The antidote to wackadoodlery.

As a physician and skeptic, this podcast is one of my favorites. Welcome back!

Over a decade of chronic illness, I wasted thousands of dollars on supplements and alternative medicine treatments. If only I had discovered this podcast sooner! Now I am better informed, my critical thinking skills are much improved and I can protect myself against SCAMs. Thank you, Dr. Crislip! ❤️

I started listening in 2007 and listen to these over and over. Coming into this I was heavily into alternative-anything; knew what all the crystals did, guzzled colloidal silver, random herbs, whatever. Dr. Crislip may have saved my life- both in terms of health and finances.

Where’d they go doc?!!?

Sadly, there are few Podcasts that cover the topic of alternative medicine. This is by far my favorite. Real scientific expertise, academic research, and some dry humor to boot.

I'm a family medicine physician, and I wish there was a way to make these podcasts into patient handouts. The "post fact" culture has hit medicine full force. I've seen too many people victimized by the multibillion dollar industry of Supplements, Complimentary and Alternative Mediicine. Dr. Crislip does an excellent job with each topic, clearing the mist of woo to let reality shine through once again.

Here is your glowing review, as requested.

One of the worst. If you're looking to learn something this is not the place to go. The only quackery in this podcast is...this podcast. Bias outlooks does not work well when you're reporting science. He does have a wonderful radio voice and speaks marvelously, but this is not the right area. Maybe explore something you love rather than something you hate.

Turns out, research shows no evidence for scams. All they're doing is taking your money for something unregulated, maybe even full of house plants instead of ginkgo biloba.

This is a brilliant and highly irreverent debunking of the explosion of quackery that pollutes the Internet and news. It is not "sweetened" by jokes or humor, except for sly and dry references. This podcast is not one you put on while doing other things. There is little filler and it requires your attention. The irreverence is straight up with no punches pulled. It's like mainlining knowledge. Brace yourself for real information.

Fun podcast for those interested in science and learning more about the weird ways humans have gone about trying to achieve a cure.

A few years ago I posted a one-star review just to keep our favorite ID doc's ego under control. But really, I was being silly. These podcasts are really 5-star products. Well worthwhile!

I am a General Internist and have been listening to Mark Crislip for years. He is fantastic as is the entire science-based medicine crew. To hear critical thinking in medicine is so refreshing. But what I just realized today is that Dr Crislip sounds like the voice of Pooh Bear from the old movies. Oh bother! Which makes it all the better to listen to.

Seems like a smart guy! Main issue is that he makes up most of it and misses the point. Bypasses the meat of the topic, modality, or therapy and kind of bounces around the most interesting parts, inserting his own interpretation of what he THINKS it is, or what he WANTS it to be so he can debunk it and poke fun at it. I'm all for poking fun at everything and anything. But it's way more fun when you get the explanations right. Like I said, he's probably quite intelligent, but unfortunately one has to actually be accurate in his descriptions in order to win an argument fair and square... The way this guy explains things reminds me of a quiet, nerdy evangelical preacher who is desperately trying to convince you that you can pray away the gay.

I remember in my non-skeptic days (not long enough ago) thinking 'Of course alternative medicine works on some level' and employing all levels of irrationality to fit this into my worldview. I wasn't passionate about it...I just took for granted that everything being fed to me from left-leaning sources was correct and felt I didn't need to think it through. If you also think this way but, like me, care for evidence and realism over idealism, then you have to listen to this podcast. Brilliant, relentless, funny. Sometimes we need a good dopeslap to set us straight. Thanks for dopeslapping the crap out of me, Dr. Crislip.

David Sedaris of Infectious Diseases. Excellent, cynical (in the best way possible), sarcastic, intelligent, educational!

I have been interested in quackery (sorry, alternative and complementary medicine) ever since I graduated from medical school, and oh, boy, do we need podcasts like these casting some light on these shadowy quacks!. Great source of info and entertainment, even for doctors!

I know that much of the far of of natural medicine is a touch from crazy. However look at everything allopathy does, this NEW science is so baby staged and egotistical that all it does is build up people willing to kill people with unnecessary drugs and surgery. I worked in survey and in the ICu and as a doctor I know that you have kind of a big head and need to come off your High horse. You don't have answers.

By well-balanced, I mean that Dr. Crislip gives each topic he discusses the amount of respect it deserves. He bases this on whatever scientific evidence is available. He takes into account our current understanding of the human body and the conditions that affect it. His reviews often apply the Hill criteria for causation - anyone ever heard of a term called "prior plausibility”? Given the current popularity of many of these pseudomedical therapies, more people should listen to this podcast. Are you a healthcare provider who isn’t sure what to think about “alternative medicine” and wants to be open-minded? This podcast is for you!

Simply the best podcast around for science-based medicine. Mark Crislip is entertaining and charming, and his well-informed and well-researched podcast will keep you up to date on the latest in SCAMs.

Those sweet sounds of Mark Crislip pontificating really help me relax and fully take in the full extent of the healing powers of my alternative treatments. My qi has never been more aligned with my life aura. I dose these podcasts to bowl tolerance and SO SHOULD YOU. Five stars

Excellent presentation of not only what is wrong with health and medical scams but why it is wrong and how it can hurt you presented without preachiness or lectureness (my word). A little dry humor helps to listen. Keep up the excellent work Mark, it is appreciated.

The perfect antidote to quackery, this podcast gives me hope that science-based medicine will prevail. This podcast exposes the flaws in the alternative medicine community, supporters of which generally respond with personal attacks, as did the negative reviewer here, because they have no evidence to support their devotion to wacky alternative medicine.

I've been a listener since the beginning and listen to Mark ask us to write a review after every episode. FINALLY I am. This podcast is essential listening for any primary care physician such as myself. Somehow in med school we got a bland and incomplete (sometimes even politically correct) review of CAM. Mark Crislip should be required listening and ought to be given a section of the National Board Exams. Don't give us bland integrative nonsense, we need more Mark Crislip.

I can't say enough good things about this podcast its interesting, fun and educational and best of all truthful. Even my children do not complain about this podcast when we are in the car (they beg me to change the computer related ones). Also if you want to learn about fakes and anti vax folks then YOU ARE in spot and this is what you have been looking for.

It's nice to have a skeptical podcast that isn't too long or always preaching Atheism. Update 3/2/2015 So I have been listening for a little bit now. I've managed to burn through a large portion of the back log and noticed a pattern. The pattern is that he does the same subjects over and over again. When you are so specialized in your podcast I guess there aren't a lot of topics but I would think every other episode could be different than acupuncture. Host is great & entertaining and the subjects are informative but once you have listened to 10 you have listened to them all.

I can’t say enough about how good this podcast is. Mark is both extremely insightful and entertaining at the same time. His nuanced understanding of the placebo affect is especially helpful, as is his ability to cut to the heart of any medical SCAM Thanks Mark!

I'm a tad loopy on ambien right now as it's bed time so forgive any typos. But I wanted everyone to know that Mark Crislip is an infectious disease ninja and he will cut through the BS and tell it straight how it is regardless of the topic. Bonus! His voice is really nice to listen to - he speaks calmly and clearly and delivers the information in a way that skeptics will appreciate and others will enjoy. The world needs more Mark Crislip.

My favorite podcast. Great for medical professionals to understand the world of alternative medicine. This podcast makes me a better doctor by giving me insight into treatments my patients pursue

Educational, timely and informative. A very enjoyable and illuminating podcast.

This man is trying to rid the world of infectious diseases, it's the least we can do to let him have some peace and quiet!

I only wish he could release on a more regular basis instead of a clump of 3 or 4 at a time every few months. And that the episode #'s would be updated; we're off by about 2 due to a couple of short announcements in the past that I don't feel qualify as podcasts.

Dr. C. never fails to disappoint. Despite his occasional difficulty with certain foreign words and phrases, he is spot on in this analysis. Take it to heart.

I like it. It is better than CATS. I will listen again and again.

I wish all my patients would listen to this important podcast (and all medical personal). SCAMs are easy to create and profitable, refuting them is the opposite. Not only do we need more Mark Crislip, we need more folks like him!

I love this sarcastic booger, and his lectures/ramblings/writings are all very informative and funny in a wry way. He's made me rethink how I read/review research and science articles, and I now feel much less like saying "can't hurt, can it?" because he's shown me how it CAN! My favorite episode is still probably his Probiotics one, and really, how many people can make stool transplants sound fascinating? Not many, I'm pretty sure.

Mark, I thought the same thing. How come we do this every time there is a new thing? I know why, but it’s still amazes me. I wonder what the anti-vaccinie weanies do in a situation like this? Eat dirt and roll their kids in Ebola goo to prevent them from getting it? Mark, thanks for keeping me sane. Okay, you were too late for that, but thanks for getting here as soon as you could. I’ve been listening for over 3 years (if you’ve doing it that long), and each one has been a pleasure to listen to. I do struggle with the chiropractic thing however; got a cousin who is one and immediate family who “believe” in it. You’ve caused us to be estranged… just kidding. I am relishing the day it does happen though… once again just kidding. Have a pus filled day, I’m just saying… RTC

Yes, Mark Crislip is the smartest man in the world, just ask him. Or even if you don't ask, he will often let you know with the snark piled high in this dry but interesting podcast that I try to listen to whenever I can.

Crislip offers a podcast filled with interesting and well-researched information. As a member of the science based medicine movement, he strives for accuracy and well designed research. He can be very harsh and abrasive, but this does not take away from the message and I find his dry humor hilarious. If you're looking for a qualified professional opinion on alt-med, here it is. If you're looking for someone to validate fringe behavior that "makes people feel good" go see a homeopath because unvarnished truth resides here.

Dr. Mark Crislip's QuackCast makes me happy. It is refreshing to hear someone debunk the anti-vaccine "wackaloons," and discuss various other ridiculous SCAMs that are out there. Dr. Crislip's sense of humor and use of sarcasm makes this podcast even better. I have gained a greater appreciation in regard to analyzing the methods and results analysis of scientific studies before accepting any conclusions that the authors report. Thank you for creating such an informative and entertaining podcast!

I'm a long-time listener to Quackcast. I find it to be the most informative and entertaining of all the podcasts to which I subscribe. The information is valuable, well presented, an extremely entertaining!

Love everything about the podcast. No obvious production effort and no pulling punches even when it comes to Big Med; Dr Mark delivers the goods in his dry disarming way. Thanks for all the time and effort to make the world a better and healthier place.

Medicine is science. At least, it's supposed to be. Unfortunately, there is a lot of fraud going on, wrapping itself in the cloak of "alternative medicine". Its practitioners prey on the desperate and the uninformed, sometimes robbing them of their life savings. This podcast presents an unflinching look at the ways these S.C.A.M. artists work. Whether they really believe what they sell, or are cynical thieves, doesn't matter; what is important is that you learn to recognize the signs of a pseudoscientific medical fraud.

If you want facts. And not he said she said presentation Dr. Crisp delivers. It can be a little dry but it is backed by actual science information.

In every episode Dr. Mark Crislip shoots down a S.C.A.M. (Supplemental and Complimentary Alternative Medicine) method with razor sharp, ice cold, diamond hard facts. The information is piled on mercilessly, laced with his wry & dry sense of humor, and delivered in a wonderfully monotonous drone that can only be conjured up by the likes of a infectious disease specialist exhausted by an endless onslaught bulls#it. I truly appreciate how he breaks down published scientific papers in a way that even a humble graphic designer like myself can understand and appreciate. He exposes flaws in research techniques that a lay person could easily overlook and puts the findings in context of the greater medical understanding of today. This is a gem of a podcast and deserves no less than a complete set of 5 stars. Thanks for taking the time to educate the masses, you’re making a difference.

I’ve listed to every podcast and highly recommend this one to everyone.

This podcast may not be able to cure stupid but it makes an honest effort to mock it out of existence. Thank you!!!

I recommend these podcasts. They are excellent and interesting! SCAMs are a waste of money, although I myself take a multiple vitamin tablet daily.

The whacky world of pseudomedicine, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, or whatever the heck they are calling it today gets what it deserves - lots of science, and lots of sarcasm. Dr. Crislip is one of the only people I've heard talk candidly about all the things that are wrong in the world of medicine while bringing real expertise to the table. Should be a pre-requisite for entering med school. I happily support Mark's all-encompassing media empire.