Life, the Universe & Everything Else
74 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsLife, the Universe, & Everything Else is a monthly show that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. We try not to take ourselves too seriously.
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Episodes
Episode 173: Social Contagion and Psychogenic Illness
October 11, 2021 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem is joined by Ashlyn, Laura, and Lauren to talk about social contagion and unpack the sociological, psychological, and sometimes pseudoscientific history of “hysteria”. Topics include the Tanganyika laughter epidemic, the Dancing Plague of 1518, and the Seattle windshield pitting epidemic. Life, the Universe & … Continue reading Episode 173: Social Contagion and Psychogenic Illness →
Episode 172: Quiz Show XP
September 06, 2021 12:00 - 87.8 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Gem, Lauren, and Laura engage in a battle of wits over today’s most important scientific topics: eels, climate change, and… Jim Henson movies? Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Eels: Surprised Eel Historian, … Continue reading Episode 172: Quiz Show XP →
Episode 171: Dubious Diagnoses
August 02, 2021 20:39 - 99.2 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura is joined by Gem, Ashlyn, and Lauren to discuss Morgellons syndrome, adrenal fatigue, Wilson’s temperature syndrome, and candida overgrowth, four medical diagnoses with dubious supporting evidence. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Morgellons … Continue reading Episode 171: Dubious Diagnoses →
Episode 170: Fish Crime!
July 05, 2021 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Ashlyn, and Lauren revisit Seaspiracy and discuss transnational organized crime in the international fisheries industry with returning guest Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Director of Research for Oceans Asia. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and … Continue reading Episode 170: Fish Crime! →
Episode 169: Legislative Prayer
June 21, 2021 13:14 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Ashlyn, and Lauren speak with Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, the Research Coordinator for the BC Humanist Association, about his research into unconstitutional governmental prayer in Canada. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Links: … Continue reading Episode 169: Legislative Prayer →
Episode 168: “Seaspiracy”
May 28, 2021 17:10 - 114 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Laura, and Gem watch the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, and find that they have more to say about it than they expected! Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Additional Music: This episode includes … Continue reading Episode 168: “Seaspiracy” →
Episode 167: Medical History
April 19, 2021 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Ashlyn, Lauren, and Laura swap tales from medical history, including the story of Ben Carson’s separation of the Binder twins, the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, and the “tainted blood scandal” that led to the formation of Canadian Blood Services. Life, the Universe & Everything … Continue reading Episode 167: Medical History →
Episode 166: The Wellness Industry
March 22, 2021 11:30 - 91.4 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura leads Ashlyn, Gem, and Lauren in a discussion of the wellness industry, including a brief detour into QAnon conspiracies, and together the panel tries to figure out what wellness even is, anyway. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the … Continue reading Episode 166: The Wellness Industry →
Episode 165: SoupCast!
February 22, 2021 12:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Laura, Gem, and Lauren discuss soup’s history as a religious conversion tool, the science of bone broth, and the discredited claim that bat soup was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, then everyone attempts (and fails!) to define what, exactly, makes something a soup. Life, … Continue reading Episode 165: SoupCast! →
Episode 164: Food Aid
January 25, 2021 12:30 - 60.4 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura leads the panel in a discussion of food aid, both foreign and domestic, and the ways in which the global pandemic has influenced the delivery of services. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. … Continue reading Episode 164: Food Aid →
Episode 163: Limitless
December 25, 2020 12:00 - 98.3 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Laura, Lauren, and Gem discuss people who push their bodies to the limit, including saturation divers, ultramarathoners, mountaineers, and stratospheric skydivers. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Additional Music: “Friends” by Dragon Sound, … Continue reading Episode 163: Limitless →
Episode 162: Nutrition Myths
November 23, 2020 12:30 - 58 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura leads the panel on a discussion of several nutrition myths that just won’t die. Topics include expiry dates, nightshades, and pink salt. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Expiry Dates: Expiration Dates Don’t … Continue reading Episode 162: Nutrition Myths →
Episode 161: Prophecy
October 19, 2020 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Laura, and Lauren lead Gem on a whirlwind tour of various prophecies and prophets, including the caged prophet of St. Lambert’s Church, the Prophecy of the Popes, and blind soothsayer who supposedly predicted that Trump would get COVID-19. Life, the Universe & Everything Else … Continue reading Episode 161: Prophecy →
Episode 160: Hauntings
September 14, 2020 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Laura, Ashlyn, and Lauren discuss the plausibility of hauntings, then do a deep dive on the true (and not-so-true) stories behind the Amityville Horror and the Coventry University Ghost. Then Ashlyn brings the show home with her thoughts on why COVID quarantine seems to … Continue reading Episode 160: Hauntings →
Episode 159: Policing in Canada
August 18, 2020 15:40 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem is joined by Ashlyn, Lauren, and Laura to discuss the history of policing in Canada. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Historical events in RCMP-Indigenous relations (Royal Canadian … Continue reading Episode 159: Policing in Canada →
Episode 158: Public Health History
July 27, 2020 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Gem, Laura, and Lauren discuss the history of several public health initiatives: handwashing, toothbrushing, and nutrient fortification of food. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Updated: During his segment, Gem mistakenly said “postpartum … Continue reading Episode 158: Public Health History →
Episode 157: UFPhonies
June 22, 2020 11:00 - 153 MBOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem is joined by Ashlyn, Laura, Lauren, and special guest Ian James to discuss several famous UFO sightings that turned out (in large part) to be hoaxes. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Past … Continue reading Episode 157: UFPhonies →
Episode 156: Wrath of the Quiz Show!
May 25, 2020 11:00 - 85.3 MBWith their usual trivia night cancelled due to COVID quarantine, on this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else Gem, Laura, Ashlyn, and Lauren put together one of their own. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Computers: B (programming language) (Wikipedia) | C … Continue reading Episode 156: Wrath of the Quiz Show! →
Episode 155: COVID Quacks
April 20, 2020 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Gem, and Laura discuss the charlatans and snake oil salesmen trying to profit off of the COVID-19 pandemic. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Researchers are tracking another pandemic, … Continue reading Episode 155: COVID Quacks →
Episode 154: New Religious Movements
March 28, 2020 02:58 - 162 BytesLauren hosts and Laura edits on this topsy-turvy episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else! The gang discusses New Religious Movements: Lauren relates their experience with Discordianism, Laura is over the moon for the Moonies, Gem expresses his disgust for the Internet’s own Cult of Kek, and Ashlyn provides a primer on Pastafarianism. Then … Continue reading Episode 154: New Religious Movements →
Episode 153: “The Game Changers”
February 17, 2020 12:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Laura, Ashlyn, and Lauren are joined by Dave Bonwick to discuss The Game Changers, a Netflix documentary that advocates for the healthfulness of a vegan diet. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and … Continue reading Episode 153: “The Game Changers” →
Episode 152: SandwichCast!
January 13, 2020 12:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura leads Ashlyn, Lauren, and Gem in a discussion of the history and science of sandwiches, then everyone attempts (and fails!) to define what, exactly, makes something a sandwich. On this episode: Ashlyn maintains that open-faced sandwiches do not exist, Gem argues that soup in … Continue reading Episode 152: SandwichCast! →
Episode 151: July at Christmas
December 16, 2019 12:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Laura, and Gem escape winter briefly to talk about summery things: sunscreen, butterflies, the summer solstice, and whether drinking hot tea can really cool you down. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, … Continue reading Episode 151: July at Christmas →
Episode 150: The Anthropocene Extinction
November 18, 2019 12:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Lauren, Ashlyn, and Laura discuss the ongoing Holocene Extinction through the lens of four extinct species, and conservation through the lens of four endangered species. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular … Continue reading Episode 150: The Anthropocene Extinction →
Episode 149: Paranormal Challenges
October 21, 2019 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn is joined by Gem, Laura, and Lauren to discuss skeptical paranormal challenges. After Ashlyn’s overview, Lauren introduces Abraham Kovoor’s challenge, Laura talks about Joseph Dunninger, and Gem covers Sanal Edamaruku’s Great Tantra Challenge. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves … Continue reading Episode 149: Paranormal Challenges →
Episode 148: Medical Myths
September 16, 2019 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem talks about Anthroposophic medicine and some of the weird myths it promotes, Lauren discusses medicalization, Laura busts some myths about food, and Ashlyn quizzes the panel about sexually transmitted infections. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of … Continue reading Episode 148: Medical Myths →
Bonus Episode: One Hundred Proofs
August 19, 2019 11:00 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem presents Laura with a dozen or so of William Carpenter’s One Hundred Proofs That the Earth Is Not a Globe. She is… unconvinced. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: … Continue reading Bonus Episode: One Hundred Proofs →
Episode 147: More Conspiracies!
August 13, 2019 00:48 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Laura, and Gem get conspiratorial! Lauren gives everyone the rundown on QAnon, Laura presents three food-related conspiracies, and Ashlyn explains why the Denver Airport is full of weird (but probably not Satanic) art. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that … Continue reading Episode 147: More Conspiracies! →
Episode 146: Standardized Testing
July 22, 2019 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn explains standardized testing in Canadian high schools, Lauren introduces the SAT and ACT, Gem rambles about the MCAT, and Laura asks some pointed questions about citizenship testing. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, … Continue reading Episode 146: Standardized Testing →
Episode 145: “Behind the Curve”
June 17, 2019 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Gem, and Laura watch the Netflix documentary “Behind the Curve”, which follows a group of “flerfers” out to prove that the Earth is flat. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular … Continue reading Episode 145: “Behind the Curve” →
Episode 144: Twenty Questions
May 20, 2019 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem talks about Google’s search autocomplete feature, then Lauren, Ashlyn, Laura, and Gem answer twenty of the most popular questions suggested by Google. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Correction: When … Continue reading Episode 144: Twenty Questions →
Episode 143: Animal Culture
April 22, 2019 11:30 - 162 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn leads a discussion of culture in nonhuman animals. Laura discusses tool use, Lauren talks about crows, and Gem talks about the destructive effect humans have on chimpanzee culture. And everyone has bad opinions about sandwiches. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast … Continue reading Episode 143: Animal Culture →
Episode 142: Rare Diseases
March 18, 2019 11:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Lauren, Ashlyn, and Laura discuss rare diseases and regulatory responses to them. Specific diseases discussed include diabetes insipidus, toxic shock syndrome, and the Cotard delusion. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular … Continue reading Episode 142: Rare Diseases →
Episode 141: Return of the Quiz Show Show!
February 11, 2019 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Gem, Laura, and special guest Dave compete to see who knows most about myths, riddles, hippos, and this very podcast! Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Beginnings and Endings: … Continue reading Episode 141: Return of the Quiz Show Show! →
Episode 140: Three Pseudosciences
January 14, 2019 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Lauren, Laura, and Ashlyn dive into three unscientific practices: flower remedies, feng shui, and iridology. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Flower Remedies: The Original Bach Flower Remedies Information and … Continue reading Episode 140: Three Pseudosciences →
Episode 139: The Unnecessary Christmas Show
December 17, 2018 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Laura, and Gem talk about several elements of the holiday consumer frenzy. Lauren tackles gift guides, Gem explains why corporations love gift cards, Ashlyn talks about holiday debt, and Laura ends the show with a discussion of some truly bizarre holiday products. Life, … Continue reading Episode 139: The Unnecessary Christmas Show →
Episode 138: Wikipedia
November 19, 2018 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Ashlyn, Lauren, and Laura talk about the history and reliability of Wikipedia and its many controversies, then end the episode with some of our favourite Wikipedia finds. Also on this episode: Lauren and Gem disagree about punctuation, and Laura does a lot of yelling … Continue reading Episode 138: Wikipedia →
Episode 137: Where’s My Jetpack?
October 22, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, Gem, and Laura discuss science fiction technologies that have become science fact, and Gem depresses the hell out of everyone. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Power Glove … Continue reading Episode 137: Where’s My Jetpack? →
Episode 136: Patent Medicine
September 17, 2018 11:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Laura, Ashlyn, and Lauren discuss the history and future of patent medicine, from snake oil and Piso’s Cure for Consumption through Bovinine and bitters all the way to the Burzynski Clinic. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues … Continue reading Episode 136: Patent Medicine →
Episode 135: Personality Testing
August 20, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Gem, Laura, and Lauren put their personalities to the test, explore the history of the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator, and try to determine whether any of these personality tests are actually science-based. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues … Continue reading Episode 135: Personality Testing →
Episode 134: Replication Crisis!
July 16, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem is joined by Ashlyn, Laura, and Lauren to discuss the unfolding replication crisis in science, with a focus on several high profile psychological studies whose results have been called into question. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues … Continue reading Episode 134: Replication Crisis! →
Episode 133: Notorious Hucksters
June 18, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Lauren explores the great hucksters of history with Laura and Ashlyn—and Gem’s back! Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Radionics (Wikipedia) | Albert Abrams (Wikipedia) | The Untold Story of … Continue reading Episode 133: Notorious Hucksters →
Episode 132: Life Hacks
May 14, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Laura, and Lauren discuss and evaluate dubious “life hacks” they found online. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: 9 Crazy Body Hacks That Give You Superhuman Powers (Popular Science) … Continue reading Episode 132: Life Hacks →
Episode 131: “Mermaids: The Body Found”
April 16, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn subjects Lauren, Laura, and Dave to “Mermaids: The Body Found”, a fake documentary that aired on Animal Plant and Discovery Channel in 2012, which combines discredited pseudoscience with stuff that the producers just made up. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast … Continue reading Episode 131: “Mermaids: The Body Found” →
Episode 130: Nutritional Devices
March 12, 2018 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Laura, Ashlyn, and Lauren discuss three unusual nutritional devices: the Nima gluten sensor, the Vitastiq electroacupuncture vitamin sensor, and the SCiO pocket molecular scanner. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: … Continue reading Episode 130: Nutritional Devices →
Episode 129: The Olympics
February 12, 2018 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn, Lauren, and Laura discuss some of the myths and scandals surrounding the Olympic Games. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: North Korea at the Olympics (Wikipedia) | Olympics and … Continue reading Episode 129: The Olympics →
Episode 128: Real Conspiracies
January 15, 2018 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Ashlyn, Laura, and Lauren talk about real conspiracies and cover-ups perpetrated by corporations and the government. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Lack of fluoride in Calgary drinking water … Continue reading Episode 128: Real Conspiracies →
Episode 127: Save Us from “Saving Christmas”
December 18, 2017 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Ashlyn subjects Lauren, Gem, and Laura to a viewing of Kirk Cameron’s 2014 evangelical holiday film, Saving Christmas. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Saving Christmas (Wikipedia) | Kirk Cameron … Continue reading Episode 127: Save Us from “Saving Christmas” →
Episode 126: Trans Fats, the Pay Gap, Passwords, Physiospect
November 13, 2017 13:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, Gem, Lauren, Laura, and Ashlyn take listener requests! The panel discusses trans fats, the gender pay gap, password security, and an exciting form of health pseudoscience called the physiospect. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical … Continue reading Episode 126: Trans Fats, the Pay Gap, Passwords, Physiospect →
Episode 125: Revenge of the Quiz Show Show!
October 16, 2017 12:00 - 178 BytesOn this episode of Life, the Universe & Everything Else, recorded live at SkeptiCamp, Ashlyn, Lauren, Laura, and Gem test their knowledge (and that of the audience) in a variety of scientific and pseudoscientific domains. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. … Continue reading Episode 125: Revenge of the Quiz Show Show! →