"Swindled" on Miss Cleo and Sylvia Browne

grunion · 11th June 2021, 12:55 PM

I've been really enjoying this podcast for the past couple of months and went back into the archives to find this episode that may be of interest to long time denizens of this forum and its prior incarnation. The podcaster generally does a great job at deep dives to swindles both big and small. His treatment of Sylvia's frauds is quite good and both Randi and Robert Lancaster get a mention.

https://swindledpodcast.com/podcasts...2-the-psychic/

gabeygoat · 12th June 2021, 06:43 PM

Look forward to it. Just subscribed

dudalb · 15th June 2021, 12:38 PM

Ah, the good old days of Miss Cleo.....

EvilBiker · 20th June 2021, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the podcast recommendation!

I’m burning through the archives. Love the presentation style and the subject matter. Subscribed.

grunion · 20th June 2021, 05:44 PM

So many episodes really have gotten to me. Among them
Bhopal
Kids for Cash
Nestle
Ryan White and Bayer AG
Bud Dwyer
Tony Kiritsis
Karen Silkwood

Blue Mountain · 1st July 2021, 02:56 PM

I checked out the "Swindled" site.

It. is. HORRIBLE.

I can't emphasize this enough. It is one of the worst designed web sites I've come across in a long time.

NO, we won't give you an easy to peruse list of podcasts we've produced. We're going to force you tap or click on a limited collection of mystery meat icons so you can see what's behind them. For crying out loud ... that's what an HTML <table> is for!

The "Episodes" page is no better. It gives a limited list of episodes and only their titles: no indication what the episode is about. Do I want to see more episodes? Click "More" and wait for their idiot animation to complete ... to give me all of SIXTEEN additional items.

Clicking on the hamburger icon causes the entire page to disappear into a sea of red with four little items on it.

When I used their contact page to let them know my opinion of their site, I got "There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later."

I don't know if the podcast is any good. But their web site is a steaming pile of bovine feces put together by some idiot wanking "designer" who has no freaking clue about usability or user friendliness. Based on that I'm prepared to write off the podcast itself as well.

Gord_in_Toronto · 1st July 2021, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Mountain

I checked out the "Swindled" site.

It. is. HORRIBLE.

I can't emphasize this enough. It is one of the worst designed web sites I've come across in a long time.

NO, we won't give you an easy to peruse list of podcasts we've produced. We're going to force you tap or click on a limited collection of mystery meat icons so you can see what's behind them. For crying out loud ... that's what an HTML <table> is for!

The "Episodes" page is no better. It gives a limited list of episodes and only their titles: no indication what the episode is about. Do I want to see more episodes? Click "More" and wait for their idiot animation to complete ... to give me all of SIXTEEN additional items.

Clicking on the hamburger icon causes the entire page to disappear into a sea of red with four little items on it.

When I used their contact page to let them know my opinion of their site, I got "There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later."

I don't know if the podcast is any good. But their web site is a steaming pile of bovine feces put together by some idiot wanking "designer" who has no freaking clue about usability or user friendliness. Based on that I'm prepared to write off the podcast itself as well.

I checked. You are correct. A true triumph of Form Over Function and terrible form at that. Try the KISS Principle^WP folks.

grunion · 2nd July 2021, 06:03 PM

I have never been to the Swindled website, or that of any podcast I follow. It is as irrelevant to their podcast as their Instagram or MySpace page might be. Different medium.

Blue Mountain · 2nd July 2021, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by grunion

I have never been to the Swindled website, or that of any podcast I follow. It is as irrelevant to their podcast as their Instagram or MySpace page might be. Different medium.

While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?"

I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode.

grunion · 8th July 2021, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by Blue Mountain

While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?"

I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode.

There are many podcast aggregators and broadcast apps that make it easy to find podcasts and episodes, read reviews/descriptions, download, and subscribe. I used to use iTunes until it got insanely complex to do something simple (talk about form over function, sheesh.) Nowadays I mostly use Spotify.

Reformed Offlian · 31st July 2021, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Blue Mountain

While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?"

I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode.

I didn't particularly enjoy his podcasts as a listening experience, either. His delivery is soft and monotone. The writing is dry and straightforward. If you are already interested in the subject matter, it's fine. Informative and useful, I guess.

ETA I think "pedestrian" is more the word I was looking for than "straightforward." Nothing wrong with being straightforward.

Senex · 28th August 2021, 09:13 PM

A Sylvia look alike swindled me.

I had a sad day once because I lost a fortune in the stock market. I was on a bridge thinking. This Sylvia look alike walked up to me and said she had magic powers. She was very unattractive but I was desperate. She said if I went back to her place and did what she asked she would make me whole again through magic.

I did everything she asked. When it was over I asked when I could expect to become whole. She said, "Aren't you a little old to believe in magic."

11th June 2021, 12:55 PM	#1
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	"Swindled" on Miss Cleo and Sylvia Browne I've been really enjoying this podcast for the past couple of months and went back into the archives to find this episode that may be of interest to long time denizens of this forum and its prior incarnation. The podcaster generally does a great job at deep dives to swindles both big and small. His treatment of Sylvia's frauds is quite good and both Randi and Robert Lancaster get a mention. https://swindledpodcast.com/podcasts...2-the-psychic/
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	__________________ I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

12th June 2021, 06:43 PM	#2
gabeygoat Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hard Corvallis Oregon Posts: 1,560	Look forward to it. Just subscribed
	__________________ "May I interest you in some coconut milk?" ~Akhenaten Wallabe Esq

15th June 2021, 12:38 PM	#3
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 55,571	Ah, the good old days of Miss Cleo.....
	__________________ Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty. Robert Heinlein.

20th June 2021, 08:14 AM	#4
EvilBiker Spectral Challenger Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Berlin Posts: 1,495	Thanks for the podcast recommendation! I’m burning through the archives. Love the presentation style and the subject matter. Subscribed.
	__________________ Flat Earth Theory: The unfortunate result of ordering pizza to satisfy munchies after smoking way too much weed to bring you down from that hectic acid trip.

20th June 2021, 05:44 PM	#5
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	So many episodes really have gotten to me. Among them Bhopal Kids for Cash Nestle Ryan White and Bayer AG Bud Dwyer Tony Kiritsis Karen Silkwood
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	__________________ I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

1st July 2021, 02:56 PM	#6
Blue Mountain Resident Skeptical Hobbit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Waging war on woo-woo in Winnipeg Posts: 7,001	I checked out the "Swindled" site. It. is. HORRIBLE. I can't emphasize this enough. It is one of the worst designed web sites I've come across in a long time. NO, we won't give you an easy to peruse list of podcasts we've produced. We're going to force you tap or click on a limited collection of mystery meat icons so you can see what's behind them. For crying out loud ... that's what an HTML <table> is for! The "Episodes" page is no better. It gives a limited list of episodes and only their titles: no indication what the episode is about. Do I want to see more episodes? Click "More" and wait for their idiot animation to complete ... to give me all of SIXTEEN additional items. Clicking on the hamburger icon causes the entire page to disappear into a sea of red with four little items on it. When I used their contact page to let them know my opinion of their site, I got "There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later." I don't know if the podcast is any good. But their web site is a steaming pile of bovine feces put together by some idiot wanking "designer" who has no freaking clue about usability or user friendliness. Based on that I'm prepared to write off the podcast itself as well.
	__________________ The social illusion reigns to-day upon all the heaped-up ruins of the past, and to it belongs the future. The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Gustav Le Bon, The Crowd, 1895 (from the French)

1st July 2021, 03:42 PM	#7
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 22,532	Originally Posted by Blue Mountain I checked out the "Swindled" site. It. is. HORRIBLE. I can't emphasize this enough. It is one of the worst designed web sites I've come across in a long time. NO, we won't give you an easy to peruse list of podcasts we've produced. We're going to force you tap or click on a limited collection of mystery meat icons so you can see what's behind them. For crying out loud ... that's what an HTML <table> is for! The "Episodes" page is no better. It gives a limited list of episodes and only their titles: no indication what the episode is about. Do I want to see more episodes? Click "More" and wait for their idiot animation to complete ... to give me all of SIXTEEN additional items. Clicking on the hamburger icon causes the entire page to disappear into a sea of red with four little items on it. When I used their contact page to let them know my opinion of their site, I got "There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later." I don't know if the podcast is any good. But their web site is a steaming pile of bovine feces put together by some idiot wanking "designer" who has no freaking clue about usability or user friendliness. Based on that I'm prepared to write off the podcast itself as well. I checked. You are correct. A true triumph of Form Over Function and terrible form at that. Try the KISS Principle^WP folks.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

2nd July 2021, 06:03 PM	#8
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	I have never been to the Swindled website, or that of any podcast I follow. It is as irrelevant to their podcast as their Instagram or MySpace page might be. Different medium.
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	__________________ I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

2nd July 2021, 10:30 PM	#9
Blue Mountain Resident Skeptical Hobbit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Waging war on woo-woo in Winnipeg Posts: 7,001	Originally Posted by grunion I have never been to the Swindled website, or that of any podcast I follow. It is as irrelevant to their podcast as their Instagram or MySpace page might be. Different medium. While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?" I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode.
	__________________ The social illusion reigns to-day upon all the heaped-up ruins of the past, and to it belongs the future. The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Gustav Le Bon, The Crowd, 1895 (from the French)

8th July 2021, 07:10 AM	#10
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	Originally Posted by Blue Mountain While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?" I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode. There are many podcast aggregators and broadcast apps that make it easy to find podcasts and episodes, read reviews/descriptions, download, and subscribe. I used to use iTunes until it got insanely complex to do something simple (talk about form over function, sheesh.) Nowadays I mostly use Spotify.
grunion Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 9,797	__________________ I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

31st July 2021, 10:47 AM	#11
Reformed Offlian Muse Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: USA Posts: 929	Originally Posted by Blue Mountain While there are cautions about judging a book by its cover, their web site was my second point of contact for them (your link lauding their content was the first.) It left a terrible first impression. I'm left with the question, "If their website is so clueless and user-hostile, what's the podcast like?" I'll download an episode to see if it's better than the web site. To their credit, they have that option for each episode. I didn't particularly enjoy his podcasts as a listening experience, either. His delivery is soft and monotone. The writing is dry and straightforward. If you are already interested in the subject matter, it's fine. Informative and useful, I guess. ETA I think "pedestrian" is more the word I was looking for than "straightforward." Nothing wrong with being straightforward.
	Last edited by Reformed Offlian; 31st July 2021 at 10:56 AM.

28th August 2021, 09:13 PM	#12
Senex Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Connecticut School for Rumpology. Posts: 6,030	A Sylvia look alike swindled me. I had a sad day once because I lost a fortune in the stock market. I was on a bridge thinking. This Sylvia look alike walked up to me and said she had magic powers. She was very unattractive but I was desperate. She said if I went back to her place and did what she asked she would make me whole again through magic. I did everything she asked. When it was over I asked when I could expect to become whole. She said, "Aren't you a little old to believe in magic."