Radio Woo

[Ixion]

So, I have mentioned before that there is a radio program with a morning show here in Tucson that doesn't even ever think twice about putting woo on the show. Alison DuBois (the psychic medium or whatever she is) is a regular guest, as well as other people with dubious claims at the very minimum. Usually, I just turn the dial when they get one of the woosters on. My only problem is that they will end up talking about it for several days in a row and they have quite a willing audience to fall for this stuff.

Originally, they were only based out of Tucson, which has a metro population of about 800000 people. Now, they broadcast simultaneously out of Tucson, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Portland. Subsequently, they are also popular enough that people who listen to the show are often very interested in the people they promote. Skepticism and critical thinking always go right out the door and they fall for whatever these people say. They have a large listener base and are quite popular with celebrities, so people are inclined to listen to get their pop culture fix.

Now, back to the original reason for this post. Yesterday, they had a man on by the name of Ted Broer. He goes by "Dr. Ted Broer" but his credentials are listed no where on his site. He proclaims all of these nutrition miracles by his special diet and "healthy living" routine, such as more energy and weight loss. The site he promoted on the show SCREAMS of woo and he made all these claims with no evidence at all. This guy has the true workings of a scam artist. To paraphrase some of his statements on the show: "They don't like you to know my secret." "Doctors are now backing me up because they know it works, but I was suppressed before." This guy could give Kevin Trudeau a run for his money.

From his website: 'This is not just another audio series and book, it is a health guide to survival based upon the principles of God’s word."

The DJs talk about how he has this very expensive RV he travels in (they said it was in excess of $500,000) and talked about how one of the DJs just gave the guy his credit card and told the guy to order the DJ everything he had. Well, people are calling into the radio program wanting to do the same thing. Apparently, if it is good enough for the DJ, it is good enough for them.

Sorry for the long rant. I didn't even scratch the surface about how frustrated this kind of thing makes me. Partially it is frustrating because of the extreme lack of critical thinking and partially because they won't entertain any skepticism or critical thinking on the show.

I don't want to link the webpage of the guy because I don't want to bump his Google index, but the url is bodybyted.com.

Any thoughts or helpful advice?

 

[Dragonrock]

Try to call in and be honest about your skepticism. Then, when that doesn't work come up with some BS and get yourself on the air then ask a skeptical question instead of whatever woo you made up.

Then record it and let us listen in.

 

[Chris H]

Is there a podcast? A lot of these networks let you download their shows nowadays.

 

[jasonpatterson]

Try to call in and be honest about your skepticism. Then, when that doesn't work come up with some BS and get yourself on the air then ask a skeptical question instead of whatever woo you made up.

Then record it and let us listen in.

Though I don't care for their message, lying about your intent to get on the air is not going to go over well regardless. Any decent talk show host would simply cut the call short and move on without comment. Heck, even NPR does it, and they tend to be as polite to callers as anyone.

 

[Dragonrock]

Though I don't care for their message, lying about your intent to get on the air is not going to go over well regardless. Any decent talk show host would simply cut the call short and move on without comment. Heck, even NPR does it, and they tend to be as polite to callers as anyone.

They generally only cut you off if you go into a rant. If you have a nicely phrased question that's relatively short then you can get it out.

 

[Ixion]

Is there a podcast? A lot of these networks let you download their shows nowadays.

Yes, there is a podcast. You can find it at:
Johnjay and Rich

Click the link for May 18, 2009, Dr. Ted Broer.

 

[Brattus]

I'm not sure I understand what frustrates you so much about the radio show.
You heard it and had no problem seeing it was all a scam.
It's just a infomercial like they have on late night TV.
The "DJs" are paid by the "guest" to help pimp their junk. The first few phone ins to buy crap are more than likely staged with callers sitting right there in the station while on the air.
Some people will hear it and chuckle as they tune to another station.
Some people will hear it and believe every word and pay whatever it cost to get it.
If those who buy the junk choose not to use a critical thinking process then that is on them not the con men selling junk.
Free enterprise is an open book.
If someone wants to try to sell their dogs poop as a surefire pimple remover and they find people dumb enough to buy it then the seller is not at fault.
It all falls on the buyer for not thinking the sale through.
Trust me no one is listening to that crap that doesn't want to be listening to it.

 

[arthwollipot]

Switch to a different station.

 

[Ixion]

I'm not sure I understand what frustrates you so much about the radio show.
You heard it and had no problem seeing it was all a scam.
It's just a infomercial like they have on late night TV.
The "DJs" are paid by the "guest" to help pimp their junk. The first few phone ins to buy crap are more than likely staged with callers sitting right there in the station while on the air.
Some people will hear it and chuckle as they tune to another station.
Some people will hear it and believe every word and pay whatever it cost to get it.
If those who buy the junk choose not to use a critical thinking process then that is on them not the con men selling junk.
Free enterprise is an open book.
If someone wants to try to sell their dogs poop as a surefire pimple remover and they find people dumb enough to buy it then the seller is not at fault.
It all falls on the buyer for not thinking the sale through.
Trust me no one is listening to that crap that doesn't want to be listening to it.

I guess what is really frustrating about it all is just the shear enormity of people that do listen and buy this stuff. After browsing the page of "Dr. Ted Broer", I can't help but think someone using this might one day end up on What's the Harm?

I guess you don't have a problem with people like Kevin Trudeau either? After all, he is just trying to make a quick buck. Another product, Enzyte, the "male enhancement" formula sold on television was also fined and the CEO sent to prison for fraud partially due to their promotion of their product. Clearly it was a con that scammed a lot of people out of money, yet they had television commercials airing for years before being indicted.

Switch to a different station.

Yeah, that is generally what I do. My OP might seem that I am really bent out of shape over this, but mostly it is just an irritant.