James Randi
Magician and Scientific Skeptic
James Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician, but when he retired at age 60, he switched to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls "woo-woo." Although often referred to as a "debunker," Randi rejects that title owing to its perceived bias, instead describing himself as an "investigator". He has written about the paranormal, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and is occasionally featured on the television program Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.

What Amazes The Amazing Randi?
What makes the famous skeptic feel awe? Great magic tricks, of course. And sunsets.
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4 min
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Why I Came Out at Age 81
As a teenager in the ’40s, James Randi “would have gotten stoned” for being gay. But when he outed himself to the world in 2010, the reaction was “wonderful.”
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3 min
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An Escape Artist’s Brushes With Death
Hi, Mom?…Yeah, I’m in a coffin at the bottom of the La Hogue River.”
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4 min
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How to Squash a Paranormal Claim
The James Randi Educational Foundation has never met a “psychic” it couldn’t discredit—easily. Still, Randi understands why such frauds appeal to people.
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3 min
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A Lifetime Fighting Pseudoscience
What prompted the skeptic’s public crusades against Uri Geller, Sylvia Browne, and other self-proclaimed mystics?
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7 min
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Why We Fall for Magic Tricks
Real magicians don’t pretend to be mystical characters. By telling us they’re just performing tricks, they make their feats all the more breathtaking.
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3 min
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How to Beat Houdini
What does it take to outperform the master escape artist? Common sense, a good night’s sleep, and shallow breathing.
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5 min
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Falling in Love With Magic
Conjurers perform skillful tricks, not miracles. But when the magician first saw one of his idols perform, he wasn’t sure whether he was seeing “a demon or an angel.”
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2 min
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Big Think Interview With James Randi
A conversation with the magician and scientific skeptic.
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35 min
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Science Will Never Support Religion
James Randi has shunned faith since he was a kid spending collection plate money on ice cream. “If my dad and mom are up there someplace… I ask them to […]
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2 min
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