Episode #454
March 5, 2026
The main topic of *
Episode #453
February 26, 2026
The central discussion in this segment of Skeptics with a K, Episode #453, critically examines recent media reports linking ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to rising early-onset bowel cancer by analyzing the underlying study, which actually found a correlation between high UPF intake and the presence of conventional adenomas (benign polyps) in a specific cohort of US nurses.
Episode #452
February 19, 2026
The spurious equal signs frequently appearing in the publicly released Epstein files are artifacts of improperly decoded 'quoted printable' email encoding, not intentional codes or redaction markers.
Episode #451
February 12, 2026
The release of the Epstein Files highlights a critical challenge for skeptics: distinguishing credible evidence from widespread, often politically motivated, conspiracy theories and outright fabrications circulating online.
Episode #450
February 5, 2026
The core theme of Episode #450 of Skeptics with a K is a critique of the modern trend, dubbed the "one simple thing they don't want you to know maxing issue," where content creators identify relatable problems, assign a simplistic or medicalized cause, and sell an optimization solution that often increases anxiety and shifts blame to the individual.
Episode #449
January 29, 2026
The media coverage surrounding a study linking plant-based milk consumption to depression is highly misleading, as the original research focused only on the benefits of semi-skimmed cow's milk and did not specifically analyze oat milk or the general dangers of dairy alternatives.
Episode #448
January 22, 2026
The common myth that Betamax lost the format war because Sony banned porn is false; Betamax porn existed, but VHS won due to cheaper machines, more liberal licensing, and longer initial recording times (2 hours vs. Betamax's 1 hour).
Episode #447
January 15, 2026
Cancer risk management requires balancing environmental factors (like sun exposure) against necessary activities, as a perfectly risk-free life is unattainable.
Episode #446
January 8, 2026
The hosts of Skeptics with a K, Episode #446, found that predictions for 2025 from prominent psychics like Sally Morgan and Craig Hamilton Parker were overwhelmingly generic, obvious, or demonstrably false.
Episode #445
December 18, 2025
The central topic of *
Episode #444
December 11, 2025
The UK's Trading Standards system for consumer protection is severely decentralized, underfunded, and suffers from a critical information black hole due to policies preventing communication between regulatory bodies like the ASA and Trading Standards.
Episode #443
December 4, 2025
The hosts of Skeptics with a K are wrapping up 2025, planning a break over Christmas and New Year, and Alice is set to present her list of favorite wellness 'woo' products found in holiday gift guides.
Episode #442
November 27, 2025
The scientific consensus explored in *
Episode #441
November 20, 2025
The increasing trend of employers offering fertility support, such as egg freezing, as a workplace perk raises concerns about potentially pressuring women into prioritizing careers over starting families earlier, while failing to dismantle underlying workplace structures that stigmatize women.
Episode #440
November 13, 2025
The historical record shows that autism was identified before the widespread commercial use of paracetamol (Tylenol/Panadol), suggesting it cannot be the singular cause.
Episode #439
November 6, 2025
The perceived decline in the popularity of skepticism may be more accurately attributed to a significant loss of discoverability due to hostile changes in social media platform algorithms rather than a true drop in public appetite for critical thinking topics.
Episode #438 - Live from QED 2025
October 30, 2025
The trend of 'Nutmaxxing,' focused on increasing ejaculate volume through supplements and techniques, is driven by ego, partner pleasure, or fetishism, despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting supplementation beyond basic hydration.
Episode #437
October 23, 2025
The concept of 'dopamine fasting' is largely based on a misunderstanding of dopamine, which is essential for function, and its trendy social media advice often lacks scientific nuance or offers unhelpful quick fixes for complex behavioral issues.
Episode #436
October 16, 2025
The Turing Test, as commonly applied today, is a poor and misleading metric for gauging artificial intelligence because it primarily tests linguistic mimicry, can be passed by non-intelligent programs like ELIZA, and is frequently failed by genuinely intelligent entities like animals.
Episode #435
October 9, 2025
The main segment of *
Episode #434
October 2, 2025
A preliminary, non-peer-reviewed study suggested a significantly elevated rate of advanced adenomas (pre-cancerous polyps) in ultramarathon runners compared to historical benchmarks, prompting caution regarding media oversimplification of the findings.
Episode #433
September 25, 2025
The podcast "Skeptics with a K" episode #433 critically examines how the concept of 'free speech' is often selectively defended and misrepresented, particularly in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, highlighting a disconnect between the ideal of free expression and its practical application by certain groups.
Episode #432
September 18, 2025
The UK's asylum system is overwhelmed by a significant backlog, leading to the costly use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, a situation exacerbated by the inability to process claims efficiently and the lack of legal routes for asylum applications.
Episode #431
September 11, 2025
The pervasive marketing of seasonal trends and wellness fads, particularly in free supermarket magazines, can exploit anxieties and trivialize genuine health concerns, contributing to burnout and a sense of personal failure.
Episode #430
September 4, 2025
The podcast "Skeptics with a K" critically examines "Neuralocked.com," a company selling pseudoscientific "bioelectrical neural network firewall" products and courses, which appears to be a scam preying on vulnerable individuals with anxieties about technology and mental health.
Episode #429
August 28, 2025
Ben Shapiro's critique of the new Superman film is based on a narrow, 1978-centric view of the character, failing to acknowledge the evolution and diverse interpretations of Superman in comics and other media.
Episode #428
August 21, 2025
Women are at a higher risk of being misdiagnosed with heart attacks than men, not because they have different symptoms, but due to systemic bias and a lack of awareness in medical research and education that is often based on male physiology.
Episode #427
August 14, 2025
The supplement industry is experiencing a significant boom, driven by trendy products like mushroom-based powders and aggressive online marketing, which often overshadows older alternative medicine practices.
Episode #426
August 7, 2025
At-home LED face masks, while potentially safe, lack robust scientific evidence for efficacy in skin rejuvenation and aging prevention, with most supporting research using professional-grade laser devices or being based on animal/cell models.
Episode #425
July 31, 2025
The UK's Online Safety Act, intended to protect children, faces significant challenges due to the inaccuracy and bias of age verification technologies, the ease of circumvention, and the potential for driving users to less regulated platforms.
Episode #424
July 24, 2025
Despite widespread belief and marketing claims, there is no concrete evidence that major tech companies or advertising groups are systematically recording and analyzing private conversations for targeted advertising.
Episode #423
July 17, 2025
The UK is experiencing increasingly normalized extreme temperatures and rainfall due to climate change, with recent years being among the warmest and wettest on record, leading to significant mortality and infrastructure challenges.
Episode #422
July 10, 2025
Ozempic, a brand name for semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally approved for type 2 diabetes, but its effectiveness in weight management has led to widespread off-label use and shortages for diabetic patients.
Episode #421
July 3, 2025
The increasing sophistication of AI and digital manipulation makes it harder than ever to trust visual and auditory evidence online, necessitating a heightened level of critical thinking.
Episode #420
June 26, 2025
The podcast "Skeptics with a K" critically examines pseudoscientific claims, starting with a debunking of a viral TikTok story about Russian scientists discovering the soul's destination after death, which was revealed to be a deliberate prank.
Episode #419
June 19, 2025
The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of recipe discovery, shifting from traditional blogs to social media platforms like TikTok, which favor short-form, accessible content and micro-trends.
Episode #418
June 11, 2025
Attending 'woo' events firsthand provides skeptics with invaluable, firsthand experience of pseudoscience and its appeal, making them more informed and effective.
Episode #417
June 5, 2025
Open-label placebo studies, while aiming to bypass ethical concerns of deception, are criticized for introducing significant priming bias and lack of blinding, potentially invalidating their findings.
Episode #416
May 29, 2025
The podcast "Skeptics with a K" is shifting its focus from traditional skeptical topics like ghost stories and homeopathy to contemporary issues such as the rise of conspiracism, radicalization, and the alt-right, particularly as they intersect with online disinformation and political ideologies.
Episode #415
May 22, 2025
Water 2, a UK-based water filter company, employs alarmist marketing tactics and celebrity endorsements, including Bear Grylls, to sell products by exaggerating the risks associated with UK tap water, which is demonstrably safe and clean according to official data.
Episode #414
May 15, 2025
The concept of telegyny, the pseudoscientific idea that a woman's offspring can inherit traits from previous sexual partners, is being revived and used by the alt-right and manosphere to control women's sexuality and assert paternal certainty.
Episode #413
May 8, 2025
A common misconception among Doctor Who fans that the Doctor is allergic to aspirin originated from a misremembered line in a John Pertwee story and was amplified by a 1993 documentary, not from an actual on-screen event or a William Hartnell statement.
Episode #412
May 1, 2025
The Joe Rogan Experience's immense reach and influence, particularly among a male audience seeking engagement with masculinity, makes it a significant platform for the dissemination of both information and misinformation, including potentially dangerous health claims.
Episode #411
April 24, 2025
Journalism's ideal of objective truth is challenged by the need for personality-driven narratives and the commercial pressures that can lead to sensationalism and the misuse of expert quotes.