# The Skeptic Zone #901 - 11.January.2026 Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skeptic-zone-509869/the-skeptic-zone-901-11-january-2026 Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skeptic-zone-509869/the-skeptic-zone-901-11-january-2026.md Podcast: [The Skeptic Zone](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skeptic-zone-509869) Published: 2026-01-10T21:41:00+00:00 Episode link: https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-901-11january2026 Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/clean/secure/skepticzone/the_skeptic_zone_901_260111.mp3?dest-id=15261 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-skeptic-zone-509869/episodes/the-skeptic-zone-901-11-january-2026 Duration seconds: 3794 ## Resource 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:06:32 Manifesting Have you heard of manifesting? Or as it's been more recently labelled the law of attraction? Manifesting is the relatively new label added to a very old practice. Each generation likes to think that they've found the key to unlocking all of your desires. When in actuality it's the same false hope that has been passed down for many generations. Recently on the Skeptic Zone you would've heard reporter Kat McLeod talk about the lucky girl syndrome. By whatever name, it is the personification of wishful thinking. 00:22:54 Woo Watch! With Kate Thomas Magnesium Myths Magnesium is a supplement that has somehow been marketed as the solution to anxiety, insomnia, migraines, constipation, ADHD, menopause, burnout, and the general horror of being alive in late capitalism. This week Kate looks at what magnesium actually is and what it isn't. Kate Thomas on TikTok and Instagram https://linktr.ee/PrescribeorPass 00:30:26 Refuting the anti-vaxxer who yelled her way onto The Skeptic Zone Back on 7 December, The Skeptic Zone and Why Smart Women podcasts blended to present a unique live episode at The Occidental Hotel in Sydney. Billed as the Why Smart Women Zone Podcast the show featured Why Smart Women host Annie McCubbin with Sue Ieraci, Kate Thomas, Jessica Singer and Richard Saunders. Lara Benham was the MC. Question-time revealed irony, as the first questioner could benefit from subscribing to Annie's Why Smart Women podcast. An anti-vaxxer, she seemed to have a plan to accuse, mock, embarrass or verbally pummel skeptics. A look at the blog post written by Paul Gallagher. https://luckylosing.com/2025/12/31/refuting-the-anti-vaxxer-who-yelled-her-way-onto-the-skeptic-zone/ 0:42:16 The TROVE Archives This week we look at a n… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-skeptic-zone-509869/episodes/the-skeptic-zone-901-11-january-2026/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skeptic-zone-509869/the-skeptic-zone-901-11-january-2026.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.