Skepticality
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| Skepticality | |
| Hosting | Derek Colanduno · "Swoopy" |
|---|---|
| Updates | Biweekly |
| Debut | April 1, 2005 |
| Genre | science / news |
| Website | www.skepticality.info/ |
Skepticality is the official biweekly podcast of The Skeptics Society's Skeptic magazine. It explores rational thought, skeptical ideas, and famous myths from around the world and throughout history. Beginning in April 2005, it has featured interviews with famous skeptics, such as James Randi, and scientists, such as author and astronomer Phil Plait.
Skepticality is co-hosted by Derek Colanduno and "Swoopy" (Robynn McCarthy).
On August 14, 2006, after a six-month break, the hosts produced a new show during which they announced that Skepticality had become the official biweekly podcast of Skeptic magazine. The episode included an interview with Michael Shermer .
Contents |
[edit] Hiatus, limbo and return
On September 7, 2005, during a keynote address, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, mentioned Skepticality as one of the top nine podcasts at the iTunes Music Store. On that same day, the podcast's future was thrust into uncertainty. Little over an hour after Jobs' comment, co-host Derek Colanduno suffered an aneurysm-like brain AVM. Two days later, in an emotional three-minute message, Swoopy announced his condition on Skepticality. For the next week, as he lay in a medicated coma, friends of Derek broadcast messages of hope via the podcast.
Swoopy and Derek's wife provided daily updates of Derek's condition via the show's online message boards. Weeks later, he regained consciousness and began undergoing therapy. Swoopy gradually found time to produce new shows, calling on others to act as co-host. In December 2005, Derek returned to the weekly broadcast, as he now requires only part-time rehabilitation.
After an episode on February 12, 2006, the hosts took the longest break the program has seen since its inception [1]. No updates of the podcast were posted via the feed or the website from that time until August 14, 2006. During that time, however, the hosts remained active on the podcast's website discussion forum. In a posting made to the forum on June 11, 2006, Derek Colanduno noted work towards – and the possibility of – an imminent episode [2]. The long-awaited episode finally appeared on August 14, 2006, with an announcement that Skepticality was now the Skeptic magazine's official podcast.
[edit] Asteroids
In an interview with Derek during the June 1, 2006 episode[1] of Slacker Astronomy [3] , the naming of Asteroids McCarthy and Colanduno was announced to the world. The asteroids were named in homage to the hosts of Skepticality by their discoverer Jeff Medkeff, who said, "My naming of these asteroids for you is a token of my esteem for you and your accomplishments. Someday, I hope to meet you two." [4].
[edit] Awards
In 2007, Skepticality were recognised for excellence in podcasting with the Best Speculative Fiction News Podcast award at the Parsec Awards and Best Science Podcast award at the Podcast Peer Awards, selected by registered fellow podcasters. Both presentations were made at Dragon*Con 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. On November 22, 2007, the Skepticality podcast was listed as "Site of the Week" on SciFi.com's Sci Fi Weekly.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Identified as both chat show #7 and #9.
