EP 35: The Skeptic, James Underdown episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 3, 2026 · 1H 4M

EP 35: The Skeptic, James Underdown

from Splintered Spirits · host with Gary and John

James Underdown has spent over 25 years trying to give away $500,000 to anyone who can prove a paranormal ability under real test conditions, and no one has even come close. In this episode, Gary and John sit down with the executive director of Center for Inquiry West and founder of the Independent Investigations Group to dig into wild claims of telepathy, telekinesis, dowsing, “teleporting” horseflies, and the ghost gadgets that flood paranormal TV, while James explains why he believes science and psychology can fully account for what many people call hauntings.Rather than arguing about who is “right,” the conversation leans into the tension between John’s work documenting spirits and James’s commitment to skeptical investigation, exploring where brain states, belief, culture, and genuine weird experiences collide. If you are fascinated by ghosts, curious about what is really happening during spirit box sessions, or just want to hear a skeptic and a paranormal creator push each other in real time, this episode will challenge your assumptions without killing the thrill of the unknown.If you think you have the abilities to win the $500,000 prize, visit the CIF. Link is in the linktree in our bio.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 3, 2026

James Underdown has spent over 25 years trying to give away $500,000 to anyone who can prove a paranormal ability under real test conditions, and no one has even come close. In this episode, Gary and John sit down with the executive director of Center for Inquiry West and founder of the Independent Investigations Group to dig into wild claims of telepathy, telekinesis, dowsing, “teleporting” horseflies, and the ghost gadgets that flood paranormal TV, while James explains why he believes science and psychology can fully account for what many people call hauntings.Rather than arguing about who is “right,” the conversation leans into the tension between John’s work documenting spirits and James’s commitment to skeptical investigation, exploring where brain states, belief, culture, and genuine weird experiences collide. If you are fascinated by ghosts, curious about what is really happening during spirit box sessions, or just want to hear a skeptic and a paranormal creator push each other in real time, this episode will challenge your assumptions without killing the thrill of the unknown.If you think you have the abilities to win the $500,000 prize, visit the CIF. Link is in the linktree in our bio.

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Paranormal-Spirits Mike Black Come get your Boos on with the crew from Paranormal-Spirits. Are you ready to get spooked and sloshed at the same time? Then grab a drink and join three hilarious friends, who also happen to be true believers in the paranormal, as they delve into the world of the supernatural in "Paranormal-Spirits"! Booze, Boos and My Favorite Boos! These three night stalkers have all had their own terrifying encounters with the unknown and are not afraid to share their stories. In fact, they've even conducted their own paranormal investigations and have captured some truly hair-raising evidence that they can't wait to share with you.But it's not all serious business – these three love to have a good time. Join them for a drink of the day while scare you with their own ghostly experiences. They'll share their creepy cocktails and horror movie reviews and shocking stories that will have you screaming...with laughter or fear!And if you're into keeping up with the latest in paranormal events, they've Explicit Grand Ramblings Hilary Smith & Shelby Tieche Shelby and Hilary are two best friends and kindred spirits who love to discuss the good, the bad, and the downright weird. Join them every week for 30+ minutes of chit-chat about life's little oddities. Lots of laughs, drinking, and breaking out into song is guaranteed. Explicit Beer, Bourbon and Balderdash Beer, Bourbon and Balderdash Good Spirits and Great Conversations! Cheers! Explicit Green Meadow Days Sabine Castro Temporary hiatus for a couple weeks! We're excited to come back :)An organized ramble about the persons and happenings in the world of Adventure Time! We are two siblings that explore both completely unimportant tidbits in the Land of Ooo as well as surprisingly real parallels with our lived experiences that touch our hearts and uplift our spirits in the hopes that we might share some laughs and make your days just a tad bit better :)Submit fan-mail at: [email protected] transcripts available on our public website: https://rss.com/podcasts/greenmeadowdays/ Explicit

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This episode is 1 hour and 4 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 3, 2026.

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James Underdown has spent over 25 years trying to give away $500,000 to anyone who can prove a paranormal ability under real test conditions, and no one has even come close. In this episode, Gary and John sit down with the executive director of...

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