Skeptoid - Skeptoid #650: I Believe
Aired: 2018-11-20
Duration: 08:42


=== Fatherly Advice With A Song (02:43) ===

[00:00:03]  In the tradition of every 50th Skeptoid episode being a lavish musical, we present you with episode 650 with music by composer Tyson Illingworth and vocals by Amelia Barron.
[00:00:15]  It's a sweet, skeptical, downbeat jam that you'll want to add to your favorite playlist.
[00:00:21]  And you can get a high-quality MP3 of just the song on the transcript page for this episode at skeptoid.com.
[00:00:29]  I believe is coming right up on Skeptoid.
[00:00:38]  A quick reminder for everyone, you're listening to Skeptoid, revealing the true science and true history behind urban legends every week since 2006.
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[00:01:38]  You're listening to Skeptoid.
[00:01:39]  I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
[00:01:44]  Thank you for joining me today, Erica.
[00:01:46]  You're welcome.
[00:01:47]  We're driving around the property here in Bend, Oregon, in our electric UTV and totally not faking out in a studio or anything.
[00:01:55]  Is that the important thing you wanted to talk to me about?
[00:01:58]  No, what I wanted to say is that since this is the 650th episode of Skeptoid, this would be a good time to celebrate by giving you some fatherly advice.
[00:02:09]  You know, Dad, I think I'm probably all good.
[00:02:11]  Well, you're almost there, but you know how you harbor all sorts of pseudo-scientific beliefs?
[00:02:17]  Dad, I'm a physics major, and I've had to put up with Skeptoid for most of my life.
[00:02:22]  So no, I don't believe I harbor all sorts of pseudo-scientific beliefs.
[00:02:26]  Yeah, but you're pretending to for the purpose of this episode, right?
[00:02:29]  Uh, yes, I forgot.
[00:02:32]  So, the advice I wanted to share with you has to do with a way to make better life decisions by basing your knowledge on data rather than on personal beliefs.
[00:02:41]  Pretty sure I'm way ahead of you on that one.
[00:02:44]  I know, but you're playing along with me here, right?

=== Base Knowledge On Data Not Beliefs (03:52) ===

[00:02:47]  Oh, yes, right.
[00:02:49]  So, how is it that you're planning to share this advice with me?
[00:02:52]  Well, as a long-time skeptoid listener, you know that every 50th episode is usually a musical.
[00:03:00]  Oh, God, please know.
[00:03:02]  So, I thought I'd tell you with a song.
[00:03:05]  And it goes a little like this: how can you strum a guitar and drive the UTV at the same time?
[00:03:13]  It's Hollywood Effects Magic.
[00:03:24]  I want to know, and I want to feel.
[00:03:28]  I want to find out what is real.
[00:03:31]  I've seen some things, I know the truth.
[00:03:35]  I won't be blinded by my youth.
[00:03:39]  Grounded in time, I see the light.
[00:03:43]  I will be guided by what's right.
[00:03:46]  Trust in myself, leave that behind.
[00:03:50]  I have a vision in my mind.
[00:03:54]  I'm safe inside My own truth, I don't need your point of view.
[00:04:09]  I believe, I'm taking hold, I'm in control.
[00:04:28]  I got to satisfy my soul.
[00:04:31]  I'm standing my ground, I'm ready to fight, I'm holding on with all my might.
[00:04:39]  I want to touch on something more.
[00:04:43]  I wanna find out what's in store.
[00:04:46]  I know sometimes it may seem rough, but I believe that it's enough.
[00:04:54]  I'm safe inside my own truth.
[00:05:02]  I don't need your point of view.
[00:05:09]  I believe, we all have beliefs.
[00:05:27]  Beliefs are those ideas we've concluded are true, but we're not always right.
[00:05:34]  Beliefs are fallible and they can fool us.
[00:05:39]  Often we put so much faith in our beliefs that we close our minds to contradicting information.
[00:05:46]  This is why we are so easy to fool.
[00:05:51]  A willingness to change our beliefs, to question what we think we know, is the heart of intellectual honesty.
[00:06:17]  I believe, Wow, Dad, thanks to your wisdom, I now no longer base my whole life on blind faith in my fallible beliefs.

=== Skepticism Is The Best Medicine (02:02) ===

[00:06:39]  The song gets full credit.
[00:06:41]  It's actually a pretty cool song.
[00:06:43]  Where can I get it?
[00:06:44]  You can download it now for free without the goofy narration on both sides.
[00:06:49]  But the goofy narration's the best part.
[00:06:51]  From the transcript page for episode 650 at skeptoid.com.
[00:06:56]  It's called I Believe and it goes great in your favorite playlist on your MP3 player.
[00:07:02]  I believe.
[00:07:03]  I'll go get it right now.
[00:07:05]  And I believe you're listening to Skeptoid, a listener-supported program.
[00:07:09]  I'm Brian Dunning.
[00:07:10]  And I'm Erica Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
[00:07:15]  I always wanted to say that.
[00:07:19]  Thank you for 650 episodes.
[00:07:35]  Hello, everyone.
[00:07:36]  This is Adrian Hill from Skookum Studios in Calgary, Canada, the land of maple syrup and moose.
[00:07:44]  And I'm here to ask you to consider becoming a premium member of Skeptoid for as little as five US dollars per month.
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[00:07:57]  And that's Canadian for coffee with double cream and sugar.
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[00:08:24]  Remember that skepticism is the best medicine.
[00:08:28]  Next to giggling, of course.
[00:08:30]  Until next time, this is Adrienne Hill.
[00:08:41]  From PRX.