Douglas James Grothe (born June 25, 1973) is an American writer and public speaker who talks about issues at the nexus of science,

critical thinking Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgement. The subject is complex; several different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, and unbiased analysis ...

, secularism, religion and the paranormal. As an active skeptic, he has served in leadership roles for both the

Center for Inquiry The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a US nonprofit organization that works to mitigate belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal, as well as to fight the influence of religion in government. History The Center for Inquiry was established in 199 ...

(CFI) and the James Randi Educational Foundation. While he was at CFI, he hosted their ''Point of Inquiry'' podcast. After leaving ''Point of Inquiry'' he hosted the radio show and podcast ''For Good Reason''. He is particularly interested in the psychology of belief and the steps involved in deception and self-deception. His writing has been published by both '' Skeptical Inquirer'' magazine and '' The Huffington Post''. He also co-edited ''On the Beauty of Science'', about the worldview and life's work of Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman. Grothe serves as a board member of The Institute for Science and Human Values.

Career

Magic

Using his experience as a professional magician, Grothe lectures about the intersection of magic and skepticism.

The Center for Inquiry

As a graduate student at Washington University, Grothe became involved with a student freethought group there called WULF, the Washington University League of Freethinkers, as well as the Council for Secular Humanism. This second group was affiliated with The Center for Inquiry, and served as an entry point into this organization. Grothe was a member of the Center for Inquiry for ten years. From 2005 until 2009 he hosted ''

Point of Inquiry ''Point of Inquiry'' is the radio show and flagship podcast of the Center for Inquiry (CFI), "a think tank promoting science, reason, and secular values in public policy and at the grass roots". Started in 2005, ''Point of Inquiry'' has consist ...

'', the official podcast of the organization. He traveled extensively to lecture on subjects such as "ethics, religious-political extremism, church-state separation, skepticism and science advocacy". In 2009, while serving as vice president and director of outreach programs, Grothe left CFI to serve as president of the James Randi Educational Foundation.

James Randi Educational Foundation

Grothe succeeded Phil Plait as president of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) and served in that capacity from January 1, 2010 until September 1, 2014. From January 2010 until December 2011 Grothe hosted ''For Good Reason'', a podcast associated with the JREF. Guests on ''For Good Reason'' included James Randi on the importance of JREF programs, Daniel Loxton on a book about evolution for children,

Jamy Ian Swiss Jamy Ian Swiss (born November 30, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American magician, author, speaker, historian of magic, essayist, book reviewer, and scientific skeptic. He is known for sleight-of-hand with playing cards. Magic Swiss is ...

on psychics and their deceptive methods, the social psychologist Carol Tavris talking about dissonance theory, and

Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins (born 26 March 1941) is a British evolutionary biologist and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford and was Professor for Public Understanding of Science in the University of Oxford from 1995 to 2008. An ath ...

talking about

Darwin Day Darwin Day is a celebration to commemorate the birthday of Charles Darwin on 12 February 1809. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contributions to science and to promote science in general. Darwin Day is celebrated around the world. Histo ...

and creation and evolution in public education, among dozens of other guests he has interviewed.

Challenges to celebrity psychics

Grothe challenged celebrity psychic James Van Praagh to prove his claims of psychic mediumship and communication with the dead a number of times in the news media, and organized a "zombie attack" featuring volunteers from the James Randi Educational Foundation of one of Van Praagh's "Spirit Circles," which net Van Praagh thousands of dollars from his clients seeking communication with their deceased loved ones. This was to publicize both that Van Praagh refuses the JREF's One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge and how the JREF considers Van Praagh's claims to communicate with dead people to be unfounded and harmful. Grothe has also spoken out against celebrity psychics Theresa Caputo (the

Long Island Medium ''Long Island Medium'' is an American reality television series starring Theresa Caputo, a self-professed medium who claims she can communicate with the dead. Much of the program, which premiered on September 25, 2011, takes place in Hicksville ...

) and John Edward, criticizing them for taking advantage of the grieving by using a collection of psychological manipulations commonly referred to as cold reading, and has also criticized companies like Priceline.com and national media figures such as

Dr. Phil Phillip Calvin McGraw (born September 1, 1950), better known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality and author best known for hosting the talk show '' Dr. Phil''. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, though he ceased rene ...

for giving a platform to such psychic performers.

References

External links

For Good Reason with D.J. Grothe

A Conversation with D.J. Grothe: Nobody's Fool – by Jeanette Cooperman
(magazine interview)
James Randi Educational Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grothe, D.J. 1973 births American humanists American podcasters American skeptics American atheism activists American gay writers Living people Washington University in St. Louis alumni