A Year of Skeptic Win

At The Amazing Meeting 2014, renowned skeptic and magician Jamy Ian Swiss recaps the year in skeptical wins with passion and humor, demonstrating through numerous examples how we skeptics are making a difference, how and why the world is becoming ever more rational and reasonable thanks to the spread of skepticism and critical thinking, and what you can do to contribute to this progress.



Don't miss this impassioned call for action.

Bernie Madoff Worked Hard for the Money

Bernie Madoff worked hard to rob his victims of billions of dollars. Be it Monte or Madoff, con artists are skilled deceivers who understand human foibles and can use these skills to take unfair advantage. While there are always observers who are quick to blame the victim, people duped by con artists are not perpetrators. While it is true that human psychology and flawed thinking may help us become co-conspirators in such predations, nevertheless blaming the victim offers neither insight nor explanation. If we are going to understand how and why such schemes are successful, we must credit the con man.



Jamy Ian Swiss aka The Honest Liar - Bernie Madoff Worked Hard for the Money

Mr Addoun: Live Million Dollar Challenge

Live on stage at The Amaz!ng Meeting 2013, we test a claimant for the James Randi Educational Foundation's Million Dollar Challenge.

Join Chip Denman, Jamy Ian Swiss, Banachek, Richard Saunders, and D.J. Grothe as they conduct a test of an paranormal claimant, Mr. Brahim Addoun of Algeria, who says he can demonstrate "remote viewing." Can Mr. Addoun use his claimed mystical abilities to identify random objects hidden under controlled circumstances as claimed? A million dollars is on the line!



Live Million Dollar Challenge - TAM 2013

Credit The Con Man

Jamy Ian Swiss - Credit The Con Man - TAM 2013



Jamy Ian Swiss is a senior JREF Fellow. He has appeared internationally for presenters ranging from Fortune 500 companies to the Smithsonian Institution. He is the author of books including The Art of Magic, and two collections of essays, the most recent is Devious Standards. His U.S. television appearances include CBS' 48 Hours, PBS' Nova, The Today Show, and repeat appearances on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

The Honest Liar: Turn your radio off!

In this installment of The Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss recounts a tale of years gone by when he and his friend and skeptical colleague, psychologist Ray Hyman, appeared on radio along with a channeler, and the talking spirit of a 6th-century Irishman who spoke English and offered career advice to callers. HONEST!

The Honest Liar's Pseudoscience Collection

In this installment of The Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss considers the differences between science and pseudoscience, and discusses some highlights from his vast and colorful pseudoscience collection, from Aromatherapy to Xenoglossy!


If you doesn't like the start, jump to 2:40.

skepdic.com

The Honest Liar's Pseudoscience Collection!

What does a vilian see in a mirror? (Psychics)

Jamy Ian Swiss talks about psychics

What does a vilian see in a mirror?



Jamy Ian Swiss is the honest liar.

Homeopathy: Money for Nothing

In the first installment of "The Honest Liar", Jamy Ian Swiss punctures the pretense of homeopathy. How much is too much to pay for a remedy with nothing in it?



The Honest Liar

Uri Geller Conversation

JREF founder James Randi sits down with magician and longtime friend Jamy Ian Swiss live on stage at TAM 2012.

James Randi in Conversation with Jamy Ian Swiss



Video from TAM 2012

Scientific test of the Dynactiv SR wristband

Live on stage at The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012, we test a claimant for the James Randi Educational Foundation's Million Dollar Challenge.

Join Jamy Ian Swiss, Banachek, and Richard Saunders as they conduct a scientific test of the Dynactiv SR wristband.

Can the creator of the Dynactiv SR really tell if his wristband has improved someone's strength and balance as claimed? A million dollars is on the line!



Live Million Dollar Challenge - TAM 2012

Jamy Ian Swiss "Overlapping Magisteria" TAM 2012

World-famous magician and skeptic Jamy Ian Swiss shares his passionate vision for the scope of modern scientific skepticism, live from the stage at TAM 2012.





With a special musical introduction by TAM emcee George Hrab.

The Search for Cosmic Consciousness

Vic Stenger talks about the limits of science, and whether scientists should be critical of religion and the paranormal, or if such sorts of claims are out of the bounds of science, and therefore beyond criticism. Vic Stenger discusses the academic and spiritual career of Fritjof Capra, and his book The Tao of Physics and how it misused quantum physics to promote New Age mysticism.

Vic Stenger explores the implications of Deepak Chopra's work, which argues that quantum physics proves that "we make our own reality," and discusses the movies The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know? and how they get quantum physics wrong.



Vic Stenger explains wave-particle duality, and the reductionistic Standard Model in particle physics, and why this contradicts the claims of the "quantum spiritualists." And he talks about the future of New Age mysticism and quantum spirituality.

In this weeks Honest Liar commentary, Jamy Ian Swiss revisits what happened in last week's episode to victims of the ancient con of the Three Card Monte.

The Case for Libel Reform

Simon Singh details recent news regarding the libel case brought against him by the British Chiropractic Association for an article he wrote in the Guardian criticizing chiropractic. He talks about English libel laws, and explains why he says they are the worst in the Western world.

Simon Singh details how the recent appeals court decision in his case could have a positive effect on the scientific community. Simon Singh describes the difference between "honest opinion" and facts as they are viewed both in libel cases and in science. And he reveals how the skeptical community in Britain organized a coordinated campaign against chiropractic, leading to investigation of one in four chiropractors there.



In this week's installment of the Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss allows us to witness a street-side scam in the heart of Times Square.

PETITION FOR LIBEL REFORM

Lionel Tiger - God's Brain

Lionel Tiger, Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University, talks about how religion takes place in brains, and not just in churches, temples and mosques. He explains how the brain created religion, and how religion feeds the brain. He relates his own experiences of religion, as a skeptic.

He contrasts his approach to the scientific study of religion with that of the New Atheists, such as Richard Dawkins. He describes how feelings of connection resulting from religion are a function of neurochemistry, and how churches are "serotonin factories." He talks about why interest in human sexuality is so often intertwined with religious pursuits. And he explores why secular institutions may fail to inspire commitment as compared to religion.



Also in this episode, the Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss, talks about sports and the element of deception.

Bruce M Hood - Why We Believe in the Unbelievable

Bruce M. Hood discusses why so many people believe in the supernatural despite the lack of evidence, explaining that it may have something to do with how our brains are wired. He draws a distinction between religious supernatural beliefs, which are culturally determined, and more universal secular supernatural beliefs such as mind-body dualism and causality.



Bruce M. Hood explains how such magical thinking may be socially advantageous and how even skeptics engage in supersense thinking. He also warns against the unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of what is a natural disposition in the majority of people.

In this week's Honest Liar segment, Jamy Ian Swiss explains what he learned at the 1964 World's Fair.

Derek and Swoopy - Five Years of Skepticality

Derek and Swoopy discuss the growth of skeptical podcasting in the five years since they founded the influential podcast Skepticality. They talk about how hosting their show opened new opportunities for them.

They explore the extent to which skeptical podcasts foster insularity within the skeptical movement, or succeed as outreach tools reaching new audiences for science and critical thinking, and the influence of such podcasts on the growth of local skeptics community groups. And they talk about the future of skepticism and skeptical digital outreach.



In this week's installment of the Honest Liar, Jamy Ian Swiss poses the question: What's the harm?

Jamy Ian Swiss - In Pursuit of Psychics

Famed magician Jamy Ian Swiss sits down with D.J. Grothe to talk about psychics. As an advisor to the James Randi Educational Foundation, Swiss helped put self-proclaimed psychics to the test on ABC's "Primetime Nightline".



He discusses the phenomenon of celebrity psychics and why their claims should be challenged. But are all psychics knowing charlatans? Swiss says no, but even the self-deluded have the capacity to do harm to an unknowing public.

James Randi TAM7 Excerpt

At the Amaz!ng Meeting 7 in Las Vegas, James Randi, Penn Jillette, Teller, Ray Hayman, Jamy Ian Swiss and Dj Grothe were part of a discussion panel regarding Magicians or Conjurers if you will being involved in scientific investigations into such things as paranormal and pseudoscienctific claims.



James Randi was asked what his opinions are regarding the matter and his answers are very honest and somewhat revealing of his true character.