This episode delves into the complexities of alcohol addiction with Dr. Anna Lemke, a renowned expert in addiction medicine. This episode explores the traditional AA model, the concept of abstinence, and emerging treatment paradigms that challenge the status quo. Discover the nuances of addiction, the role of spirituality in recovery, and the potential for moderation in treatment. Anna Lembke's book Dopamine Nation - https://www.amazon.ca/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/152474672X ...
Jul 22, 2025•48 min
In this episode, Zale discusses the evolution of media with Kim Kierans, focusing on the decline of legacy media and the rise of new media platforms. They explore the implications of this shift, including the crisis in local news, the importance of transparency in journalism, and the challenges of navigating information in the digital age. The conversation emphasizes the need for media literacy and the role of journalism in democracy, while also considering the future of news organizations in a ...
Jul 15, 2025•37 min
Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a movement aimed at promoting diversity on college campuses and a variety of institutions. On the surface, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are all positive words; for most people at least, promoting these values is a good thing. But in the particular context of the DEI movement, there are many who do express concerns. Does DEI place too great a premium on identity over ideas? Are certain core cultural values de-prioritized in the name of equality? Is DEI ...
Jul 02, 2025•58 min
In increasing trend is emerging of kids deciding to cut their parents off completely. What is driving the younger generations to become estranged from their parents? Are their reasons justified as a step to better 'self-care', or does it reflect a certain selfishness and disloyalty? How can parents respond when their child decides to excommunicate them? Psychologist Joshua Coleman joins the podcast. Dr. Joshua Coleman - https://www.drjoshuacoleman.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
Jun 24, 2025•43 min
Torture is generally thought of as a bad things - an unacceptable means to an end. But what if that end is justifiable? In many cases, torture is clearly unethical - for example when used as a means of political suppression, as a fear tactic, or for a forced confession. But what about torture in more ambiguous cases - when the torturer is fairly confident that the person being tortured has key information that could save many lives if it were obtained? Juan Mendez joins the podcast. Hosted on Ac...
Jun 17, 2025•45 min
With the plethora of dating apps that have arrived over the last decade, one would think that it's easier to date than ever. Yet for some reason, dating has been down. Data has shown that people are finding it tougher than ever to find a romantic partner. So why is this the case? Is it a change in the way we view love and relationships? Have the apps paradoxically led to a reduction in dating? Kelsey Eyre Hammond joins the podcast. American Enterprise Institute - Americansurveycenter.org Hosted ...
Jun 10, 2025•40 min
For most of the Western world, the main headline of the war in Ukraine has been something along the lines of ‘Russia invades Ukraine, Putin is a war criminal, and Ukraine has been the victim of a terrible, nonsensical war’. And this may very well be accurate. But if you spoke to someone in Russia, what would they say about the war? How would Putin justify this war against Ukraine, and how would the average Russian citizen explain the necessity of defeating Ukraine? Maria Popova joins the podcast...
Jun 03, 2025•52 min
Climbing Mount Everest is one of the most extreme adventures on which a human can embark. The highest peak in the world, there is a certain mystique and allure associated with the mountain. Some seek the summit for a love of climbing, and others climb it for the glory and fame. Is there a 'right' reason for someone to climb Everest? Why is Everest so challenging to climb? What can the mountain reveal about the human condition? And how has the rise of 'luxury climbing' changed the Everest landsca...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Most of us do try and eat healthy in some capacity. The majority of us are at least conscious of the fact that what we put in our bodies deeply shapes our present and future health. But even with a certain degree of health awareness , are we still in many regards doomed? Do the basic food systems and manufacturing processes that are in place in North America inherently lead to foods that are not only unhealthy, but perhaps harmful? Food Safety epert Darin Detwiler joins the podcast. Learn more a...
May 13, 2025•57 min
Part of 'The American Dream' is predicated on home ownership. Conventional wisdom suggests that it is a financially sound and important decision to buy a home rather than to rent from a landlord. But is this just something we've been indoctrinated to believe, or does the math really add up to support the financial wisdom of owning a home? Brad Barrett of the ChooseFI podcast joins the show. Subscribe to Brad's weekly newsletter at Choosefi.com/subscribe for Brad’s weekly newsletter Check out Cho...
May 06, 2025•52 min
While AI is starting to dominate many facets of the cultural conversation, perhaps the potential impacts of AI are highlighted no more clearly than by looking at AI in the military. AI has been increasingly used in military operations to more accurately determine targets, allow for more efficient military operations, and to ideally limit civilian casualties. But what is at stake if we allow decisions of life or death to be made by AI systems? What are the moral implications? What are the practic...
Apr 29, 2025•54 min
When hear the term 'genetic engineering', what do you think of? Does your mind immediately jump to the extreme thoughts of eugenics and creating 'the perfect human'? Or do you think of more socially acceptable genetic modifications to treat medical diseases such as cancer and inflammation? Well regardless of what you facet of genetic modification you think of, genetic engineering in any form is considered controversial by many. So what exactly is genetic engineering, and how is it be using to bo...
Apr 22, 2025•56 min
Sigmund Freud was one of the most prominent figures of the 19th and 20th centuries. The founder of psychoanalysis, he's viewed as one of the fathers of modern day psychiatry and psychology. But for all the interest in Freud, there's also much intrigue around him and perhaps even confusion as to what exactly his theories were, how accurate they were, and what kind of importance they play in our modern understanding of the mind. Professor Henk de Berg joins the podcast. Professor de Berg's book on...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min
There are many people who exist on the shorter end of the height spectrum. For some people, it might be not the biggest deal – but for others, it might significantly impact their lives. But what if there were a way to change your height … to go from shorter to taller? Enter the surgery known as leg lengthening, a procedure designed to help people get taller. Actor Rich Rotella joins the podcast to share his recent experience undergoing leg lengthening surgery. Learn more about Rich Rotella https...
Apr 08, 2025•56 min
The Pope is one of the most revered humans on the planet, garnering devotion from Catholics and Christians all over the world. But what is the Pope supposed to represent? Is the Pope just an ordinary person who was simple been chosen to represent Catholicisim? Or is the Pope rather considered to be a divine figure Himself, a prophet of some sort? Brownen McShea joins the podcast to discuss the role of the Pope, how the role has evolved, and why younger generations may be moving back towards the ...
Apr 01, 2025•47 min
In this third and final episode of our mini-series on juries, we speak with a criminal lawyer about the ultimate question we've been leading to - Does the jury system make sense? While the idea of having one's peers decide their fate in the justice system sounds idealistic, does it actually work in practice? Should laypeople be called for jury duty to assess cases that are often very complex? Are personal biases too tough to overcome for the average juror? Is the potential group think of jurors ...
Mar 25, 2025•45 min
In this second of three episodes regarding the jury system, we explore the science of forensics. Are fingerprint and DNA analyses less accurate and more susceptible to bias than we might be led to believe? Are there situations in which jurors are overly swayed by forensic evidence that may be less ironclad than we think? International forensics expert Dr. Itiel Dror joins the podcast. Dr. Dror's Website https://www.cci-hq.com/dr.-itiel-dror.html Learn more about this topic at https://pubs.acs.or...
Mar 18, 2025•58 min
In this first of three episodes on the jury system, we examine how biased jurors tend to be. What unexpected variables factor into jury decision making? Are jurors able to check their biases at the door, or do they tend to make their minds up before all the evidence has even be presented? Are there certain cases to which juries are particularly partial in delivering a verdict of guilty or not guilty? Lee Curley, an expert in jury biases, joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy ...
Mar 11, 2025•47 min
Most people veer away from dangerous places. Yet there are some people in this world, who not only don’t avoid such places, but rather seek them out; journalists who report on some of the most dangerous and devastating conflicts in the world. So why would somebody risk their life, in some cases, to report on deadly conflicts far away? Why would somebody become a war correspondent, and what does the job entail? War correspondent Sam Mednick joins the podcast. Follow Sam on twitter at @sammednick ...
Mar 04, 2025•33 min
With Trump's proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, may are concerned that some form of a trade war might emerge in the coming months. Particularly in Canada, where 75% of its exports go to the United States, uncertainty and fear are developing amongst Canadians. So if these tariffs do end becoming imposed, how will it affect each of the Canadian and American economies? By virtue of its larger sized economy, is this a trade war the US would handily win? Or are widespread tariffs a recipe...
Feb 25, 2025•38 min
Nobody expects to get sick. Especially for someone in their 20s or 30s, being diagnosed with a significant medical condition is not something that's truly on one's radar. So how does one process a scary medical diagnosis? In whom does one confide? And how, if at all, just it change one's perspective on life? Adam Noyek was diagnosed with a serious spinal tumor when he was in his mid thirties. He joins the podcast to share his story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 18, 2025•53 min
With further scientific breakthroughs and more accurate and widespread genetic testing increasingly available, it is becoming much more common to detect genetic abnormalities in a fetus during the early stages of pregnancy. As a consequence, conditions such as Down Syndrome are diagnosed much more frequently prenatally than in past decades. In parts of the world where abortion is still legal, more people are likely choosing to abort such fetuses with genetic abnormalities. So what does this mean...
Feb 11, 2025•42 min
When we contemplate the word ‘career’, it’s natural to think of one singular profession that someone pursues via education and then remains in for a long period of time. When you think of a doctor or an accountant, you usually think of them practicing that profession for decades, the majority if not all of their work years. In the ‘corporate world’, job changes are perhaps more common, but it sometimes seems like people are becoming more inclined to pivot in their professional lives. Professor S...
Feb 04, 2025•46 min
It’s one thing to acknowledge certain truths about ourselves and the world, and to have certain revelations ; but it’s another thing to actually make change based on those realizations. Why can we acknowledge and learn about our preconceptions, but still have such a hard time extrapolating those lessons to the way we live our lives? How do we break old patterns of behaving and make positive change to match our new ways of thinking? How do concepts such as status quo bias and habit formation prev...
Jan 28, 2025•44 min
As the wildfires in Los Angeles continue their spread, many are wondering how this possibly could have happened. We've been hearing about increasing rates of wildfires over the last several years , but rarely do they affect urban areas in the scope they have over the past several weeks. So what exactly is a wildfire, and why has this one been spreading so aggressively? How does a wildfire ultimately become contained, and is containment in sight? And perhaps equally important, is this a harbinger...
Jan 21, 2025•40 min
For millennia, there has been a deep fascination with outer space. But ever since Apollo 11 actually landed on the moon in 1969 and Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, the interest in space and the moon has gone into unimaginable new gears. But for all the intrigue that humankind has with outer space and the moon, what is actually realistic? What the current ongoing operations at the moon? What are the most promising aspects of lunar research? And is the idea of ‘life on the moon’ a...
Jan 14, 2025•54 min
What does it mean to be lazy? Is the term 'laziness' just a negative slant on 'relaxation', or does laziness accurately reflect a lack of motivation? And is laziness a 'bad' thing, or could it actually be viewed as a positive attribute? Todd McIlroy, author of 'The Science of Laziness: Achieving More by Doing less', joins the podcast. Check out Todd's book 'The Science of Laziness' at https://www.amazon.ca/Science-Laziness-Achieving-More-Doing/dp/B0D6GFZZNT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
Jan 07, 2025•41 min
As a millennial myself, I know many in my generation struggle to fully understand the ethos, so to speak, of Gen Z. In many ways, it seems they’ve taken work-life balance to a whole new level. Yet while lifestyle is prioritized, it can seem as if financial expectations are still lofty. Many domains of society have become more liberal, and the idea of ‘woke-ism’, which probably has a negative connotation to many, is perhaps embraced by Gen Z. So what actually guides Gen Z? What are the philosophi...
Dec 17, 2024•44 min
They say people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. If that's the case, people must be terrified at the notion of performing stand-up comedy, which entails not only public speaking, but relying on people's laughs as validation that you're doing a good job! So what makes a good stand-up comedian? What goes into crafting an effective sketch? And while the well-trained comedian makes it all look 'off-the-cuff', how much of the sketch is prepared down to the exact word? Comedi...
Dec 10, 2024•53 min
What if you could undergo a scan of of your whole body once a year to screen for any tumors, aneurysms, or any other medical abnormalities? On the surface, it sounds like a great idea, and indeed many companies are offering the opportunity to undergo whole body MRIs to catch medical findings before they become medical 'problems'. But is whole body MRI really all it's cracked up to be? Or can it also lead you down a rabbit hole chasing a diagnosis when nothing of consequence is to be found? Radio...
Dec 03, 2024•50 min
