What can regular skeptics actually do to enhance the appreciation of science and skeptical inquiry? This question has been an ongoing theme for Skepticality, and this week's guest has one answer to propose. In his audioÂessay, "Raising Our Game: The Rationale to Embrace Skepticamp," software architectÂReedÂEsau argues that "Skepticamps"Â(self-organizing peer conferences of intimate scale) can harness the potential of the "long tail" of the skeptical movement â offering a voice to all of us who have passion and expertise to share but who cannot take on the role of a "professional" skeptic. These meetings are anÂexperiment in the structure of a movement, and they are capturing the imagination of many new skeptics. What are the true implications for skeptical organizing? Is the advent of socialÂnetworking technologies really the moment when everything changed? Also Tim Farley of Whatstheharm.net talks with Swoopy about an effort to help out a fellow Skeptical activist in need.

This Tuesday, November 4th, Americans head to the polls. But despite the outcome, the question remains: under the new administration, can nontheists, science advocates, and criticalÂthinkers expect better representation in government? In recognition of Election Day 2008, Skepticality is pleased to present a talk by Lori LipmanÂBrown of the Secular Coalition for America (the only Washington, DC lobbyistsÂworking on behalf of skeptics, rationalists and nontheists), entitledÂPastafarian, Zoroastrian, Atheist â Can't We All Just Get Along?

On this week's episode ofÂSkepticality,ÂDerek & Swoopy exploreÂthe good, the bad, and the scary amongÂtelevision's current crop of offerings â from "Psychic Kids" to "The Mentalist." Â Also, in a lead up to her favorite holiday,ÂSwoopy ponders the pros and cons of being a skeptic on Halloweenâ.

With less than thirty days left until (U.S.) Election Day 2008, SkepticalityÂchecks in with noted skeptic Lt. Colonel Hal Bidlack (U.S. Air Force, Retired) â theÂDemocratic Party'sÂ5th Congressional DistrictÂcandidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. Swoopy talks with Hal about the challenging and expensive process of seekingÂpublic office in the United States, and how the recent upset of financialÂmarkets is shaping this election season. Hal also explains how his study of the U.S.ÂConstitution and experience as the nation's premier Alexander Hamilton scholar lendsÂvaluable insight even in 2008.

This week, Skepticality rounds out its Dragon*Con coverage withÂthe Skeptrack panel inspired byÂJunior Skeptic EditorÂDaniel Loxton'sÂop-ed essay, "Where Do We Go From Here?"Â Daniel also joins Swoopy to share his thoughts upon hearing the panel discussion, and about skeptical trends. Panelists for this conversation about the future of skeptical activism include theÂJREF's James Randi and Jeff Wagg, Skeptical musician George Hrab, The Secular Coalition for America's Lori Lipman Brown , Center forÂInquiry's D.J. Grothe and Benjamin Radford, Australian skeptic Dr. KarenÂStollznow â and by popular demand, new JREF president Dr. Phil Plait.

The hosts of Skepticality are recovering from their spectacularlyÂsuccessful "Skeptrack" events at Dragon*Con 2008: four days of livelyÂdiscussion featuring guests from some of the most prominent skepticalÂorganizations around the world. Included were James Randi and Dr. Phil PlaitÂfrom the JREF, Dr. Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society, BenjaminÂRadford and D.J. Grothe from the Center for Inquiry, and Richard Saunders andÂcrew from the Australian Skepticsâto name only a few. For those who participated in this groundbreaking weekend, we look forwardÂto hearing your stories. For those who could not attend,ÂSkepticalityÂbrings you the first of several recordings from last week's panelÂdiscussions, beginning with James Randi and D.J. Grothe discussing "Why MagicÂis Important to Skepticism." This in-depth discussion of the entwined histories of magic andÂskepticism reveals how creating illusions can illuminate the truth.

Misinformation is everywhere, but nowhere more prolific than on the internet. A Google search for "homeopathy" or "UFO" returns a landslide list ofÂmystery-mongering websites. Yes, there are a few skeptical web resources too âÂbut a non-skeptic can be easily misled online. On this episode,ÂDerek & Swoopy talk with Tim Farley, aÂskeptic applying his 20-plus years ofÂsoftware development experience to the creation of advanced tools and techniques for fighting the battle against misinformation on the World WideÂWeb. Tim's popular websites include the Skeptical Software Tools blogÂ"Skeptools" (which uses Web 2.0 techniques to aid the spread of criticalÂthinking information online), and WhatsTheHarm.net, which has collected theÂstories of over 225,000 people who have been injured or killed as a resultÂof supernatural andÂpseudoscientificÂpractices from alternative medicine to hypnosis to faith healing.