Brian Dunning

Brian Dunning is an American author and podcast creator best known as the founder and host of Skeptoid, an independent weekly podcast he has produced continuously since 2006. Each episode of Skeptoid runs approximately ten minutes and applies evidence-based research to a single topic — typically a popular myth, urban legend, conspiracy theory, alternative medicine claim, or paranormal phenomenon. The podcast surpassed 100 million total downloads in January 2017, making it one of the longest-running and most-listened-to independent science skepticism podcasts in the world. Dunning has also created the inFact YouTube video series and The Feeding Tube, and has authored seven books collecting and expanding on Skeptoid's research.

Skeptoid's format — short, densely researched, and free — was deliberately designed to reach audiences who might not commit to longer-form content. Episodes span an enormous range of topics: ancient mysteries, vaccine claims, food and nutrition myths, psychic phenomena, historical conspiracy theories, homeopathy, and popular science misconceptions. A key feature of the podcast is its willingness to revise conclusions when new evidence emerges and to acknowledge when the evidence is genuinely uncertain rather than forcing false certainties in either direction. All episode transcripts are published online with source citations, making Skeptoid one of the most reference-friendly skeptical resources available.

Dunning's background is in technology and writing rather than academic science, and he has been transparent about this, including publicly addressing a 2014 federal wire fraud conviction related to unrelated internet marketing activities. He has continued to produce Skeptoid throughout and the podcast remains one of the most accessed independent resources for skeptical analysis of popular claims, valued for its accessibility, breadth, and regular updating of older episodes.