Two-hundred

Skepticality has posted 200 episodes.  As I have noted, the show has endured a winding road from its beginnings with Derek and Swoopy with the monkey news segment to its current form, the multiple host segmented form.  As I have noted I enjoy the current framework of the show.

200 Episodes! Be happy!

For the big 200th episode Swoopy makes a return at the beginning of the show for a chat with Derek to interview Derek, talk about what she has been doing for the past year or so, and just reminiscing in general.  The chat was a bit rambling, but it was an honest insightful ramble.  As a follower of the show, I found the conversation interesting as the listener is given a bit of a sneak peek into the history of the show.  Unfortunately, instead of coming across as a uplifting celebration of two hundred episodes, it was a bit more staid.

This is more like it.  

Derek during the first year of the show sustained a stroke, which caused the show to go on hiatus during his unfortunately long, but luckily quite amazing recovery.  His recovery continues to this day.  Swoopy took over production of the show until Derek recovered sufficiently to take over production duties about a year ago.  It's a great tale of a show continuing to stay in production overcoming amazingly difficult challenges, and evolve into the popular relevant show it is today.  However, it all came off a bit of a downer.

Swoopy explained that she is no longer with the show as she has a fulltime job, and going to school full time.  Which is great, and I admire such can-do people.  It seemed pretty clear that it seems unlikely that she will ever be returning to the show in any regular capacity.  She clearly does not have the time. Then the chat wondered a bit into the current skepto-controversy-of-the-moment problems, which was a bit of a downer.  I don't know.  Typically, milestone episodes are cheerful.  I don't want to give the impression it was a complete dirge, but things picked up once Tim Farley's segment was cued up.  Also, Derek made it quite clear he intends to carry on unless something substantial occurs to put the show on ice.

The interview was of Michael Shermer of being Michael freaking Shermer of Skeptic Magazine and the Skeptics Society.  Derek touched upon a number of topics with Shermer, although being a one time professional bike racer and continued bike enthusiast the discussion of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal was enlightening.  Shermer also gave his, somewhat controversial, views on gun control in light of the Connecticut school slaying.  I enjoyed hearing Shermer's take directly from him.

All in all, it was a good episode.  We here at the Skeptical Review wish Skepticality a successful, continued run for another 200 episodes.  However, the first third of the episode is not the expected cheery celebration of 200 episodes you might expect.