Squaring the Strange

Episode 277 - Your Brain on Caricature, with Jacob Shaw

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After some chit-chat about teleporting FEMA officials and Bigfoot folks with heels dug in, we have a fascinating talk with Jacob Shaw. One of the very...

Episode 276 - Micronation Machinations

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, Celestia gets her aura read at a trade show, and then we talk about National Science Appreciation Day, Banksy being unmasked, and the continued...

Episode 275 - Bigfoot Bombshell and Leo Igwe on fighting witchcraft accusations in Africa

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, we have a few current events items that hit our skeptical radar -- and a Bigfoot bombshell drops at SXSW film festival! (For more on that, see ...

Episode 274 - Houses after the haunting, with Kenny Biddle

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, we chat about Havana Syndrome and a rumored "discombobulator," Trump releasing the UFO files, a new poll on belief in aliens and cryptids, and ...

Episode 273: Grab Bag! Ugly Veggies, Elk Death Conspiracy Redux & Inspirational Glurge

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, we hit on news items: Epstein file firehose, the Guthrie kidnapping, Scouting America not aligning with administration values, a different kind...

Episode 272 - The Data Drought with Kyle Polich

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, we discuss media coverage of Minneapolis, and also fake news among schools of tropical fish. Then Kyle Polich of "Data Skeptic" joins us to tal...

Episode 271 - What can the Taos Hum teach us?

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia discuss some significant passings -- Erich von Däniken and Scott Adams, each skeptical cautionary tales in their own ways. Th...

Episode 270 - Listener Questions and Looking Back at 2025

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, listeners! It's a "very special episode" of Squaring the Strange! Ben and Celestia continue some old arguments, go over things we've changed our ...

Episode 269: Fluoride fallacies and dentistry weirdness with Dr. Grant Ritchie, DDS

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we plumb current events to discuss microbe art, VAERS data and alleged covid vaccine deaths, the "sanpaku eyes" of a killer, AI kidnapping s...

Episode 268 - Daniel Reed on Vegetable Man and Gray Barker

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia ruminate on past Key Bridge conspiracy theories, RFK Jr.'s latest efforts to destroy public health, rage bait and the "Cártel...

Episode 267 - Billionaire Boogeymen with Brian Dunning

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia go over the latest CDC website shenanigans, an unfortunate update on a Human Barbie, some voodoo accusations in the world of s...

Episode 266 - Jon Michael visits, plus corporate lore and legends!

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Celestia is fresh from the Very Vegas SkeptiCamp, and a week earlier Jon Michael presented at the West Virginia SkeptiCamp, so he visits to compare no...

Episode 265 - The Alleged ghosts of the Territorial House, with Cody Polston

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Celestia and a voice from the past discuss a hat trick of rat stories (maybe a rat trick?). Then Ben chats with author, ghost story enthusiast ...

Episode 264 - SCAMPOCALYPSE with Brian Brushwood

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We've got a bushel of SWAYSOs first! Chocolate is disappearing, an ongoing "psychic study" tries to recruit Ben, Las Vegas tries to recruit a random g...

Episode 263 - The Tylenol Presser and Sailing Stones with Brian Dunning

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Much of our intro segment is spent with Celestia gnashing her teeth about the recent Trump-RFK-Oz press conference that unveiled a purported link betw...

Episode 262 - Bigfoot Tracks with Matt Crowley

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bigfoot prints . . . do they track? So many questions! First, we discuss skeptic offerings at Dragon Con, then muse about Florida wanting to get rid o...

Episode 261 - Hobos, Swingers and Masons: Secret Signs in Plain Sight

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia discuss the needle-spiking panic fallout, missing kids in Virginia, screw worms, radioactive shrimp and seeing double in Las V...

Episode 260 - Food History and Flavor Myths with Sarah Lohman

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia react to the CDC shooting, then Ben looks at some skeptical-leaning responses of ghost hunters to Dan Rivera's death and the A...

Episode 259 - The Columbus poltergeist case, with Kenny Biddle

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we talk about the Blackhawk helicopter crash report, the damage an unfortunate rumor about a college student caused, and the frightening pr...

Episode 258 - A ship of skeptics in the Bermuda Triangle!

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia are fresh off the boat after heading to the Bermuda Triangle on Skeptoid Adventures! We talk a little on current events, as is our ha...

Episode 257 - A Skepticism Chat with Susan Gerbic

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia discuss pediatricians standing up to the CDC, a cloud-surfing Jesus in the Philippines, and needle-spiking mayhem in France. T...

Episode 256 - Look Into My Eyes with Richard Saunders

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The inimitable Richard Saunders joins us to look at a recent documentary focusing on a group of working psychics in New York City. First we discuss th...

Episode 255 - Phantom Attackers with Robert Bartholomew

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First we cover a few things on our radar: Ben is reminded of an old mail-based scam, Celestia gets excited over a few astronomical news items, and we ...

Episode 254 - Grimoires with Owen Davies

24 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First we chat about a weird little chupacabra play Ben saw, then discuss the conspiracies that have metastasized from Joe Biden's prostate cancer and ...

Episode 253 - Pascual's farewell and the Berkshire UFO Abduction Incident

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No, Pascual did not get abducted by a UFO ... but neither did three kids in 1969, we're pretty sure. We have Pascual back to explain how his podcastin...

Episode 252 - Acronyms, Bacronyms and Questionable Etymologies

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We start off with a first-ever viewer mail taste test! Then our standard report on the state of public health and government functionality (spoiler, i...

Episode 251 - Incredible tales of survival!

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After some current events about dire wolves, dire outbreaks of measles, and dire science denial in the White House, we discuss some true (and some not...

Episode 250 - Cryptids go Pop! with Sharon Hill

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First we hit on a few current events, including a new monolith outside of Las Vegas and a "shadow" CDC website fake. Sharon Hill joins us again, this ...

Episode 249 - Grab bag: Remembering Joe Nickell, real-time folklore, "transgender mice," and RFK Jr. vs. measles

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ben has been on a cruise, and brings back an interesting story on how quickly rumors and conspiracy theories can form in that environment. We pay trib...

Episode 248 - Furries with Gail De Vos

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia discuss an angler fish and a kayak-curious humpback whale in the news, as well as the measles outbreak, some cryptid legislati...

Episode 247 - Love Lies and Potions

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First Ben and Celestia discuss the unending slew of bad news for skeptics, and our hopes that science and public health can survive this onslaught. An...

Episode 246 - Pop psych, superstitions, and luck with Stuart Vyse

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We start with some observations (ok, rants) about the press conference on the recent aircraft collision in D.C., the hearings to confirm RFK Jr. as Se...

Episode 245 - Maligning the BMI: What is Body Mass Index for?

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First Ben and Celestia discuss the LA fires (and a few of the many, many conspiracy theories already cropping up), and remember Jimmy Carter's clear-h...

Episode 244 - New Year's Day rituals, our yearly wrap-up, and some minor castration confusion

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first show of 2025, Ben and Celestia go over some of their favorite shows, the highlights and lowlights of the past year, and some stories we ...

Episode 243 - Drones and Christmas Folklore

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We recap some news items, including Kreskin passing away, a witchcraft-motivated massacre in Haiti, and of course the Drone panic (?) over the Eastern...

Episode 242 - FAIKs and Faiklore with Perry Carpenter

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben recounts his adventures in Australia at Skepticon, and then Celestia brings up bird flu-infected raw milk, a closing Bigfoot museum, and ghosts th...

Episode 241 - Wildfire Conspiracies with Gail de Vos

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Pascual is back, talking to Celestia about the Onion's purchase of Info Wars, shady testosterone offers, and a list of things we maybe shoul...

Episode 240 - A second Trump term has skeptics worried

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is sort of a rush episode, in the wake of this week's election results. While we don't like mixing our skepticism with partisan politics, Trump h...

Episode 239: Halloween sadists with Joel Best & zombie evolution with Mikel Koven

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Halloween! If we sound like we're on a submarine, apologies--we recorded part of this on a submarine. I mean a small hotel room. After a recap o...

Episode 238 - Electric vehicle mayhem with Brian Dunning

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fair warning: this episode contains too much Elon Musk, as Ben and Celestia discuss the Optimus mechanical Turk -- er, autonomous robot -- as well as ...

Episode 237 - Watery Weirdness

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First a few current events involving a Taylor Swift guitar (or not), the Nazca Lines, a giant naked Trump art piece, and banning solar geoengineering....

Episode 236 - Pet Rumors and Catching Up with Kenny Biddle

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We cannot let this week go by without talking about the xenophobic rumors that splashed across the national political stage this week about Haitians i...

Episode 235 - Black Dog Folklore with Mark Norman

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First, Celestia recounts the Skeptic Track at Dragon Con, and Ben discusses a rabbit hole he went down after receiving a press release on some alleged...

Episode 234 - Hoofed Beasts: Pegasus, Unicorns, and Centaurs!

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First we discuss RFK Jr.'s role in a decade-old cryptid mystery. Then Ben and Celestia recount the gory origin story of Pegasus, along with some other...

Episode 233 - Sensed Presence Effect: Imaginary Friends When You Need Them Most

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia have a lot of current events to discuss, from Olympic rumors about Satan and pregnant gymnasts to the real gender identity of an Alge...

Episode 232 - Brace yourselves. We talk politics.

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Need I even write a summary here? Maybe for listeners who have been in a coma for the past two weeks? Trump was shot at, and conspiracy theories surfa...

Episode 231 - Monster Hunts, then and now, with Daniel Loxton

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First we discuss how the term "Gish gallop" has entered the common vernacular thanks to the recent Presidential debate. Then Ben ponders why conspirac...

Episode 230 - Pseudoarchaeology and Misinformation in Chicano Studies, with Kurly Tlapoyawa

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia discuss the epidemiology of extreme heat, mysterious mololiths redux, the latest Real Water lawsuit, and the origins of a 50-y...

Episode 229 - Skepticamp, Spiders, and the West Palm Beach Killer Clown Case

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We start with a recap of SkeptiCamp New Mexico, then move on to a laundry list of creepy, crawly creatures: Alex Jones, flying Joro spiders, bug zappe...

Episode 228 - The Science of Weird Sh!t, with Chris French

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Celestia and Ben have a lengthy A-segment, between discussing the almost-here SkeptiCamp, Ben's recent folklore convention, and what mischief TV psych...

Episode 227 - Book bans, then and now

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia roll out an abbreviated history of book bans and the psychology behind them. What sorts of fears manifest into the desire to keep inf...

Episode 226 - Dim Mak "the death touch" with Peter Huston

04 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can a human being be killed with one well-timed blow? Without question, yes. But is the secret to this fighting style held by ancient Chinese monks, o...

Episode 225 - The folklore of Scooby Doo, with Mark Norman

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We have a surprise visit from Scooby fan Kenny Biddle, then speak with Mark Norman, folklorist and author of the upcoming "Zoinks!: The Spooky Folklor...

Episode 224.5 - Bonus episode! Our 6th anniversary!

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This freebie bonus is us shooting the breeze, thanking folks who deserve kudos, asking some questions about skepticism today, and generally having a g...

Episode 224 - A Grab Bag of Springtime Skepticism

05 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We chat about several topics in the news recently, from a bright streak of burning space junk over Los Angeles to a very realistic crucifixion reenact...

Episode 223 - Deception Studies with Curt Anderson

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After some current events involving Brazilian ex-president Bolsonaro, a new study on Havana Syndrome, and migrants with measles in Chicago, we are joi...

Episode 222 - Modifying the Weather

09 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First, Pascual and Celestia hit recent science news -- a sideways lunar landing, some male-on-male humpback whale action, and recent cell outages. The...

Episode 221 - What Giant Penguins Can Teach Us, with Daniel Loxton

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben and Celestia have several tidbits to discuss, from Micheal Mann's court win to chemtrails popping up in social media. Ben is watching anoth...

Episode 220 - You are gonna believe this: Truth Default Theory

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After some chit-chat about vaccine misinfo on X and "phrogging" on Netflix, the gang tackles truth default theory. Coined by researcher Timothy Levine...

Episode 219 - Ai yie yie! AI Roundtable with Kyle Polich

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've had this scheduled for a while, but this week AI popped up in the news twice, impersonating George Carlin and Joe Biden, so what better time for...

Episode 218 - Requiem for Bigfoot

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Quite a few news topics hit our skeptical radar this week, from Disney's copyright expiration on Mickey to an industrious Welsh mouse (no relation), t...

Episode 217 - Dark Play with Libby Tucker

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For our last episode of the year, after Ben lists his upcoming appearances and a nice book accolade, and after Celestia discusses "Skibidi Toilet Synd...

Episode 216 - Absinthe, Murder and Panic

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After some discussion on a recent shooting in Las Vegas, Alex Jones being let back onto Twitter/X, and Napoleon's height, we dive into a look back at ...

Episode 215 - Dallas Zoo Animal Disappearances, with Kristina Downs

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First Ben and Celestia discuss genetically modified potatoes, cougar kitties, and cocaine hippos. Then we are joined by Dr. Kristina Downs of the Texa...

Episode 214 - Gargoyles!

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia discuss conspiracies, real and unreal, the conspiracy-backed arguments from a high-profile defense lawyer, a superconductor article r...

Episode 214 - Gargoyles!

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia discuss conspiracies, real and unreal, the conspiracy-backed arguments from a high-profile defense lawyer, a superconductor article r...

Episode 213 - Gef the Talking Mongoose, with Sharon Hill

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First, Celestia goes over her high points and low points of CSI Con 2023, then we move on to a few tidbits Ben came across. Sharon Hill joins us again...

Episode 212 - The Rise and Fall of Slenderman, with Andrea Kitta

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First we discuss a few skepticism-adjacent current events: the recent Colorado train spotting of Bigfoot, RFK Jr.'s bid for the presidency, and a new ...

Episode 211 - SWAYSO Grab Bag and DragonCon Live!

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First we have a whole lot of current events that are dinging out skeptical radar: Nobels are being announced; a kidnapped girl was found (not by psych...

Episode 210 - The UFO movie THEY don't want you to see, with Brian Dunning

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After discussing the more recent alien-related topics like signs of life on an exoplanet and signs of fraud displayed in the Mexican Congress, we meet...

Episode 209 - Agritainment and rural haunts with Betty Aquino

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's agritainment season, y'all! So get ready to pick apples, walk a corn maze, pet some goats and maybe get spooked at a rural haunted house! Folklor...

Episode 208 - Feral kids, for real, kids?

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From Romulus and Remus to Tarzan and Mowgli, children raised in the wild by animals is a popular tale in folklore. But what about feral kids in real l...

Episode 207 - Legend Tripping with Jeff Debies-Carl

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After some discussion of suspected sun bear cosplay and UAP fallout, Ben and Celestia are joined by Jeff Debies-Carl, who has just published "If You S...

Episode 206 - We are Barbie, and Barbie is us

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adrienne Hill joins us this week, and we discuss some current events: RFJ Jr. has presidential hopes, "The Sound of Freedom" is in theaters, and magic...

Episode 205 - Banachek on Randi, Project Alpha and the New York Times

14 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First, Ben discusses his recent excursion to a folklore conference, where he touched a plague box and went spelunking in the Devil's Ass, then Celesti...

Episode 204 - Of Submersibles and Cybermyths

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Celestia and Pascual infodump about the OceanGate submersible, gallows humor and what public science and engineering lessons have been circulating in ...

Episode 203 - The Dover Demon

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After a short chat about the recent alien sightings in Las Vegas and another faked abduction case, Ben brings us his examination of the Dover Demon. T...

Episode 202 - Reincarnation Ruminations

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a deep dive on a slippery subject. Many cultures believe in reincarnation, the recycling of souls into new bodies again and again. Rei...

Episode 201 - Miraculous Chimayo

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After some discussion of Ed Sheeran's day in court, and then Celestia's day in Calgary for the WeCanReason conference, Pascual and Ben take us on a no...

Episode 200 - Circus of the Scars

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For our 200th episode we are joined by Matt "The Tube" Crowley and Tim Cridland, aka Zamora the Torture King, to discuss the new documentary about the...

Episode 199 - Richard Saunders and the Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After some news on Mike Lindell and a few points about popular TV shows, we are joined by the inimitable Richard Saunders, who gives us the details on...

Episode 198 - Rabbit Roundup! Folklore, Horror, and Fertility

08 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Easter everyone! Rabbits are a fluffy bag of contradictions . . . represented as tricksters but also as victims, lucky or unlucky, clever or dep...

Episode 197 - Peter Ash of Under the Same Sun

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We are joined by Peter Ash, founder and director of Under the Same Sun, a nonprofit dedicated to the education and empowerment of persons with albinis...

Episode 196 - News Grab Bag and Ben's Time in Malawi

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We were inundated with news this week, so first we cover prehistoric bugs in Arkansas, the Desert Monkey King glyph in Southwest Las Vegas, the folklo...

Episode 195 - The Bible Code Resurfaces, with David Thomas

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Celestia discuss the nostalgic sense of deja vu when hearing about UFOs and cults these past weeks. Then we are joined by David Thomas, who in...

Episode 194 - The Missing 411 with Kyle Polich

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First we nosh on some interesting tidbits about a long-dead casino magnate, a mysterious fortune teller with a prophecy about rom-coms, and a prematur...

Episode 193 - Coke + Folklore = Cokelore!

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It turns out the all-American fizzy sweet cola is also a veritable cornucopia of myths, rumors, urban legends and misinformation. We're not just talki...

Episode 192 - Romance Scams with Wendy Hughes

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss a surprise paleoanthropological development from the past week and weigh some falsehoods coming from a new member of Congress. Then for our...

Episode 191 - Predictions, Mistakes and Films

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we wrap up another year, we make a few predictions for 2023 and then answer some listener questions on what has fooled us in the past. Then for our...

Episode 190 - Vile Vans and Sinister Sedans: Vehicular Vernacular in Folklore

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben titled this episode. In which we speak of all the reasons why you should think twice about renting a monochrome, windowless van in unfamiliar terr...

Episode 189 - "AI Cryptid" Loab and Lesser-known Lake Monsters

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First Pascual and Celestia examine a mysterious woman "haunting" AI art, dubbed "Loab." Then we dip into a selection of the less famous lake monsters....

Episode 188 - Reading between the Ley Lines

19 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben has returned from adventures, so we hear about some of his travels and then discuss the Twitter blue checkmark brouhaha. In our main segment we lo...

Episode 187 - The Curious Case of Dr. Melba Ketchum's Bigfoot DNA, with guest Sharon Hill

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, after we take a moment to tally exactly how many kids were killed by rainbow fentanyl passed off as Halloween candy, we bring Sharon Hill o...

Episode 186 - Our Scary Favorites

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First, Pascual and Celestia puzzle over Ben's location and discuss a few places in Vegas that skeptics might like to see while they attend CSI Con. Th...

Episode 185: Dr. Stan Stepanic on Vampires

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First we get sucked down a bit of a rabbit hole on all the things we never knew about crystal flutes. Then vampire expert Dr. Stanley Stepanic joins u...

Episode 184 - Djinnception and Pirates!

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First Celestia gushes about "3,000 Years of Longing," starring Idris Elba as a sultry Djinn. Then Ben talks to us about the pirate life, which had a l...

Episode 183 - Secrets of the Coral Castle

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part roadside attraction -- and apparently also part magnetic marvel, part harmonics and Ley Line energy well, part mystical creation of a stone-singe...

Episode 182 - "America the Fearful," with Ben Radford!

27 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, so our guest this episode is . . . Ben! We take a look at a few strange things in the news first, like "Hunger Stones" and a "Surprise Spanish St...

Episode 181 - Hey, What Happened to My Penis? Koro Happened.

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To our credit, we manage to not giggle like third-graders for most of the episode, as we discuss the strange belief that one's penis has gone missing,...

Episode 180 - Burn Baby Burn . . . Effigies!

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is special because all three of us have personal experience -- in Santa Fe, the Black Rock Desert, or Lewes, England -- watching giant ef...