piffle pod

Piffle Productions

Welcome to the piffle pod, where we talk piffle about the books, documentaries and pop culture moments everyone's talking about — and dig into the bigger ideas hiding underneath them. Not experts. Just enthused. Follow us here and on socials @piffleproductions New episodes fortnightly! Have a question or thought you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Email Piffle Productions at piffleprod@gmail.com

  1. Does the Sun Need Defending?

    3 days ago

    Does the Sun Need Defending?

    A new book argues that we've become too afraid of sunlight. But is the sun really misunderstood or are public health experts right to keep the message simple? In this episode, we discuss In Defense of Sunlight by science journalist Rowan Jacobsen and the growing conversation around sunlight, sunscreen, vitamin D and skin cancer. After seeing Jacobsen's arguments featured in Allure and across the podcast circuit, we wanted to dig into the claims for ourselves. As two Australians who grew up with Slip, Slop, Slap campaigns and some of the highest melanoma rates in the world, we explore why sun safety messaging exists, whether public health advice has been fairly represented in the debate around sunlight, and why some of Jacobsen's most controversial arguments may be less controversial than they first appear. We discuss: The key themes in Jacobson's bookOur experience with sun safety growing up in AustraliaWhat the sun safety guidelines in Australia and the US actually recommend (hint: it's not reapplying sunscreen every two hours while sitting indoors in winter)Jacobsen's claim that people with darker skin tones may experience negative health effects from following sun safety guidelines designed primarily for lighter-skinned populations.Leave a comment, like and subscribe, or share this episode with a friend! To stay up to date with all things Piffle, follow us on Instagram or TikTok @piffleproductions, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠piffleprod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Music by Michael and Tilly.

    27 min
  2. 10 Jun

    Are Millennials Really Having a Midlife Crisis?

    Inspired by a recent article in The Cut, we discuss why so many people in their 30s and 40s are feeling lost, stuck or uncertain about the future. Despite having 15-20 years of experience, many are finding themselves unemployed, searching for work for months at a time, or questioning careers and identities they spent decades building. From there, we dive into artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing sense that we're being told to embrace a future that nobody actually signed up to. We talk about leaked comments from Mark Zuckerberg, the increasing pressure from tech leaders and celebrities to "get on board" and a recent New York Times article exploring why college commencement speakers touting AI are being met with boos from graduates. Rather than excitement, many students seem to be responding with skepticism, anxiety and a sense that they're inheriting a job market already being reshaped beneath their feet. But is any of this as inevitable as we're being told? We discuss previous technological revolutions (from crypto to blockchain) that were once presented as world-changing certainties, and whether AI could follow a more complicated path than its biggest advocates predict. Leave a comment, like and subscribe, or share this episode with a friend! To stay up to date with all things Piffle, follow us on Instagram or TikTok @piffleproductions, or email us at ⁠⁠piffleprod@gmail.com⁠⁠. Music by Michael and Tilly. Articles discussed: Midlife Crisis-ing in the End-timesIt's No Wonder Grads Are Booing Their Commencement SpeakersDigital arson spree by ‘AI Bonnie and Clyde’ raises fears over autonomous techAlso mentioned: Our previous episode on Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

    37 min

About

Welcome to the piffle pod, where we talk piffle about the books, documentaries and pop culture moments everyone's talking about — and dig into the bigger ideas hiding underneath them. Not experts. Just enthused. Follow us here and on socials @piffleproductions New episodes fortnightly! Have a question or thought you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Email Piffle Productions at piffleprod@gmail.com

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