Who Controls Knowledge and What Does It Mean To Know? | Marcel Parent | Lecturer at Concordia University | Season 8 Episode 2 | #124

In this episode, I sit down with Marcel Parent, a lecturer in the Religions and Cultures program at Concordia University, to explore the deep structures that shape how we think about the world. We dive into postcolonial theory, the ways in which colonial history still influences modern knowledge systems, and the biases we unknowingly inherit. Marcel unpacks how Western thought has constructed the idea of "the East" and how these ideological frameworks continue to shape global perspectives on culture, religion, and education.

We also discuss the tension between intellectualizing a subject and actually experiencing it, using examples from travel, academia, and personal transformation. How do our preconceived notions shape the way we engage with the world? Can we ever experience something without the filter of our learned biases? Marcel challenges conventional ways of thinking, revealing how power, history, and discourse dictate what we accept as knowledge. If you’ve ever questioned the foundation of what you know, this episode is for you.