Skeptenfreude

Recorded 28 February 2025 (but posted 26 April 2025!). Ms Ann and Richard discuss changes in the world since they last recorded a podcast five months ago and the Trump presidency, the end of Skeptics in the Pub, Richard’s experience with a Tarot Cards for Beginners course, how ChatGPT is both brilliant and scary, but regardless we use it for a bit of content, Richard tells his Ed the Canadian environmental engineer story (probably again), we then discuss how long do you display an award, Ms Ann talks Tesla drivers, Elon and the USA, and then with nothing else to talk about, we talk about Ms Ann’s new 3D printer and life philosophy. 

Recorded 25 August 2024. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the SGU talking irrelevant personal stuff and episode numbers before Richard talks about his irrelevant personal trip to a folk event in Annandale.  Then we spend the remaining time on the question “What is a women” which for a seemingly obvious answer seems to have got quite muddy and as expected we end up not solving it and only being exasperated. 

Recorded 21 July 2024. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Skeptics World Zoom meeting, the unexpected end of Tenacious D as witnessed by Richard, the Australian Skeptics investigation into Drop Bears, Committed Relationships, the universality of Skeptics in the Pub, James Randi Kindness (again), measuring a persons height, Ross Coulthart, someone actually reviewing the podcast, podcasters who make money, arrogant coffee shops, preparing for the SGU 1000th episode, Kenty’s Tree, and heroes who fail you.

Recorded 25 February 2024. Ms Ann and Richard try to ignore reasons why they only did one podcast in 2023 to discuss Skeptic Zone doing 800 episodes, a dud board game gift given to Ms Ann, a Tik-Tok paranormal debacle and the true reason why Kenny Biddle is now Richard’s new Skeptic nemesis, Alicia Keys vanishing bum note, Dyson vacuum cleaners, father & son gigs, shared office desks, SGU musical taste, Mega SUVs, a vestibule conversation, rejoining Toastmasters, when gays who kill are homophobic, forgetting the word dementia and death by frog toxin.  

Recorded 26 August 2023. Ms Ann and Richard ignore reasons why they haven’t done a podcast and in a new improved shorter episode format briefly discuss kissing at the Women’s Soccer World Cup, dead people and their twitter accounts, phones at urinals, shopping for milk, the real John Dory, Skeptics in the Pub, Woolies cameras, gender in chess, gender in general and Evan Bernstein.

Recorded 4 November 2022. Ms Ann and Richard briefly discuss the previous failed attempt at a podcast, how Richard got injured at a concert and the ALARP approach, thoughts of retirement given the decline due to aging, how can SGU and Richard Saunders do weekly podcasts, a long talk on Richard attending the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival (including his tarot card reading, some of the weird cult-like brochures that were handed out, and unfortunately meeting an ex-work colleague with a distinctive shaped head), the story of the lions escaping at Taronga Park Zoo, the Melbourne Cup, the local Parramatta culture, Bob Novella’s Forest of Fear, Poor Restaurant Service, the Turmeric Wager, Tattoo Ownership, an incident on a train, 360 Degree Videos on YouTube, and finally Queensland driving.

Recorded 31 July 2022. Ms Ann and Richard briefly discuss the Pauline Hanson and the welcome to Country, the daily prayer said each morning at Federal Parliament, a team building experience, a Dyson vacuum experience, Graggle Simpson, sleep paralysis and dog dreams, hottest day in England and how the naked ape has changed the world environment, a Will Durant quote wrongly attributed and the book it came from, lack of value for money of health insurance, anti-vax colleagues, the heavy rains, Sharon Hill hates everyone, a public urinal experience, and garden air blowers. They then go on a very longer discussion on gender and the purity spiral which at the end they are still none the wiser.   

Recorded 22 May 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the new Australian Government and the associated fallout (i.e. Rowan Dean being a clown), how they voted, what they did and watched on the evening.  We then do a review of the book “Grains of Sands” by Brian J Cano, who impressed us at ParaCon all the way back in Episode #1 and in this podcast welcomed us into his Darkplace.  Finally, a quick run thru of combovers, how to buy a Genri, art appreciation, a podcast with Geraldine Turner, and ultimately how no one cares.

Recorded 3 April 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Skeptic Zone 700th episode, Russian tanks, the Australia Skeptic magazine, the next Australian Skeptic Conference,  Skeptics in the Pub (and other locations), Richard Saunders and his Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project (including water spill and Girl From Ipanema break), COVID lingers, the great Evan Bernstein of the SGU also does Board Gaming podcasts, SGU and daylight savings, teaching your son culinary choices, B&W movies, Will Smith vs Chris Rock, Brian Houston stands down, Number Plate logos and car stickers, the Bing homepage, and a rapid fire sampler of our future Brian J Cano book review.  We then conclude with a new segment: Garth Marenghi Darkspace Trivia.  This time we look as Episode One.

Recorded 20 February 2022. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the latest film technology where you can bring back the dead as a wise investment or cold call marketing, the recent Sydney Great White shark and the Florida version, Gift Vouchers, slacktivists, the SGU segment Quickie with Bob, Barometers, “Is your meal ok?”, Caving TikTok,  Little Plastic Fish filled with Soy Sauce, Survival Bias, Australia River Cottage, some readings from the book “Sensing Psychic” by “Mitchell Coombes” and why is everyone selling a course.   Oh - and an Easter Egg.

Recorded sometime mid Jan 2022 and posted Feb 2022. Ms Ann and Richard go on a COVID rant about the dismal performance of the NSW State and Australian Federal Governments.  Its all a bit depressing, but we try to add a bit of fun where we can.

Recorded sometime October 2021 and posted Jan 2022. Ms Ann and Richard, after recording this thought by their even low standards it was not worth publishing.  But then, we got bored, so here it is.   We talk about COVID at a time before Omicron took off (so its surprisingly optimistic!).  We discuss the new Premier of NSW and his freedom day and reasons why he is new (hint, ICAC), male eyebrows, the Queen, SGU and David Copperfield, Amazon Prime, reaction videos with Telstra interruptions, the demise of Australian politics, assisted dying, America, biased media, freaky owls, and hobbies.

Skeptenfreude Episode #34 Recorded 15 August 2021. Ms Ann and Richard discuss the ongoing woeful COVID-19 lockdown in Australia then walk on the egg shells of sexuality and cultural appropriation, tarot cards, cancel culture and also somehow link it to a few board gaming examples.

Recorded 4 July 2021. Ms Ann and Richard still bereft of content end up talking somewhat about the COVID-19 response in Australia then continue with Richard further outlining all the things he doesn’t plan to do with the rest of his life (its a long list).

Recorded 25 April 2021. Ms Ann and Richard bereft of content end up talking about a conspiracy clown that accompanied Richard on an early morning train and also get into life coaching, with Richard outlining all the things he doesn’t plan to do with the rest of his life.

Recorded 21 February 2021. Ms Ann and Richard talk mainly about Pete Evans (Australian chef, restaurateur, author, television, spreader of misinformation on vaccinations and promoter of pseudoscientific dieting ideas (as reported by Wikipedia)). In summary, a danger in chefs clothing.  Although at the end, we get a little off topic.  

Recorded 25 January 2021. Ms Ann and Richard discuss Australia Day Honours and a number of unworthy recipients, a bit on Australia Day, the 7 Up documentary series, Joe Biden being President of the United States but Fox News still won’t go away, a pathetic joke, the tale of Unmasked Leopard-Print Karen, cancel culture on board game Twitter, Armie Hammer and other celebs who have disappointed Ms Ann and those few still left on her list.

Recorded 10 January 2021.  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the Trump inspired attack on Capitol Hill in an attempt to repurpose and redirect the Skeptenfreude ship, after hitting the iceberg that was 2020, with a new format of one topic and only being thirty(ish) minutes long.  It's our New Years gift to you loyal listener.   

Recorded 20 December 2020. Ms Ann and Richard were going to discuss 2020 as a year in review but just basically rambled a bit too long.

Recorded 8 November 2020 (the day Biden was confirmed winner, but released two weeks later where Trump still won't confirm Biden is the winner).  Ms Ann and Richard discuss the passing of the wonderful James Randi (and hence the end of the skeptic movement as we enjoy it), landing on an asteroid, the Biden vs Trump US election and the associated stupidification of America, the loss of an independent media thanks to Murdoch, the ongoing deaths of horses at the Melbourne Cup, Tom Lehrer, James Packer, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian giving up on love, Jack Nicklaus is no longer a hero, and some other bits about the loss of honesty and integrity.