Skeptic
Skeptic is a nonprofit media and publishing organization serving science-minded readers with Skeptic Magazine, articles, The Michael Shermer Show podcast, polling analyses, events, memberships, donations, and an online store focused on evidence-based skepticism.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSanta Barbara, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Skeptic does
Skeptic is a nonprofit, non-public media and publishing organization operated by The Skeptics Society and founded in 1992 in Santa Barbara, California. It serves an intellectually curious general-public audience, including science enthusiasts, skeptics, and critical thinkers, with content applying evidence-based analysis to pseudoscience, science, religion, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, health, economics, education, law, governance, and related controversies.
The product portfolio includes Skeptic Magazine in print and digital formats, online articles, The Michael Shermer Show podcast, Skeptic Research Center polling-data analysis, Skeptic Events, paid Skeptics Society membership, and Skeptic Shop. Its operating stack is a digital publishing and commerce model using website/CMS capabilities, podcast distribution, email newsletter infrastructure, member access tooling, payment processing, analytics and advertising services, and e-commerce for subscriptions and merchandise.
Revenue is generated from magazine subscriptions, membership access, donations, event registrations, merchandise and books sold through the online store, and Amazon affiliate fees; no public pricing tiers or revenue figures were disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led and content-led, relying on the website, newsletter, podcast, magazine, events, and direct e-commerce rather than enterprise sales.
Skeptic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skeptic
- Legal name
- The Skeptics Society
- Website
- https://skeptic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skeptic is a nonprofit media and publishing organization serving science-minded readers with Skeptic Magazine, articles, The Michael Shermer Show podcast, polling analyses, events, memberships, donations, and an online store focused on evidence-based skepticism.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skeptic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Media and Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Other Publishers (51319)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH), E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB)
Keywords
Where Skeptic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Barbara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skeptic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Skeptic Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions generating recurring revenue. Subscribers receive renewal notices via email and quarterly reminders.
- Online Store: E-commerce platform selling Skeptic merchandise, books, and related products. Personal information collected for order fulfillment.
- Events and Programs: Revenue from lectures, geology tours, conferences, and other Skeptics Society events. Users register and pay for participation.
- Donations: Charitable contributions from supporters of the Skeptics Society's mission. Tax-deductible donations supporting the organization's operations.
- Affiliate Marketing: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program participant, earning advertising fees through affiliate links to amazon.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Skeptic Magazine Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Skeptic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skeptic is a non-profit publishing and media organization that produces and distributes Skeptic magazine (print and digital), The Michael Shermer Show podcast, an online archive of articles, and the Skeptic Research Center's proprietary polling data. It also runs paid membership, lectures, geology tours, conferences, and an online merchandise store under The Skeptics Society.
Product overview
Skeptic is a publishing and media organization founded in 1992, operating as a multi-platform content company offering Skeptic Magazine (print and digital), The Michael Shermer Show podcast, online articles, and the Skeptic Research Center for polling data. The organization also runs membership programs, hosts events including lectures and geology tours, and maintains an e-commerce shop. The portfolio is centered around Dr. Michael Shermer's mission to explore complex issues with careful analysis through a nonpartisan, reality-based approach to skepticism and critical thinking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Skeptic Magazine Print and digital magazine featuring in-depth articles on science, skepticism, critical thinking, neuroscience, religion, philosophy, psychology, economics, law, education, and societal issues, delivered to subscribers on a recurring basis since 1992.
- The Michael Shermer Show
Companies that use Skeptic
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Skeptic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Skeptic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Amazon Services LLC Associates ProgramminorAffiliate advertising program providing advertising fees through links to amazon.com. Skeptic earns commissions for purchases made through affiliate links.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Skeptic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Scientific American: Major science media brand with print magazine, digital site, and podcasts; competes for the science-curious reader, but at vastly larger scale and with a broader, less opinion-driven editorial posture than Skeptic.
- The New York Review of Books: Long-form intellectual periodical covering ideas, science, politics, and culture; overlaps Skeptic on the essay-driven, idea-focused editorial style but addresses a much broader and more literary audience.
Emerging players
- Skeptical Science: Online publication dedicated to refuting climate misinformation; a narrower but thematically adjacent skeptic publisher that shares Skeptic's anti-pseudoscience editorial stance and digital content model.
- Rationally Speaking (New York City Skeptics): Volunteer-run skeptic podcast from a local skeptical society; competes in the same podcast lane as The Michael Shermer Show and shares the nonprofit/grassroots skeptic community model.
- Quillette: Online magazine focused on cultural and political debate from a heterodox, free-speech perspective; comparable target audience (intellectually engaged, contrarian readers) and similar digital-first publishing model, though less science-skepticism specific.
Direct peers
- The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: Long-running science and skepticism podcast and community organization; directly competes with The Michael Shermer Show for skeptical listeners and uses a similar podcast-led, donation-supported nonprofit model.
- Point of Inquiry (Center for Inquiry): Long-form interview podcast from the Center for Inquiry covering science, skepticism, and secularism; overlaps audience with Skeptic's podcast and is produced by a similarly structured skeptic/humanist nonprofit.
- Philosophy Now: Independent print and digital philosophy magazine sold by subscription; comparable niche intellectual-audience periodical with overlapping coverage of philosophy, science, religion, and ethics.
- Skeptical Inquirer (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry): Long-running magazine and organization covering scientific skepticism, pseudoscience, and critical thinking; the most direct editorial and audience overlap with Skeptic magazine, competing for the same science-skeptic subscriber and donor pool.
- Free Inquiry (Council for Secular Humanism): Print and digital magazine focused on secularism, humanism, and critical inquiry; comparable niche audience, similar subscription/donation revenue mix, and overlapping editorial territory on religion, science, and society.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skeptic social profiles
Digital presenceSkeptic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skeptic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Skeptic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skeptic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skeptic
What does Skeptic do?
Skeptic is a non-profit publishing and media organization that produces and distributes Skeptic magazine (print and digital), The Michael Shermer Show podcast, an online archive of articles, and the Skeptic Research Center's proprietary polling data. It also runs paid membership, lectures, geology tours, conferences, and an online merchandise store under The Skeptics Society.
Is Skeptic a public or private company?
Skeptic is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Skeptic founded?
Skeptic was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skeptic based?
Skeptic is headquartered in Santa Barbara, United States, in the North America region.
How does Skeptic make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Skeptic Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are online Store, events and Programs, donations and affiliate Marketing.
Who are Skeptic's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Scientific American and The New York Review of Books. Emerging players are Skeptical Science, Rationally Speaking (New York City Skeptics) and Quillette. Direct peers are The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, Point of Inquiry (Center for Inquiry), Philosophy Now, Skeptical Inquirer (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry) and Free Inquiry (Council for Secular Humanism).
Does Skeptic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skeptic.
What industry is Skeptic in?
Skeptic's product category is Independent Media and Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAM, Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJADAH, Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.