Podcast by Mark & Amanda
05 January 2026
Why do Spanish people eat 12 grapes at midnight? How did ancient Babylonians invent New Year's resolutions? And what does a glowing Shame Cube have to do with keeping your promises?
Join us as we debate whether New Year traditions, inventions, and resolutions are brilliant... or completely bonkers!
In this episode
Traditions from around the world - From Scottish first-footing (and why dark-haired strangers meant good luck) to Danish plate-smashing, discover the surprising origins of how different cultures celebrate the new year
Resolutions: Why we fail (and how to actually succeed) - Explore 4,000 years of resolution history, from Babylonian promises to the gods to modern AI coaches.
Brilliant or Bonkers? You decide.
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26:01
19 December 2025
Ho ho hold on... is that a defecating peasant in your nativity scene?
Join Mark and Amanda for a festive sleigh ride through the world's most wonderfully weird Christmas innovations. From real patented Santa Claus detectors to a time travel Advent Calendar, we're debating whether these yuletide inventions are strokes of genius or completely crackers.
We'll explore funny shape Christmas trees that defy physics, decorations that would make Santa file a restraining order (looking at you, Catalonia), and global traditions so bizarre you'll wonder if someone spiked the eggnog.
Ever wondered why the Japanese queue for hours at KFC on Christmas?
This episode covers:
So grab your mulled wine, settle in by the fire, and help us decide: Are these innovations brilliant solutions to Christmas chaos, or complete and utter bonkers?
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21:59
08 December 2025
What happens if you take the world’s biggest, grumpiest, most chaotic animals… and shrink them down to the size of a poodle?
In this episode of Brilliant or Bonkers, Mark makes the case for a house-sized safari featuring miniature giraffes, pocket hippos, handbag zebras, and rhinos that can charge your slippers. Amanda, meanwhile, suspects this is how civilisations collapse.
But here’s the twist: the science isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.
We explore how CRISPR gene editing actually works, why scientists are trying to bring back the woolly mammoth, and how changing an animal’s DNA is a bit like editing a recipe — switch a few instructions, and you might end up with a cupcake instead of a three-tier cake. Or, apparently, a tiny rhino.
Expect chaos, science, laughter, ethical dilemmas, and at least one overturned plant pot.
Is a miniature safari in your living room a brilliant idea… or completely bonkers?
Join us and decide for yourself.
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14:46
30 November 2025
In this episode of Brilliant or Bonkers, Mark and Amanda tackle the Disaster Bed — an earthquake-activated bed that drops you into a protective capsule and seals shut to keep you safe from falling debris. Is it genius life-saving tech, or an over-engineered trap waiting to swallow you whole? Join us as we explore the science, the safety, the silliness, and the surprising design behind one of the strangest disaster-proof inventions ever.
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17:17
23 November 2025
Climate change is heating up the planet like it’s wearing too many blankets — so can we build artificial trees to help cool it down?
In this episode of Brilliant or Bonkers, Mark and Amanda dive into one of the wildest climate solutions yet: giant machines that suck CO₂ out of the air.
Amanda thinks they’re brilliant — fast, powerful, and essential if we want to clean up 150 years of pollution.
Mark thinks they’re bonkers — expensive, energy-hungry, and nowhere near replacing real trees.
Together they explore:
🌍 Why the planet is too warm
🌳 What artificial “super trees” can actually do
⚡ Why they’re so expensive right now
📉 Whether technology can make them cheaper
💬 And if they’re the climate superheroes we need… or just a flashy distraction
Kids decide the verdict — brilliant or bonkers?
A fun, science-filled episode for curious minds, young environmentalists, and families who want to understand the big ideas shaping our future.
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18:50
14 November 2025
What if the trees in your local park could glow in the dark?
In this episode of Brilliant or Bonkers, Mark tries to convince us that genetically glowing trees are the future — magical, energy-saving, and totally brilliant.
Amanda isn’t buying it. She’s worried about moths, TikTok influencers, glowing ghost forests, and light giving squirrels
Together, they explore:
How firefly genes could turn a tree into a natural nightlight
Whether it would help cities… or confuse squirrels forever
The real science — explained clearly for kids
Will it help squirrels find their nuts in the dark?
And of course… whether this idea is BRILLIANT or BONKERS!
It’s funny, curious, slightly chaotic, and packed with kid-friendly science.
Perfect for families, classrooms, or anyone who’s ever wondered,
“What if nature could glow?”
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14:44