Best Brian Dunning Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 267 - Billionaire Boogeymen with Brian Dunning 1:37:22

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17d ago1:37:22

1:37:22

First, Ben and Celestia go over the latest CDC website shenanigans, an unfortunate update on a Human Barbie, some voodoo accusations in the world of soccer, the true cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, and a djinn committing crimes in Pakistan. Then Brian Dunning joins us for a discussion on billionaires and why we all seem to hate them. Should we? Woul…

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Skeptoid #1018: Might Ghosts Exist? 17:25

2h ago17:25

17:25

An exploration of all the scientific possibilities by which ghosts might actually exist in this universe. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Episode 268 - Daniel Reed on Vegetable Man and Gray Barker 1:23:05

3d ago1:23:05

1:23:05

First, Ben and Celestia ruminate on past Key Bridge conspiracy theories, RFK Jr.'s latest efforts to destroy public health, rage bait and the "Cártel de los Soles." Then for our main segment Daniel Reed, founder of the West Virginia Skeptics Society, joins us to discuss the Vegetable Man, a cryptid/alien one-hit-wonder. This blood-sucking, fiber-ri…

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Ep. 442: Transitional Style & Holiday Decorating with Sara Hillery 53:24

7d ago53:24

53:24

We're excited to welcome interior designer Sara Hillery to the show! Based in Richmond, Virginia, Sara’s firm blends function with one-of-a-kind decorative pieces to create story-driven rooms. Named a "Next Wave Designer" by House Beautiful and featured in Veranda and The Wall Street Journal, Sara joins Caroline and Liz to demystify "transitional" …

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Skeptoid #1017: The Bell that Tolls for the K-129 18:08

7d ago18:08

18:08

It should have been impossible for the CIA's Glomar Explorer to obtain the ship's bell from the K-129 submarine... but they did. How? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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End of the Year Matching! 1:10

8d ago1:10

1:10

Now through the end of the year, all Skeptoid donations will be matched up to $27,500. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Ep. 441: The World of Peter Dunham 1:15:21

14d ago1:15:21

1:15:21

The ladies are beyond thrilled to welcome iconic interior designer Peter Dunham to the show. After opening his design firm over 25 years ago in Los Angeles, Peter redefined the "Southern California casual" look, creating his own legendary design shop, Hollywood at Home, as well as his own textile, wallpaper, and furniture lines. He joins Taryn and …

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Skeptoid #1016: The Case for Carbon Dating 16:45

14d ago16:45

16:45

A roundup of evidence supporting the use of radiocarbon dating to assess the age of organic matter from 500 to 55,000 years old. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Ep. 440: Performance Fabrics 101 with Patrick Shelton 55:36

21d ago55:36

55:36

This week, the ladies welcome to the show Patrick Shelton, Senior Vice President of Sales at Valdese Weavers, to decode what “performance fabrics” really mean and how to choose the right one for your home. With hands-on training across spinning, dyeing, weaving, finishing, and testing, Patrick explains yarn-based versus finish-based performance (an…

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Skeptoid #1015: The Alaska Triangle 15:39

21d ago15:39

15:39

Stories claim that this region of Alaska is home to a huge number of unexplained disappearances. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Ep. 439: Designing for Real Life with Brian Patrick Flynn 1:24:21

28d ago1:24:21

1:24:21

This week, the ladies welcome Atlanta interior designer and HGTV Dream Home alum Brian Patrick Flynn to the show. Brian shares how a decade-plus in production design shaped his approach to color, materials, and storytelling, plus how becoming a dad is refocusing his work closer to home. The conversation spans his House Tour with Ballard, the realit…

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Skeptoid #1014: The Giant of Kandahar 17:08

28d ago17:08

17:08

Did US Special Forces battle a 15-foot-tall red-haired giant in the mountains of Afghanistan in 2002? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Episode 266 - Jon Michael visits, plus corporate lore and legends! 1:45:58

1M ago1:45:58

1:45:58

Celestia is fresh from the Very Vegas SkeptiCamp, and a week earlier Jon Michael presented at the West Virginia SkeptiCamp, so he visits to compare notes and then chat about will o' the wisps, RFK's "walkback" on Tylenol, J.D. Vance speculating on UFOs being supernatural, and the resurgence of the Welfare Queen boogeyman. For our main segment, Ben …

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Ep. 438: Homing Instinct with Nicola Harding 51:54

1M ago51:54

51:54

This week we welcome London-based interior designer Nicola Harding to the show to discuss her latest book "Homing Instinct." Nicola—whose work spans boutique hotels, restaurants, and royalty—shares her unconventional path into design, the influence of garden design on her interiors, and her human-led approach to layouts, color, and pattern. Listen …

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Skeptoid #1013: Medbeds: Sleeping in Bunk 16:11

1M ago16:11

16:11

A conspiracy theory claims the Hollywood and Deep State elitists have a magical bed that allows them to remain forever young and healthy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Ep. 437: How to Layer Wall Art with Anne Bohne 1:00:10

1M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome featured Ballard Designs artist Anne Bohne to the show to discuss her creative journey, the inspiration behind her coastal and Southern landscapes, and how she translates hand‑painted art into textiles and home decor. Anne shares the inspiration behind her techniques (why she loves watercolor for its immediacy a…

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Skeptoid #1012: The Rake That Comes for You in the Night 15:11

1M ago15:11

15:11

Is the Rake mere creepypasta, or do more recent events prove it to be a real creature? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Episode 265 - The Alleged ghosts of the Territorial House, with Cody Polston 1:23:53

2M ago1:23:53

1:23:53

First, Celestia and a voice from the past discuss a hat trick of rat stories (maybe a rat trick?). Then Ben chats with author, ghost story enthusiast and former ghost hunter Cody Polston about the historic Territorial House in Corrales, New Mexico. Cody led an investigation there, and Ben worked there as a teenage busboy, so their points of view co…

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Ep. 436: Color Pattern Texture with Vern Yip 1:14:30

2M ago1:14:30

1:14:30

The ladies welcome back interior designer, author, and TV personality Vern Yip to discuss his new book Color Pattern Texture: The Foundations to Make Your Home Your Own as well as his recently released HBO series Home Reimagined. Vern breaks down a few designer secrets for how to use color, pattern, and texture together, why meaningful pieces and p…

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Skeptoid #1011: The Not-Deer and Weird Appalachian Lore 16:07

2M ago16:07

16:07

When ordinary deer turn grotesque, Appalachia’s forests whisper of the Not-Deer — unnatural predators lurking somewhere between folklore and nightmare. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Ep. 435: Home Again with James Farmer 1:06:29

2M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

Caroline and Liz welcome back Southern GA-based interior designer and eight‑time author James Farmer to discuss his new book Home Again: A Return to Gracious Interiors. James explains the personal inspirations behind his lifelong oeuvre, how he reworked rooms at his Farmdale home, and his approach to layering tradition, comfort, and seasonality. Fr…

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Skeptoid #1010: Pop Quiz: 19 Years of Skeptoid 27:02

2M ago27:02

27:02

A pop quiz of trivia from the previous 19 years of Skeptoid shows! Can you beat the masters? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Brian Dunning

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Episode 264 - SCAMPOCALYPSE with Brian Brushwood 1:31:18

2M ago1:31:18

1:31:18

We've got a bushel of SWAYSOs first! Chocolate is disappearing, an ongoing "psychic study" tries to recruit Ben, Las Vegas tries to recruit a random ghost hunter, Trump tries to find Amelia Earhart files, and Netflix releases "The Truth about Jussie Smollett?" Then at 43:12, we bring on Brian Brushwood, who Celestia cornered while he was visiting L…