Yeah... Nah!

We’ve had a bunch of feedback to the last newsletter, rightly calling out an article on UV that relied on weak evidence. The resulting conversation, continued in this episode of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast, revolves around how (if at all) we publish articles that aren’t on solid ground when it comes to the level of evidence for their claims. We also wonder whether robot vacuums are secretly spies living in our houses, talk about how child sponsorships don’t always deliver what you’ve been promised, and try to figure out why people think their destinies are being stolen.

About this episode

Articles we talk about:

Response to Lance Kennedy's UV article

Are the Robot Vacuums out to get us?

Making cents of charity: Child Sponsorship

Making cents of charity: Child Sponsorship, Part 2

Destiny Swapping

Newsletter issues these articles appear in:

2026-08-31

2026-09-14

The crew are incensed in this episode of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast, first talking about rude Mormons. Then the conversation turns to “psychic” Sue Nicholson, and some of the outlandish claims she made at a recent Spiritualist Church fundraiser in Wellington. Mark explains the idea behind Angel Numbers, and reveals a surprising critic. And Katrina details an “ancient” amphitheatre that turns out to be nowhere near as old as it’s claimed to be.

About this episode

Articles we talk about:

Sue Nicholson at the Petone Spiritualist Church

Angel Numbers

The ancient amphitheatre that has stood for… decades

Newsletter issues these articles appear in:

2026-08-17

2026-08-31

After a break to go down to Christchurch for the 2026 NZ Skeptics conference, our podcast hosts are back and keen to chat about all things conference related. Katrina fills us in on the weekend of talks, Mark reports back on the annual award winners, and Bronwyn lays out what the Society’s been up to in her Chair report. Then Mark goes off-script, talking about his trip back to Wellington, and some of the awful music he and his travelling companions found in charity shops between Christchurch and Picton and were forced to listen to.

About this episode

Articles we talk about:

The Conference in Photos: Saturday Morning

“You can’t give someone insight, you have to let them come to the realisation themself”

2026 AGM Chair’s Report

2026 NZ Skeptic Awards

Newsletter issues these articles appear in:

2026-08-17

Katrina is back, and Tim Atkin is also joining us for this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast. We start off talking about some cheeky changes that have happened in Rationalist House in Auckland, adding labels to all the portraits on the walls declaring them to be part of the “Dead Old White Men” series. Katrina lets us know what advice the NZ Police are now giving to their officers for how to deal with Sovereign Citizens. And finally Tim, Bronwyn and Mark talk about their recent visit to the “premiere” of a creationist movie called Universe Designed - needless to say, none of them were overly impressed by the evidence for God’s hand in creating the universe.

About this episode

Our guests:

Tim Atkin

Articles we talk about:

Review: Universe Designed

Updated Guidance for Police on SovCits

Dead Old White Men

Newsletter issues these articles appear in:

2026-07-20

We’re missing a member in this episode of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast - Katrina has abandoned us. But have no fear, journalist Anke Richter has joined us in Katrina’s stead. Anke recently visited the US to attend the ICSA’s annual conference on cults, and tells us all about how it went - including the fact that she won an award for her work organising the Decult conference here in New Zealand. We also get some inside info on speakers for the second Decult, happening this October in Christchurch, and share our unvarnished opinions on the new Gloriavale documentary series.

About this episode

Our guests:

Anke Richter

Useful links:

https://decult.net/

Articles we talk about:

Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal - The most frustrating Gloriavale documentary

A 2026 Australasian cult and religion update

Newsletter issues these articles appear in:

2026-07-06