Preconceived

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...

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 ...

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 pe...

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.

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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 b...

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. ...

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 unde...

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 underg...

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...

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...

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 choosi...

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 becomin...