The Skeptic Zone

Latest Episode

EP 915 19 April 2026 Featured in this episode are...

Botox

UFOs.

More UFOs?

NetFM

UFOs - Botox - Balloons

00:00:00
Introduction
Richard Saunders

00:05:02
Which way do the 'Westerly Winds' blow?
Another look at the Westall UFO event of 1966, concentrating on the weather forcast for Melbourne on the 6th of April, 1966. Can the weather balloon released that morning really be discounted as a possible candidate for the mysterious object seen by possibly hundreds of school children and a few teachers?

Australian Story Westall UFO
https://youtu.be/IhKyQkhOfoM
Charlie Wiser - Westall UFO
https://threedollarkit.weebly.com/westall.html

00:15:28
Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas
Kate and Richard look at the pros and cons of botox treatment.

Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram
https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass

00:26:52
NetFM 2001
Join Stefan Sojka and Richard Saunders from 25 years ago when they discussed the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, asteroids and speak with Professor Colin Keay about astronomy.

    00:42:04
The TROVE Archives
A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers, with the voice talents of Kat McLeod and Ross Blocher, to look for references to UFOs and Weather Balloons.

    1973.10.18 - The Evening Independent - Fl.
    1989.03.12 - The Daily Times - Alabama
    1997.06.24 - The Gainesville Sun - Fl.

www.trove.nla.gov.au

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EP 914 12 April 2026 Featured in this episode are...

UFO

Wishing

News

Your Host

UFO Comments - Wishing for a Wish - NASA

00:00:00
Introduction
Richard Saunders

00:16:14
Westall UFO TV Documentary
In the past week, Skeptic Zone producer Richard Saunders appeared on the ABC TV (Australia) program 'Australian Story' to talk about the 1966 Westall UFO event from a reasonable but skeptical point of view. This has not pleased some UFO believers in TV land and they have been commenting on the YouTube video of the TV program. Richard, with the help of Maynard, reads out some of the more interesting comments.

Australian Story Westall UFO
https://youtu.be/IhKyQkhOfoM

00:22:34
For Crying Out Loud! It's Kat McLeod
If wishes were fishes, Kat would have a koi pond in her head. This week she will take a look at the tradition of wishing, a topic we have not covered on the Skeptic Zone before, while we have looked at a lot of things that require wishful thinking like manifesting and far-fetched woo products, we haven’t ever examined the tradition of wishing, until now. We wish you would listen!

https://www.healthdigest.com/304485/why-you-should-stop-blowing-out-the-candles-on-your-birthday-cake

00:31:20
Australian Skeptics Newsletter
What news has caught the eye of news editor Dee this week? Read by Adrienne Hill.

Australian Skeptics
http://www.skeptics.com.au
We Can Reason, Canada
https://wecanreason.com

    00:41:32
The TROVE Archives
A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers to look for references to NASA and UFOs.

    1973.10.20 - The Canberra Times
    1966.12.12 - The Canberra Times
    1983.01.16 - The Canberra Times
    1989.07.12 - The Canberra Times
    1977.12.29 - Papua New Guinea Post-Courier
    1977.12.28 - The Evening Independent - FL

www.trove.nla.gov.au

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Extras

😀

Free Origami Posters

Folded and Photographed by Richard Saunders

Cranes Pigasus - Flying Pig Cranes on a Match Ducks on a Coin

🎤

Radio Plays

Solar Flare - The Band of Power
An audio adventure onboard the Australian Space Ship Solar Flare.

Solar Flare

The Adventures of Psychic Penny
What happens when Psychic Penny gets kidnapped by aliens? Find out in this daring adventure.

Psychic Penny

⚕️

The Vaccination Chronicles

Documentary featuring - Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Verna Morris, Maureen Chuck, Ken McLeod, Monica Saville, Dr Richard Gordon, John Bundock, Peter Bowditch and Lauren Cochrane with Ada and Jack.

Watch on YouTube

🐖

Origami Pigasus

Fold your own flying pig. Invented by Richard Saunders at the request of James Randi.

Watch on YouTube Download Instructions