You Are Not So Smart 297 - Project Alpha - Brian Brushwood (rebroadcast)
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Sep 30, 2024 Brian Brushwood, a renowned podcaster celebrated for his captivating tales of scams, elaborates on the making of his show, The World's Greatest Con. He unveils the fascinating story of Project Alpha, where two teenagers pulled off an elaborate hoax to question the scientific rigor of paranormal research. The conversation dives into the cultural fascination with the supernatural, the rivalry between psychic Uri Geller and skeptic James Randi, and how magic intersects with science, all while stressing the importance of critical thinking.
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Séance Popularity
- Séances were incredibly popular in the 1850s, with attendees like Mark Twain, Queen Victoria, and even Abraham Lincoln.
- A grieving Mary Todd Lincoln even held one in the White House to contact her deceased child.
Spiritualism's Rise
- The spiritualism movement, fueled by smaller family sizes and increased grief over lost children, popularized séances.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle heavily promoted spiritualism, further boosting its popularity.
Project Alpha Begins
- Two teenagers, Steve Shaw (Banachek) and Mike Edwards, used magic to convince scientists they were psychics.
- This hoax, Project Alpha, aimed to highlight flaws in paranormal research.