Rephonic
Artwork for Squaring the Strange
Skepticism
Public Health
Folklore
Bigfoot
Misinformation
Cryptozoology
Urban Legends
Body Mass Index
Gef the Talking Mongoose
Ufos
Critical Thinking
Artificial Intelligence
Scooby Doo
Obesity
Christmas
Berkshire UFO Abduction Incident
Conspiracy Theories
Donald Trump
West Palm Beach Killer Clown Case
Gargoyles

Not just another "skeptical" podcast, it's a show about critical thinking and evidence-based analysis, using science and critical thinking to examine the world around us, from the mysterious and paranormal to the mundane.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes291Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Squaring the Strange

Latest Episodes

The past two weeks, we have absorbed way too much to come up with our own content. And the speakers at the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research and CSI Con 2026 deserve some signal-boosting. So this episode is a recap of these two c... more

First, we talk CSI Con Buffalo (coming soon!), a new study on how pigeons find their way, and the passing of an ad man who coined Ben's favorite skeptical phrase. Then we look back at a video taken at a gas station just outside Lima, Peru, in 2016 th... more

First, some fun news bits on Knight Rider's K.I.T.T., how cats land on their feet, and a Times article debunking facilitated communication. Then, we talk Trump assassination rumors. This is a hot topic, and one that has many skeptics and level-headed... more

After some chatter about the recent UAP file dump from the Department of Defense and the skepticism surrounding a purported Epstein suicide note, we welcome Adrienne Hill and Dave Thomas to talk about last week's WeCanReason and SkeptiCamp New Mexico... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Susan Gerbick
Contributor with resources on skeptics camps and speakers
Episode: Episode 280 - Conspiracy rumors about Trump staging his assassination attempts
Adrienne Hill
Western Canadian skeptic, organizer of WeCanReason
WeCanReason (Western Canada)
Episode: Episode 279 - SkeptiCamps and Mini-Cons, a breakdown and how-to
Dave Thomas
Physicist, skeptic organizer, president of New Mexicans for Science and Reason
New Mexicans for Science and Reason
Episode: Episode 279 - SkeptiCamps and Mini-Cons, a breakdown and how-to
Jacob Shaw
Researcher studying caricature and the brain
Caricature and the Brain / Apple Tree Talent (as referenced in contact information)
Episode: Episode 277 - Your Brain on Caricature, with Jacob Shaw
Leo Igwe
Activist working to end witchcraft accusations in Africa
Advocacy 4 Alleged Witches (AFAW)
Episode: Episode 275 - Bigfoot Bombshell and Leo Igwe on fighting witchcraft accusations in Africa
Dr. Grant Ritchey
General dentist with nearly 40 years of experience, practicing in Tonganoxie, Kansas.
Self-employed in dentistry
Episode: Episode 269: Fluoride fallacies and dentistry weirdness with Dr. Grant Ritchie, DDS
Daniel Reed
Counselor and founder of the West Virginia Skeptics Society
West Virginia Skeptics Society
Episode: Episode 268 - Daniel Reed on Vegetable Man and Gray Barker
Brian Dunning
Podcaster and writer known for material about critical thinking and skepticism.
Skeptoid
Episode: Episode 267 - Billionaire Boogeymen with Brian Dunning
Cody Polston
Ghost story enthusiast and ex-ghost hunter
Episode: Episode 265 - The Alleged ghosts of the Territorial House, with Cody Polston

Hosts

Celestia Ward
Co-host who appears across many episodes; known for skeptical outreach and co-hosting duties.
Ben Radford
Co-host with long-standing involvement in skepticism, research, and outreach.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 164 ratings
  • Very well done. Fascinating subjects.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dallas
    10 months ago
  • A favorite- informative and engaging

    I’ve learned a lot about folklore, logical fallacies, and investigating supernatural/paranormal claims. The podcast covers a lot of different topics, like ghosts, the chupacabra, psychics, Bigfoot, UFOs, and the hosts discuss certain current events from a skeptical perspective. I enjoy this podcast a lot and I love it when the hosts each bring their area of expertise—investigator, writer, musician, artist—to topics they discuss.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crimson247
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast

    These people pour passion and knowledge into a great finished product

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nimbocrux
    Australia2 years ago
  • Avoid at all costs.

    First of all this podcast is somehow erasing reviews that are critical of them. Which you cant just do, so apparently their status exists outside of a “regular podcast”. Disinformation agents. I would say. I will continue to leave bad reviews as long as they continue to poison the well

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Chuck Dumpster
    United States3 years ago
  • Not particularly cool. -OR- NPC

    3 yahooz with degrees from some schools, therefore they are somehow arbiters of the “final word” on any topic they decide falls within parameters of science. Or should i say “Psi-ence” This podcast spends most of its time blurring the lines between authoritative/research-derived conclusions and CNN-like commentary-passed off- as-objective-reality.

    These college graduates ,turned game show/podcast hosts, reference Smithsonian museum as though it is a “shrine of truth”. This should tell yo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Chuck Dumpster
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for thorough, entertaining critical thinking and broad topic coverage.
Fans value theHosts' chemistry and depth across paranormal, folklore, and science.
Some reviews critique perceived bias or ego, though many still call out high品質 discussions.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

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If Books Could Kill
If Books Could KillMichael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
Modern Wisdom
Modern WisdomChris Williamson
Radio Rental
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 275 - Bigfoot Bombshell and Leo Igwe on fighting witchcraft accusations in Africa
Q: How does the legal environment in Nigeria affect accused witches?
Laws against witchcraft accusations exist, but enforcement is often weak due to police inadequacies, corruption, and scarce resources, allowing abuses to persist while advocating for proper enforcement and justice.
Episode 275 - Bigfoot Bombshell and Leo Igwe on fighting witchcraft accusations in Africa
Q: What is Advocacy 4 Alleged Witches aiming to achieve over the next decade?
A decade-long activism campaign from 2020 to 2030 to ensure witch hunting becomes history by 2030, through legal reform, public education, and empowering affected communities, especially women.
Episode 270 - Listener Questions and Looking Back at 2025
Q: What are your opinions on debating anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, etc.? Useful, waste of time?
It depends; engaging in debates can be useful for practice and to speak to others on the fence, but actual debates rarely occur and often result in misinformation.
Episode 270 - Listener Questions and Looking Back at 2025
Q: Do you have any cause for optimism or anything you're looking forward to?
Despite the pessimism about 2026, there's hope that the pendulum will swing back towards valuing science and rationality, as many Americans value these principles.
Episode 270 - Listener Questions and Looking Back at 2025
Q: What was a claim or myth that you kind of wish were true, even though it probably isn't?
Facilitated communication, as it would give disabled kids and non-verbal autistic kids a voice and be a breakthrough for humanity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Squaring the Strange

What is Squaring the Strange about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show frequently tackles claims at the intersection of science, skepticism, and culture, with a core emphasis on evidence-based analysis. Episodes span paranormal topics, cryptids, conspiracy theories, and the societal factors that drive belief, while also highlighting practical skepticism—from data reliability to public health misinformation. A standout pattern is how conversations blend historical case studies with contemporary media dynamics, guest expertise, and actionable guidance for engaging audiences in critical thinking. The format tends to be conversational, witty, and accessible, which helps complex topics feel approachable for curious listeners and potential guests alike. A notable strength is assembling diverse perspectives... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Squaring the Strange?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Squaring the Strange:

1. MonsterTalk
2. Skeptoid
3. The Skeptic Zone
4. Skeptics with a K
5. Data Over Dogma

How many episodes of Squaring the Strange are there?

Squaring the Strange launched 9 years ago and published 291 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Squaring the Strange?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Squaring the Strange?

Recent guests on Squaring the Strange include:

1. Susan Gerbick
2. Adrienne Hill
3. Dave Thomas
4. Jacob Shaw
5. Leo Igwe
6. Dr. Grant Ritchey
7. Daniel Reed
8. Brian Dunning

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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