{"podcast":{"title":"Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition","slug":"skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829","podcast_index_feed_id":7055829,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/510088/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/510088","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/e/2/c/1/e2c18d0a25479752d959afa2a1bf1c87/SIAE_Space.png","author":"Center for Inquiry","episode_count":196,"summary":"Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition brings the insightful articles from Skeptical Inquirer magazine directly to your ears. Covering topics in science, skepticism, and critical thinking, each episode features narrated versions of our most thought-provoking content. Perfect for those on the go, SI Audio Edition allows you to stay informed and inspired wherever you are. Support our work and subscribe to the print magazine at skepticalinquirer.org Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is produced at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, NY.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-11T04:18:13.552804+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829"},"episode":{"title":"Exploring Robben Island: How the Ghosts of the Past Haunt the Researchers of Today","slug":"exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today","published_at":"2026-06-29T16:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829/exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829","url":"https://3e64cc12-0a9b-49a7-be84-de7d280b7a8c.libsyn.com/exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/3e64cc12-0a9b-49a7-be84-de7d280b7a8c/Malorie_Mackey_-_Exploring_Robben_Island_How_the_Ghosts_of_the_Past_Haunt_the_Researchers_of_Today_-_MM.mp3?dest-id=4375028","summary":"Malorie Mackey recounts her experiences conducting penguin conservation research on South Africa's Robben Island, exploring how its haunting history, eerie landscape, and lack of environmental control can make even skeptical scientists feel as though they are encountering ghosts. Drawing on psychology research, she argues that stress, uncertainty, and our fear of the unknown help explain why supposedly haunted places can feel genuinely paranormal despite the absence of supernatural evidence. Read this article and find accompanying references at: skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today/ About the Author: Malorie Mackey is an investigative journalist who studies anthropology with a specialization in mythology, occult studies, and folklore. As a member of the Explorers Club, host of the show and podcast Weird World Adventures , and creator of MaloriesAdventures.com, she is always excited to investigate the unknown. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/","meta_description":"Malorie Mackey recounts her experiences conducting penguin conservation research on South Africa's Robben Island, exploring how its haunting history, eeri…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1023,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829/episodes/exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/skeptical-inquirer-audio-edition-7055829/exploring-robben-island-how-the-ghosts-of-the-past-haunt-the-researchers-of-today.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}