Speakers

Banachek

Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was schooled in South Africa and the United States. It was while living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Banachek saw his first magician at a high school function at the age of fourteen. He was intrigued but not enough to delve much further into that secret world. In 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States, Banachek moved to the U.S. It was at the end of this same year that he picked up a worn copy of James Randi’s book The Truth about Uri Geller. Banachek’s Mind Games Live is in Las Vegas at the prestigious Strat hotel, Casino and Skypod.

Evan Bernstein

Evan Bernstein is a cohost of the award-winning science podcast The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe and coauthor of the national bestselling book The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How To Know What's Really Real In A World Increasingly Full Of Fake.

Bernstein serves as the executive director of the New England Skeptical Society (NESS) and is a technical adviser for official NESS investigations.

Bernstein has given live presentations to private corporations and at educational seminars on topics including the direct harms of pseudoscience, woo in the martial arts, and the truth behind paranormal investigations. He has been an active participant in the modern skeptical movement since 1996.

Kenny Biddle

Kenny Biddle is an accomplished investigator, skeptical thinker, and educator known for his work in the realm of paranormal research and skepticism. He is a CSI fellow and, in 2022, became the chief investigator for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

With a passion for uncovering the truth behind purported supernatural phenomena, Biddle has dedicated his career to applying critical thinking and scientific methodology to explore claims of ghosts, UFOs, psychic abilities, and other extraordinary occurrences.

Drawing upon his background in photography, videography, and technical analysis, Biddle employs a multifaceted approach to investigate paranormal claims, meticulously examining evidence to separate fact from fiction.

In addition to his investigative work, Biddle is a fervent advocate for science literacy and rational inquiry. Through his writing, speaking engagements, and extensive online presence, he seeks to empower others to think critically and question extraordinary claims, fostering a culture of skepticism grounded in evidence-based reasoning.

Robyn Blumner

Robyn Blumner joined the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science as executive director in February 2014, and a year later she was promoted to president and chief executive officer. In January 2016, she became CEO of the Center for Inquiry. She comes off a sixteen-year career as a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer at the Tampa Bay Times newspaper (formerly the St. Petersburg Times). Blumner is an expert on civil liberties and civil rights. She has written extensively on church-state separation, free speech, and privacy issues as well as economics and the diminishing power of the middle class. In 2012, she was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing along with three colleagues. Blumner was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah from 1987 to 1989 and executive director of the ACLU of Florida from 1989 to 1997. In that role she led efforts to protect abortion and student free speech rights and to prevent the adoption of school vouchers, among dozens of public policy battles. Blumner attended Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, graduating with honors in 1982. Her law degree comes from New York University School of Law, where she graduated in 1985. She is a member of the New York State Bar.

Timothy Caulfield

Timothy Caulfield is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. Caulfield is also the host and coproducer of the award-winning documentary TV show A User’s Guide to Cheating Death, which has been shown in over sixty countries, including streaming on Netflix in North America.

Brian Cox

Brian began his career in the music industry as keyboard player with rock band Dare and later with chart-toppers D:Ream. In 1995 he obtained a first class honours degree in physics from the University of Manchester and in 1998 a PhD in High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. Brian is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Brian is credited with boosting the popularity of subjects such as astronomy and physics and has garnered a host of accolades for his TV work, including two Royal Television Society awards and a Peabody Award.

Chip Denman

Chip Denman has been a director of the James Randi Educational Foundation since 2008 and has served as the statistician behind the Million Dollar Challenge since its start. He is a cofounder of the National Capital Area Skeptics in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region. He is a statistician, now retired from the University of Maryland where he created and taught the course “Science & Pseudoscience” for the University Honors Program.

Grace Denman

Grace Denman has been a leader in skeptical activism since cofounding the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) in 1987. She has had the privilege of serving on the NCAS Board of Directors since its inception and has served as treasurer and president. She is retired from AccelerED, a subsidiary of the University of Maryland Global Campus, formerly the University of Maryland University College (it’s complicated). She still questions assumptions daily.

Kevin Folta

Kevin M. Folta is a professor researching plant molecular biology and genomics at the University of Florida. He teaches a popular course in critical thinking about claims in agriculture and medicine and leads popular workshops in science communication. He has been recognized with several prestigious awards for research, communication, and public service, including the CAST Borlaug Award in Agricultural Communication and the NSF CAREER award. His family farms fruit, vegetables, turkeys, and eggs for local markets in rural Florida. He has hosted the weekly Talking Biotech Podcast since 2015. Folta hates referring to himself in the third person. He received his PhD in 1998 from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Chris French

Chris French is emeritus professor of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London where, for more than two decades, he headed the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit. He is a fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Patron of Humanists UK. He has published well over 200 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a skeptical eye over paranormal claims. His most recent book is The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal (MIT Press, 2024).

Raymond Edward Hall

Raymond Edward Hall, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Physics at California State University, Fresno, where he teaches courses in engineering physics, quantum mechanics, particle physics, critical thinking, and the philosophy of science. His current work focuses on the use of social media to promote public interest in physics and science. His Instagram page (@physicsfun) has more than 2 million followers.

Stephen Hupp

Stephen Hupp, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His books include Investigating Pop Psychology (with Richard Wiseman), Investigating Clinical Psychology (with Jonathan Stea), Pseudoscience in Therapy (with Cara Santa Maria), and Dr. Huckleberry’s True or Malarkey? Superhuman Abilities: Game Book for Skeptical Folk.

Leighann Lord

Stand-up comedian and author Leighann Lord was the New York City face of the African Americans for Humanism outreach campaign sponsored by the Center for Inquiry and its Millions Living Happily Without Religion campaign. Author Chris Johnson featured her in The Atheist Book: A Better Life. Lord is a former cohost of the Emmy-nominated StarTalk with Neil de Grasse Tyson.

She has shared her comedic and hosting talents at many secular conferences including American Atheists, American Humanists, Center for Inquiry, CSICon, DragonCon’s Science and Skeptical Tracks, The PA Freethought Society, NECSS: The Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism, PASHTACon, and Skepticon. Lord was honored with the 2019 Humanist Arts Award from the American Humanist Association and, most recently, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

As a veteran stand-up comedian, Lord has been seen on Lifetime, VH-1, Comedy Central, Netflix, DryBar Comedy, HBO, and Showtime. She is the author of Leighann Lord’s Dict Jokes: Alternate Definitions for Words You’ve Probably Never Heard of But Will Definitely Never Forget (Volumes 1 and 2) and Real Women Do It Standing Up: Stories From the Career of a Very Funny Lady.

Lord is the creator of the People with Parents podcast, where she shares stories about the role reversal between her and her aging parents. The Wall Street Journal called it one of the “10 Podcasts for Older Adults That Promise to Entertain—and Enlighten.” She has recently published, People with Parents: The Podcast Transcripts.

Lord currently cohosts the Center for Inquiry’s online series, Skeptical Inquirer Presents.

Andrea Love

Dr. Andrea Love is a biomedical scientist and science communicator with a PhD in microbiology and immunology. She has over a decade of experience in basic sciences, translational medicine, and clinical research. Love is a subject-matter expert in infectious disease immunology, cancer immunology, and autoimmunity and is adept at translating complex scientific data and topics for the public and healthcare providers. She works full time in life science biotechnology in the fields of vaccinology, immunology, immunotherapy, cancer, cell and gene therapy, and other relevant areas. While she will always be a biomedical scientist, Love has a passion for helping the public understand complex science topics to navigate the world better. She is the author of ImmunoLogic, a newsletter and science information hub that communicates evidence-based information on science and health topics. She is also the executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer, an advisory board member for POPSUGAR's Condition Center, and was the 2023 American Medical Writers Association McGovern Award recipient. She also teaches CME courses for healthcare professionals. Love is passionate about improving science literacy starting from an early age and encouraging children toward a career in STEM. Follow Dr. Love on Instagram and Threads, subscribe to her free newsletter, and visit her website.

Michael Mann

Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, with a secondary appointment in the Annenberg School for Communication. He is director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media (PCSSM).

Cara Santa Maria

Dr. Cara Santa Maria is a health psychologist, science communicator, podcaster, and Emmy Award-winning journalist. She earned her PhD in clinical psychology with a concentration in social justice and diversity from Fielding Graduate University in 2023. Santa Maria's doctoral dissertation was an existential-hermeneutic phenomenological investigation into the psychological experience of electing to die with medical aid.

David McRaney

David McRaney is a journalist and lecturer fascinated with brains, minds, and culture. He created the blog, book, and ongoing podcast You Are Not So Smart, which he calls a "celebration of self delusion." His most recent book is How Minds Change, all about the nuances of communication and persuasion as well as the science behind how (and why) we do (and do not) update our understanding of the world (and ourselves) when faced with novel experiences, ambiguous information, challenging conversations, or a combination of all three. After finishing How Minds Change, he wrote, produced, and recorded a six-hour audio documentary exploring the history of the idea and the word genius, which is the subject of his next book.

Bob Novella

Bob Novella cohosts the Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe and Alpha Quadrant 6 podcasts. He also cowrote The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake. He was also a primary contributor to the SGU’s second book, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Future. Novella’s scientific interests lie in the extremes, from the gargantuan to the infinitesimal: from cosmology and multi-verses to particle physics and quantum mechanics. He is especially fascinated by anticipated future technologies such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and human augmentation.

Jay Novella

Jay Novella is a cohost of the top-rated science podcast The Skeptics’ Guide To The Universe, currently approaching its 1,000th episode. He is also a coauthor of the best-selling books The Skeptics Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake and The Skeptics Guide To The Future.

He also produces several live and recorded shows including the stage show A Skeptical Extravaganza of Special Significance, the quiz show Boomer v/s Zoomer, and the science fiction review show Alpha Quadrant 6.

Novella is a cofounder and producer of the Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS), currently in its twentieth year.

Novella has enthusiastically spoken at conferences around the world and has committed himself to being a vocal activist for science, education, and critical thinking.

Natalia Pasternak

Natalia Pasternak is a Brazilian science writer and communicator. She holds a PhD in microbiology and writes for the Brazilian newspaper O Globo and the UK magazine The Skeptic. She brought crucial, lifesaving scientific information to millions of people in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic through her press columns, books, and radio and TV appearances. She is also a professor of science communication and policy at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and the president of Instituto Questão de Ciência (Question of Science Institute), a Brazilian nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of scientific evidence in public policies. In 2021, the BBC listed her among the 100 most influential women of the year. Her award-winning books—including Science in Everyday Life, Against Reality, and What Nonsense!—have topped Brazil’s bestseller lists.

Massimo Pigliucci

Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. Pigliucci publishes regular columns in Skeptical Inquirer and Philosophy Now. His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press). Pigliucci’s latest book is The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders (Basic Books). More by Pigliucci at https://newstoicism.org.

Rina Raphael

Rina Raphael is a journalist who specializes in health, wellness, and misinformation. She covered the wellness industry for Fast Company magazine and has also written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, and New York magazine, among other publications. Her wellness industry newsletter, Well To Do, covers wellness trends and news. Previously, she served as a senior producer and lifestyle editor at TODAY.com and NBCNews.com.

Jessica Steier

Dr. Jessica Steier is a public health scientist and health services researcher with expertise in health policy evaluation. She is the CEO of Vital Statistics Consulting, a data science consultancy, and founder and host of Unbiased Science, a science communication brand.

Dr. Steier received her Master of Public Health (Evaluative Sciences) at SUNY-Stony Brook University and her Doctor of Public Health from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY). She holds a Certificate in Patient Safety, as well as a Certificate in COVID-19 Contact Tracing from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Dr. Steier is the recipient of the Stony Brook University “40 under 40” recognition, the “Norman Edelman Alumni Achievement Award” from Stony Brook Medicine, and the 2023 American Medical Writer’s Association McGovern Award corecipient (alongside Dr. Andrea Love). Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Steier currently lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She is an avid animal lover and supporter of local rescue organizations and has adopted four dogs and two cats.

Eddie Tabash

Edward Tabash is a constitutional lawyer in Los Angeles. He is the chair of the Board of Directors for the Center for Inquiry. The son of an orthodox rabbi and an Auschwitz-surviving mother, after decades of research and reflection, he has concluded that the universe is natural with no supernatural beings or occurrences. He is known for his involvement in defending the separation of church and state and for representing the atheistic point of view in debates against religious advocates.

Nick Tiller

Dr. Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and research associate at Harbor-UCLA and author of The Skeptic’s Guide to Sports Science, _which was named one of Book Authority’s “Best Sports Science Books of all Time.” Tiller is a columnist at _Skeptical Inquirer, an associate editor of the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, and an elected fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Melanie Trecek-King

Melanie Trecek-King is the creator of Thinking Is Power—whose name is a riff on the old adage “knowledge is power”—which emphasizes learning the ability to find and use reliable information to make wiser decisions. Thinking Is Power uses accessible language and engaging graphics to demonstrate how to think, not what to think, and empowers learners to protect themselves from misinformation.

Trecek-King is an associate professor of biology at Massasoit Community College, where she teaches an award-winning science course designed to equip general-education students with essential critical thinking, information literacy, and science literacy skills.

An active writer, speaker, and consultant, Trecek-King loves to share her “teach skills, not facts” approach with other science educators and help schools and organizations meet their goals through better thinking.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson, a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, is an astrophysicist and the author of seventeen books, including the #1 bestselling books Starry Messenger and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, which spent eighty-two weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, where he has served since 1996.

Jim Underdown

Jim Underdown is executive director of Center for Inquiry West and the chair and founder of the CFI Investigations Group. He is also one of the co-hosts of CFI's flagship podcast, Point of Inquiry, available at pointofinquiry.org

Bertha Vazquez

Bertha Vazquez taught middle school science in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for thirty-three years. She is the education director of the Center for Inquiry, which currently includes three projects: the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science, ScienceSaves, and Generation Skeptics.