Preconceived

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...

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 se...

‘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 lik...

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 pr...

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?  Psycholog...

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.&nb...

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 b...

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 m...

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....

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 cr...

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 m...

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? &n...

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 p...

Pranks, Joshing, Deception, Practical Jokes ... Humor takes shape in many forms. But can a joke go too far? Should a joke's funniness be measured by the reactions it elicits, the intentions of the joke, or none of the above? Cornell Professor David Shoemaker is a philosopher and author. He joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, 'Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life'. Wisecracks -...

The Aztec Empire famously fell following the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century. Much of what we know about the Aztecs – including their rise, the nature of the empire, and its eventual fall, comes strictly from European accounts. But what did the Aztecs themselves think? The narrative has almost solely been shaped by the European perspective – but how did the Aztecs view the Europeans w...

There is a certain stigma about only children - the idea that they may become more self-centred, and the concern that they will be lonelier in life without siblings. Such concerns have even prompted some to suggest that it is 'selfish' for parents to only have one child. But what does the evidence show about the life experiences of children who do not have siblings? Psychology Professor Tony Falbo...

The Preconceived or ‘status quo’ path in life typically includes a variety of steps; one major milestone is graduating from college.  It’s something that we are ‘supposed to do’, a relatively expensive all-consuming four-year program that most of experience after high school.  But how important is college?  Do the academic benefits of college merit the time and cost o...

For many people, travel provides some of the most profound experiences of their lives.  Whether it’s a short excursion or a year living abroad, disengaging from your typical routine and transplanting yourself into the unknown is bound to lead to personal growth and self-discovery.  But for all the good that can come from it, travelling can also be confusing.  Is trave...

When it comes to our finances, it’s natural for many to follow the traditional approach to investing by using a stock broker.  Over the past couple of decades, however, there has been a growing trend to go against the grain and  not  use a stockbroker.  You may have seen the commercials online by companies urging you to bypass stock brokers by investing in their onlin...

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...

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...

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 Questr...

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 'le...

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...

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 a...