On 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 is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. Correction: The Superior General of the Jesuits is called the “Black Pope”, not t...
Oct 19, 2020
On 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 have resulted in an uptick in hauntings. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that explores the intersection of science and society. The Amityvil...
Sep 14, 2020
On 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 Mounted Police) | Canada isn’t offering a history lesson on colonialism, but the RCMP is (The Eyeopener) | History of the RCMP (Royal Canadian...
Aug 18, 2020
On 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 examination” when he meant to say “postmortem examination”. This has been corrected. Handwashing: Hand washing (Wik...
Jul 27, 2020
On 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 UFO Episodes: Episode 112: Did Aliens Build the Pyramids? | Episode 122: UFOs The Maury Island Incident: The Maury Island UFO Incident (HowStuffWorks) | Maury Island inci...
Jun 22, 2020
With 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 (programming language) (Wikipedia) | Fax (Wikipedia) | Ada Lovelace (Wikipedia) | FLOW-MATIC (Wikipedia) | Tim Berners-Lee (Wikipedia) | Zero-based numb...
May 25, 2020
On 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, too—of coronavirus misinformation (Science, AAAS) Alex Jones: Alex Jones: 5 most disturbing and ridiculous conspiracy theories (CNBC)...
Apr 20, 2020
Lauren 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 the panelists end the show with some fun ways to pass the time under COVID-19 lockdown. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that...
Mar 28, 2020
On 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 secular humanism. Links: The Game Changers (Netflix) Contact Us: Facebook | Twitter | Email Listen: Direct Link | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | RSS ...
Feb 17, 2020
On 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 a bread bowl is in fact a sandwich, Ashlyn and Laura dispute whether pie qualifies as a casserole or a dumpling, and Lauren opines that once a sandwich is p...
Jan 13, 2020
On 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, and secular humanism. Note: Additional music this episode by Tim Minchin and Rajaton. Christmas in July: Christmas in July (Wikipedia) Sunscreen: ...
Dec 16, 2019
On 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 humanism. Note: The term “American Incognitum” was applied to early finds of both fossilized mammoth and mastodon bones, as no distinction was...
Nov 18, 2019
On 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 into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Paranormal Challenges: George Valiantine (Wikipedia) | O...
Oct 21, 2019
On 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 science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education: Rudolf Steiner (Wikipedia) | Anthroposophic medicine ...
Sep 16, 2019
On 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: One Hundred Proofs That the Earth Is Not a Globe, by William Carpenter (Project Gutenberg) | William Carpenter (Wikipedia) | Samuel Rowbotham (Wikipedia) | Flat Earth ...
Aug 19, 2019
On 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 delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Additional Music: Dark Things, by Eric Matyas Note: Unfortunately, Gem’s...
Aug 13, 2019
On 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, and secular humanism. Standardized Testing in Canada: List of Canadian primary and secondary examinations (Wikipedia) | What is the Value ...
Jul 22, 2019
On 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 humanism. Why Aren’t Plants Black?: Why aren’t plants black? (PBS Digital Studios) Behind the Curve: Behind the Curve (Wikipedia) | Behind the Curve (IMDb) Flat Ea...
Jun 17, 2019
On 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 answering the question, “Where is your liver?” Ashlyn misspoke: the liver is of course located below the diaphragm, not above it. Whoop...
May 20, 2019
On 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 that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Animal Intelligence: Episode 104: Animal Intelligence (LUEE) Animal Cul...
Apr 22, 2019
On 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 humanism. How Rare is Rare?: Useful Information on Rare Diseases from an EU Perspective (EU Health & Consumer Protection Di...
Mar 18, 2019
On 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: Creation myth (Wikipedia) | Genesis 1 (Bible Gateway) | Debate between sheep and grain (Wikipedia) | Rangi and Papa (Wikipedia) | Benben (Wikipedia) ...
Feb 11, 2019
On 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 Sale (Directly from Nature) | Rescue Remedy is an effective all-natural stress, anxiety reliever, study suggests (Medical News...
Jan 14, 2019
On 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, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Gift Guides: Gwyneth Paltr...
Dec 17, 2018
On 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 about buffalo. Life, the Universe & Everything Else is a podcast that delves into issues of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. History: History of...
Nov 19, 2018
On 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 (Wikipedia) | 50 Scifi Books Featuring AR and VR Technology (Upload) | How Sci-Fi Literature Predicted the Rise of Modern Virtual Reality (Upload...
Oct 22, 2018
On 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 of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Note: Additional music in this episode by Kevin MacLeod , licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 . Pate...
Sep 17, 2018
On 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 of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. MBTI: The Myers–Briggs Foundation | The Myers-Briggs Personality Test Is Bullshit (VICE) | Have...
Aug 20, 2018
On 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 of science, critical thinking, and secular humanism. Links: Replication crisis (Wikipedia) | Reproducibility Project (Wikipedia) | Replications in Psycholog...
Jul 16, 2018
On 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 Napoleon Hill (Gizmodo) | Napoleon Hill (Wikipedia) | The Napoleon Hill Foundation | 17 Napoleon Hill Quotes on Becoming Crazy Rich | New Thoug...
Jun 18, 2018
