Squaring the Strange
Episodes
Episode 82 - Grab Bag 2018
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ben, Celestia, and Pascual take a romp through a bunch of 2018's more memorable skeptical moments. From a new iteration of the Mechanical Turk to dead...
Episode 81 - But Won't Someone Think of the Children?
21 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode deals with various aspects of kids and woo . . . First, a look at that jolly old "identified flying object" often seen on Christmas eve, ...
Episode 80 - Harold Camping's Apocalypse Countdown
07 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pascual is back, and we discuss a free-roaming placenta found in the Canadian woods last week. Then we bring in award-winning filmmaker Erik Kristophe...
Episode 80 - Harold Camping's Apocalypse Countdown
07 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pascual is back, and we discuss a free-roaming placenta found in the Canadian woods last week. Then we bring in award-winning filmmaker Erik Kristophe...
Episode 79 - Challenges of the Million Dollar Challenge
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Ben and Celestia discuss an interesting bit of fan base fakery with a surprise guest. Then we are joined by the Skeptic Zone's Richard Saunders...
Episode 78 - Bigfoot on Film
09 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning filmmaker Erik Kristopher Myers joins Ben and Celestia to discuss Bigfoot on film. Starting with a quick analysis of the famous and most...
Episode 77 - Halloween History, Hell Houses, and Scares!
26 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Celestia reports back from her hurried day at CSI con, and Ben recounts a news story about a graveyard dowser. Then we look at Halloween subjects: wha...
Episode 77 - Halloween History, Hell Houses, and Scares!
26 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Celestia reports back from her hurried day at CSI con, and Ben recounts a news story about a graveyard dowser. Then we look at Halloween subjects: wha...
Episode 76 - Human Barbie and Other Plastic Tales
12 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Ben examines some disturbing consequences to child abduction rumors on a popular app in India and Mexico. Then we look at modern plastic surger...
Episode 75 - Escaping the Rabbit Hole with Mick West
28 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ben and Celestia recount some woo encounters "in the field" that, for a few reasons, they chose not to battle. Then for our main topic we si...
Episode 75 - Escaping the Rabbit Hole with Mick West
28 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ben and Celestia recount some woo encounters "in the field" that, for a few reasons, they chose not to battle. Then for our main topic we si...
Episode 74 - The Pokemon Panic
14 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we start with a quick look at a dog-buys-cookies story that took Celestia down a path of searching out pet videos and, finally, reading abou...
Episode 73 - Skeptical Burnout
31 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we start with an announcement and then a look at a Bridezilla tale and a psychic mountain lion encounter. Then Ben, Celestia, and Pascual di...
Episode 72 - Ghost Trains
24 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we start with a discussion of Spike Lee's Black Klansman movie and the notion of holding narrative movies "based on" real events to some ima...
Episode 71 - The Brown Recluse and Arachnopanic
17 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We start with a look at some so-called logos unveiled as a fundraiser and compare them to NASA's logo to see how a real Space Force manages branding. ...
Episode 70 - Guests in Spaaaaaaace . . .
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a potpourri of space and sci-fi strangeness, starting with a look back (and forward) at Project Blue Book, the Air Force study of UFO sig...
Episode 70 - Guests in Spaaaaaaace . . .
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a potpourri of space and sci-fi strangeness, starting with a look back (and forward) at Project Blue Book, the Air Force study of UFO sig...
Episode 69 - Have You Seen the Toucan Man?
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Celestia is skeptical of Rule 34, as even creatures that don't really exist are making news this week for being in porn. Ben takes us on a q...
Episode 68 - Going Wild with Animal Abilities
26 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Celestia opens with a mea culpa and introduction, then is joined by Ben and Pascual to talk about some mysterious abilities animals are said to have. ...
Episode 67 - Woo to Expect When You're Expecting
20 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Celestia discuss a few topics in the world of pregnancy that are best viewed through a skeptical lens. Ben touches on some folkloric wa...
Episode 66 - Unraveling the "Best Case" for Psychic Detectives
14 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ben and Celestia start by looking at a recent active shooter scare created by a psychic premoniton. Then we dive into a challenge that led B...
Episode 65 - All About the Benjamins
05 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we all look at some timey-wimey stuff that paranormal researcher Joshua P. Warren claims to have discovered near Vegas. Then it's all about ...
Episode 64 - Butterfly Kisses with Erik Kristopher Myers
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Celestia chat with Erik Kristopher Myers, writer, director, and actor in the new found-footage horror movie "Butterfly Kisses," fea...
Episode 63 - A Sundry Sack of Skepticism
22 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A grab-bag of mini topics for your skeptical digestion.
Episode 62 - Movie Myths and More
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Celestia is skeptical of a certain effect we've all been privy to in the internet age. Then, our team dives into the world of film legends and ...
Episode 61 - The Pulse Nightclub Attack
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First we look back at an alien theory of the 90s, then we revisit our old pal Alex Jones's legal troubles. Then we carefully peel back some layers on ...
Episode 60 - Pseudo-experiments: Less-than-Credible Gimmicks as "Science"
01 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After a quick revisit to the History Channel's sidestepping, the gang dives into pseudo-experiments. We see them almost every day, often aimed at maki...
Episode 59 - Music Myths with Kyle Konkiel of Bad Wolves
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our crew is joined by Pascual's good friend Kyle Konkiel of the band Bad Wolves, the heavy metal band currently topping the charts with the...
Episode 58 - Does It Make Yanny Sense? How Our Senses Fail Us
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our crew talks about the ins and outs of how our senses fail us. First, they delve into a highly appropriate internet phenomenon regarding ...
Episode 57 - Zombies Sans Apocalypse
12 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our crew dives into a curious case of a teenager being hypnotized and not remembering the night. Then, we dig up zombies. Not just the Holl...
Episode 56 - Search, Research, and Re-Research!
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Ben looks at some opinions passing for news about the Cosby verdict, then Pascual schools us on the real history behind Cinco de Mayo. For our ...
Episode 55 - The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Near Death Experiences
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First we say a mixed farewell to Art Bell, radio host and conspiracy monger. Then we discuss the Near-Death Experience phenomenon, or NDEs. We go from...
Episode 54 - School Shooting Conspiracy Rumors and the People Who Perpetuate Them
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben unpacks a particularly curious moment in a Herzog documentary, and then we get to our main topic. Our trio dives deep into the world of...
Episode 53 - Going Guerrilla with Susan Gerbic
13 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
QUICK NOTE: The online recording software we used for Matt's interview did something wonky to our audio for a moment. Pascual spent the last few hours...
Episode 52 - Strangerversary Spectacular!
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Pascual brings in some information on California's Prop 65 and what it really means to say that coffee causes cancer. Does a proliferation ...
Episode 51 - Lookin' for Loot in All the Wrong Places
30 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We start with Mad Mike Hughes and his flat-earth-funded rocket. Then we talk treasures: hiding them, hunting them, and passing along rumors of them! T...
Episode 50 - Adventures in Boogeysitting
23 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Pascual is skeptical of mutating astronaut DNA, and looks closely at the media misinterpretation of a recent NASA press release. Then the gang ...
Episode 49 - Good Times with Pink Slime
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our crew digs into health panics and what's in our food. Focusing on the notorious "pink slime", the Strangers break down the history of th...
Episode 48 - It's Coelacanth, Not Coelacan't
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our strangers start the episode with some listener mail about Ben's SWAYSO on Peter Rabbit. Our three amigos break down an article about it...
Episode 47 - Getting Scientifical with Sharon A. Hill
02 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Strange crew chats a bit about "crisis actors" and how far people will go to link tragic events to push conspiratorial ideas. Then, the...
Episode 46 - Misleading Documentaries
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Celestia dig into what makes bad documentaries bad.
Episode 45 - Kuchisake-Onna
16 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual dig into the legend of Kuchisake-Onna, aka the Slit-mouthed Woman. From the origins of her terrifying story to the modern d...
Episode 44 - The Miraculous Staircase
08 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
While Pascual recovers, Ben and Celestia discuss outrage over the hypothetical new product "Lady Doritos." Then we go over Ben's investigation of a st...
Episode 43 - On Being Believed
02 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we start with Celestia's tale of having a "tongue analysis" while on a cruise, which amounted to an alt-med version of cold reading. Then we...
Episode 42 - Investigating Ghosts
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our hosts chat about Ben's new book, Investigating Ghosts.
Episode 41 - Good. Bad. I'm the Guide With the Tour.
19 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First, Ben looks at current failures of intuition and psychics. Then we take a skeptical look at tour guides! Tours straddle a line between entertainm...
Episode 40 - Curses Foiled Again!
12 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our boys look into the nature of curses and what it takes to break a curse. From the cultural aspects to the practical applications, Ben's ...
Episode 39 - A Diet High in Skepticism
05 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First we hear from photographic mystery investigator Kenny Biddle, who reveals how he solved the souvenir photo mystery Ben shared back in episode 37....
Episode 38 - Bro-science with The Credible Hulk
28 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual kick off the first half of the "New Years Resolution" series where they look at woo in the gym. Just in time for your resol...
Episode 37 - Logical Fallacies
22 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Celestia joins the guys to discuss the idea of logical fallacies and how to identify them, as well as discuss their favorite ones. Ben talk...
Episode 36 - The Importance of Replication
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben, Celestia, and Pascual discuss the importance of replication in everything from skeptical inquiry to scientific experimentation. Pascua...
Episode 35 - Champ's no Chump: The Best Evidence for Lake Monsters
07 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ben first reminds us all that the History Channel still has not made good on their promise to be transparent about their Amelia Earhart research debac...
Episode 34 - This is an Outrage!!!
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual talk about the phenomenon of outrage, especially on the internet. They break down some classic outrage from the last year a...
Episode 33 - "They" Divide and Conquer
23 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our boys break down the idea that the government is out to divide us. Ben is skeptical of psychics and Pascual chats about a flat-earther w...
Episode 32 - Practical Skepticism
17 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ben, Pascual, and Celestia have a roundtable discussion on the practical aspects of everyday life as a skeptic. Boots-on-the-ground skeptici...
Episode 31 - Our Skeptic Heroes
10 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual are joined by Celestia to discuss their skeptic heroes! Also, a heroic fortune cookie!
Episode 30 - Halloween Horrors and Hoaxes
02 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual dissect the myths and misunderstandings that surround Halloween. From tainted candy to evil predators, our boys take a bite...
Episode 29 - Bad Clowns
26 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For week 3 of our spooky Halloween series, Ben, Celestia and Pascual delve into the spooky and fascinating topic of evil clowns. Ben talks about all t...
Episode 28 - Ghost Lovin'
19 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle up for part 2 of our Squaring the Strange Halloween series! This week, our spooky hosts bring us an exciting adventure into the tantalizing wor...
Episode 27 - Chupacabra Cha Cha
12 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the boys explore a topic that Ben literally wrote the book on (and got an award for!): El Chupacabra. From the origins to the events that l...
Episode 26 - Live from the Apocalypse!
05 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our boys are live at the New Mexico Podscape Festival. First, Ben dissects cryptozoology and how natural disasters come into play. Then, ou...
Episode 25 - Conspiracy Theories THEY Don't Want You to Know About
28 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 25: Conspiracy Theories THEY Don't Want You to Know About (released September 28, 2017) Ben ruminates on the blowup over Trump's NFL tweets th...
Episode 24 - The Copycat Effect
21 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben is skeptical of the History Channel bland promise to be transparent and do more investigation on their recent Amelia Earhart fiasco (sp...
Episode 23 - Allegedly Psychic
17 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
While Pascual tends to his offspring, Ben and Celestia discuss a recent story about a waitress being allegedly stiffed due to her pride tattoo. They g...
Episode 22 - Time Travel and Bubonicon
16 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Strange crew talks time travel. Everything from their favorite time travel fiction to a little bit of science! Then they head to Buboni...
Episode 21 - Never Sleep Again
31 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the oft-horrifying phenomenon of sleep paralysis. After watching the documentary "The Nightmare", our hosts decided...
Episode 20 - Deadly Urban Legends
24 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore how urban legends can sometimes turn dangerous and even deadly. From the unintended consequences of rumor to what h...
Episode 19 - Mixed Bag of Tricks
17 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we had a bad bit of timing for our outrage episode in that the events that occurred in Charlottesvile, VA were two days after we finished r...
Episode 18 - Chewing the Fat on GMOs
10 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 18: Food Evolution Documentary and Chewing the Fat on GMOs This week Ben, Celestia, and Pascual open with a discussion on what people conside...
Episode 17 - Legal Skepticism with Andrew Torrez
03 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual are joined by Andrew Torrez of the Opening Arguments podcast! They chat a bit about misconceptions and controversial ideas ...
Episode 16 - The Lizard Man of Scape Ore
27 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual discuss the Lizard Man of Scape Ore, a legendary creature from the swamps of the American South. Also in this episode, Ben ...
Episode 15 - In Defense of Pedantry
20 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual chat a bit about being pedantic, and how it sometimes can be a good thing. Ben is skeptical about some new developments in ...
Episode 14 - Stonehenge Surprise: The Best Case for Crop Circles
13 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore what is considered to be the best case for alien crop circles. Ben questions intuition and Pascual digs into the gr...
Episode 13 - Uphill Both Ways
06 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the topic of nostalgia and how a good dose of skepticism is needed in how we remember things. Pascual is skeptical ...
Episode 12 - The Mirror in the Last Haunted House
29 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the boys dig into a paranormal investigation Ben conducted in Cimarron, NM and what it means for the future of his investigations. Pascual ...
Episode 11 - Gambling Superstitions with Celestia
22 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the fellas are joined by our beloved content producer and official STS artist, Celestia Ward to talk about gambling and some various supers...
Episode 10 - Of Emperors and Clothes
15 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the nuance of the Hans Christian Andersen classic fairy tale "The Emperors New Clothes". You may think you remember...
Episode 9 - Until the Light Takes Us
08 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual talk about the black metal documentary "Until the Light Takes Us" and the events surrounding that dark story. Also, Ben dis...
Episode 8 - Popobawa-da-vida
01 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore the mystery of the "Popobawa", AKA the skeptic-raping demon of Zanzibar. But first, they throw some shade at Alex ...
Episode 7 - Stop, Corroborate and Listen
25 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual explore corroboration bias and all the pitfalls that come with believing something "just because other people do". Also, t...
Episode 6 - Roswell That Ends Well
18 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual talk about the history of the infamous Roswell UFO crash of 1947. Ben is skeptical about an online "scare" while Pascual ...
Episode 5 - The Rolling Calf
11 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual continue a two-part series on Jamaican folklore with a tale of Ben's investigation of "duppies" and the most fearsome dup...
Episode 4 - The White Witch of Rose Hall
04 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Pascual responds to a listener email, and Ben tells the tale of his research on the White Witch of Rose Hall, a very famous Jamaican ghost!...
Episode 3 - Psychics
27 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual dig into psychics and some situations where they cross paths with the law.
Episode 2 - What Are We Skeptical About?
20 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Pascual discuss what current news items they are skeptical about as well as read some fan mail!
Episode 1 - Hoaxes
13 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today Ben and Pascual introduce themselves and the podcast, as well as talk about hoaxes in the spirit of April Fool's Day!