The Michael Shermer Show Shermer Says 6: Jeffrey Epstein and Me
Feb 7, 2026
He discovers his name in the Jeffrey Epstein files and narrates how that led to unforgettable stories about con artists. He recalls organizing a major skeptic anniversary event and early skeptic projects like human powered vehicle meets. He exposes a local promoter who faked credentials and promised a billionaire island conference. He connects small cons to larger scams linked to Epstein.
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Epstein In The Audience
- Michael Shermer discovered emails showing Jeffrey Epstein attended a 2017 Skeptic Magazine event where Deepak Chopra and Michael Shermer were on stage.
- Shermer says he never met Epstein and only learned about Epstein's attendance after a friend sent screenshots of the invitations.
Origins Of Skeptic Magazine
- Shermer recounts joining the Southern California Skeptics and meeting an apparently well-connected man, Al Seckel, who introduced him to scientists and events.
- That involvement led Shermer to co-found Skeptic Magazine and the Skeptic Society with Pat Lindsay.
The Imposter Who Almost Derailed Us
- Shermer describes uncovering that Al Seckel had fabricated credentials and defrauded people with bogus investments and claims.
- Seckel's scams collapsed the local skeptics lecture series, prompting Shermer and Pat to restart it and create the national Skeptic organization and magazine.
