Joe Nickell

Joe Nickell is Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and an investigative columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine. Joe was a professional stage magician and private investigator for a world-famous detective agency. He taught technical writing for several years at the University of Kentucky before taking the full-time position with CSICOP at its offices at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York.

Utilizing his varied background, Nickell has become widely known as an investigator of myths and mysteries, frauds, forgeries, and hoaxes. He has been called "the modern Sherlock Holmes," "the original ghost buster," and "the real-life Scully" (from "The X-Files"). He has investigated scores of haunted-house cases, including the Amityville Horror and the Mackenzie House in Toronto, Canada.

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  • Alternative Cancer Approaches/ Skeptical Investigations

    Ty Bollinger discussed alternative health treatments for cancer. Followed by Joe Nickell with his skeptical investigations into miracles and ghosts.More »
  • North & South Korea/ Skepticism, Bigfoot & the Paranormal

    Journalist Michael Breen discussed events on North and South Korea. Paranormal investigator and skeptic Joe Nickell reported on Bigfoot and the paranormal.More »
  • A Skeptic's Take on the Paranormal

    Professional paranormal investigator and feature columnist for Skeptical Inquirer science magazine, Joe Nickell, provided his skeptic's take on the paranormal. Nickell has investigated many so-called ghost sightings and experiences, and often is able to explain the anomalies in...More »
  • Ghosts: A Skeptic's View

    Paranormal investigator and columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, Joe Nickell, discussed his latest work on ghosts and so-called spirits of the dead. He argued that most paranormal cases are promoted with an "argument from ignorance." First hour guest, author Patrick...More »
  • A Skeptic's Investigations

    Paranormal investigator and columnist Joe Nickellshared his skeptical take on a variety of cases. Differentiating his approach, he said that "mystery mongers" often have their minds made up that something inexplicable is taking place in so-called paranormal incidents, whereas he...More »