How do the environmental costs of producing almonds outweigh their nutritional benefits? Allow us to count the ways... Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/779 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Almonds are one of the most misunderstood "health foods" of the modern era. As of 2021, US consumption of almonds amounted to about 1.56 million metric tons worldwide, and Americans now consume more than 10 times as many almonds as in 1965. Unfortunately, while they've become a staple of healthy diets, they are not environmentally friendly. Almond milk is not a true dairy alternative and is mostly made of water, sugar, salt, emulsifiers, vitamins, and ascorbic acid — and only two percent almonds. Almond farming requires bees to wake up early from hibernation to attend the crop season, and most of the bees rented by farmers die due to pesticides and diseases — up to 50 million per year. It takes from one to three gallons of water to produce just one almond. That means, at the low end of the scale, one serving of almonds = 23 gallons of water, and one pound of almonds = 1900 gallons. 100 percent of the almonds you buy in the US, and 80 percent of almonds in the world, are produced in California — where there is already an issue with water shortages. How we can be more mindful of our almond consumption and support alternative products that are more environmentally friendly. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking...

Striving to better yourself is a noble pursuit, and there are plenty of legitimate resources to help you navigate this journey. But how do you protect yourself against the unscrupulous shysters lurking in the shadows looking to exploit you at this vulnerable juncture? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. On This Week's Skeptical Sunday: Globally, the self-help industry brings in nearly $60 billion per year. But how much of this is generated by programs that actually help people better themselves? Under the surface, many so-called self-help groups are nothing more than cults that use coercive tactics — or even abuse — to keep their "customers" in line. These groups cultivate dependency among the flock while escalating the price of admission. A healthy dose of skepticism and genuine connection with the outside world will help guard against such exploitation. Therapy, research, and self-guided approaches are better bets for promoting genuine well-being. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/850 This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Between climate change, global pollution, and a spiraling amount of waste created every single day, we all want to find ways -- even small ways -- to help. And for some people, the easiest way is to recycle. You have a house, plenty of room to separate your garbage, and your city provides different color bins so you don’t get confused between pizza and the box it comes in. And everything works out, right? Well, of course not! Here, we'll weigh the pros and cons of recycling and make sure you're not doing it all wrong. Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/680 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Does recycling really help save the planet? Only if you do it the right way (which we'll discuss). What would be the unintended consequences of banning plastics entirely? Why some materials that could be recycled aren't. What are the massive benefits of recycling metals? How many resources are saved when we recycle paper? Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, on Twitter, on Instagram, on TikTok, and on YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! See Jordan (with Ryan Holiday) Live in L.A. June 13th!: Go to jordanharbinger.com/tickets for more info Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Psychics and tarot card readers are discussed on Skeptical Sunday with guest David C. Smalley. Topics include the lack of prosecution for fraud, the harm caused to vulnerable individuals, and the manipulation tactics used by psychics. The podcast explores the debunking of psychic abilities and the dangers of psychic exploitation. The chapter descriptions cover psychic readings, cognitive bias, language puzzles, and the tricks used by psychics and tarot card readers.

How concerned should you be about expiration dates stamped on items you buy from the grocery store? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/646 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: What really determines the expiration date that gets stamped on an item from the grocery store? Is there a difference between "sell by," "buy by," and "use before" expiration warnings? What federal regulations dictate expiration dates for the protection of the consumer? How dangerous is it to ignore an expiration date on something like a gallon of milk, and what variables might change this? Why most cases of food poisoning have very little to do with the lackadaisical observance of expiration dates, and how you should really be gauging if something is still fit for consumption. And much more! Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, on Twitter, on Instagram, on TikTok, and on YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss the show we did with Molly Bloom — the woman behind the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker game in the world? Catch up here with episode 120: Molly Bloom | The One Who Makes the Rules Wins the Game!

The crystal industry generates over $1 billion per year. But what exactly do crystals do? Some have said they store energy. Others say they have healing powers. But what does the science say? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Over the last five years, the number of Google searches for "crystal healing" has more than doubled — fueled, in part, by celebrity endorsements from the likes of Katy Perry, Kate Hudson, and Adele, who has been known to clutch one during performances to combat stage fright. A Himalayan pink salt lamp — marketed as having mood-boosting properties — was one of Amazon's best-selling home-improvement products over the 2017 holiday season among its Prime subscribers. Different crystals are said to possess certain powers — from bloodstone (which purports to improve circulation) to citrine (for enthusiasm and creativity bolstering) to sapphire (to prompt prosperity). According to Pew Research, whether you're the most staunch Christian or consider yourself "religiously unaffiliated," there’s a 62% chance that you believe in at least one New Age belief —including crystals storing energy. This probably accounts for the crystal industry raking in more than $1 billion per year. Is this all a load of poppycock, or does science lend any credibility to claims that crystals are anything but pretty rocks imbued with perfectly normal rock powers? Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/809 This...

Why are so many of the snacks and drinks offered as safe for consumption in the United States wholly banned in other parts of the world? How bad could our favorite foodstuffs actually be? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Editor's note: A previous version of this show's notes erroneously declared that aspartame was banned in the EU. We are in the process of correcting this and apologize for the error.  Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/766 On This Week’s Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Coffee Mate's liquid version is banned in Europe due to the presence of trans fats (found in hydrogenated vegetable oils) that can lead to heart disease. While the US requires warning labels for these foods, they are still available to consumers. Mexican and most European cola brands use cane sugar, while American Coke uses high fructose corn syrup, which is regulated in the EU. High fructose corn syrup has been linked to health issues such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener found in many US foods and drinks, including diet sodas and gum. It contains phenylalanine, which can cause problems for people with a rare genetic condition called PKU. While evidence is still being gathered, there have been concerns about the potential health effects of certain artificial food dyes, particularly their potential to cause hyperactivity in children. In the European Union, these dyes are banned from use in food products, while they are widely used in the United States. The EU has banned the use of growth hormones in cows due to concerns about potential health risks to humans and animals, as well as potential negative impacts on the environment. In the United States, however, they're commonly used in the dairy and meat industries to promote faster growth and increase milk production in cows. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch...

Is chocolate your guilty pleasure? Until you listen to this episode, we can almost guarantee you're not feeling guilty enough about it! But don't fret, because we'll also provide resources to help alleviate some of that guilt and allow you to become part of the problem's solution! Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: How the production and consumption of chocolate perpetuates a range of negative impacts, including child trafficking, labor exploitation akin to slavery, deforestation, and climate change. The chocolate industry brings in $100 billion annually, but the farmers who produce it make less than $1 a day toiling long hours in the grueling heat, constantly exposed to poisonous pesticides in unsafe conditions. High demand for labor is met by children — some as young as five — who are forced into it either by their desperate families or opportunists who abduct and sell them. How, despite the health benefits of cocoa, there has been a high food safety concern regarding the presence and levels of heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium, chromium, and lead, both in cocoa beans and cocoa products including, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, and chocolates. How consumers can contribute to positive change by being more mindful of where their chocolate comes from and demanding ethical and sustainable production practices. Vote with your dollars for conscientious producers of chocolate who observe fair trade practices! Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Full...

Tipping isn't a city in China. But it is a shameful institution that encourages racism, sexism, harassment, and exploitation of low-income workers while placing the burden of compensation on customers instead of business owners. If most restaurants and service-based industries in the world can exist without relying on tipping, why does the custom persist in the United States, and what would be a fairer, more sustainable alternative? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/668 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: The federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 per hour -- the same as it was 31 years ago (though it can be even less in some states under certain circumstances). Why is it the customer’s responsibility to pay these workers a fair wage? Why, contrary to the protests of whoever happens to be holding the purse strings, raising the minimum wage for the person serving you will not make your burger cost $25. How tipped workers are still expected to fulfill untipped tasks during their "down" time, but without a raise in compensation to make up for it. Why the institution of tipping encourages racism, sexism, harassment, and exploitation of low-income workers. How the custom of tipping came about, why it persists in places like the United States, and what we should be doing to replace it with something that would better serve the server and served, alike. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know! Connect with David at his website, on Twitter, on Instagram, on TikTok, and on YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Sign up for

Discussion of identity confusion and banter between old and new hosts, exploring atheism, belief, and addiction recovery in AA meetings, examining the notion of higher power in recovery, role of belief in addiction recovery, and reflections on the evolution of the atheist movement.