Episodes
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Since the October 7th massacre and the ensuing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, much world attention has been given to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. In this episode, we take a look back at the origins of this conflict, the concept of Zionism, and the events leading up to the 1948 war, known as the War of Independence in Israel, and referred to as The Nakba ('the catastrophe) by Palestinians. This episode explores two perspectives - a Jewish perspective shared by Harvard Professor Derek Penslar, and a Palestinian perspective shared by Brown Professor Beshara Doumani.
Professor Derek Penslar - https://history.fas.harvard.edu/people/derek-penslar
Professor Beshara Doumani - https://vivo.brown.edu/display/bdoumani
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The relationship between humans and non-human animals is a fascinating one. In particular, the pet-owner relationship begs many questions. The preconception is that it is totally normal that we cohabitate with other animals in our homes. People love their pets, and for the most part, we assume that our pets love us. But how normal really is the concept of having pets? And even if pets do add much value to humans' lives, is it really moral to keep pets, especially in the ways that we do? Professor Hal Herzog, expert in human-animal relationships, joins the podcast.
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Missing episodes?
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There is often an expectation that when parents die, their children will be left with some form of inheritance. But what does the research show about what actually happens to inheritance? What do the recipients tend to do with their inheritance? Is the money put to good use, is it spent right way, is it saved, or is it sometimes totally squandered? Jay Zagorsky, from the Questrom School of Business, joins the podcast.
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When we go through elementary school, high school, and college, we are tasked with learning and memorizing mounds of information. But how much emphasis is actually put on how we learn? What are the most effect memory strategies that can help us excel on exams? Are the strategies for short-term memory the same as the techniques for long-term retention? And how does an understanding of one's own 'learning style' factor into the way one studies, if at all? Roddy Roediger, co-author of 'Make It Stick', joins the podcast.
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What if you knew from the beginning of your life that you would die at age 30? How would you choose to live those 30 years? Needless to say, your path would completely deviate from many elements of the preconceived status quo of a typical life. And what if, just as you were reaching the end of your predicted life expectancy, you found out that you would not indeed die at age 30, but that you would have a normal life expectancy? Would you be happy for the extra years, or would you be rattled by such an upheaval in your expectations?
Jeremie Saunders was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age one and was given a life expectancy of age thirty. But just after turning thirty, a life-saving medication became available which changed the trajectory of his life, extending his life expectancy by fifty odd years. He joins the podcast to share his story.
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On April 13th, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones over Israel. While Israel’s missile defensive system was able to mitigate most damage, the attack itself was unprecedented and a frightening development to the international community. When most of us think of modern-day Iran, we think of an oppressive authoritarian regime that suppresses the rights of its people and also deeply hates the West. But how did this situation come to be? Why does Iran hate the West so fiercely? What does Iran want? And how seriously must the Iran problem be taken? There have been concerns over their nuclear weapons program for many years, and now that Iran has launched an attack, how is the world, and Israel, supposed to respond? Mark Dubowitz, a leading world expert on the Iranian threat, joins the podcast.
Mark Dubowitz - https://www.fdd.org/team/mark-dubowitz/
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We all know people who have been sick, whether with acute illness or chronic disease. But despite how common it is for people we know to be sick, we don’t always know how to deal with it in the best way. How do we support someone who is going through health troubles? How do you treat them normally, so to speak, while also acknowledging that what they’re going through is in many ways not normal and requires extra love and support? How do you navigate the situation without being awkward? Jeremie Saunders, co-host of the acclaimed podcast Sickboy, joins the podcast.
Check out Sickboy Podcast at https://www.sickboypodcast.com
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‘Work-life-balance’ is a common phrase, a buzzword even, that refers to the way we find balance in our professional lives and personal lives. The goal for many is to achieve an equilibrium, where we devote sufficient time to our work, family, and personal lives, without letting one domain dominate the other. But is work-life balance truly attainable in the ways most of us think of it? Should we be focused on balancing all aspects of our lives at once, or is it natural that the balance be more heavily weighted toward certain domains at different time points of our lives? Author David Mcneff joins the podcast.
David Mcneff's book - The Work-Life Balance Myth: Rethinking Your Optimal Balance for Success
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As excitement grows regarding the upcoming solar eclipse, so do feelings of anxiety and fear amongst many people. What exactly is a solar eclipse, and how dangerous is it for your eyes? Ophthalmologist Dr. Tina Felfeli joins the podcast to prepare you for this once-in-a-lifetime event .
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In this episode, Zale opens up about his own experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. What is an obsession, and what is a compulsion? How does OCD extend far beyond the preconception of a pure focus on cleanliness? Zale gives a window into what it is like living with anxiety and sheds some light on psychiatric illness in general.
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The Roman Empire is thought of as one of the most powerful empires in human history. But as we all know, the Roman Empire did indeed fall after several centuries of domineering economic and political power. Many historians have tried to understand why exactly the Roman Empire fell, and many theories have emerged. In the present day, the United States, and ‘The West’ at large, has been seen for several centuries as the world’s superpower, similar in many ways to the power held by the Roman Empire. But with the current geopolitical landscape, it seems as if America may succumb to the same fate as Rome. So what is the phenomenon that is occurring here? Why do empires fall? And what will become of the West in the decades to come? Peter Heather joins the podcast.
Peter Heather's book 'Why Empires Fall' - https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Empires-Fall-America-Future/dp/030027372XHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The idea of one human eating another human is almost unfathomable to most of us. Even when stories have surface of life and death situations when people were arguably forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive, the act still raised many eyebrows in society at large. But how abnormal really is the practice of cannibalism? From an evolutionary and survival perspective, how can the practice of cannibalism be better understood? How common has human cannibalism been over the course of civilization, and what have been the most common circumstances in which it developed? Bill Schutt, author of 'Cannibalism: A perfectly natural history', joins the podcast
Bill Schutt's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Cannibalism-Perfectly-Natural-Bill-Schutt/dp/1616204621Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on the rise, influencing many facets of our lives. With the emergence of ChatGPT and other AI-related tools, the landscape of education is already changing. From the student's perspective, will certain skills such as writing and critical thinking fall by the wayside if AI can do the work for them? Have rates of cheating increased? And on a more optimistic note, how are teachers and professors using AI to create better educational environments for their students? Priten Shah joins the podcast.
Priten Shah's Website
https://pritenshah.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Oscars is considered the most prestigious awards ceremony in the entertainment industry. There is a certain magic about the Academy Awards, where some of the greatest films and performances of all time have been recognized. Ben Zauzmer is the author of Oscarmetrics, a book that shares an in depth look at the predictive analytics of The Oscars over its 93 year history. What makes a movie most likely to win Best Picture? Which actors and actresses are most likely to walk away winners? And do the Oscars deserve to be as celebrated as they are?
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The SATs have been a hallmark of the college admissions process for decades in the United States. But this popular standardized test has come under scrutiny the past several years, with many colleges eliminating the SATs as part of their admissions criteria. So why is the tide changing for the SATs? Is GPA a better predictor of college performance, or are both metrics fraught with bias and error? Eddie Comeaux joins the podcast.
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Personality disorders are listed in the DSM – the bible of psychiatric diagnoses – as a distinct set of psychiatric disorders. Such disorders include narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, as well as several others. It can be confusing, however; at what point does someone’s narcissism, for example, extend so far that it qualifies as a psychiatric diagnosis? At what point does an unfavorable personality trait actually become a disorder, and in the real world, does the distinction actually matter? Psychiatrist Dr. Joel Paris joins the podcast.
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There is perhaps no country in the world more perplexing and bewildering than North Korea. Considered by many as a silo shut off from the rest of the world, much of North Korea is shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately, much of that mystery involves a dictatorial regime and severe oppression of its peoples. But what exactly does it look like inside of North Korea? What are our preconceptions about North Korea, and equally important, what are the preconceptions that North Koreans might hold about the rest of the world? Brandon Gauthier joins the podcast.
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Pedophilia, understandably, is a word that conjures up negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Acting on pedophilic thoughts is a horrible crime, and the ramifications are fittingly severe. But what exactly is pedophilia? Is it a distinct entity, a medical condition perhaps? Or can it be seen as an abnormal part of the spectrum of human desire? What is it like to live as a pedophile, and what kind of emotional angst do pedophiles experience? Are pedophilic feelings more common that we might think they are, and how can one live with thoughts of pedophilia without acting on them. Dr. Skye Stephens joins the podcast.
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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.htmlHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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.htmlHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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