Oct 18 2025

Selects: How ESP Works (?)

Selects 55 min 6 movies discussed
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Even though almost half of Americans believe in it, ESP usually is treated as a load of bull by skeptics. But some respected researchers have dared to apply the scientific method to investigate ESP and a few have found some surprising results. Find out all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.

AI Summary

# Summary

In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating world of ESP and paranormal phenomena, diving into everything from telepathy and clairvoyance to the history of parapsychology research. They discuss how J.B. Rhine pioneered scientific studies of these abilities at Duke University using Zener cards, and examine famous cases like the uncanny similarities between an 1898 novel about a ship called the Titan and the real Titanic disaster. While they explore intriguing evidence and ongoing research at places like Princeton, they also break down the skeptical explanations—like coincidence, sensory leakage, and our brains picking up on subtle environmental cues we don't consciously notice—that might explain why people think they have psychic abilities when they're usually just really observant or incredibly lucky.


Movies Discussed

Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
1984 1h 47m
★ 7.5
"Ghostbusters really did a number on you. Yes. When that came along, I was like, this was made for me. — Chuck mentions how Ghostbusters influenced his childhood interest in paranormal phenomena and ESP." — Chuck
The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone
1983
★ 7.0
"that's what I like to call the dead zone. Right. Christopher Walken, he would place his hands on you and he would see something. — Josh references the movie as an example of psychometry, where Christopher Walken's character could read information by touching objects." — Josh
The Matrix
The Matrix
1999 2h 16m
★ 8.2
"But there is no spoon. Yeah. Wasn't that from Matrix? Yeah. — Chuck references the famous 'there is no spoon' quote from The Matrix in relation to telekinesis." — Chuck
The Men Who Stare at Goats
The Men Who Stare at Goats
2009 1h 34m
★ 6.0
"But Ronson was talking about in the Men Who Stare at Coats. — Josh references the movie adaptation of John Ronson's book about CIA remote viewing experiments." — Josh
The Shining
The Shining
1980 2h 24m
★ 8.2
"The shinin? Yeah, the shinin. — Josh references The Shining in the context of discussing precognition and ESP abilities." — Josh
The Source Family
The Source Family
2013 NR 1h 38m
★ 6.0
"Did you see the source family, by the way, that documentary? No, I haven't. About the LA Colton of the 70s. — Josh asks Chuck if he's seen the documentary about The Source Family, a 1970s cult in Los Angeles." — Josh

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