Preconceived, hosted by Zale Mednick, dives deep into the intricacies of human experience, challenging the assumptions that shape our understanding of the world. In each episode, Zale engages with leading experts, thought leaders, and individuals with unique perspectives to uncover the layers beneath societal norms and expectations. From exploring cultural phenomena to dissecting scientific breakthroughs, Preconceived invites its listeners to question their preconceptions about love, life, technology, health, history, and beyond.
With a blend of curiosity and critical thinking, Zale navigates through complex topics, offering his audience a chance to gain new insights and broaden their horizons. Whether it's debunking myths, confronting biases, or simply indulging in the joy of learning something new, Preconceived is more than just a podcast; it's an invitation to view the world through a different lens.
Join Zale Mednick every week on Preconceived for enlightening conversations that promise to inspire, inform, and intrigue. Perfect for the inquisitive mind, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone eager to challenge their understanding of the world and embrace the complexity and beauty of human existence.
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Do you feel like you truly have a good grasp on your finances? Or do you ever wonder if you're just following the motions and simply 'trusting' in conventional financial wisdom in regards to savings and retirement? Brad Barrett, co-founder of the popular ChooseFI community, joins the podcast to discuss financial independence. ChooseFI website - https://www.choosefi.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Doctors have been trained in pretty much the same way for many decades. Prior to any hands-on practical training, medical students spend about 2 years going through a series of lectures delivered by other doctors. In fact, this is the general model for how most professionals, and even undergraduate students, are trained – via in-person traditional sorts of lectures with a professor standing at the front of a large lecture hall, disseminating the information that is to be learned. But is this the...
Divorce is so common that it's reasonable to call into question the establishment of marriage itself. Does marriage in its current form still make sense? Do newer types of marriages, such as 'trial marriages' or 'short-term contract marriages' warrant more serious consideration before people plunge into the 'traditional marriage' model? Vicki Larson joins the podcast, a journalist and co-author of 'The New "I Do', alongside fellow co-author Susan Gadoua. Vicki's website - http://omgchronicles.vi...
The "pro-life" vs. "pro-choice" dilemma regarding abortion is the centre of much heated debate in the United States. On a previous episode of the podcast, we spoke with an obstetrician regarding abortion in Canada and the United States and examined the concept of reproductive justice and why it is important for a woman to have the right to choose. On this episode, we are joined by Annette Lancaster, who identifies as pro-life. She describes her experience working at Planned Parenthood and sheds ...
It can be tough to understand how so many in the United States are on the 'pro-gun' side of the gun debate. For many, the issue seems simple - "guns are bad, and we should do everything we can to limit them". But what is the background of gun legislation? What is the perspective of many people who support gun rights yet also share the same goal of lowering crime rates in the United States? Trevor Burrus of the Cato Institute joins the podcast to shed some light on this complicated issue. Hosted ...
While cannabis has become legalized in many parts of the world, most other drugs not only remain illegal, but are actually criminalized. The opioids crisis has escalated even further during the COVID pandemic, and experts are revisiting the question of whether or not opioids should be decriminalized. So what is decriminalization? And is it a good idea? Dr. Sarah Elliott joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Influencers can include pretty much anyone who has a significant following on social media – whether it be chefs, models, actors, or celebrities of any sort. And there is a new type of influencer on the rise, the influencer that is also a mother - the 'Momfluencer'. I am joined today by Sara Petersen, author of the upcoming book MOMFLUENCED, coming out in 2023 from Beacon Press. twitter & instagram @slouisepetersen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Divorce can be a very challenging part of someone’s life, filled with change, often sadness, and many other complex emotions. But aside from the emotional factors, there is a whole legal process that divorce entails. So what is it like to navigate through the legal system amid a divorce? What are some of the preconceptions about what one actually needs in a divorce lawyer and what the role of the divorce lawyer is? Lawyer Sean Valentine joins the podcast. https://www.epsteinlawyers.com/team/meet...
Japan has a famously insular and unique culture. It is a country filled with a rich history and ethos that is quite distinct from any other country in the world. But what lies at the core of Japanese culture? What lessons about meaning, happiness, and contentment can we derive from a better understanding of this fascinating country? Erin Niimi Longhurst, author of the book 'Japonisme', joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
We like to think of ourselves as in control of our own lives. But in an age of indulgence and addiction, do we really have as much agency over our decisions as we like to think? How does either a belief in a higher power or a belief in a purely materialistic world influence our perspective on free will? Psychiatrist Dr. Christian Heim joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Imagine you could take a pill that would biologically halt the aging process. Barring any traumatic accidents or lethal infections, you could essentially live indefinitely at the same age you are today, perhaps until age 1,000 or beyond. Would you take that pill? Professor John Davis, author of New Methuselahs: The Ethics of Life Extension, joins the podcast. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/new-methuselahs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions. http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
When someone takes a life in our societies, they are punished severely and sent away to prison for many years. But for all the value placed on human life, there are certain societies in human history that have practiced human sacrifice. What lies at the core of this practice, and what do we know about the motivations involved? Johns Hopkins archaeologist and professor Glenn Schwartz joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Walking through the meat aisle of a grocery store, do you ever wonder whether it is normal to eat animals? Even if you do think it is normal to eat animals, what about well-documented abuse of animals in the food industry? The veganism movement is associated with many preconceptions, both regarding the types of people who become vegans and the ideology itself. Dr. Corey Wrenn is a sociologist, social justice activist and a leading voice in the veganism movement, who joins the podcast. Hosted on ...
We live in a world in which we have easy access to almost anything we want. We see something online that we want, and we can have it delivered to our home that same day. And while increased access and availability can be a good thing, it can also be a dangerous one. With limitless access to more seemingly benign pastimes such as shopping and social media, as well as more obviously concerning pastimes such as drugs, gambling, and porn, the predilection to addiction is perhaps stronger than ever. ...
Most of us believe in science. We trust in the scientific method and the worldly truths that have been derived from a multitude of scientific disciplines. But is it possible that science has become too synonymous with truth? Has science been put on such a pedestal that the general public has come to blindly accept certain things as truths, even if the evidence isn't quite as robust as we might believe? Harvard Professor and astrophysicist Dr. John Johnson joins the podcast. Listen to John's prev...
As the brutal war in Ukraine continues, it can feel like we are entering unprecedented times. Perhaps the reason this war feels so shocking is that we have arguably been living in one of the most peaceful periods of human history over the past several decades. Wars initiated with the sole intent of expanding a country’s land mass and conquering another people, just aren’t nearly as common as they were a hundred years ago. So is this war in Ukraine merely a blip, or conversely, is the anomaly rat...
Billions of dollars per year are spent on products and services for 'beautification'. Skin creams, exfoliants, cleansers; botox and other plastic surgery. How has society's definition of beauty come to be so intertwined with certain elements of physical appearance? And perhaps equally importantly, do these products and services even achieve what they promise? Beauty expert Jessica DeFino joins the podcast. https://www.jessica-defino.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
How is memory influenced by emotion? Are we more likely to remember an event accurately if it was associated with a strong emotion, or would high emotionality be more likely to distort a memory? How powerful is nostalgia, and do we tend to overly glorify past events in our life with the passage of time? Boston College Professor and memory expert Elizabeth Kensinger joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How accurate is the human memory? Dr. Elizabeth Loftus is a world-renowned psychologist who has devoted her career to studying the malleability of human memory. She joins the podcast to share what her research has shown regarding the accuracy of human memories, and explains how completely fabricated memories can actually be incepted into people's minds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Much research has been conducted over the years that clearly outlines the numerous benefits of strong interpersonal relationships. But what actually constitutes a strong and meaningful friendship? Which elements of a friendship contribute to our own happiness? The Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1938 and is the longest study to date to look at happiness. Dr. Robert Waldinger is the current head of the study and joins the podcast to share lessons about friendship derived from the rese...
On the last episode of Preconceived, palaeontologist Kallie Moore joined the show to discuss the evolution of sapiens from the original mammals and great Apes. We explored what we know about neanderthals and how our homo sapien ancestors interacted with them. In this subsequent episode, we discuss how homo sapiens spread around the world and surmise as to what the future of our species might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
The earth has existed for over 4.5 billion years. It can be tough to grasp that within those 4.5 billion years, humans have only existed for a few hundred thousand of them, a mere moment in time. So how did we, homo sapiens, come to be? Kallie Moore, paleontologist and co-host of the popular PBS YouTube channel Eons, joins the podcast. In this first of two episodes, Kallie walks listeners through the origin of our species from the Great Apes, and shares what knowledge we have on our historical i...
In the West, when many of us in hear the word Communism, our minds likely flash to images ruthless dictators, like Stalin in the USSR and Mao in China. Or, we might think of the Cold War, where communism served as the philosophical and economic enemy of Western capitalism. But communism as it has been practiced over the last century actually emerged from the philosophies of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 1800s. So what was the initial idea behind communism, and how did the initial ideolog...
In a way, we are all philosophers, trying to make sense of this mysterious world, how we fit within it, and how we can live our happiest and most meaningful lives. But how far does all of the contemplation really get us? Is the world of philosophy merely a realm of overthinking and pontification, or does it truly yield to practical changes in the way we live our lives? Eric Weiner is an acclaimed journalist and former foreign correspondent for NPR. He joins the podcast to speak about his latest ...
Are doctors really the heroes that some tv shows make them out to be? Is our medical system as idealistic as many patients try to believe? Dr. Samuel Shem helped shatter the illusion of the "medical fantasy" with his famous satirical novel The House of God many years ago. He joins the podcast to give a refreshingly honest glimpse into what it's really like being a doctor and how to best navigate the shortcomings of the healthcare system.Check out Shem's latest book - Man's 4th Best Hospitalhttps...
Aside from our genetics, there are many reasons why we might be different from our siblings. It has been well-documented that patterns in parental favouritism and sibling interactions affect our personalities, friendships and intelligence. Dr. Catherine Salmon, Professor of Psychology and author of The Secret Power of Middle Children, joins the podcast.Catherine Salmon's Bookhttp://www.thesecretpowerofmiddlechildren.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
In this second of two episodes regarding death and the funeral process, funeral director Emily Bootle explains the process of embalming and the decision to have an open versus closed casket funeral. She ends by sharing lessons she has learned from working so closely with death and how they shape the way she lives her life.Koru Funeral Home http://korucremation.comEpilogue WillsThis episode is sponsored by Epilogue Wills. Check them out at http://epiloguewills.com and use the promo code PRECONCEI...
For most, the word “death” conjures up emotions of fear and sadness. While death is one of the few certainties of life, it is something that most people would probably agree that you can never prepare for. But is there a different way to look at death and dying, perhaps with less of a negative sentiment? Funeral director Emily Bootle joins the podcast to share insights on death, dying and the funeral process.KORU Funeral Homehttps://www.korucremation.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
For our new Preconceived listeners, this episode from over a year ago is a good "starter episode" to give a flavour for what the podcast is all about. Zale reflects on starting the podcast and some of the biggest preconceptions that he has tried to better understand. How has his exploration into preconceptions changed his views of the world? Have any of the things he's learned influenced the way he lives his life? He is joined by public speaking experts Eric Silverberg and Eli Gladstone, who tak...
