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Welcome to the Completely Unnecessary Skeptical Podcast - A Skeptical Podcast brought to you from the bottom of the planet that's jam-packed with really interesting, random, (mostly) skeptical content with a distinctly unique Kiwi flavour. * Although we focus mainly on NZ skeptical issues (and skeptical issues that impact Kiwis), we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy our podcast (if you're a skeptic!) – no matter where you’re from. * Note: Kiwi refers to a small flightless bird indigenous to New Ze ...
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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 placebos, and Hamish Dickson makes h…
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“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 Articl…
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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 a…
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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 Articles we talk about: Don the Ast…
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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, and the recent sale of ex-Cent…
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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 finally watches the …
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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 audio mystery. About this episo…
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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. Articles we talk about: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Bibles for sale! S…
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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 Mark has spent the last …
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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; and…
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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 the Christchurch phenomenon that is Yasm…
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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. About this episode Articles we talk about…
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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 chan…
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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; Mark is scouted by a predatory journal, a…
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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 risen from them, and Bronwyn …
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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 entrap an online scammer named Agent Pa…
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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 go to not celebrate Hallowee…
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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 with thre…
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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 Our Guests: Tim Price Articles we talk about: VPN companies and their claims W…
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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 the Therapeutic Pro…
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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 Articles we talk about: Lyi…
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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 else. Her resources …
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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 out the episode, Bronwyn and Mark t…
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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 on his…
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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 to win over the Kapiti Coast, and Cr…
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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 dead. Mark brings in the binaural beats, Bronwyn forces everyone t…
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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 old skeptical standb…
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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 the podcast. Katrina talks about Elon…
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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 the late Rashid Buttar. Abou…
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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; and dive into the life …
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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 talks about the School of Prophets, Katrin…
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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 something a little “jolly”. About this episode Articles we t…
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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 the responses (or in Kelvin Cruic…
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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 episo…
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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 Story Times and the misguided respo…
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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 influential conservative Christia…
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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 Our guests: Katrina Borthwick Articles we talk about: Fundamentalist Exchange: Th…
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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 and the Science of Iden…
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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 cake and eat i…
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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 more …
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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 reason (and no longer the voice for f…
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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 h…
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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 th…
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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 off an interesting debate about…
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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 Articles we talk about: 2022 NZ Skeptics Conference The 27 Club Alex Jones Judg…
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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 on an email sent to u…
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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 the old Centrepoint location, a brief stop at Dest…
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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 …
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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…
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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 documentary …
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