Preconceived

It’s hard to think of more devastating news for a parent than hearing that their child is dealing with a serious illness. Cancer is one of those illnesses. So what do you do as a parent when your child is diagnosed with cancer? What do you tell your child? How honest are you with them? And when the cancer has hopefully gone into remission, how does one continue to approach life? Sam Taylor, host of The Deep C Podcast, joins Preconceived. The Deep C Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-deep-c/id1728343851 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know about the potential abuse and addiction associated with alcohol and other drugs. Yet despite this, alcohol has persisted since the dawn of human societies. Does its persistence suggest that alcohol may actually be an important factor in the history of our civilization? In Edward Slingerland's book, 'Drunk', he explores the social benefits of alcohol and intoxication. He joins the podcast to share his insights. Check out 'Drunk' at https://www.amazon.ca/Drunk-Sipped-Danced-Stumbled-Civilization/dp/0316453382 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world that increasingly feels like it’s falling into disarray, heated debates are taking place about a multitude of topics – war in the Middle East, the immigration crisis in the US, abortion rights, and much more. Personally, I’ve found myself listening to a disproportionate amount of debates on the above topics on some of my favorite podcasts. But I’ve come to wonder – what makes a good debater? What are the general tenets and principles of a debate that a participant needs to know before engaging in one? And perhaps more practical, are the rules of formal debate applicable to the way we argue things off of a debate stage? Or should they be considered totally different forums of discussion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many years now, the media and general population has loved making comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. On the one hand, the comparison seems odd – Hitler was a mass murderer and the architect of the most devastating genocide the world has ever seen; Donald Trump has committed no genocide. On the other hand, both are extreme political figures who each galvanized large segments of the population to rise to power. For those who deplore Trump, it is perhaps a political strategy to compare him to Hitler, to scare people into thinking that if he is allowed back into power, he will pose the same risks to humanity as Hitler did. Yet beyond such conjecture, perhaps there are similarities between these two figures that can teach us important lessons, and help guide us moving forward, as America gears up for its next presidential election. Professor Henk de Berg joins the podcast. Check out Henk's book, 'Trump and Hitler: A Comparative Study in Lying', at 'https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-51833-1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Regret’ is a word that many in society hesitate to use. At its core, it implies we made the wrong decision, and that if we could go back in time, perhaps we would have acted differently. While there’s no doubt we all make poor decisions, we typically don’t frame our bad decisions as ‘regrets’. Often we will try to cast our regrets as ‘learning moments’ and might even say things like ‘I don’t regret that action because of what it taught me’. But the reality is, regret, or whatever you want to call it, does exist. There are decisions most of us would probably take back. So what does the research show on regret, and what it can teach us on how to make better decisions? Todd McElroy, an expert in regret research, joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While wars are still waged today and atrocities still occur, many argue that this is actually the most peaceful period of humankind.  Is this true? And if so, why is this the case?  Is society’s inherent desire for peace higher than it was in ancient and medieval times?  Is the value of peace and protecting human life given a greater premium than it was in the past?  Are our values fundamentally different than they were in prior centuries and millennia?  Were power, dominance and legacy valued more greatly in ancient and medieval times?  Or rather, is it not so much that our values have shifted, but more so that the framework of modern society has more checks and balances to keep power and wars in check? Professor Keith Bradley joins the podcast. Keith Bradley's latest book on Hadrian - https://www.amazon.ca/Marguerite-Yourcenars-Hadrian-Writing-Emperor/dp/1487548818 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems like more and more people are seeing therapists on a regular basis. And while that is not a bad thing, it does beg the question, ‘what is the role of therapy for someone who does not have psychiatric illness, but is just experiencing the ups and downs of the human condition?’ Who should people be seeking therapy from, and what should the goals of therapy be?  Psychologist Huw Green joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all grow up in different communities with varying value systems, traditional, and social norms. But the ‘rules’ of some communities are more rigid in some regards, and more isolated from other branches of mainstream culture. One such example is Purity Culture, an ethos in some communities that staunchly promotes abstinence, and preaches by virtue by refraining from sexual activity. So what is it like to live in such a community? What exactly is purity culture, and do the people in these communities actually believe in and commit to abstinence, or is it more talk than true commitment? How does abstinence end up shaping people’s conceptions of marriages and sex in their future? Portia Brown joins the podcast. Portia Brown Coaching - https://www.portiabrowncoaching.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that optimism is a good thing.  And in life, there is indeed much to be optimistic about.  But the world can also be a cruel place, and the realities of life can sometimes be harsh.  So what exactly does it mean to be optimistic?  Is there such thing as a healthy dose of pessimism?  Is it better to veer on the realist side of life and be pleasantly surprised when things go your way, or is having an optimistic outlook the key to a happier and more meaningful life?  Bill Burke, founder of The Optimism Institute, joins the podcast.The Optimism Institute - https://www.theoptimisminstitute.comBlue Sky Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/blue-sky/id1670686589This episode is sponsored by Cassette Cycling - Check out their amazing cycling shirts at https://cassette-cycling.com/. 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.

From a young age, many of us are brought up believing that God is the embodiment of perfection - that God is good, merciful, and reflective of the values we hold so dear in our daily lives. But on closer look, the Judaeo-Christian God that is portrayed in the Old and New Testaments can often be quite violent, vengeful, and even egotistical, demanding complete and utter loyalty from his followers. So how do we reconcile the ideals we hope God would have, with the actual portrayal of God in the Bible? Dr. Pete Enns joins the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all make mistakes – sometimes they are innocent mistakes, and sometimes they are true lapses in character judgement that we only later come to regret.  And with any good mistake comes a good apology, and hopefully a genuine forgiveness on the other side.  But what if the apology is disingenuous?  Or what if the other side refuses to forgive?  Why do we crave apologies from others, and why is it so hard to move past a situation if we are unable to obtain one’s forgiveness?  Susan Shapiro, author of 'The Forgiveness Tour', joins the podcast. Learn more about Susan Shapiro and her book 'The Forgiveness Tour' at https://susanshapiro.net/forgiveness.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 250th episode of Preconceived, Zale revisits segments from some of his favourite episodes whose messages truly resonated with him. Is age just a number? How can we make decisions amidst uncertainty? Is the grass always greener on the other side? And how do we know if we are a good person? These are some of the questions explored in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are few cultural events that grasp the world’s attention as much of The Olympics.  Regardless of what might be going on politically in the world, The Olympics is largely seen as a globally unifying moment, once every four summers, and once every four winters.  But what is it that captivates so many people to turn on their televisions and tune into Olympics events?  Is it the love of competition?  The quest for glory?  Robin Mednick, co-editor of the book 'Heroes in Our Midst', joins the podcast to shed insight on the stories behind the Olympians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a Muslim father was asked by his son if Islam is inherently a violent religion, he was taken aback. Where did his son get these ideas from, and how many other people shared this concern? In his book 'Being Muslim Today', Dr. Saqib Iqbal Qureshi explores the history of Islam and seeks to understand some of the preconceptions regarding Islamic doctrine and how, if at all, it relates to Muslim perception today. Dr. Qureshi joins the podcast to discuss Islam and some of the misconceptions surrounding it. Being Muslim Today - https://www.amazon.ca/Being-Muslim-Today-Reclaiming-Islamophobia/dp/1538189321 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.