Join us Sunday at 3pm Eastern as we walk among the weird, skeptically examining reports of the paranormal, picking apart pop culture, crime, and other fascinations of those of us who stalk the strange.
Simply click on “Listen Live” button at showtime to listen, watch, and chat. See ya then!
–With 50 Shades of Grey back in the news, we talk about the instances of stalking, as well as emotional and physical abuse it contains, and talk about what has drawn so many women into it.
–Former “Ghost Hunters” star Amy Bruni posts an anti-skeptical activism Facebook status, which has riled up quite a few people. We try to reasonably assess where she was coming from, and talk about where we agree and where we disagree with her.
–Because we enjoy talking about how non-progressive Pope Francis is, here’s a story about the People’s Pope himself comparing arguments for the rights of transgender people to a nuclear arms race that “defy the order of Creation.”
–Recommendations: Jason can’t believe he hasn’t yet recommended Lynn Kelly’s “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Paranormal,” a book which led him to question a lot of his paranormal assumptions. Bobby says if you’re interested in history or the Salem Witch Trials, check out “The Six Women of Salem,” by Marilynne K. Roach.
–What if God is real? What would you ask God if you had the chance? We put that question to our Facebook page and received a variety of terrific responses.
–The Academy Awards are tonight. Can Jason once again go undefeated in his predictions? Definitely not, he says. But he gives it a shot anyway.
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show321_full.mp3
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–A self proclaimed “anti-theist” has been charged with the murder of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill. Was this an anti-Muslim hate crime? Something a little more mundane? Either way, why are some media outlets linking the “New Atheist” writings with acts of violence?
–An openly gay WWE wrestler publicly criticizes his employer for touring Abu Dhabi when the United Arab Emirates, of which it belongs, has such staunch anti-gay laws. We 
weigh in on issues of corporate responsibility and hypocrisy involving the WWE.
–Charles Manson calls off his wedding once it is learned his fiancee’ wanted to put his corpse on public display. Sorry, Charlie! She didn’t want you for your mind, just your body.
–Recommendations: Jason, always eager to recommend something to his fellow true crime junkies, asks that people check out the first episode of HBO’s new miniseries, “The Jinx: the Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.”
–Rupert Sheldrake is collaborating on a children’s book about psychic dogs. We discuss the pseudoscientific nature of his past research, and echo Sharon Hill’s desire to see more skeptical books aimed at kids.
In hour 2, we spoke with Gerald Posner about his new book, “God’s Bankers,” and the documentation it provides about the Vatican bank and its shady dealings with Nazis, the Mafia, and a host of others of dubious character. Religion. Power. Money. What could be more intriguing than that?
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show320_full.mp3
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–The mayor of our hometown, D. Michael Collins, passes away after suffering cardiac arrest last Sunday. We use this news to plead with folks to learn CPR.
–Recounting an incident at the bookstore Saturday night, where we came across some hardcore woo woo girls, complete with talk of runes, the pyramids, and Christ Consciousness.
–As former ghost hunters, we were recently asked an interesting question worthy of exploration. Should someone ever call in a paranormal team to assist with a perceived ghost infestation?
–The first trailer for the upcoming Poltergeist remake has hit the web. What are our thoughts? Plus, are we going to see an uptick in claims of poltergeists from haunted homeowners?
–A 200 year old mummified Buddhist monk is found, but he “is not dead,” claim devotees. He is actually, they say, “in a very deep meditation.”
–Recommendations: For those interested in major legal decisions throughout the history of the United States, Jason recommends “America on Trial: Inside the Legal Battles That Shaped Our Nation,” by Alan Dershowitz.
–Atheist Stephen Fry stunned an interviewer by bluntly giving the answer of what he would say to God should he meet him at the pearly gates. We applaud.
–NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams apologizes for an untrue story he has been telling, in some variation or another, since 2003. We talk about false memories, and how we can’t always trust our lying brains.
–The measles outbreak appears to have hit our hometown of Toledo, OH. We encourage folks to stick with science, and to keep politics out of the larger discussion.
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show319_full.mp3
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(A snowstorm in our area prevented us from recording the show at our studio today, so we did the program entirely by phone. Please accept our apologies for the less than optimal audio quality. Enjoy the show!)
–James Randi announces his retirement from the foundation which bears his name, the James Randi Educational Foundation. We talk about what Randi has meant to us, and what we hope to see from him going forward.
–Deepak Chopra comes off as an HIV/AIDS denialist in an interview, saying that HIV “may be a precipitating agent,” but that it is “never the cause of the disease.” You’ve gone full woo woo, Deepak. Never go full woo woo.
–The beliefs of parents cause children to suffer: in Utah, a family commits mass suicide due to fears of an impending apocalypse. And, a measles outbreak in Arizona infects up to 1000 people because of the anti-science anti-vaxxers of the world.
In hour 2 of the program, we spoke with Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society about his new book, “The Moral Arc.” We discuss Shermer’s thesis that we are living in the most moral age in human history, and why this is not a byproduct of religion, or even a mere accident, but instead the direct result of science and reason.
POST-INTERVIEW
–Recommendations: Bobby took the easy way out and recommended Michael Shermer’s new book (link below) while Jason asks those interested in the psychology of paranormal experiences to check out the fascinating and interactive book “Paranormality” by Richard Wiseman.
–The all-female cast of the Ghostbusters reboot hits movie blogs and many folks are none too pleased. Is this just misogyny? Or do people just not see the value in rebooting a classic comedy?
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show318_full.mp3
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–We kick off the show talking about the issues of the week by sipping on tea brewed with moth poop sent in by SFR listener Brian Atherton. Strange frequencies indeed!
–Chris Kyle, Mr. American Sniper himself, has been quite a topic of discussion lately. From Michael Moore and Seth Rogen’s comments, to people’s anger at Kyle’s use of the word “savage” to describe Iraqis, we get into it all.
–Indian child becomes second baby in his family to experience burns that are blamed on “Spontaneous Human Combustion.” Our immediate reaction is that sounds very much like child abuse.
–Repeat hoaxer Tom Biscardi is seeking $3 Million in investments to fund future Bigfoot hunts. While we don’t expect him to get that much, we do expect he will get much more than he deserves.
–Recommendations: Bobby and Jason both recommend the book “Mortality,” by the late Christopher Hitchens.
–Weird of the Week: Salon publishes an interview with a woman describing her sexual relationship with her estranged father.
–Psychic getting credit for leading search team to the body of a deceased man. But how much credit does she really deserve? We break down the details.
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show317_full.mp3
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–The new issue of Charlie Hebdo is selling out quickly in France and all around the world, and at least one commenter raises the question of if they are “capitalizing” on the tragedy by printing so many. Also, should we be angry that certain news outlets are not showing the cartoons in newspapers and on television?
–We laugh about a television casting agent sending out emails attempting to cast for a “naked ghost hunting show.” Ghost hunters complain that things like this are the reason they aren’t taken seriously. We laugh again.
–Man says his Star Wars costume saved him from a deadly snakebite.
–Texas gun owners re-enact mass shootings in order to test whether armed civilians could have stopped a similar massacre.
–Interesting social experiment: woman agrees with compliments men give her online and they react poorly. Were men balking at conceitedness? Or, perhaps their ego was crushed by a confident woman?
–Recommendations: Crime junkie Jason recommends a book about a still unsolved case called “The Boy in the Box” by David Stout, while Bobby would like you to check out a book he didn’t even read (but he did listen to) called “Plato at the Googleplex” by Rebecca Goldstein.
–A thoughtful email from a Catholic SFR listener asks us to stop lumping all Christians together with the crazy ones. We discuss generalizations, and why they can be useful, but also stress that criticisms of a group can be valid without them having to apply to specific people.
–Brian Keith Dalton aka “Mr. Deity” absolutely lambasts the Pope for saying there is a limit to free expression when it comes to mocking one’s religion.
–Pastor Eric Dammann of New Jersey talks about how he punched a kid in the chest as hard as he could in an effort to lead him to the Lord.
–Another story of a visit to Heaven destroyed. Alex Malarkey, boy at the center of “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven” bestseller admits he made it all up for attention.
–The 2015 Oscar nominations have been revealed. We talk about some of the major snubs and controversies, as well as discuss our favorite films of the year.
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show316_full.mp3
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–The deadly assault on the Charlie Hebdo offices in France lead to discussions of religious extremism, freedom of speech, and guns.
–Bobby recounts a recent debate online with a global warming denier. But the rhetoric used makes Jason ponder a few questions of his own.
–The Fallacy of the Week! Jason and Bobby talk a bit about the Argument from Authority, and how to spot it.
–Jason reviews the recent film, “Whiplash,” proclaiming it his 2nd favorite movie of the past year behind “Boyhood.” He predicts JK Simmons will win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars.
–Recommendations: Bobby recommends the book The Genesis of Justice by Alan Dershowitz, while Jason asks your to check out “How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass,” by Christopher DiCarlo.
In hour 2 of the show, we welcome Dr. Benjamin Zeller to discuss the American UFO religious group, Heaven’s Gate, as documented in his new book of the same name. We get into the founding of Heaven’s Gate, learn more about its founders and members, talk about what their beliefs were, why they committed mass suicide, and why it all still matters.
Listen: http://www.strangefrequenciesradio.net/Shows/sfr_show315_full.mp3
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