Queens of the Drone Age

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.

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.

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.

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 January! We may earn a small commission from some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 Airdresser, second-gen AirPods Pro (from episode 139) and, of course the now-infamous Mitsubishi Dehumidifier. We had to limit Rad but she still managed to fit in the Dyson V15 (from episode 58), Sonos Arc (from episode 95), Spigen Flex Strap (from episodes 131 and 150, yes really), Elgato XLR (from episode 74) and ASUS Zenfold. There was even just enough room for her beloved popcorn maker. We may receive a small commission from some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 extremely fancy Breville Sear & Press Grill. It has waffle plates, it's amazing. Rae takes us back through Logitech's Aurora Collection,which we first took a look at in Episode 121, to see how the range (aimed at women gamers) has fared over the last few months. And Tegan details how she slowly fell in love with the M1 iPad Air, for work and play, to the point where she was using it more than the Queen's beloved iPad Mini. We may receive a small commission from links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, Rad does a full review of the foldy boi we took a peek at earlier this year: the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. She was too scared to take it out of the house because of the price tag, but Rae and Tegan come up with a solution to bankroll a stress test... We may receive a small commission from links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 has severely impacted the underwater environment. Sorry, Eastern Suburbs folks, you might be swimming in filth. She also explores Operation Crayweed, helping restore the underwater forests on Sydney's coastline.Also, seaweed pickles are a thing.There's more of what we covered (there's so much to say about seaweed, it's awesome) in the show notes on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 lifting the software does - especially in low light. We may receive a small commission from some links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The year has once again come to an end quite quickly. Rude! This also means the holiday season is here, so the Queens are making some cheeky gift suggestions for you to get your loved ones - especially if its for yourself. First up, Rae has fallen in love with the HidrateSpark Pro, partially because it makes drinking water a competition. And let the record show that a mere five years ago she instructed Tegan to rip on smart water bottles over on Gizmodo. Oh how times have changed. Speaking of Tegan, she offers up Yum Cha as her affordable gift and/or stocking stuffer idea, which is even cheaper if you use the code QUOKKAQUEENS to get free shipping. No this isn't an ad, the game just rules and the creator is a lovely listener of the show! For something a little pricer, she continues to be obsessed with the Sonos Roam and the vibe it brings to general summer activities. Rad also has two pressies - the Spigen Flex Strap that we're pretty sure she manifested into existence, as well as an Aeropress for all you coffee lovers. Meanwhile, Amanda has been in the kitchen again, preaching the gospel according to KitchenAid, especially if you're making pavlova for Christmas Day. And according to this TikTok guy, you can even repair them! We may receive a small commission from some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the Queens travel back to 16th-century Bavaria to help solve a murder mystery that spans almost 25 years. Well, not literally. Tegan has been playing the hell out of Pentiment, the latest game by Obsidian that takes the player into a world where it very much feels like art and manuscripts have come to life to tell stories of intrigue, betrayal (and yes, murder) in the Alps, against the backdrop of religious reformation.Every decision matters and anything you do or say could alter the course of history in this little town. Also, yes you can pet the dogs and cats.Amanda goes back even further to explore the realms of Norse mythology in God of War Ragnarök. She takes a look at how it’s improved on the last title, particularly when it comes to graphics and gameplay, as well as what it’s like to become your own man when your dad is a god. Of war.Meanwhile, Rad takes us on her precision research journey to getting a standing desk. This, and one methodical spreadsheet later, brought her to the UpDown Desk Pro. And apparently, it’s changed her life.And in case you thought we weren’t very serious, full show notes - including the spreadsheet - can be found on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this very special gadget chat, Rad and Rae are left to their own devices to test, well, some devices.On the tech menu is the brand new Apple TV 4K, the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar and the very fancy July luggage. As a sidebar, Tegan has also been testing a July backpack, so stay tuned for a future episode for that!Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been online at all over the past few weeks, you've probably caught a whiff of rapid decline of Twitter. Since Elon Musk was forced to spend a cool court-ordered US$44 billion on the platform, each day has brought a fresh crop of twists, turns, backflips, and of course, memes.If it feels like things are changing every few hours: yes. There will probably be something new by the end of this sentence. It's been tricky to keep up as the plot increasingly thickens so we're here to catch you up on all the juicy Twitter goss.Full show notes on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this deep dive episode from the archives, the Queens are looking at accessibility in tech.Amanda shares her experiences with epilepsy, Tegan looks at some of Apple’s accessibility features and Rad explores AI-assisted prosthetics. The queens also discover what the typewriter was originally invented for.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode from the archives, the Queens debate whether gadgets getting increasingly bigger is getting out of hand – literally. We've seen the trend of big phones, televisions, and computer monitors ebb and flow over the past few years. We lived through the era of phablets, and now we’re seeing behemoth 85” TV’s become a common size being offered.So from plus-sized phones to giant IMAX screens, is bigger actually better? Scientifically (and personally)?Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queens are digging into tech-based solutions for some of the things that are contributing to, or being caused by, climate change.Rad explains urban heat islands and how city infrastructure is significantly heating up specific pockets of land across the country. She also looks at some of the potential solutions and how class and wealth factors in.Tegan heads to Canberra for budget lock-up, where she broke the story about this being the first federal budget to introduce a country-wide EV tax exemption. She also gets into Australia's backwards approach to EVs, including the expensive price tags, confusing state-based incentives and in some cases, taxes applied to low-emissions vehicles.And Amanda takes on a mini-history of climate change reporting, dating back to the 1800s, and our general choice to ignore it as a species. She also looks at some of the direct ways that climate change is impacting us, including crops becoming less nutritious due to high levels of carbon dioxide.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Later this week we've got a climate change deep dive, and we thought we'd lead up to it with a look at some environmentally focused products! Rae spills the tea on the Philips Eco Conscious kettle and toaster, which is made from sustainable bio plastics. Rad gets saucy with a lamp in the shape of a soy sauce fish packet, and Tegan opens up the Queens Garage for a first look at the cheapest EV currently available in Austrlaia: the MG ZS EV.Visit the Queens of the Drone Age website for full show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh baby, it's camera Christmas! Rad gets hands on with the new flagship Fujifilm X-H2 and the just announced Fujifilm X-T5. She runs through some of the specs, differences, and shooting experience. Then Rad and Amanda chat about one of technology's most unsung heroes: glass! From bulletproof (or bullet resistant) glass, to Pyrex, to whether or not glass windows slowly melt over the years - the Queens peer through and make it shiny.You can find show notes at the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, new tech is cool... but what about very, very old tech? In this Deep Dive the Queens discuss the lost art of Damascus steel, ancient mechanical computers, steel wire recordings, and the iconic boomerang.This Deep Dive was originally released as part of episode 14: Roger Federer Is A Boomerang. You can find show notes at the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this year's Halloween Special, the Queens were going to go on a ghost hunt, but we already did that and don't wanna get double haunted. So instead we're delving into the horrifying world of mushrooms and fungi.Don't get us wrong, they're awesome. But they can also rate pretty highly on the creep scale. Their interconnected mycelium network, how they spew spores around the place, and how fast they can pop up overnight - it's wild.But there are some particularly special mushrooms and fungi that we wanted to spotlight because they're next level scary (and cool, honestly). We won't give too much away, but if you're after some tales of 'bleeding' mushrooms, another that control ants, or perhaps one that look like a tentacle monster and smells like rotten flesh on purpose, you've come to the right place.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queens have been shoving something a little bit special in our ear holes recently. Don't be weird, they're earphones! Specifically, the brand new Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen. We’ve been playing stuff through them for a few weeks now and have some thoughts about the updated sound quality, noise cancellation and comfort factor. They also now have pinpoint location tracking, which we love because our mushy brains are forgetful sometimes. On the food tech front, Amanda hit up Dodee Paidang Thai in Melbourne where robots served her food. Rad went to another one of their locations, also in Melbourne, but was served by humans. Sad. Meanwhile, Rad checked out The Last of Us: Part 1, the latest remaster of the game for PlayStation 5. We may receive a small commission from some links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for round two of Queens of the Drone Age's recap of Melbourne International Games Week! And when we say games we mean GAMES. In this episode, Tegan talks about two Aussie indie games that caught her eye - the Meccano-esque transportation challenge of Mars First Logistics and the 1950's bartending game Six O'Clock Swill.Keeping up the celebration of Aussie indies, Rae considers leave horse heads in beds with The Godfeather. (Not really - the game is actually a mafia pigeon roguelike where you poop on people). Plus, Amanda celebrates the culinary classics in the Singaporean-made game Cuisineer, and incorrectly speculates that the HTC Vive Focus 3 VR headset could lead the Queen's to beat Rad's high score in virtual reality experience games like Zero Latency. They can't, though. No amount of hardware would help them. This is not Rad writing this.Full show notes can be found on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queens headed south for Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW). While there Rad hosted High Score, Rae attended the Games Connect Asia Pacific conference (GCAP), all four Queens hosted the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs) and then they all played loads of games at PAX Australia.There was too much cool stuff to fit into one episode so you're getting two parts this week! In this episode, Amanda and Tegan play Yum Cha, a gorgeous card game by Quokka Games. Rae also talks about the incredible First Nations Community Room, featuring Indigitek, Guck, Indiginerd and 4Phase Games.Meanwhile, Tegan came home from PAX and immediately played the Dredge demo for three hours - a sinister fishing game with a Cthuluesque undercurrent.Full show notes, including the code to pick up Yum Cha with free shipping, can be found on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're not sure if you noticed, but the Queens love some gadgets. Rae hits the road with the Uniden DashView 50R and tries her best not to end up on the Dash Cam Owners Australia YouTube channel.Meanwhile, Rad puts the Suunto Peak 5 to the test and Amanda gets EXTREME with the GoPro Hero 11 Black. That's a lie, she filmed very sensibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this gadget chat, Rae tries and fails to successfully use the Belkin SCREENFORCE™ TemperedCurve 2-in-1 Treated Screen Protector + Bumper for Apple Watch Series 7 (yes, that's its full name). She also explored if screen protectors are even necessary, digging into what materials modern screens are made of - and just how hard they really are.Meanwhile, Rad takes a look at Samsung's new OLED TV range and we chat about why it's so important to adjust your TV settings. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Deep Dive, the Queens take a look at one job the robots should have taken from us long ago - cleaning.From cleaning via Artificial Intelligence, to science to get the mould off your silicone, to giant wardrobe machines that refresh your clothes - we've got you covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's gadget chat: Amanda exposes us all to the joys and horrors of Pokemon created by an Artificial Intelligence generator, Rae shares her own horror story with a journey through iOS16 hell and Rad gives us the ins and outs (and twists and turns and bends and folds) of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For thousands of years, extreme beauty treatments have been a thing. Humans are obsessed with finding new ways to make themselves feel beautiful - from urine-laced teeth whiteners to tapeworm diet pills.So in this episode, the Queens look at some modern beauty tech marvels, including foundation robots and acne treatments.Tegan even personally tests out a cryotherapy chamber.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

iOS 16 is now officially here! So this week Tegan (who has cheekily been using it since the dev beta) runs through her top 3 features so far. And if you're wondering about the iPhone 14, the Queens got their hands on a few models so stay tuned for our review in the near future. Meanwhile, Rad clears the air (quite literally) with the very fancy Samsung BESPOKE air purifier, and emphatically shares that she's found the best phone accessory ever: Spigen Flex Strap. Plus, Amanda reports back on her preview of the sequel to the very popular Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. We may receive a small commission from some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech can be good; but it can also be bad, and very, very ugly. In this deep dive from the archives, we take a look at some lofty promises tech could not live up to - like video streaming platform Quibi, exploding hoverboards, 3D TV's, Uber (but it's just a bus), and a $400 machine that gives you "fresh" juice from a vacuum sealed packet. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science Fiction is the land where all our technological fantasies flourish. From flying cars to lifelike holograms to teleportation, sci-fi has given has a rich catalogue of wishlist items that may even be possible one day (if it weren't for those pesky laws of physics). In this deep dive from the archives, the Queens chat about all the things sci-fi has conjured that they wish they could get their grubby little hands on: like the toasting knife from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, to Men In Black's neuraliser, to Tubby Custard from Teletubbies.Show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Deep Dive special from our archives, it's all about the best ways to actually buy the tech we talk about.The Queens reveal their insider hints and tips and tricks - and warnings - when it comes to handing over your hard-earned cash in return for some shiny electronics. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Metaverse isn’t a new concept, and it certainly isn’t one exclusive to the blockchain space. Over the years, there have been plenty of online communities and spaces that fit the brief.In this deep dive, the Queens revisit the metaverses we used to haunt online - from Habbo to Second Life - while also taking a look at the mental health impacts of these spaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the original eyeglasses and questionable 19th-century contacts to bionic eyes; we're going back to the week the Queens explored everything about pimping your peepers.Full show notes are available at the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure we've talked about foldable phones before, but what about laptops with foldable screens? This week the Queens check out the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED and surprise themselves with how taken they are with it. And not just because of the bendable screen. From the detachable wireless keyboard to the fancy leather case, this foldy boi is pretty special.Rae and Tegan also get into Card Shark - a gorgeous adventure-meets-card game where you steal and deceive your way through 18th century France by learning real world card tricks.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know how old-school villains would threaten to steal weather machines? It turns out, weather alteration technology is absolutely a real thing that is being used to make it rain during droughts and lessen the impact of cyclones. But it hasn't just been used for wholesome purposes. It's also been harnessed to guarantee good weather during certain Olympic Games and weaponised during wartime.While we're on weather, the Queens also look at what La Niña actually is (and its real-world impact), as well as Australian satellites that are needed to provide critical Aussie-environment-specific information to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).Rae also introduces us to the Carrot weather app! It not only sends you on Carmen Sandiego-style treasure hunts but has a customisable personality. If you ever wanted a sassy weather app with communist political leanings, you now can.Full show notes are available at the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queens hit the road in a very special electric vehicle. Tegan has spent the week testing the Audi e-tron S Sportback, which costs a casual $175,000. She and Rae even managed to drive it around the Blue Mountains so they could report back on all their favourite features (and there are a LOT)...and stick Tegan in the boot. They also touch on the current state of the EV market in Australia.Meanwhile, Amanda has been playing I Was A Teenage Exocolonist - a narrative RPG with card battling elements and extremely cult vibes. She chats through the gameplay, gorgeous art style and the extremely important and relevant themes the game has, despite being set on another planet.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time isn't real, meaning it's nearly Father's Day again. So the Queens are bringing that Big Dad Energy with some gift recommendations for whoever in your life deserves a nice treat at this time of year.Tegan is all about the outdoorsy dad, recommending the very fancy Leatherman Free P4 and Bose Soundlink Flex outdoor speaker. The fact she actually wants these things for herself is irrelevant.Rae targets cooking dads (or those who need a little help in the kitchen) with the Meater - a smart meat thermometer with an app and wireless range.Meanwhile, Rad brings the biggest dad energy of all by trying to bring zip-off pants back, and Amanda creates an entire escape room experience for Papa Yeo.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another week, another gadget chat! In this episode, Tegan reviews the Logitech Aurora range: a group of PC gaming accessories aimed at women. She puts the headset, keyboard, and mouse to the test - from the design and ergonomics to the comfort and price point. Rae also gets on the hiking trail with a set of Uniden walkie-talkies. She specifically looks into the Kid Zone feature and what safety (if any) it actually offers. Meanwhile, Rad checks out a deeply specific gadget that targets the vagus nerve that claims to help with anxiety. "Officially" speaking it's called the Sensate, but Rad rightly dubbed it the "Buzzy Egg". We may receive a small commission from some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may seem like the bath is a bad place to inject tech into, but we say that's wrong. We love a bath here at Queens of the Drone Age and refuse to limit our tech to the outside of its warm sudsy waters.While we may not recommend you ruin your Nintendo Switch with condensation like Tegan did, we are big advocates for bath tech in general. So in this episode, we're looking at the innovations in this space - from super fancy baths with inbuilt aromatherapy, to ones that you walk into somehow?Amanda also ruins our fun with some upsetting bathtime science facts.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a great week for game releases and the Queens got some sneak peeks so they can give you the low down. Tegan fulfilled her destiny by becoming a cult leader. No, not in real life. Yet. She's gotten heavy into Cult of the Lamb and we're surprised she stopped playing to record the episode. A cross between a cult management sim and a roguelike, you'll probably like it if you're a Stardew Valley fan with a dark sense of humour.Meanwhile, Amanda has been shaping young minds with Two Point Campus, the kinda-sequel to the wildly popular Two Point Hospital. Or, for those of you as old as us - the thing that was basically a remake of Theme Hospital. Pro Tip - you can get it free with Xbox Game Pass already.And in a truly shocking turn of events, Rad tests... a set of headphones! She puts the new JBL Quantum 610 to the test to see how different it is from the previous generation.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of LEGO's 90th anniversary this week, we take a look at some of the wonderful things LEGO has inspired: from velcro-covered building blocks to thermal storage blocks that could (potentially) end fossil fuel usage altogether. Rae also goes digging in human poo to find swallowed LEGO pieces (metaphorically). Join us for this exploration of the engineering and creativity that LEGO has sparked! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this gadget chat, Rad checks out the WHOOP 4.0 - the fitness band, not the loud excited sound.And for those of you who love gaming and/or productivity, Amanda and Rad check out the SteelSeries Aerox 9 wireless mouse, up to and including its casual 12 side buttons, while Rae checks out the Aerox 5, with slightly fewer side buttons. Rae also takes a look at Our Pure Planet's Bluetooth Headphones, which are both 100% carbon neutral and 125% plastic regenerative.Full show notes can be found on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With more and more of our lives being lived online, the way we represent ourselves in digital spaces is becoming more complex. While many of us have been using avatars and connecting with online representation for years, the looming metaverses of the future raise an array of important questions.Is it okay to wander around as an idealised version of yourself online or should you portray yourself more realistically? What are the ethical implications of using an avatar that portrays someone of a different race or gender? There's a lot to consider as we increase our entry into 3D spaces in a more encompassing way. And this week the Queens are here to navigate it with you.Full show notes and sources are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this catch-up, Rad tells the Queens about her recent trip to Coonabarabran, NSW, to check out the Huntsman Telescope - the first (and only!) of its kind in the southern hemisphere (which you could technically build yourself for a cool $30k). She also got to take a Canon R7 mirrorless camera with her, in celebration of the Canon lenses used on the Huntsman.Also, Amanda gives us the lowdown on a game that's basically a playable horror game: The Quarry. And Rae laments that she has to send back the TCL 65C835 mini LED TV.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial Intelligence is a term thrown around so much that it can be difficult to know what it actually means and how it’s used in the real world. Spoiler alert - it’s not just Skynet (even though it is sometimes Skynet).So this week the Queens are looking at some of the different types of AI and what it's doing - from saving the turtles to Tesla's autonomous vehicles. They also look at some of the problems with how AI is programmed, and the biases this can lead to. So join us for this intelligent chat with no added sugar*!*Artificial sweeteners only.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queens get aggressively clean as Rae explains the genius and therapeutic nature of Powerwash Simulator. Meanwhile, Tegan gets back on her mid-range phone soap box with a review of the brand new Google Pixel 6a.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apps are great, except for when they're not. And some are just downright dodgy.So in this episode, the Queens put some unethical apps under the microscope as well as some of the practices that have allowed them to stay live and make money on the App Store and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rad reviews the very fancy SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset, Rae checks out the wholesome farming (and witchy!) mobile game Wylde Flowers, and Tegan takes issue with BMW announcing a subscription service for heated seats.Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.