Archives: Episode
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DECULT
In this VERY special episode, Mark and Bronwyn talk with Anke, a journalist with a long-standing interest in cult groups who is organising a weekend conference in Christchurch in October that focuses on all things culty. We talk about cult survivors, cult experts, the difficulties of organising a large event, and Anke’s hopes for the…
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High Horse Horoscopes
We’ve not scared Katrina or Brad away yet, so the Yeah… Nah! team are marching on, to pastures new. Both Mark and Bronwyn have been poking around astrology software, trying to figure out what, and who, makes it tick. Brad has tried to make sense of the impossible – homeopathy – and its use in…
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Lost Chiropractic Throckmortons
It’s our first episode with new co-hosts Katrina Borthwick and Brad MacClure, so the Yeah… Nah! squad 2.0 get to work tackling some topical issues. Bronwyn, Katrina and Mark have all suffered through watching the entire season of spiritual healing reality TV show Lost Resort, and have a lot to say about it. Katrina has…
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Mobile Scientology Spiritualist
It’s the end of an era for the Yeah… Nah! podcast as we bid Craig farewell. After we recover from the shock of his departure, we get down to business. Brian Paavo joins us from his helicopter to tell us about his recent visit to Scientology in Honolulu, Bronwyn snakes her way through Spiritualist history,…
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Intuitive Steorn Mission
Craig is back and as busy as ever, so you might be listening to this podcast on a day that is not Thursday. This week we are chewing the fat about intuitive eating, The Divine Light Mission, and bad batteries. About this episode
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Haunted Paper Bog Communion
Craig is away again this week, and again we’ve had to call on two committee members to do the job of one. Returning guests Dan Ryan and Katrina Borthwick try not to get bogged down by bad data, either historical or contemporary; Mark takes transubstantiation to its logical extreme; and Dan needs tech support for…
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Jim Cavalcade Fair
Craig is away this episode and singing his heart out at the World Choir Games, leaving Bronwyn and Mark to fill the hole he’s left in their hearts (at least for the next two weeks). Fortunately, they’ve been able to replace him twice over with TWO special guests! Committee member Brad MacClure returns to discuss…
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Community Creationist Matariki Electrolytes
“Yeah…Nah!” says hell yeah to another episode with a smorgasbord of features. Craig tags along to a Matariki celebration; Bronwyn wonders if her sugar-free electrolytes are illegal, and Mark keeps himself busy as always; getting the NZ Skeptics out of the YouTube naughty corner, attending a creationist “education” session. About this episode
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Sue Sue Shermer
Your faithful podcasters are testing the limits of the NZ Skeptics’ insurance policy in this episode. Craig laments on Michael Shermer’s turn towards the unskeptical; Mark reads Sue Nicholson’s memoir, so you don’t have to; and Bronwyn examines the life of a former global Skeptics challenge contender, Colin Amery. Heads up for mentions of suicide…
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Saint Aquaman Practical Astrology
Buckle in for a wild yet contemplative ride. We’re talking about the fast-tracked ‘gamer’ saint and Jason Scamoa. Craig may be onto a winner with an astrology-based betting system, and Bronwyn and Mark try to beat Wellington on a not-great day by checking out the School of Practical Philosophy. About this episode
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Pointless Australis Devil Eviction
With the news that Reality Check Radio met their fundraising goals, the “Yeah… Nah!” team are back to their old tricks: tapping into the New Zealand zeitgeist, and maybe signing our own deals with the devil. This week, we expound on the science of the Aurora Australis, the portrayal of skeptics on film, Marsden Point,…
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Escaping Australia Reality Olive
Yeah… Nah!’s ascent to the bottom rung of the NZ news ladder is on hold as Reality Check Radio scrambles for donations. Bronwyn explores an MLM that seems to have it all: misuse of real science, pseudoscientific practices, and talking olive trees. Mark makes the mistake of visiting Australia, and after weeks of badgering, Craig…
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Reality Archive Mystery
Another week, another NZ news outlet bites the dust. Will Yeah…Nah continue it’s slow rise to the top of the NZ media mountain on pure attrition? It sure feels like it! Join us as Craig potentially eulogises Reality Check Radio. Bronwyn makes a case for archiving all sorts of sundry websites, and Mark investigates an…
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No Bible Pascha Podcast
It’s a smorgasbord of topics on the podcast for the week after holy week. Mark has some very definitive things to say about the resurrection and the Sex.Life podcast; Craig considers a future as a bible salesman; and Bronwyn goes to extremes with a mini update on Raman Pascha.
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Psychic Altruistic Rollin’
In this week’s episode, Craig, Bronwyn and Mark are back with some weird and wonderful topics. Mark has been visited by Mormon sister missionaries, again. Bronwyn has responded to a request for comment about a psychic cafe in Katikati, Craig has been on a field trip to an Effective Altruism meeting at Rationalist House, and…
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King Embryo News Pwnz Invitations
Yeah…Nah is back to definitely not bring you the 6pm news from your local cranks, and those around the world. The gang talks about their surprise at receiving actual mail; Special guest Louise chats about King Charles’ magical thinking; Bronwyn is dismayed by developments from Alabama; Craig gives an early post-mortem of New Zealand journalism;…
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Repeal Raman Mandela Magnetism
Craig broke himself at the gym, but valiantly rallied so that he could avoid postponing this episode! Katrina is back to give a low down on the repeal of the Therapeutic Products Act, Mark has a movie review for us, Craig is inspired by individuals who hold multiple crank ideas at once, and Bronwyn discusses…
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Chip Bailey Misconception
Welcome back for another rundown on skeptical topics, old and new, that make the world go round. Craig gives an update on Neuralink; Mark sets us straight on historical myths and reverse idioms; and Bronwyn talks about Alice A. Bailey, the grandmother of the New Age, and what she has to do with New Zealand.…
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Zach’s Ghost Circle Jail
Another fortnight, another podcast. Bronwyn gives us some news hot off the internet, and exposes Craig for having a very expensive EMF Meter. Mark is sent in circles by Circling, and Craig gives a literal armchair critique of a YouTube debate between Evolutionary Biologist/Christian Apologist Dr. Zach Ardern and Stephen Woodward of the YouTube channel…
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Reading, Talking, Predating
No more tears! Yeah… Nah! is back for 2024 with a recent addition to our guest host retinue, new NZ Skeptics committee member Louise Richardson. We expel a bit of hot air over the books we’ve read during the hiatus, before delving into our favourite topics from the last couple of editions of the newsletter;…
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Young Tabaash Cities
The truth can be strange, but the ways that people can and do twist it can oftentimes be stranger. In this installment of the Yeah… Nah! podcast, we talk about the Mother Of All Revelations (MOAR) and find debunkers in unexpected places. Mark breaks down 15 Minute Cities, and the inevitable conspiracy theories that had…
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Twin Judy Zones (Skeptics Conference live special)
Recorded live in front of a skeptical audience. We talk about our annual awards, the media Bravos, Skeptic of the Year, and a very surprising winner of the Bent Spoon. We also have our own bugbears to share: Craig talks about the emerging scandal that is the Twin Flames universe, Mark describes his attempt to…
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Ārepa Party Sisters
Apologies for the unexpected break. We’ve all been struck down with some form of old age (Craig), covid (Mark), and an otherwise unspecified cold (Bronwyn). But never fear, we have things to say about the past three weeks! Craig gives us a rundown of Arepa’s recent fall from grace, Bronwyn talks about the lengths people…
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Election Battery Scam Doctors
The gang is back this week with a bit of election talk, and a morbid curiosity about how the minority parties fared. Craig gives us a non-EV topic, debunking fears about spontaneously combusting lithium ion batteries, while Mark, still chasing that Eastern Lightning high, gets embroiled in more online scams. Bronwyn closes out the episode…
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VPN Gender Protein
This week, our guest Tim Price tells Mark why he should say Yeah… Nah! to VPNs; Craig engages in one-sided email fisticuffs about gender; and Bronwyn gets grumpy about New Zealand’s role in the distribution of GcMAF, a fake cancer and Autism treatment. About this episode
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Therapeutic Catfish Genesis Experience
Welcome back to another instalment of the Yeah…Nah Podcast. Craig has some thoughts about a recent RNZ interview on Near Death Experiences; Bronwyn looks at the New Zealand connection to Miracle Mineral Supplement, and the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing; Super special guest Katrina is back with a post mortem of sorts on…
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Blackie Naisi Dee
The team at Yeah… Nah! revel in their atheism this week. We try to answer Nic Blackie’s 5 questions for non-Christians; Bronwyn ponders Naisi Chen’s hosting gig as Prayers @ Parliament’s parliamentary host; and Craig gives his mea culpa about John Dee, and talks random climate data on random substacks. About this episode
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Melanie Trecek-King
In this special episode, we talk to Melanie Trecek-King, one of this year’s conference speakers who will be joining us all the way from the United States. As well as working as an associate professor, Melanie runs Thinking is Power, an organisation whose mission is to teach critical thinking skills to both students and everyone…
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Stampin’ Gunn Excess Mass
Bronwyn kicks off the episode with some spicy MLM drama, courtesy of Stampin’ Up. Mark peers down the rabbit hole of Liz Gunn and her connection to the Fabian Society and, in a similar vein, Craig investigates Voices for Freedom’s claims that the COVID vaccine is causing an additional 90 deaths per week. To close…
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Ms. GoFlo Thermography by Two
In honour of the documentary Ms. Information being screened as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival, Siouxsie Wiles and Director Gwen Isaac join us for a rather fun episode. Craig gets skeptical about Thermography, an alternative breast cancer screening tool; having been kicked out of Eastern Lightning, Mark is a man with time…
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American Lightning Co-Governance
Craig is back in the saddle, although still a little rusty on the mic – but we forgive him (because we need him to edit the podcast). Mark reveals the ignoble end of his time with Eastern Lightning. Recurring guests Tim Atkin and Alexander Maxwell return, as we recollect on Julian Batchelor’s most recent attempt…
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432 Binaural Pain Poll
Craig is back on NZ soil in body, but not quite in mind, so while he gets over his jet lag Bronwyn, Mark and Katrina have invited fellow committee member Brad McClure to the party. Brad enlightens us that if our hearts did beat at 432 Hz, cancer wouldn’t be a problem because we’d be…
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UBI UFO ZAP Myths
Craig is still AWOL at his secret MLM conference so Bronwyn and Mark keep calling in some blood debts. Long-suffering skeptic James Kerr finally humours us with his presence, and gives the team an education on Universal Basic Income. Bronwyn talks about what put the zing in ZAP (Zenith Applied Philosophy). Mark talks about that…
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Scientology Mermaid Chip Freedoms
Craig has abandoned us, so Bronwyn and Mark abandon any sense of brevity in revolt. Mark gives an update on the wind down of his time with Eastern Lightning, and Bronwyn talks about Frank Turnbull, David Mayo and the early history of Scientology in New Zealand. Return guests Katrina and Daniel carry the rest of…
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Disinformation Temple Upline
Long time listener, but definitely not first time caller, Susan Shearer joins the crew this week to train the most problematic (and only) member of her downline. Bronwyn gives an update on the various travails of Highden Temple and the International School of the Temple Arts, and Craig offers a tongue in cheek eulogy to…
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Da Allodial Sleepdrop Retrograde
Craig is back with us and having a breather before his future travels to Utah, so we are making him work twice as hard. We debunk the rise of mercury in retrograde in the current newscycle; devour a very interesting Official Information Act Request; despair that claiming allodial title doesn’t preclude you from paying taxes;…
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Adytum Junk Prophets
When the chair entity is away, the committee members really struggle to keep to any agenda. While Craig is off galavanting in cafes on the other side of the ditch, Bronwyn and Mark call in reinforcements in the form of Katrina and Alistair, both of whom have provided variety in our past two newsletters. Al…
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Jolly Keto Buddha
Craig joins us on a high after he spent the evening stumping the comedians on the show 7 Days, and talks about magical Gummy Bears. Mark travels down a rabbit hole of woo that goes from Buddha stones, to ghosts, to wishing plates, and back again, and Bronwyn brings the show to an end with…
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$100,000 Easter Bluelight Comfort Fire
Hell is empty, and the heathens are recording on a sunny Good Friday. Mark bemoans the fact that he is aging, and rants about being upsold on bluelight filters at SpecSavers. Craig is salty at Bronwyn’s trolling, yet nevertheless answers the call to talk about the recent EV fire on the Auckland motorway. We discuss…
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Puzzling Heteronym Submission
Mark has found a failing of ChatGPT, but it’s not what you think. Bronwyn and Mark talk about their recent experience making an oral submission for the Therapeutic Products Bill. Finally, the team talks to Stuart Landsborough; lifelong skeptic, recent retiree, and the founder of Puzzling World and the NZ $100,000 Psychic Challenge. About this…
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Eastern Drag Census
We are a smaller contingent this week, but not by much. Dan Ryan returns to share how his and Mark’s investigation into the Chinese sect Eastern Lightning is progressing. Census day was March 7th, and we wonder whether the recent deluge of Star Wars content will impact the Jedi population. We also talk about Drag…
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Above Russ Hacking Bill
One, two, three, four, five… five committee members on the Yeah…Nah! podcast, Buckle in for a bit of a longer episode this week, as we sit in front of our microphones and talk about all and sundry. Craig practically had a private audience with Destiny Church acolyte Lincoln Russ; Bronwyn discusses one of the most…
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Gothard Pet Herbalist
This episode is a cracker. We pour one out for Darwin, Craig’s very good boy who recently crossed the rainbow bridge. Guest host Katrina talks about Henry the 8th and the Herbalists Charter of 1542, while Bronwyn talks about all things Bill Gothard. About this episode
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Natural Mattress Cult
The team sticks to the basics this week. We voice our concerns about the Therapeutic Products Bill, and whether there is too much wiggle room for natural health products (aka NHPs). Mark goes on a rant about advertising on podcasts (and has a weirdly specific hate for mattresses), Bronwyn gets to briefly mention Chris Butler…
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Slim Scots Bot
This week, with the sad absence of Bronwyn, regulars Craig and Mark are joined by recurring guest Alexander Maxwell, as well as Peter Harrison, former head of the Association of Rationalists and Humanists. The show starts off with a discussion about unethical advertising of diet plans, progresses to talk about whether we can have our…
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Battery Powered Tarot Fire
Mark returns, Bronwyn’s multitasking needs work, Craig tries to convince himself that everything is fine and Robyn Ramsden is our guest this week, on Yeah…Nah! Mark kicks off the festivities with a modern urban legend about boiling disposable batteries to recharge them. Keeping with the topic of the danger of batteries, Robyn Ramsden gives us…
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Sue Grey and Richter’s Scale
Due to puzzling circumstances, Mark sat this episode out – but the show must go on. Freelance journalist Anke Richter joins us from the South Island as we talk unvaccinated blood, shake our heads (again!) in (deepening) dismay about Sue Grey and Liz Gunn, and express our shock at Sean Plunket being the voice of…
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Electric Trad Conference Crusade
Bronwyn, Craig and Mark are live at the 2022 NZ Skeptics Conference, talking to the audience about their recent skeptical encounters. Craig has been arguing with people on Twitter about Electric Vehicles (EVs) and whether they’re environmentally friendly, while Bronwyn has been researching the conservative fad that is Trad Wives. Mark talks about his time…
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Green Caeayaron Frank Fraud
Bronwyn, Craig and Mark commiserate about the Go (not so) Green Expo, while special guest Alistair Blenney tells us more about pineal gland activator Caeayaron (Kyron) and their earthbound human voicemail, Suzanna Emmanuel. Bronwyn discusses the importance of being vigilant about scientific fraud in the West, while Mark continues to sift through the garbage that…
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Celibate Climate Cranium Cult
We continue to dangle the carrot of becoming a permanent co-host in front of Alexander Maxwell, and this time we have been rewarded with his thoughts on phrenology, activism and Dr. Kellog. Mark talks about No Nut November, Bronwyn tries to segue everything so that she can chat about ISTA and Highden, and Craig kicks…
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27 Bronner Jones
What do esoteric soap labels, schadenfreude, and dearly departed celebrities have in common? Not much; and while Bronwyn, Craig, and Mark don’t subscribe to apophenia in any form, they sure as hell are going to try to build clever segues between them. About this episode
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BioKodeLab Chinese Chess
It’s a full house on this week’s podcast. Tim Atkin joins us to talk about his recent submission to the newsletter, and Mark tries to determine if teledildonics had a role in US Grandmaster Hans Niemann’s cheating scandal. Craig shares that the Auckland Skeptics in the Pub had its first regular meeting, and everyone speculates…
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Mormon Cacao Destiny Temple
It’s been a fun-filled weekend for all three of us, with a skeptic themed road trip to Craig in Auckland for Bronwyn and Mark. As well as talking about our fascinating tour of the Mormon Temple, we also chat about our evening at Auckland Skeptics in the Pub, our cacao ceremony breakfast, a visit to…
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ISTA Arise Human Condition
Former NZ Skeptics committee member Lisa Ryan is our special guest this episode, giving us the rundown on the aftermath of the ARISE Pathfinding report. Craig demurs to tell us exactly why the christian pseudo-cult (or is that Pseudo-Christian cult…) Human Condition plagues his social media sidebar, Bronwyn talks about her current special interest of…
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A FARCing Special Episode
Join Craig as he lives vicariously through Bronwyn and Mark’s stories from the Freedom and Rights Coalition’s March and People’s Court. The day was thankfully anti-climatic, but the legacy of Destiny’s original, anti-civil union “Enough is Enough” march loomed large with the official launch of a still unformed, Tamaki-driven, coalition party. About this episode
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Gloriavale Acupuncture Furry
The hosts of the Yeah…Nah podcast are big fans of documentaries. Everyone saw Stuff Circuit’s Fire & Fury investigation into the current distributors of misinformation in New Zealand, and reminisced about the ghosts of cranks past. Daniel Ryan joins the team to discuss acupuncture, and also joins in on our chat about the new Gloriavale…
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Churchill Plankton IQ
Oh no, the Yeah…Nah podcast returns. Mark talks about a poorly researched, racist documentary that he’s watching so that you don’t have to. Bronwyn and Mark chat about their recent pieces on high IQ societies, and Craig issues a correction about his article about endangered plankton. We also talk a little bit about fluoride, and…
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Hippocratic Georgia Moon Crystal
Another week, another instalment of the Yeah…Nah podcast. We have some listener feedback from our previous episode, and Mark talks about the scam that is Moon Crystal Healing Bracelets. The group then laments the destruction of the Georgia Guidestones, and with it the conspiracies it inspired. Bronwyn closes out the show with some literal ancient…
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Genderbread Charity Bones
Yeah…Nah returns, and you might get whiplash from this week’s topics. It’s Craig’s turn to be on the receiving end of critical feedback, for his use of inclusive language in his Roe vs Wade article. Bronwyn and Mark discuss their recent foray into kiwi Christian culture, with their field trip to Prayer@Parliament. Mark also examines…
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Sentient ACE Voices
Yeah…Nah is back as promised. We have shifted our fortnightly recordings by a week for the foreseeable future, but you, dear listeners, won’t miss out. In this installment, the team try to stay on topic as Mark debates whether the Google AI is actually sentient or was asked leading questions, Craig discusses the newest pivot…
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Mailchimp Cancel Culture Lawyer
Two weeks of Yeah…Nah in a row? It’s the gift you never knew you wanted, but it’s exactly what you need. And it’s a bumper of an episode too, with Deanne the barrister answering all of our questions about defamation and shady practitioners. We also talk about the unexpected delay in this week’s newsletter release,…
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Political Birdshit Counterspin Gun
May has come to a close, and the Yeah…Nah! Podcast brings you the first podcast for June. SPECIAL GUEST STAR Alexander Maxwell returns to discuss how “white dielectric material” humanises the Cosmic Microwave Background. Mark attended the Counterspin Roadshow during its stop in Wellington, and shares his insights on the post-protest movement (and also confirms…
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Ring Rife SIDS
Mark is out of home isolation, and the team are back in top form for another Yeah…Nah episode. Craig and Bronwyn talk about an enzyme that could predict vulnerability of Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy, and the media misrepresentation of this study. Mark talks about the quack treatment that is RIFE therapy, and about Ken…
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COVID Trespass Zinga
It’s the Yeah… Nah! Podcast, COVID Edition, as Mark joins us from home lockdown. Or should we say Markdown? No? Nevermind… The Occupation of Parliament is the gift that keeps on giving, as your dedicated podcasters take in the ongoing aftermath with updates on the sovereign citizen sheriffs at an ANZAC day ceremony, former MPs…
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Mātauranga Psychogenic Homeopathy
The Yeah… Nah! Podcast is coming in hot with another fortnightly installment of skeptical news from New Zealand and beyond. The team keeps it biblical by taking in the ongoing aftermath of David Farrier’s expose of Arise, while dissecting fears around Mātauranga Māori being a slippery slope towards the teaching of creationism in science (when…
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Arise Mary Kay Putin
The Yeah… Nah! Podcast is giving you your regular skeptical fix. Special guest Alexander Maxwell, Associate Professor of History at Victoria University, is joining us to talk about the role of Russian propaganda in the War in the Ukraine. Craig muses on the abysmal quality of the nuremberg.nz website, Mark gets deep with David Farrier’s…
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Deepfake Mormon Lairds
The team is at it again for the next instalment of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast. Craig contemplates the political implication of deepfakes, Mark is on a mission to educate Mormon missionaries, and Bronwyn considers the con that is buying souvenir plots in Scotland. About this episode
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Colin Woodhouse Interview
In this special episode, Bronwyn and Mark interview Colin Woodhouse, and learn more about his advocacy for non-religious pastoral care. About this episode
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Firestarting NFT Chaplain
For this week’s Yeah… Nah! Podcast, the team reflects on the fiery end to the parliamentary occupation, Mark despairs that NFT scams have reached our Antipodean shores, and we’ll hear an excerpt of Bronwyn and Mark’s interview with Colin Woodhouse, and learn more about his advocacy for non-religious pastoral care. Our chat with Colin was…
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Profest Rating Conversion
In this installment of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast, the trio continue to deconstruct the so-called “Profest” at Parliament, Mark engages in a programming thought experiment, and Bronwyn talks about the success of the The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill. About this episode
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Nano Audiophile Convoy Guru
In this debut episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast, Bronwyn and Mark discuss their field trip to the Convoy 2022 gathering at Parliament, Craig pokes holes in claims of undisclosed nanotechnology contained in the pfizer vaccine, Mark and Craig indulge their inner audiophiles, and Bronwyn uses the recent controversy with Christchurch’s Lotus-Heart Restaurant to set…