com. /episode/index/show/tokenskeptic/id/5115790

Token Skeptic 224 - On How Safe are Herbal Medicines - Interview With Dr Garth Maker 02/24/2017

Token Skeptic 223 - Override: My Quest to go Beyond Brain Training and Take Control of my Mind 01/23/2017

Token Skeptic 222 – On Homeopathy: The Undiluted Facts 12/28/2016

Token Skeptic Special Episode - Cosmic Shambles Live 11/18/2016

Token Skeptic Special Episode - Cosmic Shambles Live Essentially, the fact that every show is different (apart from host and the following guests you can see pictured above) means that you're not entirely sure what you're going to get. Maybe Sydney will have flying. Melbourne could involve cake-throwing. I'm seriously planning for Perth to involve a fiesta on the high street. They had The Cure turn up at one of their London gigs, so you never know what local talent they may be able to find. At any rate, I got the chance to speak to most of the performers in the show for this little special episode and if you'd like to get in touch for more details (especially if you're a Patreon!), the link is . Here's the interview with Robin Ince, Trent Burton, Josie Long and Matt Parker about the forthcoming Cosmic Shambles Tour of Australia and NZ . ***************** The Atheist Foundation of Australia and Cerebral Events Ltd (NZ), in association with Trunkman Productions (UK), proudly presents , in Australia and New Zealand. Cosmic Shambles LIVE is a variety show that celebrates curiosity and reason, an explosion of science, comedy, music and general wonder, with a great sense of fun. Hosted by comedian and writer Robin Ince, best known for co-hosting The Infinite Monkey Cage, and joined by a cast of world leading scientists, comedians and performers - this is a show that will make you laugh and make you think. As the show travels across Australia and New Zealand, many local acts and scientists will be incorporated into the show, making for a unique and different experience with every performance. Each show will be packed with surprises and secret guests. Make sure you're are on board for what is bound to be a series of nights like no other. Funky sounds! Nerdy wonders! Dazzling spreadsheets! Confused earthworms! And everything else besides. Part proceeds from the show will be going to great charities like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). ***************** A quick note about supporting the podcasts! Check out – and consider Thanks to RTRFM for their support, especially producer Peter Barr. Theme songs “Cosgrove” by Pogo, from and “Leap Second” by Milton Mermikides, of Additional ambient music from Jukedeck – create your own at . – they include: Steven, Andrew, Dr T, Paul, Gerry, Josh, Kathy, Linley, Gold, Iggy, Lukas, Finch and Andrew. Thanks to everyone who contributes and please consider joining to help continue these shows at Please leave positive comments and reviews on iTunes and consider supporting the show via visiting – and I’d love to get your feedback via tokenskeptic@gmail.com. /episode/index/show/tokenskeptic/id/4844492