We figured there was a lot more life in the idea of people trying to live forever, so all three of our podcast hosts this week - Bronwyn, Katrina and Mark - have picked a topic related to human lifespans. Katrina lets us know how long we can expect people to live, and how both the average life expectancy and upper age limit of living people have changed over time. Mark has been looking into the people who try to use science to extend their lifespan for as long as possible, with some hoping to live forever - although they seem to be trusting more in pseudoscience than evidence-backed treatments. And Bronwyn has compared and contrasted the most well-known cryonics companies, as well as looking into a curious early attempt to bring cryonics to New Zealand.
About this episode
Articles we talk about:
A brief history of immortality: 80 years of Cryonics Part 2
Radical Life Extension
How long can humans live?
Newsletter issues these articles appear in:
2025-06-23
--------
1:21:33
Golden Cryonics
Having been a week late with the last episode, we’re following up with an on-time episode, meaning you can listen to Yeah… Nah! two weeks in a row. This week Katrina wonders whether Trump’s Golden Dome idea of a missile defence shield around the US has any merit, and Bronwyn talks about the history of cryonics (not cryogenics). We also chat about our plan to cover the Telepathy Tapes, and suggest that some of our more intrepid listeners might want to try to listen to that podcast before we start talking about it - but beware, it’s horrifically pseudoscientific and intellectually painful to listen to.
About this episode
Articles we talk about:
The Golden Dome
A brief history of immortality: 80 years of Cryonics, Part 1
Newsletter issues these articles appear in:
2025-06-09
--------
58:02
Two Geese Under Mansplaining
As Bronwyn’s been on holiday overseas and come back suffering from food poisoning, we’ve recorded this episode a little late - but we’re sure it’s worth the wait! Mark gives his thoughts on John Campbell’s recent documentary series Under His Command, about the controversial Destiny Church and its leader, “Apostle” Brian Tamaki. Katrina looks into the scientific evidence for and against the idea of Mansplaining as a phenomenon, Bronwyn gives us an update on recent bad behaviour by members of the secretive Two by Twos church, and Mark’s been seeing some worrying trends when it comes to what Google’s search AI chooses to answer or refuse to answer.
About this episode
Articles we talk about:
Update on the Two by Twos
Review: Under His Command
Is ‘mansplaining’ a thing?
Better a Skeptic than Two Geese
Newsletter issues these articles appear in:
2025-05-26
--------
1:01:23
Radioactive CCC Octopus
We’re all over the show with our new episode of Yeah… Nah!, starting with Mark talking about his recent visit to another Creationist talk - and this one was as inspiring as it was factual. Katrina’s been concerning herself with the question of whether octopuses are going to take over the world, and Bronwyn’s managed to dig up some archive material about a small church in Lower Hutt that appears to have had more than its fair share of controversy and bad behaviour during its lifetime.
About this episode
Articles we talk about:
How Creationism Hurts My Brain
Could Octopodes take over the world?
Commonwealth Covenant Church: A forgotten NZ sect
Newsletter issues these articles appear in:
2025-05-12
Mentioned in this episode:
Dr Kemp’s Petition
Decult Film Night
--------
1:12:37
Catholic EMF Fairy Judge
In this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast, the team ponder an email sent in by Barry Lennox, who knows a little more about EMF than the people selling EMF Rocks. Katrina finishes off her series on Sovereign Citizens, looking at how the courts have dealt with the madness, and Bronwyn and Mark both have some weird and wonderful stories about the Catholic church, just in time for the Conclave.
About this episode
Articles we talk about:
Catholic Conspiracies
Holy Weed and Holy Forgeries
SoulCore - Catholic Yoga
EMF WooWoo
Sovereign Citizens: Part Three - the Courts
Newsletter issues these articles appear in:
2025-04-28
Yeah... Nah! is a fortnightly podcast from the New Zealand Skeptics focusing on the latest news of skeptical interest both locally and internationally.