Later this week the Queens are delving into the science of sleep. So Rad wanted us to try and review some sleep-related gadgets to match... with mixed results. Rad checks out the Emma Cloud Hybrid Pillow while Amanda argues why a very bad treadmill app is absolutely linked to sleep probably. The 1.5 star review on the App Store says it all . And Tegan reviews... you know what we're not gonna reveal that. You'll simply have to listen to the episode. And if you want more Queens and want to support...
Mar 12, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 179
The Queens are firing up the dusty old printer in the corner of your office... or are they? In this episode the Queens do tackle printing tech... but it went in directions nobody expected. Rad is the most normal of the lot, looking at the importance of certain inks and paper - especially when it comes to printing photographs. Amanda takes us on a tasty journey in the world of 3D printed food, which is very much a thing. Rae delves into the human body where 3D print biomaterial is being used to p...
Mar 08, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 178
In this episode the Queens head to the South Pole as Amanda reviews survivor RPG The Pale Beyond . Rae brings along a GHD Duet Style and Rad packs a Milwaukee M12 FUEL orbital detail sander . Tegan just brings vibes. And if you want more Queens and want to support the show, please consider subscribing to our Patreon so you can get access to fun stuff like our WEEKLY newsletter, exclusive Discord server and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 05, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 177
In this episode, the Queens answer a listener's question. Our favourite (so far) three-and-a-half-star patron, Tracey, wanted to know all about clearing 'docs and data' off her iPad, and the best storage for digital photos and videos - so the Queens are on the case! Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . And if you want more Queens and want to support the show, please consider subscribing to our Patreon so you can get access to fun stuff like our WEEKLY newsletter...
Mar 01, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 176
This week the Queens are trawling the tepid depths of the ocean as Tegan drags them into her review of Eldritch fishing game, Dredge. Full of mystery, insanity and some very disturbing fish, you have to cast your nets far and wide as you explore different islands to solve the mystery of why this particular portion of the seven seas is so very cursed. Rad brings us firmly back to land with a review of the OutlookBaby Autoshade - a car window shader that's designed to block UV rays. But there's a ...
Feb 26, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 175
Ah, the beautiful bean juice. We use it to increase our productivity, delight the tastebuds, and as a thinly veiled way to busy our hands when catching up with friends or new acquaintances. Coffee is a pretty central part of the Australian experience, and we couldn't be more stoked to chat about it! In this episode, Tegan delivers us some history about the evolution of the espresso machine, while Rad takes us through some interesting ways to make coffee from around the world. She also breaks dow...
Feb 22, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 174
We're kicking off an entire week dedicated to our favourite type of morning brown, coffee! More on that in the deep dive later in the week, but for now Tegan and Rad review a couple of De'Longhi espresso machines - the Eletta Explore and the Specialista Maestro with Cold Brew. De'Longhi didn't sponsor this ep, sometimes this is just the way the coffee puck crumbles. Tegan also accidentally ends up reviewing a cold brew set she spent her own cash on, the Dripster Cold Brew Coffee Maker with the H...
Feb 19, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 173
Technology, but make it fashion. In this episode, the Queens are getting all stitched up about science and tech in clothing - from the Google x Levi smart jacket collaboration, to 3D printed textiles that can generate power through the movement of our bodies. They also ask some questions about the marketing of some nanosilver products... Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . And if you want more Queens and want to support the show, please consider subscribing to ...
Feb 15, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 172
In this Deep Dive special from our archives, the Queens take issue with the internet and mobile connectivity being treated as a luxury. Millions of Australians are unable to get online in a reliable way, or at all in some communities. This is called the digital divide and we dig deep in this episode as to how and why it exists, and what's being done to fix it - as well as perhaps also suggest a cheeky government overthrow totally as a joke, officer. Full show notes are available on the Queens of...
Feb 12, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 171
Since first launching at the end of November 2022, ChatGPT has taken over our news and social media feeds. While AI has been around for a while now, this is one of the first times that it has been used at such a critical mass by so many regular users simultaneously, and that’s a big deal. So this week the Queens are looking at ChatGPT, as well as some of the other popular AI tools like Lensa AI that are currently being utilised online. What do they do, what are their implications, and can the la...
Feb 08, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 170
It's a real big gadget chat this week - quite literally in Tegan's case because she recently got behind the wheel of the 2023 Ford Ranger Wildtrak . It's a whole lot of ute and she took it camping in zero-reception territory to really put it to the test. We don't want to spoil the finer details (though our Patreon newsletter subscribers already got a sneak peek) but between the tech inclusions, roomy dual cabin and fancy electric tray cover - she's dubbed it her favourite vehicle review ever 👁️...
Feb 05, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 169
It’s February, which is a deeply upsetting thought. But it also means it’s nearly Valentine’s Day! Here at Queen’s of the Drone Age, we celebrate whatever that might mean to you. Whether you’re buying for a loved one, some gal pals (they were just roommates) or even yourself – we have some neat gift suggestions for you. Rae offers up the Love Box , a very cute digital message sender. Rad keeps things deeply on brand by suggesting Flapper Head , which are absolutely adult flap hats. As Rad points...
Feb 01, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 168
In this week's gadget chat, Rae gets into a beef with the Audio Technica AT-LP60-BT turntable and the Sonos speaker system. Specifically, in an effort to try and get the bluetooth component to work. Meanwhile, Amanda has been getting into the new HBO The Last Of Us TV series - so we dig into how much like the game it really is. Can we avoid spoiling an almost decade-old game while discussing its TV adaptation? We try, we promise. Also: we discussed the science behind the fungi in the story a few...
Jan 29, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 167
We're coming to that time of year when school and uni are almost back in session. Perhaps even some of you are getting ready to get back to work. Regardless of the circumstances, January is a great period to get organised for the year, and we have some gadgets and tips to help! Rae tells us all about the laptop stand that changed her working life... and only costs $10 from Kmart . She also chats about her conversion to GoodNotes after decades of using paper notebooks and calendars. Tegan becomes...
Jan 25, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 166
This week's gadget chat is an eclectic one! Amanda kicks things off with a spoiler-free review of M3gan. If you haven't heard of it (and even if you have), we highly recommend you check out the trailer . Just try not to cry-laugh at this modern masterpiece of cinematic triumph. Rae recently moved house, which made it the perfect time to try out the Roomba j7+ robot vacuum . On top of mapping your house and knowing what to avoid (mostly) it can run to a set schedule, spot clean on command and loa...
Jan 22, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 165
The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, recently wrapped up - it is one of the biggest tech events in the world and practically takes over the entirety of Las Vegas. You’ll see announcements of the hottest new tech coming out over the next year from big brands. But you'll also come across a lot of startups doing funky stuff, as well as some really conceptual tech that may never see the light of day. For example, this Ballie home robot that Samsung showed off at CES 2020 that we still desperately ...
Jan 18, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 164
Oh heeeeey everyone, we're back! Welcome to the first episode of Queens of the Drone Age for 2023. Well, kind of. You may have noticed a cheeky 🚨Announcement🚨 drop appear in your feeds, and if you haven't listened to it yet... we highly recommend it. The TL;DR is that the people have spoken, and after two years of asking us, we've finally launched a Patreon! We have a full explainer in our previous episode and over on the Patreon itself . There's some cool stuff in there (and some secret thing...
Jan 15, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 163
It's a brand new year, and with it brings a big announcement from your favourite Queens. We've launched a Patreon! After two years of running the pod and being asked countless times, we're finally doing it! We have some really fun stuff in there, including a brand new weekly newsletter and an exclusive Discord for our patron mates. You can find all of the details in this mini episode announcement and if you're keen and able to help support the show, you can find our Patreon Page right here . As ...
Jan 15, 2023•4 min
In this episode from the archives, the Queens share their wholesome safe havens on the internet - from mushroom subreddits to #CleaningTok. Amanda also shares her memories of a Yahoo Geocities page that recapped Sailor Moon episodes in the early 2000s. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 11, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 162
In this deep dive from the archives, the Queens are talking communication, literally. Tegan delves into the past to chat about how carrier pigeons work and Rae explains how the Metaverse is much bigger than Facebook and was first conceptualised in the early 90s. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 08, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 161
In this episode from the archives, the Queens are exploring online safety and the murky world of scams. And it’s not all dodgy calls and texts. They also dig into the fascinating subject of social engineering, what that means and how humans are often the most fallible system of all. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 04, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 160
In this episode from the archives, the Queens are talking about the science and tech surrounding death in the modern world – from Euthanasia rollercoasters and shovel buddies to using your ashes to grow mushrooms. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 01, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 159
We dig into the QOTDA archives for a holiday-themed special, with a deep dive into the history and science behind fireworks - and new drone alternatives. Rad also insists that humans are descendants of moths, while Tegan and Rae discuss homemade sparkler bombs with a suspicious amount of detail. Full show notes for this episode are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 28, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 158
Happy Boxing Day, mates! As a special holiday treat, Rae and Rad recorded a cheeky extra 2022 episode for y'all. Rae returns to the Apple AirPods Pro to talk about a surprising function - helping with her hearing. Meanwhile Rad takes a run at the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey Neo G85B Curved QLED UHD Gaming Monitor . Try saying that five times fast after over-eating during the Chrissie break. We'll still be releasing some Queens Classics over the break, but we'll be back with a fresh episode in Januar...
Dec 25, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 157
In this episode from the archives, The Queens chat cult tech. And no, not tech used specifically by cults for some reason. Although that might end up being the topic of a future episode... Instead, it's those products that people get super intense about. Like Tesla, Peloton and Vitamix. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 21, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 156
This week the Queens look back at some of their favourite gadgets and games of 2022 - a year that has gone on for approximately one decade. Tegan massages her eardrums with the Sony WH-1000XM5 (from episode 109 ), but also lays down some honourable mentions for the Google Pixel 7 Pro (from episode 151 ), M2 MacBook Air , M1 iPad Air (from episode 154) , Cult of the Lamb and Pentiment . Amanda brings back her Facebook Marketplace steam cleaner as well as her love for the Samsung Bespoke Airdresse...
Dec 18, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 155
We usually have to smash through reviews in a matter of weeks here at Queens of the Drone Age. So many gadgets, so little time. But we also really value lived experience and the more in-depth perspective that gives us on products long-term. So in this episode we're looking at some of the things we have been using long-term this year, including their weird quirks and the things we still deeply love about them. Rad takes us along on her sandwich press buying journey, which resulted in the extremel...
Dec 14, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 154
The Queens have spent the last few months thoroughly testing the Apple Watch Series 8 AND the brand new Apple Watch Ultra . While they probably won't be engaging in extreme sports anytime soon, even the most skeptical of Queens found themselves surprised by their love of the new mad lad, even on their small bird wrists. Will the Ultra and it's insane battery win out in the end, or do they ultimately prefer something a little more outfit-versatile? You'll have to listen to find out. Meanwhile, Ra...
Dec 11, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 153
This week's deep dive is a little more literal as the Queens look at seaweed and what's being done with it to help save the planet. Tegan covers Perth-based startup ULUU, which is using beer brewing techniques to turn seaweed into an alternative to plastics. This is a big deal because seaweed captures more CO2 than trees, meaning this process is also removing it from the ocean. It is also quicker to harvest and doesn't require deforestation. Rad also looks at the sewage problem in Bondi, which h...
Dec 07, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 152
This episode the Queens are trying three very different gadgets. Rae's dog Mia had a canine cold and was coughing phlegm up all over the carpet, so she invested in a Bissell Stain Eraser Pet . It's a wet vac that is specifically designed to clean up pet mess and is even cordless! Rad and Tegan have also been playing with the new Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro . We all know Rad has incredibly high standards when it comes to camera photography, but even she was blown away by how much heavy ...
Dec 04, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 151
