This episode is the first ever with a studio audience who came along as we recorded live at QEDcon 2011.

Appearing in this episode are

• George Hrab – Awesome podcaster of Geologic Podcast fame . @GeorgeHrab
• Dr Steven Novella – host and producer of The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.  @SkepticsGuide
• Jon Ronson – Writer of The Men Who Stare At Goats and many other well known novels, and documentary film producer.  @jonronson
• Michael Marshall – Blogger, podcaster and Merseyside Skeptic, “Marsh” is well known from Strange Quarks, Skeptics With a K and Righteous Indignation. @MrMMarsh

You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

Appearing this month are:

• George Hrab – Awesome podcaster of Geologic Podcast fame . @GeorgeHrab
• Ash Pryce – Co founder of Edinburgh skeptics. @AshPryce
• Brian Thompson – Writer and producer at the Amateur Scientist Podcast . @AmSci
• Dr T. Mysterious force for good and sometime blogger at Thinking Is Dangerous and podcast tart. @DRstarT

You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

Marsh and I have Joe Nickell and Chris French to look forward to.

Even more interest in 10:23 from the delegates, many of whom are keen to join in for 2011 and have lots of good ideas of their own.

I’m writing this whilst listening to a talk about baby bullshit from a mathematician who has mathematically modelled why nonsense treatments are so widespread. He has invented a country called “believia” and an illness called Giant Ear Syndrome!

Joe Nickell’s talk is worth a mention. He’s been personally involved in a huge variety of skeptical investigations and I’m sure his name is well known to many Merseyside Skeptics. One key aspect that he focussed upon was his undercover work. In this capacity he would attend some kind of claimant incognito, and carry out an investigation masquerading as a genuine “case”. However he’s really well known. And to avoid being rumbled he would wear a disuse of some kind. Some of the pictures were very funny.

He recounted a tale of a spiritualist carrying out a “billet reading” technique which he recognized immediately. It reminded me of Marsh’s demonstration of this technique during one of the early MSS social events. I recognized it immediately.

Chris French told some great stories. A couple were in his talk at MSS last year but there was some great new stuff too. In his capacity as editor of Skeptic Magazine, he announced the new issue which has a bit about 10:23 in it, and a new book which is a collection of the “the best of” from the magazine called Why Statues Weep.

This has been a really well organised conference with great speakers from all over Europe and America. From the Turin Shroud to mathematics. It’s been a real eye opener.

We fly back this evening and we’re looking forward to the next MSS social.

Yesterday I got to do a well received talk on 10:23 and I think we’ve been able to recruit a good few countries to participate in 2011. We’ve had dinner with Joe Nickell, Simon Singh and Christopher French as well as meeting luminaries from the Hungarian and German skeptics.

It has also been pretty amazing to meet some Skeptics With a K and InKredulous listeners!  today there’s even a guy wearing a 10:23 t-shirt. He’s from Zurich in Switzerland and is very enthusiastic!

It turns out that there are pockets of skepticism in mainland Europe. Hungary and Germany are particularly well organized but there are also examples where things are just getting going.  Poland, Slovakia, Romania are examples.  Marsh and I just had a nice chat with a couple of guys from Poland who made the point that culturally, people don’t like to speak out in public.

There’s a guy talking now called Istvan Vago.  He is the host of the Hungarian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire!  He has entitled his talk “why idiotism more popular than clever thoughts?”. All the talks are in English and for most people it’s not their first language.

The interest in 10:23 is two fold.  First of all, people have heard of it and are interested to hear more.  I’m very much realizing that we made a lot more noise in the uk than in mainland Europe.

Secondly, for the countries where “organized” skepticism is in it’s infancy, they see an opportunity to join with other like minded individuals in an international campaign.  The international scale means that they may not feel so exposed by participating.

There are about 130 people here and as usual they are a mixed bag but there’s a good number of younger people.  Lots of scientists, doctors and psychologists.

Simon Singh has spoken this morning was very well received.  He also said some very nice things about the Merseyside Skeptics Society’s work on 10:23. Amardeo Sarma from the German skeptics did the same.

So it’s all systems go over here representing Merseyside Skeptics and 10:23 in Budapest.

More later.

Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society.

Appearing this month are:

• Jay Novella (@skepticsguide) – Well known blogger and rogue from Skeptics Guide to the Universe
• Rich Smith (@Newsarse) – Editor and chief writer at satirical news source Newsarse.com
• Richard Gerardi (@LadyJadesLair) – Master puppeteer and skeptical humourist at http://www.youtube.com/user/LadyJadesLair
• Mystery Scouser (@No fixed abode) – Random drunken scouser.  Not a podcaster as such but he does shout in the street

• You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

There are also some show related factoids as well as the full length version of our theme tune, Blues Walk by Lou Donaldson.

Thanks for listening and look out for a rip roaring episode 7

Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society.

Appearing this month are:

• George Hrab (@GeorgeHrab) – Writer and producer of the Geologic Podcast and awesome skeptical musician
• Brian Dunning (@briandunning) Writer and presenter of the Skeptoid podcast
• Michael Marshall (@MrMMarsh – Co-founder Merseyside Skeptics Society, co-host of Skeptics with a K podcast and Righteous Indignation podcast
• Dave the Happy Singer of www.davethehappysinger.com (@happysinger) and co-host of the Sydney Atheists Podcast

You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society

Appearing this month are:

• Rich Smith (@newsarse) – Editor and writer at Newsarse
• Brian Thompson (@AmSci) Writer and presenter of the Amateur Scientist comedy podcast
• Michael Marshall (@MrMMarsh)- Co-founder Merseyside Skeptics Society, co-host of Skeptics with a K podcast and Righteous Indignation podcast
• Janis Bennion (@JanisBennion) – Scientist, founder of Ladies who Do Skepticism, board member of Greater Manchester Skeptics
• Allan Callister (@ACallister) – Member of Merseyside Skeptics and Greater Manchester Skeptics, student linguist and fiance of the above

You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society

Appearing this month are:

• Rich Smith (@newsarse) – Editor and writer at Newsarse
• Iszi Lawrence (@iszi_lawrence) – Organiser of Oxford Skeptics in the Pub; comedian and artist.
• Crispian Jago (@Crispian_Jago) – Author of Science Reason and Critical thinking blog; creator of multiple skeptical “Ladybird books” and the wonderful skeptic Top Trumps.
• Mike Hall (@mikehall314) – President of Merseyside Skeptics Society and Doctor Who obsessive.

You can contact the show at inkredulous@merseysideskeptics.org.uk, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.

Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society

Appearing this month are:

• Rich Smith (@newsarse) – Editor and writer at Newsarse
• Brian Thompson (@AmSci) – Writer and producer of the Amateur Scientist podcast.
• Trystan Swale (@ripodcast) – Co-presenter of the Righteous Indignation podcast.
• Dr*T (@DRstarT) – Skeptical activist and writer for the Thinking is Dangerous blog.

You can contact the show at inkredulous@merseysideskeptics.org.uk, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show. As always, thanks for listening.