Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran

Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:  Instagram @openmindspod Tiktok @openmindspodcast

Send us Fan Mail The rise of deepfake technology has brought forth significant implications for society and human behaviour. Deepfakes, which are manipulated or synthesized media content created using artificial intelligence, can convincingly depict individuals saying or doing things they never actually did. While deepfakes hold potential for entertainment and creative applications, they also pose...

Send us Fan Mail "It's taught from young: Distrust the police, hate the police. They're not here to help." The link between poverty and crime is well-documented, but learning from frontline law enforcement could help us understand the complexity and nuance of this linkage. What should we be focusing on?  Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.co...

Send us Fan Mail "Poverty is one of the Leading Causes of Death." I've always been fascinated by the link between poverty and health outcomes in the US. Making informed decisions on health care may be even more difficult for those worrying about making it through the next meal. As well, young children stand to feel the impact the most, with lower levels of nutrition (or many unhealt...

Send us Fan Mail I am certain you've heard that a 4-day work week is gaining traction coming out of the COVID-19 Pandemic with employers. Not only has the Work-from-Home experience taught many employers that office workers can be as productive from anywhere, there is growing evidence that shows workers are more happy and engaged when they have an extra day each week. While the research is not...

Send us Fan Mail Hello Friends! This episode is a bit of a departure from my usual content - but in a good way. I chat with the Creator of Blah TO: a satirical take on the local news in the city I'm in - Toronto! Here in the City, there is a locally-famous social media/website called 'BlogTO'. While it is a great resource for good restaurants and local events, its headlines can be o...

Send us Fan Mail Check out Professor Willie Elliott's Research: https://ssw.umich.edu/faculty/profiles/tenure-track/willelli?tb=research#52289-publications The usual strategy deployed by the US govt to help students is student debt cancellation. This particularly is important for students who may not have access to resources to start saving and investing in assets at an earlier age. But is it...

Send us Fan Mail Racism and Gender issues are in the news and there is a hot debate whether all the nuances should be discussed Why are Racism and Gender Issues So Taboo to Discuss in the Classroom? Racism and gender issues can be taboo to discuss in the classroom for several reasons, including: Fear of causing discomfort: Discussions of racism and gender issues can bring up uncomfortable feelings...

Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit my NEW Website! https:// www.christopherbalkaran.com Check out my Instagram/Tik Tok for daily posts:  Instagram @openmindspod Tiktok @openmindspodcast

Send us Fan Mail Nothing is changing more rapidly it seems, like modern dating.  I wanted to explore this further by having both male and female perspectives share their views on modern dating and what they expect from the other on first dates, finances and building a connection. The results were fascinating. What do you think about this? Send me an email to christopher@openmindspodcast.com, or vi...

Send us Fan Mail "...people with seemingly 'less severe' social anxiety disorders may experience a worse course than those with prototypical serious illness, like schizophrenia, because the fright and nervousness defining their anxiety prevents them from seeking the most demanding of jobs, thereby rendering them unable to live on their own. Some people with schizophrenia are able to...

Send us Fan Mail Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/H8kJFn23MWA I've always been interested in the topic of Gender Dysphoria (GD) and Conversion Therapy. I am noticing many are making sweeping statements on GD and what the implications for youth are. I wanted to explore the topic more with one of the most well-renowned researchers and Clinical Psychologists on the topic: Ken Zucker. Who is...

Send us Fan Mail Watch the Dinner Table Episode 01 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/892yRUJJ0uk I'm sure you have had thoughtful conversations over a Dinner Table with family or friends, and often wish it were recorded(!). When I was in University, I would always bring home interesting conversation topics to the family dinner table - I'm still not sure how well these were always perceived -...

Send us Fan Mail Despite the benefits of Affirmative Action as told by Professor Harry Holzer, there also exists many challenges when the policy framework is deployed in College and University admissions. While the intention of admitting students from different backgrounds may be noble, by building a more diverse student body - are schools providing the necessary supports for students to succeed?...

Send us Fan Mail Affirmative Action policies were introduced in the 1960s by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. The President recognized Black and Hispanic communities were not well represented in specific sectors. While the federal government did not have direct control over the hiring decisions in private business, it could exert some power in seeing increasing representation with federal contrac...

Send us Fan Mail Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DhN4gDAQAoo As the Freedom Convoy gained momentum in Canada, protesters were facing challenges in their own personal lives. Provinces were engaging in extended lockdown measures that were making less sense Many were finding that coworkers would complain to management if they were attending anti-lockdown protests and demonstrations. My guest, Jenn...

Send us Fan Mail The Freedom Convoy rolled into Ottawa, upset with the federal government's vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions. At first, many Canadians saw the Freedom Convoy as echoing their own frustrations with lockdown measures. Social distancing measures were getting high and Canadians were looking to other countries, particularly the United States, and wondering why our country...

Send us Fan Mail Part of my discussion on community safety was to include voices from government. Community members and organizations have been advocating for specific measures the City should be undertaking. I decided to invite Scott McKean on the Podcast. Scott is Manager in the City of Toronto, responsible for SafeTO, which is a community safety and well-being plan. Will it incorporate some of...

Send us Fan Mail The federal government put forward  the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan - which called for a 30 percent reduction in fertilizer emissions by 2030. The agricultural sector was taken aback. I chat with Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, Saskatchewan Farmer, Public Speaker and Advocate.  Episode #171 - Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel 🔗 CONNECT WITH Cherilyn 🐦 Twitter - @CherilynNagel   https://www.cherilynj...

Send us Fan Mail The federal government put forward  the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan - which called for a 30 percent reduction in fertilizer emissions by 2030. The agricultural sector was taken aback. I chat with Karen Proud, President of Fertilizer Canada to learn more. Episode #xx - Karen Proud, President, Fertilizer Canada 🔗 CONNECT WITH FERTILIZER CANADA 🐦 Twitter - @FertilizerCA https://t...

Send us Fan Mail Are Electric Vehicles going to be widely adopted by most all consumers? Despite the environmental benefits, many still have large concerns that could thwart large-scale adoption. Professor Jon Krosnick co-authored Climate Insights 2020 to explore exactly this and the concerns many Americans may have. 🔗 JON KROSNICK : http://www.jonkrosnick.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_K...

Send us Fan Mail With rising inflation and cost of living, what will this mean for Electric Vehicle purchases? States like California are pushing for all new vehicle sales to be either electric or hydrogen powered by 2035. But, with the rising cost of living, will consumers make the switch? I sit down with Tim Burrows who sits on the Board of Directors for EV Society to discuss further.  Episode #...

Send us Fan Mail Is it time we broaden the conversation on Student Loans to include all the costs associated with attending post-secondary? Tim Ulbrich, CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist discusses all the associated costs for post-secondary education that more students should be aware of. 🔗Tim Ulbrich, CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist - https://yourfinancialpharmacist.com/about/ CONNECT WITH CHRIS...

Send us Fan Mail The cost of going to college and university is growing daily. For students from low income families, student loans are the only way to fund college/university. Professor Willie Elliott of the University of Michigan argues instead, that building assets as early as possible will set youth up for success.  🔗 Centre on Assets, Education and Incluision: https://aedi.ssw.umich.edu 💻 P...

Send us Fan Mail Momentum.org runs many programs targeted to low income families and individuals. These include skills-based training programs, resume workshops and help with finances. The org also has a matched-savings app 'Quber' to help those struggling. While its programming is located in Alberta, the organization has many resources available online below. I chat with Carolyn Davis,...