Preconceived

We all know that we are going to die. But even with this knowledge, many of us still do not have last wills and testaments. So why is it so crucial that one does have a will, regardless of age and degree of assets? What are the consequences of not having a will, in terms of who gets your assets and who makes important decisions when you are gone? What are the implications for your children? What h...

When examining ancient history, it can be hard to decipher myth from reality. Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great have gained legendary status as some of history's most renowned figures; yet they also committed some of the most devastating war crimes and atrocities to date. The Roman version of sport was gladiators fighting to the death; but does that really mean they valued life so little? Why...

As the Black Lives Matter movement gains worldwide attention, it is important to take an honest look at the history of Black discrimination in our own country. While perhaps less known, Canada had its own dark history of slavery for 200 years. The social, economic and political inequalities have persisted in modern times. What are the main issues affecting racial inequality in Canada? What do Whit...

In a collaboration with Parachute Canada, Preconceived explores why poisoning is a leading cause of accidental deaths in Canada. Which substances are the most common culprits of accidental poisoning of toddlers? How has the legalization of cannabis led to increased cases of poisoning in children? And what do we really need to know about carbon monoxide in order to keep our families safe at home? P...

Both the legality of prostitution and the ethics of sex work are highly debated topics worldwide. Is there anything inherently wrong with a person deciding to sell sex for money? Beyond this, what is the relationship between sex work, and the very different but often conflated topic of sex trafficking? Carly Kalish, a social worker and executive director of Victim Services of Durham Region, joins...

Nate Leipciger survived the Holocaust over 75 years ago. Like millions of others, Nate's world as he knew it was thrown into unimaginable upheaval. His mother and sister were murdered in Auschwitz, and he experienced traumas that are impossible for most of us to comprehend. Nate has since dedicated much of his life to Holocaust education and awareness and is one of the most preeminent Canadian spe...

As Black Lives Matter takes the world by storm, one might wonder how the change being sought in this moment can be long-lasting? Dr. George Lawson, author of Anatomies of Revolution, takes both a historical and modern day lens to examine how revolutionary events and gradual evolutionary progress have proven to best manifest in change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As common as divorce is, it is not devoid of stigma. Many view divorce as a failure of sorts, a failure for a couple to keep alive a marriage to which they were once so devoted. Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, commonly known as The Divorce Doctor, joins the podcast to break down the misconceptions about divorce. How can we re-frame our attitude towards divorce and view it for its positives? Can a marriage st...

Money is the currency by which society runs. But our modern conception of money is certainly not reflective of how currency has operated throughout history and perhaps may be different to monetary constructs of the future. Cryptocurrency is a relatively new type of currency exchange that can seem quite complicated to those unfamiliar with it. This episode explores how cryptocurrency works, why it...

Brian Greenspan is one of the most well-respected criminal defence lawyers in Canada. He joins the podcast to share his stories and lessons from years of work in the criminal justice system. What is it like to defend someone who is guilty of murder? Do most murderers show remorse and regret? What are the biggest issues in the Canadian justice system, and how does it differ from that of the United...

When COVID-19 sent us into quarantine, Michael Nightingale's dental practice took a three month hiatus. So what did he do with his time? The only natural thing a dentist would do - he started a family run Italian style pasta business! A self-described "hobby nut", Michael shares his thoughts on hobbies and passion projects, and how such perspectives led him on this exciting three-month journey int...

Age is one of the primary ways by which society is divided. And with this division comes certain stereotypes about each generation. What historical events and cultural conditions account for why certain generations look at the world in the ways they do? And is the generational divide even as wide as we sometimes think it is? Generational Expert Meagan Johnson joins the podcast to help us better un...

For episode 50 of Preconceived, Zale relinquishes his hosting duties to become this week's guest. Zale reflects on the past year of the podcast and some of the biggest preconceptions that he has tried to better understand. How has his exploration into preconceptions changed his views of the world? Have any of the things he's learned influenced the way he lives his life? He is joined by Eric Silver...

Living in a capitalist society, it is easy to believe that it is the best and most fair economic system. We often hear messages that capitalism allows equal opportunity for all and that the rewards you reap in the system are directly correlated with the effort you put in. But is this truly the case? Or is this something we have convinced ourselves of in order to justify a system that may not be as...

As healthcare continues to evolve, particularly in these times of COVID-19, many services that used to be strictly offered in person are now being offered virtually. Telemedicine is increasingly being used to minimize patient visits. Doctors are reviewing patient charts remotely and chatting with them over the phone. But how can doctors provide virtual healthcare without compromising the health of...

The field of medicine is rapidly changing. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, computers are often able to make faster and more accurate diagnoses than doctors. As DNA testing becomes more exact, the potential for more tailored and personalized treatments continues to grow. Kashif Khan, CEO of The DNA Company, joins the podcast to discuss how functional genomics is heralding an era of...

Mike Katchen, co-founder and CEO of Wealthsimple, explains how his company challenges the traditional paradigm of investing. When should we start investing? How much should we be investing? Mike also shares his perspectives on buying a home and explains how people tend to overestimate their risk tolerance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pickup Artist community is one that is easily misunderstood. At its core, pickup artistry involves techniques that help men to feel more confident in approaching women in whom they are romantically interested. As society becomes more digitalized and dating is increasingly initiated via apps and text messaging, many men feel unequipped in meeting women naturally and navigating the dating world....

When Julie Lythcott-Haims worked as Stanford Dean of Freshmen, she became concerned by the seemingly increasing lack of independence of her students. Whereas students once came to college prepared to take on the world, she and other faculty began to notice an increasing reliance on parents for even the simplest of tasks. In her bestselling book How To Raise An Adult, Julie explores how the new sty...

Karen Silberman had a successful corporate career as an accountant and then a headhunter. But in her forties, she made an unexpected pivot in her life when she decided to become a Rabbi. During Rabbinical school, she was faced with one of the worst tragedies imaginable - the death of her son Scott. Karen joins the podcast to discuss her views on faith, religion and how she looks at the concept of...

Cannabis was legalized in Canada over a year ago. But has public perception towards cannabis changed since its legalization? How is cannabis viewed in comparison to traditionally more accepted substances such as caffeine and alcohol? How has cannabis fared economically from a market perspective? Brett Chang, co-founder of Leaf Forward, joins the podcast to discuss the topic. Hosted on Acast. See a...

CBC's Dr. Brian Goldman joins the podcast to discuss the current state of COVID-19 in Canada. What is it like for healthcare workers on the front lines of hospitals? Where is Canada on the curve compared to other countries? What are the current recommendations regarding masks and social distancing? What can we expect to lie ahead? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Influencers have taken the worlds of social media and marketing by storm. As this new type of public figure emerges and continues to shape society, it is helpful for people to understand what exactly qualifies someone as an influencer. What types of value do influencers offer, and perhaps more important, how should consumers of social media decide who they allow to influence them? Tracy Komlos, fo...

As the coronavirus pandemic changes much about the world, two of the most affected domains in our lives have been work and travel. Yet as many shift to working remotely, the concept is not entirely new. "Digital nomads" have existed for some time and is a term that describes those who defy the conventions of a typical working life and have found a way to combine both work and travel on a daily bas...

Most of us assume that we couldn't have gotten to where we are today if it weren't for the rigorous education system we had endured. But what if that's not true? What if both the teaching methods and the content being taught are outdated? Ted Dintersmith, author of "What School Could Be" and executive producer of the documentary "Most Likely to Succeed", a feature selection at Sundance, joins the...