About Skepticality : Moon, Astronomy & Space

People will believe anything. Why is that?

Our podcast is here to bring you relevant, under reported current events, as well as in-depth discussions from a scientific, critical, skeptical, and humorous point of view.

In our travels we will tackle the beasts of pseudo science; the paranormal, supernatural, ufo / alien encounters, misunderstood history, moon, astronomy & space, and overwrought legends - urban or otherwise. Welcome to Skepticality, truth in podcasting.

About Us

Derek Colanduno

Your skeptical host, grew up in Las Vegas. That explains just about everything. Too close to Area 51 and nothing he could do about it.
Raised by his New Jersey parents to question the world around him, Derek has been seeking truth in every day things, for as long as he can remember.

In his day job, Derek works for an Environmental Engineering firm as a Regional IT Consultant. For fun and sometimes profit, he's a 3d graphics developer, audio engineer, and HD video editor. (batpig studios)

Derek has contributed to several other podcasts including The Pickle Round-Up for podcastpickle.com and AMP'd the weekly music review show for the Association of Independent Music Podcasters.

Derek is currently spending his time rebuilding his super-genius brain following his 09/08/05 brain overload and subsequent inner-cranial explosion. Derek 2.0 is in development and is expected to be released in early 2019.

Your skeptical host, grew up in Las Vegas. That explains just about everything. Too close to Area 51 and nothing he could do about it.
Raised by his New Jersey parents to question the world around him, Derek has been seeking truth in every day things, for as long as he can remember.

In his day job, Derek works for an Environmental Engineering firm as a Regional IT Consultant. For fun and sometimes profit, he's a 3d graphics developer, audio engineer, and HD video editor. (batpig studios)

Derek has contributed to several other podcasts including The Pickle Round-Up for podcastpickle.com and AMP'd the weekly music review show for the Association of Independent Music Podcasters.

Derek is currently spending his time rebuilding his super-genius brain following his 09/08/05 brain overload and subsequent inner-cranial explosion. Derek 2.0 is in development and is expected to be released in early 2019.

Swoopy

Co-host Swoopy, is skeptical of many things, but mostly Derek. Her Skepticality contributions include the fun stuff like Whimsicality, and all of the music that is featured on the show.

Her other podcast, Projekt Podkast features music from the Projekt label and can be found at www.projektpodkast.com .

For fun and profit, she works in graphic design, digital composition, cinematography, still photography, fine arts including oils, acrylics, charcoal, and pen & ink drawing. She's recently taken up pottery, and while being muddy is fun, the house is getting crowded with lopsided coffee mugs that serve no purpose.

In her spare time, when she had spare time, swoopy enjoys yoga, composing spooky electronic music and staring longingly at her collection of Howard Dean campaign posters.

More recently Swoopy has accomplished a coup d' état and is finally in control of all things Skepticality. This was of course, her evil plan all along. Derek 2.0 (beta) is skeptical of her motives, and with good reason.

Infidels and Free Books: Reginald Finley and Scott Sigler's Ancestor

This week Derek and Swoopy talk to a legend in Skeptical broadcasting, Reginald Finley, known to his friends as The Infidel Guy and we take part in Monday Bloody Monday as we help launch the publication of author Scott Sigler's newest podiobook to print: Ancestor.
Listeners are invited to enter to win autographed copies of Earthcore, and Ancestor in book and cd form.

Show Notes

Date - March 19th, 2020 - read by Derek.
We're excited to have finally met Reginald Finley.
You can get a free copy of Scott Sigler's soon to be published Ancestor HERE!
Thanks for the voicemail.
An example of less than fun voicemail.
An example of the best kind of voicemail.
Brian Dunning debunks my Amazing Meeting recording process.
There were some less than stellar results.
But some sounded just great.
Results require more testing.
Brian Dunning's wife is naked on the cover of the 2020 Skepchick's calendar.
Reginald Finley has been producing the Infidel Guy Show for 8 years.
We get down to the business of talking to the man himself.
On getting more minorities into skepticism.
On fighting to stay profitable when most podcasts are free.
Reginald wonders what Matt Stone doesn't understand about The God Delusion.
Matt Stone gives Amazing Meeting participants his thoughts on Richard Dawkins.
I hope Matt Stone talks to Reginald some day.
On trying to get big names on "small time radio".
The medium IS NOT the message. The Message is the Message.
Then there was the matter of my question to Pen Jillette - and his answer.
We hope that big media catches up soon.
The Infidel Guy is also on YouTube and StikCam.
We love our volunteers that keep websites and forums going.
Reginald has a very impressive guest list.
The Debate Hour has opened up debate from both sides and brought new listeners.
Reginald has had the opportunity to educate.
Support the Infidel Guy if you can and keep this important show alive.
Promo - Podiobooks.com
We have friends who are skeptics, scientists and podcasters - some are all three.
Scott Sigler's upcoming novel Ancestor will be published on April 1st.
We're giving you Ancestor in PDF format for free, before it's published.
Scott's other podiobooks include Earthcore, Infection and The Rookie.
Scott tells us about Monday Bloody Monday.
We're okay with Siglerism.
Send an email to contest at skepticality.com for a chance to win autographed books.
We have 2 signed review copies of Ancestor, 2 signed copies of Earthcore, and 2 special edition signed audio cds of Earthcore.
We'll choose a winner in two weeks.
Check out Reginald Finley and Scott Sigler, smart and entertaining skeptics.
Skepticality outro.
Trypod Network Shoutout.

Past Shows

DateShow TitleNotesDownload
03/19/2020Ancestor by Scott Sigler (Full novel in PDF form)
03/19/2020Skepticality #048 - Infidels and Free Books: Reginald Finley and Scott Sigler's Ancestor
02/27/2020Skepticality #047 - More from TAM: Hal Bidlack, Kylie Sturgess and Michael McRae.
02/13/2020Skepticality #046 - TAM Audio: Adam Savage, Lori Lipman Brown and Benjamin Radford
01/30/2020Skepticality #045 - TAM Audio: James Randi, Tory Belleci, Julia Sweeney, Jill Sobule, Michael Shermer and God
01/16/2020Skepticality #044 - Interview: Michael A. Stackpole
01/02/2020Skepticality #043 - Skeptic's Caltech Lecture Series: Sam Harris
12/12/2019Skepticality #042 - The Mythbusters (Adam, Jamie and Kari) from TAM 4
11/28/2019Skepticality #041 - Naked Skeptics and The Amazing Meeting.
11/14/2019Skepticality #040 - Listener Feedback and Commentary
11/07/2019Skepticality #039 - Interview: Ann Druyan
10/29/2019Skepticality #038 - A Very Houdini Halloween with James Randi and the Houdini Museum
10/24/2019Skepticality #037 - Interview: Fraser Cain interviews Dr. Simon Singh.
10/08/2019Skepticality #036 - Interview: Jim Ottaviani
10/08/2019Skepticality #035 - Interview: Chris Wisnia
09/24/2019Skepticality #034 - Interview: Dr. Michael Shermer and James Randi
09/10/2019Skepticality #033 - Interview: Dr. Michael Shermer, Why Darwin Matters
08/30/2019Skepticality #032 - Interview: The Bad Astronomer talks Pluto
08/13/2019Skepticality #031 - The Return of Skepticality!
02/12/2019Skepticality #030- Evolution Sunday and Jeff Wagg Interview
02/03/2019Skepticality #029 - The Scary QLink and Bob Carroll from TAM 4
01/23/2019Skepticality #028 - Interview: Professor Lawrence Krauss
01/04/2019Interview: Fraser Cain interviews Daniel Loxton
12/20/2018Skepticality #026 - The UnChristmas Episode featuring Tom Flynn
12/13/2018Skepticality - Derek answers the Skeptical 5 Questions
12/10/2018Skepticality Special: 5 Skeptical Questions
12/06/2018Skepticality Special: Answer the 5 Questions
11/29/2018Interview: Lynne Kelly Part 1
11/02/2018Interview: Fraser Cain interviews Richard Saunders
10/16/2018Interview: Fraser Cain interviews Tony Youens
10/04/2018Special Show (iPod Winner Announced)
09/20/2018Interview: Dr. Marc Zimmer, PhD.
09/13/2018Co-Conspirators
09/10/2018Faith
09/09/2018The_Message
09/01/2018Special Guest: James Randi
08/29/2018Whimsicality: Mirror Mirror
08/23/2018Interview: w/Bob Carroll of Skepdic
08/17/2018Special Guest: The Bad Astronomer Corner!
08/10/2018Interview: Seth Shostak from SETI
08/05/2018Whimsicality: I Love My Car
08/01/2018Interview: George Hrab (Musical Guest)
07/26/2018(patched) Win an iPod 20GB, Mesmer, Casino Monkey, and Video Sex
07/19/2018Whimsicality: Book Smart
07/15/2018Interview: Dr. Michael Shermer
07/10/2018Whimsicality: The Number 5
07/05/2018Interview: Jennifer Michael Hecht (Doubt)
06/30/2018Interview: James Randi (JREF)
06/23/2018Whimsicality: EVIL EYE!
06/21/2018Interview: Benjamin Radford (Media Mythmakers)
06/18/2018Interview: Tom Flynn (Free Inquiry)
06/12/2018Interview: Rob Irving (Crop Circles)
06/03/2018Round Table: Astronomy Podcast of Doom
06/01/2018Whimsicality: White Buffalo
05/27/2018Roswell UFO Crash, Wiccan Parents...
05/23/2018Whimsicality: FORTUNE COOKIE!
05/20/2018Interview: Phil Plait (Bad Astronomy)
05/15/2018Flat Earth, Private Property, Sweden...
05/14/2018Whimsicality: ROCK!
05/10/2018U.S. Founding Fathers Beliefs, Two-Spirits
05/10/2018Machiavelli Might Have Been Cool
05/09/2018All About Ghandi and Alternative Medicine
04/03/2018Real Skeptical Heroes (Internet Debater)
04/01/2018What is Skepticality?

In the news

Business Week chooses Skepticality as one of the Best of the New Web 2005
Business week released it's Best of the New Web 2005 and listed Skepticality as one of three "best" podcasts for 2005.

Good Friend George Hrab mentions Skepticality in recent Interview

From the Express Times: "Hrab, a graduate of Moravian College, says he received international exposure with "Coelacanth" when he was interviewed on the Skepticality podcast. The interview focused on his love of science, music, critical thinking and skeptical thought." (view full text)

Creative Loafing Chooses Skepticality
Creative Loafing, Atlanta's guide to what's happening in and around town, recently published it's annual "Best Of" issue. To our surprise and delight, Skepticality was named "Best Local Podcast" for 2005.

"Of the growing number of local podcasts — an MP3 file that can be downloaded into an iPod — we’re particularly fond of SKEPTICALITY, the brainchild of Roswell roommates Derek Colanduno and Robynn McCarthy. The duo offers commentary on urban legends and pseudoscience, such as the phenomena of attributing human traits to lifeless objects (McCarthy humanizes her black Jetta) and of spreading the myth that Earth was flat (Colanduno says scientists put the theory in textbooks to make religious leaders look “scientifically stupid”). The podcast, which has 75,000 subscribers, is regularly one of the top 10 downloads on iTunes, right up there with “The Al Franken Show” and ESPN."

Skepticality named a top podcast by Apple CEO, Steve Jobs

Our Guests

James Randi
James Randi is one of the most well-known advocates of Skeptical Thought, and shedding light on Pseudoscience and the Paranormal. Mr. Randi is the founder of the JREF... (Download Interview)

Dr. Phil Plait
Phil Plait is an leading Astronomer, and founder of the website Bad Astronomy. Phil, also is an active speaker at Skeptic events, and author of the successful book, 'Bad Astronomy'. (Download Interview)

Dr. Seth Shostak
Seth Shostak is Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, and has been an observer for Project Phoenix as well as an active participant in various international forums for SETI research. He is the host for the SETI Institute's weekly radio program Are We Alone? (Download Interview)

Dr. Michael Shermer, PhD
Dr. Michael Shermer, PhD is one of the leading publishers of Skeptical and Critical Thought material. Dr. Shermer heads up the Skeptic Society, Skeptic Magazine, and continues to publish great works such as; "Science Friction", "The Science of Good and Evil", and many others. (Download Interview)

Bob Carroll
Bob Carroll is the founder and adiministrator for one of the premiere Skeptics websites on the internet, www.skepdic.com. Bob has also published the book, 'The Skeptics Dictionary'. (Download Interview)

George Hrab
George Hrab is not only a world-class musician who has played at venues such as the White House, he is also a highly intelligent Skeptic, and promotes critical thinking in one of the best ways he know how, through music. (Download Interview)

Tom Flynn
Mr. Flynn is one of the editors of Free Inquiry, and also a successful book author. Tom is a leading expert in Secular and Humanist topics. (Download Interview)

Dr. Jennifer Michael Hecht
Jennifer Michael Hecht is an award winning poet, and successful author. Her recent book, 'Doubt', covers the history of doubt back to the B.C. era. (Download Interview)

Rob Irving
Rob Irving is part of the the group Circlemakers, and has been a Crop Circle artist for over 10 years. He also is an accomlished writer and expert in duplicating 'supernatural' evidence. (Download Interview)

Benjamin Radford
Benjamin Radford is an editor for two major publications; Skeptical Inqirer and Pensar. Additionally, Mr. Radford is the author of Media Mythmakers. (Download Interview)

Lynne Kelly
Lynne Kelly has taught science and mathematics for over thirty years. She holds degrees in education and engineering, and delights in debunking claims of the paranormal. She is the author of The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal and eight other non-fiction titles. (Download Interview)

Dr. Marc Zimmer, PhD
Marc Zimmer PhD, is the Christian A. Johnson Distinguished Teaching Professor and processor of chemistry at Connecticut College and the author of Glowing Genes. His research has been funded by the NIH, and he has published more than fifty scientific papers, mainly on the topic of builuminescence. (Download Interview)

Pther Places

Podcasts - Science and Tech

Science @ NASA
Science Friday
Universe Today
Point of Inquiry
Slacker Astronomy
The Naked Scientists
Berkeley Groks Science
This Week in Tech
IT Conversations
The Point

Podcasts - Science Fiction

Slice of Sci-Fi
The Dragon Page Mondo Feed
Alien Ethos - The Ethics of Sci-Fi
The Signal
Geek-Fu Action Grip
The Force.Net
Escape Pod
The Sci Phi Show

Podcasts - Fun and Interesting

5Questions
Podcast411
The Seanachai
The Nate and Di Show (not work safe)
The Evil Genius Chronicles
Librivox
JabberJaw
Jawbone Radio
The Secrets
I Should Be Writing
The Digital Media Cast Experiment
The Rev Up Review
Digital Media Tips and Tricks
Keith and the Girl (not work safe)
The PK and J Show

Podcasts - Music

Projekt Podkast
Insomnia Radio
The Good Beer Show
The Rock N' Roll Jew Show
Accident Hash
Coverville
Bitjobs for the Masses

Podcast Directories

The Podcast Entertainment Network
PodcastPickle.Com
The Association of Music Podcasting
Odeo
Yahoo Podcasting
iPodder.Org
Podcast Alley
All Podcasts
audiofeeds.org
Blast Podcast
CastRegister
Digital Podcasts
Education Podcast Network
EveryPodcast
Feedzie
gigadial
goFish
idiotvox
Mobilcast
My Podcast Center
Nature Podcasts
Open Media Network
PCCaster
Penguinradio
Pocketcasting
podcast.net
podcast Central
Podcast Charts
Podcast Empire
Podcasterworld.com
Podcast Mania
Podcast Shuffle
podfeeder
podfeed.net
Podlog
podnova.com
PodOmatic
Podscope
PodSpider
Podutainment
Podzinger
PublicRadioFan.com
Qpodder - Gay and Lesibian podcast network
RSS Network
TodMaffin.com
Vital Podcasts

Of Interest on the Web

Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge - JREF Offers a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event.

James Randi Foundation - An educational resource on the paranormal, pseudoscientific, and the supernatural.

FactCheck.Org - Holding Politicians Accountable. A nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.

Center for Inquiry - The purpose of the Center for Inquiry is to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor. The Center for Inquiry is a transnational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that encourages evidence-based inquiry into science, pseudoscience, medicine and health, religion, ethics, secularism, and society.

Skeptic Society - The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of cholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers.

National Center for Science Education - A group defending the teaching of evolution, and fact-based scientific thought in public schools. A nation clearinghouse for information and advice to combat the growing 'anti-scientific' movement.

Penn and Teller Bullshit - Confirmed skeptics and pro-science atheists (they refer to God as "an imaginary friend"), these magicians are big fans of the art of debunking.

The Skeptics Annotated Bible - The Skeptic's Annotated Bible contains the entire text of the King James Version of the Bible presented from a skeptic's point of view.

Skeptics Friends Network - The mission of the Skeptic Friends Network is to promote skepticism, critical thinking, science and logic as the best methods for evaluating all claims of fact, and we invite active participation by our members to create a skeptical community with a wide variety of viewpoints and expertise.

Skeptics Report - Skeptic Report hopes to help dispel the darkness by providing a forum for skeptical and critical thinking.

Snopes.com - Urban Legends Reference Pages. A great place to lookup the facts on stuff you just can't believe that your friends tell you.

UFO Skeptic - An information site on the UFO phenomenon by and for professional scientists.

Bad Astronomy - Teaching people the truth about space, the stars, the planets, and busting myths and common misconceptions about astronomy.

Cult News Network - A place where you can find out about the many cults and other controversial groups and 'movements' out there, threatening logical thought.

Hoaxbusters - A resource for de-bunking and discovering the truth behind Internet Hoaxes and Chain letters.

Crank Dot Net - Crank.net is devoted to presenting web sites by and about cranks, crackpots, kooks, and loons.

The Skeptics Dictionary - Just what it says, a great resource for researching your favorite topics!

The-Brights - A community of folks that rely on a natural, non-supernatural view of the world.

The Cato Institute - A non-profit research think-tank that relies on critical thinking and facts, over political beliefs and passion. (Liberals call them Conservatives, Conservatives call them Liberals. In other words, my favorite kind of people.)

Arts and Letters Daily - A great place to do some daily reading on what's been going on around the world. We love alternative news sources around here.

Reason Online - Interesting, and often fun looks at current topics presented in a critical fashion.

AlterNet - A different, sometimes critical spin, on current events.

SciScoop - An interesting site full of under-reported scientific findings.

Internet Archive - The Internet Archive is building a digital library of information in digital form. Like a paper library they provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, and the public.