The Seeker and the Skeptic

Cat and Rebecca

The Seeker and The Skeptic is a podcast in which two friends explore esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives. Cat is The Seeker, she’s interested in spiritual ideas and hopes to find something meaningful and empowering in the wisdom of religion and new age philosophy. Rebecca is The Skeptic, she’s passionate about finding truth (or at least getting closer to it) using the tools of reason and evidence. Though our approaches to life and ideas are very different we share a sense of humour and a commitment to talking honestly about what we believe and why, which is why we started this podcast. In each episode we will discuss a different topic or experience we’ve had from Holotropic Breathing to Mediumship and we’ll see if we can learn something from each other or change each other’s minds... or if our conversation will devolve into a good natured slanging match. Whatever happens we think having these conversations will be enlightening and amusing and after we finish recording we’ll be pouring ourselves a drink and planning our next adventure.

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Best episodes

Top 10 The Seeker and the Skeptic Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Seeker and the Skeptic episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Seeker and the Skeptic for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Seeker and the Skeptic episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Q&A: What the Heck is a Saturn Return?

The Seeker and the Skeptic

08/15/19 • 21 min

On our first ever Q&A episode, we're tackling the mystery of... Saturn Returns.

What are they? Why should you care? Why do we hate Saturn so much?

All this and more in today's episode...

Ask a Question to the Seeker & the Skeptic!

Have a burning question about a previous show, or another esoteric topic?

Or at:

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit: https://seekerandskeptic.com

Astrology

The Seeker and the Skeptic

01/01/19 • 84 min

In this episode Rebecca plans to ruin Cat’s day by convincing her astrology isn’t a super-reliable method for seeing the future. We look at our astrological charts to see how accurate and useful we find them and test if Rebecca’s partner can guess who’s is who’s.

We discuss a YouTube video Skeptic Michael Shermer vs. Jeffrey Armstrong Vedic Astrologer and as usual the whole topic turns out to be a lot more interesting and nuanced than either of us predicted. But will Cat delete her favourite astrology apps? You’ll have to listen to find out.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Skeptic Michael Shermer vs. Jeffrey Armstrong Vedic Astrologer.

China Job ads Discriminate Against Scorpio and Virgo. Telegraph.

How Astrology Took Over the Internet. NY Times. The Real Constellations of the Zodiac. International Planetarium Society.

Why Dr. Oz’s astrology tweet was so disappointing. Vox.

The Fallacy of Personal Validation (Forer’s original paper on the Forer Effect)

#TradWife

The Seeker and the Skeptic

03/01/20 • 135 min

This episode we are looking into a strange fringe phenomenon that may be entirely mythical the so called ‘traditional housewife’ or #TradWife as she’s known on Twitter.

We take a look at the movement behind the hashtag by reading and trying to apply the Fascinating Womanhood philosophy. Then we dig into the history of house wifery, feminist critiques and the modern revival of traditional marriage. And, with trepidation, explore the dark undercurrent of white supremacy running just beneath some of the content flying the #TradWife banner.

Then we get back to the ironing.

Exploring fringe, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Connect with us

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

LINKS MENTIONED

Fascinating Womanhood For The Timeless Woman, Dixie Andelin Forsyth

https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Womanhood-Timeless-Andelin-Forsyth/dp/194603214X/

Fascinating Womanhood, Helen Andelin

https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Womanhood-Helen-Andelin/dp/055329220X

Helen Andelin and The Fascinating womanhood Movement Julie Debra Neuffer

https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Andelin-Fascinating-Womanhood-Movement/dp/1607813270

Sex Differences in the Connectome of The Human Brain lead author Madhura Ingalhalikar

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/111/2/823.full.pdf

Number of Working Mothers in England

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/29/number-of-working-mothers-in-england-rises-by-a-million-in-20-years

The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan

https://www.amazon.com/Betty-Friedan-Feminine-Mystique-18/dp/B00HTK49M4/

Feminist Theory From Margin to Centre, bell hooks

https://www.amazon.com/Feminist-Theory-Margin-bell-hooks/dp/1138821659

The Minimalists

https://www.theminimalists.com/about/

How Work Took Over the World, Andrew Taggart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7UonZl-Gis

Alya Stewarts Website

https://wifewithapurpose.com/

We Are in the Midst of the Third Bogus 'White Extinction' Panic in Just as Many Centuries

https://reason.com/2018/06/26/stoking-white-ethnic-fears-about-immigra//

Millenials Want More Traditional Gender Roles

https://slate.com/human-interest/2017/03/millennials-want-more-traditional-gender-roles-per-council-on-contemporary-families-symposium.html

Tradwives: A New Trend

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/27/tradwives-new-trend-submissive-women-dark-heart-history

The Tradwife Movement Undercuts Femininst Gains

https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/new-tradwife-movement-undercuts-feminist-gains-1.978604

Feminists claiming ‘tradwives’ are radicalized ‘like ISIS brides’

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/480879-tradwives-brainwashed-isis-feminism-patriarchy/

The Darling Academy

https://www.thedarlingacademy.com/about/

Breathwork

The Seeker and the Skeptic

10/01/18 • 65 min

In this (our first) episode Cat and Rebecca talk about their experience trying Holotropic Breathing a practice in which you breathe weird until your carbon-dioxide deprived brain produces visions. We dance, writhe around on the floor and wave our spirit fingers at the other hippies in a sharing circle.

The conversation veers from how we know what is really real to prehistoric bog bodies and the potential dangers of alternative health practices.

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Links mentioned:

Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self Exploration and Therapy Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof

Rational Wiki entry on Holotropic Breathwork

Wiki article on Hyperventilation Syndrome

The Physiology of the Tunnel Susan J Blackmore, Tom S Troscianko

The Alchemy of Breath

The Seeker and the Skeptic Integrate

The Seeker and the Skeptic

08/31/20 • 99 min

This meta-sode (a self-referential and possibly self-indulgent episode) is a summary of what we've learned in the last year or so of exploring the fringes of spirituality, religion and the occult.

We’ve entered altered states, performed occult rituals and received transmissions from Angelic beings and it won’t surprise regular listeners to hear, it’s changed us! Some of our experiences have been scary or fun but in this episode we’re talking about the ones that have affected us the most deeply and which we have integrated into our lives.

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Connect with us:

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

LINKS MENTIONED

Emily Wilden’s piece on The Broadhaven UFO incident

https://soundcloud.com/emilywilden/the-thing-the-kids-saw

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1

Alister Crowley, The Book of The Law

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Law-Annotated-Aleister-Crowley-ebook/dp/B07G2WN4S6

Stoicon 2020 Watch this space!

https://modernstoicism.com/about-stoicon/

Tarot: Fortunes or Fictions?

The Seeker and the Skeptic

07/31/20 • 76 min

This episode we are not just talking about tarot, but reading each others cards live on air... Well, not really live, or on air but you get the idea.

Is tarot a cheap trick, a genuine method for divining the future or the remnants of the legendary ancient Egyptian book of Thoth? The only way to find out is to listen to our podcast, or google it yourself but that wouldn’t be much fun now, would it?

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Subscribe to our channel so you can always stay up to date on our latest adventures: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsAvzf-XD53ebVyH1liNZtQ?sub_confirmation=1 Find us on the social channels and tell us what you think! Have you had a similar experience? We want to hear from you! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seekerskeptic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/seekerskeptic Medium: https://medium.com/the-seeker-and-the-skeptic Website: https://seekerandskeptic.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

Tarot del Fuego (Rebecca’s deck)

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-del-Fuego-Ricardo-Cavolo/dp/073874994X

Karla McLaren Bridging the Chasm Between Two Cultures

https://www.csicop.org/si/show/bridging_the_chasm_between_two_cultures

Tarot Cards a Tool of Cold Tricksters or wise Therapists?

https://aeon.co/essays/tarot-cards-a-tool-of-cold-tricksters-or-wise-therapists

Cold reading

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Cold_reading

Tarot Reading Ethics

https://benebellwen.com/2017/07/07/on-tarot-reading-ethics-part-i/

Carl Jung: Tarot Cards Provide Doorways to the Unconscious, and Maybe a Way to Predict the Future

http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/carl-jung-tarot-cards-provide-doorways-to-the-unconscious-and-even-a-way-to-predict-the-future.html

Tarot Cards Use and History- yes that’s Christopher Lee! (our intro clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFq-EhVdkk

Rebecca Meets Andrew Taggart: Practical Philosopher

The Seeker and the Skeptic

05/15/20 • 79 min

In this episode Rebecca (The Skeptic) interviews Andrew Taggart, a practical philosopher and entrepreneur. Andrew consults with people from all over the world discussing the nature of a good life.

In this conversation Rebecca takes the opportunity to ask a philosopher about the ‘quest for meaning’ which many people we’ve met during our adventures seem to be on. They discuss what ‘meaning’ means, if everyone needs it and if the need is getting greater as organised religion wanes.

Rebecca and Andrew touch on Buddhism, meditation practice and suicide in this episode and enjoy a few friendly disagreements along the way.

We reference John Vervake’s ‘Awakening From The Meaning Crisis’ which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54l8_ewcOlY

Andrew is a prolific writer and thinker, follow the links below to engage with his work.

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Connect with us:

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

Support the Show (please)

https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

Q+A: What's Your Spirit Animal?

The Seeker and the Skeptic

03/20/20 • 27 min

This minsode we answer the important question: What’s your spirit animal?

We discover our animal guides live on podcast and discuss the origins of the concept in various cultures. If you guess our guides before you press play, let us know and we’ll be impressed.

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it’s The Seeker and The Skeptic.

Connect with us

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

LINKS MENTIONED

Goop’s Guide to Spirit Animals

https://goop.com/style/trends/guide-spirit-animals/

Three Spirit Animal Meditations

https://www.gaia.com/article/3-spirit-animal-meditations

Your Spirit Animal: a cultural investigation

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/11/your-spirit-animal-a-cultural-investigation/382369/

Spirit Animal Quiz

https://www.spiritanimal.info/spirit-animal-quiz/

Cat Meets Michael "Marsh" Marshall

The Seeker and the Skeptic

03/10/20 • 54 min

In this episode Cat (The Seeker) interviews Michael Marshall, an incredibly busy skeptical activist. Marsh is a freelance journalist, public speaker, author and blogger and one of Rebecca’s (The Skeptic) favourite podcasters.

Cat and Marsh chat about skepticism and Marsh’s approach to promoting critical thinking as well as some of the interesting topics his career has led him to explore including flat earth belief and changeling mythology.

And, most importantly, Cat scores a point for the Seekers by getting Marsh to admit that Santa is real (kind of).

Connect with Marsh:

Twitter: MrMMarsh

Check out Marsh’s Podcasts:

Be Reasonable: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/category/podcast/be-reasonable-podcast/

Skeptics With a K:

http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/category/podcast/skeptics-with-a-k/

===

Connect with us:

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

Support the Show (please)

https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

#Skeptic #SeekerSkeptic

Modern Stoicism: Ancient Philosophy or Self Help for Tech Bros?

The Seeker and the Skeptic

11/01/19 • 115 min

Is modern Stoicism just self help rebranded for tech bros or something more interesting?

Rebecca went to Stoicon Athens to meet the Stoics and imbibe some wisdom only a few miles away from the very porch where Stoic philosophy first kicked off. While Cat put the ancient philosophy to the test and tried living like a Stoic for a week.

We talk about our experiences compare Stoicism to other philosophies and engage in an impromptu (much needed) Stoic inspired therapy session.

Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives we’re The Seeker and The Skeptic.

If you enjoy the show, we’d love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support!

Support the show on Patreon >>

Connect with us

Twitter @SeekerSkeptic

Instagram @SeekerSkeptic

Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

LINKS MENTIONED

Extract from: Marcus Aurelius Best Lecture on Stoicism EVER! Professor Michael Sugrue (our opening clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5897dMWJiSM

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius translated by Gregory Hays

https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255

Letters From a Stoic, Seneca translated by Robin Campbell

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RI99KK/