Be afraid, be very afraid: Orac is interviewed

I often joke that Orac is my alter-ego, regardless of how effective or ineffective the pseudonym is at protecting my "true" identity. I also, with some justification, joke that I'm a lot less interesting in person than I am on the blog as a means of inoculating people that I meet who know me only through my blog from serious disappointment at the man behind the curtain. This has led to a reluctance on my part to accept requests to be interviewed--until now.

When Steve Novella, President of the New England Skeptics' Society and the driving force behind my favorite skeptical podcast The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe asked me if I'd be interviewed, I warned him that, although I'm fortunate enough to have a face perfect for radio, I also have a voice perfect for writing and blogging. When Steve would not relent, I decided to give it a whirl, and the results have finally appeared, a week and a half after the interview. I haven't had a chance to give it a listen yet (I'm sure I'll cringe at the sound of my own voice), and I don't know what parts of the interview Steve decided to keep, but you can either download it here directly or get it from iTunes (Episode #101) and listen for yourself. Sadly, Rebecca Watson, a.k.a. the Skepchick, wasn't there.

While you're at it, listen to some of the older podcasts. If you do, I bet you'll become hooked and subscribe to The Skeptics' Guide as well.

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SGU is one of my favorite podcasts also. I've listened regularly since the mid 40s. Yours is one of the best interviews and your in good company.

Interesting stuff, Orac. Also rather cool to finally be able to put a live voice to one of my favorite medblogs. I think you would, in fact, be interesting in person as well; I just wouldn't want to have any need as a patient for a surgical oncologist. I like that so many of the topics I've read of here are actually mentioned in the podcast...gives a nice frame of reference.

By medrecgal (not verified) on 01 Jul 2007 #permalink

Good interview!
By the way you mentioned that many chemicals shrink tumors in rats and mice that do no work in humans. Is there is any general reason their systems are more responsive?

Wow good job. You upstaged the interviewers. You should be the interviewer and they should be the interviewees. You're a star, kid!!