Yeah... Nah!
NZ Skeptics
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Yeah... Nah! is a fortnightly podcast from the New Zealand Skeptics focusing on the latest news of skeptical interest both locally and internationally.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
Sep 20, 2023
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 the Therapeutic Products Act; and Mark shares his experience of being catfished.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-09-18
* 2023-09-11
* 2023-09-04
* Articles we talk about:
* Wham, Bam, Autism Scams - The bad actors and bad science behind the most egregious claims about the causes and cure for Autism
* Catfish Noodles
* A Second Helping of Catfish Noodles
* Therapeutic Products Act analysis
* RNZ Expert Feature: Near death experiences
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Sep 5, 2023
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.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-09-04
* 2023-08-28
* Articles we talk about:
* Lying for Jesus: Nic Blackie Edition
* What to Make of Naisi Chen
* Hottest July on record?
* Events:
* See Ms. Information in a theatre near you!
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Aug 26, 2023
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 else. Her resources are a great primer for skepticism, tradching people about how to spot pseudoscience, common logical fallacies, what science is, and more. It was really good to talk with Melanie ahead of November’s conference in Dunedin, and we’re looking forward to meeting her in person.
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Aug 22, 2023
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 out the episode, Bronwyn and Mark talk about their experience at a recent Gnostic Mass.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-08-21
* 2023-08-14
* Articles we talk about:
* Liz Gunn vs the Fabians
* Gnostic Mass: A touch of Aleister in the Antipodes
* Is New Zealand really missing out by being cautious with cryptocurrencies?
* Events:
* See Ms. Information in a theatre near you!
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Aug 8, 2023
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 on his hands and talks about joining a group with an, allegedly, more rationalist mindset; and finally, Bronwyn talks about the more established, and far less talkative, christian sect known as the Two by Twos.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-08-07
* 2023-07-31
* Articles we talk about:
* Ms. Information
* Miss Conduct
* Thermography in New Zealand
* Two-by-twos: The sect with 2 many names and just as many problems
* Part 1
* Part 2
* The Inner Sanctum of the GloFlo movement
* Events:
* See Ms. Information in a theatre near you!
* See all planned screenings
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jul 24, 2023
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 to win over the Kapiti Coast, and Craig shares some tidbits about his recent trip to North America.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-07-24
* 2023-07-17
* Articles we talk about:
* Trick or Treaty: Should you trust an evangelist to be honest about our history?
* Go Home Racists - A surprisingly sedate story of a counter protest
* The Discursive Supremacy of the Treaty of Waitangi
* How Eastern Lightning Grew in China
* The Lightning has Died, at least for me
* Tripping around North America
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jul 11, 2023
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 dead. Mark brings in the binaural beats, Bronwyn forces everyone to listen to some of the awful and not so awful music she found for the Cult Leaders and Devotees music poll, and Katrina explains why the pain you may feel after listening to all of this is oh so very real.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-07-10
* 2023-07-03
* 2023-06-26
* Articles we talk about:
* I’m running out of cults to join
* 432Hz: What the freq do we know?
* Chants and Chords: Top tunes from leaders and devotees, as voted by YOU!
* Binaural Beats
* Backmasking
* The Weirdness of Pain
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jun 27, 2023
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 old skeptical standby, UFOs, and Katrina returns yet again to discuss popular myths in psychology.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-06-26
* 2023-06-19
* 2023-06-12
* 2023-06-06
* Articles we talk about:
* David Grusch and his UFO myths
* No, your awesome policy idea will not pay for itself
* John Dalhoff and Zenith Applied Philosophy (Z.A.P), Part 1
* John Dalhoff and Zenith Applied Philosophy (Z.A.P), Part 2
* Zap To the Future
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jun 13, 2023
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 the podcast. Katrina talks about Elon Musk’s brain chips, and her own life as a cyborg. Daniel, on the other hand, does twice the work as the rest of us, with the shortest segment ever (how people are trying to game the ratings of the new live-action Little Mermaid movie), and a report on the anti-trans rhetoric on show at the Freedoms NZ roadshow in the Hutt Valley last week.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-06-12
* 2023-06-06
* Articles we talk about:
* The Warehouse puberty blockers
* Thank Almighty God Above
* Brain Chips in Humans
* Diving into The Little Mermaid’s Online Ratings
* Scientology and New Zealand
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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May 30, 2023
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 the late Rashid Buttar.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-05-29
* 2023-05-22
* Articles we talk about:
* I joined an MLM!
* A Highden Temple / International School of the Temple Arts (ISTA) update
* Bye bye disinformation guy
* Events:
* Conference: November 24th-26th, 2003 at Toitῡ - Otago Settlers Museum. More details to come.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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May 17, 2023
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; and dive into the life and crazy wisdom of the late American spiritual guru, Franklin Jones, aka Adi Da Samraj, aka Da Free John, aka Bubba Free John.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-05-15
* 2023-05-08
* Articles we talk about:
* Mercury in retrograde
* New Freeland, Revisited
* By many, many other names: The many lives of the late Avatar Adi Da Samraj
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity?
* Apply for a small grant…
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May 2, 2023
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 talks about the School of Prophets, Katrina gives advice on how to increase the real science in your life by ditching the junk, and Bronwyn puts a bow on her research into Builders of the Adytum.
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-05-01
* 2023-04-23
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Apr 19, 2023
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 something a little “jolly”.
* The $100,000 NZ Skeptics Challenge
* Watch Craig on 7 Days
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-04-17
* 2023-04-11
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Apr 7, 2023
$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 the responses (or in Kelvin Cruickshank’s case, lack thereof) to our $100,000 Challenge, and Bronwyn closes out her series on Evangelicals and New Zealand with some words of (Ray) Comfort.
* The $100,000 NZ Skeptics Challenge
* Relevant Newsletters:
* 2023-04-03
* 2023-03-27
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Mar 22, 2023
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.
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Mar 7, 2023
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 Story Times and the misguided responses they’ve received.
* Newsletters
* 2023-03-06
* 2023-02-27: This issue is currently unavailable. We hope to have it live again soon.
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Feb 20, 2023
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 influential conservative Christian New Zealanders that few know about - Nancy Campbell of the Above Rubies Magazine; Katrina tells us more about p-hacking; and Dan updates us on the Therapeutic Products Bill, and what people have submitted so far...
* Donate cash instead of goods to help areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle
* Pearl and Serene Campbell/Considering Lily’s music video for Cup
* A Maintenance Phase podcast episode about Brian Wansink and p-hacking
* Make your own Select Committee submission for the Therapeutic Products Bill
* Newsletters
* 2023-02-13
* 2023-02-20
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auc…
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Feb 7, 2023
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.
* Make your own Select Committee submission for the Therapeutic Products Bill
* Newsletters
* 2023-02-07
* 2023-01-30
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jan 24, 2023
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 and the Science of Identity Foundation, before the conversation turns to whether leaving a cult makes someone more susceptible to joining a new one.
* Make your own Select Committee submission for the Therapeutic Products Bill
* Current Newsletter
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Jan 11, 2023
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 cake and eat it when it comes to bad actors in the science community and other communities, and finishes with a spirited four-way discussion about ChatGPT and other recent AI tools, and whether they’re reasoning or just particularly capable fakes.
* Optislim Complaint
* ChatGPT
* Dan Savage’s article
* MidJourney
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Dec 20, 2022
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 more insight into her university studies and exploding batteries in electric vehicles. Craig is in awe about a recent US discovery about nuclear fusion, and Bronwyn talks about a recent media request regarding growth in the tarot card market.
* WooWoo Shop
* Highden Oracle Deck
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Dec 13, 2022
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 reason (and no longer the voice for freedom). Anke then steals the show from right under us with her insights about the work of FACT Aotearoa, and the abuses that underpin the cults that she writes about in her recently released book Cult Trip.
* Buy Anke Richter’s Cult Trip from Mighty Ape
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Nov 27, 2022
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 at the Wellington Franklin Graham God Loves You tour event, and we end the podcast by talking about the winners of our annual Bent Spoon, Bravo and Skeptic of the Year awards.
* Events:
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Nov 14, 2022
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 is the docuseries Europa. This time? Accusations against the authenticity of Anne Frank’s diary. Skip to the end to hear Craig’s progress through No Nut November
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022.
* Book your tickets now.
* Let us know of any nominations for the Bent Spoon or Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Dunedin
* Learn more about Caeayaron
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for…
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Oct 31, 2022
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 off an interesting debate about the No Oil protests.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022.
* Book your tickets now.
* Let us know of any nominations for the Bent Spoon or Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Oct 18, 2022
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.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022.
* Book your tickets now. Early bird weekend tickets $99 until October 31st, 2022
* Contact the committee with any last minute ideas for speakers.
* Let us know of any nominations for the Bent Spoon or Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptics.
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Oct 5, 2022
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 on an email sent to us that clued us into Fonterra’s new dubious venture, blue-light blocking supplements.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022.
* Book your tickets now
* Contact the committee with any last minute ideas for speakers.
* Let us know of any nominations for the Bent Spoon or Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub:
* Wellington
* Auckland
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant from the NZ Skeptic…
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Sep 20, 2022
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 the old Centrepoint location, a brief stop at Destiny church and a gawk at Highden Temple from afar. We also despair over the pro-conspiracy signs we saw on the road between Wellington and Auckland.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022. Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* If you have the following NZ Skeptic journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you:
* 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 1…
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Sep 6, 2022
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 Highden Temple/International School of the Temple Arts, and both Mark and Bronwyn successfully peer pressure Craig into checking out the Hamilton Mormon Temple with them next week.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022. Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* If you have the following NZ Skeptic journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear…
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Aug 23, 2022
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.
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022. Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* Come and meet us at Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* Help us out:
* NZ Skeptical History project: Submit a date of interest
* If you have the following NZ Skeptic journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you:
* 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Need financial assistance for a skeptical activity? Apply f…
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Aug 15, 2022
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 documentary which is currently showing as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival, and will be available for wider release this week.
And, as the Podcast ended, David Farrier released what is allegedly a copy of the Pathfinding Report into ARISE church, so go and read that!
* Our most recent Newsletters:
* 2022-08-15
* 2022-08-08
* From this episode:
* Stuff Circuit: Fire and Fury
* NZ On Air: Gloriavale
* Events:
* The NZ Skeptics Conference will be held in Wellington on November 25th-27th, 2022. Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and…
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Aug 2, 2022
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 the Freedom and Rights Coalition’s plans to overthrow the government. Again.
* Relevant Newsletters
* 2022-08-01
* 2022-07-25
* Need financial assistance for an upcoming protest or skeptical activity? Apply for a small grant or reimbursements up to $500 NZD from the NZ Skeptics.
* Can you do better on the mini Mensa test than Craig? Try and find out!
* Mark’s baby names website.
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Watch this space! Initial conference details will be released soon. Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If…
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Jul 18, 2022
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 history and the importance of reading your primary sources.
* Relevant Newsletters
* 2022-07-18
* 2022-07-11
* Steven Novella : The Science of Biological Sex
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Conference planning is underway! Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If you have the following NZ Skeptics journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in…
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Jul 5, 2022
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 the recent decision to remove Family First’s charity status. Finally, Mark makes Bronwyn regret her choice of topic.
* Relevant Newsletters
* 2022-07-04
* 2022-06-27
* Genderbread Person
* Oddfellows and their skeletons
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Conference planning is underway! Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If you have the following NZ Skeptics journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skep…
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Jun 21, 2022
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 from Voices For Freedom, and Bronwyn gets into the weeds of the Accelerated Christian Education homeschool curriculum.
* 7 absurd things America’s kids are learning thanks to conservatives
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Conference planning is underway! Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If you have the following NZ Skeptics journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the P…
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Jun 7, 2022
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, and consider whether deplatforming is a valid tool for skeptical activism.
There will be no episode of Yeah…Nah next week, but we will be back in a fortnight!
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Conference planning is underway! Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If you have the following NZ Skeptics journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* At Skeptics in th…
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May 31, 2022
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 that the dark side does have cookies). Feedback Bronwyn received on the Femtech article leads to contemplation on whether political correctness is unskeptical, and Craig closes off talking about an online conversation on gun control that was inspired by his recent newsletter article.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-05-30
* 2022-05-23
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* Conference planning is underway! Contact the committee with your ideas for speakers, workshops, tours, as well as your nominees for the Bent Spoon and Bravo awards.
* If you have…
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May 16, 2022
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 Ring’s recent and worrisome behaviour. Bronwyn shares another story from New Zealand Skeptical history.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-05-17
* 2022-05-09
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* If you have the following NZ Skeptics journal issues in your possession, we’d love to hear from you: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 27, 30, 35, 36, 44
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Dunedin
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May 3, 2022
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 being trespassed from parliament, and Jeanette Wilson’s lack of progress with her police complaint. Mark discusses a recent Broadcasting Standards Authority decision on an NZDSOS complaint about Nikki Turner’s segment on Seven Sharp. Bronwyn gives a heads up on a conspiracy theory that attempts to link the recent outbreak of acute paediatric hepatitis with the COVID-19 vaccine, and shares a true crime tidbit with an NZ connection that she came across while working on the 365 Days of Skepticism calendar. The show finishes with recommendations of two docuseries that will pique the interest of many listeners: Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed and new episode…
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Apr 18, 2022
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 our current religious instruction programme is already doing the job). We discuss some correspondence we received from fans and detractors alike, and in this, the sacred month of Autism Acceptance, the gang despair that some homeopaths in NZ still offer CEASE (Complete Elimination of Autism Spectrum Expression) therapy.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-04-18
* 2022-04-11
* Rebecca Watson on Mātauranga Māori: Part 1 & Part 2
* Resurrection / Empty Tomb Rolls
* The Twitching Generation: Around the world, doctors have noticed teenage patients reporting the sudden onset of tics. I…
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Apr 5, 2022
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 expose on Arise Church, and Bronwyn considers the failure of Mary Kay and Avon in the modern New Zealand market.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-04-04
* 2022-03-28
* Alexander Maxwell’s academic profile
* Toby Mahire: Inaction on NZ ‘Nuremberg’ site sparks calls for overhaul of system ‘not fit for purpose’
* David Farrier: Hillsong isn’t the only Abhorrent Megachurch
* Stephen Jay Gould: The Mismeasure of Man
* PinkTruth: Facts, opinions, and the real truth behind Mary Kay Cosmetics
* NZ Skeptical History: Submit a date of interest
* If you have the following NZ Ske…
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Mar 23, 2022
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.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-03-21
* 2022-03-14
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* Online at our nationwide social meetings, Skeptics in Cyberspace
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Mar 7, 2022
Colin Woodhouse Interview
In this special episode, Bronwyn and Mark interview Colin Woodhouse, and learn more about his advocacy for non-religious pastoral care.
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Mar 7, 2022
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 so interesting that we were reluctant to edit it down! This week we are providing the entirety of Colin’s interview as a separate episode.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-02-28
* 2022-03-07
* From Colin’s Interview:
* Non-Religious Pastoral Care Network
* David Savage’s Non-Religious Pastoral Care: A Practical Guide
* Joanna Mutlow’s Being There: Responses in Humanist Pastoral Care
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
Online at our nationwide social meetings, Skeptics in Cyberspace
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Feb 21, 2022
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.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-02-14
* 2022-02-21
* The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill
* You can watch all the submissions here
* If you are interested in our specific submission you can watch it here from 1:00:28.
* Read our original written submission, and the text that formed the basis of our oral submission.
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
Online at our nationwide social meetings, Skeptics in Cyberspace
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Feb 7, 2022
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 the scene for a 2-part investigation into the controversial guru Sri Chinmoy.
* Check out our last two newsletters for details on these stories and more:
* 2022-02-07
* 2022-01-31
* Become a member of the NZ Skeptics
* Come and meet us:
* At Skeptics in the Pub in Wellington
* Online at our nationwide social meetings, Skeptics in Cyberspace
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