Are humans the only animals that practice medicine? In this episode, two scientists share surprising observations of orangutans and chimpanzees treating wounds–their own and others'–with plants and insects. These discoveries challenge ideas about uniquely human behaviors and offer insights into animal intelligence, empathy, and the evolutionary roo…

The 'spice wars' between the Dutch and the English in the 1600's were quite something. Giles Milton told the story in his remarkable book Nathaniel's Nutmeg. What I hadn't realised until reading this was how feeble and disorganised the English were compared to their competitors. And the Dutch in particular were as ruthless as they were capable. Vis…

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo. Then it’s time for the news: ... Read more The post TheESP – Ep. #447 – Flying …

András is back in good form and we start with a report from the Swedish Skeptics at the Gothenburg Book Fair – real life astronauts where involved! A little listener feed back and then we go to TWISH to hear about German R&B Singer and conspiracy theorist Xavier Naidoo. Then it’s time for the news: SWEDEN: Secret Service confirms State of Iran behi…

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders. We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone. We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November. Enjoy! Segments: Intro; Greetings; Interview; Farewell; Outro; Outtakes 0:00:27 INTRO 0:00:50 GREETINGS 0:00:53 INT…

This week we interview good friend and podcast colleague Richard Saunders. We talk about skeptical activism in general and Richard’s podcast the Skeptic Zone. We also hear all about the upcoming Skepticon XL in Sydney 23 -24 November. Enjoy! Segments: 0:00:27 Intro 0:00:50 Greetings 0:00:53 Interview 0:27:25 Farewell 0:31:11 Outro 0:32:25 Outtakes …

We start with some follow up from last week – Edward Bach is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if plants can really appreciate music. In TWISH we celebrate(?) the birthday of Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’) and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news: INTERNATIONAL: ... Read more The post TheESP –…

We start with some follow up from last week – Edward Bach is pronounced [batch], and we have some more thoughts on if plants can really appreciate music. In TWISH we celebrate(?) the birthday of Sally Morgan (‘Psychic Sally’) and find her neither convincing nor a nice person. Then we dig into the news: INTERNATIONAL: Ig Nobel prize winners 2024 FRA…

With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some numerology. Annika will be more off than on for a while and the promised record heat in Sweden actually delivered. In TWISH we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer Stanisław Lem who was born this week in 1921. Then we head ... Read more The post TheESP – Ep. #444 – Happy Cucum…

With an episode number like this, we have to start out with some numerology. Annika will be more off than on for a while and the promised record heat in Sweden actually delivered. In TWISH we hear about the sci-fi / philosophical writer Stanisław Lem who was born this week in 1921. Then we head for the news: SWEDEN: Music makes cucumbers happy UK: …

We are back with Jonathan Clements for part 2 of our podcast on the history of Japan. In this episode we start with the remarkable story of Taiwan's 50 years as a colony of Japan. And Jonathan then takes the story through the White Terror up to the current day. And to remind you: Rebel Island Jonathan's blog…

Jonathan Clements has written a number of histories of East Asia. His latest, Rebel Island, is a history of Taiwan from the earliest times up to today. If you have any interest in the history of the region this book is an absolute must read. And while it is a serious and meticulously researched history it is also genuinely gripping with 'Blimey! I …

In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news: INTERNATIONAL: Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social media FRANCE: Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon Musk AUSTRIA ... Read more The po…

In TWISH this week we hear about August Kekulé, the French organic chemist who redefined his disciplin in the mid 1800s. The we go into the news: INTERNATIONAL: Scammers in the Moonlight – Real vs. fake Tarot readers on social media FRANCE: Imane Khelif files lawsuit over cyber-harassment, names JK Rowling and Elon Musk AUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS: C…

Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details. Then we have a great chat with Algimantas Kvecys who is the chair of Lietuvos skeptikų draugija, the Society of Lithuanian Skeptics. Enjoy! Segments: Intro; Greetings; Interview; Farewell; Outro 0:00:31 ... …

Before we go into today’s interview, we elaborate a little on last week’s TWISH about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, adding a bit more details. Then we have a great chat with Algimantas Kvecys who is the chair of Lietuvos skeptikų draugija, the Society of Lithuanian Skeptics. Enjoy! https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-442.html Segments: 0:00…

Over 50,000 years ago on what is now the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, someone climbed a towering rock formation and painted a mysterious image on a cave ceiling. The painting shows three half-human, half-animal figures and a large wild pig. The image, dated to 51,200 years old, is now the oldest known visual story in the world. In this episode, a…

Delighted to have Professor Ed Watts back on the show. This time he is talking about the 4th Crusade which turned into one of history's great catastrophes. People give many possible dates for the fall of the Roman Empire and Ed argues persuasively for 1204 when the crusade reaches its heartbreaking climax.…

QED is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to sign up as a volunteer! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time. This week saw a “full ... Read more The post TheESP – Ep. #441 – Choose Your Parents Wisely appeared first on …

QED is getting a little bit closer and a really good idea is to sign up as a volunteer! Not only will you help creating the skeptical event of the year, it is also a great way to make new friends and become a little “VIP” at the same time. This week saw a “full true blue supermoon” – check out which part of this is nonsense and which parts that are…

We start with a follow-up on the UK riots and the disinformation that triggered them. Regardless of this we look forward to going to QED where the Ockham Awards will be announced. The nominations are now open! See link in the show notes. In TWISH we hear about how it wasn’t that long ago that Joseph Lister performed the first ... Read more The post…

We start with a follow-up on the UK riots and the disinformation that triggered them. Regardless of this we look forward to going to QED where the Ockham Awards will be announced. The nominations are now open! See link in the show notes. In TWISH we hear about how it wasn’t that long ago that Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery – w…

We start out with the sad news that Mark Edward has passed away. Mark was a mentalist, an author, and an active skeptic. Mark, sometimes with with his partner (and good friend of the show) Susan Gerbic, investigated many paranormal claims and exposed psychic frauds. He will be long remembered and missed by the skeptics ... Read more The post TheESP…

We start out with the sad news that Mark Edward has passed away. Mark was a mentalist, an author, and an active skeptic. Mark, sometimes with with his partner (and good friend of the show) Susan Gerbic, investigated many paranormal claims and exposed psychic frauds. He will be long remembered and missed by the skeptics movement. After some listener…

The three of us are (sort of) together again, so after the customary greetings, András joins us with Adrienne Hill all the way from Canada (Sparky studios?!) for a prerecorded chat. In TWISH we hear about how Adolf Hitler secured his position as Führer, which is scary since the tactics of modern would-be-dictators have not ... Read more The post Th…

The three of us are (sort of) together again, so after the customary greetings, András joins us with Adrienne Hill all the way from Canada (Sparky studios?!) for a prerecorded chat. In TWISH we hear about how Adolf Hitler secured his position as Führer, which is scary since the tactics of modern would-be-dictators have not changed that much. Then w…

Thirty-two years ago this week the Vatican tried to explain why discrimination against gay people is not reallydiscrimination. That's basically still their position today, which we hear about in this week's TWISH. Then we have quite a few news items to go through: SWEDEN: Swedish telecom companies have blocked more than 50 million scam calls in 202…

Professor Ed Watts is a reliably brilliant guest on the show. In this episode he looks at Sulla's career and the blight the cast on the Roman Republic. Ed argues that it is impossible to understand any the great characters - Caesar, Cicero, Cato, Pompey and so on - without understanding the scarring effect of Sulla's rule. In Ed's view Caesar emerg…

Just the boys this week and we have a lot to talk about – climate change (András needs a new job), Türkiye vs. Turkey, Dutch vacations, homeopathy, Skeptical Science, and even some politics. In TWISH we hear about the skeptical priest Giuseppe Piazzi who discovered Ceres, the first asteroid ever detected. Also, if you catch this in time here is the…

Some listeners have started to join our Discord – why don’t you do that do! In the news today: TURKEY: Turkey revokes radio station’s license for discussing Armenian genocide UK: Ultra-processed food fear – simply the next big nutritional moral panic? SPAIN: HIV patients often take other SCAM that interfere with their treatments The Church of Engla…

To start out we nerd out a bit about how to say ‘hello’ in Hungarian, launch the new ESP Discord thread and give a shout-out to Malmö Pride where people can team up with Pontus to fight against prejudices at Malmö Pride. In TWISH we for once hop across the pond to explain the origin of so-called Barnum statements. Then it’s time for the news: EU: U…

The band is back together for the first time in months! First we mention an important (but likely depressing) new book documenting Catholic child sex abuse. In TWISH we look back at the Brexit referendum and analyze why it went so terribly wrong, and then it’s time for the news: SWEDEN: Swedish EU election trends were a bit different GERMANY: New p…

Annika and András talk a bit about the EP elections again, mostly reacting to listener feedback. We also mention the Belgian skeptical organisation SKEPP's Skeptical Awards and in TWISH we commemorate evolutionary biologist, humanist, eugenicist and internationalist extraordinaire Sir Julian Huxley. Then in the news: SCOTLAND: Parliament votes to i…

In Pontus' absence we talk a bit about EP elections and in TWISH we commemorate the Italian heroine of science and skepticism Margherita Hack. Then it is time to check out the news: UK: Zero hour for climate action NORTHERN IRELAND: NI Assembly passes motion to ban conversion therapies INTERNATIONAL: Edzard Ernst finds SCAM research to be in declin…

Pontus comes back from the European Skeptics Congress with a new title, applications to talk at Skepticamp QED is now open and Evidence Week is postponed by UK elections. In TWISH we hear about James Hutton, the father of modern geology, and then it is time to check out the news: INTERNATIONAL: The Catholic church’s first ‘millennial saint’ INTERNA…

Early prehistorians had little more than stones and bones to work with as they tried to piece together the story of the Neanderthals, but today’s researchers work in ways that early prehistorians could never have imagined. Archaeologist and author Rebecca Wragg Sykes' new book Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Art, and Death synthesizes more than a …

I can't remember enjoying a story more than Peter Marshall's Mother Leakey and the Bishop. The way Peter tells the story is absolutely brilliant with walk on parts from some very famous characters. At heart though it is a ghost story and the story of how an Anglican Bishop came to be hanged for the crime of sodomy in Dublin in the winter of 1640. P…

We start with some listener feedback and also worry if Neil DeGrasse Tyson and his Star Talk show are falling for some alternative medicine. On the good side Skeptical Science, led by John Cook, is continuing their quest for science literacy and has a new online quiz you can take to check your “bullshit detector”. In TWISH we hear about the trial a…

In Pontus' absence Annika is back for a quick visit before her planned return next month. We mention the terrible assassination attempt against Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico and how it's a new source of fake news. On TWISH you can hear about Franz Anton Mesmer, who was the foremost proponent of "animal magnetism". Then, we look at the news: …

Meeting up with fellow skeptics is always a blast. We recommend reading the recent article in Skeptic UK about the history of European skepticism and ECSO – the ESC (European Skeptics Congress) is only two weeks away! Pontus reports from last week’s annual meeting with VoF (the Swedish Skeptics) and in TWISH we hear about Pierre Curie who, apart fr…

Tickets for QED in Manchester (19-20 October) are now on sale and don’t forget Skepticamp on the day before! If all goes to plan, both András and Pontus may be among the speakers. But first we are looking forward to the European Skeptics Congress 2024, less than a month from now, 31 May – 2 June in Lyon, France! In TWISH we hear about how smallpox …

Every Swede has celebrated Valborg (Walpurgis / Walpurga) this week although no one really knows why, and András reports from Sicily on volcanic activities. In TWISH we hear about Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a theologian so controversial that popes nowadays still cannot agree on what to think of him. Then it’s time for this week’s news: INTERNATION…

We cover the miserable tale of the 4th crusade, the Latin Empire and Anthony gives advice on how to write a Byzantium based historical novel. We had fun with this one and I hope you enjoy it.Av Russell Hogg

If you have any interest at all in Byzantium or in the Roman Empire generally I think you should really enjoy this episode. Professor Kaldellis is one of the leading scholars on Byzantium (East Rome?) and his book The New Roman Empire - A History of Byzantium takes you all the way from the founding of Constantinople to its fall to the Ottoman Turks…

Why do humans have most of our hair on our heads, not our bodies? Why do we have so many varieties of hair color, thickness, and curliness? Dr. Tina Lasisi is a biological anthropologist whose work explores these evolutionary mysteries. In this episode, she shares her research into why humans have scalp hair as well as her insights on why curly hai…

It is European Immunization Week! Get your boosters and jabs folks, and make you and the people around you are safe! In TWISH this week we hear about John Oliver, British comedian who (whether you like him or not) understands science and the need for healthy skepticism. Then we of course take a look at the news: ITALY: Italy passes measures to allo…

The report on DISC analysis and Thomas Erikson from last week generated some good feedback, it’s time for the John Maddox prize again and Susan Gerbic has a new YouTube channel that you should definitely check out. Don’t forget to book your ticket for the European Skeptics Congress in Lyon! In TWISH we hear about Norbert Schobert, the Hungarian fit…

A bit of a correction first, regarding earthquakes. Then we get some Vatican news with speculation about a Swedish ‘papabile’, plus idiotic statements about genders. In TWISH we hear about Paolo Frisi, an Italian university dropout who in the 18th century went on to become a polymath. Then we have a look at the news: EUROPE: Whooping cough on the r…

Hampton has been on the podcast before and if you haven't yet found his books of narrative history I urge you to seek them out. Absolutely thrilling stories but told with real historical skill. Today we talked about Captain Cook's last voyage which ended in 1779. Hampton's book is called The Wide Wide Sea and he pays attention to all parts of the s…

There are two great European skeptical events to sign up for this year – European Skeptics Congress in Lyon (30 May- 2 June) and QED in Manchester (18 – 20 October) – there is still time to catch the Early Bird discounts for both! In TWISH we hear about the earthquake in L’Aquila in Italy in 2009, that not only shook the ground but also the trust i…