My new CFI blog examines the issue of taking offense, and taking offense on behalf of others. I'm joined by Celestia N. Ward and Ian Harris in examining where we draw the line and why. Check it out HERE! It's no secret that (potentially) offensive things are...
Media Literacy
Mysterious ‘Ghost Lights’ in Forest Draw Thrill Seekers
I wrote a new piece for Seeker (formerly Discovery News) on ghost lights, including in Michigan's Upper Peninsula...Check it out--if you dare, it's HERE! Ghost hunters and mystery buffs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula often seek out a lonely road at a remote spot in the...
‘Utne Reader’ Publishes My History of Evil Clowns
Bad Clowns, by Benjamin Radford, blends humor, investigation, and scholarship to reveal what is behind the clown’s dark smile. This book describes the history of bad clowns, why clowns go bad, and why many people fear them. Going beyond familiar clowns such as the...
Pastor’s Anthem Enforcement Threat Goes Viral-But Is It Real?
Earlier this week a story spread widely on social media about an Alabama pastor, Allen Joyner, who allegedly told a high school football game crowd he was announcing for that people who don't stand for the national anthem should be killed. In a Facebook post, a woman...
My Original Sketch for “Tracking the Chupacabra”
I recently found my original idea for the cover art for my book "Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore." I wanted something interesting and evocative, and my publisher UNM Press did a great job on it. Below is my original sketch,...
My Work Cited in Research Paper on Human Error in Nuclear Accidents
I got a Google Scholar alert telling me that my work has been cited in a research paper titled "Human Error: Crucial Failure in Nuclear Accidents." As an undergraduate in UNM's General Honors program, I wrote an award-winning essay analyzing the role of human error in...
Colin Kaepernick and the National Anthem
A few thoughts on the recent furor over a pro football player refusing to stand for the National Anthem. I couldn’t care less what Colin Kaepernick does and don’t question his right to protest as he sees fit. But I do find it bizarre that he believes that standing for...
My new CFI blog: HeadOn? More like HeadDesk!
"Apply directly to the forehead," infamously commanded a TV commercial for HeadOn, a pain reliever introduced in 2006 by a company called Miralus Healthcare. The product, which costs $25 and is sold in drug stores and online, claims to relieve headache and migraine...
Phantom Clown Reports: Real or Rumor?
Creepy clowns have recently been reported in Greenville, S.C., allegedly luring children into the woods behind a block of apartments. It's scary and alarming -- but whether they're real is another matter. Most of the handful of reports are from children, though a few...
Nice Review of “Bad Clowns” in the Times Literary Supplement
My book "Bad Clowns" got a nice review in the "Times Literary Supplement"! You can find more on me and my work with a search for "Benjamin Radford" (not "Ben Radford") on Vimeo.