Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
ROBYNN “SWOOPY” MCCARTHY is the co-host and co-creator of the world’s first pioneering skeptical podcast: Skepticality — the Official Podcast of Skeptic magazine.
When co-host Derek Colanduno suffered a serious brain injury in 2005, Swoopy was forced to take a dominant role in the production of the show. She became the primary writer, researcher, and post-production editor for the program — roles she was proud to continue after Derek returned to health.
Today, Swoopy is a guiding light among the newer generation of skeptical leaders — many of whom credit Skepticality as their introduction to the skeptical movement. Swoopy is very conscious of the responsibilities of a public voice for skepticism. Whether you’re a podcaster, a TV celebrity, or the only skeptic at a dinner party, she says, “It’s important to remember that you may be the only example of skepticism that many people come in contact with.” Known for her own warmhearted and conversational interview style, Swoopy believes that it never hurts for public skeptics “to be a little more general, more inclusive, and more polite.”
Her work focuses on the traditional subject matter of skepticism — science, pseudoscience, and claims of the paranormal — but always with a playful and inventive spin. In 2009, she joined 12 other leading skeptics to contribute to the What Do I Do Next? ebook, a panel discussion PDF on the topic of skeptical activism.
search
Trending content
Articles worth sharing. Here’s what’s trending over the last few days.
Help the
Skeptics Society
at no cost to you!
Planning on shopping at Amazon.com? Start your shopping by clicking the button below, and the Skeptics Society will receive a commission. Your prices for all Amazon products will remain exactly the same, yet you’ll provide essential financial support for the work of the nonprofit Skeptics Society.
See our affiliate links page for Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and iTunes links.
get eSkeptic
our free newsletter
Free science articles delivered to your inbox once a week.
eSkeptic is our free email newsletter. Delivered once a week to your inbox, you will receive fascinating & provocative articles, event announcements, podcasts, book reviews, and timely updates from Skeptic.
FREE PDF Download
Top 10 Myths About Evolution (and how we know it really happened)
This concise pamphlet provides answers to common objections to evolution, such as: If humans came from apes, why aren’t apes evolving into humans?; Only an intelligent designer could have made something as complex as an eye; The second law of thermo-dynamics proves that evolution is impossible; Evolution can’t account for morality; and more…
FREE PDF Download
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Alternative Medicine
Harriet Hall, MD (aka the SkepDoc), shares her wit and wisdom about alternative medicine including: chiropractic, the placebo effect, homeopathy, acupuncture, and the questionable benefits of organic food, detoxification, and ‘natural’ remedies.
FREE PDF Download
Learn to be a Psychic in 10
Easy Lessons
Psychic readings and fortunetelling are an ancient art — a combination of acting and psychological manipulation. While some psychics are known to cheat and acquire information ahead of time, these ten tips focus on what is known as “cold reading” — reading someone “cold” without any prior knowledge about them.