Skeptoid - Listeners Have Another Say
Aired: 2014-08-01
Duration: 04:41


=== Supporting Science and Critical Thinking (04:14) ===

[00:00:00]  You're listening to Skeptoid.
[00:00:01]  I'm Brian Dunning from Skepto.
[00:00:05]  Just you hold it right there.
[00:00:07]  You listening?
[00:00:08]  Yes!
[00:00:09]  Here's what we have to say about Skeptoid.
[00:00:13]  Hello, friends.
[00:00:14]  Galen from Kansas here.
[00:00:16]  If you believe as I do in the critical importance of cultivating a skeptically minded and scientifically literate society, I urge you to join me in proudly supporting Skeptoid with your tax-deductible contribution.
[00:00:27]  All it takes is a few clicks, and you too can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are taking tangible action to build a resource for the skeptical community.
[00:00:36]  The cause is worthy, the value is clear, and the time to act is now.
[00:00:41]  Hello, this is Craig Good.
[00:00:43]  I'm a writer, voice actor, filmmaker, foodie, and skeptic.
[00:00:48]  Full disclosure, I also write for the Skeptoid blog.
[00:00:52]  Skeptoid is on my short list of don't miss podcasts because Brian has a way of finding out the more interesting true story behind the apparently interesting stories in popular culture.
[00:01:04]  Skeptoid is also a valuable consumer resource when it comes to health and food scares.
[00:01:09]  Maybe the best thing about Skeptoid is that when Brian finds he's wrong about something, he fully corrects the record.
[00:01:16]  Those are some of my favorite episodes.
[00:01:19]  So besides writing for the blog, I make regular micropayments to help keep Skeptoid going.
[00:01:24]  And I think you should too.
[00:01:28]  Hi, my name is Phil Voegler.
[00:01:30]  I'm a contracted systems engineer in Poisey, Idaho.
[00:01:32]  I'd like to tell everyone today why I support Skeptoid.
[00:01:35]  Throughout my day, I visit many different offices across a wide range of professions.
[00:01:40]  Over the last 20 years, I've come across many pseudoscientific beliefs and claims, usually being around the latest diet fat or so-called remedy.
[00:01:48]  This year, I decided to quit being an armchair skeptic and to support the community in whatever small way I could.
[00:01:54]  I share the Skeptoid podcast and in fact video series with all my friends and colleagues.
[00:01:59]  It helps them to better understand the pseudoscientific claims that are so prevalent in the media today.
[00:02:04]  I'd like to ask anyone listening to join me in supporting Skeptoid and encouraging the promotion of science and critical thinking.
[00:02:11]  Thanks.
[00:02:13]  Hey, Brian, my name is Josh, and I'm a general dentist in San Antonio, Texas.
[00:02:17]  I support Skeptoid because I feel that critical thinking is an incredibly important skill that many people just don't have.
[00:02:23]  I see patients all the time who have been wooed by pseudoscience on the internet, hoping that oil pulling will cure their gigantic cavity or that some essential oil will rid them of an abscess.
[00:02:32]  Skeptoid is a great vehicle for learning critical thinking in quick and easy weekly sessions.
[00:02:37]  Keep up the great work.
[00:02:40]  My name is Paul.
[00:02:42]  I am a psychologist and I live in southwest Florida.
[00:02:46]  I have listened to your podcast for several years and find them to be very interesting and also they help me to think more clearly and more critically about many popular topics.
[00:02:59]  More importantly, they help me to help others to think more critically about various topics that they have not really thought through.
[00:03:10]  Therefore, the contribution that I have made to your podcast is money well spent in my opinion and I hope that you will be able to continue to keep up the good work.
[00:03:22]  The best part of producing Skeptoid is hearing of the good it actually does out there in the real world.
[00:03:28]  Just recently I heard from a resident of Windsor, Nova Scotia, whose town council was considering potential dangers associated with the installation of a new cell phone tower.
[00:03:38]  A listener gave them the printout of the relevant Skeptoid episode debunking these fears as unscientific.
[00:03:44]  The paper was shared with the council and the chief administrative officer and I found the minutes of their town meeting online where the cell tower was approved.
[00:03:54]  I hear stories like this all the time and I'll try to share more of them with you.
[00:03:58]  If you think these small victories for science literacy and scientific skepticism are important in the world, become a Skeptoid supporter with a tax-deductible donation or even better, the automatic recurring micropayments that make up the majority of the support.

=== Real World Impact of Skeptoid (00:26) ===

[00:04:14]  A little less than 1% of listeners give their support and the break-even point is just over 1%.
[00:04:21]  Working on the show is my full-time job and reaching that break-even point is critical.
[00:04:26]  So please don't think your donation will be lost in the noise.
[00:04:30]  It's important and you're important.
[00:04:32]  Just come to skeptoid.com slash important and help this resource continue.
[00:04:39]  I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.