Rebecca Watson (born October 18, 1980) is a blogger and independent podcast host. She is the founder of Skepchick and a co-host on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast. In 2007 she entered a contest called Public Radio Talent Quest, and together with Al Letson and Glynn Washington was one of winners. Skepchick Skepchick was founded in 2005 by Rebecca Watson, who described it as "an organization dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking among women around the world." Originally the site consisted of a forum and a monthly online magazine, Skepchick Magazine, which was launched January 15, 2006. In 2006, Rebecca released The Skepchick Calendar, a pin-up calendar featuring pictures of skeptical women for every month. Proceeds provided the attendance fee for several female applicants to attend the James Randi Educational Foundation's The Amaz!ng Meeting. New calendars have been made in subsequent years, including Skepdude Calendars since 2007. February 12, 2006 Watson created a blog titled Memoirs of a Skepchick, as an addition to the magazine. Eventually the blog, now simply titled Skepchick, became the main site, as Skepchick Magazine was discontinued in July 2006. Fourteen other bloggers beside Rebecca Watson now contribute regularly, including one man. The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe Rebecca Watson's first appearance on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast was on episode 33 (March 9, 2006), where she was interviewed about her work on Skepchick. She returned on episode 36 (March 29, 2006) as a regular member of the panel. The Public Radio Talent Quest In May 2007 Rebecca Watson entered The Public Radio Talent Quest, a contest aimed to find new public radio hosts. The contest claims to have received more than 1,400 entries. Watson's entries won the popular vote in every round, and she was declared one of three winners who each would receive $10,000 to produce a public radio pilot. Watson's pilot, Curiosity, Aroused, was an hour-long program focused on science and skepticism. It featured interviews with Richard Saunders of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, and Richard Wiseman, author of Quirkology and Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. She also investigated claims of poisonous amounts of lead in lipstick, went on a ghost tour in Boston and visited a Psychic Fair. Her show was the only one among the three winners not to receive funding by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for being turned into a one year show. Speaking Engagements Watson was a guest speaker at the James Randi Educational Foundation's The Amaz!ng Meeting 5.5. As well as lecturing on the topic "How to Get Off Your Lazy Can and Do Something", she took part in a panel discussion on podcasts and a Q&A panel.[19] At TAM 5 Watson presented a paper with the title "How to Be a C-List Internet Celebrity in Just 30 Days: Finding an Audience Online". At The New Humanism conference at Harvard April 21, 2007, Rebecca Watson was on a panel discussing "The Next Generation of Humanism". As a part of the New York City Skeptics' public lecture series Rebecca Watson spoke on "Women and Skepticism" February 16, 2008. 153289 Rebeccawatson An outer main-belt asteroid discovered March 22, 2001 by David H. Healy was named 153289 Rebeccawatson. The description states: Rebecca Watson (b. 1980) of Brookline, Massachusetts, once a street juggler and magician, promotes science and rational thinking by means of radio broadcasts, podcasts and an internet blog. Guest appearances on other podcasts Apart from her regular role as a co-host on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and The Skeptics' Guide 5x5, Rebecca Watson has been interviewed on several podcasts: At The Amaz!ng Meeting 5 Rebecca Watson was interviewed for Skepticality's November 28, 2006 episode. Watson has been interviewed twice on The TANK Vodcast produced by the Australian Skeptics. Her first appearance was on the September 22, 2007 episode, recorded on the Amaz!ng Adventure 2. She later returned for a full-length interview October 14. The Amateur Scientist Podcast episode 16 featured an interview with Rebecca Watson about the need for women in the skeptical community. The September 22, 2008 episode of the RH Reality Check podcast, Reality Cast, featured an interview with Rebecca Watson about skepticism and feminism. She was a guest on episode 14 of The Reason Driven Podcast, where they discussed chapter 14 of The Reason Driven Life by Robert M. Price. Rebecca Watson has also been a guest on The Infidel Guy Show.