Rephonic
Artwork for Skeptoid
Kambo
Hiccups
Martin Luther King Jr.
Alternative Medicine
Civil Rights Movement
Seveso Dioxin Disaster
Enneagram
Amazonian Ritual Practices
Detoxification
Affirmative Action
Chattahoochee River
PBS Digital
Internet Myths
Cultural Appropriation
Snake Island
Golden Lancehead Pit Viper
Science Literacy
Critical Thinking
United States Government
Historical Events

The true science behind our most popular urban legends. Historical mysteries, paranormal claims, popular science myths, aliens and UFO reports, conspiracy theories, and worthless alternative medicine schemes... Skeptoid has you covered. From the sublime to the startling, no topic is sacred. Weekly since 2006.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1043Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Skeptoid

Latest Episodes

An exploration of all the scientific possibilities by which ghosts might actually exist in this universe.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It should have been impossible for the CIA's Glomar Explorer to obtain the ship's bell from the K-129 submarine... but they did. How?

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

YouTube

Now through the end of the year, all Skeptoid donations will be matched up to $27,500.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A roundup of evidence supporting the use of radiocarbon dating to assess the age of organic matter from 500 to 55,000 years old.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Skeptics with a K
Skeptics with a KSkeptic Media Limited
MonsterTalk
MonsterTalkBlake Smith
TheThinkingAtheist
TheThinkingAtheistThe Thinking Atheist
Citation Needed
Citation NeededCitation Needed Media
The Scathing Atheist
The Scathing AtheistPuzzle in a Thunderstorm, LLC

Recent Guests

Blake Smith
Host of Monster Talk
Monster Talk
Episode: Skeptoid Adventures: Bermuda Triangle 2025
Hal Bidlack
Friend of James Randi and a mentor in skepticism
Episode: Skeptoid #968: Waldorf Schools
Ben Radford
Long time author and Skeptical Inquirer editor at large
Skeptical Inquirer
Episode: Report from Death Valley, and the Bermuda Triangle
Richard Saunders
Host of The Skeptic Zone podcast and spokesperson for the skeptical movement
Skeptic Zone
Episode: Skeptoid #917: DDT, 13 Years Later
Susan Gerbick
A supporter and advocate for skeptical media projects, involved with the Grill of Skepticism on Wikipedia Project.
Grill of Skepticism on Wikipedia Project
Episode: Skeptoid #913: Surviving Brazil's Snake Island

Host

Brian Dunning
Host of the podcast who focuses on critical analysis of myths and misinformation through a scientific lens, promoting skepticism and scientific literacy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 4.8k ratings
  • Thumbs up!

    Schrödinger’s Cat and The Bomb Detector completely blew my mind! It’s a great science based skeptical podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JPSEA
    United States2 months ago
  • Skeptoid is informative, well researched, and verifiable - giving sources when they're needed. I think this podcast should be played in schools to help the younger generation to learn critical thinking and logic. Highly recommended.

    Podchaser
    5
    lmcg23
    3 months ago
  • Fraudster

    I’m a sceptic and that means I’m also capable of applying sceptical thinking to the self-serving excuses a convicted fraudster comes up with to try to defend himself from those who, rightly, criticise him.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Radionoush
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Skeptoid Sceptic

    I picked one topic of which I'm knowledgeable, the crusades. Skeptoid used select historical facts but reached erroneous conclusions. Unimpressed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    9ioneer
    United States4 months ago
  • Thanks

    Thanks for staying the course. The 1000th episode was wonderful. I am also a big fan of lighthouses and Carl Sagan. He would be proud of your work. Keep the candle shining. I will try to do the same.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ra801
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some express concern about the increasing centrality of advertisements and a perceived shift towards political bias in recent content.
Listeners appreciate the extensive research and evidence-based discussions, viewing the episodes as informative and thought-provoking.
Positive feedback highlights the show's commitment to accuracy and its role in combating misinformation, with many considering it an essential resource for critical thinking.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Skeptoid #966: Student Questions
Q: What are the truths behind brain fingerprinting?
While brain fingerprinting can show neurological responses to stimuli, its application in courts lacks robust support.
Skeptoid #966: Student Questions
Q: Does blood appear different colors based on oxygen levels?
While blood does change from bright red to darker red depending on oxygen levels, it never turns blue.
Skeptoid #966: Student Questions
Q: Is there a link between red dye in food and ADHD?
The connection is very tenuous, and studies have shown inconclusive results.
Skeptoid #966: Student Questions
Q: Can you explain the phenomenon of exploding teeth?
Exploding teeth are often a result of historical misunderstandings, with limited credible evidence to support such events occurring.
Skeptoid #915: Ask Me Anything, 2023 Edition, Part 1
Q: What's the single most important message that you'd like to get out into the world?
We need to learn to tell fact from fiction to make better decisions and create positive societal change.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Skeptoid

What is Skeptoid about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast explores the intersection of science and skepticism, tackling a wide range of topics, including urban legends, historical mysteries, paranormal claims, conspiracy theories, and the myths surrounding alternative medicine. Each episode delves into these subjects with a critical approach, aiming to debunk misinformation and promote scientific literacy among listeners. With a dedicated focus on providing evidence-based insights, the content often highlights the cultural significance and implications of various myths and legends, making it both informative and engaging for audiences interested in critical thinking and factual analysis.

Where can I find podcast stats for Skeptoid?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Skeptoid. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Skeptoid and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Skeptoid get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Skeptoid, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Skeptoid?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Skeptoid, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Skeptoid have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Skeptoid has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Skeptoid?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Skeptoid:

1. Skeptics with a K
2. MonsterTalk
3. TheThinkingAtheist
4. Citation Needed
5. The Scathing Atheist

How many episodes of Skeptoid are there?

Skeptoid launched 19 years ago and published 1043 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Skeptoid?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Skeptoid?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Skeptoid from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Skeptoid?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Skeptoid. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Skeptoid?

Recent guests on Skeptoid include:

1. Blake Smith
2. Hal Bidlack
3. Ben Radford
4. Richard Saunders
5. Susan Gerbick

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days