Skeptics with a K

Mike talks about cryptanalysis and uses it to try and break the supposedly 'unbreakable' cipher used in the BBC's comedy-drama Ludwig.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh looks at the way claims about two-tier policing are used to launder the reputations of bad actors and conspiracy theorists.

Meanwhile, the whole team is exhausted from the European Skeptics Congress, and Marsh tries to persuade school teachers to join his maths programme.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice talks about the funding crisis in academia, and Marsh and Alice go to see Matt Winning performing live. Plus, the very last call for tickets for the European Skeptics Congress!

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Online tickets are available for just £10. Get yours while you can.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike looks at the spread of 'fake proverbs', the supposedly original versions of popular sayings which are actually modern inventions. Meanwhile, Alice needs a new battery for her car and Marsh takes another call about an investment opportunity.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Online tickets are still available for just £10.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the biohackers, who try to change their lifestyles and biology to promote physical health and longevity. Meanwhile, Mike gets a new pet kitten.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at £180, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh is targeted to invest in his property portfolio and unexpectedly ends up speaking with a former London mayoral candidate. Meanwhile, Mike is watching a red dot running an ultra marathon, while Alice and Marsh watch another red dot in Porto.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at £180, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

As Alice and Marsh return from travels to Portugal, Mike talks about the new feature from Anthropic which can identify AI generated text.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at £180, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice talks about neurodivergence and disability, following the new Channel 4 documentary The Great ADHD Myth. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to climb a ladder.

Note: Alice's story contains some descriptions of disability discrimination which some listeners may find uncomfortable.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations. The early bird rate finishes on September 14th, so buy now while you can.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh looks at the links between billionaire activists and academia, where claims of academic freedom provide cover for a political agenda. Meanwhile, Mike is visited by an angel.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike explores the difference between large language models, and other types of artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Alice is hurling toddlers from a patio.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice talks about open research and research integrity, in light of allegations of plagiarism made against a Cambridge professor. Meanwhile, the team goes to see Spider-Man.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh looks at the belief that we're probably all living in a computer simulation and nothing around us is real. Meanwhile, Alice gets very annoyed and the team go to see The Odyssey.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike looks at claims that being tied up for sex will give you cancer. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to make it home from London.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

With the UK enduring its third official heatwave of the year, Marsh looks at the arguments denying there is anything to worry about. After all, everyone remembers the long, hot summer of 1976.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice outlines the political reaction to The Odyssey and the implications for free speech. Meanwhile, Marsh is asked to review a book which proves God and creation with maths.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Alice looks at the evidence for the so-called loneliness epidemic, and whether it disproportionately impacts men. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to avoid World Cup spoilers in France and Mike tries to avoid My Chemical Romance in Liverpool.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike looks at the products from Telos Audio Design which claim to improve the performance of audio equipment. Meanwhile, Marsh tries to book a restaurant while having trouble with his electrics.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike asks whatever happened to the story that men think about the Roman Empire every day? Meanwhile, Marsh is interrogated by Noah Lugeons about the World Cup and Alice gets a fiver in the post.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Marsh talks about the social media ban and suggests that we may be targeting the wrong problem. Meanwhile, Marsh and Alice visit Wales to teach critical thinking.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to shows early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.

Mike investigates the social media language of 'algospeak' and asks if it really does anything at all? Meanwhile, Marsh can't figure out why there are suddenly no ads on the Internet.

You can find all the details on the European Skeptics Congress at https://escliverpool.org/. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £140, or £120 for members of ECSO-affiliated organisations.

Sign up for the Skeptics with a K Patreon at https://patreon.com/skepticswithak, or to support Merseyside Skeptics as well as the podcast, donate at https://patreon.com/merseyskeptics. Patrons can now get access to episodes early.

You can also chat with us on the Skeptics in the Pub Discord server.

Mixed and edited by Morgan Clarke.